Chapter 28

Dean skulked past another group of hunters looking for his brother. They waved at him and he returned the gesture casually, but he knew the balance was tipped in Sam's favor for their leader. That was fine by Dean; he and Sammy would still do it together. If he could find Sammy that is.

Dean circled the town from one end to the next before giving up and sitting on a stoop in the middle of the town square to watch the hunters prep ammunition. Word was that they needed to be ready for everything since anything could come at them. Dean already had his Colt tucked away, and the silver knife Cas had given him the night before.

Dean turned and jumped when he realized Cas was sitting next to him. The angel had been gone all morning and Dean felt that familiar tug at his heart to have Cas next to him again.

How did it go? He mind sent to his lover.

Eros is safe. I only wish you and I were too. Fear and unease coursed through the mental bond between them. He couldn't begin to understand what changed to have Cas suddenly so afraid of Sam but Dean suspected he was behind it somehow. Off in the distance, Dean finally caught sight of his brother.

"Sammy!" He called out, and sprang to his feet. Sam turned to him and then made his way across the clearing. They met with a quick embrace, both brothers smiling at the other.

"It's good to see you up and about again, Sam," Dean said jovially, "so what's the plan?" Sam tilted his head a little to the left and his eyes faded to a point in the distance for a moment, but then was back again an instant later.

"Yes. This is what I think..." he trailed off as his attention shifted behind Dean to where Cas was approaching them.

"Hello Sam," the angel said softly. Dean sensed how wary Cas was through the bond, and detected a subtle tremor in the angel's voice.

"Castiel," Sam said dryly. "Hey, sorry about last night. I was just having a bit of a bad day if you know what I mean. "

"No no, it's okay," Castiel said ducking his head; not meeting the other man's eye. Dean explored all the emotions welling through the angel and decided this would definitely be something they needed to talk about later. Dean also noticed the edge to Sam's apology. His brother was a horrible liar.

"So!" Sam went on, "The plan. About two miles west of here, there's a large field clearing. That's where Serrath is camped. I am hoping we can sneak in unnoticed, but that might not be an option. She might know we are coming."

"Why do you think that?" Dean asked, and Sam tilted his head to the left again. His eyes faded for just an instant as if he was... listening for something? Dean couldn't be sure. Fear bubbled to the surface of Castiel's emotion cauldron and Dean pushed the angel to the back of his mind. The more time they spent around each other, the harder it was becoming to shut this Vulcan mind-meld thing off.

"Just trust me," Sam said after a pause. "Anyway she has this scepter and I think that's what gives her all her power. It's why all the monsters want to follow her."

"Okay sure, so we destroy the scepter and the monsters will go back to fending for themselves?" Dean wasn't sure how Sam knew all this, but he trusted his brother. If Sam had a plan, Dean was going to follow it.

"I'm not sure we'll be able to destroy it. But getting it away from that witch would be a good first step."

"Well that's just great," Dean said sarcastically, "and how do you suppose we get past the hordes of monsters to reach her?"

"You saw what I can do," Sam said calmly and Dean suppressed a wince. He glanced at Cas, remembering how so many deaths affected the angel.

"If they are only attacking us because of mind control, shouldn't we avoid killing them?"

"Dean they're monsters."

"Innocent monsters," Dean challenged, his eyes going wide and suggestive. Sam watched him flatly.

"I think maybe I can just put them to sleep like I... like I did with you," Sam said with a sigh. "It will take longer, and I'll need you and the hunters to cover my back."

"That's fine," Dean said nodding, "we can do that. Cas can too. When do we move out?" The plan was set to hike on foot since the terrain was unpaved, and circle around the encampment so they could get the jump on the monsters. Sam thought he could pick off as much as he could from the higher terrain, and then sift into the throng and find Serrath. With the hunters prepping to move out of town after the fight, they made a plan to leave in two hours. This gave Dean plenty of time to figure out what the hell was going on with Cas.

Parting ways with Sam, Dean turned and walked towards his car. He sensed Castiel following, as he expected him to, but shoved at the angel's emotions; trying to get them out of his head.

"This is very dangerous, Dean," Cas said softly behind him. Reaching his vehicle, Dean checked the trunk and put the rest of his things in Baby's backseat. With hope, things would end that day and everyone can go back to normal hunting for a change.

"Yeah hard to believe we started out wanting to just take out a couple of ghouls and jacked up vetala." Cas stood and watched Dean at work, looking miserably forlorn. Dean met the angel's eyes, concern painting his features.

"Cas..."

"I can't talk about this, Dean," Cas said in a low voice. "Not now." Dean's mouth twisted over words he wanted to say and he turned away from the other man. They were quiet for some time.

"I wonder," Cas said while he studied the other hunters at work, "back when we were just fighting 'jacked up vetala' as you said, why did they try so hard to get your father's journal?" Dean could still sense all the convoluted emotions swirling in Cas's mind, and it frustrated him that Cas wouldn't talk to him about it, but he had a good point.

"Do you think there might be something in there that would help us get rid of this witch?"

"It's worth looking into," Cas admitted, "I could spend some time with it, while you are getting ready." Dean reached for the journal out of the trunk of his car and handed it to Cas. If they weren't going to talk about what was happening with him and Sam, then Dean thought it was better for Cas to be out of his line of sight for a while. The secrecy irritated him.

"Don't lose it."

"Of course not!" Cas was offended

"Cas...We will talk about what's going on with you and Sammy," Dean said and then leaned over and kissed Cas long and deep. Lips parted, tongues played, and in that sweet sensual moment neither man belonged to any heart but each other's. When Dean pulled away, both he and Cas were breathless and flushed.

"I know," Cas said, his voice unsteady, "I'll tell you everything when this is over." Dean nodded and Cas vanished with the flap of a wing.

They moved in a fluid silent motion. Hunters with years of skill behind them knew how to move undetected and working together was no different. The sun was moving its last stretch down the sky, and the Fist snaked in front of the Chosen to scout out the terrain. Oddly, they didn't encounter any look-outs, which solidified that Serrath was anticipating them. Or she was incredibly stupid. Sam didn't care either way. They circled around where Sam knew the encampment to be and edged closer to the mountain. When they got close enough to see it on the horizon, Sam brought everyone to a halt and had the group huddle around him.

"When we reach the mountain ridge," Sam said, eyeing the target in the distance, "I'll try to get a better look at what we're up against. If things turn ugly, the Fist need to fend off as many monsters as they can so the Chosen can keep shooting arrows."

"And what about me," Dean asked, "am I also on backdrop duty?"

"No," said Sam with a smile, "I want you with me. My last line of defense."

"Cas, too, right?" Dean asked and Sam's mouth twisted into a frown.

"Of course," he said dryly. Dean nodded once and gave his brother a hug. He then moved through the line of hunters to stand at the front where Sam would be. Castiel watched Dean go, and yet he lingered.

"Move along, Cas," Sam said with a smirk. Castiel's eyes remained on Sam, just a hair away from direct eye contact. Sam's smile widened, and he leaned close to the angel so that no one else could hear him.

"Something wrong, pet?" He asked mockingly. Cas lifted his eyes that last half inch to glare directly into Sams. Sam could see the angel's Grace flame the blue of his eyes to enhance the glow of his fury.

"When this is over," Cas said rigidly, "I am telling Dean everything about you. It changes nothing, Sam. He will still love me." Sam's smile turned into a sneer. He stepped in close and yanked Castiel towards him by his tie.

"You better hope you're wrong angel," he seethed, and Castiel felt hot breath on his ear. Cas reached out suddenly and rested hands on Sam's head.

"Don't touch me!" Sam shouted, trying to recoil, but already Castiel was withdrawing his reach.

"Cas? What's going on?" Dean called, unable to see the whole interaction, and Cas smiled at Sam as he walked past him.

"Stay safe out there," he said softly to the younger brother which gave Sam an idea.

"Yeah, you do the same." Accidents can happen after all.