Well, love the buzz I received from last chapter! Thank you to Akayuki Sawada, Guests, DeerTopus C. VonZenHousen, Air Guitar Pixie, fictionfairytalesfantasy4921, and Kather-Swine for reviewing! A thank you also to those who have favorited and followed. Virtual hugs for all of you, now back to this old sea dog's tale!
"We don't have time, take them on board and put them in the brig," Dean ordered before walking over to where Gabriel and Bobby stood, collecting his weapons from the older Novak's feet.
"Thanks for holding on to these," Dean said to the guard before turning around and walking back to his ship.
"Hurry it up!" The captain ordered as he got on board, watching his crew as they bustled about, loading the ship with supplies and preparing for take off.
"It feels good to be back," Dean whispered to himself, smiling as he ran a hand along one of the railings on the edge of his beloved ship.
Castiel narrowed his eyes as Balthazar kept the former sailor pinned down. The pirate smiled down at Castiel, "nice to meet you," he greeted. The younger Novak brother watched worriedly as Bobby Singer followed behind a quiet Gabriel, the older brother looking towards his younger sibling with concern in his eyes.
After they passed, Balthazar began to get off Castiel, still keeping a firm hold on his wrists as he got off of the younger man. Castiel acted calmly, standing up along with Balthazar who now held his wrists behind his back with one hand; the other holding onto Castiel's shoulder. They took a couple of steps before Castiel acted.
Fluently the former sailor threw his head back, connecting with Balthazar's own skull. The pirate loosened his grip and Castiel took advantage, pulling his arms free. Bringing his right arm forward and swinging his elbow into the older man's chest.
Balthazar took a step back after the blow. The pirate held his ground, blocking the way out back into town. He went into a fighting stance, his eyes flicking quickly to the Impala before looking at Castiel.
Castiel threw a punch, but Balthazar responded in time. He grabbed Castiel's fist with his right, and in turn brought back his own hand. His fist connected with Castiel's jaw, and the former sailor's head turned with the impact, stumbling. But the pirate wasn't finished.
He grabbed onto the former sailor's arm that he still held and twisted it, bringing it behind Castiel's back. Swiftly he knocked the younger Novak brother to his knees, and the pirate cuffed him on the head. Castiel was surprised by the blow at the back of his head, it wasn't meant to hurt him; in fact it was more like the pirate was scolding him.
"Moron," Balthazar muttered, pulling the former sailor to his feet and hurriedly pushing him up the ramp and on board the Impala. Castiel glanced up to see Dean standing by the wheel, the captain watching his crew. They locked eyes until Balthazar walked him through a stairway, across a spacious room, and down into the lower depths of the ship.
They arrived to what seemed to be the lowest level of the ship, and a set of iron bars formed two separate cells. Gabriel stood looking around the room until his eyes landed on Castiel and an annoyed Balthazar.
The pirate tossed Castiel into the cell with his brother, closing the door and relaxing after finally being free from the younger Novak. He sighed and rolled back his shoulders, gingerly touching where Castiel had headbutted him. He looked at the two and gave a small bow to the observing brothers.
"Gentlemen, welcome aboard one of the finest vessels that has sailed the sea," He smiled and his face scrunched together, although the playfulness in his eyes was still very noticeable, "enjoy your stay." With that, Balthazar turned around and closed the door, his ascent up the stairs echoing in the room until they gradually faded away.
Castiel faced his brother, whose expression was anything but pleased.
Dean watched as Balthazar returned to the main deck empty-handed, the man's attitude lighter and happier as he assisted the other crew members. The captain had witnessed his friend's quick brawl with Cas, pleased to see that the pirate could still handle himself quite well in combat.
Casting his eyes back towards the town, Dean watched with a pang of worry as he noticed a sea of lights gathered on the main street. A crowd of red and white formed, lights in their hands while they massed together; their size increasing as time hurriedly passed.
"Are we ready yet, Balthazar?" Dean shouted out to his first mate as his eyes remained trained onto the now immense crowd. Wide with worry now were the captain's eyes as the soldiers now charged towards the pier, like a swarm of lightning bugs they grew closer and closer as one giant mass of light and noise.
"Aye, Captain!" Balthazar replied, his voice fighting over the rest of the crew's chatter. He trained his attention onto what his captain was watching in the nearing distance. Dean frowned when he heard a growing laughter, looking away from the possible onslaught his eyes collected on Balthazar, who was laughing at the sight of the gathered assembly of royal officers.
"What's so funny?" Dean called down, his focus now divided between the en route soldiers and his first mate who was now trying to calm himself. He watched as the older pirate clenched his abdomen, collecting himself before he answered the captain.
"Pardon me, Winchester. It just never ceases to amaze me how much trouble you seem to be able to draw in every time." Dean stared at Balthazar, who chuckled to himself before shouting out an order to the crew. The captain shook his head, grinning at the man's answer, but he grew serious and turned his attention to his ship and crew.
"Ready the sails, it's time to leave this miserable town," Dean commanded, the authoritative tone in his voice crystal clear to his crew members. He appreciated the collective "yes sir," that the entirety of the band of pirates replied with.
Dean felt a wave of nostalgia as he watched his band of pirates work hard, everyone rushing about as excitement buzzed among them. Freedom was near, but so was the authority. As the captain continued to watch the crowd he began to make out faces, and he grimaced as he saw a particular face leading the charge.
"Captain," Dean look towards the voice that had called forth his attention back to the ship. He locked eyes with Balthazar, who was grinning even bigger than usual.
"We're good to go," Balthazar continued, his gaze flicking towards the royal officers now on the pier.
The first mate watched with delight dancing in his eyes as the captain cleared his throat before shouting out to his crew.
"All right you good for nothings, set sail!"
"Aye, Sir!" The crew responded loudly, and they watched as the breeze began to carry the sails. The ship slowly began to pull away from the pier just as the first of the mass of soldiers reached the ship just as Balthazar and a few of the others disconnected the ramp from the Impala; tossing it towards the sailors.
Dean watched as Zachariah reached where the boat had been, his eyes blazing as he locked on to the captain. With anger the leader shouted out to Dean Winchester and his receding figure.
"We're coming for you boy!" Dean smirked, and he grabbed the hat from his head, holding it high above him with a waving manner.
"I can't wait for the reunion!" The Winchester replied. Now the pirate captain's attention was focused on Zachariah as the man turned to face his army. With a pointed finger the older man focused the attention of the crowd onto him and the object of desire; the Vessel.
The ship sat proudly in the port, its sleek light form standing out in the darkness unlike the Impala, which was gradually melding more and more into the shadows.
"Prepare this ship!" Zachariah commanded before casting one more glance of ferocity onto the Impala and its captain, "You can't run forever Winchester!"
Gabriel looked at his brother, eyebrows raised in a questioning look. The older brother's arms were crossed, hugging his chest as they both stared for a moment. Words were being gathered by both of them, and Gabriel acted first.
"Well this is just how I wanted to spend my time," the sarcasm laced thick into his voice as he glanced around the small room. "Thoughts, Cassie?"
Castiel was seething, his older brother watched as the young Novak kicked the wooden boards on the side of the ship, throwing a couple of hits at the strong ship's walls as well. He turned back to face Gabriel, who noticed the beginnings of a bruise forming on his brother's jaw.
"Who'd you piss off this time?" Castiel raised an eyebrow before seeing that his brother was talking about his jaw. The former sailor touched it lightly before looking up.
"I tried to fight off that pirate who pinned me down earlier; tried to catch him by surprise."
"The one who made the grand entrance? Guess you're on a losing streak now, huh?" Castiel glared at his older sibling, who couldn't help but smirk. Gabriel stretched out on the bench that sat near the ship's wall, his back resting against the cold metal bars that formed their cage.
"Well, Grumpy, that was a great plan of yours. 'We don't have time to alert the guards,' you said, 'they'll be too slow because of their size'. I always knew you were the smart one out of the whole family."
Castiel's eyes narrowed at his laidback brother, whose hands now held the back of his head. Silence followed before Castiel's eyes dropped down to the floor, shuffling his feet as he thought to himself.
After the silence had settled, the younger brother sighed and took after Gabriel. He sat down on the floor, legs stretched out as he leaned back against the formation of bars.
"I'm sorry about this, Gabriel," he muttered, his eyes flicking around the room, everywhere but Gabriel's quiet form. His ears perked at the sound of his older brother releasing a sigh.
"It's okay Cassie. We're not dead yet," Castiel snorted and he turned his head towards his brother before tilting his head, his eyes squinting.
In his brother's hand was a small bag, and he watched as his brother reached into it before pulling out a couple of candied oranges. The older Novak stopped looking out the small window and back at his confused brother. Gabriel grew defensive.
"What, I just remembered I had them, okay?" Castiel's head remained at an angle as he continued to stare at his brother.
"You," he began slowly as he tried to process his brother's actions, "were just taken captive onto a pirate's ship, and you are now eating candied oranges in a cell."
Gabriel smiled sheepishly as he shrugged, "what can I say, everyone has their quirks, Cassie."
Castiel shook his head, a low chuckle rumbling from him as he rested his head back against the wall and looked up, "I don't think I'll ever understand your actions, Gabriel."
The two grew silent once more, save for Gabriel chewing on his precious sweets.
Dean's heart was pounding as he watched the port and the gradually fading mass of soldiers along with their esteemed leader. As soon as it was nothing but a speck, the captain released a breath he didn't know he had been holding. Already he was going to have someone breathing down his neck, trying to find him and his crew.
"Can't I catch a break, is that too much to ask?" the Winchester muttered to himself before looking back out towards the spacious sea ahead of him. His attention was pulled though as a voice called out from the deck.
"First day back and you're already staring off into oblivion captain?" His eyes chased the owner of the voice, and he grinned at the woman who stood before him, hands resting on her hips.
"Lots to process and plan, Charlie." Charlie made her ascent up the stairs before standing next to Dean, his grip relaxing on the wheel as she approached. The redhead joined him as they watched as some hustled about, while others began to talk to one another; sharing stories from their time away and the times recalled.
"It's like deja vu, in a good kind of way," Charlie said, rolling up the sleeves of her loose white shirt, "Especially Balthazar, the guy's practically glowing." The two watched as the first mate ran about, changing between chatting with his fellow pirates or ordering them around.
"Yeah," Dean agreed, his eyes following Balthazar's bustling form, "I think the pub thing just wasn't his scene."
"Oh it was," Charlie replied quickly, a grin appearing on her face, "you should've seen it during late nights; the things that man can make women do."
The pirate captain glanced at his companion, her eyes mischievous and distant as she recalled many images. Dean snorted and shook his head while trying to hide his smile, "down girl." She winked before giving a goofy smile.
"Are you going to address the rest of the crew?" the redhead asked. "You know, what you've been doing while you were gone?"
Dean's face fell slightly, he cleared his throat and his grip on the wheel tightened slightly.
"It's complicated. Charlie, could you get Balthazar to handle the wheel for a bit? I need to talk to Bobby."
The curiosity was blatant in the pirate's green eyes, but she nodded. "Aye, aye cappy," giving a fake salute she jumped down the staircase leading up to the wheel and searched out the active first mate.
Once more Dean sighed and released the wheel after noticing his white knuckles. Descending the staircase, the pirate captain made for his chambers. He held onto the doorknob for a moment, realizing how long it's been since he was last inside. Slowly his hand turned the knob.
And that's all for today everybody! Thank you for reading, and I'll try to bring more chapters out ASAP! Please review, favorite, and follow if you want to :)