Author's Note:

I'm sorry for the late update, school starts on the 26th and I was running around getting stuff ready. I'm all set now so hopefully I have the time between full time school, homework, and 25 hours a week at work XD I'm sure I'll find a way to do this, I love writing after all.

Thank you to my readers, to my followers, and especially the ones who review. I read each one, on every story, I'm sorry that there's no way to really reply to you, if you feel like talking to me ever I'm cool with PM's :)

Childhood Sweetheart World: Part 4

The water pipes in the town had been destroyed, busted open and luckily for the boys, a few were spouting the cleansing liquid straight out of the ground. Dean went right for one and let it power spray him all over, getting the guts and blood removed lickety-split. The high pressure almost lifted him off the ground, it was strong and to him it felt something like a massage. Of course, that didn't mean the others would be able to handle it, Dean figured it'd hurt at least a little.

Sam eyed the geyser suspiciously, unsure of whether or not he wanted even risk it. High-pressure water wasn't exactly a pleasant or refreshing thing. That didn't stop Jet though, he got a running start and jumped right through the spray as if it were a sprinkler. Just like the other one it was high pressure and Jet nearly wiped out but he managed to at least remain on his feet. Sam had to hold his breath for a second to keep his temper down, "I'm astounded at how reckless you are, especially after working so hard to keep us safe." It was evident in his voice and he made sure to emphasize the last part for Jet's sake. He'd gotten yelled at for being so reckless before and now Jet had no qualms about leaping through an untested spray of water.

Jet however just shrugged and smirked at him, "I've got monster guts on me," he ran his hand through the mop of wet hair stuck to his forehead and slicked it back, Sam had to remind himself he was somewhat annoyed and not lose his train of thought in Jet's movement. "Sorry if that bugs you."

Sam pursed his lips together but shook his head, "Fine, if you're okay with it then it's fine if I do." He clenched his jaw and ran to jump through the reversed waterfall, it felt weird and definitely threw off his balance. For a moment he thought he'd stumble and fall on his face but Jet was right there to help him out. Sam's heart thumped rapidly for a few seconds before he managed to calm it, "Thanks." He muttered and stepped back, moving his hair away from his face too. Jet was just grinning at him.

Dean stepped off his geyser as soon as he figured he was clean enough but he didn't get very far, Castiel shoved him back over it, "Not done yet, gory-boy."

He scoffed and moved away from it on the other side, "Well then I'll just do it the fun way." He smirked at Jet who gave a thumb's up before he bolted and hopped through the water like the other's had done. "C'mon Cas!"

Castiel raised an eyebrow at them, a little standoffish for a few seconds but that broke soon enough. A smile spread his lips and he darted forward to join the others, tackling Dean through the stream. Dean was sturdy as hell so he didn't fall over, that of course didn't mean he wasn't shocked and yelping in surprise.

There was a lot of fooling around that followed, they needed a moment to unwind after something as hair-raising as the gigas had been. None of them had felt that shaky and scared in a long while, Sam's hands were stilly trembling, Dean's legs felt like jell-o, Jet wasn't sure if his elated state of mind was based in the fact he thought he was going to die or not, and Castiel still hadn't quite managed to calm his nerves. It was relaxing, like they were all children again or getting back to the core feeling.

Cleaning was simple, a little rough and a bit painful at times but the boys were soggy and ready to go. Dean grinned at Castiel who only rolled his eyes and laughed in return. Dean's hair had been moldable so they'd spiked it into a sort of Mohawk shape and he'd left it that way, water still dribbling down his face from the last time he'd leapt through the geysers. Jet had started a trend and he had to say, it was pretty fun.

Cas however had grown a little less comfortable with the thought the longer they'd spent goofing off. It hadn't hit him until after they were done of course, but he still couldn't shake the needy, anxious feeling that pestered him. They didn't have time to play, spending unnecessary time in worlds wasn't going to finish their quest and it certainly wouldn't make anything easier in the end. The Void grew stronger with each passing moment, maybe it was marginable but it didn't alter that truth. The world they were in was a little shaken up but they didn't have the time to fix it or explain the citizens what hit them.

He opened the portal and they all stepped through without having to speak much, when Cas was done they had to go and that was that. Not one of them expected anything different than the usual sensation, the rush of air past them as they travelled to the mainline road. But nothing like that happened this time around, they didn't touch down on a single solid object and suddenly felt like they were weightless.

The Rift

"What the fuck is happening!?" Jet was the first to be vocal and Dean was right behind him.

"I don't know!"

"Real helpful man, but how 'bout next time maybe have a freaking answer!?" The sarcasm in Jet's temper tantrum made Dean chuckle despite the situation, it might've been because he legitimately found Jet's short temper funny or possibly because he'd just taken out the biggest living thing he'd ever seen. Dean wasn't really sure but it didn't change the fact that he was still snickering about it.

"Fuck." Castiel cursed a few times and snarled at the area around them, "It's a rift."

"Dean made a face and shrugged, "So what? We just make another portal."

"Doesn't work that way," Cas shot him a warning look for saying stupid things, "I've been in one before, you can't get out until you complete each task and action the rift asks of you. The celestials told me that it's very important to listen to it, if you fail to do as it asks it'll throw you into the Void."

"What does it ask?" Jet raised an eyebrow, having calmed down a bit since someone seemed to know what was going on. Not that Castiel's tone of voice was comforting but Jet still felt better about it.

"Anything and everything," Cas sighed and ran his hands through his hair tiredly, "It can go from 'kill your family' to 'tango' to 'masturbation' and everything in between."

Jet and Dean looked at one another then back to Castiel, "Let's hope for that last one." They both said without having to plan it or anything. Cas only rolled his eyes again, their commentary not needing much more than that from him.

"Hold on," Sam piped in, steadying himself by taking a hold of Dean. He didn't like the no gravity feeling, it was unsettling. "Where did it come from? Is it a Void creature?"

"It exists naturally in the same time and space as all of the worlds do." Castiel explained as he started to look around at the vast emptiness around them. It felt like they were somewhere but nowhere at the same time, the feeling wasn't something that could be described in words. Surrounded by innumerable things but nothing could be seen. "It's as neutral as they come, not part of the Void at all so the usual fighting tactics are out. The rift is more of a sentient world, we can't fight worlds we can fight the things inside them. What's bugging me is that it rare does anything at all, I've only been caught in one once in my times passing through dimensions and that was over a century ago."

"We must have stumbled across it, it catches things as they pass through portals, or I guess space and time in our case, right?" Dean shrugged, looking as though it wasn't that big of a deal. "Let's just do what it wants and be on our way, nothing to worry about."

"Except if it gives us an order to murder each other we'll have some difficulties." Sam frowned at his brother, not agreeing with the nonchalance of his mood.

The bickering would have continued but the sound of an unfamiliar voice broke their conversation. "Welcome," it was so gentle and calm, lacking ay form of tension or anxiety as well as any emotion. All four stopped in their tracks to listen, it wasn't hard to do really, they felt somewhat at ease hearing it. Cas was aware of the rift's ability to calm its inhabitants, it wasn't a bad thing, some of the tasks could be nerve-wracking.

Sam leaned over to Castiel, glancing down at the shorter male briefly before looking around to see if there really was something speaking or if the voice truly was coming from everywhere around them. "How many things are we going to have to do?" He whispered, his attention back to Cas now that he was sure the rift was a sentient world.

"As many as it wants," Cas replied softly.

"Dean Marion Winchester, do a one handed hand stand." The rift spoke again and as it did a surface appeared beneath Dean's feet and gravity returned within his immediate space. He looked a bit disoriented with the switch from weightless to weighted but he recovered enough to stand straight.

Castiel meanwhile had snorted at the name, "Marion? Really?"

Dean's cheeks flushed red and he pursed his lips at his partner, "After my mom, Mary." He wasn't ever embarrassed by his mom's name but hearing Cas laugh at him for it was convincing enough to bring a warm colour to his face.

"Sorry, sorry," Cas smiled and shook his head before motioning to the floor. "Well get on with it, then."

"Sounds too easy," Dean frowned and looked down at his feet skeptically.

"That's because it is, just do it."

Dean obliged of course, flipping up onto one hand and holding it for several moments. It really was easy for him, especially compared to the balancing acts he had to pull while fighting the gigas. "Seriously, how long do I have to do this?" No sooner had the words left his mouth did he feel gravity leave him again, floating midair helplessly upside down.

As Dean flailed a little Jet grinned, he saw an opportunity and took it for himself. He took hold of Dean's leg and pushed it, making Dean spin around like a Ferris wheel at an amusement park. "AGH! Dude not cool!" Dean shouted as the world around him flew by over and over again, "Seriously! Jet you little shit! Stop me! Quit laughin'!" He flailed some more but it ended soon enough, he was thankful to feel Sam's steadying hands on him and putting him right side up again. "Thanks Sammy."

"You're welcome." Sam smiled, his face a little strained from holding back laughter. Cas and Jet couldn't though, snickering and throwing their heads back because it was just too much to see Dean that ridiculous.

"Samuel Jonathan Winchester, have a staring contest with the person nearest you."

"Similar story with the middle name?" Cas raised an eyebrow as Dean nodded quickly, trying to avoid his gaze. "Sam got the better deal I think." He smiled at the grumpy expression the other priest shot him.

Dean couldn't help the grin tugging at his mouth though, despite all of his efforts to be upset. "Shut it." The warning came out broken and edged with laughter, all the more reason for the others to crack up with him. "Seriously though," he looked to Sam who still had a hand on his shoulder, "Looks like I'm closest."

Sam nodded and positioned himself across from Dean, both staring intently at the other. The rift never said a single thing about Sam having to win the contest.

Cas and Jet stood by to watch, watch Sam's eyelids twitch as the burning sensation no doubt settled in. Watch as Dean's eyes bulged, fighting off the urge to just blink once. Sam bit his lower lip and dragged it between his teeth harmlessly, hoping to distract himself. Dean adjusted his stance and put on the 'big brother showdown' face, his lips almost pouting forward in that model way he always did. Jet nudged Castiel playfully and nodded toward them, "My money's on Dean."

"We're not betting on their contest." Cas frowned at him and looked forward again. "But… why Dean?"

"Dean never loses these things, kicks my ass every time."

Cas was quiet for a few seconds before he nodded firmly, "You're on."

Luckily for Castiel they didn't put any real money on it because moments later Sam had to blink, and the moment he did he threw his head back with a loud curse. "Son of a bitch! Every time!"

"Ah yeah, beat you!" Dean fist pumped once, as much of an older brother victory move as anything else.

"Castiel Dimitri Alexander Winchester, whistle a tune."

Dean wanted to comment on Cas' middle names too but he couldn't think of anything to say, it sounded cool, like his parents wanted a badass kid so they named him appropriately. He ran a hand through his hair mindlessly as Castiel puckered his lips and started to whistle. It wasn't a song Dean recognized right away but after a few seconds it hit him; Cas was whistling Metallica. And by the sound of it he'd chosen Some Kind of Monster. Dean hummed it to himself when he was scared or needed to calm down, most any kind of Metallica really but he preferred the empowering ones.

Castiel had opened an eye to look at him during the little song and Dean could have sworn both of their hearts beat in time, a little tinge of pink edged in Cas' cheeks and Dean could feel that familiar heat in his. Dean mouthed the words 'I love you' and it ended Castiel's song, his mouth unable to whistle anymore with a smile pulling at it. Sam and Jet weren't quite sure of what had transpired between the other two, and that just might've been what made it even sweeter.

"Jethro Eli Tull, give a performance no shorter than three minutes."

Since they all seemed to be on the page of listening to each other's middle names Sam really wanted to know Jet's. He wrinkled his nose and looked at Jet after hearing it, "I don't think I've ever heard your full name before."

"Not like Dean runs around calling me Jethro," Jet smirked at him and shrugged.

Sam's face scrunched even further the more he thought about it, "Your initials spell J. E. T."

"So?"

"Your initials spell Jet." Sam threw his arms up, "What the hell!?"

"My parents saw an opportunity and took it?"

Sam was in quiet disbelief at that fact as he listened to the slow disgruntled realization noises coming from Dean and Castiel.

"Dude!" Dean laughed, his smile big enough to push up the little wrinkles by his eyes, "How did I not notice this? I've been your friend for how long?"

Jet shrugged again before clapping his hands together, "How old are we again?" He grinned and jumped up and down a little, amping himself up. "Okie dokie let's get this show on the road. Minimum three-minute performance sounds like song and dance to me. Gimme something to work with rift, c'mon!"

Cas was about to tell him it didn't work that way but the tune to a song started to play around them, a solid surface appearing beneath Jet's feet like it had Dean's. Cas could feel the excitement in the space they were floating in, the rift hadn't dealt with friendly, high-energy people before and its emotions started to show. Cas hadn't even known the rift was capable of that kind of thing.

Dean and Sam knew Jet could freestyle with the best of them, he was pretty talented but it helped that his self-esteem was unchallengeable. The second the music filtered through Jet was moving, Sam recognized it as something he'd heard Jet listening to a long time back already; Do It Like This by the Black Eyed Peas. Dean and Jet didn't have the same taste in music by far, Jet really enjoyed the upbeat stuff, and it really did suit him sometimes. Of course that didn't limit him to one genre but whenever he would dance it'd be to something more like that, something he could really enjoy and express something playful.

Not only could he move like he'd practiced a dance routine for it, Jet could also sing each lyric perfectly. His facial expressions matched the words, the feeling of his performance and body language. Sam had danced with him once before and had seen Jet do it, but he'd never paid attention like he was right then, with that strange tingling in his body and warmth pooling in his belly. Jet could really move, he was flexible and fluid, Sam had a hard time keep his eyes away from how easy Jet made it look. Sam and Dean had been to dancing classes but they didn't exactly dance like that. It was ballroom, it was tango, some ballet, but not a whole lot of hip-hop or break-dancing or whatever Jet would call what he was doing.

Five and a half minutes later Jet stopped, his torso moving almost like a wave as he breathed, panting and trying to keep it to himself. "Thanks rift, you rock." He called to the open space, not expecting anything in return but the darkness they were accustomed to flickered with excitable lights.

"Never have I seen a group like you. I will let you out after this simple request; Samuel is to share a kiss with Jethro, and Castiel is to share a kiss with Dean."

Dean and Cas looked at one another, they'd been close, they were close, they loved each other and they knew it. A kiss wasn't anything crazy, a kiss was something they'd both enjoy doing and it just felt fitting. Cas went to his partner's side and wrapped his arms around Dean's shoulders, their foreheads coming together so they could gaze into each other's eyes for a few seconds. "Last time I had struggled with the rift," Cas whispered with a soft giggle, "You three are amazing."

Dean smiled and put his arms around Cas' waist, tucking him in closer until their bodies were flushed. "The only thing I can say to that is you'd better not let us go."

"Never." Cas tilted his head and locked lips with Dean, both closed their eyes and sunk into it, the warmth and depth as they came together. Cas sighed and leaned on Dean, loving the embrace and the feeling of his partner right there with him. They finally let it go and put their foreheads together again. "I love you, Dean."

"I love you too." Dean ran his hand through Castiel's hair a few times, he glanced over at Sam and Jet a little worriedly. Sam had had trouble back in that one world, struggling with feelings and emotions surrounding Jet, Dean really hoped that wouldn't wind up sending them into the Void.

Jet would have been lying if he'd ever said he wasn't worried about the same thing, he tried to get his breathing more under control as he looked over at the younger Winchester; Sam was the one who was supposed to initiate judging by the rift's wording.

And while they all expected Sam to struggle with doing it, Sam was standing there more concerned with the thought that he might look too excited to kiss Jet. After that performance? Sam was willing to stick his tongue down Jet's throat, the question was more so how should he kiss and not if he was going to. He moved to Jet's side, curling his lips in and pressing them together consciously. He could see Jet's neck was tense, his chest moving slower though still strained, brown eyes fixed on Sam's face as if he were about to get the answer to a life or death question.

Sam reached and grabbed the back of Jet's head, forcing him forward and connecting their mouths in the first real kiss they'd share. Sam could feel Jet's subtle gasp, the shocked hesitation before reciprocating the kiss. But when Jet did return it he deepened it, saturated it, and made it mean more than Sam could explain. Sam's hand slipped from Jet's hair to cradle the base of his neck, feeling the irregular heartbeat only reminded him of the anima, of the scenes he'd witnessed and the way the sound of Jet's heart grew louder each time Sam made an appearance.

'It's staring you in the face, Sam. It's always been there.' His mind told him as he realized they hadn't stepped away from each other, they hadn't stopped kissing and their mouths continued to move together even though Dean and Castiel were excitedly trying to keep themselves from interrupting, and Sam couldn't bring himself to think past the movement and the touch. Jet's hands were on him, those strong arms around him again, he didn't want to think of anything else.

Of course it couldn't stay that way, as much as his heart and body were aching for it. Sam broke it off, he knew that if he didn't Jet wouldn't, he could feel it in the subtle desperation, hear it in the softest little gasps Jet tried to stifle. He was about to speak but the rift started to shift and move around them. Sam didn't want to be worried but it wasn't normal, or at least he didn't think so.

"When the rift let's us go it puts us into another world." Castiel explained as the environment started to spazz out. "Don't worry, it'll be like going through a portal from the mainline."

Cas was the only calm one, however. The rift fell away from them very suddenly and the feeling of vertigo was enough to make them almost sick. It was very jarring and for Sam kind of upsetting, he hadn't quite wanted to let go of Jet yet but the moment the portal kicked in Jet was gone. Just like when they had all held hands way back in the first worlds, it didn't matter. He sighed and closed his eyes, waiting to see where he'd end up next and what kind of creature he'd possibly run into.