"No."
Ketch stared at him. "What do you mean, 'No?'"
"No," Castiel repeated stubbornly. "I don't want to go out and I'm not going."
Ketch pinched the bridge of his nose. "What did Winchester say to you?"
"Nothing," Castiel snapped irritably. "You can check the cameras for yourself. I do not want to go out without Dean. You can't make me go. So there!" The dragon threw himself backward onto the bed and went into a strop, his back to Ketch.
Ketch made some sputtering sounds. Castiel heard footsteps as the lieutenant walked around the bed to face him. "I say, whatever brought this on? Castiel, sweetheart, you…"
Castiel flopped over, once again putting his back to Ketch.
"Oh come now, this is childish!" Ketch exclaimed.
"I don't care."
Ketch breathed hard through his nose. Castiel felt the bed sink a bit behind him before Ketch's hand gently touched his shoulder. "Talk to me, darling."
"No. And take your hand off of me. Dean doesn't want you to touch me, so stop."
Ketch seemed to freeze. After a moment, the hand withdrew. "Come now, we've always gotten on, haven't we?" Ketch asked quietly. "I cannot help what our superiors decide. Surely you don't blame me for what's happened?"
Castiel only grunted in reply.
"I'd rather thought we were friends," Ketch offered. "I know I care very much for you. Don't you care anything at all for me?"
That made Castiel grimace. He turned his head slightly toward the man. "This isn't about you. It's about Dean. I bonded with him and he is the one I want. Why are people trying to separate us?"
"Well, you're hardly being separated. He's right in the humanoid habitat with you every night and most of the day when you're not training," Ketch pointed out.
Castiel scowled. "I want him in my training."
Ketch sighed. "That isn't going to happen. Now, I was planning to tell you later, but I suppose we should have this conversation now." The man took a deep breath. "I know that Winchester and I have had our differences. I'll admit, I'm jealous. It's more than not getting to be the one to bond with you, even more than losing Mick. I have never felt this way about anyone before. You're all I think about. I only want you to be happy, and from what I see? You'll never be happy with him."
Castiel didn't respond.
"Come on, love," Ketch pleaded. "Don't shut me out. I only want what's best for you. I've been here for you this entire time, and I'll be here after he's gone, and…"
"After he's gone?" Castiel got up on his elbows to look at Ketch in alarm. "What do you mean, after he's gone?"
"I mean someone like him doesn't stick around," Ketch replied. "Surely you're aware of this. You know his history."
Castiel did know Dean's history, but he still frowned at Ketch. "It's different with us. We're bondmates."
"But Castiel…"
"No!" Castiel sat up and glowered at Ketch. "I want my bondmate. I refuse to do any more training until he's here. Now go away!" Ignoring the astonished look on Ketch's face, he went back into a strop with his back to Ketch.
Ketch was quiet for a moment. "So that's your final response? You're refusing to cooperate unless Winchester is involved?"
"Yes."
Ketch sighed again. "Let me see what I can do."
Castiel watched him as the man headed out, feeling deeply satisfied. Still, what the man had let slip had him concerned. He'd seen something in the man's eyes when he'd called Ketch out on saying Dean was going away. Something wasn't right. Well, now they knew he wouldn't cooperate without Dean. That should keep his bondmate safe.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Dean was being rushed into the habitat. He quickly went to Castiel, flinching once when the door locked. "Cass? What's going on? I just got dragged in here from the motorpool, and I thought I was scheduled to be there all day while you were training?"
Castiel quickly sat up and embraced his bondmate. "I fixed everything," he announced proudly. "If these people won't let you be a part of my training, then I'm not going to train."
"What?! You can't do that!" Dean exclaimed, aghast.
That confused the dragon. "Why not?"
"Because your life literally depends on how well you do in your training, that's why," Dean explained. "The only reason they're investing all this time and money into training you is so you can fight the other dragons. The moment they decide you're more trouble than you're worth, they'll put you down like Lucifer."
Castiel frowned. "If they put me down, what happens to you?"
Dean sputtered. "Who gives a shit when you'll be…?"
"I give a shit," Castiel insisted, seizing his bondmate's wrist. "What would happen to you if they put me down?"
"I imagine I'd either get dishonorably discharged or, more likely, go to the stockades," Dean explained, looking upset. "I've pretty much burned every bridge I've got. The only good things in my life right now are my little brother Sam and you, and Sam wants nothing to do with me. Bitch won't even answer my calls." Twisting his wrist free, Dean took Castiel's shoulders and pulled him in for a tight hug. "I can't lose you, ok?" he said softly. "You have to go along with their training."
"But I don't want to without you," Castiel insisted.
"We don't always get what we want, buddy," Dean said softly, releasing the dragon. "Don't worry so much about me. I need you to behave and work with Ketch like they want you to. I'll be around, cheering you on as always." He smiled. "Will you do that for me?"
Castiel frowned. "So I can't refuse to train?"
"No, you can't refuse to train."
"Fine, I'll train, but I want you to be part of it," the dragon declared stubbornly. "I'm sick of being separated from you."
Dean groaned and rubbed at his face with a hand.
Castiel chewed on his lip, thinking. He considered what Dean had said, weighed it against the emotion he could sense from his bondmate, and considered their situation. He looked around the humanoid habitat. Dean was right, it was a cage. The domed room behind it really wasn't any more than a bigger cage, with solid metal on the walls and ceiling instead of bars. Dean was being watched nearly as much as Castiel himself was. Now, Dean was being sent back to the motorpool, where he'd been before he'd been brought here. Dean was sure he was being phased out of Castiel's training. It seemed he was correct. Now Ketch thought Dean wasn't going to be around. What did that mean?
When the answer came to him, the dragon had to stifle his growl. No. He would never, ever let anyone separate his bondmate from him. Quickly, he made a decision. "Why can't you be just a small part of it?" he asked. Getting up, he started pacing. "What if I make a deal? I'll go with Ketch today like they want, listen to what he says, and carry out this training mission. Then I'll go out and fly afterward. In exchange, I only want one thing. I just want to do a few exercises with you riding me afterward, just one more time so we can both remember it. That isn't too much to ask. Let me have that."
"Cass, you are really pushing things here," Dean warned. "These guys are not playing around. I'm already on thin ice. If we keep it up, we're both going to end up in the soup."
Castiel was listening with his arms crossed, scowling at Dean. "I understand. Will you tell them what I said?"
"Yes, dammit, I'll tell them," Dean said through gritted teeth. "Just don't expect anything to come of it. And for the love of God, play nice today when you go out with Ketch."
"I fully intend to behave when I go out with him, but only if you get to ride me afterward," Castiel declared, still scowling over crossed arms. "Otherwise, I'm going on strike."
"Going on strike?!" Dean threw up his hands, looking up as if to Heaven for assistance. "I said I'll tell them!"
"Good!"
Shaking his head, Dean went to the door and knocked on it. "Let me out. I need to talk to the colonel."
Castiel watched his bondmate go, taking note of how the door opened. There was a print reader on this side of the door. Most likely, there was one on the other, as well. Since Dean had to wait for someone to let him out, it seemed Dean's prints were not capable of opening it. Castiel looked at his own hand and frowned. He doubted his prints could open it, either. How Gabriel had managed it on his own was a mystery. Jimmy Novak had been an MP and knew a lot about security measures. Castiel had been awake late last night, lying in bed with his bondmate with his eyes closed, meditating, trying to regain more of his human memories. It was something he'd started doing a lot lately. His memories were still fuzzy, but the dragon had been able to pull up a great deal. Unfortunately, Jimmy hadn't been one for subterfuge. Castiel's greatest source of information on trickery and chicanery was one Dean Winchester. Dean had given Jimmy and his fellow MPs no end of trouble. As much as Jimmy had been attracted to the private, he'd been only too aware that Winchester could not be trusted. One of Dean's favorite things to do had been to throw a fit to try to get his way, only to "compromise" and get what he really wanted. Based on Castiel's study of the security measures on the base, he felt that his plan would work. He'd done all he could do for now. It was time to, as Dean put it, "play nice."
These people were determined to take Dean away from him. Castiel was just as determined to make sure that never happened.
Getting into his flight uniform for one last ride was depressing as hell. Part of Dean wished that Cass would just go with Ketch and get it over with. The sure knowledge that he would most likely never ride the dragon again after this made Dean's stomach churn. While he still had no desire to fly, riding around on the great beast was a kick. He'd miss it. It's for the best, he firmly reminded himself. Yeah, they're probably going to start locking you in that cage with Cass full time before much longer, but at least Cass will be alive. If it hadn't been for everything that happened, you'd still be behind bars and Novak would be dead. This is a way better outcome. Suck it up, soldier.
Dean dreaded when Castiel would start fighting. The idea of his sweet, childlike dragon coming back torn and scorched from fighting with another dragon made him feel sick. What if he was badly injured, or even killed? And there were two of them out there! How could Cass possibly be expected to fight two other dragons? They'd said he still wasn't even fully grown. Michael was huge, and Raphael was probably just as big. Then there was Gabriel. The wayward dragon was a wildcard Dean was trying hard not to think about. If the worst happened and all four dragons met in battle, would Gabriel come to Cass's aid? Or would he join his older brothers in taking Cass down?
Nope. He couldn't think about that now. He already knew Cass could read his thoughts. He had no idea how much, if any, of his emotions the dragon could pick up. It wouldn't do to project anything but encouragement today. As the end of his training and the start of his fighting loomed, Cass would need all the help he could get.
Dean headed out in his gear, finding his dragon purring and already lying down on his scaly stomach to ease Dean's transition into the saddle. The great head nuzzled him, nose bumping Dean's rear to encourage him toward the ladder. "Alright, alright, geez!" Dean complained, laughing. "I'm going already."
Cass only purred louder as Dean climbed up to the saddle. Dean hoped Ketch, who was standing nearby, was paying attention. Cass never purred when Ketch was riding him, never offered his head or wings to help him settle in, and always stood upright. Sometimes, the dragon didn't even stand still while Ketch mounted, while he was always stationary for Dean. Dean took a small measure of satisfaction from that. It was the last he'd likely get for a while.
As soon as Dean was up and safely strapped in, Cass set out for the training field at a brisk pace. A very brisk pace. The dragon was practically… No, Dean realized, the dragon was running, galloping full-out, ignoring the shouts of the handlers he was rapidly leaving behind. He also wasn't heading toward the training field, but away from it, racing through the parking lot, the spikes on his tail carving gashes into vehicles as he lashed it around. It seemed very much as thought Cass was intentionally trying to disable the vehicles that were there in case they had to chase him. Then Cass violently whipped his head to the side, throwing a VW beetle directly onto the waiting helicopter and Dean knew none of it was by accident. By the yelling over the radio, everyone else had realized it, too. "Cass, what are you doing?" Dean exclaimed, stomping on the brake. "You're going to get us in trouble if you… Oh, fuck!"
With a roar, the dragon spread his wings and leaped into the air. Dean screamed bloody murder, clinging to the handles and trying to press himself further into the saddle. Cass's great wings, strong from so much training, beat hard.
"Dean, it's alright," the dragon soothed. "I need you to trust me."
"Trust you?" Dean exclaimed. "Cass, can't you hear everyone yelling? You gotta land, and fast, before I throw up all over your back!" The dragon made a steep turn and Dean's stomach lurched, nearly suiting actions to words. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
"Can you talk to me with your mind? I don't want anyone to hear us."
Dean only moaned in reply.
"Don't worry," Cass soothed. "I'll protect you."
"Protect me?" Dean managed to send. "From what?"
"I won't let anyone separate us," Cass vowed, punctuating his words with another roar. "I'll never let anyone take you away."
"What are you talking about? I'm locked in your cage with you most of the time. No one is going to…"
"Take off one of your gloves and put your hand on my neck," Cass ordered.
"Do what now? Cass, I'm not going to…"
"Just do it!" the dragon ordered.
Confused, Dean managed to pry one hand free from his death grip on the handle, managed to pull the glove off with his other hand without letting go, and tentatively put his hand on Cass's scaly neck just before the saddle.
Suddenly, Dean was back in Cass's cage, sitting at the table and looking through the window to where the colonel was sitting with Ketch and that bitchy Dr. Tapping, looking back at him. Dr. Tapping was speaking.
"We've been monitoring your blood levels. When your eyes started to glow, your blood contained high levels of an unidentified hormone we called Tapping-D. I believe it is this hormone that readies your body for the process of bonding. While we are not able to identify all the chemicals and amounts present in the hormone, what we have been able to synthesize might be enough to re-trigger your bonding cycle. Once Winchester is removed far from the base…"
"No! Don't take Dean away," said Cass's voice right in Dean's ear. Dean's hands hurt a little, like they were being clenched, but when Dean tried to look around, he couldn't move. His eyes were fixed on the knowing smirk of Dr. Tapping.
"Castiel?" Dean's eyes moved to Ketch without his consent. "I'm sorry, but it would appear that Winchester doesn't want to be bonded with you. You wouldn't want to make him stay when he doesn't want to, do you?"
"What the actual fuck is going on?!" Dean exclaimed.
Suddenly, wind was hitting him. Dean blinked, realizing with dismay that he was back on Castiel's back, still flying through the air at an ungodly altitude. He yelped and clutched at the controls, desperately guiding Cass down.
Cass snorted, still flying. "Dean, listen to me. I showed you my memories. They have something, Tapping-D, that they wanted to use to make me bond with Ketch so they can take you away. They weren't going to let you stay with me. They wanted to separate us."
Dean felt cold from more than the wind. "Son of a bitch. They… That motherfucker Ketch was trying to steal you! I fucking knew it! And those bastards were doing everything they could to make it happen."
"It will never happen," Cass snarled. "That's why I tricked them into letting you ride me today, so I could fly us away. They'll never find us now!"
"The hell they wont," Dean corrected. "Cass, there's a tracking beacon in this saddle. There's another one in my helmet. They're tracking us right now."
Beneath him, Dean felt the dragon stiffen. Then, to his horror, Cass went into a steep dive. "I'll land. You get them out!"
"Right. Land. Landing is good."
Cass snorted. Dean didn't care. The sweet, wonderful ground was coming up fast. Cass banked, braking in the air and coming in for a surprisingly-gentle landing in an overgrown field. Dean realized with a chuckle that the bone-jarring landings Cass always provided Ketch were yet another form of protest.
As soon as they landed, Dean was moving. His flying outfit was equipped with an emergency knife. He used it to cut into the saddle where the simulator had taught him the location beacon, as well as the dragonback version of a black box, was located. Both went flying into the field. Then he dug into his helmet, trying to get the radio and tracker out. After a moment, he gave up and simply threw the helmet. He quickly reattached his harness. "Ok, Cass, settled. Now, we really don't have to… flyyyyy!"
Dean would never admit the high-pitched, girlish scream that tore from his throat when the dragon once again leaped into the air. This time, at least Cass flew low. Apparently, the brain-damaged dragon remembered enough to try to stay below radar. But then, to Dean's alarm, the dragon belched a series of fireballs at an old barn and farmhouse. Both were clearly abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Dean couldn't understand why Cass felt the need to burn them to the ground. If the locator beacons hadn't told the people who were no doubt chasing after them where they were, then the rising smoke certainly would.
Then Cass did something that completely confused Dean. He landed. "Get down, Dean."
Puzzled, Dean obeyed. "What are you… Oh," he said, seeing Cass quickly morph into his human form. "Ok, that would make it a lot harder to find you, but… Whoa!"
Cass had seized Dean's wrist in a grip like iron and, to Dean's shock, was racing toward the burning barn. "Cass, what are you doing? It's on fire, we… CASS!"
Without slowing, the dragon raced right into the barn. Smoke and fire were all around. Dean dug in his heels, but Cass was just too strong. Before Dean could do anything to stop him, Cass had dragged him right into the middle of a burning pile of half-rotten hay.
A moment later, flames were all Dean could see.
