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Cas drags himself through the alley with the cold rain slamming down on him.
Just a little closer. He just needed to get away from the monster…
Suddenly his feet slip from under him. The white shirt clings to his chest and the world turns upside down until he sees the gray sky above him. He misses his trench coat. It would have given him some sort of protection. Well if he came with… Cas shakes his head and pushes himself up and flattens himself against the wall.
When Cas looks around and deems it safe, he moves away from the wall and goes further. Cas hopes he has gone far enough. His eyes become unfocused until seeing something blurrily. Green eyes shine against the dark clouds, making them even brighter.
“Hello, Dean.”
“Cas you son of a bitch why did you go alone? Are you crazy?”
Cas starts coughing out his lungs and Dean’s face changes from his angry piercing glare to one of concern.
“Okay okay buddy let’s get you out of this freezing rain.”
Dean grabs the drenched angel’s arm and puts it over his shoulder. Cas begins to shiver but is grateful for the warmth.
They go step by step to the Impala’s back seat. Cas rests against it until Dean opens the door helping the angel inside with quiet curses. Everything becomes hazy until a familiar soft texture of the trench coat settles on top of Cas. Dean pulls his arms through the trench coat, making the angel’s heart beat a little faster for reasons he didn’t want to think about at that moment. Likely hypothermia.
Swaying slightly, Cas looks up and blinks slowly up at Dean.
“Rest up okay? We’ll figure everything out at the motel” Dean says with a pat on Cas’s shoulder.
Sam enters the front seat and after a moment of contemplation, Dean gives the keys to the Impala to Sam. With scrunched eyebrows Sam slides to the driver's side.
Dean snippily replies “Just hurry up and drive we don’t have all day. Chop chop.”
Suddenly Cas feels warmth around him again, his head falls on something sturdy. Turning his head, Cas’s eyes see a neck in front of him. Cas’s eyes widen and looks up to see Dean staring back at him.
“Shut up. I just don’t want to let you become an icicle okay.” Dean remarks, adjusting his arms to pull the bundled figure in his arms closer.
“Okay Dean.” Cas says tiredly and puts his nose closer to the hunter’s neck. Dean stiffens in response but says nothing. Cas let’s his exhaustion drag him away.
-
Cas wakes up disoriented but relaxes when he finds Dean shaking him awake. Finding his bones still weak, he lets Dean shoulder some of his weight as they exit the Impala.
“She weakened me I - I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m sorry Dean.” Cas’s eyes fill with what feels suspiciously like tears.
Dean is gentle when he says “Hey you were being a dumbass but it’s okay. We’ll figure it out. We’re family.” Cas stares at him and his body begins to snap forward abruptly. Dean’s hand then grabs his waist and pulls him closer until they finally reach the motel door.
After opening the door, Cas sees much of it’s the same. Papers laying messily on the small table on the right matched with two small chairs and two beds on the left that look fairly inviting at the moment.
Cas begins to feel feverish and his breath comes out quickly. “Cas!” Suddenly the angel’s feet are off the ground and he quickly grabs onto Dean. The angel is lifted up and he wonders how Dean can carry him.
The cold still wrecks Cas and he lays his head on Dean. His breathing brings comfort and a sense of calm as he gently lays Cas on the bed.
Everything becomes hard to remember and there are threads of his memory that he can’t hold onto. Cas does feel his shoes being taken off his feet and put down on the bed. Peeking one eye open, Cas sees Dean’s cheeks are red while taking Cas’s pants off. Cas struggles to help him to take his trench coat and shirt. The flustered man helps the cold angel into a cotton shirt and sweatpants. Dean notices Cas out of breath but feels more than comfortable when Dean gently puts the comforter on top of him.
“Thank you Dean” Cas croaks and pushes his face into the pillow.
“Hey no big deal. Just rest up, I can’t mother hen you for so long.”
Dean wasn’t a bird- oh. Cas should have guessed this special treatment won’t last very long. “I understand Dean. Sorry for being an inconvenience to you.”
“What no that not what I- “ Dean is cut off when Sam comes into the room. Sam has a frown on his face.
“How is he?” Sam asks, taking Cas’s wet clothes.
“We can try medication on him. Don’t know if it would work on an angel.” Dean replies.
Cas’s eyes begin to grow heavier until they blissfully fall closed. “I’ll get another room so you can sleep in the other bed and monitor Cas” says Sam quietly. “Ya ya I’ll play nurse” Dean snarks.
-
Cas is there again. He manages to stab the ice monster in the neck with his angel blade. The being in front of him is larger than the angel and has the body of a wolf. The monster’s red eyes stare at him and roars while shoving him off. Cas looks behind him, not seeing Sam and Dean. Now regretting his choices, Cas fully engages with the monster hoping to distract it before they come. Or he hopes they do.
Suddenly something sharp slices Cas in the back. His stomach drops and he begins to shudder. The angel gave up his trench goat in the hopes of ‘blending in’ to get information at the nearby bar. It felt like a good idea at the time when he overheard the college kids discussing a dare about going to a scary frozen abandoned warehouse.
Not many creatures can hurt an angel so he wasn’t too worried. Cas had given a brief text to Dean and Sam about the location but on a whim decided to check it out himself first anyway. That had been a mistake.
Cas rolls to the side and glances to the left, eyes squinting and head tilting. A blonde woman comes out with an evil grin with her hair braided behind her and dressed in all black clothing. The cold is spreading through him and Cas begins to cough. The ice monster rolls its hand back and throws a pillar of ice as Cas moves again. The sorceress just walks leisurely closer to the right in front of her.
“My oh my. I finally have the privilege of catching my very own angel. Hmmm… though I don’t intend to kill you instantly this will be quite painful.”
The angel's eyes are flaring with grace trying to get rid of the curse but it’s too strong. Cas wraps his arms around himself and looks for an escape. He can’t win this right now.
The sorceress looks as if she would cast another spell with the monster behind her and is closing the distance at a scary rate. Before she can reach him, Cas flexes his scarred wings and flies out into the city, knowing that it’s nearby.
Cas crashes down and drags his body down the alleyway. He needs help- he needs Dean… and Sam. Cas runs down the alley but instead of reaching Dean like he remembers, he keeps running. Reality becomes distorted and instead of memories it becomes a nightmare. His muscles ache and the angel just wants to reach the end. Please Dean where are you?
He keeps running with no end. He is truly alone. The rain begins to beat harder. There is only water around and it slowly engulfs him. The water level rises and rises and Cas can’t breathe.
“Cas!”
-
Cas jolts awake and grasps onto firm arms, looking up and swaying side to side.
“You okay there buddy?” Cas hears next to him, concerned eyes meeting his unfocused ones.
“I think I am beginning to feel a bit human. It is not pleasant.”
Dena laughs “Ya that happens” rubbing a comforting hand on his back.
Cas begins to shiver and nestle his head further in the soft pillow, hair rumpled.
Dean sighs and slides into the covers next to the drowsy angel.
Suddenly firm arms wrap around Cas and pulls his head onto his chest. Cas slowly opens his eyes to look up at Dean.
“What… what about personal space?”
“Personal space is bullshit man. You’re my best friend and you’re cold. It’s all good.”
With that Cas’s hands grab onto Dean’s soft black shirt. Cas moves his face closer to Dean’s neck.
“Well don’t get too comfortable.” Cas tries to pull back but a hand behind his head stops him. “Just joking Cas,” Dean whispers. Cas’s eyes blink slowly until they don’t open at all and falls asleep with a hand petting his hair.
-
Suddenly a long bang of a door wakes the two up. Dean is still clutching the angel around the waist. Cas feels slightly better but ice cold fear falls through him as he sees who has come to pay them a visit. The same witch that cast a curse on him with an endless cold feeling is here.
“Dean it’s her- “ Cas tries to warn until she raises her hand muttering ancient words and he suddenly can’t breathe. Cas hears Dean yelling at her to stop but it all becomes fuzzy.
-
Cas wakes up, his head throbbing again and he finds that he is back at the warehouse… but it hurts too much to think. He looks around and Dean is there helping him up. “Where is Sam?” Cas asks and narrows his eyes at Dean’s expression of nervousness and shifting of his feet. “I don’t know man. Any luck and he can find us.” He looks oddly guilty and panicked.
“Dean?”
“Don’t question it, just trust me and go with this.”
Dean grasps the shirt Cas is wearing and hauls Cas towards him. One of his arms wraps behind the angel’s waist and the other takes his hand. What… what is going on?
“I said don’t question it” says Dean blushing. Dean begins to lead Cas and begins to feel at ease as Cas slowly is lulled closer until both his arms are wrapped around Dean’s neck and the hunter’s arms are wrapped around Cas’s waist. There are markings underneath their feet that begin to glow. They both look down and up at each other, locking gazes. They get closer and closer until a shrill scream echoes through the barn.
Cas tries to move back but Dean’s arms tighten even further. They look to see a dagger behind the witch with blond hair that had given the strange ice cold curse and a woman with bouncy curly red hair behind her. “Hello boys” she replies with Sam next to her.
Rowena then changes her face to become serious. “I need you both to keep dancing while I figure out a way to break this binding.” Dean and Cas keep moving with gentle sways. The older Winchester pushes Cas out with one hand and brings Cas back into him, hooking his head into the angel’s shoulder. Cas can feel his warm breath tickling at his neck.
Rowena begins chanting and the magic of the runes begins to fade as she closes it up. When it finally dims another crash through the doors. The same large iced creature has arrived. Just more angry and pissed off than before. “Well this isn’t good. Let’s bolt.”
“Uh I don’t think so Sammy.” Dean says as more ugly huge ice creatures surround them. Dean and Sam look at each other trying to figure out what to do. Cas knows this might be another bad idea but this situation is worse.
“Everyone, close your eyes!” They didn’t have to be told twice. With the witch dead and the curse lifted, Cas uses his grace to smite them. “Nice work there buddy” Dean says, clapping his hand behind his back. Cas smiles but he almost collapses. Maybe he shouldn’t have done that so soon. Cas breathes deeply and says “We should head back.”
-
Dean, Sam, Rowena, and him arrive back at the motel to discuss what had happened. Rowena is sipping tea alongside Sam. “Hmmm camomile tea. You should try some tweetie-pie” remarks Rowena. Sam chuckles and Dean rolls his eyes. Cas drinks a tiny sip. It has an interesting texture.
“Care to explain what was the reason we had to move together in synchrony.” Cas asks. Dean just gives me a strange look. “It’s called dancing Cas.” Cas just tilts his head to the side.
Dean sighs “I made a deal. She wouldn’t kill you as long as you and I go with whatever hoodoo she was going to do. Luckily it was enough time for Sam to get there.” Rowena raises her eyebrow and Dean adds “And Rowena.”
“Thank you darling” Rowena replies. “Lucky I came there or she would have used Cas’s grace to make her more powerful.”
Cas freezes and Dean pales. Remembering his past experience as a human, Cas knew that would not have been pleasant. Dean says lightly “He would have been okay right?” Rowena shook her head “She likely would have killed Cas so he wouldn’t be able to take it back from her.”
Dean gets this worried look. “But why a dance? Why not just cut it out.” Rowena informs him “It’s a dance of binding. Grace shared between an angel and a human soul can be a powerful thing.” Rowena put more sugar in her tea, tapped on the teacup, and then began swirling the mixture. “She was syphoning the grace when you two lovebirds were dancing as part of a ritual. You two being so close made it easier to tap into that power especially because some of Cas’s grace is still in you.”
Oh. Well maybe Dean won’t notice… “Cas’s grace is in me?” Dean looks over at the angel in question in bewilderment. “Your body was torn Dean. I needed to use it to build you together and get you out. The bond and my grace laying a brand on you was not on purpose.” Dean’s eyebrows were still furrowed. Rowena placates “That’s enough chatter for today let us rest and discuss more tomorrow. Rest up!”
Rowen and Sam leave and it just leaves Dean and him. The angel takes a shaky breath out and looks up at Dean. His bright green eyes stare back. “I’m glad you’re okay.” Dean says softly looking down. Cas smiles “Thank you. I’m glad I am too and that I’m here with you.”
Dean lets a small grin grow on his face. “She almost killed you. I don’t know how I…” he lets out an exhale. He comes closer and crushes the slightly shorter man in a hug. Cas lets himself be hugged and through this whole ordeal, he once again feels safe.
Dean moves back and looks at Cas. He smashes their lips together, but then it becomes softer as he pulls him close. “Never do that again Cas.” “I won’t Dean.”
Suddenly his grace reaches out towards Dean and the angel’s eyes widen. A blue aura as beautiful as the Northern lights that graced the Earth circles around them. “God damn it. We can never catch a break” sighs Dean.
“Dean I- I think our bond is strengthening.” Dean seems to try to pull away from Cas but the two are locked into an embrace. The aura becomes stronger and rises and leaves Cas in a trance. The angel once again starts to lose himself while hearing Dean call his name. “Dean… I’m sorry.” Cas’s vision whites out and he is lost to darkness.
Cas wakes up finding that he is on the floor with an arm and shoulder under him that he has grown to be familiar with. Cas peels his eyes open and sees what his heart already told him. Dean is next to him and they are resting on the hardwood floor. Frowning Cas gently shakes him awake.
“Cas?” says Dean groggily, wiping sleep from his eyes. “I’m right here Dean.” Cas hesitantly takes Dean’s hand and helps him up. Cas puts back on his usual clothes completed with his trenchcoat while Dean does the same with the large assortment of jeans and flannel he wears in the bathroom.
Dean comes back, rubbing the back of his head unsure. “Look man about last night… I was strung up on emotion and..” Ah. So it wasn’t the reciprocation that Cas thought it was. Why did it have to hurt so much? “There is no need to explain yourself.” The angel quickly gets up and helps Dean up as well. “No we should talk about-“ The once leader of a garrison of angels fully turns his glare on the human and sees Dean slam his jaw up with a click.
“I don’t want to be toyed with Dean. I will always care about you… regardless of the lack of depth of your feelings for me.” Why was his heart aching? It felt like a fist wrapped around his heart and was trying to rip it from him.
Cas needed to leave. Can yanks open the motel door and spreads his wings for a split second he sees Dean’s eyebrows rise up as if he could see something behind Cas. “Cas wait-“ but it was too late. The angel was still too tired and decided to fly to a nearby pond. A mother with her ducklings were there swimming peacefully. Cas sits on the small dock leading out to the serene pond and smiles.
Relaxing a bit, Cas basks in the light for a couple of hours. He hears footsteps behind him. “I don’t want to talk to you Dean.” A more feminine voice than what Cas expected says” Pity but I think you will have to reconsider.”
Cas turns to see the same witch. After getting slightly alarmed, he begins to feel annoyed. “Does nothing we kill stay dead?” The witch grins back. “You’re one to talk. I always hear about the Winchesters and their beloved angel. Nobody is smart enough to realize there can be a way to harness their power.” She grins ruefully.
“If you were smart enough you would know not to mess with the Winchesters.” Cas flicks his wrist and gets his angel blade out. He needs to warn Dean- she launches another spell and now expecting it Cas pushes his wings to fly himself into the air. He realizes that he can’t do this alone so he moves to head to the bunker. His black midnight wings snap him higher into the trees but the witch is hot on his tail. Cas turns his head behind him to see a newly created pheonix made of snow with the witch riding it
Cas skillfully dodges her attacks and it reminds him of the wars he fought in heaven. The air is where he is the strongest. Not in the confines of a warehouse. After gracefully flipping backward Cas jabs the phoenix on the head with his blade and quickly grabs onto her as she screams. They plummet downward until hitting an empty road near the forest.
“Cas!” He loses concentration after hearing the one voice Cas wanted to hear the entire day. Wings fluttering behind him he looks up to see Dean. Sam and Rowena trail behind Dean but his focus zeros in on Dean. His soul is bright with righteousness, bravery, and determination. His body gleams underneath the sun above. Anger is written on his face, but he still looks beautiful. Still Dean Winchester.
Suddenly Cas is flipped backward and she has a hard grasp on his neck. “Don’t move!” she screams. The trio stops but are very close. “If you take a step closer I will kill him instantly!”
The woman above me grins victoriously. “Ever wonder why I decided to target an angel of all things? Isn’t it risky? Especially the Winchester’s angel?” She smiles and it unnerves Cas. “Grace is very powerful. I weaved and created this curse to bind specifically to your grace. Killing you is just an extra cherry on top for what they did to my coven.” She keeps her grip firm on his neck.
She begins to spread the curse once again through Cas whose eyes begin to water. Is this dying in a freezer as a human would feel like? As his nerves freeze he begins to feel his grace drain. Rowena begins to mutter a spell while Dean and Sam run to get closer.
As the pain shoots through Cas, he can hear vague mentions of binding and a union from Rowena.
Sam tackles the witch as Dean touches the angel. “Cas no please.” Dean pushes Cas’s hand onto his right shoulder and relief spreads through that feels like coming closer to a fire. Rowena stops chanting and Dean whispers into my ears quiet words. It feels like permission. A promise.
White light shines bright, even painfully so. Dean drops his hand and Cas stands up. His wings begin to feel different, and he slowly begins to unfurl them. Midnight black wings once scarred are now thicker and when light hits them they shimmer in multiple colors. An aura of green and blue surrounds the angel, charging his grace back. The power emanating from the angel would make kings kneel so that they would not anger the one that possessed it. Cas looks at Dean and gasps when seeing a line of light connecting them.
The witch now in the floor gaps and moves to run away. Cas moves his hand outward and stops her. With one movement Cas looks deep within her, a soul connected to the magical arts and severs it. Her face goes pale after seeing what he’d done. “No no my powers.” She had come seeking even more powers and now she had none.
Rowena approaches her slowly with the witch on the floor. The red-headed witch speaks to her in hushed murmurs. “There is a group of witches that I know of. They can help you. You can be an apprentice to them. Or you can stay with me.” The ice witch says nothing but nods her head numbly and she gets up to walk away.
Dean looks like he wants to finish the fight, preferably with a witch dead, but Cas stops him with a gentle hand. Cas trusts Rowena’s judgement and that she can handle it. Dean relents and his eyes glaze over looking at the appendages attached behind Cas. “Cas buddy. You’re looking real good.” If Cas didn’t know better he would think Dean was blushing. ”Let’s go home” says Dean, grabbing his hand and going to the Impala.
They arrive at the bunker late at night. Dean waves a goodbye to Sam and Rowena and drags Cas by the elbow into his room. Dean with a slight tremble takes the trench coat and suit jacket off. Dean pushes Cas down on the bed and carefully takes his shoes and socks. Cas tilts his head to the side looking down at Dean. He’s not experiencing any illness so why is Dean being so careful with him? After Dean changes into a soft shirt and pants. He climbs under the covers and gestures for the angel to do the same.
Cas awkwardly climbs in and the lights shut off. Dean clears his throat “I’m no good at words… but you are important to me, and at least for tonight… stay.”
Cas wraps his arms around Dean and settles his head onto the hunter’s chest. “Of course Dean.”
“You can be my own personal teddy bear.” Dean teases softly. “I am an eons old angel Dean. I’m no stuffed animal.” Dean pulls Cas closer with the angel almost on top of Dean’s, and he pulls the cover up. “It’s a metaphor Cas.” Cas rolls his eyes fondly and ‘snuggles’ closer.
Cas rests in a meditative state as Dean sleeps with his newly healed wings wrapped around him with a soft smile. There are no nightmares, only dreams of a promising future.
-
A few days later the former witch comes back to the bunker.
“How did you even find us?” exclaims Dean as Cas pulls him back by grabbing onto his jacket. Dean’s back hits his chest and Cas peeks over the angry hunter’s shoulder.
The witch once intimidating looked insecure and frail. “I came to apologize. Rowena told me the wrong doings of my coven. They were my family but…” She used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe her eyes damp with tears. “I understand they hurt others and that I shouldn’t have tried to use your grace to revive them”
“Look lady you almost killed Cas so you can cram your apology-“
“Dean.” admonishes Cas. Cas swiftly goes around Dean and out of his shadow and approaches her.
“Though you did put us in danger I am glad you have changed your ways.” Cas sticks his hand out and the witch grasps it.They shake each other’s hand in mutual understanding. Cas knows what it’s like to think that your mission and supposed family is what you have to blindly follow. He will give her a chance.
“Sorry about trying to steal your grace and becoming powerful and all that.” Her lips twitch. “I understand that you won’t give my powers back, but it’s okay. I’m planning on sorting out potions and organizing things for Rowena and Sam.”
Dean raises an eyebrow. “Sam became a witch huh. Who woulda thought?” Dean chuckles. “Sam is being a Samwitch.” Dean pokes his elbow into my ribs lightly. Cas looks up at the bunker ceiling praying for someone to give him strength but he can’t help a small smile when he looks at Dean.
Rowen comes in, throwing her arms around the former witch to guide her towards the kitchen. Jody and the girls are coming to the bunker. Dean is planning on making burgers for everyone. As the two walk to the kitchen Dean has his arm thrown around Cas’s shoulder and Cas rests his head against Dean’s chest smiling. There are a lot of heartfelt hugs when the family gets together late in the afternoon. They all fit in around the map table laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Cas looks around at everyone and he’s grateful that his family is together.
A few weeks pass and the former witch reveals her name to be Iris and becomes proficient in potion making and poison identification rather than casting spells.
One day she approaches Cas. “You’re really in love with him huh?” Cas smiles and nods.
She sighs “Now I see that bond was something I could never harvest for myself.”
Iris hands him two rings. One is silver with feather designs in black and the other made of pure gold with a sword. “These will make your bond even stronger and you can sense when the other is in danger.”
Cas closes his hand around them and puts it in pocket. “Thank you.” Iris gives a cautious smile. The younger witch seems like she wants to say more but simply turns and walks away.
Cas knocks on Dean’s door and comes in. Dean is splayed out on the bed, his head bobbing up and down to the rhythm coming through his earphones. Cas has never seen something so captivating and endearing. “Dean, I have to show you something.”
“What’s up babe?” Dean says, taking his earphones off and standing up. Cas takes the gold ring out and Dean’s eyes widen and he steps back with his hands up. He is speechless.
“Iris gave it to me and it’s for protection.” Dean laughs and relaxes. “Though if you wanted we could use it for the traditional marriage ceremony.”
Now Dean’s mouth hangs open again. “Cas are you… asking me to marry you?”
“Yes, if you are amenable.”
Dean looks at Cas with one eyebrow “Yes I am more than amenable.”
Dean catches Cas’s tie in his hand and pulls him in for a kiss. “Wait, are you sure we can trust her with the whole trying to kill you.”
Cas rolls his eyes for the hundredth time “Dean the first time we met you stabbed me.”
“Ya ya whatever Rowena and Sam are for sure going to check it though.”
They get married with their loved ones sitting on white seats in the sand in front of a beautiful lake with the sunset in the back. Behind them an arch of flowers and vines wrapped around it. Cas has a huge smile as he watches Dean across from him.
“Cas you are my best friend. The only one I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. Hell, I spent more than a decade with you and you still haven’t managed to get tired of me.” Dean chuckles and then his eyes get softer.
“You give meaning to the word people usually think of as an angel. Caring and compassionate. You are my best friend and I hope you will be my amazing husband.” Cas’s eyes are shining with tears that have not escaped yet. “You are ingrained in both my mind and soul that even if someone were to force me to forget you I never would. There is nobody that can replace your presence in my life so please be mine forever.”
Cas smiles and after closing his eyes to prepare himself he opens them “I was a soldier foremost and thought of nothing else. It was always about heaven’s goal. You changed me into the angel that I am today. I will forever do my best to protect you, not because of my orders, but because I have fallen so far and deep for you. You are the most selfless person… I will ever know. I will stay with you as long as you will have me.”
They kiss with cheers filling the air and then swap that ring with Dean wearing the gold ring and Cas the silver one. Hand in hand they walk down the aisle gazing at each other with soulful eyes and desire. Everyone heads to the reception where they enjoy their time in a bar with the rest of their family.