Broken Barriers (Croatoan AU) [YAAW]

I

Broken Barriers

Third Person's POV

    Taylor's boots pounded the soil. Dean's Hummer pulled up her blocking it's path. His door swings open. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He ask angrily getting out of the car. "I would like to ask you the same thing! You put my squadron at risk, you have no right to call yourself a leader." She spits. He furrows his brows. "What the f*ck are you talking about?" Taylor narrows her eyes. "You know exactly what I am talking about? Sending in my men before yours, just because you are one of the leaders doesn't mean sh*t when it comes to my men." Her finger gouging his chest. "Your men were being idiots. If they die that is not on my hands, that is on you!"

Dean stalks away but Taylor follow. "Don't give me a half a*s excuse like that. We both know you hate that I got the most votes in the meeting. You are afraid that I am going to take your place." Taylor snarls. Dean grabs her arm jerking her into a room. "I will make one thing clear you ever mention me being 'afraid' or 'jealous' I will put a bullet in your head." Dean says his hands holding her against the wall. "I will be looking forward to it." Taylor breaks his hold and turns to exit the room. "I mean it." He finishes. "Yeah, like every other thing you say right." She flips him the middle finger while sauntering away.

    Arianna lit the last candle. "Everything is ready." She says as arm wrap around her partially naked form. "You are wonderful." Castiel says his scruffy face tickling her neck. She twist around kissing him. "What time are the girls coming over?" She ask her fingers trailing down his chest. "In a little while. We still have time to have a little fun." Castiel's hands run over her edges. "That sounds great."

    Taylor was in her office going over her new strategies for taking out more crotes, when Lucas one of her best men in her camp knocked on the door. "Come in." She slips off the reading glasses rubbing her eyes. "Hey." He says sitting in the seat near her desk. "Hi, what's up?" She ask leaning back in her chair. "I just need to talk to you about some of the men's concerns. They thought it would be best for me to ask." He said nervously lacing his hands together. "Okay. What concerns?" He chuckles a little bit and rubs his hands down his legs. "Spit it out Lucas." he sighs quickly sitting up straight. "The men are concerned you are letting that pr*ck Winchester affect your attitude. I told them that it was-" Taylor holds up a hand standing up. "Call a meeting asap. I need to a have a little chat with the front lines." Lucas nods and starts to leave. "Thanks for telling me." He turns and smiles. "No problem."

     Dean walks out of his barracks flipping through the chart. He marked off the two men he loss today, shaking his head. "Hey, Dean." It was Arianna dressed in her usual hippie attire. "Arianna." He nods walking on. "I think we need to talk." Dean stops in his tracks and raises and an eyebrow. "About?" She sighs wringing her hands a dead giveaway she is nervous. "It would be best if we discuss it in private." She says looking as people start to stare at them in the camp. "Sure." He leads as she follows to his office. When inside they sit down a silence settling. "Well?" He ask. "I know you have heard about Castiel and I." Her voice was quiet. "Is this what that is about? I am fine with the two of you doing, whatever it is you're doing-" She cuts him off. "I want your blessing." Dean looks taken back. "Blessing? For what?" Arianna looks down at her hands then to Dean. "I want to marry Castiel." Dean feels like he has been punched in the stomach. He had known they were friends with benefits, dating even, and he was okay with that. Marriage was a whole different deal. Two years before that he had watched her walk down the aisle with his brother. "Are you sure? I mean, what about Sam?" He ask her eyes fall back to the floor. "I love Sam. You know how much I loved him. I still love him, but I can't keep waiting for someone who will never come back, Dean." Her voice breaking; tears spilling on to her cheeks. He gets up circling the desk and wraps his arms around her. "Shh. I know, I know how much it hurts." Dean whispers. Arianna pulls away wiping her eyes. "Here you need this." Cold metal lays in his hand. It was her wedding band and engagement ring. "Arianna, I can't take this." He says trying to push it back into her hand. "I can't carry those around anymore. I need to move on, Castiel is my new start. My new happiness." Dean sighs looking at the glittering rings. "Okay. You have my blessing, but if we get Sam back-" She cuts him off. "I know." She stands and he does also. "Thank you Dean." They hug one last time and Arianna leaves his office.

    Taylor stands at the head of the room looking at the group of about fifty men. "Hello everyone, I called this meeting today because Lucas has told me some of your concerns. Let me just remind you that I would lay my life down for every single one of you, except Peyton." She grins jokingly. Everyone laughs and it eventually dies back down. "Back to business, I have taken in account your concerns about my attitude as a leader. I appreciate the concern but I would like to say one thing. My attitude is not your concern. I am fully capable of pulling myself together. Whatever sh*t goes on between Winchester and I is none of your business!The only concern you should have is the man beside you on that battlefield. I have said it once and I will say it again keep your mind in your own business and be happy you are alive." Her voice rings out making them all come to attention. It was rare she raised her voice at the men, but when she cut loose it was sight. Little did she know Dean was standing outside the tent, smirking with pride. Her boots make muffled sounds as they go outside. "What are you doing here Winchester?"  It was Lucas. "That's none of your business." Dean says trying to push past him. "Wait, a minute. You can't just waltz in and think she is yours again." Lucas knew the story. How Dean and Taylor were once in love. "What the f*ck do you think you are gonna do? Are you her little toy now; her little body guard? I am pretty sure she could kick your a*s anyday. Know your place grunt." Dean growls out at the man. "Lucas, what is going on here?" Taylor said looking pissed outside the tent door. "Winchester was listening in on your speech. He thinks he can waltz in our camp-" Taylor cuts him off. "Lucas, Dean is your superior show a little respect. He may not be your leader but you don't talk to him like that.. You hear me?" Lucas looks at her rolling his eyes. "How can you let him control you like this?" Lucas ask resentment in his tone. "Stop right there. He doesn't control me. He has less control on me than anyone in this camp. I suggest you go to your barracks before I beat that pretty little face of your black and blue." Lucas nods realizing what he said. "Yes Ma'm" Dean raises his eyebrows as Taylor glares at the retreating Lucas. "Never thought I would see that." He says shoving his hands into his pockets. "What? He was being rude. "You know how much I hate that. Wasn't like this was a closed meeting." She says pinching the bridge of her nose grimacing. Dean picks up on it. "Yeah, you okay?" She stops and looks at him. "Yes, just a headache nothing serious." Dean doesn't believe her. "You sure?" He ask concerned. "I already told you I was okay." She snaps. "You lost the right to care a long time ago." Dean frowns. "Fine." He throws his hands up in defeat, and turns on his heel away from her.

    Castiel looked at the ring he had found. It was perfect for Aria. "I'm back." She announces coming in the door. "How did it go?" He ask getting up from his sitting position in the floor. "He is okay with it."  Castiel is shocked for a moment. "What about Taylor?" Arianna groans. "I haven't asked her yet." Castiel sighs running a hand through his hair. "Why do you need her blessing anyway? I understand Dean, but why her?" He was curious. "Because, she has been there through everything. It just doesn't feel right without asking her." Arianna replies looking over at the scavenged pictures. "You need to do it today. We don't have much time until the next raid, I don't know how long I will be gone." Castiel explains. Arianna nods. "I know. I guess I can invite her over. You need to go back to your house, people already think I am terrible." She mumbles. "No, they don't. Most of them don't even know about Sam." She lays her head against Castiel's shoulder. "I just want to be happy again." Castiel sighs rubbing her back soothingly. "I know. Invite Taylor over to talk. Maybe it will go better than you think."

    "Taylor, you have been requested." A ladies voice says as she was changing clothes in her room. "Okay, who is it?" She ask. "It's Arianna." Taylor's movements stop. "Where?" She ask. "Her cottage."

        Arianna was brewing the last bit of her green tea. It was Taylor's favorite and hard to find. A knock on her door makes her almost drop the tea set. "Come in." Taylor opened the door peeking in to see Arianna carrying the tea tray to a makeshift table. "You wanted to speak to me?" She says eyeing the tea. "Yeah, have a seat." The bean bag sunk down as she sat in it. Taylor tries her best to sit up straight her attempts futile. "Here, it's your favorite." Taylor takes the tea graciously muttering thanks. "I wanted to talk to you about Castiel and I." Taylor stops sipping her tea and sets it down on the table. "Oh. So that's what this is about." Taylors says realizing. "Yeah, I have already talked to Dean but it didn't feel right not to ask you too." Taylor shakes her head no. "If you are asking for what I think you are I can't." She says looking at the tea set. "Taylor, please don't I deserve to be happy?" Taylor quickly turns to her. "You deserve all the happiness in the world, but Sam is out there. He needs us to keep fighting for him. I know you and Castiel have this connection or whatever but what about the man I watched you say wedding vows too?" Taylor ask. "I love Sam, but like I told Dean I cant keep waiting for someone who isn't coming back." Taylor stands up. "Do what you want, but don't expect me to be there."