Heavenly Body

Chapter Six

Sam couldn't tell how long he’d been unconscious. As he adjusted to the dark once again, he noticed hadn't been moved from the room he’d first woken up in. His arm still burned where the syringe had gone in and his head still pounded. He looked around, nearly crying at the sight of a pitcher of water across the room.

“Please,” he said, his voice tight and raspy. “Please anyone. I need water.” He watched the door, hoping someone sympathetic enough would hear. When no one came, he hung his head in defeat.

“‘Ello, moose,” a voice suddenly said from beside him. Sam snapped his head up to find Crowley, former King of Hell. Since Lucifer’s return, he’d been demoted back to crossroads demon. He wore smug smirk on his lips. Sam scoffed at the sight.

“Unless you plan to help me,” he snapped, “take a hike.”

"What makes you think I'm not here to help?” Crowley asked.

“Are you?”

"No. But it’s rude to assume. You know what they say, it makes an ass out of you--”

“Crowley!” Sam yelled, having to force it out. “I’m not asking you to get me out of the chains...just some water. Please.” The demon looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.

“Fine,” he finally said, stalking across the room to pour a glass. “Ya know, His majesty told me all about his big plans for you.” Crowley turned back to Sam, leaning on the table and swirling the water around the glass a bit. “Well?” Crowley said when Sam didn’t respond. “Aren’t you just a little bit curious?”

"If I say yes will you bring that glass here?” Sam retorted, coughing around the words. God his throat ached. Crowley smirked again and went to Sam.

"Open wide, moose,” he said, putting the rim to Sam’s lips. He drank greedily, water dribbling down his chin. He gasped for his breath once he had drained the cup.

“Thanks,” he said when he could breathe again. “So what are you doing here?”

"Oh you know,” Crowley replied, returning the glass to its place. “Just poking about.” Sam scoffed and Crowley at least seemed mockingly offended. “Oh alright then. You want the truth? Lucifer sent me.” A knife appeared from nowhere. “Don’t worry. It’s not to kill you with. He wants strong blood in you. Anyone else and he’d use his own but you...well we just can’t have you getting too strong.” He pushed up the sleeve of his suit, dragging the blade across the exposed skin. Sam began to struggle again.

"I’ll never take it willingly,” he spat.

“It’s either drink or have it forced into your veins before and after an extensive torture session,” Crowley replied, waving his arm in front of Sam’s face. It hurt to smell it. He hated himself for how badly he wanted to drink it. But he couldn’t let them; couldn’t let them turn him into a monster. “Tick-tock, moosey. Offer’s about to expire. Come on now. It's the only way we both escape the torture.”

I’m so sorry, Dean, Sam thought, squeezing his eyes closed. I’m sorry I let you down again. Just as Crowley was about to pull away, Sam let his mouth close over the wound.

----------Dean----------

Dean stared at himself in the steam fogged mirror. His heart was pounding in his chest and all he could think about was Castiel sitting out there on the bed. Their near kiss had sent him into a frenzy. As he closed his eyes he saw Cas’s lips again, inches from his own; He saw those clear blue eyes boring into his own, watching and waiting to see what he would do. But he hadn’t been able to do it. Dean hadn’t been able to kiss him no matter how badly he had wanted to. So he had run. Standing abruptly from the bed and mumbling about how they needed to get into Sam’s room, leaving Cas sitting there alone and confused.

I am so freakin’ stupid, he said to himself. He dressed slowly, not wanting to face Cas. When he finally got himself together, he opened the door to find Cas exactly where he had left him. The angel had his hands clasped in his lap, staring down at them. His jaw tensed and released the way it did when he was deep in thought. Dean cleared his throat but Cas didn’t look at him.

“We should uh...we should get a jump on finding Sam,” he said lowly, shuffling his feet. Cas nodded and stood. Dean caught his arm before he could leave. “Wait. Cas just….wait a second.” He stood in front of him and tried to force Cas to meet his gaze.

“Dean we can talk later,” Cas said, doing everything he could to avoid his eyes, “Sam’s still out there.”

“Please don’t be upset with me,” Dean pleaded, completely ignoring what he had said. “I need you with me on this. You have no idea how much I need you with me, Cas.” He put his hands on Cas’s shoulders.

“I do know, Dean,” he finally said, meeting Dean’s eyes.

"No you don’t. I need you, Cas. It’s more than your help hunting or finding Sam. I need you when you’re in the next room. I need you when I hear you shuffling around the bunker in the middle of the night and when you're sitting next to me! I’ve never…..felt like this before. This...this constant ache just to be near someone.” He cupped Cas’s face in his hands.

“Dean.” The angel said his name as a whisper, shivering under Dean’s touch.

“I love you, Castiel.” It was the one of the only times Dean had ever said his full name and he loved the way it sounded. “In a million different ways, Cas…….I love you. I can't believe it took me this long to realize it.” Dean tugged him close, taking over where they’d left in a long, deep kiss. Cas melted against him, his arms winding their way tightly around Dean. The kiss was everything they had both imagined and more; soft with a building urgency. When Dean finally stepped back, he was breathing hard and aching for more.

Neither man said anything for a long time, the weight of what had happened sinking in.

“I love you too, Dean,” Cas finally said, his voice trembling and weak. Dean let the smile take over his face, pulling Cas back in for a hug. He let him, committing every sensation to his memory. If there had been more time, he would have stayed here forever.