The Bodyguard (is the Omega)

24.

Dean was shamelessly showing off. The pile of chopped wood growing at a rapid pace beside him as he got through the first few logs. As it got hot, he had taken off his overcoat and lumberjack hat, even unbuttoning his shirt to let out a little of the steam rising from his chest. Castiel was torn with the impulse to put a jumper on Dean or jump his bones but Sam and Jack had come over to watch so he tried not to look too pained each time Dean swung the ax and exposed his nipples. Efficiently, he stacked the chopped wood and pulled more from the shed, lining them up neatly to be processed.

Sam found Gabriel's ax hanging idle and picked it up. It was a little short for him but Sam didn't really notice. He started his own pile next to Dean and the two Winchester brothers went head to head in some sort of incredibly eye pleasing lumberjack contest. Gabriel came out to tell everyone dinner was ready but his cheerful voice died in the air as he took in the spectacle. Silently, he moved over to where Castiel stood, hanging on the yard fence, with his leg up and his chin in his hands. They stood in mute appreciation until Jack said he wanted to join in the wood chopping. Before Jack could step forward Dean swung his ax down on the log and declared he was famished. As he guided Jack indoors, he passed Castiel in a trail of sweaty pheromones, his face spasming as he winked unsubtly.

"You should have a shower Dean," Jack remarked. "You smell like Thanksgiving turkey. Kind of meaty and gross."

Castiel was thankful that Jack didn't smell Dean the way he did. There was a reason he had his leg up on the fence. For Castiel Dean always smelled like sweet pastry. At the moment he oozed cherry pie and vanilla ice cream. It was only when they got into the dine-in kitchen that all thought of sweets evaporated. The whole den was filled with the mouthwatering scent of chilli and cornbread, potatoes and rosemary, spiced rice and grilled cheese. Dean and Sam hastily washed up at the sink, not wanting to delay the delicious meal. Gabriel produced a bottle of sweet red wine from the cellar and they sat around heaping their plates full of food. Even Charlie had returned from her walk in the woods, dumping her gear in the last remaining guest room downstairs and joining in the feast. Ketch had gotten up just a little after sunset from his nap. He did a final external boundary check and sat down to a satisfying bowl of hot chilli, ruefully declining the wine as he had the evening shift.

Castiel had been vigilant in assigning Ketch, Charlie and himself rotating schedules and security checks. It was probably overkill since Micky D was dead and it was just a matter of time before Donna and Henriksen found enough evidence at his home to confirm he was the stalker. The lake house wasn't somewhere Dean had ever been before, it had never been written down anywhere in Crowley's diary or Dean's schedule. Every precaution had been taken to ensure that they weren't followed out of California. Still Castiel felt having someone on guard was necessary. It was easy to get lost in the festivities and the family atmosphere. Especially with Sam telling stories about Dean's wilderness years and Gabriel pitching in to tell everyone all the embarrassing little tales about Castiel.

"So he comes home with a bloodied nose and complains he didn't know how to fight," Gabriel rolled his eyes. "How come you never fight with me, everyone else has brothers and they're all trying to kill each other all the time."

Castiel dipped a piece of crispy cornbread corner into the chilli broth.

"'Why you gotta love me so much huh Gabe? Is it cause I'm an omega and you think I need protecting? Well when I grow up I'll be protecting you, cause you'll be short and I'll be the most kickass omega out there,'" Gabriel mocked Castiel with a strangely lispy but growly voice. Castiel was completely sure he never sounded that ridiculous, maybe.

Dean was laughing along with the stories, his gaze sliding over to Castiel in amusement.

"Oh and then he discovered alphas," Gabriel guffawed. "What was her name, feisty little thing."