Chapter One - You're a What?

"What the hell was that?"

"I dunno, sounded like we hit something."

"Holy fuck – fuck!"

"Dean! I can't – where are you?"

"Sam! Sammy!"

Jesus Christ what a hangover.

He'd heard of the gravel mouth thing the morning after, but what he was feeling, well shit, that was ridiculous.

"What the fuck…" He blinked, and immediately groaned when a painful, scratching feeling burned through his senses. His eyes were on fire, but he knew better than to rub them. He spat out the accumulated glob of what must have been sand, and tried to get his bearings.

Keeping his eyes closed for the time being, he listened for what was around him. A rhythmic crashing of water somewhere below him, the sand in his eyes, and pretty much everywhere else, told him he was lying on a beach. He could feel the tiny particles under his fingers, crusting into his face.

"Ok, ok, get up, Dean, get up." Talking to himself helped with his mental state, because staying quiet internalised panic and fear. He forced himself to turn over, breathing slowly and evenly. He catalogued his body's state of fitness, and found he was surprisingly unhurt. Only his eyes were a problem.

Very slowly, he rolled back onto his stomach. Dean turned around to where he could hear the water, and headed straight for it. He gasped as the warm water hit his skin, but he had a job to get done, so he couldn't linger in its embrace until it was over.

He knew it would hurt like a bitch.

Dean took a deep breath to prepare himself, before plunging under the soft waves. The water suppressed his screams as he washed his eyes. He knew it was the only way, but goddamn it hurt.

His eyes were still blurry and probably looked like he'd hit a blunt, but at least they worked. He dragged himself back onto the beach, and surveyed his surroundings. Palm trees fanned the edges of the beach, which was white sand and seemingly paradise.

Dean knew better.

All he saw was no fresh water, no shelter, and no way to get food.

His dad had taught him all he knew, but as far as Dean could remember, he hadn't ever given him and Sam a scenario where they had washed up on a seemingly deserted island.

Sam.

Dean didn't know how he hadn't thought about him sooner. His brother was a strong swimmer, but the last time he'd seen him, he was in the water. Dean scanned the beach, but the golden expanse of his private little stretch was empty. He spied a high outcrop of rock, jutting out into the sea, and he knew it would give him the height he needed to see for miles.

He wondered how long he had been unconscious. When the lights went out on the boat, it was midnight, at least, and judging by the sun, it was mid-morning when he woke up on the beach. He was huffing and puffing by the time he staggered to the top, his legs and back burning with the effort of climbing.

He needed fresh water, food and Sam, if he was going to survive.

Dean shaded his eyes and began his search. From what he could see, the island was actually huge. He didn't know why on earth an island that size wasn't populated. He didn't care though, they wouldn't be on the island long enough to find out anyway.

A dark, human shaped blob came into his sights, and it looked like it was in the cove just around from where he washed up.

Climbing down the rock was a whole lot harder than climbing up. He almost broke his legs when he fell the last few feet, but he stumbled into a roll at the last minute. Brushing himself off, Dean started in the direction of where he saw, hopefully, the Sam shaped pile of human.

It took a good hour, but he eventually made it to the beach. The forest he had to scramble through was thicker and denser than he had expected. Bursting back out into the sunshine hurt like crap, but Dean just kept going, because he could see the human shaped mound, and it was definitely human.

Falling down beside the sodden, sandy mess, Dean grabbed whatever he could, and turned it over. Sam's lax face was revealed, and Dean panicked. He quickly checked for a pulse, thank Christ there was one, and started doing compressions. Every thirty or so pumps, he would pinch his brother's nose and give him mouth to mouth.

Sam was an alpha, he couldn't just fucking die. They were supposed to be stronger, tougher and more resilient than everyone else. Dean thought it was all bullshit, but at that moment he was willing to believe it, just so his little brother would draw –

A goddamned,

Breath!

Dean clenched his hands together, and brought them down forcefully onto Sam's chest. Water erupted from his brother's mouth, spraying everywhere, but Dean didn't care. He set Sam into the recovery position, and rubbed his back. Sam heaved and coughed up what looked like the whole damn sea, but he was alright. He was breathing and groaning, but he was alright.

"Dude, I thought you knew how to swim?" Dean had to lighten the mood, it was the only way he knew how to avoid crumbling into a heap and crying for hours. Sam just grunted.

"Shut up, bitch. I got knocked out." Sam's voice was hoarse and raspy, but he didn't sound mad. He sounded about as resigned as Dean felt.

"Hey, I just saved your life, jerk. Show some respect." Sam managed to haul himself into a sitting position, so they both looked out over the soft, harmless looking sea. The day was warm, at least, so they heated up quickly and Sam stopped shaking. It was more to do with shock than anything else, anyway.

Dean was just about to suggest them finding some water, when something drifting in the waves caught his eye. It was – it was a body, lying face up in the water. He didn't even think, and ignored Sam's shouts, as he ran down the beach and jumped into the warm water. He swam as fast as his tired, aching body would let him, thinking that every second, if the guy was even alive, counted.

Not stopping to see if the guy was alive or not, Dean grabbed him and turned them back to the shore. The sea water stung his eyes, and he was almost drowning himself by the time sand appeared under his feet. Sam was at the tide line, ready to grab the body, or Dean as well, at that point. Sam was in no state to do anything but help Dean drag the guy a little ways from the water, but Dean was immediately on him, searching for a pulse.

It was weak, but it was there. The sea water had pretty much vaporised the guys scent, so he didn't know if he was an alpha or not, but that didn't matter. He wouldn't treat him any different; it would just be nice to know if the guy would have that extra alpha kick.

Pinching the guy's nose, and lowering his mouth to his, Dean sucked out as much water as he could. When it felt as if no more could be dredged from the guys lungs, Dean began his thirty compressions, with two breaths in between.

It took ages, longer than it should have, and Dean was about to call it quits, when he felt a tightening of the guy's mouth when it touched his own. Spurred on, Dean increased the breaths until –

The dude threw water up right into his goddamned mouth.

For fuck sake, he was trying to do some good in the world, and that's how karma repays him. He shook it off, along with Sam's gag of disgust, and turned the shaking, coughing mess of a man into the recovery position. Dean rubbed his back, as he had done with Sam, but for some reason, there was a flicker of something more behind it.

Dean shook his head, because that was ridiculous. He'd just met the guy, and subsequently saved his life. he wasn't going to get with anyone, especially not stuck on some deserted fucking island.

The dude groaned, shaking hands trying to touch his face. He probably had a mean ass headache, so Dean could understand. They needed to find fresh water and shade, pronto.

"Sam, you're tall as fuck, go up there and see if you can see anyone else." Dean waved his hand towards a slight hill; it looked like a good vantage point.

"Ok, stay here and ask him what his name is," Sam started to walk away, but yelled back, "I have a feeling we're gonna be here for a while." Yeah well, he hoped not. He had about, oh, two weeks, before things would get real awkward. A loud groan drew him back to the dark haired man before him, and yeah, he was all wet and pale, but Dean could appreciate a hot guy when he saw one.

You gotta appreciate the little things in life, or all the big things gang up and beat the crap out of you. That what his mom always said, anyway.

"Hey, man, how're you feeling?" Dean knew it was a redundant question, but he asked it all the same. His breath caught when the dark haired man turned over, so he was lying on his back, and opened his eyes. He held Dean with such a stare, even under normal circumstances, he'd have been unable to look away. At that moment though, whether it be shock, dehydration, or he'd hit his head, Dean was mesmerised.

Bright blue, ocean deep eyes captivated him, seeing him, almost as if they were delving deep inside his soul. It should have unnerved him, but instead, a feeling of deep calm and protection enveloped him, making him sigh. With that small breath, he realised two, very major things.

One, the guy in front of him was so very much an alpha, his deep musky scent was saturating the air between them. Dean was all a quiver, his inside's turning to warm gravy at the smell of ocean, lightning and mate. The last one surprised him, but didn't scare him. He didn't believe in Truemates, thought it was just some fairy tale mothers told their daughters to make them believe in love and happily ever after.

No, Dean wasn't scared because he had no need to be. Yeah, he was apprehensive, because he didn't know the guy, but he just smelled so good. His body was telling him that his mate was right there in front of him, and he would protect him, no matter what. His mind on the other hand, was telling him to calm the fuck down and think with his front brain and not his hindbrain.

Dean wasn't some damsel in distress, far from it, but it was nice to think he might have someone, besides Sam, in his corner.

God, he was so conflicted.

Mates could always be giant bags of dicks and treat their partners like shit.

He smiled, because what else was he supposed to do, he must have been in shock, when it hit him. The guy was scenting him back. He could – he could fucking smell him.

That was the second thing he realised.

He could very clearly smell Dean, which meant his scent blockers must have washed off in the surf. Even if the guy was his mate, he didn't know the guy and he wasn't about to expose himself to a fucking stranger. He knew exactly what alphas did to people like him.

A tiny bit of him swooned when he heard the gravel rough tone of the alphas voice, though.

"You're an omega."

Fuck fuck fuck.

Dean had managed to calm himself down in a very short space of time. He was actually surprised with himself, but it must have had a lot to do with his mate sitting a foot away from him. His alphas scent calmed him like nothing else. That didn't mean he was going to just inexplicably trust the guy, they had only just met, after all.

"So, what's your name?" Dean purposely ignored the omega comment, hoping like hell the guy wouldn't press further. He really didn't want to get into it sitting on a beach, with a stranger, with Sam nowhere in sight. The dark haired man frowned, cocked his head to the side, which Dean found horrible attractive, damn his hormones, and answered him.

"My name is Castiel, and yours is?" Cas, because hell no was he calling the alpha by his full name, that shit was a mouthful, looked at him almost thoughtfully.

"Uh, Dean. My names Dean." Smooth as always, Winchester. He hoped Cas didn't hear the hitch in his voice, or the colourful scents no doubt filtering out of him. The alpha, bless him, held out his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dean." The omega took his large, soft from the water hand, and didn't shiver, he most certainly didn't. "I can't thank you enough for saving my life. I will find a way, one day, to repay you." Dean chuckled, because the guy was so damn formal. Who the hell talked like that?

"Don't mention it, man. I was just doing what any decent person would have." Well, he hoped so, anyway. The world was full of dick head and douchbags, him and Sam just tried to help wherever they could. They didn't do it for thanks.

"I ah, I also will not mention about your – your orientation." Dean swallowed, but nodded his thanks. He didn't know what to say, he didn't want to explain himself when the guy wasn't asking him to. Cas actually fucking blushed, and looked up towards the trees behind them. "Actually, if we are lucky, there might be something I can mix up for you, that will hide your scent." Dean just stared, because what the actual fuck.

"What are you, some kinda hoo doo witch doctor?" Cas had that audacity to look offended, which had Dean cackling. "Oh man, you are!" Cas stood, and went to brush the sand off his pants. When he swayed, Dean was there to catch him, and once again their faces were way to close.

"I am, in fact, a herbalist, and an Entomologist. Do you want my help, Dean?" The omega's heart skipped at the tone the alpha was using, but Dean pushed it away. He wasn't scared of the guy, just wary. The alpha just wanted an answer, which was fair enough.

"Yeah, man. I really do. I can't – I can't have anyone finding out, you know?" Dean ducked his head and moved away from the alpha. He wasn't ashamed of being what he was, but he'd heard the stories of alphas that used Dean's kind as nothing more than sex toys. They saw them as a slick hole to stuff a knot in, nothing more. There were so few of them, that it generally went unheard of.

Of course it wasn't legal, he was still a human for fuck sake, but that didn't mean it didn't still happen.

Besides, he couldn't afford to get knocked up, so far from the real world. Anything could happen during a pregnancy, and if he didn't have access to basic medical equipment…

"Alright, I'll need a few basic herbs and plants." Cas rattled off what he needed, and sent Dean off to look for the plants. Cas described what they looked like, but Dean didn't remember the names. He didn't actually care, as long as it sorted his problem.

They didn't stray too far from the beach, so they could still keep an eye out for Sam, but they eventually found everything thing they needed. Cas had found a cracked open coconut shell, so he used that as a sort of mixing bowl. When he was done, he handed Dean the mixture, that didn't actually smell at all.

"Rub it into your scent glands, and it should mask any scent you give out." Cas scooped out a finger full, and spread it behind Deans left ear. All the air left him in a whoosh when Cas touched him, and the alpha froze. "Oh – oh god, I am so sorry." Cas wiped the remaining mixture back into the bowl, eyes wide and cheeks tinged with red. He obviously didn't know what he was doing, but Dean's heart didn't know that.

He was pretty much scenting him, while erasing his scent.

"That's – that's alright, Cas. Uh, so my scent glands, yeah?" Dean scooped up the paste, before rubbing it everywhere he could reach. Behind his ears, along his neck, down his nape, his wrists, and even made Cas blush further and turn away when he tipped the rest of it down his pants. It was actually refreshingly cold, but he rubbed it in regardless. He hoped it wouldn't cause some kind of reaction down there.

There was only so much humiliation a guy could take.

Luckily, the paste was a lot more watery than it seemed, and disappeared to nothing once it was applied to his skin.

"So, take a whiff, can ya smell me?" Dean smirked, but only to hide his fear. He needed it to work, because he wasn't going to be one of those statistics.

He had a gift, goddamnit, and he was saving it for his mate, not some random knot head who thought he was theirs to claim.

Cas turned around from where he was shuffling some dead leaves, and tentatively moved forwards. Dean held his breath when the alpha drew near, not trusting his body at all. The alphas scent had his body reacting like it never had before, and that scared him more than anything else.

When the alpha was near enough, but not actually touching him, he took a deep breath in through his nose, taking in as much of Deans scent as he could. There were a few seconds of silence, before Cas released the breath.

"Nothing that I can detect, but you will have to apply it at least once a day, and after you go in the water." Cas smiled at him. Dean smiled back, and wondered if the guy had a mate, or a boyfriend or girlfriend. He couldn't see a mating mark, so that was a good sign. He'd get to know the guy better before he brought up the whole I think you're my mate thing, but he could be patient, when it counted.

Cas opened his mouth, and Dean politely waited for him to say something, when they heard voices, coming from deeper in the bush. Cas frowned, but nodded when Dean held his finger to his lips. They didn't know who else could be on the island; it could be drug smugglers or some undiscovered cannibal tribe, for all they knew.

Dean spotted an overhanging bunch of vines that looked like it would fit the both of them, and grabbed Cas arm. When shit got tense, and lives could be in danger, Dean dropped all his qualms about personal space. So, apparently, did Cas.

The alpha held the vines out of the way, and then crawled in just after Dean. They were practically on top of one another, and Dean was about to grumble, when Cas' hand wrapped around his mouth. Dean would have struggled, if not for the heavy foot falls just outside their little hideout, and the deep, gruff voice of, clearly, an alpha.

"For fuck sake, we've been walking for hours." Dean wondered if they had been on the boat with them, he couldn't really remember, that night was a bit of a blur. A different voice scolded him.

"We've gotta find water." Yeah, they must have been on the boat. "Do you think your pet made it? What I wouldn't do to have a turn ooff." Dean heard the thump of body on body, and startled back into Cas as their vines were disturbed. Cas slowly and quietly, wrapped his other arm around Dean, pulling him tight against him. Deans shaking stopped, and he was able to catch what the other man said.

"– that omega is mine, do you hear me? Aint many of them around, and he was hard to come by." Dean shivered, and despite himself, burrowed closer into Cas. There was another omega on the island with them. "We're gonna find that piece of trash, and I'm going to make him learn what happens, when he runs from me." Dean didn't even need to see the guys face, to imagine the bitter, disgusting expression.

He would never understand why some people thought male omegas were below everyone else. Everyone else accepted them for whom and what they were, hell, most people saw it as a miracle that a dude could give birth, but some people… They chose to hold on to the archaic belief that male omegas were the devils invention, only put on earth to tempt good men from their wives. They distorted those old world views, into something disgusting, evil and modern, taking omegas and using them for their own nefarious purposes.

After what seemed like an age, the men moved on. Dean was sure he had sweated through his new scent blockers. He didn't want to even look at Cas, especially since he was still buried into the guys side. He'd seen his vulnerability, and his fear. Shame crept over him, making his heart race and plummet at the same time. That was, until Cas spoke.

"I won't let them hurt you, Dean. I know you are perfectly capable of looking after yourself, but I must let you know," Cas shifted his hand, and brushed the small hairs at the back of Deans neck. "I will protect you."

Looked like Cas had smelt it too, Dean didn't know whether he should be relieved, or scared out of his goddamned mind.

"Cas?"

"Yes?"

"We've gotta find that omega before they do."

"I couldn't agree more."