Title: Can't Stop the Bugs from Biting

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairings: Cas/Dean Sam/Gabriel sort of Bobby/Crowley

Warnings: not sure yet violence most defiantly, angst probably, and probably sexy time later.

Word Count: Roughly 3,850

Summary: Cas is an Entomologist that hires Dean on as a guide after his original guide Sam goes missing, to trudge through the thick Amazon forest to find a giant centipede. But Cas's plans change after flood season starts and Dean becomes desperate to find the missing Sam.

Author's Note: If any of the information about the Amazon River or forest is wrong I'm sorry, I did very minimal research before I began this. And also I'd like to mention that this delicious little plot bunny was not my own but instead came from lazy_daisy26 from Livejournal I was trolling over there and I came across her idea that she had wanted someone to write about and stole it. So if anyone knows lazy_daisy26 or can get a hold of her I'd thank you kindly if you could point her in my direction.

The plane ride to Cape Norte had been stuffy, hot, and cramped with all of his equipment and the six other passengers crammed into the three passenger plane had made for a very uncomfortable plane ride. Castiel was pretty sure that the amount of people shoved into the tiny plane was both illegal and very dangerous a couple of times when the plane had dipped and the engine had started making sounds that no engine should make Castiel was certain that he was going to meet his end surrounded by a bunch of strangers he could barely communicate with. Sure had taken the time to learn the langue of the native population but the langue that the people spoke here was wholly different then what he was taught by that dam computer program he had bought. Their langue was rough and filled with slang terms that Castiel could not for the life of him figure out. At one part during the plane ride the older lady sitting beside him who seemed infinitely more calm then he was had turned to the slightly younger lady behind her and said something that Castiel had vaguely recognized. When the both of them had started laughing Castiel was more than sure that they had just insulted him.

By the end of the plane ride Castiel was more than happy to be off that plane and walking towards the rather large African American man that his boss to set up to meet Castiel at the dock.

Trying to balance his bags on one arm Castiel stuck out his other hand in greeting "Hello I am Castiel Novack."

The man in front of him cracked a grin and slapped his hand against Castiel's crushing his hand in vice grip like handshake "Nice to meet ya Castiel I'm Uriel I'm in charge of getting you down to Gurupa to set you up with your guide." Releasing Castiel's hand Uriel grabbed some of Castiel's bags swinging them with ease over his shoulder, Castiel felt a bit weak still struggling with his remaining bags.

The man turned and started walking off not looking over his shoulder to see if Castiel was coming "Now it'll take a while to get down to Gurupa but we'll be taking a sea plane" Castiel blanched at the thought of taking another plane the air around here was hot and thick with moisture. It seemed to cling to his skin and dig itself into his pores in return making what felt like gallons of sweat to pour out of him. The armpits of his button down shirt had large pit stains on them and the front of his shirt was clinging to him. He had halfway through the first flight rolled up his sleeves but that had done next to nothing to help.

Continuing on with his speech Uriel headed down a narrow rickety dock to a plane that was half the size of the one he had just gotten off of and looked far worse for wear. "So it'll be a lot shorter of journey then if we took a boat, which you'll be doing with your guide to get to Monte Alegra which is a little over a hundred and fifty miles from Gurupa which means that'll be a good 5 hour boat ride depending on how good your guide is."

"Wait" Castiel said stopping at the door of the plane "you mean you've never met the guy before?"

Uriel shot him a look like he was crazy for asking that question "All the locals swear by him, say he's the best guide down there, and plus he's the only guide that speaks fluent English, which'll come in handy." Grinning Uriel slapped Castiel hard on the shoulder which nearly made him fall over "Don't worry about it boy you'll be fine. Then from Monte Alegra you'll start out on your two week research field trip. The guide will bring you by plane back up to Gurupa and then I'll take you back up to Cape Norte where'll you'll be back on your way to U.S civilization in no time."

Uriel grabbed the rest of Castiel's bags and threw them in the back of the plane making Castiel wince he hoped that none of his equipment or collection tools had been broken. As Uriel climbed into the plane a loud rusty squeak made Castiel jump back in fear that the plane would collapse right in front of him.

"Come one boy, climb in we don't got all day" Uriel called as he leaned over from his pilot's seat at Castiel's timid look as the climbed into the plane Uriel laughed. "This baby has seen more air time then The Reading Rainbow has…and she's still solid as a rock." Uriel hit the ceiling of the plane just a piece of something Castiel hoped was not vital to the running of the plane fell off. Grabbing the said piece Uriel tossed it in the back "Not important" he assured Castiel giving him a toothy grin, Castiel had the urge to bail out right there. To run away from the rickety plane and beg his boss to send him somewhere safe that didn't involve ancient planes, like Michigan to study fireflies.

Before Castiel had a chance to change his mind and bail out Uriel started the engines which sputtered and died before clanking to life. Gripping tight on the handle of the door which Castiel hoped beyond all hope would not break off Castiel almost closed his eyes as the plane began to move forward. Building speed and then finally taking off into the air, Castiel looked down and mourned the loss of the ground because every inch that he climbed made him less and less likely to survive if the plane became to all the rust and fell apart while in midflight.

When finally the plane did land Castiel barely waited until it had stopped moving before he threw open his door and all but fell out onto the dock. Humans were not meant to fly if they were meant to fly they would come equipped with wings. Uriel climbed out behind him an amused smile on his face as he grabbed Castiel's bags and handed them over.

"The guide's house is just up the road." Uriel instructed pointing to the dirt road that disappeared between a mess of houses.

"How am I going to find him?" Castiel asked alarmed that he was being left alone in a strange place where he could barely speak the dialect. "I don't even know his name."

Uriel gave him another amused grin "Just ask for Sam Winchester in English someone'll point ya in the right direction." Before Castiel could ask another question Uriel climbed back into his plane and shut the door. Castiel stood on the dock as he watched Uriel take off into the air leaving him stranded; the only boat that Castiel saw was an old tin motorized boat that looked barely big enough to fit two people.

Fighting back the mounting panic in his chest Castiel gathered up his bags and started his trek up the dirt hill to find his guide. By time he got to the top of the hill he was sweating worse than he had ever before he felt as if he was completely out of shape which in reality he was far from it. He regularly exorcised and even did yoga to keep him limber but the air down here made him breathless and sweaty before he even took a step. Taking a quick rest to catch his breath Castiel continued on, asking now again to whomever he ran into for Sam Winchester. Most of the people he asked gave him funny looks and turned around ignoring him. After the seventh person to do that Castiel was really starting to get irritated, and he was starting to think that Uriel had set him up.

He was just starting up a dialogue inside his head about how much of a dick Uriel was when little kid chasing after a soccer ball crashed into him knocking him on his ass and sending his bags flying. Groaning with pain Castiel laid on his back staring up at the cloudless sky wondering if it would be any use to get back up or not.

"I sorry mister" the little kid hurriedly apologized in broken English as he leaned over Castiel the soccer ball tucked under his arm, how the kid had managed to rescue the ball was beyond him. "You are not hurt no?" The kid asked his face colored with genuine concern.

"I'm fine" Castiel said standing up brushing the dirt off of his black slacks and sky blue dress shirt. "You speak English" it was more of a surprised statement then a question but the kid answered none the less.

"Yes" he said grinning as he nodded his head "I was taught by good teacher" the kid said excitedly "I take you to him" the kid said as he slung one of Castiel's bags over his shoulder and started to run off "Come, me take you to him" the called over his shoulder. Hurriedly Castiel gathered his bags and ran after the kid hopefully whoever it was the child was leading him to get him to Sam Winchester.

By time Castiel caught up the kid his bag had been abandoned at the edge of dirt field where a bunch of kids were playing soccer with a man looked around Castiel's age. The guy's hair was cut short and stuck up almost straight which Castiel was sure happened naturally and not by gel. His shirt was off tucked into the back of his pants trailing behind him as he ran down the dirt field the soccer ball the kid had just brought back speeding in front of him his feet clad in laced up boots easily controlling the ball towards the goal. The kids who ranged anywhere from five to thirteen or fourteen years old chased after him, it seemed it was all the kids against the one older man.

Effortlessly the man kicked the ball between the two post sticking out of the ground that served as a goal pumping his fist in the air the man turned around with a broad grin on his face "And Dean Winchester scores again" Castiel's heart beat faster as the guy said his last name, this had to be Sam Winchesters brother or cousin, he could no doubt take him to Sam. "Come on kids" Dean said wiping the sweat off his forehead with his forearm "you've got to be better than that if you want to beat the mighty Dean Winchester."

All the kids seemed to understand Dean's English because they started speaking back to him in broken English, promises of a rematch and no mercy were thrown around which caused to Dean to throw his head back in laugh. Whatever part of his skin that was exposed was tan, his chest and stomach were firm and well built, it made Castiel's own pale and definitionless body seemed meek and meager in comparison.

The boy that had run into Castiel down the road noticing that Castiel was now standing looking like a lost idiot at the edge of the field tugged on Dean's leg and pointed to Castiel saying something that Castiel could not quite make out. Looking over at Castiel then down the kid Dean nodded then started walking towards him.

Stopping a few feet in front of him Dean pulled out his shirt from behind him and wiped his face before slipping the thin black t-shirt over his head and pulling it down. "I hear that you're lost." Dean had a slight accent nothing too pronounced but just enough to tell that he had been living in the area for nearly all his life.

"In a manner of speaking" Castiel said readjusting his bags to make it more comfortable.

"In a manner of speaking" Dean echoed a faint smile on his chapped lips.

"I'm looking for Sam Winchester" Castiel said a little brusque his temper flaring a bit over what he assumed was Dean making fun of him.

Dean not missing Castiel's slight edge to his voice replied back all trace of amusement gone from his face "Well you're shit out of luck."

"Why?" Castiel demanded, there was no way in hell he just flew from Pontiac, Illinois to this sweat trap just to find out that he had no freaking guide. He'd hiked the god dam jungle himself if that was what it took.

"Why?" Dean echoed again, Castiel was beginning to think this guy was part parrot or something. "Because, Sam Winchester has been missing for over three days."

"What? But how?" Castiel asked, for some odd reason that he chalked up to be drop dead tired he felt concerned about Sam Winchester even though he'd never met the guy. "Why aren't you out looking for him, he could be dead."

Dean's eyes narrowed at Castiel's comment "Sam's fine…he can take care of himself he'll show up sooner or later he always does. But until he does you're just going to have to wait." Dean turned to go back to the soccer game the kids had started without him but stopped and said over his shoulder "Or you can just go back home." Giving Castiel one last grin Dean ran back over to the soccer game the kids yelling in excitement as he rejoined the game.

Once again Casteil's temper flared, he was not an angry man by nature or spontaneous for that matter but this Dean Winchester really got his crank yanking. Nearly throwing his bags on the ground he stormed over to where Dean was bouncing the ball on one knee and grabbed it out of mid bounce. "I don't have time to wait for Sam to show back up, I have exactly two weeks to complete my assignment and get back to Cape Norte before my plane leaves without me. So either you go and find your brother within the next five hours before sunset or you're going to be my guide."

For a second Dean looked taken aback by Castiel's outburst, Castiel had to admit himself he was kind of surprised by his behavior as well. A small smile tugged at the edge of Dean's lips "Okay…if Sam doesn't show up by sunset I'll take you out myself." The kids around him started laughing and Dean gave them a look to be quiet. "You can stay in Sam's bed tonight since I doubt he'll be showing up anytime soon."

What Dean had meant by Sam's bed was really a thick piece of padding laid on the floor a few feet away from Dean's bed, which was a similar piece of thick padding. Dean had explained as he climbed into bed with his shoes still on and a long sleeved shirt buttoned up firmly against his chest that bugs loved to crawl inside shoes during the night while they slept so he always slept with his shoes on. He had instructed for Castiel to do the same but Castiel hadn't listened instead he took of his shoes and laid them sideways on the floor before crawling into the makeshift bed and pulling the thin ragged cover over him. Dean had given him a weird look but hadn't said anything before turning over and falling, rather quickly, asleep.

In the morning when Castiel had awoken Dean was already up looking over a map at a table that looked way worse for wear a few feet away. Castiel had reached for his boots but Dean stopped him.

"I wouldn't put those on if I were you." Dean said causally sparing Castiel a glance away from his maps.

"I wasn't planning on putting them on" Castiel said back before gently turned over one of his boots. A large black centipede that measured nearly three inches fell out of his shoe, taking one look at the thing Dean jumped and grabbed the nearest hard thing. Quickly Castiel held out his arms shielding the arthropod "No don't kill it!"

"The things disgusting" Dean said with a clear look of hate on his face directed towards the centipede that was currently scurrying towards the door.

"No it's no" Castiel said in its defense as he shook both his shoes to make sure there were no more bugs in them before slipping them on and lacing them up. "Just because it doesn't match your description of beautiful doesn't make it any less deserving of life or respect."

"You're weird you know that" Dean said setting back down whatever he had picked up to smash the poor arthropod.

Standing up Castiel gripped his hands behind his back and pull them back and nearly almost over his head "I've hear that a lot actually."

"So what are you some kind of bug freak?" Dean asked sitting back down by his maps, Castiel recognized them as topographical maps of the rain forest surrounding the city they were in.

"Well my degree is in Entomology but for the last couple of years I have been study the Scolopendra gigantea…"

"The scully who'dy what'dy?" Dean asked once again looking up from his maps.

"The Scolopendra gigantea it's a giant carnivorous centipede that lives almost exclusively in the Amazon forest."

Dean looked at Castiel with a pure look or disgust tinged with alarm "You mean you hired me on as a guide to help you search for gigantic centipede that could eat me?"

Castiel gave Dean look that was usually reserved for a tired mother explaining to a child that his food is not a toy. "It won't eat you, it prays on small rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, and even bats. There are a quite a large number of them that live in caves and feed on bats. You see" Castiel said his eye gleaming with what he was sure was excitement as he feed Dean the facts about the giant Arthropod. "The Scolopendra gigantea will scale the walls of a cave and hang by its hind legs waiting for a bat to fly by. And when one finally does it snatches the bat out of midflight while it keeps it in its grip with its front legs the Scolopendra gigantea will inject highly toxic venom into the bat killing it within seconds. Then it will take nearly up to an hour before the Scolopendra gigantea has every last scrap and piece of the bat completely finished."

Dean had a look of horror on his face his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open "Yeah…there is now way in hell I'm going to be your guide, you're going to have to wait until Sammy gets back. He's a freak like you, he'll think that kind of stuff is fascinating and you two weirdo's can bond over that horrifying experience."

"I already told you" Castiel was starting to get impatient with Dean "I don't have time to wait around for Sam to get back. I have only two weeks to get a Scolopendra gigantea feeding on tape before I have to return."

"Well then you better hope Sammy returns in time for you to do that." Dean started rolling up the maps to put them away before Castiel stopped him by throwing down two thousand dollars in cash on the table.

Dean's eyes went wider then they had been when Castiel had been telling him about the gigantic centipede. "Will that be sufficient amount of motivation for you?"

Scooping up the money Dean let out a low whistle as he gently thumbed through it "You're really getting your panties in a twist of this scully centipede."

"It's called a Scolopendra gigantea" Castiel corrected him.

"Yeah whatever don't care" Dean said standing up with the money in hand "we're calling it the scully from now on because I don't like saying long names and it sound less gross."

For the first time in the two days he had been in Brazil Castiel felt a smile on his face "My name is Castiel Novak, by the way." Castiel stuck out his hand in a greeting.

Instead of shaking his hand Dean stuck an old beaten up Rucksack in it "Whatever you can fit in there you can bring rest of this shit has got to stay here."

"But I need all of my gear."

"Not anymore you don't" Dean said as he started picking through things and shoving what seemed like random items into a similar bag.

"But I" Castiel started.

Dean cut him off by glaring at him "Look we're going to have to hike probably a good a three hundred mile trip, which equals out to twenty one and a half miles a day. For someone unknown God reason you came during April which is the worse time of year to hike around here, something you and your boss should really know. So that means even though you look like you're in really good shape that will still be an extreme amount of strain and punishment put on your body. And on top of all the strain of just walking it will not be a good idea to be carrying a whole bunch of extra unnecessary…" Castiel opened his mouth to argue but once again Dean cut him off. "And I do mean unnecessary crap that will only slow us down and put your body under extra stress. So put whatever you absolutely need into the backpack and don't fill it too heavy or you'll just hurt yourself."

Castiel was going to say something but he kept quiet Dean's speech sapping him of all the arguments he had previously had against leaving nearly all of his gear behind. After Castiel had finished packing his bag Dean instructed Castiel to wait outside while he hid his money, which Castiel had down with a slight roll of his eyes. After a few seconds Dean came out of the small house and clapped Castiel on the shoulder "Let's go get you a giant creepy bug."

"Arthropod" Castiel corrected.

"Whatever." Dean shot back already walking off.

Wow this was a really long chapter, phew it seemed as if it'd never end. All the information about the Scolopendra gigantea is actually true I did some research on them and they seem really creepy and a very good reason to never go into the deeper parts of a rainforest. I'm getting the heebie jeebies just writing about them. If you want to see a picture of them here's a link .com/2007_02_01_ it's about a quarter of the way down the page. Nasty little big things.