Chapter Five - Proposition

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In the passing months since parting with his older brother the journey had not been easy for Sam. His hallucinations of Lucifer continued to grow increasingly worse and without Dean there to support him he had fallen back into using demon blood. It was the only thing he had left that could help dull the battlefield in his mind. He realised only too late how much he needed his brother and how much he had been there for him throughout the years. The youngest Winchester only wished he'd appreciated it when he had the chance. The only thing that kept him close to sane was moving quickly from case to case while working on ways to free his brother from the curse he believed Castiel had place upon him.

He had convinced himself that he had been acting in Dean's best interests that night in the motel room. He wanted to keep him from getting hurt again, he wanted to save his brother the way Dean had saved him countless times before.

…..

Dean and Cas exited the pie shop hand in hand, the Winchester rubbed his stomach fondly, warm and full from the large slices of pie he had just consumed.

"It's a good thing I've got you to keep me in shape" Dean whispered teasingly into the angel's ear, playfully nibbling it as they approached the car.

"Careful Dean" He smiled wickedly, pulling away to look into his eyes "I might just have to bend you over the car bonnet and show the full power of my wrath"

"You mean you've been holding back?" He smiled raising an intrigued eyebrow.

"Ahem… Ladies" Crowley interrupted, having appeared beside them unnoticed amidst their conversation.

"Son of a bitch!" Dean growled, taking a step back in surprise.

"Now, now. Play nicely" He grinned mockingly "or else I won't share my findings"

"What are you doing here?" Castiel narrowed his eyes, quickly stepping in front of Dean defensively.

"So eager to get to the punch line angel boy… or is that former angel boy now?" He smirked maliciously.

The angel took another step forward, closing the gap between himself and the former crossroads demon.

"Really Dean, Can't you keep your angel on a leash? I came here to be civil" Crowley said throatily, feigning offence.

Dean reached out and gently placed a hand on his lover's shoulder, squeezing it softly to reassure him it was okay.

"Cas, let's just hear what he has to say… If he's wasting our time we can kick his ass later"

Castiel gave a small nod and took a step back, still positioning himself in front of Dean.

"I'd like to see you try… King of hell, remember?" He said smugly, pointing a finger at himself.

"Just tell us why you're here already!" Dean snarled, rolling his eyes.

"Alright I see you want to skip the foreplay" He smiled to himself "It's about Moose"

Dean's body went rigid as he balled his hands into tight fists; readying himself to take a swing at the demon if necessary.

"What about him?" He snarled.

"Well I thought you might be interested to know what he's got planned for you two. He tried to bring me in on it actually… he really must be desperate" He stated, happily smirking at them.

"Spit it out Crowley!"

"Uh-uh not so fast! To get a little something you've got to give a little something!" He chuckled wagging a disapproving finger at the hunter's impatience.

"We aren't gonna give you squat unless you tell us whatever the hell it is you came here to tell us!"

"This is your final warning, play nicely or I'll leave you to it"

"Alright… please tell us whatever it is you came here to tell us" The Winchester said through gritted teeth.

"Now that's more like it" The demon replied, eagerly stroking something within the inner pocket of his tailored jacket "It involves tragedy like all the best love stories of course, but if you want all the spoilers you have to agree to my conditions"

"What is it that you want Crowley?" Castiel asked cautiously.

"Well I'll get straight to the point shall I? I don't want angel's breathing down my neck. If they ever catch up with you I'll become the next public enemy number one. My proposition will benefit the both of us"

Castiel gave a curt nod to indicate the demon had his attention.

"I want your grace" He said simply pulling a glass vial from the confines of his pocket "What's left of it anyway. Without it the angels will have a much harder time tracking you down and… I'll have some extra ammunition if they ever decide to come knocking on my door for a fight. It's a win-win so smiles all round!"

"Go to hell Crowley! If you think we're going to make a deal with you over some phoney information you've got another thing coming!" Dean yelled, fingers twitching as he slowly began to reach for the demon blade in his pocket.

"Excuse me, the adults are talking" He said not removing his gaze from the angel "Going once, going twice…" Castiel looked between the two men helplessly. It did seem like a good offer, he was almost human now anyway and if Sam was planning something they needed to know about it.

He glanced at the hunter's face, could see the anger, the resentment, the pain at the memory of their last dealings with Crowley. He knew then and there that to agree to the proposition would only hurt Dean further.

"Have it your way then" The demon said with an air of indifference, slipping the small glass vial back into his pocket "Just remember, I gave you a choice. Whatever happens next is a result of the decision you made here today"

Within a fraction of a second he had disappeared and the two men found themselves alone in the parking lot once more. They exchanged weary glances, Dean running his hand over the length of his face. Castiel stood there lost in thought, brow furrowed.

"Why would he come to us? Now of all times?" He said quietly, more to himself than to Dean.

"I don't give a rat's ass why" Dean spat "He was obviously bluffing, he's probably getting bored downstairs so decided to try and mix things up a bit up here. He's just trying to get some sort of twisted revenge on you for…" He broke off from his sentence, not wanting to drag up the past.

"Anyway we need to hit the road if we're gonna make it to Little Rock, we're losing daylight here!" Dean said in an attempt to shift the subject away from his mind.

Castiel had sensed something was amiss the moment Dean's cell had rang that morning. There had been no word from Sam for months and suddenly he chooses now to regain contact, on the same day that Crowley happened to make an appearance.

"Dean maybe we should think about this" He said warily.

"There's nothing to think about, Bobby needs my help. He'd do the same for me if the situation were reversed, I can't just leave him"

"But how do we know if he even needs…"

"We're going… End of discussion!" He opened the car door angrily and quickly slid into the front seat, slamming the door behind him.

Castiel sighed, resigned to the fact that there was just no convincing Dean and slowly dragged his feet to the other side of the car to sit next to him. He turned to face him to continue the discussion but the hunter pushed in a cassette tape, forcefully pressing play and raising the volume before he turned the key to start the engine.

The drive was a long one, Castiel spent most of it staring out of the window, watching the world go by as he worried for the eldest Winchester; trying to think of ways to protect him against whatever they were about to face. Sam had been unreliable at the best of times and something just didn't seem right about… any of this.

They were only about two thirds of the way there by sundown, Cas could see Dean was exhausted and had suggested they rest up in a motel so he could get a few hours of shut eye in a proper bed. After buying a room for the night from the aging desk clerk, they went to their room. Dean pulled off his jacket, collapsing onto the bed. He'd spent the last few weeks sleeping in the impala making the feel of the springy old mattress almost heavenly in comparison. He laid back and felt something in his pocket digging into his thigh. It was his cell phone, he pulled it out in agitation as it was making him uncomfortable, noticing he had a new message from Sam.

How far off are you now?

"I'm tired, you text him back" Dean said throwing the phone over to Castiel.

The angel looked lost as he stared at the device with a puzzled expression, holding it away from himself as if it might bite "Dean I don't…"

Dean smiled broadly, remembering Castiel had no idea how to use his smartphone. He stood up and took a step over to where he had been standing by the table. He closed the gap between them, wrapping his arms around him, placing a tender kiss upon his lips.

"What was that for?" Castiel eyes glazed over as he smiled a confused smile.

"You're just so damn cute" Dean grinned "Like a little lost puppy"

Castiel smiled awkwardly, running his hands over the small of Dean's back affectionately, slowly riding his shirt up to feel the skin beneath.

"Right I'm going to take a shower!" He yawned, stretching his arms out.

The angel looked disappointed and went to sit on the bed.

"What do you think you're doing?" Dean asked as his eyebrows drew together in a frown.

"Waiting for you to have your shower" He said matter-of-factly.

"I think you mean our shower" Dean said hungrily pulling off his t-shirt and tossing it to the floor "You're coming too of course" He winked at him, grabbing his hand and pulling him up so there bodies were pressed against each other.

Castiel could feel the warmth of Dean's skin radiating through his own suit. He could feel himself aching with the need to be inside him, he crashed his lips hard against the hunters, passionately caressing his lover's tongue.

"Alright I'm coming with you" He said breathlessly after pulling away.

"Not yet you're not, but you will be" Dean grinned impishly pulling Castiel by his tie into the bathroom.

…

It was barely dawn when they hit the road again. The hunter had managed to cram in a few hours of sleep when Castiel had finally allowed him to rest. The morning air was still, a slight chill in the air. The birds were just starting to wake and sing their morning songs as Dean sat barely conscious in the front passenger seat. To-go cup of coffee in hand as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Be good to my baby Cas!" Dean said sleepily, patting the dashboard fondly with his free hand as the angel revved the engine and carefully began to reverse out of the parking lot.

A couple of hours passed, when they were about ten miles out from Little Rock Dean turned to Castiel.

"It might be best if we pull up here" The hunter sighed, reluctantly preparing himself for what he was about to say.

The angel pulled up on the side of the road and turned to examine the Winchester's face.

"What is it Dean?" He asked apprehensively

"It might be best if I go it alone from here. Things got a little out of hand the last time we were all together, I think it might help if I see Sammy alone. Maybe try and explain things to him"

"But Dean, I swore to protect you" He said indignantly.

"It's okay, he's my little brother I think I can handle it" Dean smiled wearily at the angel, squeezing his hand.

"I do not think this is wise, especially after Crowley resurfaced to warn us yesterday"

"Crowley's full of crap Cas! C'mon you know that. Better than anyone…" He trailed off.

The angel looked away, pained at the hunter's obvious gibe at his past indiscretions. Dean gently placed a hand on his face, turning his cheek to face him.

"Just… trust me, okay. Can you do that?"

"It's not you that I don't trust Dean… but if this is what you wish for me to do, then I shall leave you to discuss matters with your brother in private" He placed a gentle kiss on the hunter's lips "If you need me…"

"Don't worry you'll be the first one I'm prayin' to" Dean smiled warmly at him, stealing one last kiss before the angel disappeared.

Now that he was alone he could let his defences down a little, he sighed heavily pulling a silver flask from his jacket, swallowing a large mouthful before screwing the cap back on. He shuffled to the driver's seat, turning the key as dread overwhelmed him. He tried to focus his thoughts on Bobby but nothing could drive the memory of when he had last seen his brother from his mind.

Dean reached the place that Sam had mentioned staying at in what felt like no time at all. He sat in the parking lot for several moments before working up the courage to knock on the Motel room door. He slowly walked towards it, deeply inhaling before he placed three cautious knocks on the cracked red paint of the wood. Sam opened almost instantly, pulling his brother inside the room for a hug.

"It's good to see you Dean!" He said pulling away, with both hands still gripped on his arms.

"Yeah, err you too" Dean replied cautiously, unsure of the frailty of Sam's mood "So tell me about what happened with Bobby…"

"Erm yeah about that" Sam forced an uncomfortable smile.

Dean tensed "What?"

"Well I needed to speak with you and I didn't know how else I could get you to come so I kinda…"

"Made the whole thing up?" Dean questioned, eyebrow raised "I oughta kick your ass!"

"Look, Wait Dean, just hear me out… Okay?" Sam said holding his hands out in surrender.

"Alright, I'm listening. This had better be good!" Dean spat folding his arms impatiently.

"Okay here goes…"

…