Chapter Text
“How?” Cas stared at the levers and buttons before him as if he had never seen anything like it. And probably, he never had.
Though there was no time for him to go through the theory. Either they took off, or they were toast.
“Feet on the pedals,” Dean shouted over the noise. “Right hand on the stick. Left on the throttle. Go!”
Dean didn’t like being completely dependent on a guy in a boy scout uniform, but Cas was his only hope. They needed to get out of this, and the faster the better.
Whatever Cas did, it worked. The chopper slowly lifted, and Dean allowed himself to breathe.
Bullets sizzled right and left, but they quickly gained height, until they didn’t.
“Goddammit,” Dean screamed. “Don’t throttle. Higher. Higher.”
Castiel squinted. “I’m trying,” he grumbled.
“Accelerate… No not like that,” Dean said and the helicopter dropped several yards. “Let me take over the pedals.”
Castiel nodded relieved. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. I like your way of thinking.”
“Concentrate. Left… Not there.” Dean closed his eyes, but ripped them open when a tree appeared right in front of them. “Son of a bitch!” Somehow the chopper lifted at the last possible moment, and they evaded their fate by a hair. “Geez!” Dean breathed out. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”
“You and me both,” Cas deadpanned as he missed the mansion’s roof for mere inches.
“We have to leave,” Dean reminded him when they flew another circle.
“Yes, I’m trying, but this thing doesn’t seem to like me,” Cas bitched.
Despite the tense situation, Dean laughed. “Do you say that about your car as well?”
“Constantly,” Cas answered with a concentrated frown on his face.
It was the hottest thing Dean had witnessed in a while, and he would have loved to watch Mr. Kline fly for hours if it weren’t a matter of life and death.
“You’re doing good,” Dean reassured him nonetheless. He had no idea whether it was to soothe Cas or to distract himself from the sudden urge to kiss the frown away.
Castiel’s frown deepened. “We’re going to crash… I’m going to crash this thing.”
“Nah, we’re fine. We haven’t crashed yet, and we won’t later,” Dean answered and looked out of the window. Once again, they spun over the estate, but it allowed him to check on their enemies. Several people were running to the car, but jumped out just a few moments later.
“I punctured their tires,” Castiel explained casually.
“How? Does that mean— You have a knife?” Dean stared at his unlikely pilot.
“I had,” Castiel answered while pulling at the stick and levers. “But I must have left it in one of the tires.”
“Why?” Dean squeaked because his goddamn voice betrayed him.
“He was about to push you into the helicopter. I couldn’t allow it,” Castiel said heatedly and moved his arms, causing the helicopter to pirouette.
“Stop that,” Dean snapped.
Castiel glared at him.
“Watch out!” Dean cried out, and Cas pulled them up at the last minute before they collided with a tree.
“I’m sorry that I tried to save you,” Castiel bitched. “I called your number countless times, but you didn’t answer.”
“Because I was abducted, goddammit!” Dean grouched.
“I noticed,” Cas deadpanned, and Dean couldn’t decide if he wanted to strangle or kiss the guy.
Probably both. If they ever managed to get out of that thing, he might even try both at the same time.
They were finally flying more stable. Cas slowly seemed to get a hang on it. They got some distance between the chopper and the mansion, and Dean allowed himself to take a breath.
Of course, he almost choked on it when a bullet hit the door. Alarmed, he looked outside, only to find a car chasing them.
“Faster,” he urged Castiel on.
Once again, Mr. Kline risked a sideway-glance to glower at him, but this time, he seemed eager to keep the chopper under control. “I’m aware, Dean.”
Still, it wasn’t enough and the helicopter started to spin anew while losing height.
“Dude!” Dean warned as the car rushed towards them. “Turn.”
Whatever Cas did, it worked, and the car shot past them. The driver lost control and the car catapulted over a small ridge where it landed abruptly.
“Awesome!” Dean cheered, and the little smile on Cas’ face suddenly meant the world to him. “Sorry about your car, though,” he added rather sheepishly.
“My car?” Cas asked, alarmed, and Dean witnessed understanding slowly dawning on his face. “No,” Cas whispered.
Dean shrugged. “Figure they took the first car they could find.”
“My car,” Castiel said, and the helicopter did another sharp turn.
“Goddammit, Cas! Eyes on the road.”
“What road?” Cas cried out, and Dean shook his head and closed his eyes in defeat.
“Just… land this thing, alright?”
“Land? I can’t even fly,” Cas stated, panicked.
Dean burst into laughter and patted Cas’ thigh.
“You’re doing pretty well, man, all things considered,” he soothed his pilot. “You’ll earn your wings if you bring us down safely.”
“All things considered,” Cas echoed deadpan, and Dean lost it. “This isn’t funny, Dean.”
“Nah, you’re right. It ain’t. It’s hilarious.” Dean gasped for air until he finally got himself under control. “Just slowly push the stick and set us down.”
The helicopter lurched, and shot down. Dean groaned as they hit the ground, but Castiel immediately pulled the thing up again.
The next time they made contact with the ground it went a lot smoother. Even though they hobbled over the rocks and bushes, the chopper stayed still.
“Turn that switch,” Dean ordered, and Castiel killed the engines.
The rotors stopped and the sudden silence felt wrong, but they had made it. They had actually made it.
Dean’s pulse raced. Adrenaline rushed through his system, and he felt elated. Smiling, he turned to his companion, only to find that Cas was already staring at him.
“Hello, Dean,” Cas greeted him like the big dork he was.
Though Dean couldn’t care less. “Heya, Cas,” he said and licked his lips.
Castiel’s eyes followed the motion, and Dean’s heart pounded in his ears. Cas lifted his hand as if to touch him when someone opened the door.
“Hey guys,” Pam said and stopped. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No,” Dean grumbled and straightened his back. “How did you find us?”
“She was already at the mansion,” Cas explained, though he didn’t seem bothered about it.
Dean didn’t understand why it wasn’t a big deal to him. “You!” He gaped at the woman he had called a friend for years. “You…” It couldn’t be. Pam couldn’t… She wouldn’t— “No,” he whispered. “Not you. You’re—”
“She’s the mole,” Castiel went on, unperturbed, and the look on Pam’s face mirrored exactly how Dean felt.
“I’m not,” Pam protested, and despite all evidence, Dean believed her.
“And yet, she isn’t,” Castiel said, only confusing them even more.
“What?” Dean and Pam asked at once.
“They drugged and interrogated her. It’s a long story,” Castiel said. “But shouldn’t we leave? Are we still in danger? Or do you plan to arrest the bad guys?”
Dean gaped, and swallowed eventually. Turning to Pam, he nodded towards his shackles. “Care to help a guy out? Mr. Kline here obviously considers knots his archenemy.”
“This specific hitch never opens for me,” Cas defended himself. “Ask Jack, or Claire.”
“His kids,” Dean clarified when Pam frowned.
She nodded. “Scouts?”
“I have no idea how you could have guessed that,” Dean quipped and grinned. “I bet he’s a chip off the old block,” he teased Cas a bit more.
Mr. Kline crossed his arms. “I’ve never been a Scout,” he protested. “I’m a Scouter.”
“Ain’t that the same?” Dean asked, but immediately forgot about it when Pam finally managed to free him.
Before Dean realised what was happening, Cas had taken his right hand in his and started to massage his wrist.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t free you earlier,” Cas apologised, and Dean forgot that he should be angry about it.
Instead, he closed his eyes, and bit his tongue to stifle a sigh that was all too similar to a moan. Damn, it felt so fucking good.
Without another word, Dean offered his left hand as well, and Castiel continued working on it, until Pam cleared her throat.
“I’ll pretend I’ve never seen anything,” she said. “Take your time. You’ll find me at the mansion. Doing our job.”
Opening his left eye, Dean caught her grinning at him.
“Nice pick, Winchester,” she whispered into Dean’s ear, and walked away.
“Stop it,” Dean grumbled, and Castiel stalled. “Not you,” Dean said, and chuckled. “I was talking to Pam.”
“Oh.” Cas nodded.
His eyes lit up, and yet, he still didn’t continue. He even tried to pull his hands back, but Dean caught them. He must be out of his fucking mind, but that goddamn dork in his scout uniform with the stupid tie was stealing his breath.
“Cas,” Dean whispered while holding Cas’ hands tight.
He feared he might have misread the signals, when confusion appeared on Cas’ face, but his expressions softened and a tiny smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
With the adrenaline from their narrow escape still high in his system, Dean bit his bottom lip as his gaze trailed over Cas’ mouth.
While Cas’ thumb brushed over the back of Dean’s hand, time seemed to have slowed down. Dean could hear his heart beat as his blood rushed through him. Each breath breached the sudden silence and his entire focus lay on the gentle touch of Cas’ fingers.
Their eyes met. Dean saw his yearning mirrored in the deep blue ocean that seemed to watch him intently.
“We shouldn’t,” Dean mumbled.
Cas nodded in agreement, but they gravitated towards each other nonetheless. It was impossible to resist the pull, and Dean had no intention to resist at all, even though there were countless reasons why he should fight it.
“Dean,” Cas said, and the longing it carried finally did Dean in.
His hand shot to Cas’ face, cupping his jaw, while their foreheads bumped together. Dean banged his nose against Cas’, but after the initial jumble everything fell into order. Their lips touched in the gentlest way, and Dean hummed.
Cas’ little chuckle was the cherry on the pie, and Dean pulled back.
“Fuck,” he murmured.
“That’s not… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Cas said, and Dean froze. “At least, not now,” the damn asshole clarified, deadpan.
Dean hated how he relaxed immediately. Of course, Cas picked it up.
“Dean,” he said. “I want… But… I never… My kids…”
“Shh,” Dean whispered and pulled him close, savouring the moment. “It’s okay. I… Fuck, I don’t know what we’re doing. This isn’t—”
“Standard agency protocol?”
Dean burst into laughter. “Yeah. Geez, you’re—”
“One of a kind?” Cas asked and Dean felt the tilt of his head against his.
Although he didn’t want to leave, Dean pulled back. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”
“And then?”
Cas sounded so damn vulnerable that Dean hated himself for having to burst their little bubble of happiness. Fuck, he was fucking crazy about that guy. He must be out of his mind, but he couldn’t let him walk out of his life and never see him again.
Dean grinned. “We’re making it up as we go.”
“Yes,” Cas said, and Dean wanted to kiss him again, especially when a broad smile lit up his entire face. “I like that.”
Hesitantly, they entangled themselves and Dean stretched his weary body. Everything hurt and it would take quite a while to heal from his ordeal, but as his joints cracked, he sighed in relief.
“Thanks, dude.”
“Anytime, Dean,” Cas replied, and Dean’s heart thudded with excitement.
Once again, their eyes met, and seconds ticked by, until Dean shook his head with a sigh.
“Gonna need to help Pam out there,” he grumbled.
“I understand. I… Oh!” Cas’ eyes widened. “Daphne.”
Fuck! “Your girlfriend.” Dean was such a fucking idiot.
“No. You don’t understand, Dean,” Cas cried out and lowered his eyes. “She’s just… She’s coming to dinner,” he whispered. “And I’m late.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Dean brushed him off and finally got out of the helicopter.
“No, you don’t,” Cas snapped, anger flaring up in his eyes. “I don’t even know why I… Dean, I don’t have a job. I have kids, and my mother, and my ex-wife… Daphne, she is…” He shrugged which affected his whole body.
Geez, Cas looked so fucking beaten all of a sudden.
Dean rounded the helicopter and, after a quick scan of the perimeter, leaned in. His hand was back, perfectly cupping Cas’ jaw as if it was made for it, and he brushed his thumb over Cas’ stubble.
“Your beard.”
“I’m sorry, I hadn’t time to shave today,” Cas apologised out of the blue, and Dean fell just a little more for him.
“Goddammit. You haven’t been around a lot, have you?” Dean asked, chuckling. “She’s your cover.”
“Oh!” Cas’ eyes widened in shock. “Yes, I think so. Though I shouldn’t—”
“Bullshit!” Dean grinned, suddenly feeling more lightheaded than a moment before. “Let’s get your car on the road and save your date.”
“You don’t mind?” Cas asked, and Dean heard the astonishment in his words.
“Why should I? Going undercover is my job, remember?”
Cas smiled, and Dean bathed in his warmth. Damn, how could he ever recover from this?
“Thank you, Dean.”
Dean chuckled. “Anytime, Cas,” he said and nudged him.
***
Thankfully, his car wasn’t wrecked, and Castiel could drive home in it. And it was high time. Daphne was set to arrive in five minutes.
As he rushed into the kitchen, Claire, Jack, and his mother were talking, but Castiel had no time to greet them. Still, it hurt him to see that his kids had already changed into their pajamas, while he had been away. He had missed so much of their day.
However, instead of wallowing in self-doubt, he walked over to the fridge, took out the casserole he had already prepared in hindsight after he got up in the morning, and pushed it into the oven.
With just a few moves, Castiel set the table, and was lighting the candles when the doorbell rang.
Claire lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms while his mother shook her head. Jack, however, smiled and ran to the door.
“Right on time, as always,” Jack greeted their visitor when he opened the door, yet even his enthusiasm sounded more attenuated than usual.
Claire huffed, and left the room, and for the first time, Castiel realised what he was doing to his family. Still, he attempted a smile as Daphne walked into the room. He got this, even though his mind would be with someone else for the whole evening.
“Hello Castiel,” Daphne said. “Did you have a nice day?”
“You know me. Nothing exciting ever happens to me,” Castiel answered, and, for the first time around Daphne, he smiled.
***
“Good job, Squirrel,” Rufus greeted Dean when he and Pam finally walked back into the office.
It was part of his job to report in, but Dean wanted nothing more than to go home.
“You truly found yourself a guardian angel.” Rufus grinned. “That man seems capable of the job. Don’t you think, Pam?”
Pam grinned. “Oh, he’s perfect. Squirrel will love him.”
“Rufus, what—” Dean started, but his boss interrupted him right away.
“It seems we finally found you a partner, Dean.” Rufus grinned. “He’s inconspicuous, keen, and comes with a set of unique abilities. Besides, we always can make good use of civilians.”
“No,” Dean said and shook his head as his suspicions were confirmed. “I’m fine.”
“Bullshit!” Crossing his arms, Rufus left no room to argue. “After Mrs. Butters wreaked havoc, we can’t risk losing any more good men. Deal with it, Winchester.”
“You’re serious,” Dean murmured.
“I’m damn serious.” Rufus glared at him when a grin appeared on his face. Dean expected the worst, and his boss didn’t let him down. “Oh, and Squirrel, you tell him.”
Dean gulped. He knew that the decision was final. Rufus was an unrelenting bastard, and he was the best there was. Even Crowley caved to him. So, no chance for Dean to bring him around.
“But first, get some sleep. You look like shit,” Rufus added, and grinned, turning to Pam. “Both of you. Have a good night.”
“Good night, Dean,” Pam said when they walked together out of the door. “And sweet dreams.” She wiggled her brows.
“Shuddup,” Dean grumbled. He could feel heat shooting to his face and turned around.
“He seems like a really good guy.”
“Too good for this world,” Dean heard himself say, and the grin on Pam’s face died away.
***
Dean tossed and turned the whole night while two urges fought inside him. He wanted to get to know Cas, learn about him, about everything he liked and loved. He wanted to see the tiny smile widen and feel his lips against his. He wanted—
He wanted him to stay away as far as possible from him, and never step into Dean’s life again.
However, that train had left. If Dean didn’t talk to him, Rufus would find a way. And then, one day, Cas would be there, partnered with Dean.
He would get on Dean’s nerves from the very first moment, even though he would make his day better by simply being there.
Dean groaned. He was fucked.
***
“Hello, Dean,” Cas said behind him, and Dean’s mood lifted immediately.
Smiling, he turned around. “Hey Cas.”
“You, uh, wanted to talk to me?” Castiel frowned, completely oblivious about the reason for their meeting.
Damn. How was any guy allowed to look so good a stupid trench coat?
“Yeah.” Dean scratched the back of his head. “Rufus, uh, he sent me. You’re looking for a job, right?”
Cas’ eyes lit up. “He wants me as a secretary?”
“Uh, no.” Dean chuckled. “He wants you, uh… to work with me.”
Castiel blinked. “With you?”
The astonishment on his face had Dean’s pulse racing.
“As partners,” Dean clarified.
“Partners?” Cas shook his head. “That’s not… Dean, I’m not a spy. I—”
His eyes searched Dean’s, obviously looking for an out, and Dean’s mood worsened.
“Dammit, I know,” Dean grumbled. “It ain’t my decision.”
Cas’ shoulders slumped. The light in his eyes died, and he sighed. “So, you don’t want me.”
“Goddammit, that’s not—” Dean licked his lips. “You have no idea how fucking much I want you.”
Cas tilted his head while the corners of his mouth shot up.
“Shuddup!” Dean grumbled.
“I haven’t said anything,” Cas noted, and Dean couldn’t take it any longer.
Pushing Cas into a narrow alley, he crowded him.
“This doesn’t seem very professional to me,” Cas deadpanned, but gripped Dean’s lapels nonetheless.
“I don’t care,” Dean mumbled against his lips.
“So, partners?” Cas asked as they pulled back to breathe.
Dean felt stripped bare under his gaze. “Yeah.”
“In secret?”
“Yep. You’re a spy now, Cas,” Dean quipped, even though he got the hidden meaning underneath.
Cas frowned. “That’s all I am to you?”
Licking his lips, Dean slowly shook his head.
“It’s risky,” Cas noted, but trailed his fingers over Dean’s face.
“Yeah,” Dean said huskily.
“You really want to do this?”
Dean froze. How was he supposed to answer?
Cas sighed. “I understand.”
“No, you don’t,” Dean snapped. “You have no fucking clue. I… This… Fuck! Told you, I’ve never… I’m not good with partners.”
“Neither am I,” Cas said. It was so matter-of-factly that Dean was caught on the wrong foot. “But I want this. The last two days… It was exciting.”
Dean huffed and evaded his gaze. “That’s one way to call it.”
Gently, Cas lifted up his chin. “Dean.”
It was all it took. “Goddammit, Mr. Kline. You’re driving me crazy.”
Cas laughed.
It was the sweetest sound Dean had heard in a long time, and he pulled him back in.
“Partners,” Dean said as he allowed himself a moment to breathe.
The smile on Cas’ face had butterflies stir inside him.
“Partners,” Cas agreed and nodded. “Yes, I like that. A lot.”
