WOTR | Book 3 Part IV
War Of The Regions:
Book 3 Part IV
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There are men from the Regions everywhere, and when Dean and Henrickson arrive, they’re already fighting and knocking down the gates that have since been closed. The Officials have herded most of the children back inside, but they’re running around the front of the building firing their weapons.
There are small bodies on the floor, covered in blood, and Dean feels a rush of nausea flood through him and he has to look away, and take a steadying breath.
“We need to get inside, and start getting those kids out,” Henrickson shouts, as move closer to the gate. Dean can see a few straggling children still outside, and some are screaming, some are sitting on the ground crying, but the worst are the silent ones. The ones with the bullet holes in their clothes.
“Hey, kid,” Bobby says, running towards him. He hands out a gun and Dean gives him a grateful nod.
“Thanks, Bobby.”
“Let’s go, go, go!” Henrickson shouts, as the gates fall down, and now Dean is running in beside Bobby, Officials running towards them, and Hendrickson knocks two down with two shots. He sees a glimpse of Rufus out of the corner of his eye, and carries on running forwards, eyes scanning every corner of the grounds.
There are children following them, about ten in total, and Dean keeps an eye on them, and makes sure they make it to the building in safety.
Bobby fires to the left, and Dean to the right, and they make it to the entrance where there are some children huddling in the doorway.
“Where is everyone?” Dean asks, as he nears them, Bobby pushing them inside, and letting the door shut behind them to the sound of the bullets.
“The eating hall,” one sobs out, staring up at him.
“You follow,” Bobby says, and Dean pushes past to lead them down the corridors. An Official walks out in front of him as they round the corner and Bobby hits him in the head with the butt of his gun, and watches as the man falls to the ground.
They can hear the sound of the children as they near, and they break into a run as they reach the room. They push the doors open and two Officials near the door see them, and raise their hands in the air. They haven’t got weapons and they look frightened and caught out.
“You two, you make one move and I will shoot you in the head,” Henrickson barks, glaring at them.
Dean’s eyes are scanning the hall, trying to spot Cas out from the crowd, but there’s too many people, and not enough time.
“Is there another way out of here?” Bobby asks one of the Officials, and he nods frantically, pointing to the kitchens.
“Through there and through a fire exit.”
“Okay, let’s go,” Henrickson shouts, heading through the children and towards the door. There are boys and girls with watery eyes, some full out sobbing, and others trying to comfort each other.
“Come on,” Dean says, to a girl who looks a few years younger than Sammy, her eyes puffy and red. “Follow them out the door, okay?”
She runs forward and Dean watches her go before looking around again for Cas. He has to be here. He can’t be too late. Images of what they could have done to him, that he might even be--
“Hey!” a boy calls, from the corner of the room. “We need some help here!”
Dean runs over, the kids parting for him, and Dean finally, finally, lets it all go when he sees him. He’s pushing himself up off the floor, one hand over his stomach, and there’s blood dripping down his cheek. He looks up, and freezes when he sees Dean.
“Dean?” he says in disbelief.
“Cas,” he chokes out, stepping forward and letting Cas fall into his arms. The other kids file past, throwing curious glances, but Dean doesn’t look, doesn’t care what’s going on around him anymore.
Dean clutches him tight and holds him pressed against his chest, allowing the tears to finally fall. He rubs the back of Cas’ head, presses a kiss to the top of it and pulls back. He looks him over, sees Cas’ eyes are just as watery as his, and there are no words, nothing he can say that could express how completely sorry and relieved and guilty he feels.
Dean pulls him forwards again and this time their lips press together and Dean can taste the salty tears between their mouths. He runs his thumb gently under Cas’ eye and pulls back to look at him.
“You came back for me,” Cas chokes out, as if he can’t believe it. Dean understands. It’s all too much.
“You saved Sam’s life,” Dean says, and suddenly that doesn’t feel like a good enough excuse anymore. That’s not the honest reason why he came back, not at all. He’s thankful for that, and will always owe him for allowing his little brother a chance to live, but it’s not all about that.
It strikes him that he loves Cas. He honest-to-God loves him. And it shouldn’t be a shock, not really. It’s not a recent thing, but something that’s been bubbling and growing beneath the surface that he hadn’t had a chance to truly analyze, until now.
“Castiel,” Dean says, feeling overwhelmed. “I know this will seem a bit sudden, but I’ve felt it for a long time... and, well, fuck. I love you.”
Cas smiles, wide and watery, and says, “Dean, I have loved you for the longest time. I did this all for you, you know that.”
Those three little words aren’t enough, not nearly enough, but Dean can’t think straight and everything is still too much, but Bobby is running towards them, telling them to hurry up, and everything is just a blur. They walk around to the front of the building, the children following them in a daze, their blue uniforms bright against the cloudy sky. The gunfire has quieted down, and there are Officials on the ground with their guns beside them and their hands over their heads in surrender.
Henrickson and a man Dean doesn’t recognize are standing over the Grand Mayor Roman, both their guns pointing at him. He’s looking up at both of them venomously and Dean gets a deep-set satisfaction at the sight.
Cas is limping beside him, and Dean holds him close, refusing to let him out of his touch. There’s a woman and another man ushering the children onto the buses, telling them they’re going to be taken somewhere safe. Some stare at her dubiously, but she says she’s not going to force them to do anything or go anywhere, and they seem to relax at that, moving up onto the buses without looking back.
Dean turns back to Cas, and kisses him softly on the forehead. “I’m so, so sorry,” he says sincerely, pulling back and looking into his eyes. “For leaving you. I can’t forgive myself for that.”
Cas is already shaking his head. “No, Dean. You came back. That’s all that matters.”
Dean kisses him again, long and tender. They link their hands together, and walk past the Officials on the ground, through the broken gate, and towards Sam and John, who are standing there with matching, soft smiles on their faces. John’s got some new cuts, and Sam has a split lip, but they look happy. They’re safe and they’re alive.
“This is Cas,” Dean says, smiling, and John nods down at him, his eyes watering, before pulling him into a quick hug and then letting him go.
“Thank you,” John says, and slaps his hand on Cas’ shoulder. “For looking out for my boys.”
Cas looks a little stunned, and says, “Your sons saved me, sir. The thanks is mutual.”
Dean looks towards Sam, and then his little brother is walking towards him, and pulls him into a tight hug. Dean hugs back, feeling the tension ease out of him, finally realizing that he’s done it and Sam is safe. Sam is safe, and Cas is safe, and their dad is safe, and so is he.
He’s alive. They’re alive, and they’re together, and that’s all that matters.
Epilogue | Masterpost