WOTR | Book 2 Part III
War Of The Regions:
Book 2 Part III
Masterpost
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Dean is determined to earn their keep. Missouri is constantly mixing up medicines and herbal remedies for Sam, and he does seem to be getting better, even if it’s slowly. The least he can do is keep them fed, and so Dean goes into the woods with a bow and arrow and lets himself relax in the freedom he finds.
He follows the bridge of the river, and lets his feet decide where to go. He finds a stream in the woods that he follows for a little while, and breaks off when he sees some squirrels scurrying up a tree. He walks along the outskirts, between the trees and fields, and smiles when he sees a rabbit hopping in the open field. He checks to make sure there is none of its family around - Jo had always teased him for being soft - and feels the arrow leave the bow, some of his tension going with it.
The rabbit goes down without a sound, an easy kill, and Dean walks over with a smile. He doesn’t like killing, not exactly, but he feels satisfied with knowing he’s earned their food and it was done without even breaking a sweat. The animals out here aren’t used to hunting, and so it’s easy pickings.
He makes his way back to the village with the rabbit over his shoulder and Missouri grins at him when he tells her.
“Good boy, I knew you had to have some brains,” she says, taking it from him. Dean isn’t sure whether that’s a compliment or not, but Sam’s sitting at the table, smiling, and so if she can fix him up, it really doesn’t matter.
You look better, Dean says, walking over to him.
I am, he says. And he does, he really does. There’s a healthy, pink glow on his cheeks and his eyes look bright with lucidity. Dean glances towards Cas who’s sitting in the corner with a tub of soapy water and blankets, and Cas smiles at him, soft and private. Dean turns away with a smile and drops his bow and arrow into the corner of the room.
“Come on then, boy, let’s get started on this rabbit.”
Dean follows her outside and breathes easily in the warm air.
They’re finishing up the chores for the day, when Cas asks, “Would you like to go for a walk?”
Dean looks over at him and sees he’s hanging the last wet blanket over the branch of a tree. He looks over at Dean and offers a smile. Something about the way he’s staring at Dean makes him think there’s something more behind the question than just a simple walk.
Dean puts the last of the wooden logs against the house and walks over to him and gives a little shrug, trying to act as if his veins aren’t buzzing. “Yeah, I mean. I’d like that. I’ll tell Sam.”
“Okay,” Cas says, smiling softly at him.
Dean gives his own smile and ducks his head, feeling nervous in an inexplicable way, and goes inside the house. Sam is helping Missouri peel potatoes when he walks in and looks up with a smile.
“Hey,” he says, walking over. Missouri nods at him and carries on working. “Going for a walk,” Dean says, watching Sam, and signing at the same time. That okay?
Sam puts the potato down and wipes his hands on his clothes before asking, With Cas?
Yeah. We won’t go far.
That’s fine, Sam says grinning at him. Dean smiles back at him, a little confused with Sam’s sudden enthusiasm but takes it all the same and tells Missouri he’ll be back in a little while.
“You stay safe and don’t get lost,” she says, finishing a potato and picking up a new one.
“Will do,” Dean says, and gives them a quick wave before walking back outside and meeting Cas who’s leaning against the wall, waiting.
“Come on then, Cas,” Dean says, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him forward. “Let’s go for a walk.”
They travel through the village at a comfortable pace and go over the small bridge that crosses the stream. From there they walk along the outskirts of the woods and carry on following the stream until it opens up into a lake.
It’s still and beautiful in the light of the moon, and Dean feels the slight chill in the air. They sit down beside it and Cas leans forward for a kiss.
Dean immediately melts into it, and something bursts between them, and Dean knows this is what he’s been waiting for all day. There’s been an unspoken thrum of energy between them that’s been getting stronger and stronger, and Dean wants nothing more than to rip Cas of his clothes and explore every inch of his body.
“Dean,” Cas murmurs, kissing along his neck, and up over the shell of his ear, “I want to go in the water.”
Dean pulls back and raises his eyebrows at him. “Really? You wanna go skinny-dipping?”
Cas frowns at him before he slowly smiles and lets out a laugh. “Yes. I want us to go skinny-dipping together.”
Dean laughs at him and sits up. “You’re a freaking, weirdo, Cas. It’s gonna be so cold.”
Even as he says it Dean has already started pulling his shirt off, along with shoes and pants. Cas strips even quicker, and Dean is suddenly halted by the sight of Cas’ lean and pale body in the darkness. He’s unashamed and beautiful and Dean wants nothing more than to touch.
Once they’re both naked Cas begins his quick entry into the water, and lets out a small squeak once he’s fully submerged. Dean follows into the cool water and hisses slightly at the feel of it against his skin.
They turn to face each other and this thing between them, this invisible pull between them, feels for a moment like it’s almost tangible.
Dean stares at Cas in the cool shine of the moon, small droplets of water clinging to his lips, his chin, the tip of his nose. His mouth parts slightly and Dean watches as a small cloud of breath ghosts from between his lips.
“Dean,” Cas says quietly, and he tears his gaze away from Cas’ lips up to his eyes, sees him watching him intently. Just one word, one syllable, and Dean is moving closer, watching the water ripple around them. He stops in front of Cas, swallows and smiles, slow but heartfelt.
Cas moves closer, his legs knocking Dean’s beneath the water, skin against skin, and Dean’s breath hitches and his smile fades. He can feel this is more charged, more electrifying than anything they’ve done before. They float in the water and Dean moves back towards the shallow land just a little, and Cas follows until they’re at water that reaches to their thighs. Dean can feel Cas’ hand ghosting over the small of his back, and he lets himself be pulled closer until they’re chest against chest, and Cas’ arms are wrapped around Dean’s waist. Cas is close now, far too close, and he can’t hear anything over his heart that is threatening to beat out of his chest. Thinking that this is happening, really happening, is something surreal and otherworldly that sends a buzz of both terror and excitement through Dean’s bones.
Cas moves his face closer, lips grazing over Dean’s, and Dean closes the distance, all thoughts evaporated the instant their lips touch. He feels his cock stir beneath the water, and tilts his hips forwards, a small guttural moan escaping Cas’ throat when their erections slide together. Dean’s hands run down Cas’ sides, until they land on the small of his back, and move further down to palm his ass. Cas’ hips buck involuntarily forward and they both let out small breathy moans, kissing with an increased fervor and intensity. Dean moves to kiss across Cas’ jawline and down his neck, feels him shiver beneath him as he kisses his collarbone as it appears wet and glistening as the droplets of water cling to his skin.
Dean moves his hand lower, towards his balls, and slips a finger into the crease of Cas’ ass. He moves down to press a finger against Cas’ hole, and Cas moves even closer with another moan, hands roaming over Dean’s back, his breath hot against Dean’s lips. Dean’s other hand moves between them to curl around Cas’ dick, which feels hot and heavy in his hand. Cas is breathing faster now and Dean focuses on moving the hand that’s on Cas’ dick up and down in a tight grip, and Cas leans forward and rests his head against Dean’s.
“Faster,” he chokes out, pressing sloppy kisses to Dean’s forehead. He groans and moves his hips backwards and forwards, pushing against Dean’s cock, that’s hard, almost painfully so.
Dean pushes back until they’re making small waves and ripples in the water around them, and Cas’ breath hitches, and then he’s coming and groaning out and Dean kisses him all over as he clenches tight around Dean’s finger. Cas’ breathing finally evens out and Dean gently removes his finger and uncurls his fingers from Cas’ softening cock.
As soon as he does, Cas moves forward again and starts to kiss him, and he grips Dean’s cock tight in his hand. Dean bucks forward with a moan and it isn’t long, only a few tugs, until he’s coming long and hard into the water and the pleasure is overwhelming him. He comes down slowly, and then they’re staring at each other, blissed out and smiling.
Cas starts to laugh and Dean shakes his head at him, amused, and kisses him once more.
“I’m fucking freezing,” he says, and Cas smiles at him and nods, his eyes bright and shining.
“So am I.”
They walk out of the lake together and slowly manage to peel their clothes back on. They walk back to the cottage, hand in hand, and try not to wake the sleeping village as they laugh together in the quiet night.
The next morning they wake up later than usual, and Missouri tells them they can have a few days to relax and explore, as long as they help with dinner. Sam is feeling better, and the three of them head out to walk around the village.
They ask a few people for any news of John, Bobby, Jo, Ellen or Gabriel, but nobody has heard anything or knows of them. At lunchtime they meet up with Andy and sit with him by the stream, sharing bread and vegetables, and a pint of milk.
Cas and Andy are wading through the water, looking for and identifying fish, and Dean uses the opportunity to talk to Sam.
How you feel? Dean asks, sitting opposite him on the cool ground.
Good. You?
Dean looks at him, realizes he really does look okay. He’s finally managed to find somewhere safe for them, somewhere that Sam can get better and they can rest, at least for a little while, until they can reunite with their dad. Dean can feel his dad is still alive and out there somewhere, fighting for their Regions and finding his way to them. His priority was to take Sam somewhere safe and he accomplished that, and it’s safe enough at least to wait until it all blows over.
I’m good, Sammy. I’m good.
Sam smiles at him, accepting what Dean says without challenging it.
You and Cas? he asks, with a cheeky smile, and Dean rolls his eyes at him but can’t help the blush that comes to his cheeks.
“Shut up,” he says, and Sam grins wider at him and shakes his head in amusement.
You happy? Sam asks, expression serious, but his eyes are soft.
Dean looks over to where Cas is standing in the stream, collecting water in a mug, and Andy is standing on the bank, kneeling over the water and trying to catch a fish.
“Yeah,” Dean says, looking back to him. “I am.”
Good, Sam says. So am I.
“Hello,” a voice says, and Dean turns to see a girl staring at them.
“Oh!” Dean says, smiling at her. “Jess. You’re the one that helped us.”
She takes a few more steps towards them and watches them with a smile.
“Really, thanks,” Dean says. Cas is walking over now followed by Andy, who has a curious expression on his face.
“Thank you,” Cas says, once he’s near. “You helped us.”
“It’s okay,” she says, and grins at Sam when she catches his eye. He smiles back with a faint tinge of pink crossing his cheeks. Dean grins, enjoying Sam’s obvious discomfort and shakes his head.
“Well,” he says, standing up and rolling his shoulders, “I’ll leave you two kids to it.”
Sam looks up at him with wide eyes, and Dean smiles at him, and says, If you need us we’ll be in the village. Stay cool. She likes you.
Sam smiles at him, embarrassed, but obviously pleased, and Dean has to resist rolling his eyes. Cas and Andy catch on and follow Dean as they walk away, and Dean laughs when they reach the center of the village and stop by the market stalls.
“Looks like Sammy has got his first girlfriend,” he says fondly.
“Huh,” Andy says, “That’s who - oh.”
He suddenly stops and his eyes grow wide.
“What?” Dean asks, frowning at him.
“Are you okay?” Cas asks, glancing at the direction Andy is looking at, over their shoulders.
“Isn’t that-?”
Dean turns to see a man walking towards them, a bag over one shoulder, dressed in camouflage.
“Rufus,” Dean says, stunned. “You’re alive?”
Rufus stops in front of them and rolls his eyes. “Of course I’m alive, ain’t nobody getting rid of me that easy.” He narrows his eyes and says, “Where’s Sam?”
“He’s fine,” Dean says. “We both are. This is--”
“I don’t care who you all are,” Rufus says, looking around the village. “You got somewhere we can talk? In private?”
Andy raises his eyebrows and Cas looks on without saying anything. Dean nods and starts walking towards Missouri’s. “This way.”
They go to the back of Missouri’s cottage and sit by the trees, and Rufus drops his bag and sits beside it on the ground.
“Not you two,” he says, glaring at Andy and Cas. He cocks his head towards Dean. “Just him.”
“I’ll, er. I’ll see you later,” Andy says, standing up and walking away, throwing a nervous look over his shoulder as he leaves. Rufus glares at him as he leaves.
“Cas stays,” Dean says, in a tone that leaves no room for an argument.
Rufus raises his hands up. “Well, whatever, kid. I got news.”
Dean considers getting Sam but it’s quickly dismissed by the image of him and Jess, sitting together and smiling, and if he can keep him happy for even just a few hours longer, then he’s going to.
“What do you know?” Dean asks, sharing a glance with Cas before looking back.
“About your dad,” Rufus says, pulling a glass bottle full of amber liquid out of his bag.
“What about him?” Dean asks. “Is he-?”
“John’s alive,” Rufus says, and takes a swig of his bottle. “And so’s that old idiot he’s with.”
“Bobby?” Dean asks, relief flooding him at the knowledge their dad is okay.
“They’re fighting, up towards the Highlands. Messy up there. Was with them the day you left and stayed with them until we got split up twenty miles East of here. They carried on and I met up with somebody who knew where they were. Kid called Ash, he’s gone to get supplies,” Rufus says, glancing over towards the village. He shakes his head and takes another swig of his bottle. “Damn kid’s an idiot but a clever one.”
“What about Jo? Have you seen her?”
Rufus frowns and sets his bottle down. “You mean that pretty little blonde thing ain’t with you?”
Dean shares a long glance with Cas before shaking his head. “We split a few Regions from home. She went back to our Region with Cas’ brother. Looking for her mom.”
“Ooh,” Rufus says, scrunching up his face. “Well that wasn’t a good idea.”
“Why? What--”
“She’s dead. Ellen, I mean,” Rufus says. “Got caught trying to climb over the fence after you three. Looks like you made new friends,” he says, looking over Cas.
A deep guilt settles in the pit of Dean’s stomach. He hadn’t known, of course he hadn’t, but he’d still sent Jo off and didn’t go with her. All along Ellen had been dead.
“Fuck,” Dean mutters. Rufus offers his bottle and Dean takes a swig, grimaces, and passes it back.
“What about the Officials? Are they coming here?”
“Hell if I know, kid,” Rufus says. “Probably. But they look pretty tied up right now. John and Bobby and some others are trying to form a resistance, work against them, you know? But Hell, they’ll probably fail.”
“That’s reassuring,” Dean says.
“I ain’t here to reassure you,” Rufus says.
“Why are you here?” Dean asks. “Doesn’t look like a lot of the fighting is going on in the Outerlands.”
Rufus grumbles and takes another sip of his drink before answering. “I owe your dad, saved my life once and I guess that means I had to come all the way up here and make sure you and Sam were okay.”
“You said you were split up from Dean’s father,” Cas says.
“So what if I did?” Rufus asks, still eyeing Cas with a sense of distrust. “We came across a refugee camp like this in the middle of the Regions. John and Bobby headed on upwards, and I promised your dad I’d find you and make sure you hadn’t gotten yourselves killed.”
“Thanks,” Dean says, unsure. “You need somewhere to stay?”
“I ain’t stopping, kid,” Rufus says, shoving his bottle back in his bag. “I’m going up to the Highlands with Ash, hunt me some Officials. You coming?”
Everything inside Dean makes him want to say yes, to go fight and find their dad. But he promised to keep Sam safe, and this is the best option they have right now.
“No, we’re staying,” Dean says. “Thanks, though. Really.”
“You bet,” Rufus says, looking like hadn’t expected a yes anyway. He gets up and throws his bag back over his shoulder. “We’ll catch up on the other side.”
“See you, Rufus,” Dean says, nodding to him as he walks off and back into the village. They watch him go and Dean lets out a slow breath.
“Fuck.”
Cas comes to sit beside him and places a hand on his lower back. “It’s okay, Dean.”
Dean rubs a hand over his mouth. He knows he’s got to tell Sam, but maybe he can stretch it out, tell him tomorrow to give him his last chance of blissful ignorance.
As if knowing what he is thinking, Cas says, “You have to tell him.”
Dean sighs. “I know I do.”
He sags against Cas’ side and Cas brings a hand up to brush against his cheek.
“You should tell him now,” Cas says quietly.
Dean nods against him, presses a soft kiss to his neck, and stands up out of the long grass with Cas beside him. They walk back past Missouri’s and towards the village center, and stop by the small stream that Sam and Jess are sat beside, feet dangling in the cool water.
The air is hot and heavy, the sun shining down, and a warm breeze runs through their hair, and Sam smiles, cheeks pink.
Dean swallows, throat dry, and walks towards him, Cas a solid, reassuring presence at his side.
Jess looks towards them as they near, and she gentle nudges Sam in the shoulder. Dean walks closer and catches Sam’s eye, who smiles wide at him, before it falters and fades, turning into a frown.
Dean pushes up off the ground, water dripping down his ankles as he stands up, and he walks over to Dean.
What’s wrong? he asks, looking between Cas and Dean.
Cas walks past them, over to Jess, and asks her to show him her bracelets. Jess glances over, her expression worried, and Dean gives Cas a quick smile as they walk away.
“Rufus was here,” Dean says, once the two of them have walked away, making sure he properly enunciates so Sam can see.
“What?” he asks quietly. Dean is a little taken back by the sound of Sam’s voice, as he rarely ever hears it, but quickly hides his surprise with a small smile.
Dad’s alive, he says, and he can visibly see as Sam sags and the anxiety drains out of him. He’s with Bobby. They’re both okay.
Good, Sam says. He looks up at Dean with wide eyes again, and asks, Where are they?
Highlands, Dean replies. Fighting.
Sam nods and lets out a slow breath. Jo? Ellen?
Something in Dean’s expression must tell Sam because he’s eyes widen and he shakes his head.
Dead? he asks with shaky fingers.
Ellen was murdered. Jo is missing with Gabriel.
Sam slowly nods and runs a hand through his hair. After a long moment, he asks, Now what?
We stay, Dean replies, signs definite and absolute. We stay safe.
Sam doesn’t argue and just nods, looking a little stunned.
I’m sorry, Sam, Dean says.
Sam leans forward and wraps Dean up in a hug, and Dean wraps his own arms around him, holding tight. Sam pulls back and he’s smiling a little, and Dean smiles back.
We’re okay, he says, hands firmer this time. We’re okay, Dean.
“Yes, we are,” Dean says, squeezing his shoulder. “We’re okay.”
Sam nods, looking tired, and Dean tries to hold back the thoughts that this sense of peace they’ve found can’t last forever. They walk together towards Missouri’s, and find Cas sitting outside, alone. He meets Dean’s gaze, silently asking if he’s okay, and Dean nods.
Cas stands up, and they all walk inside to find Missouri with their clothes spread in front of her, a needle and thread in hand.
Sam goes over, smiling, and sits down beside her on the ground. Thanks, he signs, and points to the shirt she’s fixing up.
“He says thanks,” Dean says softly, standing just inside the doorway, with Cas beside him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You boys can’t go around with holes in your clothes,” she says, but Dean can see the warmth in her eyes, and Dean smiles at her, and heads further into the room to help.
“You know how to stitch?” she asks, her fingers working fast with the needle between her fingers.
“I can try,” Dean offers.
She laughs and hands him the needle and thread. “Get to work!”
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