Chapter Text
——-
1 month later
Bobby was leaning over the desk and trying not to let the younger hunter catch on to how utterly defeated he felt. He moistened his lips as his eyes scanned over the lore in the old tome on the dark wood table. Dean was waiting eagerly for the elder man’s opinion. His eyes didn’t stray from Bobby’s face like a puppy expecting a treat.
This demon was the most powerful one they had yet to encounter but nobody seemed to know enough about it to help them. It had been causing general havoc and misery for years down South to the point where desperate townsfolk somehow managed to get in contact with Bobby and plead for help. Needless to say, Dean was the first on his doorstep armed with holy water and a can-do attitude.
“Dean, this is gunna be a blood bath unless we get a good plan in place.” Bobby warned, scratching at his whiskers.
At that moment Dean’s cell vibrated twice against the desk. The screen illuminated to reveal the text.
Sam Campbell- When they’re that powerful they can be a bit tricky but generally all demons... [Open to see text]
Both hunters eyed the phone. Bobby’s eyes shone with curiosity; Dean had been messaging with whoever it was for the whole week he’d been staying at the house. The older hunter didn’t want to intrude on the man’s personal life but hoped that if it was something serious then Dean would let him know. Having weaknesses can be difficult while hunting. However, his eyebrow raised when he saw the word ‘demon’ mentioned. Was this person a hunter? Could they be of use to them?
Suddenly, an idea snapped into Dean’s head, “Why didn’t I think of this before?” He leapt to his feet, “Bobby, get in the car. We’re going to see a priest.”
Bobby screwed up his face in confusion but followed the young man out to the impala, barely stopping to grab his travel bag.
———
Sam was just locking the old rusty padlock on the front of the church when he heard the squeal of tyres behind him. It better not be another couple hoping to get married there and then because he didn’t have the heart to explain that marriages cannot happen like that. He turned with an apologetic smile already tacked onto his face... it quickly turned to happy confusion when he laid eyes on a familiar dark impala.
He hurried over to the vehicle where Dean was grinning with his window wound down and elbow learning out casually.
“Dean,” He breathed, pleasure setting off butterflies in his stomach.
The hunter smirked, “Get in loser, we’re going demon hunting.”
The priest blinked for a moment in confusion, “But- I”
“It’s a quote from Mean Girls.” Dean supplied, afraid that he had offended the priest.
Sam huffed a laugh, “I know that but why me?”
The hunter rolled his eyes, “You told me yourself that religious words have more power when coming from clergy and we need power.” He’d been telling Sam about the hunt via text but Sam had never expected to actually be useful to the hunters.
Sam smiled, ran back to his church to collect his equipment before climbing into the back of the car. He was slightly surprised to see Bobby sat in the passenger seat, he’d been so distracted by the young hunter. Bobby was assessing him from the front.
“Are you going to introduce us?” Gruffly, the hunter asked.
Dean shifted in his seat until he could face both his passengers. His face flushed slightly and Bobby was subtle in his eyebrow raise.
Dean started, “Bobby, this is Sam. He’s my...” He hesitated, “Priest.” He finished lamely as though Sam’s white clerical collar didn’t expose his vocation. The hunter felt his neck flush red.
Sam laughed and leant over the seats to shake Bobby’s hand, “Hi, Bobby. I’m Sam, I’m Dean’s friend. I’ve heard so much about you.” He supplied a more normal status for himself.
The old hunter couldn’t help but think to himself that the term friend must hurt Dean considering the way the young man was mooning over the priest here.
———
2 days later-
The job was done: the demon was exorcised but Dean couldn’t think about that right now. He was preoccupied with screaming Sam’s name as he darted across the abandoned hall to his priest.
Sam’s body was distorted, spread across the floor where he’d been thrown by the demon. A brave soul, he had continued chanting the exorcism the whole time despite nearly being snapped like a twig. Blood was beginning to pool under him but the dark material of his religious uniform concealed its origin. Dean’s hands fluttered over the still body which was barely breathing.
“Bobby, help!” Desperation dripped from his tongue.
The older man raced over and began searching for the wound as Dean soothed the injured man. He held his face in his shaking hands and muttered through tears,
“Come on Sam. Sammy, can you hear me?” He cursed at himself for putting Sam in this position. He could be safe at home in his little church in his little town, sipping scotch by the fire or seeing to his flock.
The pale face showed signs of life as his eyelids fluttered. A cough echoed from his chest but it sounded wet and painful.
“I’m so sorry, Sam.” His own tears were falling onto the tall man’s face. He wiped them away quickly.
“Dean,” Sam whispered, “My life purpose... was to serve to lord. If I die... defending the world from demons then... I’m happy.” His ragged breathing broke up his sentences.
“If you die then you would have died saving me.” Dean murmured as moments before Sam distracted the demon it was set on the hunter’s demise. Without Sam to start the ritual, Dean would be lying dead.
“Don’t tell God I said so but that makes it more worth it.” He coughed, it wracked through his body. His lips attempted a cheeky smile but they only managed a twitch.
Bobby barked at Sam, “Take it easy, son. You need all the energy you’ve got.” It wouldn’t strike him until later the odd feeling he got at calling a ‘Father’ ‘son’.
Dean made a snap decision. This would be his one chance. He leant down and gently pressed his lips against his broken priest’s. Sam sucked in a breath in surprise but straight away kissed back.
His heart melted in joy. Sam had liked him back this whole time.
They broke apart as Bobby spoke, “I think I can hear the ambulance. You might be in luck.”
“Thank God,” Dean answered, grasping tightly onto Sam’s hand.
“Literally.” Sam adjoined with a pain infused smile. He closed his eyes and Dean saw his lips moving in silent prayer.
———
2 months later-
Dean brushed Sam’s hair out of his eyes. The action caused Sam to wake up, his eyes fluttering as he slipped out of his dream.
“Morning, sleepyhead.” Dean smiled down at his lover and silently felt butterflies in his chest at how lucky he was to be with this man.
“Morning, Dean.” The taller man grumbled and pulled the blanket over his head to shut out the light.
The hunter chuckled but drew the blanket back so he could peer down at the man, “I hate to be a spoil sport but you have 20 minutes until your appointment and I...” He suddenly stopped himself and considered that maybe Sam had changed his mind and didn’t want to go through with it.
He didn’t have to wait long for reassurance.
“20 minutes?!” The priest leapt out of bed and started ramming his legs into his jeans, “I really didn’t want to turn in my clerical collar while looking a mess!”
“You don’t look a mess,” Dean tried to comfort him even though his long brown locks were sticking out in various directions, “Besides I’ll give you a ride to the church.”
Sam smiled sadly, “Thank you.”
———
It was only 30 minutes later that Dean spotted Sam walking back to the car with apparent tears in his eyes. The hunter frowned and leant over to open the door.
“Sammy? What’s wrong? Did they say something to you?” His hand went straight to the door handle in preparation for storming in and beating up some priests.
Sam’s hand stopped his movement, “No, no, it’s just been hard, that’s all. When I signed up to be a priest I thought it would be a life’s work, my purpose.”
Grasping the taller man’s hand, Dean sighed, “You don’t have to do this, you know.” He spoke even though it broke his heart to do so. He didn’t want their relationship to be the reason for Sam to lose his life’s calling.
It took a moment for Sam to gather his words but, looking across at his partner, he finally answered, “I believe that my Lord loves and supports love... of all kinds. I’m just ashamed to say that my church doesn’t agree yet. So until the day that they acknowledge that love is love, I’ll be serving my God in another way... hunting demons with the man I love and have loved since the moment I set eyes on him.” He smiled gently.
Dean leant across and kissed Sam passionately, transferring all of his emotions into the kiss.
“Now,” Dean said once they broke apart, “How about we go and find a demon to exorcise?”
Sam laughed, “Let’s do it.”