Chapter Text
The sky was gloomy when Cas and Dean got in the impala to go to town for grocery shopping. With the addition of Jack to the bunker, who not like Sam was interested in human food, their fridge got empty faster these days. Cas was here and other than their occasional salt and burn cases, things were quiet. Which was not normal. Dean was almost afraid to let himself relax, always bracing himself for some big bad to come after one of them or another apocalypse just around the corner creeping up to them. The dark October clouds weren't helping either; giving him the feeling that this was just the calm before storm.
But he would be stupid not to at least try enjoying the rare peace and quiet. So he put on his favorite tracks and sang along off-key; occasionally glancing over to see if Cas was already annoyed at his singing or not. Surprisingly enough he didn't look annoyed. He even had a small smile while looking out the window.
"You like the song?" Dean asked casually.
"sorry? " Cas shook awake like he was preoccupied somewhere far. "The song? yeah it's beautiful."
Dean felt like there was more to it so he waited for Cas to continue. The first buildings of the town were already in sight so he slowed down to give Cas time for finishing his thoughts.
"You sound happy singing to it” Cas said still looking out of the window.
Well that surprised a chuckle out of Dean's mouth. "Happy" was usually not the word people used to describe his singing. But Cas never was like anyone else was he?
"yeah Well what's not to be happy about. We're still alive and things are quiet and we're on our way to get the in-season apple pie"
He shot Cas a toothy smirk when he finally looked back at Dean with a growing smile.
When they finally got to the bakery, Dean parked close by in the convenient store's parking lot. The town was a bit more crowded than usual. There were so many unfamiliar faces walking around, talking and laughing. Definitely much livelier than the town they were so used to by now.
"It's the bee keepers’ festival." Cas said. He must've been thinking the same. "Every first week of October remember?"
"Ah yeah you're right." Dean said as they got out of the car. "YOU would remember! I never understood your obsession with bees."
"My obsession? "Cas said with a tilt to his head.
Dean had missed the head tilt. Cas used to do that more often the first years they’d met. Seemed like it was harder to confuse him these days that he was more human than angel. It wasn’t a bad thing all in all but Dean had missed the gesture anyways.
"Yeah" He grinned. "Don't you remember that time you had lost your marbles and just showed up naked covered in bees, talking about how they're dying out."
Cas's face was getting more horrified by each word leaving Dean's mouth.
"Oh I'm so sorry! That must've been traumatizing" Cas said earnestly.
"Well I wanted to burn my own eyes out" Dean laughed. "But now that I think about it, it wasn't that bad." Dean said while holding the door of the bakery for Cas to get inside.
"Still Dean I'm so sorry. I don't really remember much of that time. And I can now imagine how awkward that must’ve been for you."
“Told you man. Looking back, it was just cute” Dean said with a chuckle.
The bakery/Cafe was more crowded than normal like the rest of the town. There was the Jeffersons in their usual table sipping morning coffees, there was a girl in her twenties using a laptop with a giant bee sticker on the lid and finally there was a group of middle aged ladies close to the counter, enjoying their pastry. The group's conversation died down while eyes just locked on Cas and Dean when they entered.
They didn’t look like farmers or bee keepers but they were probably in town for the festival anyways, since Dean had never seen any of them before. The way they were just looking up and down Cas gave Dean the hibby jibbies. Honestly he almost wished Cas wasn't so handsome to randomly attract ladies wherever they went. Keyword being "Almost". He walked over to the counter trying to ignore the very heavy gaze on them.
"Hey Stephan. Good morning." Dean said to teenage boy tending the cashier today.
"Morning Dean. It really is a good one isn't it? " he said smiling.
"Yeah I bet. Festivals can't hurt the business. Is there any pies today?" Dean said ready to get what he came here for and leave as soon as possible.
*****
"Jesus Christ" Dean said as soon as the bakery's door closed behind them.
"What's wrong?" Cas said walking towards the convenient store.
"you didn't notice them?" He said with a chuckle. "That group of women just ogling you the whole time we were there."
"Oh I thought they were looking at you. Women usually do, same as men occasionally." Cas said casually, like that was a normal thing to tell your best friend.
The whole ordeal was almost forgotten by the time they were trying to juggle all of the grocery bags to floor of the of impala in the back. Sam's obsession with "Health smoothies" was getting out of hand. Dean was gonna tell him he can buy his own cantaloupes and celery next time. He made eye contact with Cas who was handling the pastry bags from the other side of the car.
Dean was so occupied by making sure everything is placed securely that he barely heard the footsteps behind them in the parking lot. He turned around fast, while registering Cas standing up straight from the corner of his eye.
The person was one of the ladies from the cafe. Dressed in a simple brown dress and long leather boots, she kept walking towards them. There was no other cars or people in the parking lot. She looked harmless enough but something made the hair stand on the back of Dean's neck. All the feeling of unease from being perceived so intently in the morning creeped back to him.
"Can we help you?" He couldn't stop himself from asking when she got close enough to talk. Cas had turned around the Impala to stand near him. Dean could say he was ready to take out his dagger too and felt a tiny bit of comfort knowing he wasn't alone in feeling that something is off. Suddenly the whole group's staring in the cafe seemed more ominous.
"Oh I sure hope so." She said with a sweet voice. Almost too sweet. "Do you remember me Dean? "
Dean's hand slowly went back to his gun, but didn’t take it out yet.
"How do you know my name?"
"Oh I've been looking for you for some time Dean Winchester."
She brought her arm up and Dean wasn't fast enough in bringing forward his gun when a ray of bright green light flashed before his eyes. But a force pushed him the ground before the light could touch him. He scrambled to get up holding his gun but his eyes were seeing nothing other than the green flash and sparkles.
"Cas? " He shouted.
Blinking furiously, he saw the woman run out of the parking lot. He couldn’t go after her while barely seeing anything. Instead he looked over to where Cas was. He must’ve been the one that had pushed him out of the way.
Blinking the green lights out of his eyes he felt around with his hands. Heart beating furiously, he more like felt than see Cas's trench coat on the ground next to the impala.
"Cas? are you okay? Answer me dammit" He said frantically trying to reach Cas's face with his hands. Half of his mind still worried they would be attacked by others, he finally found Cas’s pulse point with his shaking fingers.
A beat. He was still alive.
"God Cas wake up" He finally could see past the green spots in his vision. He could see Cas's unconscious form but there was no visible injury.
Dean touched around his pocket for the phone. It was time to call for back up, he couldn’t go after the woman while Cas was in this state. One beep ...Two…
" Pick up Sam" Dean said while scanning the parking lot for any possible threat.
"Hey What's up?" Sam, bless his soul, said straight to the point.
"We were attacked." Dean said trying to keep the anger and fear out of his voice, while keeping his finger on the pulse point on Cas's neck to ground himself.
"What!! Where? "
"In the town. Store parking lot. There was this woman. I think she was a witch or something. She just attacked us out of nowhere."
"Are you okay?" Sam said voice tight. He was probably already strategizing for their next step.
"She hit Cas with a green light or something. He's unconscious." Dean closed his eyes for a second to keep himself from spiraling.
"Sam ... I don't ...He's alive but... I don't know what happened. She just ran away by the time I got back up."
"Okay Okay calm down." Sam said. There was clicking noises in the background. "Can you drive back? Can you put him in the car and come back home? I'm pulling security cameras to see if I can find anything."
"Okay see you back at the bunker."
Dean put the phone back in his pocket and slid his arm under Cas's neck. With his other arm under his knees he lifted him up to the back seat of the Impala. Still There was no sign of Cas waking up. It didn't help Dean's nerves that the witch had just out knocked an angel out like that. Looking around to not be caught off guard again, Dean started the car and sped back home.
It seemed like forever ago that they were in the opposite road, singing, talking and smiling. They were complete unaware of what waited for them. Who. Who was waiting for them. The witch wasn't in Lebanon Kansas by accident. She knew Dean and for the life of him he couldn't remember her. She'd been waiting in the town expecting him to show up with his guards down. Grocery shopping like every other Sunday, not expecting to be blindsided by a witch so near his home. Stupid. He was stupid to think that they can relax when there was no case going on. That they were somewhat safe in this town so near to their bunker.
Now Cas was lying almost lifeless on the back of his car just because Dean asked him to come this morning. Just because he wanted company doing chores. Just because Cas did what he always wanted to do and kept Dean out of harm's way.
"Fuck this... Come on Cas wake up." He asked desperately but there still was no movement when he glanced at Cas for what seemed like the 100th time already.
******
"Did you know her? " Sam said as he helped him put Cas down on the infirmary bed.
"No but she knew me. Jack can you heal him? " Dean said to the kid. Jack Looked even more shell-shocked than Dean felt. He had rarely ever seen Castiel unconscious or seriously hurt. A part of Dean wanted to reassure him that it was gonna be okay and Cas would just wake up right as rain. But he couldn't ... at least not yet.
"I...I'll try" Jack muttered slowly putting his palm on Cas's forehead. Golden light flew between them hiding Cas's face away.
Come on. Dean silently begged. Cas was the one always healing them now that he was the one needing help, it wasn’t easy to stand still. Jack withdrew his hand with a gasp. " I think he'll wake up soon ... but I..."
"What was wrong with him?" Sam said.
"I'm not sure... I... I felt a haze around him"
"What do you mean around him? " Dean looked back and forth between Jack and Cas. "I don't see a haze."
"No. I mean around his soul ...or grace ... or both I'm not sure. He's physically fine now he should wake up soon."
" Okay we need to regroup." Sam said. "Find out who she was. What was the spell she used and why was she after you? I'll talk to Rowena she might be able to help."
“She might know where the bunker is.” Dean said. “She knew where I live or at least the whereabouts if she was waiting for me in the town. I wasn’t followed in the car but we need to check the defenses.”
"Okay I'll stay here for a while in case he wakes up. " Jack said pulling a chair close to the bed.
Dean nodded. Jack’s words about the haze around Cas was still worrying him but he had to make sure they weren’t going to be attacked again.
*****
It had been hours already. And Cas still wasn't waking up. Dean had double checked and tripple checked the bunker and he was about to walk off the walls at this point. Why wasn't he waking up? Jack said he would when Dean came back to the infirmary. Jack and Sam were holed up in the library trying to figure out what curse the witch used.
But Cas was just lying motionless on the infirmary bed like he was sleeping. His chest was moving up and down with gentle inhales and exhales but there was no sign of him waking up.
"Hey" Sam's head poked in from the door. " Rowena found something and you might wanna hear it firsthand. Jack’ll come stay with him instead after getting a book from the other archive."
Dean nodded his thanks and stood up wordlessly, making way to the library.
"Hey Red " He said to the Laptop where Rowena’s perfect curls were visible. "What did you find?"
"Hello Dean. I'll get right to the point. I think I know who you met today. Her name is Victoria. She an old witch and her specialty is mind control. "
"What do you mean mind control?" Sam said leaning closer to the screen.
"I've never dealt with her myself but word on the coven street is that she has perfected spells of her own invention to mess with people's minds. "
"People?" Dean asked. " or angels count too?"
"Honestly dear I don't know. She usually curses one person who goes around and kills more people for her. This was best I could find. Maybe she's invented the curse for humans and it's going to affect your angel differently. In any case I'd keep your angel-blades close by in case she used a similar spell. "
Sam and Dean shared a worried look. They had enough of trying to kill each other already.
"Rowena we're not killing Cas." Sam said with an exasperated voice.
"Alright alright. Have it your way." Rowena said with a sing-asong voice. " I also think I know why she's after you. Six years ago her daughter, who was also a witch, was killed by two hunters. I'm guessing you two tall glasses of water had something to do with that."
"Any way to reverse the spell?" Dean said standing up.
"I'm working on it. Waiting for a call back from an old friend. She used to dabble in mind control too."
"Fine. Thanks Rowena. Talk to you soon. " Sam said before ending the call.
"I should go back to the infirmary. I don't think it's safe to... "
"Cas? CASTIEL?" Jack's voice came from the hallway.
Dean hurried to the source of the voice, Sam following him right behind.
"What's wrong?" He asked, taking in Jack's wide eyes and jittery hands.
"Cas is gone... I can't find him in the infirmary ... or his room... Why would he leave? "
"He can't be gone. We would've seen him leave." Sam said not answering Jack’s last question. "He's still in the bunker."
"Okay we'll spread out and look for him." Dean said already making to look at the infirmary and the rooms first.
"Dean wait." Sam said getting a hold of his shoulder. "Remember what Rowena said? This might not be the Cas we know. "
"What do you want me to do?” Dean said impatiently. “Sit on my ass while Cas is god knows where?"
"No. That's not what I want" Sam said. Taking out an angel blade and holding it out to him. "Just be careful."
Dean Rolled his eyes at him but Sam wouldn't budge. So he took the blade just so they could get on with looking for Cas sooner.
"We'll check the parking and library." Sam said.
"Kitchen and rooms." Dean said before turning away.
He put the blade back in his belt. Cas was going through enough; last thing he needed was to be faced with an angel blade wielded by his best friend.The door to the first room opened to show an empty room. Same was with the second. And the third.
"Cas? " Dean said in a low voice. "You around here buddy? "
Cas's own room proved to be as empty as the rest.
"Dammit cas where are you?" This was ridiculous. Cas wouldn't just wake up and try to run away.
Well no that's exactly what he'd do. Dean thought to himself. He had a tendency to leave when Dean least wanted him to.
Dean carefully looked around the kitchen door but nobody was in there either. He just had enough of this hide and seek game. He stepped down in the kitchen and suddenly remembered that Cas probably still had his phone. If he was sentient, he'd answer Dean and If not, then it’d be easier to find him if his phone rang.
"Please pick up." He said before touching the call icon.
A heartbeat later there was the unmistakable sound of ringtone from behind Dean. He turned around so fast his vision took a second to catch up with him.
There he was; larger than life just standing in the door way with his phone out.
"Where have you been man? " Dean said angrily putting his phone back in his pocket.
It was always easier to let the anger and irritation out than show how worried he was. The angel blade's handle sat uncomfortably on the small of his back.
"Just around" Cas said walking in closer casually. "I woke up and wanted to find you."
Cas looked around the empty space before fixing his blue eyes on Dean's. There was something off with him. His posture was too still, his gaze too calculated.
Dean was becoming more and more aware of the angel blade Sam made him took.
"Cas? Rowena found out what spell the witch used." Dean said suddenly needing to fill the uneasy silence.
"Hmm did she?" Cas said taking another step towards him.
Dean tried so hard to hold his ground. He had become more comfortable with Cas being in his space through years; but the way that he was being crowded in the empty kitchen was making him anxious. Every instinct was telling him to run. To grab the angel blade. Slash a wide arc and run. But Cas was blocking the only exit. and He really didn't want to run that so he held his ground.
"Yeah she said that it was probably... " Dean trailed off as Cas came closer again. It had just become too close for personal space but Dean Still held his ground.
"Probably what?" Cas said with half a smirk that looked too alien on his familiar face.
"...probably some kind of a mind control spell." Dean swallowed. He could feel his own heart racing now. Something is wrong... It's off.... He's wrong. His mind screamed at him.
"Hmm that would explain this." Cas said taking another half step and this time Dean couldn't stand still anymore and stepped back.
The counter hit the back of his foot. He was cornered. Dean really had no other choice. The only thing that would keep him alive against a mind controlled Cas would be the angel blade so he took it out of his belt. But even scared for his life, it was impossible to point the blade at Cas. Dean wouldn't ...couldn't use it. So he just hoped that whatever was controlling Cas didn't call his bluff. That it didn't know that Dean Winchester would rather be smote than be the one who destroyed Castiel in the end.
Cas's amused eyes followed his movement. It was like he already knew that Dean wasn't planning to use the blade. Well there goes my bluff. Dean thought to himself.
"I think she took away all my inhibitions and fears. Ever since I woke up I just wanted to do this."
Cas said before taking another deliberate step forward and capturing Dean's lips with his own.
The Whole world seemed to vanish from existence. The feeling of Cas’s warm lips against his own made a blank space out of his thoughts. His eyes had closed on their own accord. There was only Cas's lips stealing breath from his. Cas's right hand stroking his jaw. Cas's warm body pushing against his and the counter edge now very sharply cutting against his hips. But he barely even registered the pain. barely registered the sound of angel-blade falling on the cold hard ceramic floor from his shaking hand. Barely registered the hand that was stroking his jaw, move lower; move on his throat. He barely registered it until it was getting hard to breath against the hand on his wind pipe.
"Cas? ..." Dean choked.
Finally opening his eyes and seeing two bright green eyes looking right back at him. No that wasn’t the right color.
Dean's hands jumped up to ply open the angel's grip on his throat but with eyes that were already watering he couldn’t do much. He could never match Cas's strength while he was an angel.
"I think she also took away my morals" Cas said in a foreign aloof voice. " She took all that and gave me a mission instead."
Dean's vision tunneled. He lost feeling all over his limbs until he felt a sharp pain radiating in the back of his head and finally gave in to the darkness.