Chapter Text
The pouring rain was doing nothing to relieve the thick fog of humidity. Sweat was rolling down Dean’s back and forehead as he lay in his bunk, bored out of his mind. What was the point of summer camp if he was going to be cooped up inside all day? He was here to swim in the lake, go canoeing and hiking and play paintball in the woods. This rain was really harshing the vibe.
Dean’s eyes scanned the letters and drawings pinned up on the wall next to his top bunk, a few letters from his mom, asking if he was having fun and recounting the happenings at home, drawings from Sammy, of the two brothers playing and the dog that Sam was desperate to have as a playmate. Sam missed his big brother and was eager to be old enough to join Dean at sleep-away camp. Dean had to admit that he really did miss his kid brother hanging around when he was away.
So far, camp had been a blast. This was his second year so he had a few returning friends, Benny and Garth, who shared a cabin with him. They had spent the last week catching up and enjoying the great outdoors. But a huge summer storm had kept them stuck indoors both yesterday and today, keeping Dean in a slump of boredom and heat.
Benny and Garth had made their way to the rec room in the main building, where they’d been playing board games, but Dean was sick of them after hours of Candyland the day before. His friends Charlie and Jo were hitting up the craft room, making lanyards and cootie catchers, but Dean lacked the patience and finesse for arts and crafts. So he was reduced to hanging out all day and waiting for the evening movie, praying that it was something other than The Parent Trap, which for some reason seemed to be the only movie they kept on hand.
Just when he was contemplating the pros and cons of solitaire, someone burst into his cabin dripping wet and slammed the door shut, pressing their back against it. Dean shot up in bed, almost hitting his head on the ceiling, and met the gaze of a drenched dark-haired boy with terrified bright blue eyes.
“What the-?” Dean began, when two jerks started pounding their fists on the cabin door.
“Come out, come out Cassie, there’s nowhere to hide!” A voice Dean recognized as a kid named Bart shouted.
“Come on Cassie, we were only trying to teach you how to swim,” joined another taunting voice, followed by snickers.
Dean quickly determined that he wanted to protect the stranger, so he jumped off his bunk and ran to the door. He looked the kid in the eye, and gave him a nod, trying to let him know he was a friend, and moved him away from the door by the shoulders.
Dean stepped in front of the strange boy and stuck just his head out, meeting the gaze of Bart and Raphael, “What’s going on fellas?” he inquired casually.
They were all the same age, but Dean had proved to be one of the more athletic kids at camp, he was generally respected and stood several inches taller than the other thirteen-year-old boys before him. “Uh,” Raphael stammered, clearly not expecting Dean, “We were looking for a little dorky kid named Castiel, thought he ran in here.”
“Look, man, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I suggest you guys get lost, and find a new hobby that doesn’t include tormenting people,” he stated protectively.
Bart threw Dean a glowering look and shrugged it off, “Whatever.” The two of them stalked back to the main house murmuring to one another.
Dean closed the door and turned to the kid leaving a substantial puddle in the middle of the room. “I’m Dean,” he smiled, walking past the kid to the bathroom. He grabbed a towel and tossed it to him. “What’s your name? Casss-?”
“Castiel,” he answered quietly, gratefully catching the towel and attempting to dry off.
“So, rough day?” Dean prompted, crossing his arms and leaning against his bunk.
“Two of my bunkmates aren’t taking well to the bad weather, they thought it would be entertaining to see what would happen if you push a weak swimmer in the lake during a storm,” he explained, exasperated but not overly upset.
“Are you serious?!” Dean exclaimed, anger flaring in his chest, “You could’ve drowned, we gotta tell Ellen!“ Ellen was Jo’s mom, and the owner of Camp Harvelle, she was tough but loving, and Dean knew she would have to know about this.
“It’s ok, Dean, I’m fine. I’m sorry for running into your cabin like this,” Cas glanced at him apologetically. “Thank you for helping me, but I’d rather not make this into a big deal,” he practically pleaded.
“Alright,” Dean relented, riffling through his drawers and tossing Cas sweatpants and a t-shirt. “But why don’t you stay for a while? Lay low and dry off for a bit.” “I’d like that,” Castiel smiled a little.
“So,” Dean began with his back to Cas as he changed, “is this your first year at camp? I don’t remember you from last year.”
“Sort of,” Cas explained, his voice a little muffled as he put on Dean’s dry shirt, “This is the first year my parents sent me here. I used to go to Bible camp.”
“Oh.” Dean paused, “Well this camp must be loads more fun!” He laughed a little nervously, not wanting to offend Cas, but unsure of how to respond.
“Well, no one tried to drown me at bible camp, but the food is better here,” Cas joked drily, turning to the bathroom to hang up his wet clothes.
“Why’d you switch?” Dean inquired cautiously, turning around to face Cas as he reentered the room.
“Bible camp only lasted one week, while this one is almost a month. My father is a pastor, and he travels around the country giving sermons and doing mission trips.” Cas paused slightly before revealing, “My parents were basically just looking to dump me somewhere for as long as possible.”
“I’m sorry, Cas,” Dean said quietly.
“Don’t be,” Cas looked to him with a strong but slightly melancholy smile, “I do enjoy it here, I get to do a lot of reading, and there’s much more freedom.”
“What do you like to read?” Dean asked, curiosity piqued.
“Mostly horror stories and thrillers actually,” Cas smiled at Dean’s surprise. “I almost got kicked out of Bible camp last year when they caught me reading the Shining.”
Twenty minutes later Cas practically had Dean in stitches laughing so hard. They talked about books and movies and told each other stories, Cas almost spit out the water he was drinking when Dean told him about his little brother Sammy peeing in his pants the first time he saw a clown after watching the movie ‘It’.
They were just starting to debate the Lord of the Rings franchise and Harry Potter when Benny and Garth returned from the rec room.
“You’ve been GARTHED!!” Garth exclaimed over the still howling storm, as they entered.
“You don’t have to say that every time you win at connect-four, brother.” Benny drawled.
“You let him school you again, Benny? Come on,” Dean joked.
“Hey, Dean! Who’s this?” Garth prompted.
“This is Castiel. Cas, this is Benny and Garth,” Dean introduced.
“Pleased to meet you,” Benny greeted politely.
“Nice to meet ya, Cas!” Garth grinned goofily.
Cas returned their greetings with a shy smile.
“We were gonna go down to the mess hall for dinner, we heard Ellen’s making lasagna,” Garth waggled his eyebrows excitedly, “You guys wanna come?”
“That sounds awesome!” Dean’s mouth was practically watering, “You in, Cas?”
“I’d love to,” Cas answered, happy to finally have people to eat with.
Benny and Garth got along with Cas just as fast as Dean, and quickly through the dinner, they found themselves offering him the extra bunk in their cabin.
“Cas, you shouldn’t have to live with those dicks! We don’t have to tell Ellen about them bugging you, we’ll just tell her you wanna move in with us,” Dean negotiated.
“I don’t want to make you guys give up your extra bed-“ Cas nervously started.
“Don’t worry about it Cas, we’d love to have you! The more the merrier!” Garth insisted, Benny nodding in agreement.
“Ok,” Cas agreed, quietly relieved he wouldn’t have to sleep alongside Bart and Raphael anymore.
They quickly became one of the closest band of friends at camp. They were always together, debating books and comics and video games, running around with all the endless energy of prepubescent boys. Garth loved discussing the environment and bee populations with Cas, and Benny and Dean were keen on becoming the kayak champions in the camp-wide race. Not to mention, Cas made an amazing addition to their paintball team, his strategy and wilderness navigation skills had them practically unbeatable. But more often than not, Dean and Cas were together, reading or laughing, having the time of their lives.
When it came to the end of the summer, it seemed much harder to say goodbye than the year before.
“We can write letters and stuff, right?” Dean inquired as he packed up his bag on the last day.
“Of course, Dean. Besides, we live less than an hour from each other,” Cas noted while diligently folding his clothes.
“That’s true, I guess it won’t be that different,” Dean nodded to himself, carelessly stuffing as many things into his duffle as possible.
When Cas’ parents came to pick him up, they were as stiff and proper as Cas had described them. “Hello mother, father,” Cas greeted formally.
“Castiel,” his father nodded, “are you prepared to go?”
“Wait!” Dean called from where he was ruffling his little brother’s hair nearby. He jogged over to Cas and sheepishly handed him a handmade bracelet. “Jo helped me make it, this way you won’t forget to write,” he stated, a little flushed, addressing his shoes.
Cas beamed, “Thank you, Dean.”
They hugged goodbye, eager to maintain their friendship until next summer.