The Winds of Change Chapter 10

A/N    I still don’t own SPN or the song “Angel of the Morning” which my mom played for me. Yes, she knows what I’m writing. That’s why it stays PG, heh! Thanks to you who comment, for the faves and nd the ones who just stop by.  Makes yourselves known. I won’t bite!  Cyber pie. Anyway, enough from me! Enjoy the chapter.

The Winds of Change

CHAPTER 10:

“Just call me Angel of the Morning”

Dean hadn’t driven in snow for awhile.  Rain he was used to, but the ice hiding under the blanket of snow, kept making the Impala skid.  Luckily, the roads were pretty much deserted, which only told him he was the only one stupid enough to be driving in it.  The snow had picked up now and pelted the windshield with huge flakes that seemed to have super glue attached to them because the windshield wipers weren’t able to dislodge them.

 Although he didn’t need it, Dean blasted the heater and turned on the radio.  In his haste to leave the house undetected, he’d forgotten to get his tapes, so he had to rely on FM.  Only, all he found was static as he searched for a station.

 He smiled grimly.  Or maybe no DJ in his or her right minds would drive to any station in this.  He was about to give up when a song filtered through.  He found himself singing along.

Maybe the sun's light will be dim  
It won't matter anyhow
If morning's echo says we've sinned
Well, it was what I wanted now
And if we're victims of the night I
won't be blinded by the light

Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Then slowly turn away from me…

“How the hell do I know these lyrics?” he asked aloud.  “What’s with all the friggin’ angel songs?”

Dean squinted through the barrage of snow as he passed a sign that said Welcome to Benkleman, NE.

“So, that’s where I am,” he mused, hoping soon he’d find a motel since the snow was starting to come down even heavier.

He was relieved when he entered the town limits.  He rubbed his eyes at a jaw-dropping sight and slowed his speed even more.  Under a shelter that protected it, was a carousel.  There were security lights and Dean could see it had awesome horses and animals like the old-timers used to have before plastic came into vogue.  Dean had to fight the urge to pull over and walk onto the platform.  The beautiful, wild horses called to him, but he shook his head and drove past.

“Am I actually seeing cowboy hats?” he remarked as he spotted a couple of guys duck inside a restaurant.

His stomach growled and he realized it had been a long time since he’d eaten.  Time to remedy that, he decided as he parked his baby in a spot clear of other vehicles.  He got out of the car and opened the trunk, tucking his favorite gun, the nickel-plated Colt 1911 A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic, into his waistband.  He had checked the mag−full clip−and made sure the safety was secure first.
 
Something snorted and Dean whirled, hand flashing toward the gun, but he never drew it.  Instead, he stood there in the snow-laden street and stared at the horse as intelligent, liquid brown eyes stared back.  The horse whickered and snorted, its breath pluming, rising toward the white splash on its muzzle.  Dean closed in and scrutinized the mark. He didn’t have to stretch his imagination to see the white resembled an angel.

He reached up fearlessly to stroke the horse’s soft muzzle.  “They leave you out here in this,” he said softly.  “Who’s the bad owner, huh?” he crooned as he ran his hand down the strong neck to the shoulder.

“I’m afraid I am.”

Dean was glad he’d put away his gun.  He turned to regard the woman who looked like she was wearing one of the snow suits with the furry hood from The Empire Strikes Back.  He couldn’t see much of her face because she was bundled up, with a scarf obscuring the lower half of her face, but she had nice eyes that put him at ease and the affection they held as they switched to the horse, made him relax even more.

“Angel loves the snow, and we live on a ranch only a few miles away.”  She stuck out her glove-covered hand.  “Cally.”

“Dean.”  He shook her hand.  “That’s an unusual mark on him.”  It was a fifty-fifty guess on his part.

“Yeah, he got caught in some barbed wire when he was a colt.”  She saw his horrified look.  “Not on our ranch!  Fella who owned him before us.  When the wound healed he had a scar that looks like an angel.”  She pointed.  “Even to the halo.”

Dean cut his eyes heavenward.  “What would be the odds?”

“You look like you could use some grub, Dean.”  She took his arm.  “I know just the place.”

Cally took him to Beth’s Bar and Grill just around the corner.  She patted his cheek.  “I have to go rescue Angel from the snow.  You’ll like this place.”

Dean watched her leave and chose a stool on the bar. He glanced around the place.  Typical rural restaurant with a homey touch some of them lacked.  A tired looking redhead approached holding a coffee pot.

“Coffee?”  The voice reminded him of Ellen Harville and he sighed.
 
“Sure.”  She poured him a cup and handed him a menu.  “Uh, what’s good?”

“New in town,” she said and smiled.  “We have the best bacon cheeseburgers bar-none and cheese fries to die for.” Her smile widened.  “And Missy makes the best desserts!  Her cherry pie is killer.”

“I’ll have all that,” he said giving her his lady-killer grin.

He ate the meal hurriedly, interrupting the bites as he called Cas again.  Time was important, but he couldn’t help his angel if Cas didn’t return his calls.

Even though the food was good, it tasted like ashes in his mouth, except the pie. That was exquisite and, before he paid, he ordered another piece to go.  Back outside, he found the snow had stopped.  It hadn’t been all that cold while it was snowing, but now, the cold seeped into his bones and turned his toes into ice chips.

“Hey, Dean!”

He looked up in surprise.  Cally was riding Angel and pulled up next to him.

“Hey, Cally.  You, uh…”  Smooth-talker Dean Winchester suddenly found he was tongue-tied.
“You moving on or staying?  If you’re staying, hop on.  Angel and I’ll drop you off at a good motel.”

Dean looked dubious.  They were magnificent creatures, but, damn, they were big!  Cally laughed and guided Angel to the porch of one of the closed businesses.  “That should make it easier.  Climb aboard.”

Dean wasn’t used to such kindness from a stranger.  He was suspicious by nature, by profession, and Cally trusting him like this, touched a chord in him, although at the same time, he felt like he should scold her for putting herself in a place of imminent danger.  He let the scalding lecture stay in his head and was able to get a leg up on the horse.  Cally hauled him up the rest of the way.

“Better hold onto my waist,” she said as she gently nudged Angel with her heels.

The horse didn’t have a saddle, but Cally kept him at a sedate walk.  Dean appreciated it because the ground looked far away and he didn’t want to find out how far by falling off the horse.  That would be damn embarrassing.

Angel stopped in the parking lot of a motel three blocks away.  “Vacancy,” Cally said.
Dean managed to dismount without appearing to be too much of a tenderfoot as she laughingly called him.  He gazed up at her and smiled.  She smiled back and turned Angel away, this time giving the horse his head.

 Dean waited until she was gone before he checked in with the clerk.  He’d paid cash for everything so he couldn’t be tracked by Bobby and Sam, by his false IDs and activity on the stolen credit cards.

The room wasn’t as bad as most of the seedy motels he and Sammy had stayed in.  It was minus the hideous wallpaper and wall divider, but it did have a deer’s head on one wall.

“Great, I get to share the room with Bambi,” he muttered, dumping the hoody and jacket on the bed.

He turned on the TV.  It had cable and he switched to his favorite porn station, but turned it off after a few minutes.

“Dammit, Cas!  Where are you?”  He called and left another voicemail.  He put the hoody and jacket back on and left the room, trudging back to his car.  He’d expected his baby to be covered in snow, but he’d parked under a huge pine tree that had shielded the Impala.

“You’re forcing me to do something I don’t want to do,” he muttered as he pulled up to his destination.

OOO

Castiel was in trouble.  He’d returned to where he was supposed to meet Crowley and get Lilith’s location.  Instead of the demon, he found Michael waiting for him.  Michael was wearing his armor and he looked angry.

Castiel tilted his head.  “Brother.”

“I can’t let you do this, Castiel.”  The skies above Michael darkened and lightning flashed in bright forks across the clouds.

“I must save Dean.”

“Where is he?”  Michael had borrowed a vessel, a young male with long dark hair that he now swept from blue eyes so light they appeared gray.

“Safe.  I’ll never tell you where he is.”

“But there is a way for me to find him.”  Michael chided.  “Humans and their devices,” he added, shaking his head.  “I believe you carry one.”

Before Castiel could disparate, he was seized by the arms.  He stared in shock at the face of the angel who held him.  Balthazar.  “You would betray me, brother?”

“Not betray you; save you,” Balthazar corrected and his grip tightened when Castiel struggled.

Balthazar removed Castiel’s angel blade.  “Don’t want you using that on us.”

Michael patted Castiel down and fished out the cell phone.  “You’re going to call Dean and tell him you need to see him.”

Castiel shook his head.  “I won’t.”

Michael stared at the cell phone in his hand and then gave it to Balthazar.  “I don’t know how to use it,” he confessed.

Balthazar played the messages and Cas winced and even blushed at some of the swear words. Balthazar deleted them and then he hit the send button to place a call to Dean.

“Cas, is that you?”  Cas shivered at the emotion in Dean’s voice.

Michael took the cell phone and spoke, sounding like Castiel.  “Dean.  You called.”

“Like about a hundred times!  Get your feathery ass over here.”

“Where are you?”

Balthazar clapped a hand over Castiel’s mouth when he attempted to warn Dean.

Dean gave his location and Michael handed the cell phone to Balthazar who ended the call.
“Bring him,” Michael instructed the other angel.  “As part of your punishment for acting against me and trying to prevent Dean Winchester’s destiny, you will come and I will use you as leverage.”  Michael’s eyes glowed with an unearthly light.  “He will say yes to me.”

Castiel was an angel and angels weren’t supposed to feel, but Cas found that he was terrified at the thought of losing Dean.  He struggled, throwing punches at his brother, bashing Balthazar in the nose with his head, but he hung on.  Michael touched two fingers to Castiel’s forehead and when only the two of them reappeared, they were standing in a warehouse.

“Well, Cas, I see you aren’t alone.”  Dean stepped forward out of the shadows, under a hanging light.  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?”  He stood, feet planted wide apart, lips canting into almost a sneer, arms crossed over his chest.

Castiel trembled.  Doesn’t Dean realize how much danger he’s in?

“I am the archangel Michael.”

Did Michael expect Dean to show fear, even respect?  I recall how he spoke to Uriel. I recall how he spoke to me before we became brothers and…more.

“You’re wasting your time, you dick.  I won’t say yes.”

“Not even to save Castiel?”  Michael asked.

Castiel saw Dean flinch, but the hunter kept his jaw set, his gaze unwavering.

“Not even to spare Cas.”
 
He’s sending me that look that tells me he doesn’t mean what he just said.  He’s bluffing.  Oh, Dean.  Michael does not bluff.

Michael pulled his great sword from the scabbard on his back and stabbed Castiel in the back.

“Son. Of. A. Bitch!”  Dean’s eyes widened in horror as the point of the sword burst through Cas’ chest.  Arterial spray from Cas’ vessel arced through the air and splattered Dean.

Dean rushed toward Castiel, but Michael ripped his sword free and brandished it.  Cas fell to his knees.  Blood dribbled from his mouth and his eyes were agonized as they sought out Dean.

“All right!” Dean shouted.  “Heal Cas and I’ll say yes.”

“Say yes first and then I’ll heal him.”

Cas crawled across the floor toward his hunter.  Michael placed a foot on Cas’ back and forced him to the cold pavement.  The archangel’s eyes narrowed as he met Dean’s appalled gaze.  Cas’ blood stained Dean’s clothing.  Crimson splotches were on his jeans and jacket.

“Dean, don’t…”  Cas moaned when Michael increased the pressure of his foot on Cas’ back.

“Okay.”

It was as if the very air in the place grew heavy with that one word.  Michael frowned.

 Cas moaned Dean’s name.  He was fading fast.

“You agree?”  Michael asked, callously wiping the end of his sword off on Cas’ jeans.

“Yes.”  Dean’s green eyes caught fire.  “YES!”

Michael smiled and took his foot off Cas’ back.  The angel crawled a little further toward Dean, who bent down and grabbed him by the biceps, pulling him into his arms.

“Say your good-byes,” Michael told Dean.  “I will heal him after I take you as my vessel.”

“Of course you will, you dick.”
 
Cas gazed up into the face of the man he knew he now loved beyond all else, committing every feature to memory, down to the last golden freckle.

 You would give up your freedom, your life, for me, Dean.  All I wanted to do was to save you, and I have failed.

He reached up with a faltering hand to touch Dean’s cheek one last time.

“Mikey, Mikey, Mikey, your arrogance can always be counted on,” Dean said in such a cocky, confident tone that Cas was shocked.

Dean dipped into his pocket and produced a lighter.  With one try, he switched on the flame and tossed it to the ground.  Flames burst from the cement and they followed the line of holy oil Dean had prepared, sealing Michael inside the circle.

Michael was furious, but there was nothing he could do.  He was trapped.  Dean gathered Cas to him, wrapped his arms around him and sprouted wings and flew away into the ether.
Cas drifted into unconsciousness and was unaware.  When “Dean” landed, he carried Cas inside the motel room where the real Dean waited.  The fake Dean’s form shifted into none other than Gabriel.

“What the hell happened to Cas?”  Dean bellowed.

Gabriel laid a hand on Cas’ chest, cradling his brother lovingly as he healed him.  Cas’ eyes fluttered open.  “G-Gabriel?  But I thought…”

Gabriel grinned and let Dean take a very shaken angel to the bed where the hunter pushed Cas into a sitting position.

 “You and I had a safe word, Cas.  When you called, I knew, even though it sounded like you, it wasn’t.”

“We don’t have a safe word, Dean.”  Cas tilted his head, puzzled.

“I knew it wasn’t you because you didn’t sound worried enough,” Dean explained.  “Anyway, I called Gabe and told him I had a plan to stop you from turning yourself over to Crowley and he told me Michael had you, so we worked together to trick Michael.”

Castiel turned accusing eyes on Gabriel.  “But Balthazar…”

“You need to keep up, bro.”  Gabriel walked over and patted Cas on the shoulder.  “I’ve been like a double agent all this time.  I made Crowley think I was working with him and Balthy  had to let Mikey think he was on his side.”

Dean smirked.  “You owed me at least one for all those times you killed me.”

Gabriel smirked back.  “Sammy needed the lesson.”

Dean’s face dissolved into a mask of worry and guilt.  “Sammy’ll be freaking out.  Bobby, too.”

Gabriel shook his head and perched a hip on the chair.  “Don’t worry about your little bro.”  He laughed.  “Little doesn’t really apply to him, does it?”

Dean chuckled.  He was so relieved that Cas was safe, his mood had vastly improved.  He wanted to wring his angel’s neck or kiss him senseless, but, to do that, they needed to be alone.

Gabriel gave a playful salute, snapped his fingers and was gone.

“Cas…”  Dean began, but he found the steam in his voice, the anger, the fear, had changed into need.  “C’mere.”

Cas got up and walked over, stopping within Dean’s personal space like he always did.  Dean welcomed him into the inner circle of his arms, pulling the angel against him, molding his slender frame to his.

 Cas was shaking and his skin was icy.  Dean sighed. His angel didn’t even know how to take care of himself.

“Do me a favor, Cas. Raise your arms above your head like this.”  Dean demonstrated.

Cas looked curious, but did as Dean asked.  Dean quickly removed the T-shirt and stared at Cas’ bare chest.  He pulled him to the bed and coached him to lie down.   He removed his shoes, but left the jeans on.   Dean crawled in beside him, pulling the covers over them, nuzzling against Cas’s back, throwing a possessive arm over the angel’s waist.

“Are you mad?”
 
Dean snorted into Cas’ shoulder.  “What do you think?”

“I think you are, but, for some reason, you’re not being mean.”

Dean trailed hot kisses along Cas’ spine.  “I almost lost you, Cas.”  His voice was rough.

“I just wanted to save you, Dean.”  Cas’ tone was soft, plaintive, reminding the hunter of a small child.

Dean rose on an elbow and Cas turned to look at him at the same time.  Dean’s gaze incinerated the angel.  His lips crashed down on Cas’ mouth, invading it.  The kiss lasted a long time and when Dean finally broke it, Cas was staring up at him, wonder in his eyes.

“I can’t lose you, Cas.  I’m not letting you hand yourself over to Crowley to save me.”

“I…feel the same way, Dean.”  Cas ran a slender hand through his disheveled dark hair.  “I…don’t know what to do.”

“How binding is the deal you made with Crowley?”  Dean growled as he pulled Cas into his arms so that they were on their sides, foreheads pressed together.  Cas’ soft hair tickled Dean’s nose.

Cas’ deep voice rumbled into Dean’s stomach and the ripped muscles of his abs jumped.  “What applies to humans on Earth does not necessarily apply in Heaven.”

That stopped Dean from further exploration because he had to look Cas in the eye.  “You mean, there is no deal?”

“I intended to turn myself over to him.”  Cas slid a hand under Dean’s T-shirt.  “Do you like that, Dean?”

Dean thought he would hyperventilate at Cas’ hesitant touch, but he didn’t want his angel to distract him until he had the whole truth this time.  “Uh…yeah, but…”

 Hell yeah!  Your hands on my skin turns me on!

“Am I doing this correctly?”

Dean heaved a deep sigh.  “For a beginner.”

“Do you like it when I kiss you here?”  Cas pulled up Dean’s shirt and dropped a feather-light kiss on his bare chest.

“Cas…”  Dean could barely speak.

“How about here?”

Dean’s eyes widened.

“I want to please you, Dean.”

“You do,” Dean assured him and maneuvered Cas so he could snuggle against him.  “You owe me the truth, but it can wait until morning.  Now, I want you to close your eyes and I want your face to be the first thing I see when I open my eyes tomorrow.”

“Yes, Dean.”  Cas sighed contentedly as Dean spooned him.

He didn’t expect to, because angels didn’t sleep, but he closed his eyes, reveling in Dean’s closeness and drifted off, feeling safe and warm.  Worry creased his brow as he slept, because, even asleep, the angel planned on saving Dean, no matter the cost to him.


TBC