Destined

Chapter 21

  "I'm telling you, Cas, this is only way to truly enjoy Lebanon." I raised my eyebrow skeptically.

  "It's just pie, Dean," I said. The two of us were sitting on benches on the empty outskirts of the city with two pieces of pie that Dean had bought. I didn't understand what was supposed to be so amazing about pie, but Dean assured me that it was the best thing I was ever going to experience.

  "It is not 'just pie', Cas, it's a religious experience. It's seeing the face of god. Just try it," Dean said. I sighed.

  "Dean, they didn't even give us forks," I said.

  "Look, Cas, if you can't appreciate the artistry in front of you right now, I would be more than happy to eat it for you, but you said you wanted to see Lebanon, and this is it," Dean said, his eyebrows raised. I rolled my eyes and did my best to pick up the pie without letting it fall apart, taking a quick bite before putting back down. Well shit.

  "This is... amazing, actually," I said. Dean grinned.

  "I told you," he said. "You've got to learn to trust me, Cas." I shook my head.

  "Don't let it go to your head," I said, smiling at him. He just rolled his eyes and took a bite of his own pie, closing his eyes in ecstasy.

  "Cas, there are a lot of things in life that suck ass. Like a lot. Pie will never be one of those things," he said. I laughed. 

  "I'm beginning to think you should be marrying pie instead of Hannah," I said. Dean frowned slightly, putting his pie back down. 

  "As if anyone would ever  let me do anything else," he said. I looked at him, taken slightly aback by the sudden hint of bitterness in his voice. 

  "Do you not want to marry Hannah?" I asked. Honestly, I couldn't tell what I wanted the answer to be anymore. Dean took a deep breath.

  "Can we not talk about this right now? Let's just enjoy our pie," he said, staring at his hands. I wanted to let it go, but I just couldn't bring myself to. Dean was such a mystery to me, I relished any opportunity to get inside his mind.

  "I won't be mad at you whatever you say. I just want to know," I said. Dean sighed.

  "No, I don't want to marry her. I'm sorry, I just don't. She's an amazing woman, but I don't want to marry her. But don't worry, I will. I know why it's important," he said. I didn't answer immediately. I'd expected to being either angry or relieved, but instead I just felt... disappointment. Like a pit in my stomach.

  "Why? Do you love someone else?" Dean's jaw clenched and his eyes hardened.

  "Cas, please let it go. It doesn't matter, I'll marry her anyway," he said. My wings tightened into my back instictively.

  "You do. You love someone else," I said. Dean stood up suddenly.

  "Cas, I swear to god, if you don't shut up about this..." Dean took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. "I don't want to talk about this. Do you not have the answer you want? I mean what do you want me to say? Do you really want me to tell you about how I'm engaged to your sister but in love with someone else?" I stared at Dean blankly, my wings pressed tightly against my back. I hadn't intended to make Dean mad.

  "Can we just... Enjoy our day? Not think about all this?" Dean asked, slouching in defeat.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I'm sorry. Why don't we head back to the castle?" I suggested. Dean nodded and I stood up, shaking out my wings. I saw Dean's eyes catch on my wings and smiled slightly.

  "Are they still weird to you?" I asked. Dean looked up to meet my eyes, looking slightly ashamed to be caught staring.

  "They're just... They're pretty cool," he said.

  "Do you want to touch them?" Everyone usually did. Normally I didn't like it, but the idea didn't seem to repulse me as much when it was Dean.

  "Is that not... Weird?" Dean asked. I shook my head, extending my wings slightly.

  "They aren't that great, though. You should see my father's. Or Michael's. I mean, you've already seen Hannah's, so you know mine are nothing special." Dean didn't seem to pay much attention to my words, simply taking a step forward and reaching out his hand to brush his fingers across the ridge of my wing. I smiled slightly, enjoying the feeling. Dean took another step closer and stroked his fingers down the length of my wing, facinated by it. I watched Dean carefully, my body relaxing automatically in response to Dean's touch.

  I was probably only a few seconds away from purring like a cat when I noticed something on the roof of one of the buildings behind Dean. It was just a glint at first, but when I focused on it, I saw that it was a person.

  "Cas? What are you-"

  A person with a bow. And they were aiming -

  Without a second thought I wrapped my arms around Dean's chest, spread my wings, and took off, flying as fast as I could towards the castle. I felt an arrow whizz by me, but as far as I could tell it didn't hit either of us. Dean was holding onto me tightly, and my wing was screaming in protest, but I kept going until I reached the castle grounds, at which point I swooped low to the ground, the two of us landing in an ungainly heap. I rolled away from Dean, sitting up and grimacing in pain.

  "Cas? What the hell just happened? Are you okay?" Dean asked, scrambling up and rushing over to me.

  "I'm fine, Dean. Did they hit you?" I asked, scanning his body for any sign of injury.

  "No, they missed. Do you think they were the same person who tried to kill Hannah?" I nodded.

  "It's too close to be a coincidence. Unless someone else has reason to want one of us dead," I said, standing. My wing was extended awkwardly behind me, but I'd aggravated it so much by flying this whole way that moving hurt. Anything hurt, it felt like my wing was on fire. Dean noticed my look of discomfort and frowned.

  "Are you sure you're okay? Flying so far... Isn't that painful?" Dean asked.

  "Yes, but I'll be fine, really," I said, taking a deep breath.

  "Cas, you look like you're about to pass out," Dean said. A wave of nausea swept over me and I latched onto Dean's shoulder to support myself. Blackness edged around my vision.

  "That seems to... Be an accurate... Assesment..." I breathed.

  "Cas!" Dean's voice drifted away, and I felt myself falling, and then there was only blackness.

(First of all, sorry this took so long. I've had a lot going on and very little motivation at the same time. I hope this was worth it, anyway. Also, I'm considering extending this story and giving it a sequel and I don't know, like I want to, but at the same time it would probably be kind of mean cause it would extend the angst by quite a lot. Would you guys like me to extend it? Let me know. I love you guys! <3)