Chapter Text
“Dean! Castiel!” Jack shouted as he stormed into the kitchen. “Look what I found in the pantry. It’s a Christmas elf!”
“Don’t tell me you found an elf on the shelf,” Dean quipped, not even looking at Jack, yet rolling his eyes.
“More like a fairy in the dairy,” Castiel noted, watching the tiny creature dangling between Jack’s thumb and forefinger. The elf seemed to be soaked in cream which dripped from his body to the floor. Each time another drop fell, the fairy giggled and a bell on his green costume rang, prompting Dean to finally turn around.
“Huh?” Castiel couldn’t contain a little smile at the stunned expression on Dean’s face. “No way! You’re fucking kidding me.”
Jack beamed at them. The pompon of his Christmas hat dangled in front of his face due to his barely contained excitement. He had been wearing it ever since he had successfully beseeched them to celebrate Christmas this year. Even though Castiel hadn’t met her, the wood nymph Mrs. Butters had surely left an impression on Jack. His enthusiasm for the holidays had spiked despite her attempt to kill him. It seemed Jack had long forgiven her and concentrated instead on the happy memories he had made during her stay.
Castiel couldn’t fault him. With Chuck and the destruction of everything looming over their heads, Jack, Sam, and Dean certainly deserved some happiness, whereas he—
His eyes rested on Dean, and he felt a pang in his stomach before quickly looking away.
“It’s an actual elf! It promises to bring us to Santa,” Jack insisted cheerfully, pulling Castiel’s attention back to the here and now.
“Jack—” Dean said sharply and stopped. Unable to look away any longer, Castiel faced his friend. Dean’s mouth opened and closed while uncertainty clouded his face. The tug in Castiel’s stomach became worse, yet, despite Dean’s abrupt hesitation, Castiel’s heart started to beat faster. Whatever had happened in the past, Dean obviously was trying to do better. Castiel knew deep down that Dean loved Jack, even though he had a hard time showing it — to himself and others.
So much that after everything that happened with Mary and Belphegor, Castiel hadn’t been able to bear it anymore. He just… couldn’t.
The anger. The doubts. The—
Castiel fought the sudden onslaught of emotions that threatened to choke him, even now.
The moment he had left the bunker had torn him apart and shattered his heart to pieces, but being with Dean—
Their eyes met, and the sight took the remaining breath out of Castiel’s lungs. Dean looked conflicted. He obviously was searching for help, and Castiel nodded. “Jack?” he said, trying to get their son’s attention.
“Yes, Castiel?” Jack looked at him expectantly, and Castiel hated having to be the bringer of bad news that would dampen his joy.
“Jack, we shouldn’t trust the elf. Fairies… They’re often deceiving creatures.”
“But—” Jack protested. His eyes turned pleading, and Castiel was about to give in when Sam walked into the kitchen.
“Which deceiving creature?” Sam asked, looking around. Squinting, he gazed at the fairy. “Why did you put your fingers in cream? I had no idea—”
Dean huffed. “You serious? Can’t you see it?”
“Whom?” Sam frowned at his brother.
“The elf!” Jack said, lifting his hand and shaking the fairy, causing the bells to ring. More cream dripped to the floor, but Sam still stared into thin air.
“You telling me you’re holding an elf?” he asked. “In your hand?”
“Of course. Look.” Jack stepped nearer, waggling the fairy in front of Sam’s face. Yet, it only seemed to cause Sam’s eyes to cross.
“Dude, we’ve met fairies. You fought them. Why can’t you see this one?” Dean asked. “Oh…” A sheepish grin appeared on his face as his eyes widened. Biting his lips, he quickly looked away. However, Castiel still caught the blush on his face.
“Exactly.” Sam smirked before adding, “I wasn’t the one who serviced Oberon.”
The shade on Dean’s face turned darker, and Dean groaned.
Castiel watched him closely, trying to make sense of the brothers’ squabble. Sam couldn’t mean what Castiel thought it meant because Dean wouldn’t—
Or would he? Castiel’s pulse accelerated.
“Shuddup,” Dean grouched, glaring at his brother.
Sam rolled his eyes when Castiel noticed that Jack had turned away from them. He was vividly talking to the elf, and nodded.
“Jack, no!” Castiel warned, but it was already too late.
A bright flash lit up the entire kitchen. Castiel blinked. When he opened his eyes again, the kitchen had vanished. They were standing in a forest. Snow covered every surface and above them, a strange night sky, lit up by an aurora, offered just enough light to see.
“Son of a bitch!” Dean exclaimed. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Is this—” He stared at the sky and swallowed before turning to Castiel.
“No.” Even though his Grace barely offered enough power to sustain himself these days, he still could tell where he was. Or rather, where he wasn’t. “This isn’t the North Pole.” His angel blade slid into his hand as Castiel extended his Grace to the lifeforms hiding in the shadows. “This isn’t even Earth.”
“Goddammit!” Dean grumbled and jumped to action. His entire stance changed as he prepared himself for a fight with an unknown enemy.
Castiel knew this haunted look on his friend all too well. Purgatory had left its traces, and now, Dean seemed to be back there.
Although their situation was far from safe, Castiel sensed no active danger. Carefully, not to spook him, he laid his hand on Dean’s shoulder. The tension immediately drained from Dean and his breathing normalised.
Smiling, he turned towards Castiel. “Thanks, man,” he whispered.
“Where are we?” Sam asked at once. Castiel couldn’t tell if his friend willingly ignored them or simply was oblivious.
“Yeah, Cas. What the hell?” Dean’s eyes had turned towards the multicoloured sky from where unknown constellations looked down on them. “What’s this place?”
“Avalon.”