Chapter Text
What Castiel had been expecting was not this. The name Green Pastures had suggested homes, perhaps a farm, somewhere angels and humans alike could settle and build a life.
There were homes, certainly, nestled amongst rolling hills. Beyond them rose towering cliffs, with the sea stretching far below. To his right, he spotted a large body of water. This must have been the lake Dean had mentioned earlier.
The place was lush and vibrant. The air carried a scent he could not quite place - vanilla, perhaps, mixed with cardamom and something uniquely its own. He drew in a deep breath and felt it awaken something within him. The land felt alive, fresh, and invigorating.
Castiel could say one thing with certainty: he was no longer in Kansas.
Castiel wondered then how many of his brothers and sisters lived here among the humans. He heard children's laughter, and again, wished to know if they had made families here.
Mick had gone on ahead with Brigid and Ambriel, but Adam stayed behind with Dean.
“Welcome to Green Pastures, Cas,” Dean said fondly, watching his expression.
Castiel continued to stare out across the landscape, seemingly unable to tear his eyes away from it.
Adam chuckled. “I think your angel's lost his voice.”
“I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined this. One moment, I was in chains, and the next, I met the love of my life. Now I'm here.” Castiel's voice caught as he looked out across Green Pastures. Tears glistened in his eyes. “Freedom tastes wonderful, but it comes at a price.”
Dean pulled him close until they were chest to chest.
“Sweetheart, your freedom never comes at a price,” he said softly. “You don't owe us anything. If you want to live here and never have anything to do with the Resistance again, we'll respect that. This is your home now, Cas. What you do with your future is your choice.”
Castiel leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Dean's lips.
“No, my love, I cannot stand by and do nothing,” he said. “Not only are my brethren still in chains, but they are being forced to harm the very people trying to help them. I cannot turn my back on that.”
Adam reached over and patted his arm. “Thank you, brother,” he said warmly. “We need more angels like you.”
“Come on, Cas. I have a house here. I hope you'll like it.”
Castiel brushed the tears from his cheeks.
“Beloved, I could live in a cave and be content so long as you were there,” he said fondly. “But somehow, I suspect your house will be far more comfortable than that.”
-0-
People waved as they passed, but none of them approached. Castiel was grateful for that. Everyone seemed content to give him space to take in his new surroundings at his own pace.
Adam had already left them, promising to meet up with them the following day. For now, Castiel had more immediate concerns. He desperately needed a shower, followed by food and a large drink. After everything that had happened, those simple comforts sounded heavenly.
“They won't bother us today,” Dean said. “Not on your first day. You need time to settle in. Tomorrow, I'll properly introduce you to everyone, show you around, and let you explore at your own pace. As for me, I'm not doing anything for the next couple of days. Though I do want to call Sammy after I've had a shower.”
Dean tried to usher Castiel towards the bathroom.
“You first,” he said.
Castiel immediately shook his head. “Absolutely not. You've been taking care of me for days. You should go first.”
Dean rolled his eyes. “Cas, you're covered in dirt, dust, and who knows what else.”
“And so are you, beloved.”
The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Dean laughed.
“No, you first, okay? I need to find us some food and grab you some clean clothes.”
Castiel conceded the argument and headed for the shower.
The house itself was modest but welcoming. Upstairs were two bedrooms: a smaller guest room and a larger master bedroom, each with its own bathroom. The furnishings were simple rather than sparse, as though Dean had only recently moved in and was still making the place his own.
Downstairs, the kitchen and dining area were surprisingly spacious. It looked as though an extension had been added at some point, opening the room up to the rest of the house. Large windows lined the back wall, blurring the boundary between indoors and out. From where Castiel stood, it almost felt as though the garden had been invited inside, with sunlight, greenery, and flowering plants becoming part of the home itself.
There was also a sitting room, a small office, and a separate laundry area. Beneath the house was a basement. Dean had mentioned that community meetings were often held down there, though Castiel had not yet had the chance to see it for himself.
A neat pile of clothes had been left on the closed toilet seat. Through the frosted glass of the bathroom door, Castiel caught the brief shadow of Dean passing by.
“Take your time,” Dean called.
The shadow disappeared, leaving Castiel alone with the sound of running water and the unfamiliar comfort of knowing he was finally safe.
Castiel relished the hot water as it washed away the dirt and grime of the tunnels. It felt as though the filth had seeped into his skin, beneath his nails, and into every pore of his body. He stood beneath the spray longer than necessary, letting the water carry away the dust and sweat.
Castiel reluctantly ended the shower, wanting hot water left for his sweet mate. He dried himself with the fluffiest towels he had ever had the pleasure of using. He dressed in sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a hoodie.
Castiel wanted to ask Dean if they had clothes that represented him. Though he didn't want to sound ungrateful.
He made sure the bathroom was tidy, then went downstairs and found Dean on the phone, who was pointing at food on the counter.
Castiel went to find plates, cutlery and tumblers for drinks.
“Sammy, tell me, what happened?”
"Dean, I'm so glad you're safe."
"Yeah, we made it, okay. It took us slightly longer to get here."
"Did you have trouble?" Sam asked, concerned.
"No, we met Adam and Mick. Sammy, I'll talk to you about that later at the meeting. Seems that Mick was investigated, so he had no choice but to come. Anyway, he'll tell you about it."
“Fuck, Dean, that seems to be happening more and more. Now we have fewer Railroaders in Kansas. What about Adam?”
“Adam's heading back, but we need to make sure it's safe before he goes.”
“Don’t worry, we will. Though I’m pretty sure we’re being watched more than ever. Ruby was followed when she took Angel to pre-K.”
“Yeah, I'm not shocked.”
“Look, Dean, I know there's a meeting soon, but Gabriel and Balth are both okay at the moment. They came by and asked about Castiel, so we spun the story. They put out an alert for him. He's officially listed as a runaway now. He can't go back.”
“He won't, Sammy. And neither will I. There's no way I'm leaving him.” The phone line crackled. “I'd better let you go. I'll call you later. Talk soon and send my love to everyone.”
“Okay, Dean, I'll wait for your signal.” The call ended.
Dean crossed the room and joined Castiel at the dining room table.
“Missouri brought us some food. Nothing gets past that woman.”
“How is Sam doing?” Castiel asked.
“Safe for now. The humans have you listed as missing and on the run. They think I'm searching for you.”
The look of terror on Castiel's face made Dean place a hand over his.
“I'm not going back, Dean. Not unless I have to.”
“No, Cas. This is your home now. We need you here anyway. I also want to take you to the lake. It has healing properties that might help you and your wings. I know you might want to fly one day again.”
Castiel knew he had to share his shame with his mate. His wings were damaged, and he never thought he would fly again.
With the food forgotten between them, Castiel continued to hold Dean's hand.
“I feel so much shame, beloved. I let you clean my wings, but it took so much courage to allow it. They're only a shadow of their former glory.” He glanced down at their joined hands. “But I know they have time to heal, and if you say this lake has healing properties, then I will trust in that. One day, I will be happy for you to groom them, and one day I will fly again.”
“My sweet mate, you've been through so much. I know you're this big, bad angel warrior, but trauma doesn't disappear overnight. What they did to you should never be glossed over. But I'm here with you, Cas, and I know this fight isn't over yet.”
“No, not yet.” Castiel turned his hand over and squeezed Dean's gently. “We are not at peace, beloved. Now eat, drink, and rest. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Dean knew that if the situation had been reversed, he would not have been half as brave as his mate. Castiel was still standing, still fighting. The same could be said for all the angels at Green Pastures, and those fighting on the outside, like Balthazar and Gabriel. They had endured things no one should ever have to face, yet somehow, they kept going.
-0-
It was the real first night he had slept in the bed with the angel. The nightmares came, and all Dean could do was hold him through the aftermath, the shakes, tears, terror.
Castiel had been in captivity a long time, but with records lost for the last fifty, Dean had no idea who’d owned him, or if the records before that had been altered.
Abuse of an angel was illegal, but it still happened, and no one was ever prosecuted for it. It always went down as ‘reasonable force ’; it was always the angel at fault, and the case was closed.
Dean knew that Castiel would carry scars, not only on his body but also in his mind. Some of those wounds might never truly heal. How could they after everything he had endured?
All Dean could do was be there for him. Hold him. Love him. Be the one constant in his life - the person Castiel could trust without question, the person he knew would always be there when he needed him.
The next day, they both felt exhausted from the lack of sleep. Dean showed Castiel around Green Pastures.
They were surprisingly self-sufficient, Castiel discovered.
“We grow most of the food we need. What we can't produce ourselves, we get through another portal.” Dean took a sip of his drink before continuing. “We don't bring angels through that one. It's only used for food runs and supplies. The portal shifts locations, not just across the States but all over the world. It's magical, which means there's far less chance of anyone tracking it or catching us.”
“Can angels come and go through that portal?”
Dean shook his head. “No. Only those with a pass can get through it. Not even I can use it.” He pointed a finger at Castiel. “And don't look at me like that. The angels here at Green Pastures passed that ruling.”
“Angels did?” Castiel asked, clearly surprised.
“Some of them, of course, wanted to help with things like shopping and gathering supplies, and nearly got caught. So they decided the portal would be closed to angels. If an angel wanted to go back and help the resistance that badly, they could leave, but they wouldn't be allowed to return through the portal.”
“Oh, I see. Because this portal moves, and you might lose contact with the resistance groups in other parts of the world?” Castiel asked.
“Some countries don't have the one-angel-per-household rule, Cas. In others, people would cut your hands off for even speaking to an angel. Some angels have been rounded up and shot. Others have been locked in cages and displayed like animals in a zoo.”
Castiel's expression fell. “I see. I had not really thought about other countries, or how my brothers and sisters might have been treated beyond our borders.”
“There's a tribe in the Amazon Basin that shelters angels. If anyone gets too close, they get shot with an arrow. Good for them,” Dean said with a grin.
“It seems we have allies all over the world,” Castiel said, his face brightening.
“Yeah. I've seen the worst humanity has to offer, and I've seen the best. That's why I know it's true. No matter how much darkness there is, there will always be people willing to be the light.”
“So, I hold small meetings in my basement, or we use Missouri's and Pam's house. Missouri and Pam are in charge of Green Pastures. If anyone has questions, concerns, or problems, they go to them first.”
Dean paused for a moment.
“The community board is made up of humans, angels, and other magical folk. We don't just hide angels here, Cas. We help anyone who needs a safe place and has nowhere else to go.”
“There are other people being persecuted?” Castiel asked.
“Yeah. When the angels fell, my beloved mate, other creatures became targets too. Discrimination spread fast. Some people blamed anything different, anything magical. So, they come here, hide, and keep their families safe.”
Castiel fell silent for a moment, absorbing that. “That never crossed my mind either,” he admitted.
“We have other settlements too,” Dean said. “Blue Ridge is home to many other magical creatures. Green Pastures, on the other hand, is mostly for angels, though we do have a few other magical folk here. The resistance chose to build Green Pastures as a place where everyone can live safely. Everyone contributes however they can.”
Castiel looked around the town, watching angels and humans working side by side. It was nothing like the world he had known.
“I understand,” he said at last. “So, this isn't only about saving the angels. If the resistance succeeds, it will bring peace and safety to many other people and creatures as well.”
“Exactly. Benny and Garth represent the other magical communities on the council. They act as go-betweens whenever issues come up. Benny's a vampire, Garth's a werewolf, and they've been mated for about five years now.”
Castiel looked around the town once more. “It is remarkable. While I was trapped, all I could think about was freeing my own kind. It never occurred to me that so many others might also be suffering."
Dean brushed his thumb across the back of Castiel's hand. “You were trying to survive, Cas. Nobody's expecting you to carry the weight of the whole world.”
“It feels as though I've been lost in my own misery for so long that I forgot about everyone else.”
“Cas, I think you're more than forgiven for that,” Dean said gently. “You were doing everything you could just to get through each day.”
“I'm not sure my ignorance is any more of an excuse than the humans who turned a blind eye to the mistreatment of my kin.”
Dean wasn't going to win that debate, so he kept his mouth shut. Castiel might have a point. Then again, if you had been held captive for so long, perhaps the rest of the world faded away. Perhaps all that mattered were the four walls around you and the chains that kept you there. Survival did strange things to a person, and Dean wasn't sure anyone had the right to judge how Castiel had endured it.
Dean took Castiel to the lake. Nearby stood a small building containing changing rooms, showers, robes, slippers, and fresh clothes for visitors.
“I need to leave you here, angel. This part is sacred ground to the angels. No one but them can go beyond this point.”
Dean rose onto his toes and kissed Castiel's nose.
For a moment, Castiel said nothing. Then he slipped an arm around Dean and pulled him close, holding him tightly against his chest.
“Thank you, my love.”
Dean didn't need thanks, but he accepted the words with a small smile and stepped away.
Castiel needed to do this alone. Whatever peace he was searching for, whether for his mind, his heart, or his damaged wings, this was a journey he had to take by himself. Dean could only give him the space to find it.
-0-
Dean walked off to find Missouri and Pam while Castiel was in the lake. Everyone waved as he passed. The sanctuary sat on a hill overlooking the harbour.
Dean found Missouri and Pam on the porch swing overlooking the harbour. The swing swayed lazily in the sea breeze; the scent of salt carried up the hill. Both women had cold drinks in hand, watching the boats drift across the water.
Missouri lifted her glass as he approached. "About time you came to see us."
Dean ignored the comment. "I took Cas to the lake. I'm hoping it'll help with his recovery."
Pam nodded thoughtfully. "I'll meet him tonight. Dean, it must have taken something to get you here permanently."
"I agree with Pam. How's Castiel coping so far?"
Dean lowered himself onto the swing beside them. Missouri poured him a glass from the jug between them and handed it over. The lemonade was cold enough to bead with condensation.
Dean took a long drink of the lemonade. It was cold, tart, and refreshing.
"I'm not sure he is, guys," Dean admitted. "I'm scared he's repressing a lot of what happened to him. He's gone from being held captive to meeting me, then straight to safety, all in a matter of days. I don't think anyone could handle that. Not really."
"No," Missouri agreed, "but we'll take care of him here, Dean. I know he'll want to help the resistance, but this is a good place to heal."
She gave him a reassuring smile. "Sometimes the hardest thing you can ask someone to do is simply rest."
"Yeah, I know. That's one of the reasons I wanted to come. He never would've left me. Charlie more than suggested it; she said we needed to be here to coordinate the last of the raids."
Dean looked out towards the harbour, his expression growing serious. "It's coming, Missouri. The end days."
"They think you're the Righteous Man reincarnated?" she asked.
"They've never actually said it in so many words," Dean replied, "but Castiel thinks the same."
"I have a feeling, Dean, that Charlie sent you our way for a reason. And Castiel, well, I'm going to find out from the angel himself why he thinks you're so special. Though I'd have to agree. There has always been something about you, my boy, that I could never quite put my finger on."
"I'm a normal man, Missouri, just helping out as my parents did."
Dean finished his lemonade and handed the glass back. "Ah, thanks for that." He handed the glass back. "I'll see you all tonight at the meeting. I'm assuming it's here at your house?"
"Yes. Tonight, at eight. See you then."
Pam had been unusually quiet throughout the conversation. When she finally spoke, her voice was serious.
"Dean, we both see something coming, and you're involved. You and Castiel."
Dean paused with one hand resting on the porch railing.
"Yeah. That makes sense. Pam, Missouri, I know I'm going to be there. How much I'm involved, I don't know." He gave them a faint shake of his head. "But I'm not the Righteous Man. Not at all. You're both mistaken."
The two women watched him walk away, neither willing to tell him everything they knew.