Louder Than Bells by Dot (NC-17)

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Author on LJ: dotfic
Author Website: dotfic_archive
Why this must be read: An enthralling look at the way the Apocalypse weighs on Dean and the things he won’t let himself believe. There are cracks in and around Team Free Will but maybe, together, they'll be able to make up the difference.

He woke in his bed in the motel room off route 70 near Topeka. The pale glow of the motel sign cut the darkness into strips of pale blue and yellow. Sam was a quiet mass in the other bed, buried under the blankets.

Dean sat up and scrubbed his hands over his face, digging his fingers into his hair that was too short to grab properly. He took a few deep breaths, the taste of Michael still on his tongue, like the aftermath of touching a light socket by accident, along with the hint of lemon and the shape of three letters.

Without bothering with a light, he made his way into the bathroom and splashed ice-cold water on his face. The memory of Michael snagged in his mind, his slow, amused, unfamiliar smile, his gesture when he'd paused, fingers curled.

Turning off the water, Dean sat down with his back against the tub, bare feet against the cold tiles. He put his head down on his knees, then got up and went back out into the room and got his cell out of his bag. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Dean stared at the display, finger poised over the speed-dial button.

Then he closed the phone, but left it on the bedside table when he lay down on his side on top of the covers. Dean tugged the bedspread half over himself.

He watched his brother sleep for a while. Eventually his heart stopped racing.

Louder Than Bells