Chapter Text
Sam found himself indescribably comforted by the simplicity of life at Bobby's. It was like sinking into a warm bath, a calmness and a level of familiarity that he hadn't realized how badly he'd missed.
The twins took most of it in with wide-eyed wonder. Everything from the other hunters in and out of the house, from Bobby pretending to be a member of any number of law enforcement teams, to Dean dextrously disassembling an engine block.
Bobby asked Sam for his help with redigging the trenches around the junkyard, carefully relaying the lines of salt and goofer dust before laying the rocky soil back down over them. Dean was working on the Nova, and Jimmy was sipping a lemonade, purportedly 'helping' him, but Castiel joined Sam on the perimeter of the property, with work gloves and his own shovel in hand.
After a few hours of hard work, side by side with Castiel in the silence, Sam took a moment to take a breather. He pulled his sweat-stained t-shirt up over his head and off, and wiped the sweat and grime from his face with a dry patch. He moved to sit on the bumper of a nearby Pinto, resting his shovel beside him.
Castiel took a seat beside him, also slick with sweat and streaked with dirt. The two boys sat in silence, staring off across the field ahead of them.
Sam was a little stunned that Castiel had deigned to dig a ditch, without a moment's hesitation or complaint. He'd never in a million years have imagined the heir to the Novak empire – their crown prince – would be sitting with Sam in a junkyard in South Dakota, baking under the hot sun. Digging a ditch.
Castiel's hand reached out for Sam's, and Sam held it tightly.
A few long moments passed, before Sam heard someone whistling, heading in their direction. He turned, and saw Jimmy approaching in a big, floppy sunhat with cat's-eye sunglasses, a tight little t-shirt and shorts, with a cooler slung over one arm.
“Our saviour.” Castiel's voice was a little rough.
Jimmy plonked the cooler down in front of the two boys, opened it, and passed them icy cold bottles of water, which Sam and Castiel drank gratefully.
Sam tossed his empty bottle back into the cooler, reached out a hand and snagged one of Jimmy's belt loops, pulling him in for a hug.
“Ew!! You're, like, all filthy, and not in a sexy way.” Jimmy tried to squirm out of Sam's grasp. Sam tightened his hold, one hand moving to grip Jimmy's ass cheek hard, and the other on Jimmy's jaw, angling his face up for a kiss.
“Well, you know, you could make yourself useful.” Castiel mused, as Sam kissed Jimmy deeply.
“I'm being useful! I brought you water, and I'm... helping Dean.” Jimmy spluttered indignantly, after Sam released him from the kiss.
Castiel stepped right up into Jimmy's personal space, all heat and authority and shooting Jimmy one of those Dom-glares that Sam knew made one's knees weak.
“Strange. And yet you're not covered in dirt and oil, which one would expect if you'd actually been helping with auto repair.” Sam felt the tremor run through Jimmy. “If I were to ask Dean, he'd aver that you were assisting, hmm?”
Jimmy blinked at his twin, eyes wide.
“That's what I thought.” Sam smirked. “So, seeing as you're not actually being of any use to anyone right now, do you think you could come up with something to assist us?” Sam gripped the side of Jimmy's neck, and felt him swallow hard.
“Here?” Jimmy's voice was small. “It's... it's all hot and dirty...”
“As though that actually makes a difference.” Castiel chuckled. “I'd be willing to bet that you've got lube packets in your pocket, like a good boyscout.”
Jimmy flushed fuchsia, and both Sam and Castiel laughed.
Castiel's hands fished out the lube, and moved to undo Jimmy's belt and fly. Sam kept his hand on the back of Jimmy's neck, feeling him tremble as Castiel pushed his shorts and panties down.
Castiel and Sam were both quick with him, and Jimmy's come dried and crackled on the hood of the Pinto, under the hot sunshine, as they resumed their work on the ditch.
*
The cool shadows in the house, when Sam and Castiel returned to it just before dinner, were a blessing. The cool showers were even moreso.
Sam had almost forgotten what it felt like to do an honest day's hard labour. He must be getting old, though, based on the aches in his lower back and shoulders. From the stiffness of Castiel's movements as they showered together, Sam didn't think he was the only one feeling it.
Both of them eased themselves into chairs at the dining room table, where Jimmy was already seated, squirming a little against the hard wooden chair. Sam shot him a lecherous grin, and Jimmy's cheeks pinked. Dean entered a few moments later, hair still damp from his own shower.
Bobby entered the dining room, bearing plates of some sort of casserole, whose primary ingredients seemed to be hamburger and noodles. The boys thanked him quietly as he took a chair and his own plate.
Sam was a little nervous about how the twins would handle the low-end cuisine, but both ate heartily.
“Thanks for your help with the lines, boys. Much appreciated.” Bobby's voice was gruff.
“It was no trouble, Mr. Singer.” Castiel smiled at him.
“Call me that and I'll get a fat head. Mr. Singer was my father.” Bobby grumped.
“Bobby.” Castiel smiled. “My apologies.”
Bobby waved Castiel's apology away with his fork.
It didn't take long for all of the plates to be empty. Jimmy looked a little relieved when he stood to gather them, and took them into the kitchen.
They spent the evening on the porch, watching the sun set and the fireflies come out. Jimmy hopped down to try to catch some, and Dean joined him as he raced around the yard.
“So,” Bobby began, gruffly. “You settlin' in okay here? Beds in the spare rooms okay?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah.” He let his head droop a little. He was bone-tired, and somehow more at peace than he'd been in a really long time. Castiel rested a gentle hand against his thigh. “Yeah, it's... it's really good to be... to be home.”
Sam let himself lean against Castiel, who was beside him on the old porch swing. Castiel wrapped an arm around him and squeezed.
“Glad to see you've got these two, too.” Sam saw Bobby's eyes on Jimmy and Dean – Jimmy had crawled onto Dean's back, and Dean was piggybacking him around the yard in the search for fireflies. Bobby turned his gaze on Castiel. “You and your brother seem like good people. And you seem like you're taking good care of my boys.”
There was a loud shout of laughter from across the yard, and when Sam looked, Dean and Jimmy were both lying on their backs, looking up at the stars.
“I'm doing my best, sir,” Castiel answered, soft and serious.
Bobby growled at the title, but let it go.
“I... I didn't realize how much of a father figure you were to Sam and Dean, Bobby,” Castiel corrected himself this time around. “If I'd have know, I'd have asked for Sam's hand.”
Bobby sat bolt upright in his chair, staring at Castiel for a long moment, before breaking down in laughter. “Either of you wants to marry either of these chuckleheads, you've got my blessing.”
“Bobby!!” Sam interjected, annoyed.
Both Bobby and Castiel laughed at him.
After a short time, Sam's eyes started to droop. He took his leave, but Castiel stayed on the porch with Bobby, saying he'd wait up until Dean and Jimmy were ready to call it a night. Too tired to worry about it too much, Sam gave him a lingering kiss, and headed upstairs.
He was out nearly the moment his head hit the pillow.
*
There was a nudge against Sam's ribs, and he groaned and tried to move away from it, squinting his eyes shut against the red light seeping through his lids.
“Dude. Come on.” Dean gave him another nudge.
“Sleepin',” Sam mumbled.
“No, you're really not. Come on. They're waiting.”
Sam's brain kicked into gear despite him. 'They're waiting'?? Who was waiting? Regardless of who it was, Sam wasn't really capable of the rudeness it'd take him to stay in bed. He sat up and knuckled his eyes.
“Good man.” Dean ruffled his hair. “Back yard, okay?”
“Yeah.” Sam watched him leave.
Sam had always kind of wondered why Bobby bothered to keep a back yard at all. It cut into the space for the junkyard, and didn't really serve any sort of purpose. Sam remembered playing catch with him back there when he'd been little, though. So maybe that was why.
He got up and headed to the washroom, sorting himself out a little. He pulled on a t-shirt and jeans, and his boots, and headed downstairs.
Castiel was waiting beside the back door, looking a little stiff and uncomfortable, but giving Sam a smile regardless. He held out a hand, and Sam took it. He opened the back door, and ushered Sam out.
Someone had taken wire, a lot of it, and bent it into a large archway, and then twined wildflowers around it. Bobby stood in the middle, and Dean and Jimmy to each side. Sheriff Jody Mills was to Dean's left, and Bobby's neighbour Marcy to Jimmy's right.
Every single eye was on Sam, who froze. “W-what is this?”
Gentle fingers on Sam's jaw turned his face back to Castiel. “I've almost lost you far too many times. Far too many, and though this isn't official according to the law, it's something I've wanted desperately to do.”
Sam blinked at him.
“We'll still have the official one later, have the big society wedding my parents want, but this is for you and for me, okay?”
Sam's mouth opened, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to say.
“You did agree to marry me, did you not?” Castiel's mouth quirked up into a smile.
“Y-yes, of course, but...” Sam started, ready to begin another round of explanations about why it was a bad idea.
Castiel cut him off at the pass. “Not the time, my love. Come, our guests are waiting.”
Castiel tugged him by the hand, leading him towards where everyone was standing. He stood directly before Bobby, and turned to face Sam, reaching for both of his hands and smiling up at him.
Bobby cleared his throat. “Now I know this don't count for much, but everyone here knows how happy Castiel and Sam make each other, so we're doin' this.”
Sam couldn't help his smile. He should have known better than to think Bobby would begin with a 'dearly beloved'.
“I know Castiel has some words prepared, and I'm bettin' Sam has something to say, so let's go ahead.” Bobby turned to Castiel.
Castiel gave Sam's hands a squeeze. His eyes were glittering with tears. It took him a moment to speak.
“Sam. From the moment you walked through the door to our dorm room, I knew you were special. You've faced incredible adversity, and yet you were able to open up, to give your love and trust so freely and lovingly. You've been a blessing to me, to us. It's been an honour to watch you grow and blossom. I treasure this life we're building together, and look forward to continuing to do so, as long as we both shall live.”
Sam watched Castiel's throat work as he swallowed hard, and smiled a crooked smile up at Sam.
“Sam?” Bobby's voice, rough with emotion.
“I...” Sam wasn't sure where to start. “I love you, Cas. You and Jimmy mean the world to me. You've been so kind, so generous, and I never expected to love anybody the way I love you. I couldn't... couldn't do this without you. Your support has meant everything to me. Everything.” Sam paused. “I promise... I promise to try every day to be the man you see in me. I love you.” Sam fell silent.
“We got rings?” Bobby looked to Dean and Jimmy.
Jimmy tugged Sam's sleeve, and Sam turned to him. “Take off the engagement ring, and put the wedding ring on. We put the engagement rings back on after,” Jimmy whispered to him, slipping a ring into his hand. Sam nodded his understanding and turned back to Castiel.
“Samuel Winchester, do you take Castiel Novak to be your husband?”
“I do,” Sam managed to force out of his tight throat. Castiel slipped Sam's engagement ring off, and slid a simple platinum band onto Sam's ring finger. Sam blinked back the tears burning in the corners of his eyes.
“Castiel Novak, do you take Samuel Winchester to be your husband?”
“I do.”
Sam's vision was a little blurry, but he managed to get Castiel's ring off, and get the wedding band – which matched his own, from what he could see of it – onto the right finger.
“By the power vested in me by no one at all, I pronounce you married. Y'all can kiss now.”
Sam's tears finally fell as he swept Castiel into his arms, into a deep kiss. He was vaguely aware that there was clapping all around him, and Jimmy hooting and hollering, but Sam held tight to the only person in the world who mattered.
It was a long while before the two boys let go.
When they finally managed, Sam half-turned and Jimmy flung himself at him, kissing him deeply. Sam squeezed him tight, chuckling after releasing him. Dean was right there afterwards, murmuring congratulations with a hug and a pat on the back. The sheriff and Marcy hugged him and congratulated him, as well. Bobby's hug was lingering, and with whispered wishes for only the best.
“All right, let's get this party started!!” Bobby rubbed briefly at his eyes, smiled, and moved to the barbecue.
It was a brilliantly sunny afternoon, not a cloud in the sky, as the small group of happy people chatted and ate the delicious food, celebrating two boys who had found love, and kept it, despite all of the obstacles in their path.
Fin.
(But stay tuned for oneshots, in a continuing series.)