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English
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Part 6 of Tumblr Prompts , Part 3 of Jack Kline Bingo , Part 36 of Heaven and Hell Bingo , Part 60 of SPN Fluff Bingo , Part 21 of SPN Genre Bingo
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Published:
2020-02-23
Completed:
2021-04-03
Words:
1,657
Chapters:
2/2
Comments:
25
Kudos:
107
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6
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1,027

I Lost My Way

Summary:

Jack needs Castiel, so Sam goes off to find him. Getting him home is far more difficult than expected.

Notes:

Prompt from Sumira79: "Well, I'm taking you home with me, whether you like it or not."

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Sam watched, half in awe and half in amusement, as Castiel stood under the waterfall. He had his eyes closed as the water streamed over him, and although Sam couldn’t see the wings themselves, he could definitely tell that the water was being deflected by them. He hated to disturb the angel when he was enjoying himself, but this was too important. “Castiel!”

“Sam!” Castiel opened his eyes and smiled. “So, I found this waterfall, and I suspect it’s got some kind of fae touch on it. Normally, I have to have my wings fully manifested for anything on this plane to interact with them, but this water...”

“I can see that.” Sam smiled back briefly. “And I promise, you can come back, but I need you to come home with me now.”

Castiel took a step backwards, deeper into the waterfall. “Why? I’m happy here. I don’t want to leave.”

“Well, you’re coming home with me whether you like it or not. Something’s happening to Jack, and we need you to come check it out. Dean and I don’t know how to help him, because it’s not a human thing.”

Castiel took another step back. “There are other angels you could call. Or you’re very good at sorting through lore and finding the answers you need. You don’t need me, specifically.”

Sam’s jaw dropped. Castiel would never say that, not the Castiel Sam knew and loved. “No other angel is his dad! Jack’s really embarrassed about this, he doesn’t even want Mom to see what’s happening, I’m not calling in some stranger who may or may not want to kill him just for existing! And it could take me days to figure this out if I have to go through lore, days that Jack spends suffering. What the hell?”

“He’ll survive. It sounds like he’s just going through puberty. First molt, maybe. It’ll likely clear up in a week or so, if it’s the first molt. Have him manifest his wings for you so you can see, and if it’s first molt, you can help him with that. You know how.”

“I thought of that. He won’t do it. He might for you, or you can help him even with his wings put away, can’t you? Cas, your son needs you right now. He needs his angel father.”

“No, he doesn’t, he just wants his angel father, and you can’t always get what you want. If he hasn’t learned that yet, he should learn it now. I’m staying here.” Castiel took another step backwards, now nearly swallowed up by the waterfall. Sam rolled his eyes, but Castiel was leaving him no choice. He grabbed a tarp from the Impala to wrap over himself, to protect him from the water, and then went in after him.

Castiel was strong, and he was stubborn, but Sam was used to wrangling his stubborn angel. As soon as he got Castiel out of the water, the change was palpable, and by the time they’d gotten to the car, Castiel was almost in tears. “Did I really refuse to help Jack?”

“You said you thought the waters were fae-touched,” Sam offered. “You were probably right, and part of the enchantment is making you not want to leave. I know I promised to bring you back, but now, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“No, it’s not,” Castiel said. “Please don’t tell Jack about this. Absolutely none of that came from me. Nothing is worth abandoning my son.”

Sam reached over and squeezed Castiel’s hand before starting the Impala. “Not a word.”

Chapter 2

Summary:

Back home, Castiel helps Jack.

Notes:

Written for Jack Kline Bingo
Square: Wings

Written for Heaven and Hell Bingo
Square: Fluff

Written for SPN Genre Bingo
Square: Bunker

Written for SPN Fluff Bingo
Square: Wing Fic

Chapter Text

Castiel watched for a moment as Jack paced his room, occasionally reaching to scratch at something invisible. He could understand why Sam would be concerned. At least he’d been right about one thing while he was under the waterfall – chances were very good that this was Jack having his first molt. He cleared his throat. “Hello, Jack.”

“Father!” Jack paused in his scratching, and Castiel’s heart broke once again at the thought that, fae influence or not, he had considered even for a moment abandoning his son. “I don’t understand what’s happening, but everything itches, and I can’t stop scratching, even though scratching doesn’t really help much. And my wings are…”

“Don’t worry, Jack. I should have spoken to you about this earlier, but I didn’t expect it to happen quite so soon.” Castiel reached out, brushing a gentle hand over Jack’s wings. “Your human form grew up so quickly, I should have realized your angel form would too. Every two to three centuries, you’ll endure a molt, a shedding of your old feathers to be replaced by new. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, and molts are far easier to endure with help.”

Jack threw himself into Castiel’s arms, holding on tight. “This is normal? It’s not… it doesn’t have anything to do with…”

“Can you manifest your wings for me?” Jack did so, allowing Castiel easier access to thoroughly examine both the dying feathers and the new growth starting to poke out from under the surface. As expected, although the feathers had an unusual smoky quality to them, there was absolutely nothing unhealthy or demonic about them. “The only thing Lucifer has to do with your wings is their appearance, and that’s not necessarily bad. I think they’re beautiful, myself, and it reminds me of looking at Sam’s soul.”

Jack had been dejected, shoulders slumped as he listened to Castiel, but at the mention of Sam everything changed. He straightened up and looked over his shoulder, a proud smile gracing his lips. “So this is natural, there’s nothing wrong with me?” His face fell again. “Does that mean I should have showed Sam when he asked what was bothering me? Is he mad at me?”

“It means that if you had showed Sam what was bothering you, he would have taken it well and done everything in his power to help you – but that isn’t the same as you should have done it,” Castiel corrected as gently but firmly as possible. “You were uncomfortable and in an unfamiliar situation, and you needed my help specifically. Sam understands. You did nothing wrong.”

“Good.” Jack pulled back, one hand straying to a wing to scratch an itchy spot. “What do I do? Is there anything that will help with this, or do I just… endure? How long will it last?”

“Most angels enlist the help of the brothers and sisters they feel closest to. It will still be uncomfortable, but I can help by brushing away the old feathers, by distracting you from the irritation of the new ones pushing through your skin,” Castiel reassured him. “You are completely free to say no, but assisting with this doesn’t require grace. If you would be willing to allow him, I’m sure Sam would be willing to help you as well. Dean, too.”

Jack shook his head quickly at that. “I don’t want Dean’s help with this. I don’t want to push this reminder that I’m not human in his face. Sam, though, I would love to have help me.”

“Wait here. I’ll go ask him to come.” Castiel hurried away after a reassuring shoulder pat.

Sam was shocked when Castiel came to him to explain what was going on, but quickly agreed to help Jack with his molt. When he walked into the room, his jaw dropped. “Wow. Castiel told me your wings were unique, but… wow.”

Jack tensed up, so Castiel sent him a reassuring smile. Very quietly – although Jack would hear anyway, so it was pointless, but it was a human thing he’d picked up – Castiel told Sam, “As nervous as Jack is, it would perhaps be a good idea to clarify your intent.”

“Oh! Oh, Jack, that’s…” Sam smiled in embarrassment. “I meant that as a good thing. Your wings are beautiful, and I see what Castiel meant about reminding him of my soul. He showed me once, and I know it’s kind of weird, but I love that we share something like that.” Sam took a seat on the corner of Jack’s desk. “Come over here, let me see what I can do for your molt. I helped Castiel with his a couple years back, so I know what I’m doing, but if something’s different for you feel free to tell me.”

Jack did as Sam said, arranging himself so one wing was in front of Sam and the other was in front of Castiel. “How did you learn to accept the disfigurement of your soul? Souls aren’t supposed to look smoky any more than wings are.”

Sam huffed and ducked his head. “To be perfectly honest? I’ve never felt completely at peace with it until just a couple minutes ago. Castiel helped a lot, loving me anyway and refusing to let me hate myself, but I’ve struggled with self-esteem for a very long time. Looking at you, though, I get what Castiel meant every time he talked about what you and I see as disfigurement enhancing the beauty of the whole. I look at your wings, and I can’t imagine them looking any other way. Because they’re yours, and that makes them perfect.”

Jack blinked a couple times. “You don’t need to lie to me, you know.”

“Hmm. Sam, I think he’s your son,” Castiel deadpanned. He winked at Jack. “That is exactly what he said to me when I said something similar about his soul. Hopefully, Sam and I will be more successful at persuading you than I was with him.”

“Give me time,” Jack said. “I mean, when I look at Sam’s soul, I can’t see it as flawed. Sam’s got the advantage of having had more time to get his head around the idea than I have, so I hope I’ll come around soon.”

“Good.” Castiel stroked his fingers through Jack’s feathers. “I’m very proud of you, you know. Both of you.”