#Sam the cooking guy and the holy grill

[haute-lifestyle-com]

Sam The Cooking Guy and The Holy Grill, from Countryman Press, and cooking personality Sam Zien, brings to the pages the holy grail of grilling cookbooks, includes helpful hints to transform weekend 'cue warriors into Grill Masters

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

Kids Getting Older (Sriracha, Part 30.)

Description: A problematic college student gets the worst summer job of the ‘83 - Jim Hopper, the Chief of police in your hometown will have you as his secretary since his old lady Flo has two months lasting holiday. It was agreed so Hopper could keep you far away from all the trouble.

Part Summary: Since you realized that Eleven is getting older and more distant from both you and Jim, you just seem to finally realize how quickly kids grow... And that maybe the kids are not just kids anymore.

A/N: I love this weird family dynamic so much. It is really relaxing to just write a... Normal family dynamic. But that is going to end with the next part. Stay tuned!

Word count: 1.7 K

Tagging: @nemodoren @creedslove @missdictatorme

Master list: H E R E

Christmas holiday spent like a family? The Christmas of 1984 were the best Christmas you had lived through. You spent Christmas Eve in the house of your parents, cooking the dinner with El and mom, and Aiden's girlfriend - you couldn't believe she is real - while you let the boys talk about stuff and drink some Whiskey. Even Aiden got some - just a little, though.

The other day, when you opened all the presents you found under the tree, you left for Joyce's - and holy moly, that house was living. Both Wheelers were there, both Byers boys came along, there were Dustin, Lucas, and Max, even Steve came by. Joyce had a big heart and her house was big enough to take in so many people.

You forced both Hopper and Eleven to pose on a photo with you, having Jonathan taking the picture of you. Each of you had the most disgusting Christmas sweater, just because Aiden bought and gave you these bad boys - Hopper's was too tight, Eleven's too big and your, no matter the size, was just disgusting. After that, kids took their new toys and went to play outside while the adults, along with Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan, remained in the house and had a cup of the special Christmas hot chocolate from Mrs. Byers herself.

Then, each of the kids got dressed up and went out for a snowball fight, snowman building and some sledding in the forest behind the house. And bet Hopper’s best shirt that you made him go too. Soon enough, you were there with all the teenagers while he stuck some snow under your jacket, hearing you laugh and scream out loud, having Will and Mike in total terror when you jumped around, trying to get the snow out. In the end, you formed a strong alliance with Eleven and Max, giving the boys exactly what they deserved, winning the fight completely. Then, to calm down, you proceeded to make some angels in the snow while Hop went back inside.

As the year progressed, Eleven started to have a few sleepovers here and there - sometimes, she stayed at Karen’s when boys had a movie or game nights, sometimes you had Max over for dinner. And let me say, since she was living with an asshat like Billy, her older brother, she loved spending time at your place. Especially when Hop had to stay at the station.

When talking about Hop, that man was experimenting. And you didn't know if you liked what you had at home or if you're afraid of what’s he going to come up with next. First came the mustache. Okay, he liked Magnum P.I., you could understand. Then, he put on a bit weight - he appeared taller and more like a bear than ever before. You didn't mind that at all actually because at least, you knew that he's happy with you. And... After that... The wardrobe and cologne experiments came by. Sometimes he pulled out such an outfit that you dragged him to the restaurant’s bathroom to kiss the living fuck out of him and to have a quickie on the bathroom.

Yet, sometimes, he wasn’t looking his best. At those mornings, you stood there, watched him with gritted teeth and walked around with your eyebrows raised. You tried to tell him gently that these maybe aren't working for him the way he would like to and that maybe, you could visit Starcourt with him to pick something else. But Jim was Jim and completely ignored your opinion when it came to fashion.

Starcourt. One of the best Bloomington-Hawkins inventions ever. You loved that place - from the big cinema to a variety of shops it had. Sometimes, when you knew that El won't be misbehaving after, you took there with you so she could choose some new clothes, sometimes you bought her an ice-cream, other times you just walked around the place and talked about boys and stuff. Especially about Mike.

Oh, you remembered the day when the three-inch rule came to your house. You were just watching a movie, curled under Hopper’s arms, being caught up in the chase. That was when a sudden burst of Eleven’s laughter could be heard, making Hop alarmed in a second. You tried to calm him down around this couple - it was the first love and it sure as hell was an intense one. You knew that these two were having make-out sessions behind the closed door... But were you two, you and Hop, any different when you met? No. You were kissing the living hell out of each other when any occasion came by, even after you moved back with him again, and since you were both adults, you even fucked every time and on every place, you got the chance to fuck on.

You were just like them - even at that time. But Jim was able to see incredible differences between you and him and Michael, as he called him, and Jane. He wasnt giving them any actual space, so there was no wonder, why Mike thought that Hopper is an old, insane bastard. You and Mike got along since you were normal when put in his words, and let them close the door. You built bridges of trust between you, Mike and Eleven and as long as you trusted them that they won't do anything insane, you let them have their time.

"Okay. That's it. That's it." - Hopper muttered out and got up, walking to the door. You tried to stop him from basically storming into the room, but it was too late. - "This door won't be closed as long as I'm in the house, do you both understand? Three inches at a minimum." - Jim told them with a pretty damn scary face as he showed them how to do it. When he got a nod from both Mike and Eleven, he left them be, still checking the door.

"You're too paranoid, Jim, I'm telling you." - You whispered once he sat down next to you again, cuddling you closer again. - "They're just kids." - You smiled and kissed his cheek, concentrating on the movie again. But Hopper was still very cautious about these two - his eyes were turning into their direction all the time, he was checking what they were doing until the very moment when Mike had to leave.

Over time, when Hopper had enough of constantly opening the door and checking on these two, you let the gang wonder around Hawkins with El, taking hikes in the woods and around the city. Sometimes they went to chill at the old sawmill near the town, but the all-time favorite was the hill about five miles from the city. They hanged there most of the time when spring and weather came.

You also did your best to spend time with Hopper, sometimes taking him for dinner at your favorite Spanish restaurant, sometimes you went for a walk too. But your favorite thing to do was still just hanging out with him at El. Of course, your mom made you visit them at least once a week. She wasnt too good at handling having both her children gone - both of them for college. Even Aiden had a girlfriend and sometimes, you just all went to their household to grill something and to chat. You loved Lena and you couldn't believe that she’s real. Your small bro was manning up rather quickly.

It was so weird since you could say when he and Steve ran naked around the swimming pool and where did he fell from his bike, telling Lena everything in the process, embarrassing the living shit out of Aiden. Naturally, she was first rather surprised about you dating such an older man, but as the time passed by, she got used to that tough guy and his douche jokes.

And Eleven had to say that she had everything she had ever dreamt of in the lab - parents, a family, a boyfriend, and friends. She even wasnt tugged in as a little girl anymore, she was going to bed on her will, with you kissing her whole face with laughter, hugging her tight every time. Her life couldn't be better. She especially loved when you and Jim didn't know she's watching and you put the gramophone on in the night, quietly, usually playing Sam Cooke or Ben E. King to dance in the living room. Jim was always making you laugh, he spun you around, whispered something to your ear, making you biting your lip as you smacked his shoulder - but for Eleven it was of sing that she can count on you.

But then, summer came by. You hadn't got any idea of why it was so weird. Eleven asked you if she can stay at Max’s on the fourth of July and even if you thought you’d celebrate it together, you let her have her time. You didn't have any idea of what was going on when Hopper suddenly disappeared without letting behind any message. Nobody gave you a clue that there are Russians set loose in and under Hawkins and that there is a fucking D&D monster who was possessing people with the help of Max’s brother himself.

On day two of loneliness, that was the fourth of July precisely, you had enough - you left to your moms and stayed there, waiting for anything. A call, a sign, for one of them showing up. But there was nothing. So you left for the shift that day - and that was where everything was set in motion without anyone of you normal people knowing.

[jillmariej]

The beautiful art by txdora I had the opportunity to write for 

The archangel Michael steals the control of Dean’s body and he plans on keeping it. Dean fights to get it back until Michael sends him on the "vacation" he’s always dreamed about. Turns out Wincest saves the world (again). Spoilers for Supernatural season 14. Written for the Spn_reversebang 2018 

ao3 link   lj link      or read below

The One in Which Wincest Save the World

“No! You can’t do this!” Dean howls, but only Michael hears him. Dean struggles to move his arm, fights to stop his legs from walking but he has no control over his limbs. “Listen douchebag, we had a deal.”

“I don’t make deals,” Michael replies to the voice in his head. “That was your friend Crowley.”

“But you need my permission. I’m rescinding my permission. I take it back. Get the fuck out of my body!”

Michael ignores him and gets his vessel some new clothes. Then he admires himself in a mirror. “I make this look good.”

Dean looks into his reflection, but he isn’t there. Those aren’t his eyes looking back at him.

**************************************************

It only takes Michael a moment to see that this earth is no better than the one he left.

“How did this place become so depraved that even its holy men commit the most immoral of sins? Where is God? Where are the angels to guide them? Why aren't my brothers stopping this?” he asks Dean though he doesn’t need Dean to speak to get the answers; they fly from Dean’s memory as the angel speaks.

We stopped them. Me and Sammy. You junkless angel douchebags were nothing to us. Now there’s only like ten of you left. You have no power here, so get the hell out!

“That's where you're wrong, Winchester. That simply makes me the most powerful being in this universe. I will set this world right. The sinners will be stopped and the righteous will rule.”

Sammy can stop you.

“He wouldn't dare hurt this vessel.”

About that. Why don’t you go find yourself another one and leave me out of your plans?

Michael admires himself in the mirror. “No, I quite like this one. It’s strong and beautiful. Yes, I'm keeping this vessel.”

You can’t do this! Dean bellows from deep inside himself. I’m getting my body back and I will make you pay for this.

“Shut up. I’m the captain now. You will be silent and stand down,” Michael commands.

Dean snarls. If Michael wants him to be silent then silent is the last thing he will be. Sammy won’t let you do this. He will hunt you down and stop you. My brother won’t give up until you’re dead.

“Killing me would kill you. Your precious Sam wouldn’t do that.”

That’s where you’re wrong. Sam will never give up. He’ll figure a way to break me out of here and when he does--

“Stop fooling yourself, Dean. Sam’s given up on you before.” Michael smirks at the pang of betrayal Dean feels. “And now he has no one to help him. You think he’ll put saving you before saving others? We both know better than that. Sam’s a big picture guy. Sam saves the world. He won’t have time to look for you.”

What does that mean? Dean demands.

“Assume he’ll be busy fighting his own demons and monsters and things that go bump in the night.”

Michael’s right. Jack is powerless. Cas is weak. With Crowley gone, no one is ruling the demons. Rowena might be able to do something but Sam would have to find her first.

“That witch can’t touch me, boy. She’s much too afraid of my power.”

Dean growls in frustration. How can he defeat this asshole if his every thought can be heard?

“I’m glad you finally understand.” Michael checks his reflection again. “Now hang on and enjoy the ride.”

Dean knows this isn’t really him doing these awful things, but it is his hands and it becomes his guilt. He makes another vow to himself to defeat Michael’s hold on him. What did Sammy use to say? Always keep fighting.

He’s struck by a memory. He can’t dwell on it, Michael might figure out a way to stop him if he does, but hell, it worked for Swayze.

I'm Henry the eighth I am,

Henry the eighth I am I am,

I got married to the widow next door,

She's been married seven times before,

And everyone was a Henry (Henry),

She wouldn't have a Willie or a Sam (no Sam)

I'm her eighth old man, I'm Henry,

Henry the eighth I am

Second verse, same as the first

I'm Henry the eighth I am,

He continues to sing loudly, off key and occasionally in an awful cockney accent. Michael doesn’t sleep. He doesn’t need to eat. So, neither does Dean, which allows him to continue singing for twelve hours non stop. His voice never weakens.

At first, Michael thinks Dean’s gone bat shit crazy. But at hour twelve and one minute, his eye twitches. At hour fifteen, he searches Dean’s memories for anything that would make him shut up.

All he finds is Sam. The song makes it difficult to focus but Michael finds a couple memories that stand out.

Dean likes classic rock and ‘80’s horror flicks. He likes cheeseburgers and pie. Michael examines every memory he can. The car seems to be very important to Dean, but nothing is more important than Sam. For his entire life Dean has made sacrifices for Sam, though he doesn’t see them as sacrifices since he did them willingly. Michael also finds promises Dean’s made but has yet to keep. And that is something he can work with.

Hunting and Sam have been Dean’s entire existence, so hunting and Sam will be what Dean gets.

“Sam!”

“Dean!”

The ancient oak door slams shut between them leaving Dean outside the dilapidated house “Watch your back, Sam. I’ll go around.”

Dean picks his way through the overgrown brush along the side of the house. This was supposed to be a simple salt and burn, but nothing was ever simple.

The sound of a shotgun blast quickens his step to the back of the house. “Sam!”  Dean yells as he pries a board off a low window.

From the inside, Sam lifts the pane. “Hurry. I don’t know how long that will hold him off.”

Dean hoists himself and a duffle bag through the window and rolls onto the floor. “Get down.”

Sam falls to his knees and Dean shoots at the giant masked figure behind him. “Let’s get to the basement.”

Once in the basement the brothers take pickaxes to the wall. When they finally break through, they are greeted by a blast of cold air and the rotten stench of death. Knowing they are close drives them on. Ten minutes later they are salting and burning and congratulating each other on a job well done.

As they pack up the Impala, Sam says, “You know, any of the newbies could have done this. We didn’t have to drive all the way to Wisconsin for a ghost.”

“Not just any ghost, Sammy. Ed Gein, the original leatherface. You love this serial killer shit.”

Sam smiles. “Yeah, I do,” he concedes with a slight blush.

“And did you see Celeste?” Dean whistles low. He grins at Sam and waggles his brows. “You know she has a sister.”

Sam rolls his eyes and walks to the passenger door. “That’s okay, Dean. You can go be with Celeste, but I don’t want a set up with her sister.”

Dean starts the car and chuckles, “Your loss, man.”

************

He drives them back to the hotel and gets cleaned up while Sam pouts in front of his laptop screen. Sam does a double take when his brother leaves the bathroom in boxers and not dressed for a date. “Making it pretty easy for her, aren’t you Dean?” Sam teases.

Dean shakes his head and crosses the room to Sam. “No, man. I was just yankin’ your chain. Let me show you something.” He spins Sam’s laptop to face him and taps a few keys. “Celeste’s sister is a travel agent and she hooked me up with these.” He turns the screen to his brother.

Sam looks at the screen and then to his brother in awe. “Boarding passes?”

Dean nods, grinning like a kid at Christmas. “All expense paid trip to Cabo, Sammy. Just her way of saying ‘thank you for saving my sister’.”

“Seriously?” Sam’s eyes are wide with excitement.

“Hell yeah, I’m serious. Now go get cleaned up. I want to get some shut eye. We leave early in the morning.” He pats Sam’s shoulder as he heads for the bed. “Sun, sand, tequila and Sammy. My kind of vacation.”

Michael seduces another human to feed to his vampire pets.

This is what heaven feels like, Dean thinks, then shakes his head. No, he’s been to heaven and it ain’t this nice. Their suite is on the ground floor with a sliding door that opens onto a private beach. The resort has everything they could want. Parasailing, deep sea fishing, a masseuse that comes to your room, there’s even a grill if you want to cook your own food. He’ll make use of that later, grill up some seafood since Sam likes it so much.

“Dude there’s a hot tub,” Sam tells him as he strips off his shirt. “This place is amazing. I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

His smile warms Dean more than the Mexican sun. “We’ve earned this, Sammy.”

“Yeah we have.” Sam pulls on some swim trunks. “I’m going for a swim. Wanna join me?”

“In a minute, I’m gonna order something I can throw on the grill. What do you feel like having steak or seafood?”

Sam wrinkles his face in thought. “Why not both?”

“Surf and turf it is.” Dean picks up the phone. “Don’t forget sunscreen. I don’t want to deal with your whiny ass if you get burned.”

They spend the day relaxing in the sun, drinking beers, and reminiscing. Dean loves seeing that smile on Sam’s face and he loves being the one to put it there. It’s been a long time since they were alone, just the two of them, without the pressures of a case and Dean feels years younger by the time they pour the wine for dinner.

He’s nervous about the food though he doesn’t know why. For some reason it’s especially important that Sam likes it. And he does. He tells Dean so more than once during the meal and Dean smiles with pride. He pours Sam the last of the wine but notices that he’s staring at the cooler. “Did you want a beer instead?” he asks.

Sam shakes his head. “No.”

“Are we out of beer?” Dean asks since Sam still finds the cooler interesting.

“No, not yet.” Sam raises his wine glass. “Thanks, Dean. I can’t believe we’re finally doing this.”

“Like I said, we earned this.” Dean pushes himself back from the table, perfectly sated after their meal. “The best part? We don’t have to clean any of this up. They’ve got someone to do that for us.” Sam makes a disgruntled face which makes Dean roll his eyes. “Dude I’m going to tip them.”

“No. I mean good,” Sam nods, “but I was just thinking that maid service is definitely not the best part of this trip.”

Dean laughs at himself. “What do you think is the best part, Sam?”

Sam stands up and moves around the table to Dean. He reaches out a hand to pull him from his chair. “You and me, here, alone without a care in the world. That is the best part.”

“I can get on board with that,” Dean says as he allows Sam to lead him back into their suite.

Sam pulls Dean into his arms. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had you all to myself without worrying about interruptions or the world ending?”

“Too long,” Dean whispers stretching up to kiss his brother. He ignores the slight tremor under his feet, not even an earthquake will keep him from his brother.

Michael twitches like a trickle of ice water slid down his neck. What was that? Doesn’t matter. He can’t dwell on it, can’t let it become a weakness Winchester can exploit.

He doesn’t have time, anyway.

The rumble of the Impala tells Michael this will be over much too soon. Sam Winchester and his little army of hunters will put an end to this group of vampires and he will have to start over. If he’s lucky his vamps will kill a few of Sam’s people. If he’s luckier still, they’ll turn one. But he knows they won’t get lucky enough to capture Sam.

Michael doesn’t stick around to help his brood. He has to find Anael, that whore must have told Winchester and company where to find him. She’s going to pay for that.

In the morning there’s fresh fruit, pastries, bacon, and eggs waiting on the lanai for them. Sam’s already at the table when the aroma of fresh coffee entices Dean to join him. Sam hands him a steaming mug. “Dude, I --” recognizing Dean’s nothing before coffee look makes Sam pause. “Right, in a minute.”

With his eyes still closed, Dean savors his first sips. Once the coffee does it’s trick, he opens his eyes. “Alright, what’s up?”

“Here, eat up.” Sam hands him a plate filled with bacon, eggs, and hash browns. “I thought today maybe we’d go fishing. There’s a charter that leaves in an hour.”

The green cooler captures Dean eye. He ignores his food and nods absentmindedly. “When did we get here?”

“Yesterday. Just before one. What’s going on with you?”

“Had a weird dream. There were vampires and you were driving the car instead of me.”

Sam’s eyes widen but he’s smiling. “Ooo, nightmare, huh?” he teases.

Dean ignores the teasing. “It felt really real, ya know? Like I was watching it all happen but not actually a part of it.” He shakes his head as if clearing cobwebs. “Do you like it here?”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” Sam assures him quickly. “This place is the vacation we always wanted but never took. So, fishing?”

“Sure, Sammy, whatever you want.” Dean tucks into his food, savoring every bite.

The ocean is the deepest blue Dean has ever seen. It’s beautiful and grand and awe inspiring. Dean drinks it all in because it took a lifetime to get here and he doesn’t know when they’ll ever be back.

Sam is going on about the types of fish that are migrating at that time of year. He knows how big they get and how fast they swim and the best bait to use. Dean’s about to tease him for being a nerd about everything, but seeing the smile on Sam’s face stops him. For a minute. “You gonna talk the fish to death or are you gonna catch one?” His rod and reel are already set and he’s sipping his first beer. Sam gives him a bitch face but joins him, grabbing a beer for himself.

“This is the life, Sammy.” Dean grins tipping his head back to soak in the sun.

Dean’s lost track of time again. He doesn’t think much of it. It’s not as bad as when that witch cursed him and he forgot who he was. But something is scratching at the corner of his mind, telling him that something isn’t right.

He’s about to mention it to Sam when he feels a stabbing pain in his arm. “What the fuck?” He mumbles under his breath. He rubs his bicep and the room around him shimmers. There’s a brief flash of a hooded figure in the woods. “What the hell was that?”

“What the hell was what?” Sam asks.

Dean turns startled, like he forgot Sam was in the room. “Nothing. I tweaked my arm somehow.”

“Huh. Weird. Gettin’ old, dude.”

“Shut up. You’re old.”

Sam snorts at the lame come back. “Yeah, I am, but you’re way older.” HIs insult is softened by his fond smile and the kiss he places on Dean’s neck when he comes up behind him to wrap his arms around him.

Dean allows himself to be encircled in Sam’s arm and tries to ignore the pain in his arm and itching in his brain.

That bitch with the spear must be stopped. Michael gathers some werewolves and puts them on her scent. No need for him to risk injury again. He looks at the scar on his vessel’s arm and wonders if Winchester felt it.

But, Michael doesn’t bother checking in on Dean. The world he created for Dean is based on all of the man’s favorite things. Winchester is so far back in his mind on “vacation” that Michael is confident he might never hear from him again.

Dean’s not bored. Not exactly. He’s having the time of his life with Sammy on this vacation, but he feels like he should be doing something more. It’s almost like he misses hunting. Maybe he only misses the adrenaline rush it provides.

Sam comes in from his morning run and pours himself a glass of lemon water. “So get this, I overheard the staff talking about el chupacabra.”

Dean stares at him for a long moment. He has the oddest sensation, like the room is expanding around him, but Sammy is waiting for a response. “So, you want to go hunt it or something?”

Sam shrugs but he’s also smiling which tells Dean that his brother definitely wants to hunt. Dean sighs like this hunt is a major inconvenience. “Okay. Go take a shower. I’ll see what I can find out.”

There are no coincidences, Dean tells himself when Sam leaves the room. He rubs the phantom pain in his arm and thinks about the figure with the spear. His thoughts are coming so fast he can’t focus. He steps outside for some fresh air and, when his eyes land on the cooler, everything becomes clear.

“That shouldn’t be here.” He turns and races back through the room. His hand is on the knob for the front door to their suite. If he opens the door, he’ll see the Impala. He’s as certain of this as he is his own name. But he knows if she’s out there, Michael still has him and Dean can’t risk the angel knowing he’s onto him.

Dean thinks about a hotel he stayed in when he was sixteen. It was in the Arizona desert. The air was crisp and clean and the sky was the bluest he’d ever seen and stretched out forever. With that memory fixed in his mind, he opens the door to the Arizona desert and Baby shining in the sun.

“Fuck!” he growls, slamming the door.

The room shimmers again and he fears Michael is on his way to tear him away from here and make this possession a million times worse.

But, when Sam’s done with his shower and Michael still hasn’t shown, Dean thinks he might have a chance. He fears he can’t hold his entire plan in his mind at once or that rat bastard angel will figure it out.

“So, what do you think? You want to hunt the chupacabra or what?” Sam’s eager expression ignites more hope within Dean.

“You know that it’s probably a dog with mange, right?”

“Obviously, but if it’s rabid, someone should put it out of its misery. You don’t want it attacking someone or something and spreading the infection.”

“Yeah, sure, but first I want to apologize about the whole Ezekiel/Gadreel mess I got you into. I know I had no right to do that, but I love you and I wasn’t ready to let you go. After you sacrificed so much, it didn’t seem fair that you didn’t get to enjoy it.”

Sam makes a face at the abrupt subject change. “Dean, I forgave you for that a long time ago. Why are you bringing it up now?”

“Because seeing you this happy is all I’ve ever wanted. I’ve always wanted to take a vacation like this, with you.” Dean looks out the sliding door. The sun is at the perfect angle and the palm trees are shading the extra large chaise lounge. A light breeze is rustling the privacy drapes and the sky is that perfect blue.

Dean watches his brother pull on some long cargo shorts and his mind goes back to the tremor from the other night. Maybe that wasn’t an earthquake. “You know, we haven’t done it on those lounges yet.”

Sam snorts a surprised laugh. “You wanna do it outside in broad daylight where anyone can see us?”

“There’s no one around and besides we’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“A pre-hunt fuck instead of waiting until we get back.” Sam smirks, but he starts to undo he shorts.

“Think of it as a fuck for luck,” Dean adds with a grin while grabbing the lube off the bedside table.

Dean’s laying back, drinking in the beautiful sight of his gorgeous brother riding him, when he feels another tremor and the world around him shimmers. He doesn’t know why sex effects Michael’s hold on him, but he doesn’t care. His joy at this discovery brings his orgasm faster than he would like. Not wanting to disappoint his brother, Dean blows Sam to make up for it.

“Dude,” Sam pants as he catches his breath, “vacation sex might be the best sex yet.”

Dean chuckles and they both lay back on the chaise, the sound of the ocean waves relaxing them. The shimmer has stopped. The only thing Dean feels is the light breeze and the heat coming off his brother.

Dean chooses his next words carefully. He doesn’t want to tip off Michael, but he needs a certain memory. “You were such a badass at Stull, owning Luci like that.”

Sam shakes his head at the praise, but gives Dean a confused look. “That’s because you were there. You never gave up on me.”

“And I never will Sammy. I knew you were strong enough, how’d you take control?”

“I remembered how much you loved me. My whole life, you were always there for me. Even when I thought you were gonna push me away, you accepted me and loved me.”

And Yes! That was it. The memory comes flying back to him. Fifteen year old Sammy, drunk from a bottle of dad's Jack and crying in the rain.

“I hate you!”

Dean sighed and pulled his little brother out of the pouring rain into their motel room. “Yeah, I know. What’d I do this time?”

“Why are you hanging out with Sheila Ward? She’s such a bitch. She's just using you. She’s tryin’ to make her old boyfriend jealous. She doesn’t love you.”

Dean wrapped a dry towel around his shivering little brother. “I know Sam. It’s okay. I don’t care.”

“You should care. You deserve better. I love you. I would be so good to you, Dean. Don’t you see you deserve someone better than her? If only you’d --,” Sam sobbed.

Dean hugged him. “Shh, Sammy, it’s okay. I love you, too. It’s just Sheila can do stuff you-”

“I can do those things, Dean. I’ll do anything you want.” Sam practically slammed his mouth onto Dean’s in a sloppy demanding kiss.

*******************

“That’s enough!” Dean’s voice bellows at him. Only it’s Michael and not him.

Dean’s torn away from his vacation and finds himself treading water in an endless black sea. “What’s enough, Mikey?”

“He’s your brother. It’s one thing when it’s your disgusting fantasy, but a memory?! How can an abomination like you be my perfect vessel?!” Michael’s voice echoes over the water.

“It doesn't matter what you do, Michael, Sam and I are soul mates. We love each other. We even share a heaven.”

“No, it’s not possible,” the angel sputters. “This is an outrage! An obscenity! You don’t belong in heaven.”

“No, it's not,” Dean argues. “It’s love, pure and simple.”

The space around Dean shimmers and he has a brief glimpse of Sam.

“Your father knew about me and Sam and never once did he call us an abomination. Hell, he even wrote books about us.”

“That can’t be!” Michael growls.

“Love is Love. God is Love. Love is the strongest force in the universe. And that’s what Sam and I have an abundance of and it’s something you can never take away from us.”

Michael screams in anger and the world around Dean vibrates with the angel’s rage. He drags Dean deep under the water until there is no light and Dean doesn’t know which way the surface lies. His lungs ache, but he keeps swimming.

*********************

Fearing this is the end, Dean focuses on Sam. He remembers Mary placing his brother in his arms when she brought him home from the hospital. He remembers carrying him out of the fire. He remembers that first kiss that was unlike all the other kisses. “I love you, Sammy.”

“GET OUT!”

Michael is gone in a blink of an eye and Dean is left, collapsing into his brother’s arms. “Sammy?”

“Dean, is it really you?”

“Yeah, it’s really me.”

Dean is exhausted and silent on the drive back to the bunker. He’s resting against Mary in the Impala’s backseat as she attempts to comfort him. All he can do is stare at Sam. When Sam meets his eye in the rearview mirror, Dean tries to reassure him with a smile. Sam’s too worried to smile back.

Sam can feel Dean’s eyes on him, he’s so desperate to have Dean back he fears he’s overlooking an obvious trap. He wonders if Michael is still in Dean, hiding the way Gadreel did. He worries that the refugees in the bunker will be too much for Dean. What if one of them tries to attack Dean before he can tell them he’s no longer Michael?

Back in the bunker, Dean ignores everyone and retreats to his room. Both Sam and Mary follow him, but Sam stops her with a hand on her arm. “I’ve got him, Mom.”

“But,” Mary begins looking a little disappointed but then aquiesses with a nod.

Sam taps on the door, opening it only a crack to say, “Can I come in?”

“I’m fine, Sam.”

Sam peeks his head in. “Can I come in anyway?”

“Yeah.” Dean sounds exasperated.

Sam closes the door behind himself and leans against it. He wants to rush across the room, wrap his arms around Dean and hold on for a lifetime or two but he knows he has to wait for Dean. And right now, Dean’s not able to look him in the eye. It’s a red flag and Sam’s ready with an angel blade but he silently prays he won’t need to use it.

“I’m sorry.” Dean finally looks at him with eyes begging forgiveness. “I shouldn’t have said ‘yes’ but Lucifer had you and I, I couldn’t let him hurt you again.” Disappointed in himself, Dean ducks his head. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Dean-”

“I know Michael did awful things but I couldn’t stop him. I wasn’t strong enough.”

“Why’d he let you go?”

Dean looks up at him and for a moment considers telling him everything he remembers, but instead he shrugs. “I don’t know.”

Sam accepts the answer with a nod and edges further into the room. “Can I stay here tonight?”

Dean huffs. “I’m not him. He’s gone. You don’t have to worry-”

“I know,” Sam quickly interjects. “That’s not why I want to stay.” He blows out a shaky breath and steps towards Dean’s dresser. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. And if I did,” he sets the angel blade on the dresser, “I thought I’d have to kill you.” Looking over at Dean, he adds, “I don’t know if I could do that.”

“You could.”

Dean’s quick response makes Sam pause. Expressions of anger, hurt and sadness wash over his features. “I’m glad I don’t have to find out.” Dean has to understand how much he means to him. “I looked for you, you know. I followed every lead I could. Mom’s been on my ass ‘cause I haven’t eaten or slept --”

“Or shaved,” Dean teases with a small smirk.

Sam makes a face. He doesn’t want snarky Dean right now. He wants his Dean. He goes back to what has always worked for him in the past. He sits on Dean’s bed. “I was so scared, Dean.” His voice is just above a whisper. “I love you so much and I thought I lost you.”

Dean’s rounding the bed and is hugging his brother to his chest a moment later. “I love you too, kid.” He rubs a hand over Sam’s hair like he has since they were children with no one to comfort them but each other.

“Can I stay here tonight?” Sam asks again. “I don’t want, I mean we don’t have to do anything. I just want to sleep knowing where you are.” Dean goes to pull away but Sam doesn’t let go.

“What about the others?” Dean asks

Sam looks up at him. “I don’t give a shit about the others.”

“Mom?”

Sam scoffs. “Dean, God stayed down the hall from us. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about it so why should we care what anyone else thinks.”

Dean cradles Sam’s face in his hands and stares into his eyes like he’s memorizing them. “Yeah, okay.”

He walks back to the other side of the bed and strips out of the last bit of clothes Michael put on him. On the other side of the bed, Sam is quickly down to his boxer briefs and crawling under the covers. Dean snaps off the light and lets Sam curl up next to him. “You can stay on one condition, Sammy.”

“What?”

“Lose the beard.”

“Some people think it looks good,” Sam argues, rubbing a hand over his cheek.

“I thought we didn’t care what some people think.” Dean turns on his side and says, “And I am not getting whisker burn all over me.”

San chuckles and holds Dean close, pinning their bodies together. He rubs his beard on Dean’s shoulder before he kisses it. “First thing in the morning, it’s gone.”

Dean turns in the tight circle of Sam’s arms and kisses him with all the pent up passion of the last few weeks. Sam eagerly takes all Dean can give him. When they’re lying there, sated, but not ready to let the other one go, Dean whispers, “It was you, Sammy. You saved me. When you told me you loved me. When you trusted me with that love, that gave me the strength to fight Michael.”

They lay quietly together, their breathing falling into a synched rhythm as they drift off into the most peaceful sleep they’ve had in months.

Please check out the gorgeous art txdora made

[rinnysega]

I have to go to work in a couple hours, but until then I’m just going to lounge in bed and miss my gf

I had such a great time with her, and I miss her so much already. 

Like when I got to the airport and waited for her, I was so nervous I could hear my heart beating in my chest like a drum. When I saw her, I smiled so wide and she did too and we hugged super hard before I took her hand and led her outside to the parking garage. I was so nervous and distracted being in her presence that I missed my exit on the Freeway and had to take an alternate route to get home. 

We stopped by Trader Joe’s and I picked up some groceries to cook for dinner when we got home. The minute we got inside my apartment was the exact moment that I felt comfortable and less nervous, that everything was right and natural and that we’d be okay. She watched me cook dinner and giggled when I got nervous, and then I helped her dry the dishes when it was over. That night we cuddled in bed for the first time ever and we talked about her flight and omg she was so tired and wanted to sleep so bad but I was so awake and talking nonstop about like everything, that I ended up taking some ZzzQuil just so I could sleep lol 

The next day we went to Universal Studios and we had such a good time. Being with her and doing fun activities was so great, and I was so proud of her when she faced her fears and rode Jurassic Park and the Mummy. I held her hand the whole time, and treated her to lunch for being so brave. After that we got to spend a little time at home to wind down before the comedy show. Ben Schwartz was so funny, it was probably the funniest show I’ve ever seen, and I was in tears laughing and slapped my knee a few times. And seeing Ilona laugh and have a good time was pure magic.

On Monday we lucked out and arrived at Cal Arts just in time for a tour of the building. We met a really sweet girl from Mississippi on the tour named Pamela who wanted to go there for acting, and there was another girl in a wheelchair in our group who broke her leg when she fell down laughing. She was there with her dad, and there were two others from Boston who were all interested in Theatre. I think Ilona was the only perspective student there for Character Animation. We got to see the classrooms, all the areas of study, got questions answered, and saw room A-113 of Pixar fame! When we left, we drove down to Northridge to check out CSUN which is her second option if Cal Arts doesn’t work out, but you never know! It made my day when she said later on that she loved it so much she wanted to apply for Fall of this year rather than Spring 2018. 

When we got back to town we walked to a little pottery place where she painted a princess to look like me and I painted a mermaid to look like her. When we finished, we went to a little Japanese BBQ place where we cooked our own food on the table, and that night we settled into the couch to watch Moulin Rouge. My movie selections are slim since I only took a few with me when I moved. I also chatted with some of my friends while she chatted with some of hers, but just being on the couch together was comforting enough.

On Tuesday we spent the morning cooking breakfast and watched Love is Strange and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Then in the afternoon we went to the movies to see Lego Batman before heading into town to see another comedy show. They called on us in the audience when they asked who was there on a date with their valentine and they used some of our story in the improv they did. After that we headed to a hibachi grill where I had reservations, and we weren’t the only gay couple at the table, bless. That night we went home and she fell asleep on my shoulder while I watched the new This is Us.

On Wednesday we got up early and went to Disneyland!!! I made a seperate post about it earlier so I won’t highlight it here, but trust me that it was the best time I’ve had at Disney. Instead of waiting in line to get a bus to take us back to the parking lot, we walked the 10 minute walk, and the whole way I made her laugh using a dorky voice while we carried the balloon we got between us. 

On Thursday we got brunch and went to DisneyTVA to see Sam Levine. He gave us a tour of the offices, as he does because he’s fantastic (or samtastic!) and Ilona was so nervous before meeting him that she kept telling me “Holy shit, I’m going to forget how to speak English” but she did very well! And she got two Sam hugs that she gushed about on the ride home. But while we were there, he let us sit in on a viewing of two episodes from season 2 with Ryan Shore, Jeff and Mark, and no spoilers, guys, but they were so fantastic that I had to bite my tongue not to talk during it. I wanted to say things out loud like “oh my god” and “awww” and make little comments like “this is so great” but I didn’t want to miss a second. Ilona sat between Sam and Ryan on the couch and I glanced over every now and again to see her having a great time. And yes, there was much laughter. 

We went to see a musical improv show later that night, and one of the characters was a shark named Jeremy, so Jeremy Shark became a running joke with me and her and I’m so glad because it was so great. 

As you guys might know, on Friday we saw the worst rain/thunder storm LA has seen in 20 years, so we didn’t get a chance to do much. We walked down to a cafe for breakfast and we picked up our finished pottery, but then the rain and wind started to pick up so we stayed indoors the rest of the day, enjoying the sound of rain while I RPed with Taylor, she talked to her friends, and we watched a few more movies. I’d planned on us going out to see La La Land and have a good dinner out on the town, but again because of weather, we just stayed inside and ordered a pizza. It was very peaceful.

Saturday was melancholy when we got lunch and I helped her pack up for her trip home. We were both quiet in the car on the way there because we were both trying not to cry. It hurt when I left her at the airport and teared up something fierce on the drive home. I tried to get it off my mind by getting photos printed and look for frames, but going to bed last night was rough. I kept refreshing the flight tracker to see where she was. She was over Canada by the time I fell asleep and early this morning when I woke up to use the bathroom, I checked again to see she was almost to the Swedish coast. 

And now we’re both talking about how much we miss each other, and how we can’t wait to see each other again. My mom makes it worse by calling and asking me all about the trip and it’s like “noooo if I do I’ll cryyyy” lol

I’m just...so in love. Each moment spent with her was a treasure that got better every day. We had a lot of down time, especially in the evenings, when I’d get tired and take a nap while she talked to her friends back home or I’d play some Overwatch while she showered or did the dishes. Either way, the quiet moments were just as meaningful as when we spent time together doing fun activities. Being with her felt so good, and the two of us compliment one another in the best of ways. We communicate, we get each other, we’re opposites and peas in a pod at the same time, it’s hard to explain. I really believe she’s good for me, and from our late night talks when we were in bed together, I believe I’m good for her too.

I can’t wait until the day she moves here for school. It’ll be nice to see her on the regular and watch her make new friends and adjust to a life in a new country. Either way, I want to be by her side and shower her with praise and affection all along the way. Seeing her happy makes me happy.

[toolsofthechef]

How to Cook the Best Ribeye Steak | SAM THE COOKING GUY 4K

How to Cook the Best Ribeye Steak | SAM THE COOKING GUY 4K

A boneless ribeye – in a cast iron pan – on the grill. Perfectly cooked (and Kelly’s favorite) steak. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/stcgsub | MERCH: http://bit.ly/M_A_C_A WATCH NEXT ► Popular Videos: http://bit.ly/stcg-popular-vids …Forgot to mention the ridiculous butter cream sauce that we made to go on top. Holy S&*%.

SHOP: ►INSTANT…

[mycasandstarrs]

SPN 8x14: “Trial and Error”

THEN: Crossroad demons and deals. Hellhounds. Kevin on his Prophet job. Goofer dust. The key to the Men of Letters Bunker.

Back at Fizzles’ Folly.

Days in the Life of Kevin Tran.

I guess Kevin abandoned his vegan diet.

He’s got something!

He’s also got a nose bleed. Ouch.

Dean decorating his room at the Bunker. :’)

Top it off with the picture of him and Mary. Please Dean, I don’t want to cry this early.

“I haven't had my own room – ever. I'm making this awesome. I got my kickass vinyl, I've got this killer mattress.”

I love him so much.

WHAT A DICK HEAD MOVE, SAM.

HA, Dean put up a grenade launcher is a decoration piece. AND there's the Purgatory weapon!

Dean cooked in the Bunker kitchen! Goddamn it, I love nesting/domestic Dean.

(I hope Dean cooked for Mary when she was around.)

The burger was so good Sam took it with him. Bless.

Eugh. Poor Kevin.

A “small” stroke???

“I figured out how to close the Gates of Hell.”

“Come here, you smelly son of a bitch.”

Aww, the happiness!

“The tablet says, ‘Whosoever chooses to undertake these tasks should fear not danger, nor death, nor...’ A word I think means getting your spine ripped out through your mouth for all eternity.” Oh.

Trial #1: Kill a hellhound and bathe in its blood.

“Look, you get on the net – see what you can dig up. I'm gonna go for a supply run because we need goofer dust, and the kid needs to eat something that's not ground-up hooves and pigs' anuses – not that there's anything wrong with that.”

Dean’s on a roll this episode.

I would have loved to have seen Garth and Kevin interact. That would’ve been awesome to see.

“This whole ‘saving the world’ thing – it's a marathon, not a sprint. You got to take better care of yourself.” Good words from Sam.

“Did you know that there are, like, 6,000 kinds of tomatoes?” haha. Sam probably did.

Sam’s got a lead: The Cassity’s.

“I got you a present. The, uh, blue ones are for the headaches, and the greens are for pep. Don't O.D.” Oh my god, Dean.

Shoshone, Idaho.

“Hey, pal, who runs this joint?”

“You're looking at her.”

Ellie.

“You guys here about the job?” A perfect opportunity to blend in.

Carl Granville.

“So you're not a Cassity? “

“No, my wife is. Her and her family own the place. I'm just one those, uh – what you call 'em? Trophy husbands.”

“You bed down in here. Breakfast is at 5:00, dinner is at 8:00, and in between, you're mine. Questions?”

“I miss my room.”

Dean, please. the room looks fine.

“Okay. Job is yours if you want it. But I better warn you – it's crap work.”

haha.

Alice Cassity.

“She's a real piece of work, huh?”

“Alice Cassity's a piece of something, all right?”

A piece of shiittt.

“So, what are we thinking?”

“What, dealwise? Well, Ellie's the help, so that rules her out.”

“And Carl doesn't really seem like the sell-your-soul type. So, Alice?”

“Ding-ding-ding.”

They couldn’t be more wrong.

“Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy. 

Hellhounds are near...

RIP Carl Granville. Killed by a hellhound.

“This wasn't a wolf.” Ellie knew.

“Let's grab our stuff and get out of here.” NO NO NO. Not yet!

Carl made the demon deal to be with Alice.

“You think our demon signed up more than one schmuck while he was in town?”

“Wouldn't be the first time.”

y e p

Sam, the man with the plan!

Time to meet the rest of the Cassitys.

Noah Cassity. “He's 71, worth a billion, and just married wife number 5, a 20-year-old lingerie model.”

Alice is the oldest.

Then there’s Cindy Cassity. “She had a single on the country chart a few years ago. Then she started hitting the bottle, and, well... Her last album was a bunch of holiday songs for dogs. My favorites were ‘Jingle Bark Rock’ and ‘Don't Pee on this Tree: Happy Arbor Day.’"

Margot, the youngest. “She ran away just before Alice and Carl tied the knot, lives in Paris.”

“Okay, tonight is an all-hands-on-deck situation. I'm gonna need one of you inside, serving dinner and pouring drinks – a lot of drinks.”

“Okay. Well, have fun. I won't wait up.”

“And somebody's gonna man the grill.”  

“What kind of grill?”

Goddamn, Dean’s great.

“I do like a man who can handle his meat.” OOOHHH ELLIE.

Dean would be a great chef.

There was no more wine in the bottle! Don’t be so damn dismissive.

Cindy is the devil.

“Get cancer and die, old man.”

“You first, sweetie.”

pfft.

“Are they always like this?”

“More or less.”

“How can you work here?”

“I love the property, I love the animals, and I tune out the people.”

Ellie’s awesome.

There’s the bombshell: Crowley was the demon that made the deal.

Kevin’s got a way to see hellhounds. "The dire creatures may be seen only by the damned or through an object scorched with holy fire."

You two are in WAY over your heads.

Dean in glasses!!! Hot diggity damn.

“I think you're really hot. You want to go to my room and have sex?” weLL SHE WAS REALLY DIRECT ABOUT THAT.

Wow, that was really hard for Dean to turn down (and I can’t say I blame him).

“Ellie, um... Rain check?”

“This is one night only. Sorry.”

Oohh, that should have been your clue, Dean.

RIP Margot Cassity. Killed by a hellhound.

“You can't do this. You can't—”

“Yes, I can. You want to know why? Because it's what I do. And, buddy, I'm the best.”

Well okay then.

“I'm a grunt, Sam. You're not. You've always been the brains of this operation.“ DEAN NO

“And you told me yourself that you see a way out. You see a light at the end of this ugly-ass tunnel. I don't.”

“'Cause that's what I have waiting for me – that's all I have waiting for me. I want you to get out. I want you to have a life – become a man of Letters, whatever. You, with a wife and kids and – and – and grandkids, living till you're fat and bald and chugging Viagra – that is my perfect ending, and it's the only one that I'm gonna get.”

You ever lose the will to live? ‘Cause that’s how I feel after hearing Dean’s monologue.

“I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls. One of my favorite songs. Ellie’s got good taste.

“Margie used to say that – that if we were rich, we'd all be happy.” Margot sold her soul for her family to be rich.

“This is gonna sound crazy, but there is something evil out there.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“It’s coming for me.”

There you go.

Damn it, Alice!

Ellie made a deal to heal her mom from Parkinson’s.

“That was a stupid move, Ellie.” SAID THE MAN WHO MADE A DEAL TO BRING BACK HIS DEAD BROTHER. Though I guess that gives him the full right to say it. Still, Dean, don’t judge her.

“I did it for my mom, Dean. What would YOU do for your mom?”

“Crowley didn't tell you about the 10-year ticking clock?”

“What? I knew that when I died, I wasn't going to heaven, but he never said anything about that or monsters.”

That’s despicable.

Euch, the hallucinations.

Sammy to the rescue!

RIP hellhound. Killed by Sam.

:( I hate the idea that Ellie’s going to Hell when she dies. I love her, she’s awesome.

“We'll track down another Hellhound, and I'LL kill it.” Stubborn as a donkey, Dean.

“I want to slam hell shut, too, okay? But I want to survive it. I want to live, and so should you. You have friends up here, family. I mean, hell, you even got your own room now. You were right, okay? I see light at the end of this tunnel. And I'm sorry you don't – I am. But it's there. And if you come with me, I can take you to it.”

“Sam, be smart.”

“I AM smart, and so are you.”

“Better than me, better than dad. I believe in you, Dean. So, please – please believe in me, too.”

I love Sam’s monologue to Dean. I love it and appreciate with all my heart.

Trial #1 is complete.

“I'm good. I'm okay. I can do this.”