Outside These Walls [Destiel]

Chapter 17

Dean could feel the tug of the third day inside the prison cell driving him to insanity, his mouth completely dry and his stomach feeling as if it were caving in with hunger. Castiel curled against his side, his arms situated strangely so the chains did not hinder him, but the man didn't seem to notice as his eyes were closed, the dark circles under his eyes showing clearly that he was beginning to grow weaker, and worrying Dean even more.

"Troops were spotted heading this way about an hour ago," He heard someone say, looking up to see the soldier standing at the door to the prison cell, his hands stuffed in his pocket with his gun carelessly strapped across his back. Dean lifted his head to look at him, his vision dancing between blackness and dizzy spells before finally focusing, his tongue feeling swollen as he attempted to speak.

"Does that mean hold on for a few more minutes?" Dean asked humorlessly, though he let out a hollow laugh afterward, his eyes stinging with the need to cry, but no tears to do so. The soldier looked down, and the mirthless smile faded from Dean's lips.

"They won't make it through. America may be powerful, but our soldiers have no dignity left," The soldier commented softly, leaning against the doorframe and rubbing at the bridge of his nose with index and thumb, sighing, "They do not care to do whatever it takes to win."

"You act like you're not one of them," Dean slurred out, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth in a dry suction. He wrinkled his nose, attempting to swallow to get some sort of moisture into his mouth, but no such luck.

"I had refused to go to war at first," The soldier said, a small smile twitching his face as a haunted look came over his eyes, "I was just a simple doctor, with a dream of living happily and taking care of the people. But...my country is not as kind as America is to their people. They came into my home, and killed my lover, and then nailed his body to the wall with a threat that I would be next if I did not join."

The soldier stopped, rubbing the back of his neck before glancing back at the doorway. He shifted off the doorframe, walking over to the corner of the wall and sliding down, pulling the gun off his back and letting it rest on his lap instead, "I have hoped for America to win ever since. I...I wanted to maybe try and go there when the war is over and start a new life, but I doubt that I would ever be welcome after this."

The soldier fell silent for a moment, running his hand over the gun almost soothingly, and Dean watched him with dark eyes for a moment before the sound of gunshots rang outside, and he closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

"I could...put in a good word, you know. You did save our lives...maybe," Dean eventually said, the gunshots not even phasing him. He was too tired, and he didn't see the soldier look at him for a long while.

"I do not think it will make a difference, but I thank you," The soldier said, and when Dean opened his eyes, the man had rested his head on the wall of the building, staring at the ceiling.

"What is your name?" The soldier asked, attempting to make conversation to draw the sound of gunshots and shouts from the room. Dean glanced at the slit in the window before turning back to the man, offering a weak smile.

"Dean Winchester," He replied, watching as the soldier's eyes drifted to Castiel lying asleep on Dean's shoulder.

"And your lover?" The soldier asked calmly, a sadness in his eyes that Dean wished didn't sting his chest as much as it did.

"Castiel Novak," Dean answered, turning his head to look at Castiel, frowning at how pale the man had gotten since he last looked.

"Cas?" He called out, reaching up with both hands to shake the man gently. He could hear the sound of gunshots get closer, and heard a door slam open. Yet, none of this even crossed his mind as Castiel did not wake up, forcing himself up into a straighter sitting position and shaking him again.

"Cas?!" He called louder, and the American troops stormed into the room. He didn't notice the soldier raising his hands in surrender to one woman, nor the other calling in about survivors. Only the unresponsive form kept his mind as he shook him more urgently, his eyes spilling with tears that he didn't know he existed.

"Cas!" He cried out, his voice cracking as he struggled to breathe. The man that had called in earlier moved forwards quickly, gently pushing Dean's hands away and letting his hands move expertly over Castiel's neck, searching for a pulse.

"He's still alive. Come on, they need medical attention," The man urged, his dark eyes turning to the now unarmed soldier, a slight glare in his eyes, "Do you have the keys to release them?"

The soldier nodded and pulled the keys from his belt, tossing them to the man before looking at the woman, "There is water in the other room. They have not drinken or eaten anything in three days," He stated, looking over at Dean, who was struggling to keep his breathing under control as the man continued to hold Castiel up, attempting to revive him.

The woman did not move from her place, and Dean jerked against the chains, his anger rushing through and giving him just a smidgeon of energy, "He's not the enemy here! Go get the damn water!" He shouted, catching the woman off guard. Both the American soldiers stared at him, and he growled in frustration, his eyes going inevitably back to Castiel and his heart rushing at what little time they might have to keep him alive.

The woman huffed at his demands but she stared at the soldier for one moment longer before dropping the gun and hurrying out of the room. It didn't take her long to reappear, but to Dean, it felt like years of waiting before he finally saw her bringing in a bucket sloshing with water, a small cup in her hand. She tried to set it in front of Dean first, but he waved her away, looking to Castiel.

"Get him," He groaned, his hand reaching out and finding Castiel's limp hand resting on the floor, grabbing it and squeezing it in the hopes of waking him up. He couldn't keep his eyes open any longer, but he could feel the soldiers shifting Castiel around as the eased some water into him, a cough leaving the man's lips that gave him hope.

Lukewarm water managed to work its way past Dean's lips, and he drank it down hungrily, the taste like nothing he could ever imagine. It was so sweet and exploded on his tongue, and he decided that he would never take water for granted as long as he lived.

He was allowed two mouthfuls before it was taken away, and he weakly opened his eyes as he felt their chains being released. Yet, it was nothing to the freedom he felt when Castiel's fingers twitched against his, and he leaned over, kissing the man's shoulder gently as he felt tears well up.

He was pulled to his feet before passing out, but it was okay because he knew that they were finally safe.

They were going to be okay.