Jack wiped his brow and leaned back, reaching for the bottle of water he had close at hand. American midwest summers were nothing to joke about, especially after getting so used to Cardiff. He\u2019d stripped down to his undershirt and looked down at his current project.<\/p>\n
Something had been buried here, maybe a hundred years ago. He was out here digging it up, but even getting an early start the sweat trickled down the back of his neck and the humidity filled his lungs. At least it was under some trees, if it werefully out in the sun he\u2019d have had to come here at midnight.<\/p>\n
He checked his wrist strap and saw he was getting close to\u2026 whatever it was. Alien, he knew that much. And not that big. With any luck he could sort it out and get it cataloged in no time. Of course if it had been buried this deep, it probably wasn\u2019t going to be that easy.<\/p>\n
Picking up the shovel again, he dug in and turned over another bit of dirt. Suddenly, something cold, wet and solid hit him in the back of the head. He spun around, only to take another one to the chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cCas?\u201d The angel was watching him with amusement in his eyes, slinging another snowball with unerring accuracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow the\u2026\u201d Jack bent to try and return fire, but the snow was was already melted. A fourth one hit his shoulder and exploded, spraying droplets of cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d Jack used the shovel to knock aside the next one and scrambled out of the hole, going for Castiel\u2019s ankles.<\/p>\n
Cas danced aside, another snowball landing in Jack\u2019s hair. Jack shook his head and rolled to his feet, grinning as he faced Castiel, looking for an opening. Cas weighed another snowball in his hand and as Jack lurched for him he darted forward and dropped it down the back of his tucked-in shirt.<\/p>\n
Jack swore and yanked up his shirt, cold water running down his back. \u201cI give,\u201d he groaned wringing out his now soaked t-shirt. \u201cNice to see you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Castiel wrapped his arms around him from behind, kissing Jack\u2019s scruffy cheek. \u201cI did say I\u2019d come help you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome help,\u201d muttered Jack, with an eyeroll, still grinning.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than you know,\u201d said Cas, \u201clook.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack turned and saw that where the snow had soaked had soaked into the ground, something small had appeared. He checked the reading, then bent and picked it up. \u201cIt\u2019s a seed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Planted, but not compatible with Earth, so it never grew.\u201d Castiel opened his hand for it.<\/p>\n
Jack dropped it into his palm. \u201cIf you knew that, why did you let me dig it up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t fully certain until you got closer to it. It\u2019s home planet is cold, which is why it reacted to the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack shook his head. \u201cColder than here in the winter? I\u2019m sorry for anyone who lives there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe species that lives there would find this planet to be far too extreme in its temperatures and generally far too warm.\u201d The seed vanished into Castiel\u2019s pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, there\u2019s a million worlds out there.\u201d Jack looked wistfully up at the cloudless blue sky before looking back at Castiel. \u201cI take it the snowballs were to encourage it to show itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you did<\/i>\u00a0need some cooling down.\u201d There was the smallest breeze as invisible wings fanned Jack.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell it wouldn\u2019t be the first time I got a snow stuffed down my clothes. You got any more of that lying around?\u201d<\/p>\n
Castiel produced another snowball and balanced it in his palm.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d said Jack, snatching him from him, taking a step back, and lobbing it against Castiel\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
Castiel blinked and looked down at himself. \u201cYou are aware that I do not feel temperatures as you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYep,\u201d said Jack brightly. \u201cJust needed a little payback.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaking his head, Castiel had that little smile that meant \u2019Humans<\/i>\u2019. Jack stepped forward and kissed him. \u201cWell, since we\u2019re done here and you don\u2019t feel the heat or the cold, you can fill in the hole. I\u2019m going back to the motel. Air conditioning was a wonderful invention.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well, Jack. I will be along presently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack got into his truck, knowing that he\u2019d have time for a fast shower before the angel got back. And not nearly enough time to get dressed.<\/p>\n