It's followed up immediately by the smack of Sam's hand on Castiel's ass. Hard, stinging for them both. "That's two." Castiel would have expected that, but he still said it out loud. "One more and we stop this all together tonight."

There is absolutely nothing in the world that could make Sam sympathize with Heaven about Castiel. No way that even these transgressions could make Sam turn away from his lover. But they do worry him, make him wonder what, really, the former angel really wants to be punished for.

"And the flogging will go up to fifty." Which is the absolute upper limit of anything they've done together. But Castiel obviously needs his penance and Sam knows he can stop if it's too much for Castiel.

He steps back, taking a steadying breath as he tests the cane again before bringing his arm up and laying the first stripe across Castiel's shoulders. Lighter than he will do on the ass and thighs, but there's less protection across the shoulders. He lays the three stripes there down quickly before moving downward, making each stripe almost exactly parallel to the others. It will likely mean that sitting down isn't going to happen much over the next few days, but Sam hopes it's enough to settle Castiel down again.