"Okay then. Goodbye, Dean."
"Bye, Cas," Dean said, trying and failing to fight the urge to smile as he did every time he talked to Cas on the phone.
The hunter waited, listening for the click at the end of the line. There was none.
A beat passed before Dean asked unsurely, "Cas, are you still there?"
"….yes, Dean."
"You can hang up now, you know."
"But you're still talking to me," the angel argued.
"I'll talk to you later, okay? Bye again, Cas."
"Until later then, Dean."
Dean paused again.
There was still breathing on the other end.
Then, "Dean?"
The Winchester sighed. "Yeah?"
"I'd much prefer it if you hung up before I did."
"Why me? I asked you first," Dean said, reluctant to do Cas' bidding, and not really wanting to leave the phone just yet.
"Hang up, Dean."
Dean closed his eyes and said what he'd thought he would never in a lifetime say: "No, you hang up first."
"I won't until you do," Cas said firmly, and then added bravely, "I'll use up all my minutes if that is what it will take."
"That's what it'll take, all right, because I'm not gonna hang up until—"
"OH FOR GOD'S SAKE," Sam practically shouted, shutting his book and getting up from the corner where he had been sitting unobtrusively up until now.
The younger Winchester crossed the room to where Dean sat at the Men of Letters table and plucked Dean's phone from his hand.
"GOODBYE, CAS," he said loudly.
"Sam, did I hear you use the Lord's name in vai—" was all Dean heard of Cas' tiny, yet somehow still gravelly voice through the speaker before Sam promptly ended the call.
Sam couldn't help but shake his head fondly as he handed Dean's phone back to him.
"Look, man, I'm happy for you and Cas and all, but PLEASE don't do this to me," he begged.
"Do what?" Dean asked defensively.
"You hang up first….No, YOU hang up first," Sam imitated, his voice pitched in the most ridiculous manner and his gestures overly dramatic.
"Fine, fine! I won't…" Dean began.
"Good. Thanks," Sam breathed, relieved.
"...if Cas hangs up first," he finished.
"Dean!"