Dean stumbled over to Castiel, finding it difficult to coordinate his little, chubby legs.
"Cas!" He makes grabby motions with his hands.
Castiel smiles at him "Hello Dean" He's says from his position, cross legged, on the floor.
Dean clambers into his lap and carefully brings a hand up to touch Castiel's face, a look of immense concentration on his face.
"You went away"
"Yes" Castiel nods "but I'm back now" Cas lifts Dean to his feet.
"Dean" Mary calls from the kitchen.
Dean looks up to see her standing in the doorway. "Your lunch is on the table"
Dean looks back at Cas who is sitting quietly, he never speaks or let's Dean touch him when Dean's parents are in the room.
"Can Cas eat with us?" Dean asks innocently, despite Castiel telling him on numerous occasions that he doesn't need to eat or drink.
"Sure" Mary smiles as Dean grins and turns to look behind him.
"C'mon Cas" He scampers to his feet and past Mary into the kitchen. Mary doesn't see Castiel following slowly behind.
Dean is thirteen and he knows he shouldn't still have an imaginary friend, that's why he doesn't understand why Cas is still around.
"Tell me Cas, whatcha still doing here?" Dean is curious what this figment of his imagination will conjure up as a reason.
"You wanted me to read magazines with you...would you like me to leave?" Right, Cas takes everything literally.
"No, I don't mean now. I mean I'm too old to have an imaginary friend, so why are you still here?"
"I'm here to watch and protect you" Cas says a hint of determination in his tone making it obvious he takes that duty seriously.
"I get that, when I was four. But I can look after myself now. And none of my friends still have an imaginary friend, not even Sammy still has an imaginary friend!"
Castiel hestitates. Castiel! Who is always so sure of himself hesitates.
"You're special" he settles on.
"You're lying" Dean states.
"No. I do not lie to you Dean"
"Fine, maybe you're not lying. But you're keeping something from me" Dean can't believe he's having an argument with a figment of his imagination! And better still it's keeping secrets from him! How's that even possible?
Cas looks down at the ground, guiltily. "I will tell you someday,Dean. I promise." And just like that he's gone.
Dean tries to make him come back by sheer force of will. I mean if he's in my head, I should be able to control when he turns up and disappears, right?
The subject gets forgotten about until Dean's 18th birthday.
Dean had a barbecue to celebrate with his family and then went to a party with his friends that night, safe to say he did not return sober.
"Just get over here and let me kiss you,Cas" Dean demands, although the words are slightly slurred.
"No Dean, that would be inappropriate"
"You're part of a my imagination, you should do what I want!" Dean sulks.
"It doesn't work like that,Dean" Castiel says calmly
"Why not!" Dean attempts to cross his arms but fails and loses his balance. Cas steadies him.
Cas' voice is quiet when he speaks "Because I'm not a figment of your imagination, Dean"
That sobered Dean up.