Cass, can you hear me? Look, I don't know what happened back there and I don't care. You better fucking be alive. I guess we're not alive, are we?
...
Where are you, man?
"He really did pray, ever single night, you know."
Castiel glances over at the accusing tone, wanting nothing more than for the vampire to have not spoken. "I know."
"Did you know every time he woke up from a nightmare, he called for you?" this time Benny's voice is even more accusing, as if Castiel had offended him personally.
The angel regards the monster, and determines he is being truthful. He also sees, beyond the anger and accusation, that the monster cares for Dean. This makes Castiel unreasonably angry, and he snarls the word, "No."
After a moment, he slumps, all fight leaving him. "It wouldn't have made a difference anyway, I was doing it to keep him safe."
"Yeah, well, he can take care of himself. Never seen a human like him, and I've been 'round longer'n I like."
"I'm billions of years old. And Dean is unlike any other creature in the universe. He is... different."
"Different." agrees the vampire easily.
For a very long time, Benny is subject to the blank stare Castiel has perfected.
"You care for him." his voice is as blank as the stare. It is not a question.
"Saved my life a couple times." says Benny.
"How did you come to be working with Dean?"
"He's my way out. How did you?"
"I pulled his soul from perdition and remade him."
Cass, where are you, buddy? If you can hear me, you should know I'm coming for you. And there's no use trying to stay away, I will find you, god damn it.
It goes unspoken, their common goal. Castiel does not like or trust the vampire, but he attempts to tolerate at least, for Dean. But he can't stand the way the vampires dares to touch Dean. And Dean just lets him.
Sure, it's all innocent touches, a steadying hand on an arm, or briefly clasping a shoulder after a fight, but nearly every time, the vampire throws Castiel a glance almost as if claiming the human.
If the angel were sure that Dean would forgive him, he would smite the vampire. As it stands, Castiel just makes sure he touches Dean more. He begins to wish he hadn't healed the handprint on Dean's arm. So instead of killing the vampire, Castiel makes sure that Dean falls asleep to gentle hands sliding through hair, or trailing from shoulder, all the way down to fingertips with the softest pressure. Just enough to remind Dean it is happening, and who is touching him. He knows Dean wouldn't allow this under any other circumstances and the only reason he'll allow the contact is because he is afraid Castiel will leave again while he sleeps. He can see it every time Dean looks at him.
But Castiel knows just how much Dean will tolerate, so he limits the touch to night, while the human sleeps on his trench coat, often with his head resting in his angel's lap. His hands do not part from Dean's skin the entire time he slumbers, instinctively chasing away any forming nightmares, turning them into happy memories.
Why'd you just leave like that? Family's supposed to stick together.
"I get it, ya know. You don't have to go tryin' to prove he's yours. I knew it before I even met ya." It is the first time he has spoken in hours.
For reasons the angel refuses to examine, the word 'yours' fills Castiel with that familiar fire only Dean incites within him. "Good." After a long moment, "Too bad Dean doesn't know that."
"Sure he does. It wasn't just nightmares that had him callin' your name."
Castiel does not understand the meaning behind the vampires words until he discerns the tone: jealousy. "You are mistaken."
"I'm not. Desperate to find you. Accidentally let slip 'my angel' a couple of times. And anyway, I know longing. Hunger." Benny prods at the fire, but his eyes are on Dean. "You can trust me, ya know. I won't betray him. He ain't just a means to an end."
"I know. You'd die for him?" Castiel's fingers twist through the human's hair.
"In a heartbeat. No that my heart, ya know, beats or anythin'."
I know you can hear me, you feathery bastard. Wherever you are, find me.
'If it did, would you give it to him?" this said in the softest tone the angel has ever used around him. One of his hands rests firmly about the human's heart, the fingers of his other hand playing over the pulse point at his neck.
Benny watches with obvious envy. Castiel thinks he can see an ember burning behind the vampire's eyes, reminiscent of his own fire, and knows the answer already.
"I would carve out my own, for him. Anyone's. We are both unworthy, but," and here the angel looks up with a smirk. "you're not so bad. For a parasite."
Cass... I'm tired. If you're out there, if you can hear me, I'll find you... but it would be nice if you could meet me halfway.