Title: Small Comforts

Summary: Castiel is finding it hard after falling and Dean is there to help. Dean/Castiel.

Disclaimer: I do not own and never will.

Warning: Slash. Don't like don't read.

A/N: I wrote this at school during my lunch hour. I get inspiration at odd times, especially considering that I was supposed to be doing something else that would be more beneficial like revising law or something. But hey – sometimes you just have to be a rebel!!!

Dean rolled on to his side, sleep leaving him as he opened his eyes to discover what had disturbed him. Something was not resting right with him, and fighting annoyance, sat up and rubbed his eyes.

The motel room was dark and silent except for the breathing that came from the occupants. Sam was fitfully snoring away over the far side of the room, his weapons not much more than an arms length away from him. Dean rolled his eyes as his brother snorted and rolled over so he had his back turned to him.

The other occupant of the room however was awake, sat crossed legged with his hands in his lap. As far as Dean could see his face was sporting an unreadable expression.

"Cas?" Dean asked looking intently at the fallen angel.

Silence punctuated the room before Castiel replied, "Dean, you should be asleep".

"So should you". Dean retorted. Castiel turned his head and looked at him.

"I do not wish to sleep". Castiel answered evenly. Dean could sense that there was something that Castiel was not telling him. Heck, there was a lot he knew Castiel was not telling him, but since the angel had lost his grace Dean had not pushed him to tell him anything. Castiel would tell him in his own time.

Dean laid back down and positioned an arm across his eyes. Castiel watched him with a child like naivety, his head tilted to one side trying to decide as to what the action meant.

"So tell Cas, what do you do while I'm out of it and prancing through meadows".

"I sit here and think". Castiel replied missing the joke.

"That's it? You don't go grand theft auto on me or give Sammy a toothpaste makeover?"

"What is … grand theft auto?" Castiel asked frowning.

"Doesn't matter. If I do find out your doing it though I'm going to have to beat you three ways to Sunday". Dean had lifted his arm from across his eyes and noticed that a change had come over Castiel. Something in his words had provoked that change and Dean now had an overwhelming curiosity to find out what.

Dean got out of his own bed and sat down next to Castiel. Castiel never tried to look at him but instead carried on looking directly ahead as he spoke. "In answer to your question – I do not like to sleep … even now that I find myself in a position where I must".

"Cas?" Dean asked, placing a hand on his shoulder lightly.

"I feel ..." Castiel trailed off debating whether or not he should tell the hunter. Remembering how much Dean had come to trust him, he decided it was only right to return the favour. "I feel … vulnerable". Castiel looked down at his hands in what Dean perceived to be shame.

"You feel vulnerable … when you sleep?" Dean asked making sure he had it right.

"You don't understand Dean". Castiel said looking up from his hands. "I am …" his words faltered and Dean could have sworn that in the darkened room, he saw Castiel shed a single tear of sorrow. "I … was an angel of the lord. I have lost my grace. Never before have I been so open to attack … and there are things out there Dean that you can only hope never to witness who want me for what I know – for what I can tell them. I am most vulnerable when I am asleep - so I do not".

"You do realise that by not sleeping your making yourself more vulnerable to those bastards?" Castiel did not meet his eye. "Come on". Dean said standing up and offering Castiel a hand.

"I do not ..."

"Trust me". Dean said. Castiel tilted his head slightly before accepting.

Dean silently convinced Castiel to climb into his own bed before following and wrapping the angel protectively in a strong, warm embrace before pressing a tender kiss to Castiel's lips. Castiel felt a wave of happiness, love and reassurance surge through him in those few moments as he melted into Dean's embrace. Breaking the kiss Dean murmured in Castiel's ear, "try to get some sleep".

Tightening his grip around Castiel, Dean drifted off to sleep. Castiel still laid awake, listening to the soothing sound of Dean's heartbeat, loving how it sounded and how it relaxed him. He looked around the room with a new light on things. In Dean's arms he no longer felt alone and vulnerable. He dared not think it, but he felt safe.

Hearing nothing but the snores of the two brothers, Castiel eyes began to close. He had been fighting sleep for weeks now, sleeping only when it over powered him. At those times Dean and Sam would not disturb him knowing he needed it. He would wake up with a panic stricken look across his face and at other times screaming as well believing some demon had sunk its claws into him finally. At other times though he would micro sleep. The little sleep he got though kept him going.

Now though because he felt safe and that no demon could touch him, Castiel wanted to fall into a peaceful slumber. He knew how he woke up after sleeping and despised himself for it, but now something was making himself feel okay about it, felt like he could without worry.

Finally, with the tension seeping out of his muscles, Castiel closed his eyes and allowed the rhythmic beats of Dean's heart to lull him to sleep.

Sam blinked before raising his hand to rub his eyes with as he woke up. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he was about to call and wake his brother up when he saw Dean stood dressed looking at him. Sam was taken back momentarily but when he looked to where Dean's eyes had gone he saw why. Castiel was curled up in Dean's bed, deep asleep, buried beneath the protective covers of the bed as they sheltered him from the world.

Sam looked back to Dean and saw that Dean had a small smile playing on his face. Sam moved to stand next to him so he could talk in lowered voices so not to wake Castiel.

"I think – we should have a day off". Sam said.

"Laying up here for another day sounds like it has it's perks". Dean commented before smiling as Castiel moved beneath the covers. "Considering you have just offered to go buy pie Sammy".

Sam rolled his eyes and shock his head before grabbing his jacket and walking out the door. Dean chucked his car keys at him whilst telling Sam that he wanted apple pie this time. Sam pointed a warning finger at him with a brotherly smirk before strolling out the door. Sam would never mention it to Dean and Castiel now, but he was fully expecting a visit from the local friendly demon that night, so he had slept with his clothes on.

Dean watched Sam go before locking the door behind him. Turning, Dean walked back to Castiel and sat on the edge of the bed, brushing his fingers lightly through the angel's dark hair. Castiel sighed in his sleep and Dean smirked. As long as he was around, nothing was going to lay a finger on Castiel; no one.

End.

A/N: I'm not sure if I ought to continue this. I have ideas bit I'm not sure. Drop me a line if you think I should. Don't think it has to be a review either, it can be a personal message or something. But anyway – let me know and I hoped you liked.