'What about me Cas?'

It was a muggy summer evening, in another dingy motel. Sam was out at a library somewhere researching their latest case. Castiel had stopped in to give them some advice and to take a small break from the stresses of his new position as head hauncho upstairs. The cicadas were loud outside and the din filled a somewhat awkward silence.

' What about you Dean?'

'I mean…you actually.. Could y-' The young hunter stopped his jumble of nonsense and just stared at the wall.

' I do not understand' the angel ,sitting uncomfortably near, tilted his head in confusion. What an enigma this human was. This human, his friend and charge.

'Dammit…I mean, would it be possible for you to use me as your vessel? Y'know just in theory…' Dean looked around for something to do, pulled a gun off the beside table and started dismantling it. He tried to look absorbed in the task, as if it was just a passing question, not of much importance. The holy being was silent.

It lasted so long. Dean started to fidget in his seat on Sam's bed. He scratched the side of his head where Castiels baby blues bore into his skull.

'Look,' he started and turned to face the angel 'have I said something stupid?'

'Dean,' the seraphim rumbled with a long suffering sigh and pulled a hand over his face.

'let us suppose for a moment that I could. Which for the record I cannot. Why would you want that? How would that differ from the fate that awaits you now?' He tilted his head the other way and tried to understand this human. The beast slayer looked up from the gun in his hands and back down again. A frown etched on his face.

'I guess it wouldn't … I'd still be a meat suit, but…. I dunno it'd be you Cas.' there was a heavy silence broken only by the cicadas. Castiel just stared. 'You're my friend. Loaning out my body to you would just be better. I could accept that.'

He shifted again and replaced the handgun on the bedside table piece by piece. ' then if it was like occupied Michael couldn't get in. But y'know whatever man, just a thought.. I'm starving…'

He issued a few manly grunts and coughs after this statement and stood. He wasn't going soft damn it, these were just facts. How much better it would be, to be tethered to Cass. Who he knew would at least give a second thought before wrecking his flesh or leaving him drooling into a cup. He also knew that Cas would watch out for Sam. And Bobby.

Castiel wasn't like the others. Not the way Dean saw it. This angel was the only one he could trust 'cause he new this one had his back. Cass had proven himself worthy a thousand times over.

'I…' a deep mumble from the brunette, sitting thigh to thigh with him, interrupted that particular reverie.

'Dean I'm honoured..' Cas struggled to form his thoughts into words. Feelings that were new. He was terribly fond of this human. The one he had been charged to protect. The one that had fought him tooth and nail every step of the way. Castiel had to respect that. Respect him.

'DUDE! don't go pansy-ing out on me now. I was just saying' He held his hands out firmly between them. As if expecting Castiel to leap at him.

'Well no then, its not possible. Jimmy is my true vessel. You're vessel belongs to Micheal. I suppose you could say I would not fit inside-'

'NO! no, stop right there Cass!'

'What?' The winged creature was startled. His cerulean blues wide.

'Jeez …gross Cass'

'I don't understand, I was simply explaini-' and he was cut off by an emphatically gesturing Dean.

'Yeah man I know what you were explaining,' He gave the angel a rough slap on the back and gripped his shoulder. Maybe, a little too hard 'you can stop now, I get it.' He looked down at the scruffy man with pleading eyes and gave him a soft shake 'okay?'