"I can't believe Jo works here," I said, slamming the creaky door of the Impala, shooting Sam a furtive glance. The diner was made completely of old, creaky wood and the sign above the door reading 'Cas' Shack' was flickering on and off.

"It's money, Dean. Just because we've never needed it doesn't mean normal people don't.

"Yeah," I said sarcastically, "But Jo didn't have to work in a crapper like this."

"She did mention the food was good."

"I'm having a hard time believing that."

Sam rolled his eyes at me and kept the door open until I could reach it. A bell clanged as it shut behind us and a sign giving us an order to sit wherever directed us to the nearest booth to the door. I slid heavily into the booth on the opposite side of Sam and saw Jo making her way towards us. I gave a slight wave and a cheeky smile watching her hips sway in her low-slung jeans. Her blond hair was tucked behind her ears and she whipped out a pad of paper and a pen the minute she was done walking.

"We have a cheeseburger with bacon, Dean. How's that sound?"

"Good, Jo. Thanks. How's working here?"

"Doesn't look like much does it?" Jo stated, waving a hand to her surroundings. There were only a couple of dingy booths but you could tell someone had spent time scrubbing them down after every customer came and went. I saw a place that could use a serious makeover, that hadn't cost much to start up, but that was well loved. "But, the owner is an absolute sweetheart and he's totally gorgeous. He's the cook too you know. He literally does everything. All I do is serve food and be a pretty face and he pays me a ton. I would say it's pretty good. Better than living and serving with my mom at the age of twenty-one. I even have my own apartment."

"Sounds great, Jo. Really," Sam interceded with his usual caring smile. "What salads do you have?"

"A caesar, a house, and this cranberry pear thing."

"I'll have the cranberry pear thing."

"Done. Thanks for coming, you guys. It means a lot. Do you have a case nearby?"

"Yeah," I replied. "Just a couple of towns over. Your standard pissed off spirit."

"Well, at least it's not too far out of your way," Jo said before sauntering off and relaying the piece of paper to an extended hand from the back.

"Doesn't look like they get much business," I observed, eyeing the empty tables and the fact that I wasn't even one hundred percent convinced that Jo knew where the menus were.

"No. Which reminds me. You know how that spirit, Helen, commited suicide after killing her husband? This morning the son called me and told me there was an affair. Which is obviously standard and we kind of suspected, but now we have solid proof for motive. The next big question is, was it with multiple women?"

"I like how your mind is working today, Sammy," I grinned up at him and wiggled my eyebrows. I snatched the paper he was reading from his hands to his rather weak complaint and peeked at the articles he'd marked and the words he'd circled.

"Here you guys go," Jo said, placing a frilly salad in front of Sam and a stacked hamburger with steaming hot fries in front of me. "Awesome," I said, smiling up at Jo.

I took a massive bite and moaned as the shock of flavors overwhelmed my mouth. The salty bacon, the sweet onion, the meat juices, and the cheese all blended into what I would call perfection. "And give my compliments to the cook," I managed to choke out through my mouth full of food. Right when the burger went down the pipe, I had a french fry in my mouth. "Just the right amount of salt," I murmured.

Jo shook her head, laughing, and walked away to bang on the counter window between the kitchen and the cash register. A man came from the kitchen, wiping his hands on an apron tied loosely around his waist, and smiled at us. He had shockingly gorgeous blue eyes and a smile that would make the gods, if there were any, to bend their knees.

"How's it taste?"

Sam finished chewing and swallowing a bite of his salad before slapping the chef on the back and nodding, "Very good. And I didn't know salads could actually fall into that category.

I swallowed hurridely and gazed up into his eye's which were twinkling with delight at the fact someone enjoyed his food. "This might be the best burger I've had and I've had a lot of burgers."

"Then I could never recieve a better compliment," he said, bowing slightly at the waist. "I'm glad you are enjoying your meal. I would inform you, however, that I have abzolutely nothing to do right now and would be more than happy to get you started on a dessert maybe or some coffee?"

"Coffee sounds great," Sam replied.

"You wouldn't happen to have apple pie, would you?"

"I just made one this morning. I'll prepare you a piece."

"Could it be, you know, kind of big? I've been going through pie withdrawals lately. Our last few stops have been void of pie. Probably because you pick them all, Sam."

Sam looked offended and the chef politely glanced back and forth between the two of us before ending our conversation. "My name is Cas, by the way. Thank you for the compliments."

"Not a problem, man," I shrugged, "You deserve it." He strolled back into the kitchen and I quickly swiveled over to Sam, "Do you think he'll give me a bigger slice of pie?"

"Not without making you pay for it. He probably needs the money, Dean. Whatever he can get."

I grumbled into my cheeseburger and shot Sam a dark look. "You know what, fine," I argued, "I'll pay extra. I bet you the extra money for my larger peice of pie that he makes a mean pie."

"Fine. Nobody can be good at everything. You're on."

"I'm so winning this one," I murmured.

I inhaled the remainder of my burger and fries only to watch Sam eat and wait patiently to steal his money. Jo came back over with a cup of coffee for Sam and what looked like a quarter of an entire pie on a plate with a dab of ice cream on top. I put my hand over the top and felt the waves of heat emanating from the pie. He'd even warmed it up. In whip cream on the side he'd written, "On the house. Wouldn't want you to end up in the hospital."

"Look Sam," I pointed.

"God, fine Dean. So he's just a really good guy. Doesn't mean the pie is any good. In fact, if he had the time to write out two sentences in whip cream it almost can't be."

I gave Sam a smug smile before taking up my fork and driving it into the pie and a smidge of the ice cream. I slid it in my mouth and savored the crumbly crust, the hint of cinnamon, and the crazy good apples. It might not have been the best apple pie ever but it sure as hell was near the top. "Ah, man, Sammy. You've so lost this one." I shoved the pie in his direction and watched him take a bite and swallow. Much too quickly if you asked me. He probably didn't give himself enough time to enjoy it.

Sam reluctantly reached into his pocket and flung a couple of bucks at me. I laughed, raising my clenched victory fists in the air and hooted. Sam just stared at me like he needed to trade for a different brother. I put those couple of bucks in the center of the table for Jo, along with the money for my meal. Sam followed suit and then we gathered our jackets and hopped out of the booths waving to Jo as we exited one of the best little diner I'd ever been to.

The next day I found myself back at that little diner by myself. Turns out the spirit had been more troublesome than anticipated and Sam was researching other ideas. We'd salted and burned the entirely wrong set of bones. The bastard had killed a child this go around.

I was basically laying on the booth, my mouth slack, wishing I could sleep, when Jo came over and sat across from me.

"Already back, huh?"

"You guys are open late," I observed, glancing up at the clock on the wall reading almost midnight.

"Yeah. Till one. We open at noon though. We kind of just skip the breakfast thing. Tough day?"

"A kid's dead because we torched the wrong son of a bitch. Kind of a big family all with numerous problems. Picked the wrong problem."

"I'll get Cas started on some coffee and some pie then."

"Yeah. That apple pie."

"Sure thing," Jo laughed. She went into the kitchen herself and I could hear Cas and her conversing. It was nice and quite this late at night and I absolutely loved it.

"Dean really likes that apple pie of yours. He's asked for it again. And a cup of coffee. He's had a rough day it sounds like. His job didn't go exactly according to plan. Maybe give him an extra scoop of ice cream or two," she said.

"Sure. So," and there was a pause, "What's he like?"

"Besides being a lump of self-loathing shit, he's loyal, really good at what he does, has a big capacity to love, is honest, and has high expectations of everyone else. When he's hurt he just gets angry and avoids the problem but I love him. He's one of my best friends. And having Dean for a best friend is one of the greatest investments you could ever make."

I smiled, enjoying the compliments. I just pretended there hadn't been any complaints.

"Why's he back here so soon?"

"Must have missed me," Jo laughed.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure that's it," Cas said, laughing in return. It was loud and rambunctious and infectious. I was on the verge of laughing myself and I had no idea why. I hadn't ever heard a laugh like that and I kind of wanted to hear it again. I could hear the clattering of silverware and plates as they ceased talking to prepare the food I didn't need. Jo must have had the plate all loaded up on her hand because I heard Cas say, "Let me take them. Go home and get some sleep Jo. You've been doing an awful lot the past couple of days. I can handle Dean, and I have a feeling this won't be the last time we see him."

"Thanks Cas!" I heard Jo chime in before the clang of a back door and the revving of a car engine. I prepared myself for him to walk out and had an overwhelming desire to make him laugh. I knew I was capable but when he came out in a clingy gray AC/DC shirt and low slung jeans I'd completely forgotten what I was going to say. Or how to even speak English.

"Morning, Dean."

"Yeah, hi. Thanks for the pie."

"Sure," Cas said placing the plate with an equally sized slice to yesterday and an extra scoop of ice cream in front of me and the coffee to the left. "Do you mind if I sit?"

I gestured to the other side and Cas crashed into the booth and relaxed against the back, his chest raised slightly. I stuffed my mouth to the brim with pie and hastily swallowed when Cas began conversation and I knew I was going to have to talk.

"Jo said you had a rough day at work. What happened?"

I shifted my eyes from him and internally cringed. This was the one question I could never answer truthfully. But, for Cas, I wanted to at least get as close to the truth as possible. "My work can be dangerous. It requires a lot of moving around and living in motels. Me and my brother do it together but today was especially dangerous and we lost a child in the process today. A child we were trying to save."

"That's awful, but you can't save everyone, my friend. Stuff happens. I'm sure everyone involved appreciated that you tried."

"So," I began, changing subjects, "Why'd you pick all the way out in the boonies to open this place?"

"I've always loved to cook but I wanted it to also be a place where people could just hang out and read or think. And I wanted it to have booths because I wanted it to feel like a diner. I've always liked diners because they're so casual. So when I saw this place I knew it was the perfect size and just right for what I wanted to pull off. And I honestly didn't want a lot of people coming through. I wanted the small town feel of loyalty, knowing someone's order before they even come in, and keeping their seat open for them because you're so sure what time they'll come. I wanted a family, a home away from home."

I was surprised how much thought he'd actually put in. I figured it had been a money thing or a location thing, but I realized this guy could've been anywhere, serving anything, with any sort of customer. He just decided to follow his dream. I took another bite of pie and quietly moaned at the taste of the cold ice cream and the warm pie melding together. I gave Cas a thumbs up before shoving another bite home. A small half-smile crept on his face and he nodded respectfully at me. He let me finish eating in silence and I was just glad for the companionship. I barely knew him but I thought he was running this place exactly as he wished. I felt like I was home with a good friend just sitting in silence because we both already know everything we want to say. And it's just better left unsaid.

When I was finished, Cas stood clearing my plate and taking it back into the kitchen. I heard him washing the dish off and the clank of it entering the dishwasher before he came back out, wringing his hands delicately. He was nervous about something.

"I don't want to bother you, Dean, but do you think you could help me with something? If you can't it's no trouble."

"Of course I can. Anything you need."

"I see what Jo means about you. That one has got you all figured out. Did you guys date or something?" he asked me as I followed him back into the kitchen.

"Nah. She's basically my little sister."

"Okay," Cas said, taking a commanding tone, "Can you grab those cardboard boxes next to the door and bring them over to me?" I nodded and bent over, picking up a stack of five boxes and setting them on the plain counter beside a line of sinks. Everything was pristinely clean and Cas had set to work wrapping up pies, sandwiches, and various other food items he had on the menu. He pulled out a box from the stack and began piling the food in item by item until four of the boxes were full. I kind of just stood there focusing on his hands moving back and forth. There was a tiny mole on the inside of his thumb and I smiled gently. Then I looked up to watch his face. His eyes flitted back and forth between the food and the boxes and his lips were pursed seriously. He was so focused on the task at hand.

"Cas," I whispered, "Do you need me to do anything else or should I just go?" jerking my thumb back towards the exit.

"Oh, god, sorry. I kind of forgot you were here."

"I figured."

"No, stay, I still need you. Can you carry the full boxes out the back door there and to the blue car? The door should be unlocked. Just pile them in the back seat."

"Sure thing." I picked up the first one, jilting it up slightly so I could get underneath it better and I used my back to open the door. Cas gave me one of his half smiles when he noticed me staring at him on the way out. I opened the car door, stuck the box in and came back for more until every box was somehow stuffed in the back seats. Cas jangled the keys at me when I popped in to check in one last time before I left.

"Going somewhere?" he teased.

"Back to the motel?" I posed as a question.

"Come with me. I could use someone to unload the boxes as well. It's later than normal. They probably don't have someone there who wants to help."

"Where?"

"I drop off the leftovers from the day's work at a homeless shelter not to far down the road. I made a deal with the person who runs the place to keep someone there until two so I can make drop offs."

"That's...nice of you."

"It's no trouble really. What else am I going to do with the food?" I shrugged, pretty sure if I was running this place I would just eat it all or not go to all the extra work and just toss it. This guy was incredible. A saint. I got into the shotgun seat of the car as Cas started it up and drove us just a block or two down the street and pulled into an angle parking spot just inside an alley. Cas got out, slamming the door behind him and gestured for me to walk around to his side of the car. He grabbed a box and set it in my arms.

"Can you carry three?"

"Psh...yeah," I said confidently. Cas piled the food on my arms and by the time he was done all I could see and smell was cardboard. I stumbled around, peering around the boxes as best I could to see Cas' feet. I could hear him laughing and tease, "Have too much to drink tonight, Dean?"

"This is harder than I thought it would be," I admitted grudgingly. I heard a door creak open and Cas held it open for me with his back so I would walk through first. He followed and pitter patter from a pair of feet rushed just in front of me and took two of the boxes off of my hands.

"Oh, you're new," a pretty girl shrieked, practically dropping what she had. "Where's Cas?"

"Just behind me," I said. Cas dropped of his food on the desk, wiped his hands on his jeans and smiled at the girl. "Hey Kate. I didn't know you would be here tonight? I thought you were just Thursdays."

"I'm covering for someone," she smiled shyly up at Cas. "This is more food than usual," she observed.

"I had some extra time to cook today."

"Business that good, huh?"

"It wasn't that. I was just feeling inspired," he smiled.

"Well it looks good. The homeless people of Portland thank you as usual."

"Tomorrow is Thursday, isn't it? I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see ya Cas," she said, waving almost dramatically.

"Wow," I drew out in a long breath as we left the homeless shelter. "She is totally into you. I bet you money she begged to take that shift. And she'll probably keep begging. I can see why. Handsome guy who can cook, is politely sweet, and drops off food at a homeless shelter every night."

"No she's not," he laughed off shakily.

"Seriously, man!" I smiled, "How dense can you be? She couldn't keep her eyes off of you."

"Well, I'm not interested."

"Not your type?"

"No."

"What is your type?" I asked curiously.

"I am fond of brunettes and green or blue eyes. Someone who is sturdily built, and..." he trailed off.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just felt kind of silly saying all that. I'm sure she's a lovely girl, I just don't feel like dating right now."

"Alright," I said, raising my hands in the air, "No need to get defensive."

We were back in Cas' car and he glanced over at me before starting the car. "How long are you going to be here, Dean?"

"My job is turning out to be a bigger son of a bitch than anticipated. A couple more days at least. Why? Need the company?" I teased.

"Honestly? Yeah, probably. The only problem with just moving to the boonies is you don't really know anybody and there aren't many people to know. You've been a refreshing addition to my life in the last two days, Dean."

"You're not all that bad either," I grinned as we pulled into the diner. I got out of the car with Cas and waved as I got into my Impala to drive back to Sam who was probably worried about me at this point. I'd been gone longer than I'd thought I would be. Cas waved back and said, "See you tomorrow?"

"I think that's pretty safe to say. I love me some pie," I shouted back before driving away, window open, and old rock music blasting with a smile on my face.

Sam was waiting up for me, not that he slept much anyways, and shot me a disapproving look when I entered our room.

"Where have you been? It does not take that long to eat a piece of pie."

"I got talking to the owner, Cas, and then he needed some help taking extra food down to the homeless shelter."

Sam nodded, and I crashed on one of the beds, inserting a quarter into the magic fingers and laid there in peace. Sam kept giving me discomforting looks to the point where I got up off of my magic fingers and slammed his computer closed and slipped it underneath my shirt before lying down on my stomach on top of it.

"Dean!" Sam groaned, "Seriously?"

"You're being mean to the magic fingers."

Sam rolled his eyes and got into bed. "Whatever, man. Night." And the big guy was out. I hadn't been able to do that since I'd gotten out of hell. I was actually up most of the night, scanning Sam's computer for what he had found out about the spirit and thinking about the new friend I'd made. I had no idea why, he wasn't that great or anything. But I smiled when remembering his laugh.

"So what's the story?" I asked Sam when I'd taken a shower, brushed my teeth, and eaten some leftover doughnuts that Sam had bought last night.

"Well, there are two more girls who killed themselves in the exact same way as their mother and grandmother, who we've already torched. But it's really weird. That does not happen. They had to have been murdered man. The people they're killing must be part of the murder's family or something. That's the only thing I can come up with and we might be dealing with multiple spirits too."

"Can't we just torch the other two girls?"

"Yeah. We can. I just don't know if it'll be over. This family was really really screwed up. I can't find a single year where there wasn't some tragedy. Luckily they had millions of cousins."

"Lucky?" I said sarcastically.

"I was just trying to find a silver lining," Sam sighed.

"There isn't one. Let's go to the diner, figure out where those two are buried, and after we have lunch go salt and burn those suckers. And then see what happens. What else can we do?"

"Yeah, alright. Haven't you had enough of that place yet?"

"Hell no. Why don't you drive?" I tossed Sam the keys to my baby and got in shotgun. Sam fiddled with the radio until it was on some country song sang by some blond bumpkin, I'm sure. "Dude, what the hell?"

"Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole." I paused, shocked. That sounded a lot like me. Sam was smiling slyly and I shook my head. I must've said that once upon a time. And for once I didn't have a good come back because he was using my logic.

We pulled in, and I was frowning, pretty sure everyone, meaning the two cars parked and Cas and Jo could hear the music. So embarrassing. "Dude, turn that crap off!" I shouted.

Sam pushed the dial, laughing, and we got out of the car. I slammed the car door, patted baby and said sorry, before strolling in. Jo saw us and waved but didn't come over. There was a couple and a group of four seated in two other booths enjoying a nice hot lunch. They weren't talking, so it must've been good. I saw that our booth was empty, which was strange because it had a view of the kitchen and was closest to the waiter and the door. Then I saw why. On the table was a little nameplate that said reserved for Sam and Dean and someone had left a folded piece of notebook paper on the table labeled with my name in scribbled writing. Sam reached for it, but I snatched it from underneath his arm glaring at him. "That's mine."

"Okay, psycho. I was just gonna hand it to you."

"Sure you were," I mumbled to myself. Jo was over in a jiffy, took our orders, and directed Sam to a bathroom when he asked. I watched him go back to the bathroom and close the door behind him before I unraveled the note. It was from Cas.

Dean,

Thanks for helping me last night. I know you like this booth, thought I'd make it exclusively yours for the duration of your stay. Anything you want it's yours. At least, what I'm capable of giving. You were great company last night, it's the least I can do.

Cas

P.S. I'm glad it was you, and not Sam. I'll see you soon.

And sure enough, the moment I was done reading, most likely with a ridiculous grin on my face, Cas was standing in front of me with our orders. He set them down with some silverware.

"You've got business today."

"Yeah," Cas replied, glancing around his diner, "Lunch time is usually pretty busy actually. People driving through to somewhere else stop to get something a lot of the time."

"Pretty sublime timing," I observed.

"Maybe I was watching you so I could time my entrance perfectly."

I laughed and slapped Cas on the shoulder. It was a little awkward because I was sitting and he was standing but he seemed to take it just fine. Sam came back shooting looks between the two of us before taking his seat. Cas smiled at him before giving Sam his silverware as well and then walked away to see how his other customers were doing. I kept my gaze on his retreating figure, and he must've known because he looked back over his shoulder at me and winked.

Sam waved his hand in front of my face and I snapped to attention with a scowl on my face. His expression was hard to read but it seemed to be slightly confused, surprised, and happy at the same time.

"What are you looking at?"

"Not sure."

We were both silent for a moment before I cleared my throat, took a bite of my burger, and motioned down to the stack of papers Sam to the left of his food. "Where are they buried?" I grumbled through the food I was currently chewing.

"One is in the cemetery in the middle of town, the other is in a cemetery about a half-hour away."

"Ugh, why so far?"

"Dean. We drive all across the country twenty four seven. What's a half hour?"

"A long fucking time. I mean, didn't she live here too?"

"Yeah, but she had a husband that drowned. She wanted to be buried with him apparently and that's where he is."

"That's just creepy."

"Being buried next to someone you love?"

"Yeah," I said, "It just makes my insides uncomfortable."

"Well, it's entirely normal."

I shrugged and finished up my burger as Sam ate his fresh fruit and chicken sandwich and flipped through other papers trying to find a map of the cemeteries so we could find the plot quickly. Jo came over not much longer with the bill, which Sam paid this time around and we were out of there. I wanted to say good bye to Cas, but I thought it might look odd. Sam had done quite enough teasing already.

Sam directed me to the cemetery that was a ways away, more than a half hour, he'd lied to me, and when we got out with our shovels, gasoline, salt, and lighter, he led me to her plot. We both started digging and as Sam wiped sweat from his brow he paused in his work. "So what's up with you and Cas?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, "We're just friends. He's a good guy."

"Yeah. Dean, you don't make friends that fast."

"There's always a first time for everything, Sam."

"Alright," he shrugged. "Don't say I didn't tell you so when it becomes something different."

"Like what?"

"Nothing, Dean. Keep digging."

"You keep digging."

We got to the bottom, I smashed in the coffin, lifted myself out of the massive hole and watched Sam salt and gasoline the corpse before I threw a lighter in. We stayed until the fire was practically out and then put the grave back to it's original state.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"We wait. Let's head back to the motel."

"Yeah."

I was watching some old tv land reruns while Sam was listening to the police news, waiting to see if there were any other strange deaths involving slit throats that bled out the victim and then closed up an hour after death. That was the pattern anyways. So far, there was nothing, which I liked to think was a good sign.

"I'm gonna go wipe down baby. Holler if you need anything."

"Admit it, Dean. You just want to drive away to that diner."

"Yeah, I kind of do. I haven't had my apple pie today!" I cried. "But I'm not gonna leave you hear all by yourself. What if you fall asleep and miss something? What if something actually happens? You need me."

"No I don't Dean," Sam replied, smiling. "Go get that pie. I'll be fine. Enjoy it for me will you?"

"Done," I grinned, grabbing my keys and racing out of there. "Call if you need me, Sammy."

"Yeah."

When I got to the diner, around the same time as yesterday I found nobody in sight. But at my booth, there was a quarter of a pie slice of apple deliciousness with two scoops of ice cream melting in waterfalls down to the plate. Spelled in whip cream on the side, like the first time, were the words 'for dean.' The pie was still warm. He knew when I was coming. Somehow. I hadn't even known.

I sat down and dug in. When the bell on the door chimed, I swiveled around to see Cas stroll in carrying two grocery bags full of food.

"Hey Dean. I got some more in the car. It's out front right now. Wanna grab the last two bags?"

I left my pie and got the remaining two bags from the car that smelled as though it was newly vacuumed. Cas really liked being clean apparently. I brought them back into the kitchen where Cas was unloading the bags and putting the food away in fridges and cabinets. I unloaded my bags but left the food on the counter because I wasn't sure where they want.

"Ask me. I can direct you."

"Okay, um, where does the spinach go?"

"Second fridge, left drawer."

I walked over there and we started a sort of routine. He would pause whatever he was doing to give me new directions to whatever area of the kitchen and I would put it away while he was finishing up his bags. We bumped into each other a couple of times, laughing it off, and once or twice our fingers met when handing off food. I normally didn't notice that sort of thing, but I did now. His fingers were so gentle and warm. I decided then that hands could tell you a lot about a person. His hands told me he was unfailingly kind, caring, and a hard worker.

"You should probably go finish your pie, Dean," Cas said when he was about done putting away the food. "It's getting cold and I can handle the rest."

"My pie!" I shrieked like a little girl, and ran off before the ice cream made the crust too soggy. I shoveled the remainder of it home in a disgustingly short amount of time and my stomach suddenly felt cramped. There wasn't enough room for all that pie.

"Ugh," I groaned when Cas sat down across from me.

"You should take breaths before you take another bite."

"Clearly, smart ass."

Cas smirked. Jo suddenly appeared from god knows where with a milkshake and some french fries which she set in front of Cas.

"Where'd those come from?" I asked.

"Jo went to McDonald's for me," Cas replied as he dipped a french fry into his chocolate milkshake. "I can't even stand my own french fries compared to McDonald's. Probably because the deep fry them more than once or something."

"It's the salt. Put enough salt on, any french fry can taste like a McDonald's french fry. Trust me."

"Good to know."

I rested my chin on my hand and practically fell asleep while watching Cas eat. It wasn't particularly exciting and I wouldn't have minded some. As though he could read my min, Cas shoved over the canister of french fries towards me and nodded. I tugged out a super long fry and paused. Some milkshake would be nice. Cas laughed and gestured to the shake. "Be my guest, Dean."

"Thanks, man."

"Don't you two look like the happy couple," Jo stated, with her hands in a sort of picture frame that she was peering through. I could feel heat reach my cheeks. The blush must have been intolerably bright, because my skin was that hot. Cas just smiled like he knew something I didn't.

I watched as his eyes traveled down to the surface of the table as he chowed on another fry and I kept my eyes on him. I couldn't look away. I didn't know when I started becoming extremely aware of all the parts of my body but I was now. Cas gazed up from under his eyelashes and I couldn't escape the swimming blue depths of those eyes. It wasn't just his eyes either. I wouldn't be able to escape him. Everything about him. The fact that he already knew me well enough to predict what time I would arrive and what i would order. That I would even come at all for that matter. And the fact that every moment I spent with him I was happy. I hadn't ever met anybody who could do that.

"What's going on, Cas?" I whispered, our eyes still locked.

"It's this little thing that you've obviously never dealt with that has been immortalized in countless songs, movies, and art pieces. You're falling in love, Dean."

"Sounds kind of cocky to me," I laughed nervously.

"Oh," Cas feigned surprise, "I meant Jo. She is gorgeous and a strong, independent woman after all."

I began laughing and all the tension and awkwardness dissipated as I heard that infectious laugh join in. Cas' eyes were sparkling and in them I could see all the moments we'd shared in the past couple of days. Maybe he was right.

"I should probably head out," I sighed.

"Are you still going to be around tomorrow?"

"I don't know," I whispered, shaking my head.

"Stop by before you leave if you are in fact leaving tomorrow?"

"You got it."

"Later then."

"Awesome," I grinned and I drove back to Sam. The report was dreadfully vacant. I mean, it was great because our job was probably finished but we'd be on our way to our next one soon. Sam would probably have one in the morning when I woke up.

And sure enough, he did. Some case involving missing people all disappearing from the same bar, but with different escorts. Sometimes it was a woman, sometimes a man, and sometimes witnesses swore it was giant animal. Even a unicorn. And it was hundreds of miles from here.

I packed up all my bags, put them in the back of my baby along with Sam's and we were off. I gave him the keys to drive because I wasn't entirely up for it. I was empty. Empty like I'd felt when Dad had given himself up for me.

"Hey, Sammy," I began, "We need to make a stop."

Sam nodded, already knowing where and pulled into the diner for the last time, at least for a while. I got out, but Sam stayed. He didn't move an inch, just turned up the music a tad. I wrapped on the window and said, "Don't want to say good bye to Jo?"

"Nah. Give her my best wishes."

I rolled my eyes, completely mystified as to why he was still in the car like a complete prick and strolled in, the bell jangling. That bell that I'd first thought was completely cheesy now sounded out the feeling of coming home. The best sound in the world as far as I was concerned. Except for maybe baby starting up.

Jo's eyes met mine from across the diner where she was helping a customer. She finished quickly with them and then made her way over.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" she smiled sadly.

"Yeah," I said, putting my hands in my pockets, "Sam found a case in New Mexico that we're heading to now."

"It was good seeing you again, Dean. Don't be a stranger," she whispered before wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me close. I could feel her rapid breaths in my ear and she whispered, "Cas is too busy right now. I can go tell him, but I don't think he'll come out." I stared at all the occupied booths and the added makeshift tables that hadn't been there yesterday. I hadn't even realized, but they were seriously busy.

"Whatever you can do."

She nodded and sashayed away, stopping at some tables along the way before disappearing behind the door into Cas' place. His nest. His home. And then Jo was back, without Cas and much too soon.

She shook her head at me and sighed. In her hand was another folded piece of notebook paper and she handed it to me. "He can't come. He almost burned the eggs just at the thought of you leaving. But he had this ready just in case. He wanted me to give it to you."

"Thanks Jo. And tell Cas...tell him..." But I couldn't finish the sentence. There were too many words.

"Yeah, I know. I'll tell him."

I returned her hug and somberly marched out of the diner back towards the car and Sam who had a similar expression to Jo's. I guess everyone but me, until late last night, had known what was going on.

"Do you want to stay?" Sam whispered when I was back in the car.

"No," I exhaled sharply, before forcing on a smile. "We have some evil sons of bitches to gank." I kept my eyes focused on the road as we drove into traffic before I dared to peek down at the note resting in my hands. It was labeled in the same handwriting as the first note I'd been given, with the same name. Mine. I slowly unfolded the notebook paper to find quite a significant length of writing. I was going to save this for later, when it hurt a lot more, but I just couldn't resist. I had to know what Cas had written because it was important enough to have written down.

Dean,

I'm already starting to kind of wish I'd told you all of this instead of putting it in this letter, but there just wasn't time and I could tell you were playing catch up.

How long did we know each other? Two, three days? It felt like an eternity that sped by much too fast. Basically, I wanted to tell you that I knew the moment I first saw you Dean. When you were eating one of my burgers like it was butter during a period of rationing. I knew that you were special. And then you came back for more of my pie. And you helped me pack up food and deliver it to the homeless shelter even though I know you had something better to do. At that point I knew I was a goner. I was falling in love with you.

It wasn't news to me. I've never been interested in girls which I, in a very round about way, tried to tell you. But I could tell you are interested in girls and didn't know that there was a guy out there you could ever fall for. Maybe there's more than one, but I like thinking it's just me. You would've fallen only for me.

You're sitting there denying it, I suspect. At least partly. But I'm confident Dean. Whenever our eyes met, you couldn't avert yours. And you blushed constantly. Which is a fact you weren't even aware of, I'm sure. You couldn't stay away. Your excuse was my pie, but Sam, Jo, and I knew better. They both figured out. I just kept wondering until last night how you could be so thick. But you had it figured out last night.

I wish you weren't leaving. Even as I'm writing this note I'm missing you. You were the first thing in a long time Dean that felt comfortable, easy, necessary. You know how I knew you were coming? Almost the exact time? Because I was going crazy. I almost drove out to find you and I knew you'd be going just as insane. So I left you that pie.

I don't know if I love you. It all seems so rushed. But it sure as hell seems like love. And I'm okay with being a romantic comedy if you are.

I know you have no idea when you can see me again. And I know you have to go. I asked Jo a little bit more about your job. She was just as discreet as you, if that helps, but she did tell me it was important. That you were saving the world. And I believe that, whatever it is, because you seem like the type.

But don't stay away because you're scared. Something tells me you're pretty good at facing your fears, so face them Dean. Someone in Oregon cares about you very much and would be heartbroken if he never got to see your face again. Promise me you'll come back for me. I never even got to kiss you. Show you how much I love you. I think I love you, Dean. I've talked myself into it while writing this.

Love,

Cas

P.S. I'm baking you pie right now. And I will be at any moment you read this. I'll always be baking for you.

"Turn around," I choked out, my eyes swelled with tears, that I ashamedly hid from Sam by gazing out the window.

"What?"

"Turn around. Now."

Sam asked no other questions but pulled a u-turn in seconds and we were heading back. It was a tense hour but when we were back at the diner, I flew out, my motivation returned.

"Where is he?" I yelled, when i stormed into the diner. Jo grinned enthusiastically at the sight of me and the customers were all either shocked or slightly frightened. I must've looked angry. I felt strangely angry, which Jo quickly realized and instead of dealing with it herself she just directed me back into the kitchen. Cas was hard at work on an apple pie, just like promised, and his expression was devoid of all emotion.

"How could you write that?" I murmured.

"Dean?" he turned at the sound of my voice, and a silent tear slipped down his cheek as he broke into a smile.

"How could you do that to me? I was just sitting in my car driving away from all this and I read this. I was ready to move on. I was ready to let you go and be mostly okay by the end of it. And then this happened," I said, my voice slowly raising in intensity, as I shook the rumpled letter I'd read it so many times on the way back. "I can't read that and be able to move on. You're right. I have no idea when I can see you. It could be years or minutes. And it isn't fair of you to make me feel this way. It isn't fair, you bastard."

"No. It isn't," Cas replied gently. "But those words couldn't go unsaid Dean. That would've been unfair of you to ask of me. There was no right answer."

I walked at him and continued my rant. "Oh yeah there is. You could have just fucking told me that night when I literally would've done everything you ever asked. Who knows what I would've done then but at least I would've had a decision."

Cas stepped forward so quickly and abruptly to the point where our noses were touching. "But you came back," he whispered. "Which means that none of it really matters, Dean. Because you feel the same way." Then our lips met. My mouth melded with his, our tongues were dueling, and my hands were spreading across every piece of skin I could reach. I had him flush against me with my back at the counter and Cas was working his hands through my hair when Jo banged on the counter.

"We've got work to do, boss," she laughed.

"Right," Cas nodded, breaking up the kiss. His eyes were wild and his lips swollen and a deeper shade of pink. He was breathtaking. I smiled gently and kissed him once more before leaving the kitchen.

"I'm not going anywhere, Cas. Not until we work out what this is, kay? I'll have some pie while you're at it."