Okay guys, sorry for the text screw-up before. I've got it fixed now, and it shouldn't be a problem again! Thanks for reading!

Dean was still getting used to being blind. It was easier than it had seemed at first, but it still wasn't a walk in the park. Well, it was a little bit, because Dean did like walking Krissy in the afternoons, but somehow it was easier to adjust to than Dean thought being deaf was. He hated every second of not being able to see. He hated that he couldn't see the ground in front of him, that he couldn't see what any of his dates looked like, that he only had their voices to go off of.

Deciding to push his boundaries was something that Dean was beginning to regret. Sometimes he would go out with Krissy and his cane, with Sam or Benny or Charlie back at the house. Usually, he would go to the park, but he wasn't really in the mood to be hit in the face with a frisbee, because that was just the kind of day he was having. Instead, Dean went to a coffee shop. He figured that he had been good enough to deserve a sweet coffee, and none of his friends were with him to tease him over his sugary craving or to chastise him about how he'd get diabetes from all the sweetness.

The coffee shop, as usual, smelled divine. It smelled like coffee, rich and bitter and maybe a little creamy. There was the pastry scent that Dean knew was from Gabriel's daily cooking - the man usually saved him a slice of pie, whether he knew Dean was coming or not. From the way it smelled on the late fall afternoon, Dean could tell that the special was pecan, his favorite. He went in and sat down at his usual table, not even noticing that someone was sitting across from him. He didn't realize it, mostly because Krissy was sitting calmly by his side, until whoever it was cleared their throat, making him jump.

"Excuse me," the man said, and Dean thought his heart was melting at the sound of that perfect, perfect voice. "Did you want something?"

Dean felt like he was blushing. His face was probably red. "Oh," he said rather stupidly. "Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't, uh, I didn't see you there." Dean spoke softly, trying to hide the embarrassment in his voice as he ducked his head, not quite sure if he wanted the man to see Dean's eyes. He didn't want pity, and he didn't want the man to feel like an ass. For all Dean knew, plenty of people brought dogs in. He was saved from the embarrassment of continuing by Gabriel swooping in out of nowhere. Dean hadn't even heard his footsteps.

"Cassie! I see you've met Dean-o here, I've been meaning to get you two together for some time now," Dean could practically hear the wink in Gabriel's voice.

"Did you tell him to sit here, Gabriel? And for the last time, my name is Castiel, not "Cassie"." Dean could hear the air quotes in Castiel's voice, too.

Gabriel sighed. Dean could imagine the man shaking his head. "Cassie," he said stubbornly. "Dean here deserves at least a little more respect from you. After all, he is one of my best customers. And he wasn't lying about not seeing you." There was a moment's pause, and then Dean felt two sets of eyes on him. "So what'll it be this time, Dean-o?"

"Uhhh... I'll take whatever today's special is. It's pecan, right?" He grinned as Gabriel let out an affirmative, and settled into the chair with a sigh before he remembered Castiel in the other seat. "Oh, sorry. Um, I'll move, if you wanna point me in the right direction," Dean said, biting at his lower lip. "I don't wanna be a bother."

Dean wasn't prepared for Castiel's response. "I'm sorry," Castiel said, voice rough. "I... I didn't realize. I suppose I should have. I've just been in my own world today, I guess."

Dean nodded in understanding. "I get that," he assured. "You don't have to apologize for that. Hell, I'm trapped inside my own head, most days." Dean chuckled at his own joke before falling silent. His head was starting to hurt, like it did often. After the accident, things just weren't the same. Krissy whined and rubbed her face against his hand, because somehow the retriever always knew when Dean was upset.

He heard Castiel awkwardly clear his throat before the man spoke again. "My brother can be a little..." Castiel trailed off, but Dean understood what he meant.

"Yeah," Dean agreed, sighing. "Gabriel can be annoying, but he means well. He tries to cheer me up pretty often."

Dean heard Castiel's nod. "He is good for that, from time to time. And you can sit here, I don't mind. Honestly, as much as he jokes around, Gabriel does keep trying to set me up with people. Perhaps if we were to speak he would slow down a little, and you might have someone to cheer you up without him exasperating you to no end."

Dean hummed softly, nodding. "That does sound like a good idea. Plus, some company would be nice, honestly." Dean felt Krissy perk up against him, and he listened for a long moment before he made out Gabriel's footsteps. "Got my pie, shorty?"

Dean smiled at Gabriel's chuckle. "Of course," he said, then placed two slices in front of him. "I couldn't leave my best customer without his sweets. Do you want the coffee, too?" Dean nodded in response, and he supposed that Gabriel nodded before shuffling off, because he didn't always remember that Dean couldn't see him. Sam kept telling him that his eyes were still the same bright green as before, he just looked like he was gazing into the distance.

Dean sighed happily as he felt for the fork and pulled the plate towards himself, cutting through the pie and taking a bite more easily than he had a few weeks ago. He hummed at the taste, then reached for the other plate. "Want some?"

Dean was pretty sure Castiel was shaking his head as he replied. "No, thank you. I'm alright, I've already got something to eat. Have you tried Gabriel's blueberry pie? I feel as though it would be something that you would like." Dean chuckled a little as he nodded, taking another bite of the slice on the first plate.

"Yeah, I've had it before. It's like, blueberry cheesecake pie. Pretty awesome. If I were allowed in the kitchen anymore, I'd be asking him the recipe." Dean smiled softly as he looked down, and he nodded a little. "So if we're gonna start being friends, I suppose we should know some more about each other. I'm Dean Winchester, this is Krissy, she's my seeing-eye dog. I've been told that she's a Golden Retriever that's a bit more like a Chimera with a black lab, not that it matters to me much. She's a sweetheart."

Castiel chuckled and nodded, knowing full well that Dean couldn't see it. "She is cute," he said, then, "May I pet her?"

Dean laughed a little. "Sure thing, man, go ahead. She eats it up. Krissy, go say hi," Dean said, nudging the dog softly with his foot. He smiled as she moved towards Cas, able to feel the lead go taut as she went over to sniff at the man's hand.

"She really is sweet," Castiel said, rubbing at Krissy's head while she sniffed at his pant leg. "And so you know, I'm Castiel James Novak. I'm Gabriel's brother on our father's side, though most of our family swears he had a different mother. He's too enthusiastic to share all of our genes." He chuckled at his own words, smiling when Dean did the same.

They spoke for hours on end, Dean not noticing the change outside. Castiel hardly noticed it either, as the conversation flowed easily and neither of them recognized the changing hours. They only noticed as Gabriel came over to pet Krissy, telling them that he was closing up for the night.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Dean said. "I didn't mean to keep you for so long. I'll just get Krissy, and... Gabe, you know where the money is," he managed, standing and pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, face flushed pink as he bumped into the table.

"Dean," Castiel said calmly, watching the man and unable to stop himself from finding it adorable. "It's alright, I assure you. While I didn't mean to be talking for so long either, I don't mind. I hope that it's the same for you.. I'd like to do it again. Perhaps I could get your phone number so I can call and we can do this again. And I can't let you go home in the dark. While I'm certain you're getting used to it by now, those on the roads can't always see what's in front of them, and I wouldn't be able to bear you or Krissy being hurt because I've kept you for so long."

Dean was blushing even more now. "O-oh," he said simply. "Okay. I, uh... Sorry." Dean was flushed down to his chest now, and it was obvious at his collarbone at the least.

Cas chuckled. "It's quite all right, Dean. You're not the only one that lost track of time. Besides, I'd be delighted to come over sometime. We can talk more."

Dean stilled as Gabriel slung an arm over his shoulder. "What the hell, Cassie, why don't you put on your big-boy panties and ask to stay over? I'm sure Dean-o here wouldn't mind, and you deserve to have some kid time. Your trip is in a few weeks, why not try and make some friends? He can write you letters while you're gone." Dean gave Gabriel a 'Look', which Sam always said was creepy because he always managed to meet the subject's eyes even though he couldn't see. "Oh, don't look at me like that, you know what I mean. He'll get his brother to write the letters, but it'll be his words."

Dean sighed. "Fine, sure, whatever. I mean, I don't mind you sleeping over. But I get the distinct feeling that your brother is going to do something to lock you out of the house if you don't. So... yeah." He chuckled softly.

"It's all right," Castiel told him. "Gabriel knows better than to try. But if you have a spare room, I won't mind it. Besides, it may be nice to not have to deal with my brother for a night."