Dean sat barefoot in the grass at the edge of the lake staring blankly at the placid water. Overhead the clouds were dark and asperatus and it looked like it might rain, but he was seriously contemplating going in for a swim. However just as he'd risen and was about to undress Castiel appeared by his side.

"Jesus!" Dean cursed startled by his friend's sudden presence. "Cas! How many times have I told you?! Give me a warning or something man!"

"What are you doing?" Castiel asked ignoring Dean's remarks.

"Nothing. Relaxing. Wait…" Dean replied but paused and narrowed his eyes as a sudden realization struck him. "I'm dreaming. This isn't real." He heaved a heavy sigh as awareness washed over him.

"Are you going to join me?" Castiel inquired. Much to Dean's surprise the angel had already began to undress, and was leaving a trail of clothing behind him as he made his way down to the water.

"Eh…what the hell," Dean mumbled and shrugged. He figured he could at least have some fun before returning to reality.

He and Cas were both stripped down to their boxers at this point and, in Dean's dream world, swimming felt akin to floating on air. It was as cathartic as he'd expected. Dean let his body float to the top of the water and closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath and exhaled all of the tension he'd been gathering over the last week. The demon he and Cas had taken on was one strong crafty son of a bitch. The idea that Castiel was perfectly willing to try and kill it alone made him shiver. Everything about Castiel's actions confused the Winchester. There were multiple times that had made Dean wonder about the angel's high level of loyalty. It felt unwarranted, undeserved and, more often than not, it overwhelmed him. So he brushed it aside. Ignored it and the emotions it elicited from him. Unfortunately he'd put his foot in his mouth. After such a heated battle, all the danger involved, and the way the angel had attended to him afterwards, Dean couldn't resist asking the question that had been nagging him for so long: "Why do you care so much Cas?"

"Are you okay?" Castiel said, startling Dean all over again. He'd wadded over to where Dean was floating and was now only centimeters away from his face.

"Sheezus criminy!" Dean cried out before sinking back into the water. "Cas, I swear to god I'm gonna punch you one of these days!" he shouted and sputtered rising back above the surface. "I'm fine. I was just…thinking." The Winchester was caught off guard to find the angel had remained close to him. Castiel was only slightly further away from Dean than he'd been before, wearing his usual pensive expression. Dean felt agitated being so exposed and so near Castiel who was also quite exposed.

"I've been worried about you. All the injuries you sustained…" Castiel spoke solemnly and a look of regret momentarily clouded his countenance.

"Sam's taking care of me. A bit too much if you ask me. Honestly you both could back off a bit. I've been through worse. I mean…you pulled me out of Hell Cas…" Dean replied with a dry laugh.

"I'll always worry about you Dean," Castiel spoke softly and unconsciously moved closer.

"Why is that Cas?" Dean inquired tilting his head to the side. "You never did answer me." The way the water fell from the angel's eyelashes, the way it slid down his shoulders, and dripped from his hair had begun to mesmerize Dean. He found himself staring as he awaited a reply, but felt no fear of being noticed as Castiel had cast his gaze elsewhere to contemplate the query.

"I feel…" Castiel said hesitantly. "…Knit…to you."

"Knit?" Dean repeated the word. His brow furrowed with confusion, but the angel continued to avoid eye contact and did not attempt any further explanation.

"It's going to rain" Castiel stated and quickly began to recede.

"Cas" Dean said reaching out a hand to grasp Castiel's shoulder. "What do you mean knit? How does that explain anything?!"

At this point Castiel had moved back towards Dean, but he'd not removed his hand from the benevolent being's shoulder. The Winchester told himself it was to keep the angel from disappearing on him but he knew, on a deeper level, it was more than that. It did begin to rain then but neither man made a move to leave the water. Dean looked up at the sky, ignoring the pattering rain on his face, and tried to make it stop.

"Not even in my dreams" he muttered after a few seconds and sighed in defeat. When he turned back to Castiel he was finally looking at him directly, and his dark expression was a bit jolting. It caused Dean to exhale slowly even though his heart rate had risen.

Without a word the angel moved towards Dean and with one swift motion closed the distance between their mouths. Dean was so shocked by this action that he didn't move. All he could focus on was how warm and soft Castiel's lips felt moving against his. Slowly the hand that Dean had been resting on Castiel's shoulder crept around to the nape of his neck. Castiel was pleasantly surprised when he felt Dean's tongue press between his lips, and slip into his mouth. The angel wasted no time taking the opportunity to suck and, bite, and press his own tongue against it. Their nearly naked bodies also crushed against one another as the kiss deepened, and Castiel shivered as he heard a slight moan escape Dean's mouth. Unfortunately their time was coming to an end and Cas clung to Dean as the dream began to fade around them.

"Dean?" Dean heard Sam's voice and saw his face coming into focus as he opened his eyes.

"How long was I out?" he groaned and winced as the pain in his side returned full force.

"Long enough to dream about gettin' your rocks off," Sam chuckled. "You seemed…pretty happy...a little too happy. Who was it this time? Large breasted Asian 1 or 2?"

"Sorry bro…" Dean said coughing for a moment. "I don't kiss and tell."