AN: What up ladies and gentlemen? I just can't seem to stay away from this story. I'm going through Supernatural withdrawal since Season Eight ended. Anyway. I am keeping with the POV alternation of Dean and Castiel because I love writing them both. They're just both too damn good. I also have been including opening lyrics of songs from my Supernatural playlist. Yes, I have a Supernatural playlist. Shh, you know you love it. Because when you ship Destiel, every angsty love song is about Dean and Cas in you brain. Or at lest my brain. So enjoy, my darlings.

"There was a time when

You could make me laugh at will

And you can do it still

But never is it for the right reasons, yeah

What do you want me to say?

What do you want me to do?

To let you know that I do mean it."

-The Dismemberment Plan, What do you want me to say?

Dean peeked into the bedroom where Sam lay asleep. Cas sat in a chair adjacent to the bed watching Sam's form move steadily with shallow breaths. Apparently the staring thing wasn't an angelic trait; it was just Cas. Cas had abandoned his trenchcoat, dress jacket, tie and shoes. It took a minute for Dean to take in the unusual sight of semi-casual Cas. Dean wasn't going to lie, even after their Hallmark moment on the threshold Dean was still pretty pissed at Cas. However, despite what people seemed to think the hunter did have some tact and wasn't about to start a fight with someone who seemed to have the emotional boundaries of a four year old.

Dean cleared his throat as he stepped through the door and Cas looked around. He had a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He held them out to Castiel who was looking at him like he had just saved him from certain death.

"Thought you might be hungry," Dean said gruffly. Cas took the food and began eating at top speed. Dean watched with raised eyebrows. "Guess I was right."

"Thank you, Dean," Castiel said around a bite of toast. Dean grunted in response and directed his attention to the sleeping Sam.

"Are you sure you don't know what's wrong with him?" Dean asked quietly. Castiel set down his fork and took a swallow of water.

"I'm human now," Castiel said heavily. "My senses are frustratingly limited. I can no longer perceive the status of human's bodies or souls."

"But you still know everything you knew as an angel?" Dean said slowly and Cas nodded. "Right, so you've never heard anything about what happens to you if you refuse to complete a holy trial?"

"No," Cas said. "I'm not sure if anyone has ever refused before. Sam's case is most likely unique."

"Great," Dean said.

"How is this great?" Castiel asked earnestly and Dean turned to look at him with a furrowed brow. "Oh, sarcasm, I understand."

Dean rolled his eyes before he could stop himself and turned to exit the room. Before he reached the threshold of the door he heard a clatter of dishes and then a hand on his shoulder. Dean turned to see Cas staring at him with those big unblinking sad eyes.

"Dean," Castiel said. Dean looked down at the hand on his shoulder. His left shoulder. Dean felt the old scar that matched that hand tingle as its maker brushed over it. Castiel seemed to notice Dean's discomfort and let his hand drop to his side. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Dean said trying to remember that he had promised himself that he was going to let Cas become more adjusted and figure out how to help Sam before he unloaded his anger.

"Yes," Castiel said taking a step closer. "For everything."

Dean pursed his lips and took a deep breath in through his nose. He felt he deserved a gold star for patience. He closed his eyes and exhaled. Damn it. It was too much.

"You know what, Cas," Dean began, opening his eyes and meeting Castiel's. "It's just going to take a little more than that this time."

Castiel's shoulders slumped and he inclined his head to avoid Dean's gaze. Dean wasn't going to cave that easily and feeling sorry for Cas wasn't on his agenda. The guy had made his bed and now he would have to sleep in it. And Dean would be lying if he said it didn't bother him that Castiel's grief seemed to stem in a main part from the fact that he was now human. At least he was alive, right?

"Would you like me to leave?" Castiel asked. Dean resisted the urge to roll his eyes again.

"Damn it, no, Cas," Dean said. "That's not what I mean."

"I don't understand," Cas said looking up and tilting his head ever so slightly. Good to know some things never change. "What should I do?"

"Stay and help us clean up your mess!" Dean growled harshly. "And stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

Cas stared at him wide eyed. Dean could have kicked himself, but at the same time he had meant what he said. Dean was terrified that Cas was going to have another break down; he didn't think he could deal with that right now, but to his surprise and relief, Cas straightened his shoulders and looked Dean straight in the eye with a resolute grimace.

"You're right, Dean," Cas said flatly. "I chose you over Heaven so many times knowing it was the right thing to do. I should have stayed by your side. If I hadn't returned to Metatron, this might have all been avoided. I keep making the same mistakes. But it's not going to happen again. I know my place and it is not in Heaven. It's here."

"Oh," Dean said, a little taken aback. "Okay then."

Cas nodded once and continued to stare at Dean who shifted uncomfortably under the former angels gaze. The was a movement from across the room and Dean glanced to see Sam fully awake, propped up on his elbows staring at Dean and Cas with raised eyebrows.

"Sam," Dean said lamely and Cas turned his gaze on the younger Winchester as well. "How're you feeling?"

"Uh, sort of generally crappy?" Sam said. "But not in pain like before. So what's going on?" Sam glanced at Castiel. "The angels?"

"All cast from Heaven," Castiel said before Dean could respond. "Their wings burned."

"So you're...?" Sam asked awkwardly.

"I did not fall," Cas said. His voice was flat. "My grace was removed by Metatron. The other angels will maintain many of their divine powers, but I am human."

"Wow, I'm sorry, Cas," Sam said. Dean looked at him in surprise.

"Geez, I didn't realize being human was such a terrible thing," Dean said slightly affronted by sams comment.

"Come on Dean, it's got to be an adjustment," Sam said in an annoyingly logical way. Dean would be damned if Sam was going to make him the bad guy here.

"Could be a hell of a lot worse," Dean snapped. "Metatron could have killed him."

Castiel was glancing between the two brothers, a slight crinkle in between his eyes as if trying to figure out which one was on his side. Dean huffed and walked over to sam. He placed the back of his hand on Sam's forehead to check for a fever. His brother batted his hand away in annoyance.

"I don't have fever, Dean," Sam said irritably. Dean glared at Sam and clucked his tongue.

"Cas, could you give us a minute," Dean said, keeping his eyes on Sam's defiant bitch face. He heard Cas shuffle out of the room. No rush of wings, no displaced air, just soft footfalls and the gentle thunk of the door being closed behind him. Man, that was going to take some getting used too.

"So you're still being a dick to him?" Sam accused.

"Dude, come on," Dean said, holding his hands palm up in exasperation. "He couldn't be bothered, after all this time, to just take half a second to just work with us and, I don't know, figur crap out!"

"Yeah, but Dean," Sam said slowly, "he was trying to save his family. I mean, you just displayed pretty clearly what you're willing to sacrifice for me. We denied a holy quest that would have sealed evil away forever for purely selfish reasons."

"Sammy-" Dean began, but Sam interrupted.

"I'm not saying that I regret it," Sam sat up a little straighter. "I'm just saying that if anyone can relate to what Cas tried to do it's us."

"I just wish he had trusted me more." The words escaped his lips and they were so honest that Dean cringed a little at the knowing look on Sam's face.

"I think that we could all use a little more trust in this family," Sam said, the corner of his mouth twitched upwards in a smirk. "Just try to remember that Cas is probably freaking out right now trying to figure out all of his human needs and feelings and just everything."

"You're not wrong," Dean said his eyes widening for a second. "Dude, he cried. Like really cried. I had no idea what to do."

"My God Dean," Sam said rolling his eyes.

"What?" Dean said defensively. "I mean, I hugged him and kind of patted him on the back."

Sam just shook his head at Dean, his expression have annoyed, half amused.

"Look, to be honest, I'm more worried about you," Dean said, slumping into the bedside chair that Cas had vacated.

"Me?" Sam squinted at him confused. "I'm alive. I failed to complete the trials."

"Yeah, and you honestly think that there isn't going to be some huge B.S. consequence for opting out on a mission from God?"

"Hey, you were the one who talked me into it, Dean," Sam said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Don't get me wrong," Dean said. "I wouldn't change anything, but I can't believe that we, of all people, would be lucky enough to get out of this without penalty."

"That's a fair point," Sam said looking a little worried. "But I'm not dead so... What's it going to be?"

"The hell if I know," Dean sighed. "Kevin has been combing over the demon tablet trying to figure it out, but honestly I don't know if that will help. Cas says that your case is probably the first. One of a kind."

"Lucky me," Sam grumbled. Dean stood up.

"So, do you want some breakfast?" Dean gestured to the now empty plate that had held Castiel's first meal as a human.

"Actually, I sort of just want to sleep some more," Sam said, flopping back down on his pillows.

"Alright well shout if you need anything," Dean said as he walked out of the room. Sam grunted in response.

Dean walked to the kitchen, but stopped at the entrance and observed the curious scene before him. Kevin and Cas stood at the stove. Kevin seemed to be attempting to show Castiel how to appropriately crack and scramble eggs in the big cast iron skillet. Cas was concentrating furiously on the stove and the way Kevin moved the eggs around the pan in quick chopping motions with a Teflon spatula.

Dean couldn't help but grin a little. If nothing else, it was going to be fun to watch Castiel try to figure out how to be human. The dude was really clueless about so many things. Dean walked up to the stove and took the pan and spatula from Kevin.

"You guys go sit," Dean said gruffly. "I'll finish cooking. I don't trust either of you with my food."

"I can cook just fine," Kevin grumbled.

"Whatever, you ate nothing but hot dogs for like three months," Dean pointed out. Dean glanced at Cas who was still standing next to him starring as always. Dean looked down at the eggs and smiled slightly. Maybe this was a chance to start over. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad.

Hah, Oh Dean. What show have you been watching? It's not going to be pretty. Please Review and Favorite!

-Fox