The weather had cleared up, it seemed; by the time they had set off, the skies were marred with dreary clouds of grey, the aftermath of rain the previous day. By now it was pleasant; the skies were empty bar the few birds that circulated above the area in a graceful sequence of swooping and then soaring the blue above. Castiel was the first to admire such a sight, eyes remaining fixated even once the Impala was parked at the side of Carova beach.
The keys of the Impala on the loop were swung by deft fingers after having been taken out and locked the vehicle, Sam scanning the expanse of the beach. It was just as the angel had said; perfectly secluded, not a soul in sight, the only apparent life being the few wild horses that roamed the protected dunes.
"Well, I'll be damned." The younger Winchester commented softly, his other hand kept to the pocket of his jacket. "Cas was right to stop off here." He remarked, although he received no response from his big brother, who had been at his side mere moments before; just how childish had Dean planned on becoming today?
All that could be seen and heard was Dean racing across the expanse of the beach, arms outstretched and a howl of laughter, a woop similar to that of the sounds that had left his throat when they'd been on the road. Castiel watched the other, intrigued by his joyful behaviour. A glance was exchanged between the angel and the younger Winchester, much like Dean and Sam had first done at Castiel's suggestion of this place though it lacked the uncertainty; instead there sat happiness on behalf of the older Winchester.
"I'm, uh- gonna go take a wander." Sam declared simply, to which Castiel nodded. He watched the younger Winchester depart in the other direction down the beach with his hands slipped into his pockets, long legs making his strides swift to take him from view. Instead, the angel focused on the older Winchester further towards the shoreline. Choosing to follow him as he leapt at the ocean, he quietly took pleasure in seeing Dean appear so ecstatic; how childish he looked, prancing the shallow waters, a lack of concern for the water that may have come to slip into his boots.
Castiel paused at the shoreline, allowing the salt water to flow across his shoes in a rhythmical motion of the waves; it was peaceful, brought about a strange sensation of overwhelming relaxation, overwhelming serenity. Dean took a sparing glance over his shoulder, his grin unfaltering. Giving his boots a quick shake in between steps, he came to return to the angel.
"I haven't been to a beach in forever." The older Winchester chuckled, albeit sadly; as a matter of fact, he failed to remember any incidents in which he'd been at a beach. It wasn't particularly something that had been apparent in Sam's childhood, much less Dean's. He joined Castiel at his side, turning on his heel to cast his gaze across the vast ocean; seldom did the older Winchester care for view, but having been directed to such a place by the angel appeared to bring him peace of mind.
"I forgot how… beautiful, it was here." Castiel mused, rigid in posture despite the way he felt, his words reinforced by the inclination of his head once again out of habit. He took a moment to allow his gaze to wander the expanse, much like Dean did also in their exchange of silence.
"Perhaps I failed to appreciate it before; perhaps now… I see the beauty of this place for what it is, unlike I did in the past; I was blind to it all." The angel pondered, the digits of his hands flexing continuously to his words.
"Thanks for this, Cas." Dean smiled appreciatively, to which the other nodded, his expression hardening with thought.
"Why do you people keep thanking me?" He inquired genuinely; despite Sam's previous explanation, it was still a mystery to him and his understanding. Humans were strange, eloquent creatures with their ways and means of interaction. To think that he currently inhabited one was even more of an oddity to the angel.
Dean arched a brow at Castiel's lack of understanding, or supposed lack of understanding, shaking his head.
"Cas, without you, things would be a lot different. If you weren't here, we wouldn't have come here today, and I probably wouldn't be feeling good like this. That was you, Cas. You were the one who thought of that for us. You were the one who gave us this day." He attempted to explain alongside the gestures of his hands as he spoke, brows knitted together in search of a way to deepen what was supposed to be a meaningful response.
Silence once again surpassed them, hesitation about the two though they exchanged long glances. The older Winchester felt inclined to briefly search the beach for his brother, noticing an overly tall figure at the other end, admiring the wild horses, or at least he cared to assume so. Returning his sight to the angel, the two chose to gaze across the ocean as opposed to one another.
A gentle touch; Dean stretched a hand over, gentle fingers entwining around Castiel's hand. Alarm was raised slightly in the angel who glanced down at their hands, uncertainty in the blue of his vessel's oculi flitting between them and Dean's smoothed over expression. Lips parted to speak, perhaps protest or say something of significance, though nothing came in the slightest.
"You mean a lot to us, Cas." Dean spoke, his typically gruff voice having softened towards Castiel in an unexpected manner. His voice began softening even further for reasons unspoken. "You mean a lot to me." He confessed, vibrant eyes of green unwilling to leave the sea before them. How was Castiel to respond?
"I-" He faltered, his eyes finally settling upon the face of the older Winchester. "I understand, Dean." The angel informed him, slipping his digits in between Dean's, sharing the hold and tightening it; from such a simple hold he drew an undeniable sense of comfort, a sense of warmth.
"You mean a lot to me too, Dean." Lips turned skyward in a smile, the void-like expression eradicated by such a change in his features.
"You mean a lot to me too."