Chapter 3

"Jeez, Cas, you really got busted up. I can't help if you have all these shirts and jackets and crap on." Dean had laid Cas down on his bed, and could see blood and dirt on Cas' body through the rips in his shirt.

"Of course, Dean. One moment please." Cas sat up with a grunt, and Dean helped him to remove his many layers of shirts. After all four layers and his tie had been removed Cas laid back down onto the soft blankets.

"This is gonna sting like a bitch, but I gotta make sure you don't get infected. Ready?" Cas nodded, and Dean dabbed the whiskey-soaked cloth onto his chest. Cas grimaced and held back a whimper. "Sorry, dude." Dean continued to clean the wounds with the alcohol, and he could see the pain on Castiel's face. He felt horrible, but at the same time he was enjoying the prolonged view of Cas' chest muscles and smooth stomach. He really was beautiful. "Ok, that's done. Do you think you can heal them now that they're clean?"

"Is it serious enough that I must close them? If not, I would rather save my grace for more important matters." Dean could see the pain painted across Cas' face, but knew he was right to save his powers for something more dire.

"No, you'll be fine in couple of days if you just heal the normal way."

"Ok, then that is what I shall do." Cas could see how distressed Dean was, and knew from his knowledge of the man that he would blame himself for this. "Thank you, Dean. I enjoyed that very much." Dean laughed.

"You don't need to lie, Cas. I mean look at you."

"No, Dean, I mean it. I will never be able to thank you enough for giving that to me. It truly felt like I was flying again. When I am healed I would like you to continue teaching me." Dean looked at Cas in disbelief, and sw that he meant it. Dean sat down on the bed next to him and carefully placed his hand next to Cas' without letting them touch. He was on the verge of tears for some reason and didn't trust himself to come in contact in the man whom he knew only saw him as a friend.

"I can keep teachin' you, but how 'bout next time we find somewhere flat." Dean let out a small laugh, which was cut off by a choke as Cas moved his hand to sit on top of Dean's. Cas had fallen in love with Dean's soul when he rescued him from hell, and since then had grown to love every part of him.

"That would make me very happy, Dean." With a surge of love and courage, Cas used all his strength to sit up. Dean couldn't move, speak, or even breathe as his angel ever so gently pressed their lips together. Dean didn't regain control of his body until Cas pulled away and began to open his mouth to apologize, taking Dean's stillness as an indication that the feelings were not mutual. Before Cas could say anything, Dean leaned over him and pressed their lips together again, this time not quite so gently. He had waited for so long without being able to do anything, and now he finally knew that his love hadn't been in vain. Cas gasped as Dean put his weight on Cas' injured chest, and Dean quickly pulled away. He removed his own shirts as Cas watched, yearning for the return of Dean's soft lips. He crawled forward across the bed and shyly pressed his lips to Dean's chest, and a sigh escaped Dean's lips. He leaned forward and picked Cas up as if he were a fragile child, and took his place on the bed, laying Cas on top of him so his wounds wouldn't be hurt by Dean's weight. The feeling of Cas' bare chest against his own was amazing. He carefully weaved his fingers through Cas' hair as Cas slid his hands up Dean's chest towards his neck, and before either of them knew what they were doing their lips were together again, and this time there was attempt at being gentle. The feelings they had suppressed for so long were all coming forward at once, and their self-control was barely intact. Dean slid his hands down Cas' smooth back, and Cas began to move from Dean's mouth to his chin, and then his neck, then his perfect collarbones and downward to his stomach. Dean couldn't move at all and just watched as Cas began to undo the belt on his pants.

"Cas...are you sure?" Cas smiled and leaned forward to place a delicate kiss on Dean's lips.

"Yes, Dean. I am sure."