Dean and Cas slept for most of the day, awoken by the smell of burnt bacon and toast. Dean opened his eyes first, struggling to move because his body was too tired and stiff. He turned to see Magnus smiling happily holding a tray of what Dean could only imagined was their breakfast. He cringed at the smell, but smiled anyway.

"Thanks." Dean struggled to sit up and turned and looked at Castiel, his eyes were half shut. "Hey, Cas, you awake?" Dean whispered in Cas' ear.

Castiel slowly opened his eyes and without warning dropped into a fit of fear and panic. He kicked and thrashed his way off the bed. Dean was quick to grab him, but he hadn't the strength to contain him. So they both fell off the bed onto the floor. Magnus set down the tray and hurried to Castiel's side and tried to calm him down.

"Cas! Castiel! It's okay! You're safe! You're safe!" Dean hugged him, until he calmed and drifted back to sleep. When Dean felt Castiel's body go limp he released him and placed him back on the floor. He frowned. He thought the worst was over but like always there was something new to take its place. "How long is this going to last?" Dean turned to Magnus.

"Give him time." Magnus consulted Dean.

Dean trusted him, but he was tired and wasn't in the mood to deal with this right now. He let Magnus place Castiel back on the bed. He could feel that Cas was calmer now, he sensed a little bit of confusion, but he wasn't sure if it was him or Cas. He would need time to get use to this emotion sharing thing, but now was not the time, he was hungry and burnt bacon and toast were looking real good.

Downstairs Magnus cleaned up the kitchen. Magnus was a lousy cook, but Dean could tell by the scope of the mess in the kitchen that Magnus put his heart into. Dean smiled and thanked him as he ate his meal.

"You know, you don't have to eat it if it is not to your liking." Magnus told Dean, he knew it was not a suitable meal for a human, but he tried.

"It's okay, I'm starving. I feel like I haven't eaten in days." Dean slapped a slice of butter on his near blacken toast.

"Well you have been asleep for over twenty-four hours. I was beginning to worry about you two." Magnus looked to Castiel's room. "But I am so glad that the two of you made it."

"Couldn't have done it without you. Thank you." Dean meant it. He was sure he still had a long way to go, but he had Cas back so that was all that mattered.

Magnus turned to clean off the table when he saw Castiel leaning on the door frame. He looked very tired and disorientated. Magnus started to move towards him, but Castiel was too quick. Dean turned when he sensed someone behind him and was shocked to see Cas hurdling towards him. "Food." Was all he muttered before scarfing down the rest of Dean's bacon and toast. He cleaned the plate and licked up all the crumbs too. Dean pulled him off the table when he went for the butter.

"Wo there buddy. Let me cook you something."

Castiel stared at Dean with such a pitiful look and whined. "But, I'm, so hungry." He struggled to get out.

Dean settled Cas into the chair and got up and walked to the counter. "Here, have an apple." He tossed it to Cas, but his sluggish reflexes were no match for the incoming object. So the apple bounced off his face and landed on the floor. Dean winced.

"Sorry buddy."

Castiel glared at him. He was in no mood to deal with anything standing in the way of him and food. He had no idea how he was still alive and his body was throbbing as if he had just ran a marathon's worth of miles around the Earth. Magnus was quick to fetch the apple from the floor and rinse it off. Castiel narrowed his eyes as if he had seen that man before. However his concentration on him did not last long when Magnus placed six freshly cut apple slices in front of him. Castiel ate them without thought, consuming the apple slices like a hungry predator. Dean felt a sharp feeling of panic from Castiel and turned around to find that he was choking.

"Shit!" Dean dropped the pan and ran to him. With a few tight squeezes the apple chunk flew from Castiel's mouth. "Cas slow down would ya!" Dean shouted at his friend. Cas looked at him, so beaten and tired. Dean sighed. "Here, give me a sec and I'll have breakfast for you in a minute."

Cas groaned as he rocked in his chair, he was on the verge of fainting. He was starving and confused. Last thing he remembered was being strapped to a table at the mercy of Crowley. The thought sent panic through his body and he was near a breakdown when Dean embraced him from behind. He could fell Cas tipping over the edge.

"It's okay buddy you're safe." Dean placed the plate of fried bologna, eggs, and toast in front of him.

Castiel felt a little better, but he wasn't sure why, a feeling of love and warmth flooding into him, feeding some unknown hunger deep inside him. He felt better and the smell of a fresh meal was music to his stomach as well. He ate slower this time, savoring each bite, it was deliciously. After his meal Dean took him to the den. He wanted to clean his sheets so Cas would have something fresh to sleep on for the night. As he changed the bedding Magnus walked in.

"Dean, when are you going to tell him about the spell?"

"Soon." Dean responded quickly.

"How soon?" Magnus pried

"Soon okay! What's the rush?" Dean hurried past Magnus, but the angel just teleported in front of him.

"Dean, this isn't a matter that is best left alone." Magnus warned. "It needs to be attended to sooner rather than later." Magnus said with all seriousness.

Dean sighed in frustration, but Magnus was right. "Well can it wait til he's rested up?" Dean pleaded. Magnus nodded.

Dean wished he didn't have to drop the bomb on Castiel so soon, but he could sense Castiel was searching for answers. Confusion, was the clearest emotion he felt from Cas and it ate at him, leaving in its path a trail of panic and fear. Castiel didn't need to suffer anymore, Dean would tell him at lunchtime.


Castiel lied on the couch, in complete exhaustion. His mind was sluggish and he was having trouble time processing the events that were unfolding around him. He knew for a fact that he died. He remembered the burn of the angel blade through his back, but yet he was here. He wasn't sure how this was even possible, but there was a bad feeling in his stomach and yet there was a gentle hum of peace and happiness there too. It was very small and felt foreign, much like the feelings he use to get from Jimmy. Someone or something was residing inside of him. For him to be alive Dean must have made a deal. Then the realization hit him, whoever that man Dean was with was either an angel or a demon. Panic turned Castiel sick. Dean made a deal, Castiel was sure of it. He didn't want this, he didn't want Dean to be put in this situation. He should have known better. Dean was terrible at letting go and where was Sam? Did something happen to Sam? Castiel started to sob. If he hadn't been so foolish to meet Crowley that day, Dean wouldn't have gotten himself into trouble like this. Suddenly the little bit of happiness he had left turned to worry and Dean appeared at the door. He looked concerned and rushed right over to Cas, who was now bursting into a fit of tears.

"Cas what's wrong?" Dean reached for the dish cloth in his back pocket and wiped the tears from Castiel's eyes. "Hey, it's going to be okay." Dean moved the hair from Castiel's forehead, he wanted to kiss him there, but he was nervous. He wasn't sure how Castiel would react in his current state.

"Dean." Castiel whimpered. "Please, please tell me you didn't make a deal. Dean please, I'm sorry."

"Cas." Dean grabbed Castiel's hands and wrapped his hands around his. "You have nothing to be sorry about." Dean was getting teary eyed, but he couldn't break down now. He needed to tell Castiel the truth. "Cas, listen. I didn't make a deal. I mean, it. It's not what you think."

"What did you do Dean?" Castiel's worried turned to panic and Dean could feel it.

"An angel helped me."

"Who?"

"Magnus."

Castiel thought for a second. He was familiar with that angel. He was a spell caster in first line defense unit. They were not friends, only comrades, but after he absorbed the Leviathans and after the angels were casted from Heaven his alliance changed.

"What did he do?" Castiel said with real worry.

Magnus stepped into the den. "Nothing Dean will regret." He spoke honestly. "I casted a binding spell to revive you."

"Binding spell? Why?" Castiel searched Magnus's eyes for truth.

"Because." Magnus walked over to Dean. "We are forever in debt to you and your brother Dean." Magnus placed a hand on Dean's shoulders. He meant it and Dean could tell.

Dean looked back at Cas, he was nervous and untrusting. His heart was filled with malice and uncertainly, something that would only heal over time.

"I don't, I don't understand. How did you revive me?" Castiel looked down at his hands and brushed them through his hair. "And back in this vessel, where did you find it?"

"It's a long story Cas." Dean sat down on the floor in front of Cas.

"Shorten it." Castiel stated bluntly.

"The short version." Magnus interrupted. "Is that I casted a forbidden spell on you and Dean that would bind your time to revive you."

"Bind? The Cupid's Spell?" Castiel said in horror. "But if I?"

"Yes I know Cas." Dean pulled Cas's chin up so that he was facing him. "I'm aware of the consequences."

"Why?" Castel searched Dean's eyes for an honest answer. A foreign mixture of nervousness and anxiousness was building up inside of him.

"Because Cas, I." Dean looked away and fidgeted nervously. Their eyes met again and Dean hadn't the stomach to tell Cas how he really felt. "Because Cas, I need you." Dean choked. He felt selfish and greedy. "I'm sorry."

A feeling of love warmed the deepest parts of Castiel's heart. It cradled him and made him feel safe. He soon realized these feelings were not his own. They were Dean's. Castiel cracked and smiled and reached out and placed his hand on Dean's leg.

"Thank you, Dean."

Dean felt the warm from Cas' soul. He smiled, feeling so relieved. "You rest up man." Dean rubbed Castiel's hand.

Castiel smiled and nodded. He was still wary of Magnus but he would have to trust him for now.


By the next day Castiel was feeling much better. He was able to sit up and even walk a little more. He was not at all upset at his slow progress, because he was just grateful to have this second chance. Dean introduced him to Netflix and Boston Crème Pie and Castiel was starting to warm up to his situation. Magnus left, promising to return if they needed him. Thanks to Dean's thoughtful planning the two didn't need to leave the bunker anytime soon, they were set. Dean brought Castiel his lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese.

"Here you go buddy." Dean placed the bowl and plate on the coffee table.

"Thank you Dean." Castiel smiled contently. He was happier Magnus was gone, even though he owed him a great deal of gratitude. He knew the gravity of the situation when Magnus came down and casted the spell. He knew of only one time that the spell was cast before and the price Magnus paid was severe. So coming down to cast the spell again, meant that Magnus was sacrificing a lot. Castiel was sure that it would be held against him in Heaven, but Magnus was a strong and resilient angel. He would be a good leader for Heaven. Castiel sighed happily as he reached for his lunch. Metatron was dead and Castiel wouldn't go near the thought of Crowley. Even though Dean had told him everything about Crowley's plan, it stilled burned Castiel up inside. It made him both angry and fearful at the same time. So he focused on other things, like what a skillful cook Dean was and how he always stuck around at night to make sure Cas was safe.

"This is amazing Dean." Castiel enjoyed every bite.

"Damn right." Dean chuckled.

A flood of joy and happiness entered Cas and caused him to buddle with excitement. It was from Dean, Castiel could feel it. It was much stronger than the feelings he would get from Jimmy. It unlocked feelings Castiel did not understand and hide away, and brought them to the surface. He wasn't sure why he felt this way, but he reveled in it.

"Dean." Castiel spoke between bites. "Have you told Sam?"

Dean choked on his beer. "Yeah!" Dean coughed.

Castiel glared at him. "Dean."

"I'm going to tell him. Hey you're dripping soup." Dean dodged the question.

Castiel looked down and quickly used his fingers to wipe up the few drops of wayward soup. "Oops, sorry." Castiel licked the soup from his fingers.

Dean watched as Castiel sucked the tomato colored soup from each of his fingers. He had to blink a few times, to shake the tainted thoughts from his mind. He wasn't even sure if Castiel felt that way about him and honestly he was content with just being next to Cas. He treasured their friendship more than he did anything romantic.

Dean laughed and patted Castiel on the back. "It's okay buddy." Dean kicked his feet up on the table and let Cas pick the next movie to watch. Their time together was fun and the two binged a few comedies together and laughed a lot more than they expected. They were in tears when they started to watch Dharma and Greg. The relationship of the straight edge and free spirit kind of reminded Dean of when he first met Cas. He was the perfect solider when he meant him and now he'd been reduced to a mere human, laughing and caring on as if he was born and here. In the end Dean couldn't tell if this was better for Cas than being with his own kind, but Cas was happy and Dean could feel that.

Dean wrapped his arms around Cas and pulled him close. He expected a little resistant, but Castiel was more than happy to share in a little full body contact. He was calming down, he was getting better. He still had a long way to go, but their bond was stronger than ever.

Castiel lied on Dean's chest breathing at the same pace as Dean. He had a lot more questions on his mind, but for now he was content with lying on Dean's chest. Inside of him he could feel something else stirring, something hot that made his skin redden. It made him feel closer to Dean, it made him have thoughts he would never have recognized as an angel and it made him question Dean motives behind bringing him back.

Dean sensed a change in Castiel's demeanor. "Is everything alright?" Dean stared down at him.

There was a long pause and nothing was heard expect for the sounds from the TV. Castiel sat up and positioned his entire body flat on Dean's. Their stomachs were touching and Castiel was leaning up on his elbows over Dean. He stared a Dean for a long time and searched his eyes for the answers he sought.

"Dean."

"Yes Cas?" Dean was breathing hard, they were so close, and his mind was wondering towards things he was not prepared to admit yet.

Castiel squinted as if he just caught sight of the thing he was looking for. Dean's eyes widened and he was nervous, but dared not look away, then Castiel kissed him. It was warm, compulsive, and sloppy, but Dean's body immediately responded to it. When Dean felt no rejection, lips parted as tongues found their way to the other side. Each explored and the kissed deepened, drawing the moans and grunts from the both of them. They broke for air as Castiel hovered over Dean. He had found the answer he needed and smiled at Dean with such affectionate eyes.

"Dean."

"I know." Dean smiled and pulled Castiel's face a little closer and planted another kiss on his lips. Castiel laughed and settled back on Dean's chest, feeling content and happy. The two fell asleep shortly after.


A door unlocked and voices could be heard. Dean was the first to wake. He heard his brother and another voice. There was no time to hide, Castiel was asleep on his chest. The voices hushed and whispered as they came closer. The TV was giving Dean away and cursed himself for not turning it off. Sam was coming to check on him for sure. The panic woke Cas just as Sam turned on the light.

"Dean?" Sam whispered, but Cas stood up first. "Cas?" Sam stared in shock.

"I can explain!" Dean shot up, but standing next to Sam was a young woman. "Who's she?" Dean and Sam exchanged looks. This was going to be the start of a long day.