Title: Fingers Tap Into What We Were Once
Series: Supernatural
Author: frayed1989
Chapters: 9/?
Characters/Pairing: Dean/Castiel, Dean/Anna, Castiel/Balthazar, Past Castiel/Crowley, Past Anna/Crowley,
Rating: R18 [PG13 for this chapter]
Warnings: Infidelity, Minor Character Death, Adult Language, and Sexual Content.
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. It belongs to its creators and the network that runs it. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: So first- sorry for the delay. For those of you who don't follow me on tumblr, I've been sick since wednesday and am still working on getting better so this one's pretty short. That being said, I am currently on spring break and (time permitting) will hopefully have an extra chapter up for you guys on thursday. However, next weekend I'll be out-of-state/away from my computer so I might have to move that sunday update as well. The point is you'll definitely get an update thursday (yay!) and hopefully by then I'll have a better understanding of whether or not the next update (chapter 11) will be on time or delayed.
Second, this chapter is not beta'd so any mistakes are my own. Enjoy!
Also! If you haven't already, be sure to check out the prequel, One Night if you haven't.
Feedback: Always welcomed and loved. Flames however are not.

Summary: Human!AU. Castiel never expected to see Dean again, the man from one marvelous one-night stand. However when Dean walks back into Castiel's life on the arm of his twin sister, Anna, a year later, Castiel's world is turned upside down as he realizes just how much Dean affects him. UPDATES SUNDAYS


Though he tried hard not to, his eyes kept drifting back to Dean. They followed him as he moved from one end of the room to the other, guided by Michael who seemed insistent on introducing Dean to everyone he thought important. Castiel found he couldn't tear his gaze away though Balthazar's soft cultured voice seemed to often call for him to. Still he remained focused on Dean's broad shoulders, tense under Michael's firm grip, his smile which didn't quiet reach his eyes, his hands that gripped a little too tight at the glass Michael had offered soon after his introduction.

Something had obviously been about to happen in the bathroom. Castiel was sure of it, even now as he stood with Balthazar and a few of his co-workers, discussing trends in the stock market. He knew that had Gabriel not interrupted, he probably would have still been in the bathroom consumed by Dean instead of trying to follow the conversation and failing miserably as he watched Dean interact with Michael across the room.

What was worse was that Castiel was sure that Balthazar knew. Knew that the reason why Castiel shifted restlessly beneath the warm press of his hand on his lower back was because to the other man. Knew that Castiel itched to return to his side, to drag him some place dark and secret to continue whatever had been interrupted those few minutes ago. Knew that Castiel wanted Dean's breath, his lips, his hands, his touch.

Castiel sighed and sipped at the red wine Balthazar had pressed into his hand when he had returned. He smiled politely and nodded along when it felt appropriate but otherwise did not try to engage in conversation. Instead, he let his gaze traverse the room to settle on Dean, only to look away when he thought he stared a little too long. Balthazar shifted restless next to him, his grip tightening on his hip and pulling him closer. Castiel frowned down into his glass and wondered if perhaps Balthazar had noticed his stare and then thought that of course the other man had, he knew after all.

He shouldn't have been surprised when Balthazar excused them from their small group a moment later and pulled him into the empty study adjacent. Castiel frowned when Balthazar pulled away and watched as the taller man ran a shaky hand through his blonde hair. "What's going on, Castiel?" he asked after a moment of silence and Castiel found he could only stare blankly at him, wondering what had prompted the sudden change in demeanor and knowing the answer in the back of his head. Balthazar matched his gaze and waited patiently, reaching out and taking the wine glass from him to place on the desk. "You haven't been right since you came back."

"Been right?" Castiel replied, confused, his brow furrowing as Balthazar sighed and shook his head, hesitating slightly before moving forward and rubbing Castiel's arms as if to ward off a non-existent chill.

"Yes, you've been unresponsive, head-in-the-cloud, and frankly rude since you returned from wherever is was that you had wandered off to." Castiel nodded but shook off Balthazar's touch and took a step back, placing distance between them. Balthazar's frown deepened and his hands hung listlessly at his sides. "Cassie?"

"Sorry," he sighed, closing his eyes and pinching at the bridge of his nose as if to stave off the rush of guilt that threatened to overtake him. "I'm just- out of it, I guess. You know I hate these things." Balthazar nodded and Castiel let his shoulders slouch forward as he grabbed Balthazar by the waist and pulled him close. "Sorry, for being out of it," he murmured, pressing his nose to Balthazar's neck and inhaling deeply. He pushed back the thought Balthazar didn't smell right, his cologne too overpowering, not enough leather and spice that seemed to cling to Dean and permeate the air around him. He shook the thought from his head and pressed closer, nipping lightly at the corded muscle of Balthazar's neck and rolling his hips forward.

Balthazar groaned lightly before pulling away, a soft chuckle falling from his lips as he held Castiel at arms length. "No, Cassie. I know what you're trying to pull here but it's not going to work." Castiel tugged at Balthazar's shirt, un-tucking it to slide slim fingers under the hem to get at the skin beneath as he pressed forward, his lips trailing Balthazar jaw and his teeth tugging at his earlobe.

"What are you trying to imply?" he breathed and Balthazar only laughed and pulled away once more.

"Nope. You stay here and cool down," Balthazar said, smiling. Castiel rolled his eyes but readily flopped down into an available chair as Balthazar tucked his shirt back in as well as readjust his pants. "Don't worry, I promise I'll make it up to you later." He pressed a kiss to Castiel's forehead and wiggled his eyebrows before disappearing back out to the party.

Castiel slumped further into the chair and a hand through his hair. He debated briefly sneaking out and heading home to curl up on the couch and pass out watching Psych on netflix but decided against it. Instead he forced himself up off the chair and out into the life of the party. Balthazar was once again engulfed in a heated discussion with three other partygoers, no-doubt co-workers of Michael's. Castiel made his way around the room, intent on escaping to the empty balcony once more when Gabriel hauled him into a corner by the bar.

"Saw Balthazar come out of the study a few minutes ago looking pretty disheveled. You don't waste anytime, do you baby brother?" Gabriel grinned, his tongue tucked lewdly between his teeth. Castiel frowned and shook his head as he looked about the room. He heard Gabriel sigh heavily next to him and felt his arm slip around his shoulder, pulling him down to his height. "He's not here, kiddo. Michael has him ensconced in the wine cellar- cellar? It's not really a cellar is it, but room is simply to blasé a term. You know what I mean."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Castiel replied, shrugging off his arm. Gabriel rolled his eyes and knocked back the rest of his drink with a grimace and a shake of his jaw.

"Sure thing. Anyways, Michael is probably inducting Dean-o into the order, Anna is of course the belle of the ball, suitors vying for her attention over in the foyer, and Lucifer seems to have absconded with the youngest Winchester. My guess is that they've escaped to the roof. I'm thinking about escaping up there myself in a few if you wanna join." Castiel shook his head and Gabriel nodded, reaching over the bar to grab an unopened bottle of vodka. "Suit yourself, you know where I'll be," he said with a shake of the bottle before he stashed it underneath his jacket and bounded for the door.

Castiel sighed and looked about the room once more. As Gabriel has said, Anna was surrounded by plenty of people, a few he recognized and mostly men and Balthazar was still happily conversing away on the other side of the room. Castiel reached over the bar and snatched a bottle of his own before he made his way out onto the balcony for some much needed alone time to get his thoughts in order.


Dean's face hurt from all the smiling but he held it anyways, lips stretched a little too wide and pressed a little too thin for comfort as Michael slapped him hard on the back and gestured once more to the collection of wine and other assorted liquors he had collected throughout the short years of his career. He talked too fast and seemed to jump from topic to topic so quickly that all Dean could do to keep up was to simply nod along and keep smiling. He sipped at the brandy Michael had poured him earlier and fought to not let it dribble back out of his mouth and into the glass he held as he nodded along to Michael's monologue. "So Dean, I hear your brother's a lawyer." Dean's eyes widened and he nodded eagerly; happy to finally be on a topic he was confident on.

"Yeah. Works over at Holtenbock & Vick." Michael nodded and poured Dean more brandy though his glass was still half full. Dean lifted the glass in thanks, his right eye twitching slightly as he swallowed a mouthful, trying to hold his breath over the taste and failing miserably.

"Great firm, we've used them a few times," Michael commented and Dean found himself nodding once more, waiting for the other man to continue.

"Yeah, he's a smart kid. He's only been out of school two years and apparently there's talk of making him a partner," Dean said after a few minutes of silence. Michael smiled widely and thumped Dean once more on the back.

"And what about you, Dean?" Dean frowned and backed up a pace as he shrugged his shoulders and looked around the room.

"What about me? Not much to say." Michael circled around him and pressed a firm hand against his shoulder as if to ground him. Dean tensed but did not try to shrug him off.

"I wouldn't say that Dean, after all, you practically raised Sam on your own, didn't you?" Dean's frown deepened and his brows furrowed together in question. Michael smiled gently and nodded towards the door and the party that went on behind it. "Anna. Now, before you get too upset about Anna spilling your family secrets, you should know that I would have found out anyway. It's rare that I have to wait five months to meet one of my siblings significant others." Dean frowned but didn't speak, sure that he'd say something to offend the man before him. Michael smiled easily and finished off his glass of brandy, placing it down on the small table in the center of the room.

"I'm sure you understand, seeing as how you raised Sam, I raised my own siblings." As Dean's expression changed, Michael let out a soft laugh and shrugged his shoulders. "Our parents are very much still alive, however, the thing you should know about them is that they're not very involved. It was father's belief that we should make our own choices and learn from their consequences, be they good or bad. I had the most structure, being the first born but by the time Anna and Castiel were born, well, whatever affinity my parents had for parenting vanished." He sighed and tapped lightly at Dean's still full glass, prompting him to take another drink of it. "I suppose I'm a little bit too invested in their lives but it's only because I want what's best for them. I'm sure, due to your own relationship with your brother, you can relate."

Dean frowned but found himself nodding wearily and agreement and Michael smiled once more, too wide, too perfect, and too much like Lucifer and for a moment, Dean wondered exactly what kind of family he had gotten his involved with. "Great," Michael said with another clap to his back and Dean fought back a grimace, smiling tightly as he rolled his shoulder. "So I'm sure you understand when I say that I expect great things from you, Dean. And I'm sure you'll make Anna very happy."

"That's the plan," Dean said, biting back the sir that nearly slipped out. Michael laughed heartily and wrapped his arm around Dean's shoulder, turning him towards the door and guiding him out of the room.

"Well then, I think I've said all I've needed to tonight. Go on and enjoy the rest of party." Dean nodded and moved to do exactly that but Michael caught him and pulled him back, grabbing his injured hand and holding it up for him to inspect. "Castiel did a good job of cleaning that," he said softly, his green eyes slowly tracking the bandage before meeting Dean's and Dean found he could only nod dumbly. Michael hummed and dropped his hand, smiling so that the skin around his eyes crinkled in simulated joy as he walked out of the room and left a bewildered Dean alone.


"Not back to slice your other hand, I hope." The deep, graveled voice had Dean spinning around too fast for a second time that night though there were no glasses in danger of tumbling off the balcony or shattering in his hand. He sighed as he caught sight of Castiel slouched in the corner, nursing a nearly empty bottle of whiskey to his chest. Dean gave a soft easy smile and joined the other man in the shadows, sitting down next to him and knocking his shoulder lightly as he relieved the man of his bottle and took a sip of his own.

"Nope. You could have warned me, though," Dean replied and Castiel frowned, his brows furrowed, a small line creasing his forehead.

"Warned you of what?" he asked as he reached over a grabbed the bottle, his plush lips resting lightly against the lip of the bottle before he tilted it back and took another sip as Dean watched. He coughed and shrugged, accepting the bottle when it was passed back with a nod of thanks.

"That your family is full of fuckin' freaks- no offence." Castiel barked a laugh and slouched closer, the length of his thigh pressed firmly to Dean's as he shook, trying and failing to catch his breath.

"None taken," he giggled and Dean found himself laughing softly in return, watching the other man unravel before him. His shirt was pulled out from his slacks and the first four buttons were undone, the pale skin glowing ghostly in the moonlight. Castiel grinned, his head lulled back, his throat bare, his smile gummy, and the corner of his eyes crinkled in mirth. "I heard Michael had gotten a hold of you, hope it wasn't too horrible." Dean shrugged his shoulders and knocked Castiel gently.

"Nope, just weird and creepy. Which reminds me, I don't suppose you know where my idiot brother got to, do you?" Castiel shrugged and frowned, taking the bottle back and finishing it before letting it drop with a clatter to the floor.

"Gabriel believes they've escaped to the roof," he replied as he watched the bottle roll away, his arm stretched as he pointed upwards towards the sky. "I honestly don't know though I was very surprised to see him here." Dean huffed and nodded, relaxing as he settled into the hard bench, Castiel pressed in warm and close next to him.

They sat silently, Dean counting Castiel's breaths as Castiel fidgeted next to him, pressing close and then pulling away. Dean wondered briefly how much the other man had had before he had found him when Castiel pressed up against him, his blue eyes dark and too close. "Dean," he sighed, his breath fanning warm and damp across Dean's mouth, tongue sweeping out to wet crackled lips.

Dean took a deep breath and nodded, letting his eyes fall shut and his own hands graze Castiel's arms, hovering, not quiet touching. "Yeah?" Castiel huffed and shifted closer, chest pressed firmly against Dean's, his nose pressed in next to Dean's, his lips a hair breaths away. Dean could feel the flutter of eyelashes against his cheeks and when he licked at his lips he could just about taste the whiskey that permeated each breath Castiel exhaled against them.

"In the bathroom," Castiel said softly, his stubble a rough scrape against his own and Dean nodded, willing the other man to continue. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" Dean breathed, biting his bottom lip when Castiel's breath hitched and his fingers gripped tightly at Dean's shirt. Castiel hummed softly and pursed his lips, a light press against Dean's own though not quiet a kiss. Dean sighed and nodded, not sure of what question he was answering but hoping it was the right one. "Yeah," he sighed, clenching his eyes shut tight and allowing his hands to finally grab and hold as Castiel shuddered in his grasp. "Yeah. Yeah, I wanted to."

Castiel only gave a sigh as warning before he pressed forward. Dean groaned at the contact and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer as Castiel scrambled for purchase. His lips were soft and pliant under Dean's, his tongue tracing the seam of his mouth before delving in to taste and devour. He mewled softly, biting at Dean's lower lip as his fingers carded through Dean's hair. Dean sighed and licked into his mouth, moaning when he finally maneuvered the other man onto his lap before rolling his hips upwards. Castiel pulled away with a stuttered breath and rolled his hips down in answer as he pressed his mouth close to Dean's ear and whispered, "I wanted that too."