"So," Dean turned as Alistair sat down next to him, "brother complex, huh?"
Dean sighed. "Can we stop the chit chat. Danced this dance, remember?"
Alistair chuckled a little. "Yes. But you're enjoying this."
Dean looked at him. "What?"
Alistair leaned forward. "This. You are really enjoying this. Doing what we do."
"Torture." Dean stated.
"Crafting." Alistair spat back. Dean knew he was touchy but he had been more easily set off lately. "You really broke that hag."
Dean smiled a little. "Little charm, little smile-"
"Big knife." Alistair finished and he and Dean laughed.
"Yeah, exactly." Dean looked around. "Can I ask?" Alistair nodded. "Why are we in a cafeteria?"
Alistair looked around. In was a lunch hall just like in any boring work place. "Why not?"
Dean pointed to his table and then gestured around. "No one is eating." Alistair exhaled a laughed. "We don't need to eat. So, what's the point?"
"Theatre." Alistair added and hit Dean on the shoulder. "Come on let's..." He trailed off as he and a handful of other Demons looked to the side. "I have to go."
"Alistair." He went to walk away and Dean followed him. "Alistair!"
"You ready?" A Demon saddled up next to them talking to Alistair.
Alistair nodded. "Yes." He turned back to Dean. "Keep going. You don't need me, kid."
Dean followed him a few steps and a couple of other Demons passed him talking.
"-breaking in, I mean if they get in here-"
"-but we spend our time trying to get out, who would want to get in-"
The first one shrugged and they carried on walking.
"Break in?" Dean muttered.
Dean stirred enough to wake slightly. He looked to the chair beside his bed. Empty. He turned to the other side of the bed. Empty.
And why was he disappointed? He reached for his phone, he had spoken to Sam earlier and argued with him down the phone that he better get his ass back to base so Dean could kick it. Sam had told him no and no he wouldn't say where he was. And yes, he had turned his GPS off so Dean could bite him. Then Sam had hung up.
Dean pressed call. "Sam?"
"What?"
"Don't get all bitchy on me." Dean rubbed his face. He didn't want to argue. "I'm just checking you're okay."
There was a pause. "Sorry. I'm fine."
"Sam-"
"Dean, honestly, I'm fine. I was getting cabin fever in there and you were smothering the life out of me." Dean laughed. "I just need to hunt this demon down and I will come back. I need to purge something."
Dean nodded, he could understand that. "I hear it's good for the soul."
Sam laughed. "How was the rub down?"
Dean's face grew stern as he spoke and gestured into the phone. "You are dead." Sam just laughed. "Seriously, Sam. What the hell was that?"
"It was a nudge."
"Sam, I don't know what you think you know but Cas and me, we're just mates."
"Yeah, sure." Dean sighed. "Dean, there is something between you. I know there is. And so do you."
"See, this is what I mean. I try to tell Cas that I need to make sure you know I'm there for you and he takes off. I finally get him back and then you take off. I can't seem to keep a balance here."
"Dean, I left because I need to hunt something, to know that I can still deal. I need that. I won't get any further if I don't get it."
"But I could have come with you. You're shutting me out." Dean hated that he sounded needy but it was true. There was no need for Sam to be out there alone and it was ridiculous that Sam might collapse any moment without back up.
"I need to do this but on my own. I need that. You can do a million things Dean but this healing has to be me and all I ask is that you let me deal the way I know how." Dean sighed. "Take some time yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"Dean, I can see it between you and Cas," Dean ran a hand through his hair, "I'm not saying you have to do anything or whatever but I'm just saying stop looking around and take five minutes to look after yourself. I'm not the only one that has been through stuff lately. Please. Just listen to your own mind and body and just... Just listen to yourself."
Dean inhaled. "Yeah." He widened his eyes. He didn't seem to have a choice right now and it didn't sound like a bad idea. "Call me... Bitch."
"I will, jerk."
The phone clicked and Dean sighed.
.
Cas was pacing the main room with his cell in his hand. "Call him? Don't call him?"
Dean walked along the corridor and heard Cas talking, he poked his head and saw Cas pacing nervously so he stayed back and listened.
"Call him, or not, or call him?" He pressed the phone to his lip and turned on his feet. "And say what? Hey Sam, how's it going," 'Sam' Dean muttered to himself, why would Cas want to call Sam and why was he so nervous?, "so listen, it's about you're brother."
Dean listened harder and Cas grunted.
"Then what? He'll say, 'Oh really Cas,' or Castiel, he usually calls me Castiel, 'Oh really Castiel, what about Dean?' And then what do I say?"
Dean thought about everything, why would Cas want to talk to Sam about him? What could he not just say to Dean? Had Dean made him uncomfortable?
"No, I can't." Dean leaned and saw Cas put his cell down on the table. "I can't do it."
Dean made a quick retreat and then walked forward as if he was just coming along as Cas walked out and towards him. Dean looked up and smiled. "You alright?"
"Yeah, just going to take a shower."
"Alright." Dean kept walking and Cas turned to look.
A few more seconds and Dean would have heard him talking to Sam. Close one.
.
"Did she pass out again? She passed out again, didn't she?" Alistair looked up from his perch on the bloody floor. Dean nodded and leaned back against the wall. "This one is so boring. All she does is scream."
"I thought you liked a screamer." Dean smirked as Alistair stood up and looked at him. "I know I do."
"I do." Alistair rubbed his head. "But she's just non-stop from start to finish. I don't know what's making her scream from cut to burn."
"Frigging drama queens, right?"
"I know!" Alistair turned his head and then pointed to Dean with his ice pick. "You know, you were fun." Dean looked up, not with venom or distrust but as if he was talking about a film. "You were one of my best works of art."
Dean put his right hand to his chest. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Alistair." Dean chuckled.
"Really?" Alistair leaned his hand at the side of Dean's head and he moved his head back until it hit the wall.
"I don't swig that way." Dean smirked.
"What way?" He smirked and gestured between them. "We're demons."
Dean shuffled. "I like chicks."
Alistair narrowed his eyes. "So what was Davey?" Dean's jaw tightened. "Come on, Dean." He leaned back. "You keep reminding me that we've danced this dance before." He turned away.
Dean swallowed. "Me and Davey never did a thing. We were friends."
Alistair looked to him. "March 27th," Dean stopped breathing, "you were fifteen."
"I was a kid."
"You were a horny little teenager." Alistair laughed as he wiped his ice pick. "Hmm." He walked away and placed it back on the table. "Bored of that."
"That was- That was nothing!" Dean lied.
Alistair tutted as he shook his head. "Dean, Dean, Dean." He exhaled. "You enjoyed it at the time." He leaned sideways towards Dean. "Admit it. It was the best wank you've ever had."
Dean didn't say anything and the woman regained consciousness.
"Oh." Alistair smiled again. "Saved by the bell."
.
Dean woke up suddenly. He rubbed his face and felt the sweat. He needed to wash his face. But he was suddenly aware of something. He was in bed. And he was not alone.
Castiel was lying asleep next to him. Dean just looked down as Cas stirred.
"Dean?" He shot up to look. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Dean tried to put Davey's face out of his head. And that shower. "I didn't expect you to be there."
"I'm sorry." Cas went to move. "You seemed in distress and you told me to-"
"Cas, it's fine. I know I told you to." Dean put his hand on Cas'. "I just got a little start, that's all." Cas nodded. "Thanks." He mumbled as he stood. He walked along to the bathroom and splashed his face looking in the mirror.
Admit it. It was the best wank you've ever had.
Dean exhaled and walked back along the corridor. He shut the door behind him and slid into bed. He turned to face Cas who was lying on his back, breathing evening out again. What was it he wasn't telling Dean?
