A/N: So, this chapter is once again a bit shorter than usual, but I think the next chapter is going to be a longer one, and I was just so stoked by you guys' FANTABULAWESOME reviews that I couldn't resist rushing this to you. It contains some fanservice, folks. As in, it gets a little steamaayyy. Not that it's superfluous or anything, I personally think that it's pretty necessary after all the crazy sexual tension that's been floating around for the last several chapters, but I definitely hope you guys will appreciate it.

Feel free to contradict me and knock me down a peg, of course. :P You can write a review berating me for delving into mindless smut. The point is, you have to write a review. And that means I've already won. *steeples fingers and chuckles evilly*

Also, this chapter marks my first ever double-digit-chapter fanfic! AND it is officially longer than Troubled Water, making it officially (OFFICIALLY!) the longest fanfic I've ever written. The only thing I've ever written that's longer is a piece of my own fiction that I did during National Novel Writing Month last year. So thanks for sticking in here with me, guys. You're the best readership anyone could ask for. I heart you.

The doctors decided to keep Cas overnight again for observation, and eventually Sam and Cas persuaded Dean that he could leave Cas alone in the hospital for one night (but it wasn't easy). Evidently, Dean and Cas had made up – but Sam wasn't sure exactly what kind of understanding they'd come to. And, as weird as the whole thing was, he was kinda dying to know. He'd have to corner Cas and ask him about it later; right now, his main priority was to drag Dean back to the motel and make some hex bags.

So they made a buttload of hex bags, and they moved hotels, and then they went to dinner. Both the Winchesters were subdued; Sam's meds were making him drowsy, and if he admitted it to himself, the whole "one week" thing was getting him down a little. Dean was just as quiet, although for different reasons. Their booth in the diner was too wide, too big – it wasn't built for two. It was palpable that someone was missing.

They sat in silence as they waited for their food.

"So…" Sam began, racking his brain for anything besides Cas to talk about. "I know you've been running games on me, Dean."

Dean looked morally outraged by the accusation, which was a telltale sign that Sam was right. "What on earth are you talking about?"

Sam smirked. "Okay, so I admit that I fell for it at first. But please, Dean. Even someone as dense as you knows I would never go for that Kelsey chick."

Dean got a far-off dreamy look. "Boy, did she have an amazing rack, though…"

"It was smart to use Cas," Sam admitted. "That was what fooled me. I mean, he really sold his bit, too. I didn't know he could lie like that."

Dean grinned. "Hey, he learned from the best. And admit it, Sam – it worked, didn't it? You met that piano girl, didn't you?"

As painful as it was to admit it, Dean was right; it had worked. Sam probably wouldn't have thrown himself at Jen if he hadn't been trying to get Dean off his back, trying to assuage Dean's brotherly neediness. "You're still a friggin' manipulative asshole," Sam groused.

"Aw, you know you love it," Dean retorted, smirking.

Sam kicked him under the table, and Dean swiftly kicked him back.

"So what do you think of Jen?" Sam asked innocently, sipping his coffee.

The waitress brought over their food, and Dean dug into his burger for a minute before swallowing and answering. "She seems pretty cool, Sammy. She's cute, she's funny, she's a musician, so, a little screwy. Talks a lot. But she seems very… what's the word… adjusted. Very well adjusted." He took another bite. "But then again, she's psychic, so that means you won't get away with shit."

Sam glared. "Unlike some people," he responded sharply, "I wouldn't be trying to get away with shit in the first place."

"Dude. Relax. It's a joke." Dean eyeballed him. "What's with you, huh? Since when do you care what I think of the chicks you bang?"

"It's not like that," Sam snapped.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Right, I forgot, you're Sammy the Celibate. Figures. What's your game plan then, you gonna take her to the dance and ask her to go steady?"

Sam picked at his salad, carefully studying the lettuce leaves. "Kinda, yeah."

Dean's chewing slowed.

"I wanted to ask you if… well, she wants me to wait a week before we commit to anything, but." Sam felt his cheeks grow warm. "Dean, I really like this girl. And I know you hate being tied down to any one place, but – a woman like her. God, Dean, she's special, and she knows about us, she knows about hunters, I won't have to lie to her all the time… I'm not going to meet another woman like her again. And I haven't felt this way about anybody since –" Since Jess. But those last couple of words refuse to come out of his mouth. "– a long time. And if we could stay… even just within the state…"

Dean put down his burger. "Sam." His voice had lost that mocking edge, and he looked at Sam with serious, intent eyes. "There's a reason I was trying to set you up now, of all times. I know you, and I know how much you hate having to pick up and leave, and I want…" He cleared his throat, rotated his jaw. "I want you to be able to stay somewhere. To make connections. So yeah, we should probably leave town for a few weeks until the demon thing blows over, but after that." He smiled. "I don't see why not."

Sam was so relieved that he could float away. This was going to make things so much easier. He'd been worried that Dean would put up a fuss, that he'd have to get his own car so he could drive back to see Jen, that they were going to have another Winchester schism on their hands (not that Sam would choose Jen over Dean, but if Dean forced him to choose, he sure as hell wouldn't make things easy on Dean). Instead, everything was going to work out just peachy keen happily ever after.

Then Dean took a drink of his beer and looked out the window and asked, "So, what do you think of Cas?"

Sam frowned, confused. "What do you mean, what do I think of him?"

"Well." Dean was turning a deep shade of crimson now, and carefully looking everywhere but at Sam. "You asked me what I think of Jen, and now I'm asking you what you think of Cas."

A lightbulb went on over Sam's head.

So Dean had finally, finally gotten a clue. About. Fucking. TIME. But this was a delicate situation, one that required finesse and tact and honesty, not brotherly noogies and endless ridicule. That would come later. So Sam responded carefully (and sincerely), "You know I like Cas. He's weird sometimes, but he's a really good guy."

Dean smiled a little. "Yeah, I know."

"And… he cares about you, a lot." Sam lowered his voice, hoping that Dean could hear how much he meant it. "He loves you, Dean. And I think you'd have to be an idiot not to love him back."

Dean met Sam's eyes, and swallowed. Then suddenly his smirking cock-of-the-walk mask slid into place, and he picked up his burger and took a huge bite, mumbling around his food, "Good thing I'm not an idiot, then."

"Christ, Dean," Sam exclaimed, "I'm trying to eat here! I don't need you spraying cheeseburger chunks all over my salad."

Dean grinned wide and open-mouthed to give Sam a full view of his half-masticated dinner.

"Oh my GOD," Sam muttered, stabbing his salad. "I swear to God, you're ten years old."

Dean snorted. "Bitch."

Sam bit back a smile. "Jerk."

…..

A week later, Dean and Cas were in the basement of a university library, allegedly doing some research on alternative exorcism rituals or some shit like that.

"So, Cas," Dean murmured, all low and sexy-like in Cas's ear. He loved how libraries gave him an excuse to do that. He pressed up against Cas's back, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me. What is it that you like so much about libraries?"

Cas seemed unmoved by Dean's sexy-voice, still reading the spines of the books on the shelf. "The silence," he answered, pulling a book out and flipping through it. "The tranquility. It's like being in a church… a sanctuary."

Dean chuckled. "Bet no one ever did this to you in a church." And he bent his head and kissed along the side of Cas's neck, grazing lightly with his teeth.

Cas inhaled sharply, and the book in his hand wobbled dangerously, but when he replied his voice was carefully even. "No, no one has."

Oh, so that's how this was gonna go. Dean was going to have to step up his game, then. He put his hands to Cas's waist and got some tongue action going on his neck, along the corner of his jaw, rhythmically rocked his hips ever so slightly into Cas's…

The book dropped from Cas's hands, and he fell forward just a little as he fumbled to clutch the bookshelf in front of him, his eyes fluttering closed. "Dean," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I can't… aah… I can't think when you do that."

Dean chuckled evilly. "I know." One of his hands slid forward to grope Cas lewdly.

Suddenly Cas spun around, and before Dean realized it, it was his back pressed against the opposite shelf, Cas's breath ghosting over his ear. "Are you seriously planning on fucking me right here in the library?" Cas whispered roughly, his hips grinding savagely into Dean's. "Because you can't do that to me and not fuck me."

And Dean would have made a snappy comeback, he really would have, except he was so goddamn turned on that his brain short-circuited and it was all he could do to bite the inside of his cheek and hold in the noisy moan that was welling up inside of him. He kissed Cas desperately and let him slide one leg between his, one hand clawing at Cas's back because ungh goddamn it closer he needed him closer and Cas's mouth moved down to the underside of his jaw, nipping gently and Dean's other hand snaked up to run through Cas's hair, press his mouth down harder he needed it harder and ohhh fuck Dean wasn't going to be able to stand it much longer –

"Um. Hey."

Dean opened his eyes.

A blushing red-headed chick stood there meekly, clutching a few books to her chest protectively. "I hate to. Uh. Interrupt, but. You guys can't do that here."

Cas dislodged himself from Dean (nooooo Dean's body cried) and stared at the girl. "You're the woman who gave me tissues."

She blushed even redder. "Yes, I'm Hannah, and I work here on the weekends."

His lips curved upwards just a little, a barely-there smile. "Thank you again. Things did work out for me."

Hannah giggled embarrassedly, glancing at Dean. "I gathered."

Dean straightened his collar and glared a little; he was mad that she'd interrupted, but apparently she'd given Cas tissues or something last weekend. Cas would be pissed if he told her to go fly a kite. Too bad; she looked like the kind of girl who was easily intimidated. They probably could have gotten away with it.

"We're leaving now," Cas told her. "Aren't we, Dean?"

Dean sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes, princess," he muttered.

Hannah smiled nervously and shifted her stack of books. "Well. Okay then. Nice to meet you… I guess…"

And Cas blinked. "I'm Castiel, and this is Dean."

"Oh." Hannah smiled a little brighter. "Castiel, Dean. I'd shake hands, but…" She shrugged her shoulders to indicate the books in her arms.

Cas nodded, and then headed to the elevator. Dean shot Hannah an insincere smile and a nod, and followed suit.

"You wanna try another library?" Dean muttered to Cas on their way out the door.

Castiel's lips curved upwards again, this time a little more wickedly. "Yes."