Dean was awakened far too early the next morning, the sun barely shining through the windows, by the insistent ringing of his cell phone. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and glanced at the ID through squinted eyes. Bobby.
"Mmf," he managed to get out.
"Morning, kid. I got some news on your creature. And your curse, too."
Dean sank back on the bed, rubbing his eyes to wake himself up and blinking rapidly.
"Yeah? What do you have?" he asked, but Bobby paused on the phone. "Bobby? You still there?"
"Dean? I…I think you may have figured out how to reverse the curse on your own. Either that or you have an awful morning voice," Bobby said, and Dean sprang to his feet to check the mirror.
Bobby was right. Dean, the real Dean, was staring back at him. He looked scruffy, tired, and worn, just like always, and couldn't be happier to see himself. He glanced back at the bed, to see Cas was still sleeping, and carefully closed the door to the bathroom to avoid waking him.
"Oh man, that was the longest day of my life. What a nightmare," Dean said, and he sank against the sink.
"Was it all bad?" Bobby said, a hint of humor in his voice. "Remember, son, I know how you reverse the curse."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Dean asked.
"In order to break the curse before it runs out, the cursed person has to get it on in their new body. Spare me the details, but I'd say you and Cas had a good time last night," Bobby said.
"Yeah, we aren't talking about that," Dean said, images of himself in the pretty (dammit!) green dress popping into his mind. "What about this monster?"
"Well, that's the strange thing. It looks like you're dealing with a Maero."
"Never heard of it," Dean said.
"Neither had I, and for good reason. They're only found in New Zealand. But it has to be that. Everything fits. It's a humanoid monster with long hair and long fingers. They attack with claws. But it says they eat their prey. Our victims were let go," Bobby said.
"The animals…Bobby, there have been pets disappearing. They are being eaten. But why not the girls? And why is it in Georgia?" Dean wondered.
"That's your job to figure out. Now go tell your brother how to break the curse. Call me when you can," Bobby said.
"I will. Thanks," Dean said, and hung up.
Dean carefully opened the door to the bathroom and crept back into the bed with Cas, who was still snoring peacefully.
"Cas…" he whispered. "Cas."
"Mm-hmm?" Cas asked, eyes still closed.
"Wake up, baby, I have a surprise for you," Dean said, taking one of Cas' hands and placing it on the stubble on his cheek.
Cas forced open one eye lazily, and gave a half smile.
"Good to see you. I'll look in more detail in another hour or so," he said, grasping onto Dean's arm before flipping onto his side and pulling the other's man arm to wrap himself up.
"That's it? No big scream of shock or anything?" Dean asked, rather hurt.
Cas squeezed his arm gently.
"I told you last night," Cas said thickly through his sleepiness. "The housing of your soul makes no difference to me. I love you just the same. But if you want me to scream and yell, let me sleep in for a bit and then I will."
Dean leaned forward and kissed Cas on the nape of the neck. He pulled him closer and let his nose rest in Cas' sweet smelling hair, his arm still wrapped around his waist.
"I love you," Dean whispered.
"Good. Then let me sleep," Cas said, and soon he was breathing deeply again.
Dean chuckled. Cas was certainly not a morning person. Dean closed his eyes, knowing he should tell his brother about breaking the curse, but wanting to enjoy this moment of quiet with Cas. He must have fallen back asleep, because he was soon abruptly awakened by the sound of someone banging on his motel door.
"Dean! Get up!" a familiar voice said, and Dean strode to the door the throw it open.
"Sam! Damn, it's good to see you back to normal!" he said, thumping his brother on the back and letting him and Anna into the room.
"I don't know how it happened, but I'm just glad to be me again. And to see you too."
"Bobby called me this morning and told me how to break the curse, but we already had. It's, um, broken the same way it's made," Dean said, avoiding Sam's gaze.
Sam gave an embarrassed sound, rubbing his hand on his neck.
"Yeah, well, he also knows what the monster is too," Dean added, and this got everyone's attention. "It's a Maero."
"What's that?" Sam asked.
"It's a monster from New Zealand," Cas frowned, as he moved to the bottom of the bed to sit by Anna. "But why is it here?"
"No clue. I think we need to get back to the university and find out," Dean said.
"Why don't you and Cas handle this? Anna and I will stay here and do some research on the Maero," Sam suggested.
"Okay with you, Cas?" Dean asked.
"That sounds fine. Let me change into my suit," Cas said, and Dean followed him to do the same.
They set out for university soon after, and Cas dug through the dash compartment to find Dean a badge. He pulled on out of his pocket to use for himself.
"Where did you get that?" Dean asked.
"You gave it to me, remember? Back before the Leviathan," Cas said.
"Dude, you've been to Purgatory and back since then!" Dean said, and Cas tilted his head.
"You gave it to me. I considered it important, so I let no harm come by it," Cas said, frowning.
"It's just a badge," Dean said, blushing.
"It was a part of you. And it got me through everything I messed up," Cas said.
"Hey, you thought you were doing the right thing," Dean said sternly. "It's in the past. Though I have to say, the first person you killed when you were playing God was kind of ironic."
"The preacher?" Cas asked.
"Yeah, the homophobic preacher. You said he was preaching against same sex relationships when you walked in. I mean, I don't like anyone to die, but he was an asshole."
"Still, I killed a man of God," Cas said, ashamed.
"No, Cas. You killed a hate filled man pretending to be a man of God. You think a real Christian hates anyone? Anyway, it's over and done with. You've more than made up for it since."
Dean and Cas pulled into the parking lot of the university, and went to meet the Chancellor again.
"New agents? The feds must have nothing better to do," she smiled as they sat down.
"We just go where they send us," Dean said. "Do you know if any of your students have recently been overseas? Maybe New Zealand?"
The Chancellor frowned.
"A few of our students from abroad went home for Christmas…let me think. We have three from China, Raul is from Spain…yes, Angie!" she finally said.
"Angie? As in the student who was attacked?" Dean asked.
"Yes, Angie is from New Zealand. She went to visit her family over the holiday break a few months ago. Why is that important?" she asked.
"Just covering all our bases, ma'am. Thanks for your help."
"Anytime…agent," the Chancellor tilted her head at him and gave a small wink.
Dean grinned widely, and reached over to take Cas' hand as they left, causing Cas to blush and Dean to feel lighter than air.
A/N I liked showing the difference between what Dean thinks is inappropriate flirting (harassment, touching without permission, etc.) and the things he thinks are harmless (winking, simple flirting). And a Maero is a real legend from New Zealand too, even though he does sound (as one of my reviewers said) exactly like Edward Scissorhands.