Dean wasn't sure when Sam came back from his overdue night out with Eileen, or when he had the time to call Rowena, but by four that following day she was at the front door of the bunker, impatiently waiting for access inside.

"Dammit, Sammy. What are you thinking? Calling her without letting us know?"

"What are you talking about? We already discussed this? About how she was our best bet."

Thankfully, Cas spoke before Dean could gather even more of his irritation and spit out unwarranted insults at his brother. "Dean," he chided gently, "leave Sam alone. He's trying to help."

As rational as the scolding was, that in itself didn't generally stop Dean's impulse to rage. This time, however, the older Winchester couldn't disregard what Cas had said. Whether he wanted to verbally attack Sam for the prospect of having Rowena show up without warning or not, Dean couldn't.

Instead, he pursed his lips together and glared at the witch. "What's the catch?" He growled as she walked through the bunker like she owned the place. This time, Cas didn't attempt to make him behave politely. His glare was just was heated as Dean's.

"Catch?" She smiled smugly. "No catch."

Dean grit his teeth. "Spill it witch."

She laughed mockingly. "Oh dear boy, don't worry your pretty little head, witnessing your humiliation will be payment enough. Now, let's see that leash."

She waved her hand pretentiously in front of him and Cas, saying words Dean didn't really understand. To his disgust, the chains became visible once more. One day of hidden troubles and it was already back in the light to taunt him along with the heavy weight at his neck.

The witch laughed with a wicked glint in her eyes. Dean tensed with rage, but again, Cas stopped him. "Dean, let's wait for the witch to help us, and then you can do what you wish."

"Ah, yes, excellent motivation, angel," Rowena narrowed her eyes, but she seemed to be enjoying to sight before her too much to be dissuaded by their attitude and lack of tact. Turning her glare into a smirk, she asked in mock innocence, "So, I'm wondering how have you managed to go about your day as usual? Like, I don't know, going to the restroom?"

Dean wanted nothing more than to spit out a nasty retort, but the words wouldn't form, as if his subconscious self was fighting his conscious desire all because of the angel's stern suggestion.

Rowena sensed Dean's internal struggle to keep his anger to himself, and she smiled in response. "Now, now," she tsked, keeping her haughty gaze on the hunter. "If I'm going to help I think it's only fair that I get the full story."

Fortunately, or as fortunate as they could get right now, she was mostly just talk. She enjoyed their discomfort and thrived on their glares, knowing it meant no real danger to her at the moment, but she wasn't about to waste too much of her time hearing details she didn't actually want to hear. Selfish, immoral, and with an entirely evil soul, she was, above else, a woman of self-preservation. It may have taken two years, but she had finally accepted the wisdom that the Winchesters were people she should stay on the good of. Helping with this, she had figured, would be a decent start.

After a tense minute of her playing with the chain, gliding her long, delicate fingers up the leash with a curious and impressed eye. With a spark to her eyes as she inspected it, her fingers reached the end, the tips of her nails brushing against Dean's neck. He stepped back harshly to discontinue to physical contact It probably hadn't been the wisest reaction, since Cas was unaware of Dean's impulse so when the hunter jerked back, the leash dug painfully at his throat.

"So," he growled with a deep, threatening rumble, "can you help us or not?"

"Hmm…" she mused, bringing her hand back to herself, feeling no sense of danger despite his temper. "I might be able to. Though it might take a few days. I'll need to get some ingredients."

"What ingredients?" This time it was Cas that growled.

"A black book for one."

"No!" Dean ground out between clenched teeth. "You're not using that damned book."

"Oh, well then, in that case, it'll take longer." She smiled in all her fake sweetness she could muster, batting her eyes seductively. It was nauseating. "But maybe you two don't actually mind, hmm? You two could get into all kind of kinky mischief while waiting."

"Can you actually help them?" Sam sounded exhausted, cutting Dean and Cas off before losing their best chance by torturing or smiting her.

She rolled her eyes, giving a dramatic sigh. "You're just no fun." A cocky grin formed. "I do believe I can be of assistance to the lover boys. But I do need a book," she held her hand against Dean. "It isn't the Book of the Damned. I remember a book at the Covenant about angelic spells. Had thought it purely whimsical until I came face to face with an angel."

"Exactly how long do you think it'll take?"

"Well, I do have to find a way to sneak into the Covenant. They're not exactly fond of me."

"Can't say I blame them."

She continued as if he hadn't said anything. "But I suppose it won't be so terribly hard to get it. I did kill a quite a bit of them, so there won't be too many to stop us."

In end, Sam decided to escort her to where she needed to be, from getting the book to getting everything else that would be needed.

Rowena had just smirked. "Of course, deary. I'm sure you want to give these two some alone time. It's probably been very awkward for you here, poor thing." She shooed Sam to get a move on, prepared to make her way out.

"You could at least make it invisible until then."

"Ah, sorry, but no." Her smile was too sweet. "You'll have to wait until I get back. Though I personally think you should just leave it entirely." Evil, evil eyes looked him up and down. "It just seems so you, doesn't it, pet?" With a smirk and a knowing gaze, she left. "Have fun you two."

"What a witch," Dean cursed, glaring at the closing.

"I am sorry Dean." Cas seemed to feel it necessary to say.

Dean scoffed. "What do you have to apologize for?"

"For putting you through this situation in which we need Rowena's assistance."

The hunter huffed, twisted his lips, and finally gave a heavy sigh. "Nah man, this isn't your fault. It's Ishim's."

"But Ishim…"

"Isn't not your fault."

Dean made a grab for Cas's hand so as to move them to the kitchen without upsetting the tight leash that bound them. It was nothing more than that - whatever sparks tingled up his fingers at the touch.

"Where are we going?"

"I need a drink." For a second it seemed like the angel wanted to lecture him about drinking too much, but then changed his mind and just went along without complaint or disapproval.

"We should go to your room," Cas suggested when they moved out of the kitchen in sync with bottles in hand.

"Why? The couch's right there. And Sam's not here to complain about what we watch."

"Yes, but your bed is more comfortable."

Dean hesitated. Sleeping together was one thing. It was necessary. It wasn't like Dean could just go without sleeping at all during this time. Even disappearing into his room while Sam was here was necessary, a means to escape further embarrassment. To do so now, though, seemed like they were about a cross a line.

Because Cas saying he'd rather be on the bed - his bed - had a way of heating his skin with unwanted images. Images of activities that Rowena had brought to mind with her teasing remarks. Of seeing Cas in a way that Dean had tried too hard to vanquish over too many years.

It was also too much in that even just thinking about Cas back in his bed was bringing to mind being woken early in the morning to the sight of Cas sprouting a boner. Which, in the erotic sight that had he been privy, led to the memory of his dream. When the dream came unbidden to his thoughts in his awakened state, Dean wanted nothing more than to believe that it had been because of Ishim's damn 'pet' spell. It was stupid to lie to himself.

The truth was, Dean didn't need to be tied to Cas to make him dream about the angel. It just made everything more complicated.

"Dean?" Cas brought him out of his hesitancy. "Your room." Which, said like that, as if it were more of an order than a request, Dean couldn't doing anything but do as he wanted.

As they settled onto Dean's bed, the laptop at their feet, the hunter hoped they could watch Doctor Sexy in comfortable silence. He tried to tell himself that Sam was sure that the curse that had been placed on him and Cas would be lifted soon. Soon, he wanted to believe, this wouldn't be an issue.

Except, it would seem that cas wasn't in the mood for silence. "Dean, I don't think I mentioned it last night, but I did enjoy going out to the bar with you. It was surprising pleasant. I am glad that you had the idea to do so."

Dean felt his body become too warm at the uncharacteristic way Cas mentioned his previous behavior. He did his best to shake the discomfort away to chuckle, "Yea, you certainly looked like you were enjoying yourself."

Intense blue eyes looked at him, staring too long into his soul before stating, "You appeared to be enjoying yourself as well." Dean swallowed; Cas blinked. "I wish we had more chances for you to be like that."

"Uh, well, you know…"

"Yes Dean, I know."

They watched their shows, drank their beer, and settled into an awkward stillness between them that, though heavy, was better than the resentment or agitation that had been popping up too often since the curse had been cast.

"Would you like to do something else?" Cas wondered when he began to feel the consistent tug on his wrist. "Maybe go outside like before? No one would see us and you could stretch your legs."

Dean shook his head. "I just want this over with. Get these freakin' things off so we can go back to normal."

For some reason Cas became timid, which made Dean feel even more uncomfortable than before. Then he was asking softly and carefully, "Is all of this so bad?"

It didn't matter how meek he made the words. Dean glared and sneered, "I can't see what's exactly good about this."

Though Cas had once been known for keeping an indifferent expression, in recent years he had a way of looking like the saddest puppy without much change to the muscles of his face. It was a sadness that pooled most greatly in blue eyes. The look made Dean's chest ache and he was tempted to take back what he had said, but the problem was that he had a hard time staying rational when things became as awkward as this. Raising his voice and shifting to glare more fully at Cas, he questioned, "What on earth could you possibly see as good about any of this?"

Before he could gather more energy to rage, Cas was sternly telling him to listen, an order that Dean couldn't help but obey. "It has made us talk about our problems." Dean wanted to scoff at that. The idea of talking out his issues like girl, or like Sam, but he didn't. "And it has helped. It has forced us to deal with these things head on, and I believe we are better for it having happened. I, for one, hope that when the chains are broken, we can continue to talk out our internal struggles as we have done so recently."

Again, Dean wanted to argue, to deny that their 'chick-flick' moments had been beneficial it either of them, but he couldn't voice any of his mental disregards. He just settled for glaring at the screen while he was forced to listen quietly.

Cas stared at the hunter who had turned his glare away from him. The sadness in his eyes stayed. "Dean," he pressed gently, "can you honestly say nothing good has occurred during the past fews days?" Obviously, he was fishing for something, trying to work through some thought process that had been bothering him during the duration of the curse, but Dean wouldn't budge. "Dean, think. Name at least one thing that has made this experience not as bad as it could have been."

What should have left his lips was the mocking remark that the whole "positive outlook" thing only worked on hippies, but instead, what escaped was. "I like that you've been here."

It was a response that Cas obviously hadn't been expecting, though Dean couldn't say what Cas had been expecting. The angel stared at him with widened eyes, some kind of understanding sinking in, but also unable to catch the heart of the statement. "I'm always here for you."

"Not when I need you."

Another awkward silence permeated the room where Cas just stared at Dean with scrunched brows. "Dean?"

It sounded like an invitation to speak his mind to speak his mind, but now that Dean could feel the words about to leave his mouth. He didn't want to say anything.

With the continued silence, Cas's scrunched eyebrows became narrowed eyes. He looked like he was reading his mind, but Dean was pretty sure he had lost that exact power, or at the very least, had learned that it was rude and would get a cold shoulder if found out. Unsure with his findings, Cas observed in a tone of uncertainty. "You would want me to stay here more often?"

Dean couldn't even believe it was something that needed to be said. He rolled his eyes. "Yea, Cas, I'd like you to actually stick around without flying off the second you find something better to do." Like going behind his back to work with Crowley, or vanishing the moment he was free from Purgatory, or going off on solo missions because he didn't want Dean and Sam to get in his way, or letting Lucifer possess him and then thinking he had to be the only one to rid the world of him.

Suddenly, though, all those bitter thoughts were washed away at the hurt and fury in Cas's expression. Dean cursed himself for being so stupid and careless.

"Dude, I didn't mean…"

"I understand Dean." His voice was too cold. Too stale.

"No man, I swear, I didn't mean to bring up your wings. It's just an expression. A stupid one."

Dean was babbling and it wasn't helping. In fact, it seemed to be making things worse, if the flickering lights were anything to go by. The air vibrated with an angry and pained energy, bursting at the seams.

The hunter found himself in yet another uncomfortable position. On one hand, he had a badass angel losing his control with Dean as his focal point, with both of them sitting there awkwardly on the bed. It was a position that left Dean completely at the angel's mercy, and it made him feel utterly defenseless if Cas should decide to become turn his hurt to nothing but rage. On the other hand, Dean did always have an unhealthy attraction to the prospect of being manhandled ever since...well, most significantly, since having a fully powered angel showing off his shadowed wings and stalking towards him in a barn that shook with thunder.

Then the phone was buzzing on the stand next to the bed and everything became still.

Nervous, Dean grabbed for the device. It was Sam of course, informing him that everything was fine for the moment, if not counting the fact that he was about to lose his mind being partnered with Rowena for so long. They were about to get the book and Sam needed to give Dean coordinates and a time limit just in case something went wrong, though apparently it didn't appear likely.

"How are things there?"

"Fine."

"Uh, huh."

From Sam's end of the line, Dean (and Cas) could hear Rowena add, "They could always just sleep with each other. Getting rid of that sexual tension might help things." Dean hung up so he wouldn't have to listen to anything more.

"Look Cas," he tried now that the tension had left the room for the most part, "I really didn't mean what I said. All I meant was that…"

"That I don't do enough for you," Cas finished blandly, not angry, but defeated.

"Woah. Where did that come from? I certainly didn't say that. I just wish you were here more."

They stared at each other, Cas glaring and Dean looking imploringly. It was one of those intense stares, the ones that Dean knew his pain in the ass brother termed "eye-sex" and that he did his best to ignore. The moment lasted well into a minute, maybe even more. Finally, Cas's blue eyes softened. Letting go of his warrior demeanor, he became once more the angel that had been crafted by years of exposure to humanity.

It looked like he wanted to bow his head in a display of regret and depression, but kept himself from doing so at the last moment. "Of course. I...I understand." Except, Dean was beginning to notice in the subtle contours of his face, that he didn't understand. Like he was at a loss as to why Dean would want Cas around more.

Upon realizing what that look meant, Dean hated himself more than he usually did. Because, if that's what Cas truly thought, then it was no one but Dean to be blamed. And who could count it against Cas? Afterall, when Cas had needed him most, Dean had pushed him away.

Before Dean could find the words to attempt to make things right, Cas was saying, "I apologize for losing control. I suppose I get emotional about my wings."

"Yea, that's um, that's understandable," Silence followed. Awkwardness ensued. "Man, I feel like these past few days have been like a soap opera."

"But not entirely bad," Cas was rephrasing, clearly hoping for a different response now.

Dean was man enough this time around to agree, "Uh, yea, not all bad."

"For example, last night was very good."

Dean smiled, glad to be getting away from the uncomfortable tension. "Yea, I enjoyed it too."

Cas nodded, apparently easing himself into what he wanted to say next. Slowly, carefully, he added, "I like when you allow yourself to act on…" he trailed off, not confident enough to continue with the word. It's not like he had to continue anyways. Dean got the message. His face heated.

Seeming to come to some sort of conclusion, Cas moved his face closer to Dean's, beginning to close his eyes in anticipation. Knowing where this was going, and not sure if he was ready, Dean scooted away. The leash became taut and blue eyes opened. "Dean. Stay still." And, because Dean couldn't do anything but obey these past few days, he did. Not a moment later, cracked lips touched his own.