Wednesday morning, (can you even call it morning if the sun isn't out yet?) Castiel pulled up outside of Dean's apartment in the Austin-Healey just before 5AM with two large coffees and a bag of sweets from Dunkin' Donuts. He hesitated before getting out of the car, thinking that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. He had spent most of the night tossing and turning and wondering if he really wanted to do this. He knew, though, that this was something important. He would never be able to truly move on without this closure.

Dean had given him hope that he even could move on. This last month spent with him was the happiest he had been in years. He could feel the ghost of Balthazar fading and wanted to be able to transition him from constant presence in his life that kept him chained to that day across the world to a beloved memory that he could look back on as proof that he was once loved. Dean had showed him that two working together is stronger than him trying to do it all on his own. Dean had made him laugh and cry and blush and feel more alive than he thought was possible any more. This unexpected friend, who had burst into his life and forged a place for himself where Castiel had thought he wouldn't allow anyone else.

And now, Dean offered his help once again. He was willing to spend two solid days trapped in a cramped car to go visit a stranger's grave for no other reason than to help a friend. He knew that he was falling in love with Dean and that it was a hopeless situation.

He had resigned himself, however, to let friendship be enough and not delude himself with fantasies that Dean would ever want more than that. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Castiel had certainly had his share of fantasies about the man with the sparkling green eyes. But where was the harm in that? He fantasized about George Clooney too, but that certainly wasn't happening either, right? The difference was that he didn't have to ride to Texas beside George, breathing in his intoxicating scent the whole way or listening to that low voice say his name or sing along to the radio. He was in so much trouble.

With a resigned sigh, he knocked on the door, which swung open before he even got to the third knock. "I've been waiting for you." Castiel looked surprised. "You didn't think I would be up this early, did you? The Army trained me well and I never have really gotten out of the habit of being an early riser. I still like to get a little workout in before going into work," he patted his stomach, "try to work off some of those burgers and pies." Dean smiled at Cas, swung his duffle bag over his shoulder and locked the door before heading to the car.

Castiel still hadn't said a word. He was not happy about this new development that Dean was a morning person. In his line of work, he didn't even schedule classes until the afternoons so he was pretty sure this was the earliest he had been up since his Army days and he was no happier about it now than he was then. Castiel grunted something that sounded ridiculously like the sound Marge Simpson makes when she is upset with Homer and Dean turned around and winked at him. What kind of sadistic bastard is awake enough to wink at someone at five o'clock in the damn morning?

"Here, hand me the keys. I'll take first shift. You don't look like you're awake yet."

"I brought coffee." Castiel finally managed to put together a cohesive sentence.

"Nice," Dean grabbed a coffee and began rooting through the bag of pastries. "Oh, Cas, you got jelly filled, I could kiss you."

Aaaand Castiel was officially awake at that comment. OK, he told himself, that is just a figure of speech, but he had had enough experience with straight men to know that once you told them you were gay, they usually acted like it was contagious disease and would never make a joke like that. Castiel decided he was going to ignore it and write it off as Dean being OK with his sexuality.

The two friends settled in, prepared for a very long ride together. Dean pulled out a Led Zeppelin cassette tape and popped it in as they headed out with Dean singing along to Thank You.

If the sun refused to shine I would still be loving you
When mountains crumble to the sea there will still be you and me
Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of loves lost in the days gone by
My love is strong with you there is no wrong, together we shall go until we die

Travel was easy and enjoyable. They discussed music and family and Dean tried once again to convince Cas that Dr. Sexy was gripping drama. Castiel was still not impressed. Dean shared the news with Cas that Jess and Sam were going to try for a kid and Castiel talked to Dean about an upcoming dance competition that could provide some great exposure for the studio.

At lunchtime they stopped for bar-b-q because, as Dean told Castiel, "It's a crime against the food gods to travel through Texas and not find a grill." The food was delicious and the company wasn't too shabby either. Castiel was enjoying this trip so much he could almost forget the purpose for the journey.

But something was off today that he couldn't put his finger on. First there was that wink and kiss comment at breakfast. Later, when they stopped at some Oklahoma boarder tourist trap for fuel and snacks, Dean had insisted they take a selfie picture in front of the giant cowboy and Indian carvings outside of the store. He had flung his arm around Castiel's hip, pulled the man into his side and pressed their cheeks together for the picture.

After lunch they had put the top down and Dean had stretched his free hand over the back seat of the car, gradually letting it rest on Castiel's shoulder. Then at dinner, Dean leaned across the table to wipe stray bar-b-q sauce off of Castiel's lip with his thumb then brought his thumb to his own mouth and sucked the sauce off through his smiling lips, raising his eyebrows and making a humming sound. It was cute and flirty and affectionate and Castiel's head was reeling with confusion.

Castiel lay in bed with all of these memories swirling around in his head, making him anxious and excited. All day the unexpected touches had done a number on his senses. The feeling of Dean's hand on his shoulder and their touching cheeks was intoxicating. The affection with which Dean touched him made the touches almost painful. It had been too long since he had been touched like that and to have it come from Dean, a man who he was absolutely itching to touch back, was almost unbearable. It wasn't that he didn't want Dean to touch him, he wanted it too much. And he wanted to touch Dean in return, in ways that he knew he couldn't, to kiss him, taste him, feel every part of his amazing body.

The beautiful man in the other bed had fallen asleep an hour ago while Castiel lay in his own bed trying to get the anxious feeling under his skin to go away so that he could sleep. Castiel could now hear Dean's low, calm breathing and he enjoyed the rhythmic sound of it. He was just about to drift off when Dean's breathing changed. It became shallow as he started writhing and struggling then let out a scream that made the hair on Castiel's neck stand up.

He was out of bed in a second and went to Dean, placing a hand on his chest, trying to wake him with a gentle shake. Dean was still hyperventilating. Castiel leaned down and called Dean's name in a hushed voice, giving him a gentle shake to wake him. Dean's eyes flew open as he reached up and grabbed the back of Castiel's neck. Both of them went completely still and the only sound was the heavy breathing coming from both startled men. Time stood still as their eyes locked and nothing existed but Dean and Cas.

Dean finally struggled out, "Cas?"

Castiel's voice was low and wrecked, whisky and gravel when he breathed, "I'm here, Dean."

Dean swallowed and Castiel was hypnotized by the movement of his adam's apple. He was still hovering over Dean, just inches away from his face, held in place by Dean's hand. It would be so easy to close the gap, to lean down and feel their mouths moving together. Instead, he felt Dean's hand on his cheek, cupping his jaw and gliding his thumb over his cheekbone. Castiel couldn't stop himself from leaning into that touch as his eyes fluttered closed.

The hand that was already holding the back of Castiel's neck began to move, sliding up, into his hair and then pulling him down. It was only a distance of inches, but to Castiel it felt like closing a great chasm when their lips finally came together in a gentle kiss. It wasn't rushed or frenzied, but a caress, soft and shy. And, oh, God, Castiel became lost in the warmth and softness of Dean's mouth on his. He hadn't felt like this in years. This was flying.

When Castiel's brain started working again he told himself to remember this, memorize every second. This was it, this was the moment his life would change forever - the first time he kissed Dean Winchester. He forced his body to commit every sensation to memory. Dean's lips were soft and just parted and moving in perfect synch with his. He could feel the scratch of Dean's stubble against his own. Dean's scent was filling him, making him a bit dizzy with sensation. And as he sucked at Dean's bottom lip, the man let out the tiniest moan, a sound that Castiel thought was surely more beautiful than angels singing.

When they finally broke away, Castiel leaned back to look down at the sight of Dean. His eyes were heavily lidded and dark with desire and he had never seen someone so beautiful. The next second, Dean sat up and in one deft movement, pulled Cas into his lap. Dean smiled up at Castiel, cupping his face with both hands and pulling him down for another kiss, but this time it wasn't chaste at all.

Dean pulled their mouths together and licked across the length of Castiel's upper lip, asking for entrance, which was gladly granted. Castiel opened for Dean, who explored his mouth, licking gently at teeth, teasing tongue against tongue. Meanwhile, both men were reaching, groping with their hands eager to touch every part of one another. When Dean's hands inched under Castiel's t-shirt and finally gave them the thrill of skin on soft skin, he let out a low moan that went straight to Dean's dick.

Castiel reached skillful hands around to wrap Dean and pull their bodies closer together, causing their erections to rub together through their boxers and Dean's hips bucked up involuntarily, increasing the pressure between them. Dean's hands slid around to Castiel's back, working their way up then agonizingly slowly, dragging them back down, fingernails caressing down his back with just the right amount of pressure to send a thrill of pure pleasure through Cas. When he noticed that this touch pulled a shiver out of Castiel, he brought his hands back up and in one smooth motion had Cas' shirt off, thrown forgotten onto the floor.

"God, Cas, look at you. Wanted this for so long." Dean kissed down Cas' neck, licking along his clavicle.

Dean reached his arms around Cas' waist and flipped them both so that Cas was on his back. Dean made quick work of removing his shirt and leaned down for a searing kiss and finally skin on skin, hot chests and arms and legs touching down the length of their bodies. Cas brought both hands to the sides of Dean's face and pulled their mouths apart to look up at his partner. "Dean." One word was all he said but poems, sonnets, epics have been written that said less.

Dean knew, with just that one word, what Cas was saying. And he felt it to. This was something big, profound, exceptional. This was Cas. And one word was all that was needed to be said in response, "Cas."

They met again for another kiss as Dean began to explore Cas' perfect body with his hands, then his lips and tongue. As he relished in the feeling of Cas's skin, he stopped to twirl his tongue around his nipple and give a gentle suck, relishing the reactions it drew from the man. Dean smiled at the groan and arched back, "Like that?"

"Yes, more."

Dean slid his hand under the waistband of Cas' boxers and moaned himself at the hardness that he felt there. Cas was already damp with pre-come and Dean swirled his thumb over his slit, spreading the warmth around the head of Cas' cock. In one swift movement, Dean pulled down Cas' boxers, releasing his erection to bob against his stomach. Dean couldn't take his eyes off the movement and a second later covered it with his mouth.

"Dean, oh my God!" Cas bucked up at the glorious feeling of being surrounded by Dean's hot wet mouth. Dean placed a hand on his abdomen to ground him. He chuckled at Cas' reaction, loving everything he was doing to the man. He was enjoying every moan, every writhe, every movement of Cas' hands as they gripped anything that would give him purchase.

He pulled off Cas with a soft pop and licked a line from the base of his cock up to swirl his tongue all around his swollen head before sucking him all the way back into his mouth. He gripped the base of Cas' cock and began to stroke in time with his mouth. Cas positively whimpered, a sound that sent an aching need to his own neglected erection. He felt Cas building up and, no, he wanted to slow this down, wanted this to be perfect.

He licked his way off Cas' cock, slowing the strokes of his hand and began nipping and sucking at all the places on Cas that he hoped were the most sensitive. A suck in the crease between his leg and hip, a nibble on those glorious hips, a tongue dipped into Cas' navel, all exploration and teasing and wonder. He wanted to memorize every bit of Cas' body. "Dean, please," moaned Cas and Dean looked up at the man who had his head flung back into the pillow.

Dean crawled up to whisper in his ear, "Please, what, Cas?"

"Mmmm, need you."

"I'm right here." Dean leaned in and kissed Cas, slowing the hand still working his erection to a lazy loving stroke to match the sweetness of the kiss. Cas reached up and threaded his fingers through his hair, giving it a slight pull, which drove Dean a little crazy. Then, Cas was all hands, touching and feeling his way across Dean's chest and arms and down his torso to finally pull off his boxers. And when their swollen erections rubbed together, it was magnificent.

"Cas, fuck, you feel so good. I've wanted you for so long," Dean growled into Cas' ear before sucking on his earlobe.

Cas placed his hand over Dean's and the men began stroking together, the spit and pre-come giving them a soft slide against the glorious friction and heat of their bodies together. They sped up their rhythm as Cas kissed up and down Dean's neck, sucking hard enough to mark his lover.

"Dean, oh yes, Dean, I'm close." Cas' hips were rocking against his own and Dean could feel Cas' muscles become erratic. He wrapped his free arm under Cas' shoulders and pulled him tight, wanting to be as close to him as he could.

"Yes, Castiel, come. Show me how good I make you feel."

"De-ean," Cas stuttered as he arched his back and came, spilling hot come over his stomach. Dean worked him through his orgasm stroking him empty. He loosened his arm so that he could look down at the wrecked man under him and fuck, if he didn't look fantastic like this, all blissed out, eyes half closed, sweat glistening, and shallow breaths slowly returning to normal. Cas looked up at him and smiled, sultry and hot. My God, Cas had the most incredible fucked-out look he had ever seen.

Cas leaned up to kiss Dean, hard and desperate as he began stroking him harder, speeding up his pace and pressure as Dean felt his own climax coming on.

"Cas, fuck, feels so good, yes!" Dean came as waves of pleasure crashed over him as he buried his face in Cas' neck. Dean collapsed beside Cas but continued to nuzzle kisses into the man's neck, which brought a beautiful satisfied smile to Cas' face.

"Dean, I didn't know you-"

Dean stopped him with a kiss. "Yeah, Cas, I know, but I've wanted you for so long. Until Saturday I thought you were with Pamela. Fuck! All that wasted time."

Castiel huffed a small laugh and cupped Dean's cheek for a chaste kiss. "We have all the time in the world."

After a quick clean-up, Dean was leaning over Cas, exploring and teasing his body with deft hands and lips. He wanted to know everything about Cas' body, where he was ticklish, what turned him on, what drove him crazy. When he came to Cas' right hip, his fingers ghosted over the lines of the tattoo that sat just above it, "So, tell me about this."

"It's my name… in the language of angels, Enochian. I have always loved the connection that my mother made between my name and my love of flight."

Dean leaned over to kiss along the symbol and stopped to nip at Cas' hip. "I like it. Castiel Krushnic… angel." He traced the line of Cas' hip with his tongue before sucking, humming his pleasure, drawing a red mark in the crease of Cas' hip. Cas positively mewled as his eyes fluttered closed. Dean smiled at his accomplishment before laying his hands over Cas' torso and propping his chin on them, looking up at his lover, "You must have been watching over me. You saved me from one crappy dream."

"What were you dreaming about?"

"Oh, you know, howler monkeys," Dean gave a fake shiver, "those things are terrifying."

Cas gave a low laugh, "Really, Dean?"

"Naw, just crap from the desert. I get those dreams a lot. Sorry if it woke you up. Wait, actually, not sorry." He grinned and leaned into Cas for a lingering kiss. The two men soon found sleep tangled in each other's arms. Dean's dreams that night were of blue eyes that crinkled at the corners with a smile and deft hands and the warmth of the body in his arms.

Mellow is the man, who knows what he's been missing
Many, many men, can't see the open road
Many is the word that only leaves you guessing
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know
Really ought to know, I really ought to know
~Over the Hills and Far Away – Led Zeppelin