Ugh. I am so sorry it's taken me so freaking long to update this story! I'm at a slow part and thus, my procrastination struck and I had other stories I really wanted to work on...plus, again, my life has been busy. Papaw is still in the hospital, my appendix still hurts, my head still hates me, etc. Anyway. I'm sorry to say that I really don't like this chapter...I think it could be so much better but I decided to say "screw it" and just wrote so I could finally finish it. I've had like half of it written for weeks but couldn't think of what else to write (more like I knew what to write but it was a slow part so I said "screw it" again). I promise the action will pick up again soon! Probably by next chapter. And I hope this chapter isn't moving too fast? I'm like, half asleep right now but I can't sleep 'cause my dad's friend is over and he's loud, so...yeah, lol.

Anyway! Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I am so glad you are all still reading this story and that you are enjoying it. I have to admit, when I first started writing this story, I was a little worried at first that no one would like it...but you guys proved me wrong and it was you guys that made me want to continue, you and your wonderful, inspiring reviews! Thank you so much! I promise the action will soon pick up and hopefully the next chapter will be better, haha.

Anywho...

Onward!

Chapter Fourteen

Consciousness floated through Castiel's mind briefly, but he wasn't ready to wake yet. There was warmth flooding through him, making him feel comfortable and safe, like he hadn't felt in a very long time now. He wasn't ready to wake up and face the harsh reality of the world, the prejudice of the Eyes and all that was happening around them. He just wanted to stay asleep a little longer and stay with that comforting warmth. His mind blanked momentarily as he thought about why he felt like this, warm and safe. Despite his plans on staying asleep, his eyes blinked open curiously and he saw dark blonde hair present directly in front of his face. A warm body was pressed against his and warm, strong arms were flung over him, keeping him close, and for a moment all he could do was stare at that freckled face in confusion, a faint blush heating up his cheeks.

Dean? he thought, frowning slightly. He would have tried to roll away but he didn't wish to disturb the Green Eye, as he had looked exhausted last night and needed his sleep. Castiel's mind nagged at him that maybe there was another reason he didn't want to move, but he shut that thought down quick. The thought was absolutely absurd. He just felt close to Dean because the Green Eye had helped him, that was all.

That was all he would really let it be, at any rate.

Soft snores came from the floor and he guessed Sam was still asleep. He deserved a good rest too - they all did, really. He wondered what Michael wanted with all of them, anyway. He couldn't believe Michael was behind this. He didn't really know the guy, sure…his memory had yet to really come back…but he knew he knew him. And his memories were still cloudy but Michael wasn't that bad, right? Why would he ordering them to be hunted down? Why would he try to kill Dean and Sam simply because of their eye color? He just didn't understand.

Sighing, he decided not to dwell on it. Dean's heat would only be there so long, and he decided to get the best sleep he could out of it. It wasn't like he would ever tell Dean that he enjoyed sleeping next to him, after all. Just because he liked the warmth, as he told himself. If the warmth had been given off of anyone else, he would have enjoyed it then too. It just helped that Dean was the one who had saved him. That was all. Nothing more.

The Green Eye shifted against him and the flush on his face deepened. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to drift off to sleep and ignore the feeling of warm arms draped around him, but he had to admit that it was hard. The Green Eye's unnatural heat was radiating off of him and Castiel liked it. He wasn't going to lie - he did like it. Dean's deep breaths were comforting and relaxing and let him know he wasn't alone. For some reason, he really hated being alone - it was even worse than before, when he'd had to walk and get around on his hurt ankle. It was better now, though, and he knew it would mean Dean wouldn't be touching him with that heat anymore, and he did miss it. Guiltily, he admitted it to himself. He missed the warmth.

Sam shifted on the ground. Castiel tensed, wondering if he was waking and what he would say if he saw him and Dean like this on the bed. It was all Dean's fault, really - he was the one with his arms flung around the Blue Eye - but Castiel was guilty as well…guilty of liking it. Thankfully, though, Sam didn't wake and settled on the ground.

Castiel closed his eyes again and focused only on that soothing warmth.

The Green Eye shifted again, the arms tightening around him, pulling him closer unconsciously. His face became buried in the crook of Dean's neck, and though he stiffened, secretly he kind of liked it. He enjoyed the feel of the warm, secure arms, enjoyed the familiar scent wafting up his nostrils, an odor that could only be classified as Dean.

Swallowing thickly, he focused again on the soothing warmth, on the feel of Dean's soft, warm skin against his face, and finally returned to the wonderful land of sleep, consciousness slipping away from him.

Something was nudged into Dean's neck. He wasn't entirely sure what it was, but it wasn't normal. There was something warm and solid pressed against him, being held firmly there by his arms, and he had to admit that it wasn't unwelcome. He kind of liked it, enjoyed the feel of someone - at least he guessed it to be a person, but his fogged mind of sleep couldn't quite be sure at the moment - pressed against him so warmly, so reassuringly. It made him think that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't alone and that things would eventually turn out okay. Swallowing, sleep filtered out of his mind and he blinked his eyes open, frowning at the disheveled black hair that belonged to the head that was contently nuzzled into his neck.

What the…? he thought, struggling to make sense of this. Cas…? What! Cas? The freaking Blue Eye…shit… He started to release his hold on the Blue Eye out of instinct alone - Green Eyes were never to be close to Blue Eyes, and he especially didn't like the thought of that after what those Blue Eyes had done to him with that violet knife, the nightmare of all blades - but the way Castiel grumbled in protest at the movement and unconsciously moved closer to him in his sleep gave Dean pause. What are you doing? Pull away, you idiot! He won't know the difference, he's fucking asleep!

Dean was just starting to pull away again when the door to the room suddenly opened. Like a bullet, he smoked and shot through the air to shield Sam's sleeping form with his body, turning the two of them completely invisible. He only prayed Sam didn't snore, that he'd remain quiet while sleeping. He was sure that sometime during the night he had heard the Hazel Eye snoring, sleeping soundly. Please be quiet…please be quiet…

Bobby, the person who owned this house they were currently staying in, peered in, probably checking on Castiel since he was a Blue Eye and all. Castiel was currently sitting up in bed, blinking in confusion as he rubbed at his sleep-filled eyes.

"Dean?" he yawned sleeping, causing Dean, in his smoke form, to actually flinch.

"Who is Dean?" Bobby asked, frowning as he stood in the doorway. Dean's immaterial heart began to race, though not in physical form. He wondered what Castiel would say to cover this, and he prayed Sam didn't wake with a yawn or something and make a sound. He and Sam were to hide from the grizzled Brown Eye, as it was probably safe to say that he didn't like Hazel Eyes or Green Eyes like most of the other Eyes.

Castiel blinked at Bobby and then shifted uneasily. "Oh, um…no one. Just thinking, I guess." He shook his head and smiled disarmingly at the Brown Eye. "Did you want something?"

"I was just seeing if you were up," Bobby said with a shrug. "Breakfast is done. John and Marcus are already at the table."

"Okay."

Dean's stomach rumbled. Or, rather, it would have if he had actually been in his physical form. He was so hungry…He almost freaking moaned at the thought of food, but there was no way he and Sam could approach the table. Bobby didn't know they were there and he most likely wouldn't approve, would either call someone or do something about it himself. Dean's non-existent eyes flashed. He wouldn't be run out of this house that easily, he decided. He was so tired of being treated like crap just because he was a Green Eye.

"Actually," Castiel said slowly, thoughtfully, "could I maybe eat in here? …And have extras? I'm sorry…It's just, I'm starving…I haven't eaten in a while." He looked at Bobby with his wide, innocent eyes and it even made Dean want to cave, and he wasn't even the one Castiel was talking to.

Bobby paused and then nodded. "Sure, I guess that's okay. I'll have John bring you some - I sure as hell ain't a server." He left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Dean breathed out in relief and then materialized, moving away from Sam as he combed his fingers through his tangled, disheveled hair. How long had it been since he'd had a comb, a decent one? He couldn't remember. Hell, for that matter, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had a decent meal…at Sam's, maybe? But by the Eyes, that seemed like an eternity ago. His time spent in the company of that horrible, wicked, violet knife had seemed endless.

He shuddered physically at the thought, involuntarily, and then flinched when he felt Castiel's hand land lightly on his shoulder. He was currently sitting against the bed and Castiel was on it, leaning over it to frown at him worriedly, his blue eyes darkened with the faint touches of concern. For some reason, Dean really hated that he had that expression plastered on his face. It surely didn't fit him. "Cas…" he murmured.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said with a scoff, waving him off. "Why did you ask for extras and to eat in here? Your ankle hurting again?" Despite himself, worry sparked within him and he went to reach for Castiel's ankle, even though he'd thought it was doing so much better.

"No," Castiel said quietly, shifting his ankle out of Dean's reach. "My ankle is fine. I asked for extra so you and Sam could eat too - I am sure you are both hungry."

Dean paused as his stomach growled violently in response. Castiel smirked at him and Dean scowled. "Okay, so I'm a little hungry," he admitted slowly. "Sue me already."

Castiel shook his head and then stopped, looking thoughtful and somewhat distracted and conflicted. Dean frowned at him.

It's because I had my stupid arms around him…what the hell were you thinking, Dean? Really? You have to snuggle while you sleep? He shook his head, shaking the thoughts away. "Look, Cas…" he started softly. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Castiel asked, confused, frowning at him. "For what, Dean?"

Dean rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck as he averted his gaze toward the ground. "For, um…I think I got…kinda clingy in my sleep…and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, um…" Crap, but this was strange and awkward.

Castiel paused. "Why are you apologizing?"

Dean blinked at him. "What do you-" He broke off as the door to the room opened again. Instinctively, he vanished, smoking himself over Sam to shield him from view, but then relaxed when he saw that it was just John entering the room with surprisingly a lot of food balanced on a tray. Dean materialized again and smiled. "Morning, John."

"Dean," John said, nodding in greeting as he put the tray down on the bed. "I tried to make sure there was enough for all three of you. Sam still sleeping?" He looked down at his son fondly.

Dean nodded, eying the food as though it were the ultimate gift from the gods. His mouth instantly began to salivate, the wonderful, brilliant aroma wafting up his nostrils, attacking his senses. Castiel smiled at him and grabbed a sausage from one of the plates, handing it out to him. Dean snatched it and ate it quickly, as though someone was going to steal it from him even though he was fairly certain that wasn't going to happen.

John sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "Hopefully we won't be here for too long, so you and Sam won't have to hide, but…"

"I understand," Dean said, shaking his head. It was safe for them here, for the time being, and it was a place to stay. To leave would mean to fully enter the city and risk running into Blue Eyes who could tell Dean and Sam were there if they really wanted to, even through the smoke shield Dean formed.

John nodded. "Well…I'd better get back before Bobby starts to wonder what the hell I'm doing in here." He shook his head. "The guy is pretty demanding when it comes to dishes…he'll think I'm slacking."

For some reason, the thought of John doing dishes tickled something within Dean, and for the first time in a long time, he started laughing. His shoulders started shaking first, a small tremble that quickly grew as chuckles tore from his lips. Castiel and John blinked at him as though in surprise, and then Castiel smirked. John just shook his head and left the room.

Dean sat on the bed next to Castiel and the food, eying Sam. "Should we wake him or keep the food for ourselves? Finders keepers after all."

Castiel shook his head. "We should let him wake on his own - he looks exhausted. But we should also leave him a sufficient amount."

Dean nodded, yawning. A blush suddenly crossed Castiel's face and Dean frowned at him. "Cas? What…?"

"Nothing," Castiel said quickly. "Just…um…thinking."

"…About?" Dean asked, quirking a delicate brow, a faint grin spreading across his face. Seeing Castiel blush was oddly amusing, he had to admit.

Castiel shook his head and held out another piece of sausage for him. "Sausage?"

He was holding it so close to Dean's face that, without thinking, Dean just leaned toward it a little and ate it from Castiel's hand, which definitely caused both of them to stiffen and blink at each other in surprise. Holy shit, why did I just do that? Dean shouted through his mind as he continued chewing the sausage, not knowing what else to do. Castiel slowly lowered his hand and Dean stared at him, half expecting the Blue Eye to growl at him or something, because he shouldn't have done that. A guy didn't eat a sausage from another guy's hand, and especially not if said guy was a Green Eye eating from a Blue Eye. That was just…wrong.

For a long moment, they just sort of stared at each other. Castiel didn't seem to have to blink, which was a little odd, but kind of in a good way. It sort of made Dean just want to stare into those seemingly endless blue eyes, a color he used to hate with a great passion, but now he was finding a whole new outlook for that color, despite the fact that Blue Eyes had been the ones to use that horrible blade on him.

It took him a moment, but he finally realized that they were both leaning forward, toward each other, and were getting closer. Swallowing, he tore himself away, immediately smoking out of there despite the fact that his stomach was aching for food. He left the room quickly, leaving Castiel sitting on the bed, alone and looking around with confused eyes, and Sam asleep on the floor.

He had to get out of there. He wasn't sure what was going on.

Bobby didn't come around the rest of the day, for which Sam was grateful. He figured John had said something so he would leave Castiel alone in the room, which also meant Sam would be alone as well. However, going to the bathroom was a horrible problem, especially with Dean not there. He wasn't sure where the Green Eye had gone, or why, but he thought maybe Castiel knew. The Blue Eye in question had been moping around the better part of the day, keeping mostly quiet and to himself, which, granted, was kind of normal for him. But there was a dark look in his eyes, a glum, upset look that Sam couldn't quite place. He wanted to ask the Blue Eye about it but the words never seemed to come to mind.

They'd left some breakfast for Dean, but he'd never shown up. Now the food sat cold and forgotten on the bedside table. No doubt Bobby would be in to collect it in a little while, and if it wasn't gone, he would not allow Castiel to ask for so much food next time. Castiel had told him how he'd gotten the food for the three of them, but Dean had barely eaten, and then had taken off. Sam had the distinct impression that there was something Castiel wasn't telling him, but he didn't want to prod because it seemed obvious that the Blue Eye didn't want to talk about it.

He wished he knew what to say to make Castiel feel better, but he had no idea. He kept coming up empty, and he hoped Dean would return soon. He couldn't do much moving around without the Green Eye there to shield him from view, after all.

Except, when night came, Dean still wasn't back.

Sam slept on the floor even though he was sure Castiel found the bed cold and lonely due to the Green Eye's absence - but he had faith that Dean would return soon and he knew that despite Dean's protesting, he would rather sleep with Castiel than alone on the floor or with Sam. It was just a sort of instinct he had.

So he closed his eyes and went to sleep, hoping Dean would return soon so Castiel would stop moping. Being stuck in a room with an upset Blue Eye was definitely not his idea of 'fun'.

Castiel felt it, around two in the morning, when the bed dipped and warmth began to consume him. Swallowing, he waited until Dean settled under the covers before he rolled over and frowned at him. "Where were you?" he asked quietly into the darkness around them.

There was a long silence, even though Castiel could see the faint glow of his green eyes next to him. "Looking around. They haven't caught up to us yet…I didn't see any sign of them."

Castiel frowned. "You were looking for them?"

"Not really, just…checking the perimeter." His voice was quiet, his breath a warm puff of air as it slid across Castiel's face as Dean turned, facing him. "Did I wake you? Sorry."

"Are you okay?" He remembered the last time Dean had gone to check the perimeter.

"I'm fine. Get some sleep, Cas."

"We saved some food for you, if you want it. It's in the drawer over there. We hid it," Castiel told him.

There was another pause, shorter this time. "Thanks, Cas," Dean said sincerely.

Castiel nodded and then bit down on his lower lip. He wanted to talk about what had happened earlier, but he didn't want to run Dean off again. He didn't even honestly know what he was feeling, exactly, but he did know that it was a strong feeling, no matter how strange it was, and it only happened around Dean.

He felt Dean shift next to him, getting more comfortable in bed, and then there was the sound of his steady, deep, even breaths, signaling a contented sleep. Sighing, he figured it would have to wait until tomorrow…if he even decided to actually talk about it. He didn't want to run Dean off again, after all, and he wasn't even entirely sure what he was feeling anyway. It was probably just a fluke or something, nothing serious - nothing to worry about.

Right?

Sighing, he closed his eyes, suddenly missing the feel of Dean pressed against him as they had been this morning, but he figured that wasn't going to happen again.

For some reason, he felt distinctly saddened at the thought.

Sooooo...good, bad? Too rushed? Haha please let me know! And again, sorry for taking so long to update! Hopefully I will update quicker this time and there will be more action, haha. Anyway, thanks again, and please continue to review! Pweeeeeeze? Thanks!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~