~~~~~~~~~Chapter 13~~~~~~~~~

Dean awoke to a solid warmth against his back and an arm wrapped tightly around his waist. He squeezed his eyes shut, as a flood of feelings he didn't know what to do with engulfed him. Cas had stayed. Cas loved him. Cas just… was. His closed eyes relaxed, having never quite opened, as he let himself fall into his angel.

Castiel smiled, Dean's spiky hair tickling his lips, while his fingers ran through the short strands.

"Cas," Dean finally whispered.

"Yes," nuzzling Dean's neck.

"Don't leave."

Cas smiled, "Gabriel has everything under control and Raphael is no longer in a position where he can threaten us."

"Good," Dean answered, pulling Cas' arm tighter around him. He didn't care if he was cuddling, there was no one to see it anyway.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Castiel hated seeing Dean like this, bruised and bleeding, but it was becoming more common. It wasn't that Dean was falling back into that reckless hatred that had tried to consume him- Cas had seen to that, he'd spent the first week after Raphael's defeat fixing the damage the archangel had done to Dean's psyche. No, these injuries were purely from hunting. Nasty things getting the upper hand for a moment before Dean could dispatch them. The mistakes were simple, the kind he'd never seen Dean make, even at his worst. Cas ran a hand gently over Dean's wounds watching as they disappeared beneath his touch.

"Thanks, Cas," Dean whispered half asleep.

The angel smiled, kissing Dean's forehead, "You are quite welcome." Shucking his clothes, he slid into the bed beside his sleeping hunter, pressing up close to him, molding his body to Dean's.

Even with his presence, Dean's sleep was restless. Cas expected it. Dean's sleep had always been fitful, especially after losing Sam, but this was steadily growing worse. Dean tossed about, pushing and fighting with non-existent creatures, and moaning and whimpering in pain, every so often Sam's name escaped his lips. It was easy to guess what Dean was dreaming about and it didn't matter how close Cas held him, how many reassuring words or calming touches he offered, nothing seemed to ease Dean's discomfort.

Cas didn't approve of spying on Dean's thoughts and dreams, although he couldn't deny how glad he was that Gabriel had, but right now he was tempted to. He would have to speak to Dean in the morning; see if he could get the stubborn man to admit what was troubling him- somehow he doubted his answers would be easily won.

-o-o-

"Dean?" Cas wasn't sure this was the best way to broach the subject, but he needed to know what was wrong with Dean if he ever hoped to be able to help him.

"Hmm," Dean continued putting his boots on waiting for his angel to speak.

"Your dreams are getting worse. Are you sleeping well?"

Dean looked at Cas as if he'd grown a second head, knowing his angel never asked such simple questions without already having the answer.
"Why?" his voice shook.

"You're sleep has been uneasy for weeks. It is affecting your ability to hunt. You need rest Dean."

Dean closed his eyes, not sure if he was ready to have this conversation. He'd finally accepted how Cas felt about him, that he was truly loved by the angel. He still questioned it; he wouldn't be Dean if he didn't, but he actually believed Cas when he said he loved him and would always come back. It's why his current dreams seemed almost like a betrayal.

"Please Dean, I want to help." His deep voice nothing more than a breath on the air as he sat beside his hunter.

"Cas, I…" he shook his head, how could he tell Cas that his dreams were filled with images of his brother and the things Lucifer would be doing to him. Dean had been there, he knew what Alistair could do, and how much more Lucifer himself could. "I just need time on this one, okay," he pleaded.

The words and the way Dean was so reluctant to tell him what was bothering him was enough to tell the angel he was right about what it was, or rather who it was.
Cas smiled fondly at the man he loved. "I love you, Dean Winchester and I will do anything in my power to make you happy," he peppered kisses along his neck, snaking his arms around Dean, distracting him from the discomfort he'd caused with his questions.

Dean leaned back into Cas' embrace. "I am such a bad influence on you," he teased.

Castiel buried his face in Dean's neck, breathing in his hunter. Now that he knew what was troubling Dean, Cas knew what he needed to do and the one person who could help him.