Upon entering the section of the zoo dedicated to the wild cats, Dean heard some loud roaring and what sounded like someone shrieking. He looked over at Castiel and Michael, "Is that what's supposed to happen?"

"No," Cas frowned and hurried ahead to what he knew was the cheetah's caged area. "Hey, what's going on?" he called to the keeper, who looked was idiotically running around like an idiot. "What are you doing!? Cheetahs eat the prey that runs!" He snapped before running around to the door, breaking inside.

"Cas!" Dean shrieked and ran to the fence, Michael right at his side.

"Castiel!" A big brother tone if Dean had ever heard it.

Cas wasn't listening, however. He darted into the habitat and started making certain calling sounds that the zookeepers usually made. "Sasha, come here girl, it's okay sweetheart." He was so calm as the cheetah turned on him, she recognized him and the closer she got the more she realized that. "Hey baby, what's wrong? What did he do to you, huh?"

"That thing is nuts! I'm never doing this again I swear. Hands on research is bullshit." The terrified volunteer stammered and babbled as he crawled toward the exit. Cas glared at him but knew to deal with the idiot much later. Michael would catch him on his way out anyway, no harm in taking his time.

Sasha's sounds grew more docile as she rubbed her head against Castiel's hand, having fully recognized him. "That's my girl," Cas smiled and pet her carefully, kneeling down and nuzzling his nose against hers, which resulted in a long, harsh tongue brushing up against his cheek.

Michael looked down at the zoo volunteer as he made it to the exit, grabbing the back of his shirt and hauling him up against the fence. "So what the hell were you doing?"

"Research! I was doing research for my book, okay!?"

"Who are you?" Dean growled at him, "What the fuck were you researching that it'd try and kill you?" He was more pissed that it caused Cas to run into a dangerous animal's territory to save his stupid ass. Not that it wasn't fucking amazing what Castiel was capable of, but Dean didn't like seeing his baby almost mutilated by a cat.

"My name's Chuck, Chuck Shurley! I'm writing a novel and my publisher suggested hands on research!" He was all but sobbing he was so hysterical. Clearly almost dying didn't sit well with him either.

"Calm down," Michael's tone shifted to that of someone who must have mastered Human Resources and customer service because Dean almost didn't recognize it. He lowered the sniveling man to the ground carefully but had to continue holding him up otherwise Chuck would have just collapsed right there. "Chuck, look at me, look at me."

Chuck stared up at him, still shaking but coherent. "Yes?"

"Are you hurt?"

"No, I-I don't think so."

"Good. Now go and get someone who can handle whatever job you were supposed to be doing and get out of here." Michael let him go, watching carefully as Chuck nodded and wandered off. "Jesus fucking Christ."

Dean tried not to laugh at Michael's disdain for the stupid. "Your family is pretty patient, huh?"

"Most of us," Michael shrugged, "I assume you haven't met Gabriel then?"

"I have actually, but he's hitting on my little brother and so far he's been patiently waiting for Sam to fall in love with him or something." Dean chuckled and shook his head, "It's hilarious."

"Oh, so the Sam I've heard about is your brother? Interesting, you're a Winchester then."

"Yep, that's me."

While the two older brother types talked a little more openly with one another (though not by much), Castiel had calmed Sasha down and she even led him to her den, purring and nudging him along. Cas smiled and pet her gently until he saw the little cheetah cubs tucked away. "Oh my goodness! Sasha, look at you girl!" He whispered excitedly, not wanting to spook her around her children. He turned and ruffled up her fur around her cheeks and ears, "You are one hot mama, check you out, you're so proud." He giggled and looked back to the little fur balls that squeaked back at him.

Cas made his way back to the exit and locked it again with the padlock Chuck had left open, "Okay well I found out why she was so pissed at him, he must've been looking at her cubs."

"That'd do it." Michael nodded, "Shall we then?"

"Right, but where's that idiot?" Cas looked around angrily. "I want to smack him."

"I sent him on his way back to get someone competent." Michael shrugged and started down the path again, "He was pretty shaken up, I don't think hitting him would have done much."

"Pfft, doesn't mean he wouldn't deserve it, moron."

Michael chuckled and pat Cas' shoulder, "Cool it, nothing happened, you're good."

"Wasn't worried about me." Cas scoffed, swatting Michael's hand away dramatically.

"Of course not." Michael rolled his eyes and looked back at the map.

Dean enjoyed felines but he loved going to the monkey exhibit much better. They were all swinging around and excited to see people, grabbing idiot tourists things as they stood too close to the fences and all that jazz. Cas shook his head but pull out his camera anyway, "Say cheese you two!" He called excitedly, aiming it at Dean and Michael.

The two glanced at each other, which Cas made sure to capture; he knew they'd do it and showing them later how they looked at each other would be priceless. "Come on, smile! Get closer!"

Michael obliged but instead of stepping closer to Dean he grabbed the other's arm and pulled him over until they were side by side. Michael slung his arm around Dean's shoulder and gave a loose peace sign for Castiel's amusement. Dean on the other hand smiled as wide as he could to show the difference between himself and Michael. What he didn't know was why Castiel was laughing so hard. The picture was snapped and Castiel went over to them to show it off, though he was still laughing too much to really explain anything.

To Dean's utter surprise Michael had actually done the same thing as him, eyes opened as buggy and wide as they could get, eyebrows shot up as far as they would go, and smiling as wide as their mouths would allow. "You look like brothers!" Cas snorted and bent over to hold his stomach. "Ow my sides!"

Michael held back a laugh and looked at Dean with amusement, "I suppose we had the same idea."

Dean grinned and dared to punch Michael in the shoulder, "You're alright, Mike."

"You've been reinforced by Charlie's antics, haven't you? You aren't going to let that go."

"Not a chance." Dean chuckled, barely flinching when Michael returned the hit to his shoulder.

"Alright now you two," Michael took Castiel's camera and stepped away, "Get close now."

Dean shrugged and put an arm around Cas' shoulders, feeling Castiel's hand slip behind him and rest on his opposite hip. It looked a little closer than normal, yet Castiel seemed to be that type regardless so it wasn't all that weird for Michael. Both of them smiled nicely, this was the first photo they were going to take together, Dean realized. Cas had a camera but never seemed to use it, Dean made a mental note to buy one, a proper one, and take more pictures.

"Beautiful, you look amazing Cas." Michael smiled and went to show him, Dean had to lean around the side to peer at it. It really was a good photo; they made a gorgeous couple, if he was allowed to say so.

"Now the brothers," Dean snatched the camera and stepped away, smiling as Michael and Cas stepped together, Michael didn't keep a straight face that time around either. They both stuck their tongues out and made faces at Dean until he managed to get a few good shots in. "You two are ridiculous! I hope one of you scrap books."

"I do keep a photo album," Michael chuckled and ruffled up Castiel's hair, "I expect copies of the photos taken today."

"Of course, as always." Cas smiled, not bothered in the least by his messy hair. He kept it that way naturally and hey, if it looked stupid and bothered someone else it wasn't his problem; he didn't have to look at it. "Can we go to the aquarium now? I think Charlie forgot about what I said."

"I think she was already on her break when we bumped into her." Dean mused, keeping his laughter to a minimum.

"Boo-urns." Cas pouted, "Then we definitely have to go to the aquarium. Dean you wanna swim?"

"Not wearing swimming gear..." Dean looked down at himself, "Plus it's like October, kind of cold for that Cas."

"Dean's right, you'll catch cold. No swimming today." Michael agreed and headed for the aquarium, "But we can go and check out the fish all the same."

Upon entering the sea-world area of the zoo Dean couldn't believe the different kinds of animals that were around, octopi, sharks, dolphins, penguins, seals, and a big aquarium dedicated to the many different kinds of fish that were capable of living together. It was amazing, really. Dean hadn't been to the zoo since he was a little kid, he remembered having to hold Sam's hand while they looked at all the different animals. Sam wanted to pet them all of course, until lions roared too loud and monkeys stole his hat which was when he wouldn't stop crying until they had ice cream at the food shack.

"Charlie!" Cas called to his friend who was in a full on wetsuit. "You still got one of those that fits me?"

"Sure do, your highness." Charlie grinned and grabbed one from a basket nearby her station.

"Cas you little-" Michael started to protest but stopped when Castiel hurried over to her to collect it. "Disobedient twerp."

Dean laughed, "Come on, let him go. As long as he's not dragging us in with him."

"I'm going to swim with the dolphins!" Cas shouted over to them, "Be right back you guys!"

Dean and Michael went to the poolside and walked around it together as they waited to see Castiel in action. Michael's hands were folded behind his back as he casually strolled around; they were quiet until no one was around them. "You know I'm not blind, right?"

Dean was surprised at the sudden change in tone, though Michael had demonstrated he was capable of such a quick switch Dean hadn't expected it to be used on him. "What do you mean?"

"You're straight in public but not when you're alone with him? Don't think for a second I don't see what's happening between you two. Even if Gabriel hadn't accidentally let it slip to me I would have seen it," Michael turned those pale, dangerous eyes to Dean, piercing him right through. "I'm sure you understand what I'm about to say, don't you?"

"You're about to tell me to back off?" Dean frowned, he'd been expecting the conversation but he hadn't thought Michael actually knew, meaning he wasn't prepared for it just yet.

"No, of course I'm not. Castiel is in love with you and he'd hate me if I scared you away. However I am here to warn you. If you hurt him, if you're using him or playing with him for some fucked up goal of yours, I will end you. Are we clear?" Each word he spoke was sharp and Dean heard them loud and clear, no problem.

"Yes sir, but that's not my intention." He tried to sound as confident as he normally was with Castiel. When his secret was out like that, when it was in the open like it was now, he had no reason to hide. It was time to show Cas' family just how much he cared about Castiel; it was the time to prove it to Michael. "I love Cas, with everything I have I love him and I want nothing more than to make him happy. It's just taking me a bit of time to figure myself out."

Michael nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off of Dean for even a second. It was nerve wracking really but Dean knew he could endure it if he really tried. "How much longer will you take? This isn't fair to him, I don't care what he says, I'm telling you as someone on the outside looking in; this is cruel."

"I know and I'm trying," Dean had told himself this excuse countless times. It's okay because I'm trying. How long would that last for? How long would people accept that as a response? Not very long because Michael's expression hadn't changed for an instant.

"I'm sure you are. And I'm sure that Castiel is putting up with this farce and bullshit but he shouldn't. I want to see it end, either your bigotry or the relationship. I won't allow Cas to grow old being left in the dark."

"I wouldn't either." Dean shook his head, "I will take care of him, I promise."

"Don't promise me." Michael looked toward the water when Castiel emerged from the back room, waving excitedly to them in his wetsuit before diving into the pool with the dolphins. "Just show me."

After letting Castiel play with the dolphins for a while Dean finally allowed Cas to convince him to join in. The wetsuit was tight and revealing and if Cas weren't already in one Dean would feel stupid, the water was cold and made him want to leap back out immediately but he didn't because Cas was waiting. Swimming with such big creatures was terrifying at first but Cas' comfort level was so high, the dolphins were so friendly, Dean couldn't help but relax.

It was fun, all in all Dean was really glad he did it. And to have Cas try and teach him anything about aquatic life was just adorable. Dean wasn't much for learning so really it ended up with Cas just telling him what to do without having to explain they why's. It went something like 'do this' 'why' 'because I said so' 'okay.' And that was it. He got to feed a dolphin, it was excellent and he had his boyfriend at his side the whole time. Dean wouldn't soon forget their trip to the zoo. Meeting Castiel's older brother, having a serious talk with him, meeting Cas' friends and volunteer buddies was always a plus, it gave him a little more insight into Castiel's head.

At the end of the day they drove home, this time Michael took the backseat (after inspecting it first). Dean would have said 'I wouldn't ever let my car stay dirty even if we did have sex back there' but he decided against it. Michael stepped out once they were back and looked over at the other two, "I'll be saying my goodbyes here, thank you for today, I enjoyed it."

Cas went and hugged him, "Have a safe drive home, Michael. Thanks for coming with."

Dean shook Michael's hand, "Good to meet you, Michael."

"You as well, Dean. Take care of him." With that he walked away, not looking back to see Castiel's screwed up expression.

"Did he just-"

"He knew, yeah." Dean laughed, "He talked to me while you were swimming."

Cas scratched the back of his head, "Oh... how did he... did you tell him?"

"No, he figured it out. Doesn't really matter how, he knows." He wrapped an arm around Cas' shoulders and kissed his cheek, "Shower? I smell like fish."

"Yeah," Castiel smiled, "I do too. What did Michael say anyway?"

"Just a big brother warning, 'I'll slit your throat if you hurt him' kind of stuff."

"Sounds tame for Michael."

"That's comforting."

Author's Note:

Thanks everyone, I'm glad you're all enjoying it :) If there's anything you wanted to see let me know and I'll see if I can work it in. I hope to keep you all happy, I've put my other story on pause for this, I see the ending of this story a lot closer than Chronicles so I decided to let that one sit for a bit while I wrap this one up. Sorry to those who are reading both and waiting for Chronicles' next update. It'll be a little bit.