It was several hours before Dean awoke. His head was pounding, his eyes stinging and puffy from so much crying. He was confused at first, not even remembering how he had gotten to bed. It was all so vague. As soon as Gordon had said those words, his entire mind had practically gone blank with rage, and he had only been slightly aware of Castiel's arms around him, of being led from the room. He thought he could remember Cas fishing in his pockets for his keys, driving Dean home in the Impala and carefully tucking him into bed, wiping his tears away.

Dean turned, looking for Cas, and there he was in the chair nearby, knees to his chin, feet tucked beneath him as he read Dean's copy of 'Fahrenheit 451'. His blue eyes had glanced up as soon as Dean had stirred and were now fixated on the other boy. "Hey," he said.

"Hey." Dean pushed himself up to a sitting position. Cas looked concerned, so very very concerned, and Dean felt guilt spreading through him. "I'm sorry."

Cas was surprised. "For what?"

Dean shrugged uneasily. "Being a nuisance." Cas' eyes narrowed immediately.

"Dean, shut up. You are NOT a nuisance. You reacted in a perfectly rational way."

It warmed Dean to know that his ridiculously extreme reaction somehow seemed rational in Castiel's eyes. He pulled his own knees up to his chest as he thought of Gordon, that mocking smile on his face. "Your friends are assholes," Dean grumbled, even though he supposed that, from a certain standpoint, they could be construed as his friends as well. Cas nodded in agreement.

"I know."

The response somewhat surprised Dean. He knew that Cas was easily irritated by their superficial ways, but he still hung out with them, had been friends with them before Dean had showed up, so there had to be SOMETHING there. "So why do you like them?"

"Why do YOU?"

"I don't!"

The answer didn't seem to surprise Cas so much as to give him an excuse to ask a question which he clearly had been dying to ask for a long time now. "Then why do you hang out with them?"

"So I can spend time with you!" The words exploded forth before Dean could stop them.

Cas was taken aback. "…..that's really the only reason you hang out with them?"

Dean was blushing. "….well, Bela's okay."

Cas' smile was growing into a full-fledged grin. "You do it just so you can spend time with me."

Dean's face was burning crimson red by now. "Yes. Shut up."

"I will not." Cas shifted over to the bed, sitting beside Dean. "You're wonderful." He cupped Dean's cheek, thumb gently stroking the soft skin. "And as to all of them…." He paused as he tried to find words, and sighed. "I don't know. I spent a lot of time alone before they found me. They came to me the same as they did to you, seeking me out cuz of the way I dressed. And I guess…..well, it was nice to not be the loser kid for once. For the first time, I had people wanting ME. And as superficial or conceited as that may make me, it felt really good. I liked that feeling. And I wanted it to stick around."

Dean shook his head. "It's not conceited."

Cas smiled. "I'm glad you think so." He ran his fingers through Dean's hair. "Besides…." His smile grew. "It let me meet you."

Dean returned the smile. "Well, obviously that's the best part."

"Obviously." Cas' smile faded and he shook his head. "Gordon, on the other hand…"

Dean pictured again that smile, those cold eyes. Usually Gordon was so silent. It would figure today would be the day he'd choose to open his mouth. Dean sighed. "He doesn't say much, but when he does its to the point."

"Tell me about it." Cas sat back against the headboard, tugging Dean into his arms, and they sat in silence as he continued to run his fingers through Dean's short hair. After several minutes, Dean spoke up.

"You know, I think I may have a way to get back at him."

"…oh?"

"Well, not just him," Dean amended. "ALL of them."

Now Cas was DEFINITELY intrigued. "Tell me everything."

The two sat together in bed, the troubles of the day nearly forgotten as Dean outlined his plan.

Cas was laughing as Dean finished. "Dean, this….." Dean waited expectantly. "Well, it's hardly evil, but it's awesome nonetheless."

"You think?" Cas nodded. "Good. I've had it in mind for a while now but wasn't sure if I should go through with it."

"Definitely. Let's do it tomorrow."

"You think?"

"Yeah. Call Charlie and Benny, get them in on it. Ash too."

"Okay!" Dean looked so incredibly pleased that Cas approved of his idea.

Smiling, Cas pressed a gentle kiss to Dean's mouth. "I love you," he said softly.

Dean smiled back at him. "I love you, too." He pressed closer, arms wrapping around Cas, face nuzzling into the junction of Cas' throat, unable to look at him as he whispered, "Thank you so much for all you did today."

"Hey, hey," Cas gently pulled Dean from his hiding place, hand cupping his chin, forcing Dean to look at him. "You have nothing to thank me for. You're mine, and I love you, and I will always take care of you. ALWAYS."

Dean's eyes were burning, those hot pinpricks of tears. He smiled, heart wanting to beat its way right out of his chest. "I love you," he managed.

Cas smiled. "I love you, too."

There was a soft knocking on the door. "Dean?" Sam poked his head in, worry written plainly on every inch of his face.

Dean smiled. "Heya, Sammy."

Seeing Dean's smile slightly eased Sam's concern; he entered the room. "I've got your scarf."

Dean's face lit up; he held out his arms for it. "Is it….is it okay?" His eyes roved every inch, searching for any blemish.

Sam smiled as he watched his brother. "It's perfect. Cas had me take it to this place he knows and they fixed it right up." He glanced at Cas. "They gave me a hard time about it, too, just like you said. Said it barely needed any attention, but they did listen up when they heard your name." He raised a brow. "Why is that?"

"Why is what?" Cas was so filled with warmth as he watched Dean, so happy to have his scarf back unharmed.

"The way you had me bring them the scarf….having me tell them 'you WILL clean this for me. Castiel Novak wants it done.' Who ARE you, Don Corleone?"

Cas' brow furrowed, his face falling into that puzzled head tilt that Dean found so adorable. "Who?"

Sam stared, eyes huge. "Do NOT tell me you haven't seen 'the Godfather'." Cas simply continued to look at him with that puzzled expression; Sam heaved a sigh, shaking his head. "Dude. How are you and Dean even dating?"

Cas opened his mouth to retort but then arms snaked around him and he found himself pulled back against Dean's chest. "What he lacks in pop culture knowledge he makes up for in sheer overwhelming adorableness," Dean answered.

Sam gagged. "Ug. And that's my cue to leave."

"Thanks for the scarf, Sammy!" Dean called cheerfully after him.

Cas turned to face Dean, a brow arched as he echoed "adorableness?"

Dean grinned. "Adorableness," he confirmed.

Cas pretended to give the matter great thought. "Well," he said at last. "I guess I can work with that."

"Well, you'll have to." Dean carefully set his scarf aside and lay back, tugging Castiel down atop him. "It suits you."

"Does it."

"Mmhm." Dean traced Cas' brow. "Those big blue eyes…..fucking gorgeous."

Cas felt the first stirrings of heat curl through him. "Gorgeous isn't the same as adorable," he pointed out.

"No," Dean agreed. "But you're both." Now that he had started, he seemed unable to stop, captivated by Castiel's eyes; he couldn't look away. "Your hair…..you always look like you just rolled out of bed after some incredible fucking."

Cas laughed. "That's adorable?"

Dean considered. "Okay, no, that's sexy. But your bedhead is still adorable."

"Mmm.." Cas hummed. "I think my hair's a little too tidy at the moment."

"….huh?" Dean was still too caught up in Cas to catch on right away.

"I think it could use a bit more…..messing up."

Castiel's suggestive tone and the look on his face finally registered. "OH." The color immediately flooded to Dean's cheeks, staining them crimson. "Oh. I. Oh."

Cas waited as the words sank in, a smile on his face. "Interested?"

Dean's nod was shaky but rapid, determined. "Yes. Yes, I…." He paused. "Fuck. Sam."

Cas' head fell to Dean's chest. "Goddammit." After a moment he rose from the bed, heading to the door. He could hear Dean behind him, worry in his voice as he asked "Cas? Cas, what are you doing?"

But Cas didn't answer, simply headed into the kitchen, through to the living room where he found Sam in front of the television. "Hey, Sam."

Sam looked up, worry on his face. "Is Dean okay?"

"Yeah, Dean's fine. Though he's….." Cas sighed. "Okay, Sam, I'm gonna level with you. I'd like to blow Dean."

Sam recoiled, looking horrified. "What the fuck are you telling me this for?!"

"Because you're in the house and I wanted to give you ample opportunity to leave before it happened. But it's going to happen one way or another. Your brother's had a bad day and I REALLY think he deserves a good blowjob. So you can have either the trauma of hearing me tell you what's GOING to happen or you can listen to it ACTUALLY happen. Your choice."

Sam stared, looking thoroughly displeased with his choices. Finally, with a noise of utter discontent, he shut off the TV and, grabbing a book, stormed out the front door. "Thank you!" Cas called after him.

Dean was still in bed when Cas returned, but now he was sitting up, waiting. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, nothing," Cas answered smoothly. He gently pushed Dean to lay back on the bed and crawled into his lap, straddling him. "I just told Sam that I was gonna suck your cock."

"YOU WHAT?!"

Cas couldn't help but laugh at the reaction, a combination of horror and amusement. "Relax. He went outside to read a book."

Dean was staring at Cas as though he couldn't believe he were real. "You are thoroughly insane, you know that, right?"

"Mmhm." Cas kissed Dean gently.

"So…..suck my cock, huh." Dean was clearly aiming for nonchalance but there was nervousness in his voice, and it was all too easy to remember that this is as far as he had gone with Balthazar. Cas would have to tread carefully.

"Yup." He looked at Dean, a hand cupping his face. "If that's okay with you?"

The nerves were clear in Dean's eyes, but so was the desire, the love, and Dean nodded. "Yea. I….." His fingers gripped Cas' shirt. "Kiss me?"

Cas smiled at the request, at how adorably nervous Dean was, and complied. His hands slipped beneath Dean's shirt and tugged at it, and Dean pulled away, breaking the kiss to allow Cas to pull the shirt up and off. Just as before, Dean was a sight to behold. Cas wasted no time in pressing kisses down his throat, his chest. He let his lips graze a nipple and Dean's entire body jolted as if he had touched a live wire. "Dean?"

"Fuck." The word was barely more than a breath of air. "Don't stop."

Cas huffed a laugh at that, and Dean twitched again as that puff of air teased over his nipple. "Fuck, Cas!"

So. Dean was more sensitive than he'd thought. Cas smiled. He could work with this. He flicked his tongue over one nipple while his fingers teased the other, then blew across the wet nub. Dean was writhing beneath him. God, he was so responsive. Cas couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be inside Dean.

The thought made his cock twitch and he pressed the heel of his hand against it to try and calm himself down. This was about Dean. He wanted to give Dean a good memory to look back on. He moved on from Dean's nipples, kissing his way down his chest and belly, pausing to flick his tongue into Dean's navel, fingers deftly undoing the catches on Dean's pants and tugging them down.

Dean's boxer-briefs were tented, the front damp with a spot of precum. Cas rubbed soothing circles on those gorgeous jutting hipbones, looking up at Dean. "You're sure this is okay?"

Beautiful green eyes looked down at him. They were nervous, but certain. "Yea. Yea, I'm sure. Please, Cas."

Those two words broke him. Carefully, Cas pulled down Dean's underwear, freeing his cock. Fuck, it was gorgeous. Dean was gorgeous.

Cas wrapped his hand around Dean's shaft, giving him a slow, smooth stroke. For some reason, he was nervous, and he thought he knew why. He wanted to make this good for Dean. Wanted to erase all memories of Balthazar, of that horrible night. And he'd be damned if he didn't do it. Looking down at Dean, at that beautiful boy spread out before him, he felt such an overwhelming surge of love overcome him, and all the nerves left. It would be good. It couldn't be anything BUT good. Because he loved Dean more than anything.

Dean felt Cas' hand stroke his cheek and he looked up. Those blue eyes were smiling down at him, soft and reassuring. He opened his mouth to question it but then he felt Castiel's hand slip between his legs, cupping his balls, and he gasped. Balthazar had never done THAT. "Cas!"

"Shh." Cas hushed, leaning in to kiss him softly. "I love you." And then he was gone from view, moving down until he was face to face with that gorgeous cock. He was drawn in, unable to stop himself from licking along the tip, tasting the salty precum there. He could hear Dean draw in a sharp breath. He hoped it was a good noise. It SOUNDED like a good one.

Cas moved on, letting his tongue tease around the head of Dean's cock, then ran it slow and hot along the vein on the underside. He was aware of the way Dean's hands were clutching at the covers, seeking something to ground himself. That was a good sign. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth and swallowed Dean down.

There was an immediate response, Dean practically sobbing "oh!" It sounded good, but Cas was unsure, nervous, so he pulled back, looking up at Dean.

"Are you okay?" he asked breathlessly, but one look at Dean and he felt as if he'd been punched in the gut.

Dean looked completely and utterly debauched. His cheeks were flushed, hair sticking to his forehead with sweat; that gorgeous flush went all the way to his bare chest and he had his legs spread wide for Cas. But most importantly, the look on his face was about the farthest from upset that it could get. "Yes," he managed. "Yes, yes, please Cas, don't stop."

That was all he needed to know. Cas returned to his task, tongue teasing along the crown of Dean's penis, his hand working him in slow, steady pumps. "Beautiful," he murmured, pressing kisses down the length of his dick. "You're beautiful."

"…Cas…." Dean's voice was thick with emotion, love and need. Cas didn't stop, simply carried on, tonguing his cock, taking him in deep. Dean cried out at that, and Cas was glad he had asked Sam to leave the house; Dean was awfully loud. Deep throating was one thing that Cas was good at, and he was damn proud of it. Not only that, it was something he actually enjoyed. It seemed Dean did as well. His hands had found their way into Castiel's hair, clutching handfuls, hips fucking up of their own accord. It was unbelievably sexy.

Cas slipped his hand between Dean's legs to cup his balls once again. They were drawn up tight, a sure sign that Dean was close to coming. He gave them a gentle tug, simultaneously humming around Dean's cock, and that was it. That was the tipping point. He felt Dean's hot seed fill his mouth, those hips stuttering as Dean came, Cas' name upon his lips.

Cas pulled away, crawling up so he was face to face with Dean, and he felt as if he'd been slapped. Dean's eyes were filled with tears, streaming down his cheeks. "Dean!"

But Dean's only response was to grab Cas and pull him into a kiss, fierce and deep. "I love you," he gasped. "I love you so much."

And Cas realized that these were happy tears, and that he had accomplished his goal. Balthazar may not be gone, but the memory wasn't painful anymore. Cas had given Dean a new memory, and just from looking at his face, the light in his eyes and the way his smile glowed, it was clear that this memory was worth a million of the other.

"I love you too," he replied, softly stroking Dean's hair, brushing the tears away. "I love you so much."

Dean pushed Cas back onto the bed, curling up against him. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for giving me that."

Cas shook his head. "Shut up. You don't have to thank me….I wanted to."

"Even so." Dean's voice was so soft. "You have no idea how much it means to me."

Cas' heart ached. He didn't know how anyone could hurt someone so sweet and wonderful as Dean. Then he felt a hand lightly stroke over the bulge in his jeans and he jumped. "Dean!"

"You're still hard." Dean didn't move. His touch was light and hesitant, but it was there nonetheless, and Cas was all too aware that Dean had never done THIS before. Maybe it made him twisted but somehow that made this all the sexier, and he groaned, head falling back against the bed.

"Dean….it's fine. I…..I mean, it'll go away."

Dean just looked at him. "…..so you don't want me to take care of it?"

Cas immediately backpedalled. "No. I mean….that's not what I meant. I just don't want you to feel obligated to do anything you're not ready for."

Dean nodded, appearing to give the matter great consideration. Then, he slid off of Cas, hand immediately going to work on Cas' pants. "Dean, what're you-"

"You said anything I'm not ready for." Dean finished with the zipper and looked up at Cas. "Well, I'm ready."

The words were like a fist squeezing Cas' heart; it was too much to handle, especially with those green eyes staring at him so seriously, and he sat frozen as Dean attempted to remove his pants. Finally he succeeded in shucking them down past his thighs and sat staring at the tent in Cas' underwear. At that, he glanced up at Cas, who was watching him dumbly. "Is…..is this okay with you?"

Cas somehow managed a nod. "As…as long as you're sure."

Dean nodded; he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of Cas' underwear and carefully pulled it down. His breath caught when he truly saw Cas' cock for the first time; the sound was clearly audible in the mostly silent room. He jumped at the touch of Cas' hand on his face, startled green eyes looking up.

"You don't have to do this," Cas' voice was soft. Dean shook his head.

"Will you shut up? I want to." And then he was leaning in and oh God that mouth was on Castiel's cock. That gorgeous mouth.

With the way they were positioned, Dean was on his hands and knees, pert ass up in the air, and Cas didn't know how he could paint a prettier picture. Then Dean glanced up through his lashes and Cas nearly came on the spot. Those lips that had captured his attention right from the start, those plump, James Dean lips….seeing them wrapped around his cock while Dean looked up at Cas through his lashes? It was too much. It was just far too much. "Dean," he managed to choke out.

"Hmm?" And there was no WAY Dean didn't know what he was doing, the devious little shit, humming like that; the sound vibrating around Cas' dick and he cried out.

"Dean…..Dean, gotta stop. M'gonna…"

But Dean simply clamped his hands in place on Cas' hips and, unbelievably, took Cas even deeper, taking in more and more until Cas hit the back of his throat and fuck, how in the hell was Dean a natural at deep throating? Then the little fucker swallowed, his throat constricting around Cas' cock and that was it, Cas was coming hard.

When Dean pulled away, releasing Cas' now softening dick, he had a little cum on his face. Smiling, Cas brushed the drop away with his thumb. "You…." Dean waited expectantly, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. "You're amazing, you know that."

All hint of nerves vanished, Dean's face dissolving into a smile. "It was okay?"

"Dean, that…I don't know how a first-timer gives a blowjob like that." He wrapped his arms around Dean and hauled Dean into his lap. "You defy logic."

Dean just laughed. "Glad to know I have some marketable skills," he teased. Cas swatted his bare thigh.

"No. These are non-marketable skills. They belong only to me, got it?"

Dean was grinning. "Got it." He snuggled back against Cas, sighing. "I should probably cook dinner for Sam….to apologize for all of this."

Cas laughed. "This was more my fault. Not that I'll object to eating your food."

Dean arched a brow. "Who said you were getting any?"

"You would cook dinner and not share?" Cas let a hand flutter to his chest. "I'm wounded!"

"Yea, yea." Dean shook his head. "I'll make him some meatloaf. He likes meatloaf. And yes," he smiled at Cas, "you can stay."

"Oh, good. Otherwise it's just me, my candy addicted brother, and my dad, and GOD knows if he's emerged from his cave yet."

Dean laughed. "I still haven't met your dad."

Cas shrugged. "He's busy on a story right now, so even I barely see him. Besides, we always come over here."

Dean felt a tiny wave of guilt. "Would you like to spend more time over there?"

Immediately Cas could see what Dean was thinking. "Hey, no, it's okay. I mean yeah, it'd be nice to show you my room and stuff, but I like being here. And I know you like being around for Sam."

Now that Dean thought about it, it was true: he still hadn't seen any more of Cas' house than the entryway and kitchen that he had seen when picking Cas up for their date. It would be nice to see more…..especially if that "more" included Cas' bedroom. "Well, Sammy does have club a lot of days after school," Dean said slowly. "How about we start splitting times between our houses?"

Cas smiled. "That'd be nice. I mean…..we'd have to put up with Gabriel."

Dean laughed. "Okay, so maybe not SPLITTING it. But we can at least go there sometimes. Besides, I LIKED Gabriel."

"Yeah, you say that now," Cas muttered darkly. "Wait till you actually talk to him." He watched Dean pull out his phone. "What're you doing?"

"Letting Sam know it's safe to return. And that I'm making dinner." He shut his phone. "Should be a decent peace offering."

Cas grinned. "Still don't know how he'll look at you….either of us, really…..when he knows what we just did."

Dean shuddered, though he was still smiling. "Good point." He paused. "I'm simultaneously disgusted and amused."

Cas laughed, echoing "disgusted?"

"Well I don't want my little brother knowing this shit about me!"

"Hey, I figured it was preferable to him hearing us going at it."

"Good point." Dean slid out of Cas' lap, tugging his pants back up. "So." He crawled closer, kneeling between Cas' legs. "You'll stay for dinner? Then I can drive you back to your car?"

Cas smiled. "Sounds perfect."

It was a cold night. Fall was officially ending, and the first of the frosts were on their way. Not that any of that could be felt from inside the Impala as the two boys sat in the school parking lot, parked beside Castiel's car.

It had fallen silent between them as soon as they had neared the school, and Cas was fairly certain he knew why. It was as if all the events of the day had come rushing back and now lay heavy between them. He fiddled with his key ring. "Well," he spoke up, but Dean interrupted him.

"Thank you," he said. He was blushing, it was easy to see it all up the back of his neck and in the tips of his ears. "For taking care of me today." He was staring intently at the steering wheel, studiously avoiding looking at Cas, who felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and love. He reached out, a hand running through Dean's hair. Dean jumped slightly at the sensation before relaxing into the touch.

"You don't have to thank me, Dean," he murmured. "I love you. I love you more than anything. I will always be there for you. No matter how, no matter what. I'll be there."

Now Dean was looking at him and he smiled, that lopsided smile that Cas loved so much. "Sap," he said softly, and Cas chuckled.

"Yup."

Dean leaned in, pressing their mouths together for a hard kiss, and when he pulled away he was smiling. The sight of it made Castiel's heart fly. "I love you," he said softly.

Cas smiled. "I love you, too." He stroked Dean's cheek. "I'll see you in school tomorrow, yeah?"

Dean nodded, his smile growing with knowledge of what the two of them had planned. "Yea." He gave Cas another kiss. "Now get out of my car before I don't LET you get out and you're stuck here forever."

Cas laughed. "Okay, okay." But even knowing that he'd be seeing Dean tomorrow, it was hard to leave. It always was. He climbed into his own car and waved goodbye, watching as Dean drove off. At least Dean was feeling better. Thinking of him earlier that day, of how Lucas and Gordon had hurt him…..Castiel's blood boiled. He wished they had a better way to get revenge, an actual revenge, but Dean's little prank was something. He supposed it said something about the two of them that it was Dean who had been hurt and yet Dean was content to simply go with a joke he'd had in mind for a while whereas Cas wanted to physically injure both of them.

Still, this would do. It would make Dean happy, so it would more than do. So long as it worked.

Cas drove home, tossing his book bag to the floor and heading straight to his room. He had left his cell phone in his bag and thus had several missed messages. He was surprised to find that he already had one from Dean.

You make it home okay?

Cas smiled. Yes.

The reply was immediate. Good. I love you.

Castiel replied I love you too and was ready to set aside his phone for the night when it buzzed with a new message. It too was from Dean, and when he looked at it he felt his heart clench.

Thank you for this evening. It probably seems really silly thanking you but I can't tell you how much it meant to me. You erased so many bad memories tonight and gave me so many new good ones. I can't tell you how much I love you. I don't think I'll ever be able to. Because I love you, Cas. I really do.

Castiel didn't know how this amazing boy had fallen into his life, didn't know how he had accrued the kind of good luck and karma to deserve such a thing as Dean, but he was so incredibly grateful.

I love you too, Dean. More than anything in the world, I love you.

He set his phone on his bedside table so he could see if it buzzed again, and before turning off the lights, he glanced at the frame on the wall: a simple note reading "Will you go out with me?" and answered with "YES", written in capitals and underlined several times, all in Dean Winchester's messy scrawl. Despite everything else he might own, this was Castiel Novak's prize possession: Dean's agreement to date him. To Cas, that was everything. Dean was everything.

His phone buzzed again and he picked it up. It was nothing really, just a tiny 3 but it made him smile nonetheless. Dean Winchester had turned him into a sap and he loved it. He loved Dean, and everything about him, and everything that came with him.

Cas texted a 3 back and then curled up to go to sleep. Not too far across town, Dean was doing the same and, despite the events of the day, thanks to Castiel he managed to fall into a peaceful slumber.

Put out the torches, light the stars, light the moon.

~tbc~