Dean jerked awake from his sleep. For a moment he couldn't remember where he was. The sky's coloring was slightly different than that of the penitentiary. Looking around, his eyes landed on a clock. It was six something. Dean flopped back down. He couldn't remember the last time he slept so deep he forgot to open his eyes before he needed to.

Cas' breathing was even in his sleep. Dean idly wondered how long he had to wait until the man next to him woke up, now that there was no siren blaring at seven o'clock sharp. Brushing a wayward strand of hair off the closed eyelids, Dean couldn't help an upward curl of his lips. He traced his fingers along the rough growth of stubble. Cas' jaw twitched at the touch. Maybe Cas would shave tonight.

Dean slid a little lower on the bed, resting on his elbows. When the arm that was nestled on Dean's waist dropped to the mattress, Cas tucked it under his cheek, his lips munching the air emptily. Well, if Cas was this dorky in his sleep, Dean didn't think he would get tired of his morning entertainment.

Cas didn't so much as stir when Dean touched their puckered lips together, slightly dry from an overnight's rest. He pecked Cas on the cheek, getting the desired response when Cas waved him away like he would a pestering fly. Dean was thinking of letting Cas back to his peaceful slumber. He really did, but the creamy skin that was exposed above the neckline of the oversized t-shirt was too tempting. A patch of a purple bruise that was visible with it made Dean growl with an urge to protect. Laying a kiss there in what Dean hoped was soothing—

Dean was shoved onto his back, followed by a massive body sprawling out on top of him. "Stop it." Cas' muffled grunt reached his ears.

"Ouch," Dean cried. "It hurts." When he successfully pushed Cas until he fell to Dean's other side, the weight dropping on the bed instead of on Dean's bruised ribs, he wheezed. Catching his breath, Dean realized he could only lift his head, high enough to get a faceful of Cas' tousled hair, and nothing more. His left side was pinned to the mattress. Dean decided against struggling, resorting to falling back to sleep. There was nothing much he could do when half of his body was immobile, anyway.

~:~:~

When Dean came to again, it was to the feeling of someone licking his jaw.

Licking.

"Morning," Cas murmured into his skin. He was crouching over Dean, on his hands and knees to keep his weigh off him, nibbling now at the plump flesh of his shoulder like it was a sweet dessert.

"What time is it?" Dean slurred. He lifted his head up, trying to glance at the clock, but was shoved back.

"Nine," Cas supplied, moving now to kiss behind Dean's ear: the spot that made Dean's whole body shudder with want. Dean fumbled his groggy attempt to lock Cas in place, never ever wanting the ministration to stop. He could get used to waking up to this every morning.

Cas yelped when Dean rolled them over. "Good morning, gorgeous," Dean crooned with a grin, to which Cas returned with a shy smile. It never ceased to amaze him how Cas could turn from sexual prowess to bashful innocence in two seconds flat. "You hungry?" Dean asked instead. When Cas shook his head, he nodded. "Alright. What do you want to do?"

Cas rolled them over with unexpected force, giggling at the surprised look on Dean's face while straddling him. He bent down to peck Dean on the lips. "This," he said, grinning, keeping his face close but not at a near enough distance. Dean licked his lips in anticipation of the kiss that never came.

"You fucking tease," Dean grumbled, giving up his stance and grabbing Cas by the back of his neck, pulling him down for the kiss that was withheld. Cas laughed happily into his lips; his chuckles turned into whimpers when Dean sucked at his tongue. His muscles quivered where Dean was holding him. Dean smirked triumphantly then flipped them over.

Cas disappeared before his eyes.

"Cas!" Dean yelled. Looking over the edge of the bed, he saw Cas lying on the floor, wincing as he kneaded the back of his head.

Dean jumped by his side, helping as Cas tried to push himself up. "I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"

Cas seemed a little woozy at first, then glared daggers at him, which was how Dean knew Cas was going to be alright. "If you don't want me in bed with you," he groused. "You could have just said so."

Dean failed miserably to hide the amused grin on his face. Grumpy Cas was adorkable Cas. "Why wouldn't I want you in bed with me?" he said, leaning in instead to kiss those pouty lips. He took it as a good sign when Cas did not flinch away. "I want you forever in bed with me."

"I still hate this bed," Cas stubbornly grumbled, but the rosy blush on his cheeks gave him away.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Dean muttered, pulling Cas to his feet, pecking again the pouty lips that showed their owner was still in a sour mood. He took a mental note to show Cas later how good an asset their bed could be. "How about I make you some breakfast?" He tried lightening it up.

Cas sulked some more, but the half-hearted scowl told Dean he was no longer angry. "Just moments ago you want me forever in your bed," Cas bit through gritted teeth, extra emphasis on the word forever. "Now you want me downstairs. Talk about a man's change of heart."

Snaking his hands around Cas' back, Dean pulled their hips that much closer, tighter. He caught Cas sucking in his breath; his lips trembled in that tiny rush of desire, which flickered away as soon as Dean noticed. "Let's grab something quick so we can return to bed. How does that sound?" Dean offered.

"Evasive"

Dean threw his head back, defeated. "Come on. I'll even make you your favorite coffee-flavored milk."

Cas glared daggers at him again, which effectively turned Dean's cocky grin into a sheepish smile.

"You'd better."

~:~:~

Sipping his coffee, Cas watched as Dean worked his magic in the kitchen, his poison of choice waiting within reach. Dean took his coffee black, with no sugar. Cas merely needed a small doze of caffeine to start the day. That was why he poured little coffee into his milk, and not the other way around. He was more of a tea person.

That was how different he and Dean were.

Dean looked happy with kitchen utensils in his hands, humming a tune Cas did not recognize. Dean winked when he caught Cas staring. Castiel hoped the blush on his cheeks let Dean know how much he enjoyed getting Dean's attention.

"I'm making an egg white omelet," Dean said while trying to separate yolks from egg whites. "Sam is going to shit his pants if he knows I'm making this meal." Chuckling at his own jokes, Dean moved to fetch some sausages from the fridge. "As a good big brother, I can't let that happen now, can I?" Dean winked at Cas again before turning to throw the big fat links into the pan.

Cas fidgeted in his seat. His mouth was watering inside, though he wasn't sure if it was because of the sizzling meat in the pan, or the hot, sexy chef he could call his own.

It felt almost like home, almost like when he watched his mom, or later, his sister, cook while he was ordered to just sit back and enjoy the show, and after that, the meal. Anna would be so glad to know that Dean was capable of taking as good care of him as she'd done.

"Somebody doesn't like mushrooms, I see."

Castiel snapped from his thoughts. In front of him, Dean was chopping the white champignons into dices with a lopsided grin. Cas tried to explain himself, but was cut short when Dean leaned in for a chaste kiss.

"No picky eaters allowed in this house, capiche?"

Already, Cas wanted Dean back on his lips. "Capiche," he murmured in reply, feeling the lingering warmth with the tip of his tongue.

Soon the food was done. In his plate were a portion of omelet — egg white (because he was saving the yolk for lunch, Dean said) with cheese, zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms, a link of sausage and two nice, warm buns. Castiel was swept off his feet. He hauled Dean into a kiss, making sure he gave his all into it, modesty be damned.

"You're spoiling me," he panted over Dean's bruised lips. Dean gave as much as he was given. It was brutal, and by the time they were done, they found themselves tangled around each other at the other end of the island.

"No, you're spoiling me," Dean came back. His smile widened when Cas frowned. "If I don't get a frenzied kiss every time I cook, I'll be devastated." Dean stuck out his bottom lip for good measure.

Cas threw his head back, barking a laugh. Dean always had a way to brighten his mood. When he opened his eyes again, Dean was grinning at him, pulling his cheeks into beautiful taut arcs. Cas kissed the hollow next to the corner of his mouth, rubbing their bristles into delicious friction. He dropped his voice an octave lower, ghosting his breath where he knew would get Dean shaken. "Then I'll have to make sure I kiss you every time, won't I?"

"God," Dean groaned. His vocal cords vibrated with equal lust and frustration. "I can never outsmart you."

"Never," Cas gloated. Lacing their fingers together, he walked them back to their seats. "Let's not waste this good food," he said. And if he had to use his fork with his left hand because he didn't want to let go of Dean's, he wasn't complaining.

~:~:~

"Can we go out?"

"Out where?" Dean asked over a mouthful, munching some potato chips while Castiel washed the dishes. It was a chore he insisted on doing, but only after a hard-won fight in which Dean insisted on washing cooking utensils himself.

"I don't know. Take a walk in the woods, maybe." Cas shrugged. He placed a plate on the rack to dry, leaving droplets of water in its trail. "We are in the middle of nowhere. I don't think we will run into any human being within a five-mile radius."

Dean looked out the window, checking the weather. It was a sunny day, on this high side of warm. Probably good for a swim, if they could find a lake or a creak. "Alright, I'll pack some sandwiches," he said, crumpling the chip bag and throwing it into the bin. When he looked up, Cas was leaning on the counter, arms crossed, frowning at him.

"What?" Dean gawked.

Cas heaved a sigh. "We don't even know what the woods are like," he said. "There might not be a space for picnic."

"So what?" Dean raised his shoulders. "I'll just carry them back and eat them here. Either way we've got to eat."

So that was how they ended up trekking in the woods, Dean carrying in one hand a basket full of sandwiches and drinks. Cas would have let Dean do all the work, but he wasn't too mean. So, now, tugging under his arm was a blanket, which he found hidden in one of the closets in the guestroom.

Castiel inhaled deeply, trying to get in his lungs as much fresh air as he could. The woods around here were different from those of his home: the trees less dense, the temperature slightly higher, the dirt and air dryer. It was quiet for the most part.

"You seem to know what you're doing. You go hiking a lot, Cas?"

Fortunately, there was a compass on the small table near the door. Castiel supposed the person who stocked up the safe house knew of its importance should there be a need to disappear into the woods. He didn't need it right now, though. He didn't plan to venture too far, and he knew in which direction to head back. Anyway, he was glad to have it with him as a fail-safe, along with the pocket knife Dean was carrying.

"Yes, when I was younger." Castiel squinted his eyes at the sun. Slowly, his nose started to catch some humidity in the air. "My parents have a cabin. Anna and I used to play there all the time."

"What? Your parents let you two kids go out alone in the woods?"

Castiel laughed. "Of course not. My dad always came with us. He let me lead the way, though. That's how I learned how to trek."

But he wasn't really paying any mind to his answers. He was catching more of that scent of the crisp, fresh air, drifting with it a salty smell of fish and moss. His heart began thumping in his chest at the prospect. If it was what he thought it was—

"Holy fucking shit—" Dean cried as soon as they stepped into a clearing. In front of them was a lake, sizeable, still; its water a mixture of green and blue, reflecting on its surface lines of higher trees. Dean dropped the basket to the ground, making a beeline to the natural beauty.

"Dean, wait!"

Dean halted his feet, looking over his shoulder for what Cas had to say.

"Lakes attract people and animals alike," Cas elaborated. "It might be wiser for us to… settle behind these tree lines. At least to observe what kind of activities is going on around here."

Looking longingly at the lake, Dean stomped back to where Cas was. "Whatever you say, boss," he grunted, displeased, but not irate.

As soon as they found a spot to lay their blanket, Dean slumped on it, taking a swig of water and wolfing a sandwich like there was no tomorrow.

"Dean, you just ate," sitting down next to him, Castiel commented with both a frown and a small smile. He wasn't sure if he should be amused or amazed by Dean's demeanor.

"I just walked, okay?" Dean argued. He washed the food down with another gulp of water, then stretched out on his back, patting his stomach in contentment. Castiel chuckled before deciding to join Dean, lying down next to him.

They had a good view of the lake from here. The shade from the trees and the occasional breeze from the lake was definitely a plus. Dean snuggled closer to Cas, undoubtedly ready to doze off. Above them, golden rays of sunlight filtered through fresh aspen leaves. Castiel reached his arm up. The scene was so surreal he felt he could touch the sky.

The sky—

Cas got up and walked to the shore. Displayed before him was a wide open space, so high and vast the horizon was beyond his arms' length in every direction. He could see some movement from the other side of the pool. Tourists, if he had to guess. But they were too far to make out the faces or even the shape.

"What happened to 'we should be discreet'?" Dean asked, his tone casual. He wrapped his arms around Castiel's waist, chest pressing tight to his back as Dean placed a kiss behind his temple.

"Look where we are, Dean," Cas sighed. He relaxed back into Dean's hold, suddenly wishing this moment never ended.

But it had to be.

They were no longer in confinement. No bars or barb wires or locked doors and armed guards ordering them where to go or what to do. Once they were out of this safe house, sky was the only limit. Dean would meet new people, beautiful women whom Dean could flaunt around, who could give Dean carnal pleasures he knew Dean enjoyed.

Suddenly he realized there was nothing holding Dean back. When Dean wished to leave, he would — no, Dean should leave.

"You should leave," he said with resolution, wiggling himself out of Dean's embrace.

"What?"

"Find someone who is good enough for you, who can give you all the things that you need."

"Cas? What is going on?"

"We are not in prison anymore, Dean!" Cas raised his voice, frustrated that Dean refused to understand, to see things as it needed to be seen. "You don't need to be stuck with me now. You are free to go."

Dean's expression softened then. He brushed his knuckles lightly over Cas' cheek, but to Cas, it burned like his skin was scraped with jagged stones.

"Can't you be that someone for me?" Dean crooned, his voice far too gentle for Castiel's shattered heart. "That person who will always be by my side?"

Cas furiously shook his head, pushing away the urge to back-pedal, to take his dismissal back. "I'm sick, Dean. I don't know if I will ever recover. You should find someone who can satisfy you sexually."

"And miss doing hundreds other things with you?" Dean argued. "Come on, Cas. Give me a chance. Give us a chance to work through this."

Dean knew where Cas was coming from. Insecurity was one of the effects of sexual assault. Add to that the fact that they were in a new environment, one that was extremely intimidating, even to normal people. But Cas was strong. And even if there was no limit to this whole wide world, there was no real threat as there'd been in prison. Cas didn't even need Dean's protection out here—

He didn't need Dean's protection out here.

"Unless you want to leave," Dean mumbled, so low he wasn't sure he wanted Cas to hear. Of course, there was no reason for Cas to stay. Cas was strong. He would soon recover — with or without Dean.

Cas took a step away from him. A foot apart that ripped Dean's core in half.

"Maybe that's for the better," Cas murmured, his face a flicker of anguish, incomprehension, and then despair. He turned to his left and started walking, never looked back, or slowed his pace.

~:~:~