Chapter 40.
Dean opened his eyes at a light touch on his forehead. Cas looked grave, even for him. Dean knew his dreams had not been pleasant and he hoped and dreaded that the talisman had failed.
"Good morning." he said. Sam stood in the doorway behind Cas. He looked preoccupied too. "Something wrong?" said Dean.
"How were your dreams?" said Cas.
"If you don't already know, I say we count it as a success." said Dean, "The talisman's worked. We're free of the curse. Things can go back to normal."
"Yes," said Cas, "But how were your dreams?"
"Same as usual." said Dean. There was no need to confess that they included the talisman putting a wall of fire between him and Cas. "No better, no worse." he said.
"Good." said Sam, "Dean dreamed, Cas didn't share the dreams. Rhydian wins. Everyone's happy."
"Yeah, everything's great." said Dean, "Things are okay now, right, Cas? No need for Heaven. You're free."
"We're both free." said Cas, "Your mind is once again your Fortress of Solitude."
"A Superman reference?" said Dean.
"Blame Jack. He's been watching some very strange things recently." said Cas.
"Where is Jack?" said Dean, "I expected the full posse."
"I'm not sure." said Cas, "He went to his room to watch Netflix last night. I think he felt a bit awkward around Jules."
"He never has before." said Dean.
Sam smiled. "The way I heard it, Jack felt Jules and Cas didn't need any extra people hanging around."
"Why not?" said Cas.
"Two's company, three's a crowd." said Dean, "Five, you're getting into orgy territory. Not that there's anything wrong with that."
"Three's not much of a crowd." said Cas, "It's not even a throng. It's barely a gathering. And if three is excessive, how many will be at the party?"
Sam sighed. "Cas, Jack just thought you and Jules were enjoying each other's company."
"We were." said Cas, "But we like Jack too."
Dean got out of bed. "Sam, I think you may need to give him the talk."
"Which talk? The one Dad gave me, the one Bobby gave me or the one you gave me?"
"Okay, get Mom to give him the talk. Cas is not ready for any of those."
"No, I didn't think he was."
"What talk are you two talking about?" said Cas.
Dean grinned at him. "That uncertainty, isn't that the best feeling? With the mind curse active, you'd already have heard all three talks."
"It's good to see you happy again." said Cas, "Even if you are saying nothing that makes any sense."
"Okay, let's keep it simple. Are you attracted to Jules?"
"Jules is very attractive."
"Yes, she is." said Dean.
"But obviously, I would never act upon any such attraction."
"Why not?" said Sam.
Cas smiled. "She's a little beyond my reach, wouldn't you say? Besides, Dean likes her."
"I what?" said Dean.
"Dean, you've done nothing but praise her recently. I'm not the quickest at reading such things, but I know no other woman gets so much of your attention."
"But you were going to make a move at the party." said Dean.
"No, I'm going to dance at the party. And I was hoping you would dance with Jules."
"Mom said you talked to her about Jules." said Sam.
"About Jules and Dean and how I was trying to lay the groundwork for them because Dean is, for some reason, hesitating." said Cas.
"What, in all the years we've known each other, made you think I needed someone's help to make a move?"
"The fact that you didn't." said Cas, "This will make the party very awkward, because she really likes you."
"Did she say that?" said Dean.
"She said you were a hunters' hunter." said Cas.
"Yeah, that's not love. That's respect." said Dean.
"Love without respect would be worthless." said Cas.
"I think maybe he should be giving you the talk, Dean." said Sam.
Dean pointedly ignored him. "Cas, it's good that you wanted to do a good thing for me and it's great that you think women automatically like me, but I really think Jules likes you a lot more."
"According to Jack, she seemed absolutely charmed by you." said Sam.
"Jack is not exactly an expert." said Cas.
"Jack sees people without all the misdirections. Jack is uncomplicated." said Sam.
"Please let her down gently." said Cas, "Don't humiliate her at the party, if I have inadvertently given her the wrong impression."
"Don't worry. I won't. But I think she sees me as part of the furniture."
"She sees you as one of the best hunters." said Cas.
"Yeah, well, we all know that's no recommendation for romance." said Dean.
"She was very kind to me last night. She saw I was troubled and she brought me coffee. We talked a lot." said Cas.
Dean could imagine the reason for her kindness going right over Cas's head, but the other thing worried him. "Why were you troubled?" he said.
Cas instantly avoided eye contact. "Weren't we all troubled that the Keys of Rhydian wouldn't work?"
"Did you tell her about them?" said Dean.
"No, I told her nothing about any of it." said Cas.
Dean tried to see any hint in Cas's eyes of how he felt now, but the talismans and the evasive angel were doing their jobs too well. He changed the subject back to a safer one. "You make sure you ask her to dance." he said.
"She's not interested in me." said Cas.
"I think she is." said Dean, "But you go at your own pace. I'll try not to interfere, even though I would love to see you find someone."
"Do you want breakfast?" Sam asked Dean.
"No, I should get ready to pick Sarah up." said Dean, "I just need a shower and some presentable clothes."
"That could take some time." said Sam.
"Bitch." said Dean.
"Jerk." said Sam.
"You were going to tell us about that fear." said Cas.
"Later." said Dean.
"Later with you often means never." said Cas.
"Yeah, I'm unreliable." said Dean, "I'll see you two later. If you see Jack, send him to the car."
"Leave it, Cas." said Sam, "He'll tell us eventually."