Fifteen minutes later, Will was rethinking his definition of epic. Kripke had insisted that he take the rest of the day off to help his new house guest settle in but the atmosphere in the car was strained and awkward and Will was beginning to regret being pulled away from the Chevy. His passenger seemed content to stare out of the window and had more or less resisted all of Will's attempts to start a conversation.

Will tried again, "Is this your first visit to Blackwater Foot?"

Castiel seemed to bring his mind back from a million years away, "yes"

"Is the Chevy Corvette yours?"

"I do not drive."

Will frowned at that one, Blackwater Foot was not exactly on the beaten track, "How did you get here then?"

"I had a travelling companion, he dropped me off."

"OK. This guy couldn't hang around then?"

"No."

Will gestured to the small bag resting on his back seat, "that why you are travelling so light?"

"Yes."

"How long are you thinking of staying?"

"Until the job I have come to do is complete."

There was another five minutes of silence while Will thought about this, then, "what do you do for a living?"

Castiel sighed. Such curiosity, some things never changed, " I work in...security."

"What like, home security? Because I could really do with some information about upgrading my home alarm system."

"I specialise more in personal protection."

"Wow like a bodyguard? Have you looked after anyone famous?"

"I can't talk about it."

"So, this job you have come here to do, is someone in trouble?"

"I can't talk about it."

"It's not Kripke or any of the guys at the garage is it?"

Castiel sighed. "What part of 'I can't talk about it,' is causing you difficulty?"

"Oh. Sorry" Will felt completely slapped down. Had he misinterpreted what he thought had been a spasm of attraction between the two of them, back in Kripke's office? If Castiel was going to be this difficult to interact with, his stay with Will was going to be very uncomfortable for both of them. As he turned onto the track that led to his house, he gave it one more go. "Well," he said with false cheer, "this is me."

Castiel surveyed the house and its verdant surroundings and a very tiny smile hitched at his mouth, "it looks like heaven," he whispered.

"Yeah, it is" agreed Will, "my own little part of it, anyway."

The two men climbed out of the car. Will noted that Castiel was quick to pull his bag from the car. If he is so self-sufficient that he won't even accept help with his luggage, why did Kripke think putting him up with me was necessary, pretty sure that this is a man who can fend for himself without my help thought Will.

Will had made his way to the front steps before he realised that Castiel was still standing by his car looking around. He turned back to face him. "This is all yours?" Castiel said. "Do you live out here all on your own?.

"Yep, just me...and Sammy of course." replied Will and then took an involuntary step backwards at the look of grief and pain that flashed across Castiel's face.

"Sammy?"

"Yeah he should be around here somewhere." Will raised his voice, "Sam? Hey Sammy! C'mon dude we have a visitor."

It takes a lot to discommode an angel but Castiel was both surprised and relieved when the largest, fluffiest, ginger tomcat he had ever seen sauntered out from the tree line and lazily plopped himself down at Will's feet for a belly rub. "It's a cat," he said, not quite sure if it was a comment or a question.

Will looked up from stroking his pet, "yeah, Sammy's my best bud. Aint'cha baby?" He glanced up at Castiel, "Oh man! You aren't allergic or anything are you?"

"For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him," murmured Cas, laying his hand on the cat in gentle benison.

Will watched in astonishment as Sammy leapt into Castiel's arms and settled down purring like the engine of a 1967 Impala, "wow, you must be some kind of cat whisperer," he said, "Sammy doesn't really trust anyone."

"I like cats," Castiel informed him, gravely.

"OK then, well follow me and I will give you the tour.

As it turned out, the tour did not take long. Will's house was not that big but he was obviously proud of it. Castiel worked hard to make the appropriate appreciative noises but his people skills were rusty and he had forgotten how exhausting the effort of maintaining conversation with humans could be. Apart from anything else he was finding it really difficult to keep his eyes off of his reluctant host.

Eventually they ended up in the kitchen, Will glanced at the clock and said, "how about an early lunch?"

That threw Castiel slightly, "I...um...I don't really eat. Much. Er...Lunch...that is. I don't really eat lunch"

"Really?" Will ran his eyes up and down Castiel's form, "you don't look malnourished to me."

Castiel blushed, "if you don't mind, I think I'll just take a walk around the perimeter."

"The perimeter?" Will laughed, "you make it sound as if we are expecting some kind of attack. I know you work security but trust me, there is no danger here."

"If I am accepting your hospitality, I have an obligation to your safety," said Castiel.

Will smiled and gently punched him on the shoulder, "you are the strangest man I ever met but fine, if walking the perimeter makes you happy you go for it, dude."

For a long second Castiel stood taking in the smile and the small crinkles of happiness around Will's green eyes before ducking his head in acquiescence and heading out through the back door.

Will moved to the window to watch his strange guest striding towards the tree line, his flapping trench coat making him an incongruous figure in the rural setting. Just looking at Castiel gave Will a warm feeling of comfort and familiarity, as if he both knew this man extremely well and was deeply attached to him. He ran his hands through his brown hair, " I am so screwed," he told himself.