Dinner was awkward. There was no other way to describe the atmosphere when the mortals were eating, Gabriel was talking, and Meg was sitting calmly with the Angel tablet in her lap.
Kevin and Linda sat as far from Meg as possible. Though the Prophet had met her before, his experiences with Demons had soured his opinion of her.
Gabriel had a plate of food in front of him, but he was talking so much that Meg helped herself to it.
The idea of being human again was interesting, even if the only goal was to get away from Crowley's influence. The chance to go to Heaven after a mortal life was so bizarre, she could barely contemplate it.
Gabriel was recounting the time he trapped Sam and Dean in TV land when Linda cut him off;
"Gabriel; why is the demon here?" she asked directly.
Gabriel sighed, "Straight to the point; you have the subtlety of a Winchester. Meg is an ally and there is a process which could turn her back into a human. If she agrees, this could be offered to Crowley as proof that we have no intention of killing him."
"I have tried to kill Crowley a few times," Meg explained, "If I remain a Demon, I will try again. I am willing to be cured, if there is a chance I don't have to go to Hell when I die."
Sam smiled, "It's amazing how much you've changed since we first met."
"I even helped to take out Dick Roman," Meg reminded Kevin and Linda, "Clearly, I've spent too much time with Castiel."
"If we can get Crowley to agree to leave Linda alone, she can return to her life," Gabriel added, "Unless you want to stay?"
"I just want Kevin to be safe," Linda replied.
"I just need time and space to decode the Demon tablet," Kevin said firmly, "I don't want Crowley to get away with killing Channing."
"She went to Heaven, if that's any consolation," Gabriel offered, "The memories of his humiliation at the hands of Lucifer should haunt him for eternity. I look forward to seeing his reaction when he finds out how he dies."
Kevin shrugged, "Maybe."
"Should we wait until the tablet is translated before we contact him?" Sam asked.
"Probably," Dean agreed, "And cure Meg, too."
"Great!" Gabriel said happily, "Sam and I can cure Meggy tonight."
Sam didn't look happy about the idea, "You want to help?"
"I'm rather fond of Meg," Gabriel confirmed, "And I'd rather not watch Dean drool over Castiel on a full stomach."
Kevin snorted with laughter, which prompted Linda to rebuke him over his table manners.
Faith ate a little, but her appetite was diminished due to her Angelic passenger.
"Don't tease Dean," Faith instructed the Archangel, "Castiel needs to heal, and it upsets him."
"Doesn't Cassie enjoy the blush Deano gets, though?"
"Not at the moment," Faith replied with a glare, "So, drop it."
"Castiel worries too much," Gabriel said dismissively.
"And you talk too much," Dean added.
"You love me," Gabriel declared airily.
Faith started giggling. Multiple sets of eyes turned toward her with clear curiosity.
"Castiel says it doesn't matter who loves you, Gabriel, as you love yourself more than enough to make up any shortfall."
Gabriel ignored the childish laughter from multiple sources around the table.
"Castiel should know about self-love, after his time with Dean," the Archangel sighed.
Dean flicked some mashed potato at Gabriel and was scolded by Linda.
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Gabriel was mildly interested in the dynamic between Meg and Sam. The history they shared should have led to a mutual hatred, yet they were almost friends.
"Want to chain me up, Sam?" Meg teased, "It's not exactly a bedroom, but we can adapt."
"Innuendoes and Gabriel's domain," Sam deflected, "Maybe he wants to restrain you?"
"Well, Castiel has given me a taste for Angels," Meg said with a smirk.
Gabriel blew the Demon a kiss.
"So, I just wait here while you and feathers go to confession?" Meg asked.
"We'll be quick," Gabriel said cheerfully, "Angel express beats any car."
Dean was preparing for the promised Jurassic Park marathon with Cas. He was not keen on the idea of welcoming Meg onto the couch but letting her roam around without supervision was not an option.
"How are you with modern movies, Meg?" Dean offered.
Once Meg was engrossed and sitting between Dean and Faith, Sam nodded to Gabriel that he was ready to travel.
Faith missed Sam as soon as he disappeared and took comfort in the warmth radiating from Castiel. The enjoyment the Angel experienced from simply being near Dean was adorable.
Castiel explained how sharing a body with Dean had been different; keeping a wall up between their minds had been quite draining. As he and Faith did not have an existing bond, keeping the barrier strong required little effort.
Faith didn't mind having Castiel so close. She could feel his presence like a warm jacket; close but not obstructive. She invited him to take control if he wished to speak to Dean or Meg.
Castiel admitted that he was not sure how to interact with the Demon. He shared select memories of their interactions in the past and felt her amusement at their odd flirting.
Faith offered some advice and promised to help if he needed her.
Dean felt the moment Cas took control of Faith's body. The increased awareness of the Angel was concerning, yet oddly comforting.
"Is the movie still enjoyable now that you know what the velociraptors really look like?" Castiel asked curiously.
"Yep; it's a classic."
Meg remained slouched back so Dean and Castiel could see each other. Flirting with the Angel was fun, but she could see there was something brewing with the Hunter.
"Are you two shagging like bunnies, yet?" Meg asked mischievously.
Dean glared at her and Castiel replied, "I am unsure how rabbits' mate, but Dean and I do not engage in copulation."
Dean buried his face into one palm while Meg grinned.
"It's on the agenda, though?" Meg prompted.
"If Gabriel can successfully convert my former vessel to a female, possibly," Castiel replied honestly.
"How sweet," Meg cooed, "Dean, if you don't jump this Angel, I will."
Castiel leaned away and regarded her warily.
"Quit scaring Cas," Dean ordered.
"Faith wants you to know that there will be no copulating while she is my vessel," Castiel said, sounding relieved.
"Not even Sam?" Meg asked, "I've seen that mark on his neck."
"Faith and Sam are in the early stages of courtship; they are not fornicating yet," Castiel explained.
"Not that it's anyone's business, except theirs," Dean interjected, "Come on; you're missing the movie."
Meg wasn't particularly interested in the movie; the nervous Angel next to her was far more interesting. Observing Dean sneaking glances at Castiel and trying to be subtle was also entertaining.
"Did you find anything interesting in Dean's head?" Meg asked Castiel as she stretched out her arms along the back of the couch.
"We were only together for a few hours," Castiel admitted, 'I tried to respect his privacy as much as possible.'
"No hidden fantasies about horny Angels?" Meg teased.
"Meg!" Dean growled.
"I'm sure you have a wing-kink, Dean," Meg added.
"You seem preoccupied with such thoughts, Meg," Castiel observed, "Gabriel seems to suffer from a similar problem."
Dean laughed, which seemed to confuse the Angel.
"Spot on, Castiel," Meg agreed, "If the sex-change doesn't work, I'll gladly keep you warm at night."
"I don't sleep, so that is not necessary."
"Are you finally getting the hang of humour?" Meg laughed.
The edge of a smile on Faith's face confirmed the Demon's suspicions.
"I have had success with sarcasm, too," Castiel confirmed.
Gabriel arrived back at the bunker in time to hear genuine laughter from Dean and Meg. He was relieved that no-one had resorted to violence.
"We're ready to go, Meg," Sam said in lieu of a greeting.
"I hope I don't regret this," Meg sighed. She winked at Castiel before rising to her feet and heading to the dungeon with Sam.
Gabriel lingered to observe Dean and Castiel for a few extra moments. They were on opposite ends of the couch and they both seemed comfortable.
"Try not to start making out, you two!" Gabriel teased before he left the room.
"Your brother is an ass," Dean said to Cas.
"His obsession with the two of us becoming intimate is rather repetitive," Cas agreed.
Dean tried to concentrate on the movie, but his thoughts kept drifting to the Angel in the attractive female body in his peripheral vision.
"Cas, can you feel anything different since you left my body?" Dean asked hesitantly. The words sounded so wrong.
The gaze which burned into the Hunter was eerily familiar; the eyes were even the same colour.
"I believe so; an undercurrent of awareness which was not present before," Cas said thoughtfully.
A wave of recognition prompted Dean to sit up straight, "That's it; I can feel where you are without looking. Is that bad?"
"I don't know," Castiel's gaze flicked to the arm Dean was resting across the back of the couch, now that Meg had left space for him to stretch out, "Faith has a theory."
Dean chose not to vocalise his lack of trust in Sam's fang-bearing new squeeze. While he was struggling to be tactful, Castiel reached out to touch his calloused hand with feminine fingers.
A small surge of energy sparked from the place where their skin touched. Dean smiled instinctively.
"Wow," he managed.
Castiel was also smiling, "I agree."
Dean hadn't realized how tense he was until the touch allowed him to relax.
"Having you in my head was weird," Dean admitted, "But once you left, I missed you."
The features belonged to Faith, but the contented smile and unblinking gaze was distinctly Castiel.
"I miss you, too."
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Gabriel chose to stay with Meg after the first injection of blood. Sam headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Sam halted abruptly when Faith came into view. Seeing her prompted the giddy feeling in his chest he was still becoming accustomed to feeling.
The hand he could see was tangled with Dean's calloused fingers. Surprisingly, Sam was not jealous that they were holding hands. He was sure Faith was advising Castiel how to approach Dean without scaring him away. After years, his brother was finally holding hands with the Angel who was devoted to him.
Sam could discern that Cas was in control due to the facial expressions alone. Rather than the shy smile Faith would greet him with, a passive Cas regarded him with mind interest.
"The cleansing has started," Sam said casually, "Gabriel is fascinated by the whole process."
Dean flinched at the sound of his brother's voice but couldn't bring himself to pull his hand away from Cas. He glanced over his shoulder worriedly.
Sam winked at Dean before continuing to the kitchen.
Castiel sensed that Dean was concerned that Sam would react badly to their entwined fingers. He observed the subtle interactions between the brothers and saw the moment Dean relaxed. Eons of observing humans had not prepared him properly to interact with them; the years since rescuing Dean from Hell were far more instructive.
Dean was intrigued when Cas stared at their joined hands and nodded slightly. Dean ran his thumb along the feminine pinky finger and waited patiently.
Cas met his gaze with a knowing smirk, "Faith is voicing her opinions rather incessantly," he explained.
"Dare I ask?" Dean wondered.
"I need to rest," Cas said regretfully, "Be nice to Faith; she is very interested in the hand-to-hand combat techniques required to subdue you."
"Um, ok."
Cas closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. As she exhaled, Faith was back in control.
Faith squeezed Dean's hand, "Can you still feel the connection to your Angel?"
Dean nodded.
"Good," Faith pulled away from him gently, "I just need a minute with Sam."
The ache in Dean's chest returned the moment the hand was pulled away. He watched the television screen without processing what he was seeing. He hated the idea of needing anyone so badly; were it anyone else he would have been extremely pissed off.
He was mollified by the certainty that Cas felt the same way.
Dean wasn't sure how to deal with Faith. She was dangerous, and yet the dopey smile Sam wore when he saw her had been absent for far too long.
Faith returned with Sam and Dean was sure he heard his brother with the Dhampir good luck.
When she sat down, he was already suspicious.
"What do you need luck for?"
Faith rolled her eyes, "Castiel prefers to remain in contact with you. Sam thinks you would not be receptive to cuddling."
"True."
"How are you at foot rubs?"