Balthazar was right, through Cas would never say that out loud, or allow his brother to know he had even thought that. Benjamin and his friends had packed all their stuff and moved Colleges when the boys returned back after Christmas and while Cas was thankful not to deal with any of them, things had become worse with Dean. They still hung out and talked but now there was this distance between them and Cas knew that this was Dean's way of protecting himself, but Cas couldn't figure out for the life of him why Dean would need to protect himself from him.

Dean watched Cas when he knew Cas couldn't see him, and he felt his heart clench. He had finally admit, though only to himself, that he felt more for him than just friendship, he loved him and he didn't know what to do with that information. He had to face the truth that night with Benjamin and how he wanted to punch his face in for having the nerve to ask out his Cas and it that moment Dean knew he was screwed.

He was thankful for the Christmas break so he could have a bit of time away from Cas, through not a lot since their families were so close. He found himself shutting Cas out, not meaning to at first but not stopping himself either when he realised what he was doing because he needed to protect himself from Cas, because Cas had the ability to completely destroy him.

..

..

..

"Hey!" Both Dean and Gabriel said in outrage to Sam.

"We are law abiding citizens," Gabriel stated as both of them glared at Sam.

"Ok then name one law," Sam taunted.

"Don't kill anyone," Both Dean and Gabriel yelled out and Sam groaned as Cas laughed.

"You only have yourself to blame for that one."

"I know," Sam groaned, "I set the bar too low."

Dean and Gabriel high fived.

"Next round is on Sammy," Dean laughed as he took his brother's wallet and took off to the bar before Sam could stop him.

"I'm going to kill him one say, I swear I'm going to kill him," Sam announced as Gabriel stood and Cas just laughed again.

"I'll be back," Gabriel announced before disappearing.

"Hi cutie," a young woman, maybe a year younger than Sam, said, coming over to them then, smiling at Cas.

"Uh-hi," he said nervously.

"What's a cutie like yourself doing here all alone?"

"I'm not-" he stopped then as he noticed that Sam wasn't at the table with him anymore.

"I'm Nat," she said, playing with her brown hair.

"Castiel."

"Tell me Castiel, are you single."

"Uh yes."

She beamed then and slid into the booth next to him, placing a hand on his.

Dean, walking back and saw her slid into the booth just as he reached in himself and he couldn't help but practically slam the bottles on the table.

"Dean," Cas said, relieved, but Dean couldn't hear the relief in his voice, or the warm smile that was directed at him. All he saw was her hand on Cas's arm and felt that now familiar feeling of jealousy and anger and a little bit of envy swell in his chest.

Cas, looking at him noticed the anger and his own eyes hardened and his lost his smile.

"I'm going to find Sam and Gabe," Dean said shortly before Cas or the woman could speak and took off.

Cas turned to the woman, Nat, then.

"Sorry about my friend."

She laughed and took her hand off his arm. "I thought you said you were single, I didn't realise you had a boyfriend."

"I am single. Dean is my friend and that is all,' Cas told her firmly.

She shook her head "Oh darling with that amount of jealousy and envy he had just then there is no way he is just your friend. Trust me, he's totally into you and the way he stormed out of the bar yells just how badly he wants you."

Cas went to deny this but then he heard the roar of the Impala as Dean sped off.

"And I'm guessing that was him,"

Cas nodded.

"Trust me on this one hun, for him to do what he did and take off he likes you." She kissed his cheek and stood up. "You're cute and I would gladly take you home but you're too caught up in your boy toy. Go get him," and with that she walked off.

Cas stared after her then, a frown on his face as he thought about Dean.

"I'm in love with Dean," he said slowly as Gabriel and Sam slid back into their seats.

"Everyone knows that brother," Gabriel responded.

"And, and Dean loves me," he said slowly, ignoring him.

Sam smiled. "Finally figured it out have you?"

Cas looked at him. "What do I do?"

"Go after him," Gabriel told him, completely serious.

...

…

Dean heard the car pull up to the house and he turned up the volume on the TV, not interested in hearing Sam bitch at him. He heard keys jingle and to his surprise it was Cas walking into the house, not Sam. He came over, took the remote out of his hand and turned the TV off before turning to face Dean who had stood up and glared at him.

"What the hell?" Dean growled out, already furious from the bar and spoiling for a fight.

"Why did you leave?"

"It's none of your business."

Cas tilted his head and Dean;s heart started to beat faster. "I think it's because that girl was flirting with me and you were jealous."

"Please," he scoffed, fighting to hide his feelings,"the girl hit on you, big deal, girls hit on me all the time."

Cas's eyes flashed in jealousy and he didn't try to hid it from Dean, who looked at him confused, his anger starting to drain away.

"I think you were jealous because you wish it had been you hitting on me," he stated.

Dean's jaw dropped and he was speechless.

"I know I wish it had been you hitting on me," Cas confessed, his hands sweating, it was now or never. "I always wish it was you when someone hits on me.

Dean just stared as Cas fidgeted, Dean reached and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking him directly in the eyes.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm in love with you and I think you are in love with me."

Dean shook his head. "Cas."

"Dean, we were always headed this way. For years everyone has asked if we are going out and we have ignored all the comments and our own feelings and thoughts believing none of it was true well let's change that. I want you Dean."

"Cas-"

"I want to be the person you flirt with," he told him, looking him in the eyes finally as Dean's hand dropped from his shoulder. "I want to hold you hand and kiss you and flirt with you. I want to fight with you and make up, I want to be with you."

"Cas," Dean looked gobsmacked. He was struggling to comprehend everything Cas had just told him. For years he had told himself that Cas would never return his feelings, would never thinking of him like that and it would end their friendship so to have Cas tell him he did return Dean's feelings was a complete and utter shock to him.

Dean ran his hand through his hair, looking away, unsure about what to think or do.

"Dean-"

"Shut up," he growled. "You know I can put up my guard for the whole world and no one, not even Sammy can get through, no one but you. Do you know how frustrating that is? What's the point of even trying? Why did I even try?"

And before Cas knew it Dean was kissing him.

A/N

Please feel free to lave a comment with your thoughts and if your interested in being a Beta for my Supernatural stories let me know (im after one at the moment so please PM me)

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