Chapter 2.

In the kitchen, Dean found Cas washing dishes. "Jack has a cold." said Cas, "I made him some tomato rice soup."

"Is he okay?" said Dean.

"I think so. Humanity, you know. It can be hard to get used to. I told him to sleep as much as he can."

"Sam's putting the car away." said Dean.

"Oh." said Cas.

"So I came to make coffee. You want one?"

"Thanks." said Cas.

"I hear things are good between you and Jules."

"Better than ever." said Cas, "And Sam and I have a mind link thing now."

"Oh. That's good." said Dean. He felt that sudden revulsion again and suppressed a shudder. "Look, Michael killed the mind link, I didn't."

"I know. I found the message you left for me."

"Right. Good." He knew he had to say something, but knowing what to say was hard. "The thing is, Cas, I don't wanna reopen it just now. I will one day, but right now ... "

"Right now, the last thing you want is an angel in your head." said Cas.

"Yeah. Cas, our relationship hasn't changed. You're still my brother. This isn't about you in any way. It's me and my screwed up head."

"Dean, the sanctity and sovereignty of your mind were violated, your essential being was invaded and it was done by an angel."

"Archangel." said Dean.

"Yes, but it doesn't make a difference, does it? I felt you flinch when I searched your memories."

"His memories. And I flinched at the memory of the wound." said Dean, starting to prepare the coffee.

"You flinched at celestial contact." said Cas, "And I understand. I felt the same way after Lucifer and I'm an angel, accustomed to having my will dominated by that of an archangel. I was designed for servitude, you were not."

"It's not how I want things to be." he said, "I just need time to overcome this."

"Yes." said Cas.

"And in the meantime, I need you to know that if I seem shut down or repelled or resentful or ... "

"Disgusted, fearful, angry ... "

"It's not me. It's not what I feel. It's not what I want to feel."

"Understood. And if you need me to go to the farm for a while, it's not a problem." said Cas.

"No. I get it if you want to and if you wanna take Jules and Jack and just not be around me for a while, that's fine." said Dean, "But I'd rather have you around, even if I seem not to want that, if you can. But Sam says you've had a rough time and I ... "

"Sam's wrong. I'm fine." said Cas.

"He wasn't criticising you."

"I'm fine!" said Cas again.

"So, we stick together, okay?"

"Okay."

Dean searched a pocket and dropped a credit card on the table. "And look, you should take this credit card and max it out at a nice hotel, not some drab motel. Get the honeymoon suite for a weekend and you and Jules can ... "

"No."

"Sam said ... "

"I don't care what Sam said. It's not about location." said Cas.

"Then what is the problem?"

"There is no problem." said Cas, "Please be quiet."

"Sorry." said Dean, remembering that Sam had advised against bringing the subject up at all. He tried to repair the damage. "I just wanted ... "

"I know and I appreciate your concern, but it's a private issue, between Jules and me."

"Of course." He put the credit card away. "By the way, I know you're pissed at me. I know I broke my promise. I invited Michael in."

Cas shook his head. "If you hadn't, Jack would be dead. Sam would be dead. I have no right or reason to be pissed."

Dean noticed that he did not say he wasn't.

Any further discussion of anything felt dangerous and whether it was the residual disgust of the archangel for a friendship between angels and humanity or his own feelings about celestials, he could barely look at his best friend.

He was pouring the coffee when Sam joined them. "Everything okay here, tonight, Cas?" said Sam.

"Jack's not well. Just a cold, he thinks. I gave him some soup and sent him to bed."

"No news on Nick?" said Sam, taking his coffee with a nod of thanks.

"None." said Cas.

Dean didn't miss the way Sam looked from him to Cas and back, worried by whatever he saw in their body language. "I'm gonna call Sarah tomorrow." he said, "Well, later today."

"She'll be glad to hear from you." said Cas, "She missed you terribly."

"We all did." said Sam, "It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back." said Dean, wishing he could sound more convincing, "Where's Jules?"

"Out." said Cas, "But she'll be back in an hour or so."

"Is that why you're waiting up like this?" said Dean.

"Yes." said Cas.

"Told you." said Sam, "Jules and Cas are fine."

Dean looked at Cas, wondering if he would say anything about Dean's attempt to interfere. He didn't. "It's good." said Dean, "I'm glad you two have each other."

"We're betrothed." said Cas.

"What the hell does that mean?" said Dean.

"It's a somewhat archaic term indicating ... "

"Yes, Cas, I know what it means, but what does it mean?"

Cas looked at Sam, confusion in his eyes.

"It means they're together, permanently." said Sam, "And it means that Jules wears a ring, on her finger most of the time, but on a chain around her neck when Rowena is around."

"I don't get it." said Dean.

"Rowena is a little too interested in my private life," said Cas, "You know the type. No sense of boundaries. Obviously, I don't want her to know anything about Jules."

"Oh. Okay."

"In fact, it's generally best if nobody outside the family knows more about Jules and me than they absolutely have to. Heaven, so far as I know, has no idea that I have a human lover."

"Technically, for her to be a lover ... " Dean began.

"They're betrothed." said Sam.

"I know you don't understand," said Cas, "But she is my lover."

"I'm sorry." said Dean, "A lot has changed. Mostly me, I suspect."

He saw Sam's look of doubt and concern. Then Sam said, "Thanks for the honesty."

"I'm trying." said Dean, "Now, fill me in on everything that's been happening."

Sam looked at him intently for a moment, as if trying to judge how much more he might be induced to say, then they began to tell stories and he let their words wash over him while Michael's words echoed in his mind, "This 'friendship' of yours makes me sick. Your part in his life, your connection to his mind, defile an angel of the Lord. He was intended as your shepherd, not your brother. It's never good when the shepherd gets over-friendly with the sheep."