"Cas told me you guys worked on his truck yesterday."

"Needed an oil change." Dean tries to sound indifferent. Sam just hums in response. Dean doesn't like it. He lets the sport section drop to the kitchen table. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Exactly. What does that mean?"

"Nothing!" Sam shakes his head, trying to hide that annoying smile he has been sending at Dean since yesterday morning. "Just glad that you two are catching up. Any plans for today?"

Dean has really been hoping that he wouldn't ask. "Yeah, uh… Going into town for some supplies."

"Supplies?" Sam raises an eyebrow. "The fridge is fully stocked."

"Supplies for Cas. To help him settle in." Dean clarifies, looking intensely into the deep black of his coffee, begging for the small cup to open up and swallow him whole.

"For Cas, huh? So, basically, you're taking the guy shopping?" Sam smiles.

"Shut up. Everyone needs some basic stuff, bitch." Dean empties the rest of the hot brew and leaves to find Cas.

"Sure thing, jerk." Sam chuckles. "Have fun on your shopping trip."

-.-.-.-

Cas doesn't mention Dean's sour mood, but Dean can feel how Cas carries himself a little stiffer than normally, as if waiting for Dean to flip. Dean hates it. He takes a deep breath and lets the smell of Baby's leather calm him down. He had actually been looking forward to this trip so he's not going to let Sam's teasing get in the way of it. When he feels himself relax, he asks; "So, did you make a list or something of what you want to buy?"

Cas looks at him for the first time since they left and seems to slowly relax as he studies Dean's more calm features. "No. You mentioned some spare clothes, but I don't know what else to get."

"Well, what about when you were human? Did you have anything specific you liked? Or… something you missed?" Dean hates mentioning this time in Cas's life, but it's their best reference. Cas might be an all-powerful angel again, but his life in the bunker will be pretty human.

"Hm… I liked my hoodie. It was both soft and warm." Cas smiles a little.

"Great." Dean swallows again. Cas in a hoodie reminds him of throwing Cas out of the bunker. But this is Cas's choice, so it's up to Dean to just do better this time around. "We'll get you a hoodie, and a couple of T-shirts, maybe some jeans. You know, some none-holy-tax-accountant duds."

-.-.-.-

They enter the thrift shop and heads into the clothes department. It's a little awkward at first. Dean usually just goes in, grabs whatever he needs in the right size and heads straight back out.

But it's not that easy with Cas. First, they need to figure out his size. That leads to some awkward tag-reading on what used to be Jimmy's clothes. Problem is, Jimmy didn't have a sense of his actual size, meaning both the shirt and coat is a bit baggy. So, they have to try out some different sizes, which means going to the fitting room.

Dean actually has to stand there, evaluating shirt after shirt, and bring different sizes and colours. He doesn't get why some shirts seem to fit in one size, but then it seems too big or too small for the next. It doesn't get any better when they move on to jeans. And it doesn't get any less awkward when Dean has to be a good friend and check out Cas's legs and ass to make sure they fit well.

"How do they fit around the waist?" Dean asks. The first pair was a disaster, but this second pair looks pretty good.

"What do you mean?" Cas asks, looking stiff as a mannequin as he shows of the jeans.

"Are they too tight, too loose? Can you breath when you sit?"

Cas looks a bit lost. "I don't know. I haven't tried sitting down."

Dean looks for a chair, but for some reason, this fitting room is the only one in the World without a place to sit for the poor person waiting outside the curtain. "Alright, let me see." Dean walks up to Cas and pulls at the belt loops. The jeans give a little, but not too much. They don't seem to be too tight, nor too lose. "I think we found your size."

When Dean looks up, he realises just how close he's standing to Cas. Damn, Dean hasn't done this since shopping with Sam when he was a kid. And that was very different compared to this. Cas, who normally doesn't seem to have a problem with staring or personal space invasion, looks a little shy. Dean steps back, clearing his throat. He didn't mean to make Cas uncomfortable. It must already be hard enough hanging around Dean with unrequited feelings, and now Dean is pulling at his belt loops like some stereotypical flirt.

But Cas said they were good, so Dean will try to push through. "Yeah, you should get those. If you have another pair in the same size, try them on too."

Cas gives a small, thankful nod and then closes the curtain again.

The only damn thing that turns out to be easy, is the hoodie. It's easy to find a good size, and Cas can try it on without going into a small, curtained cabin. Cas wants to get a red one, similar to the one he had as human, but Dean talks him into getting a dark blue instead. It might be Cas's choice, but Dean doesn't need this to be any harder than it already is.

Maybe this was a stupid idea. Cas looks great in the clothes they find, but he looks much too human.

Still, this might help keep Cas in the bunker, giving him a sense of belonging, so Dean shoves those feelings aside and throws a pair of sweatpants in the mix. "For movie nights."

They happen to find a pair of not-too-shabby sneakers as well on their way to the cashier, and Dean insists that Cas can't wear fancy shoes with sweatpants.

Next, they go to the convenience store. Dean knows that Cas doesn't need a toothbrush or comb or towel or socks or clean underwear or shampoo or any of the human products he throws in the basket, but that is just stuff that you need have. Cas needs to see his things in the bathroom, in the washing room, and of course in his own room so it's clear for everyone that the bunker is also his home.

Just before they go pay for everything, Dean drags Cas to the small section with magazines and a few travel size paperbacks. "Here, find some entertainment."

"Dean, we have plenty of books in the bunker. Why would I need more?" Still, Cas picks up the first book he comes across, which happens to be a romance novel where the main male character on the front reminds Dean of the horrible front pages of the Winchester Gospel.

"The books in the bunker are for work. These books are for fun. You can get whatever you want, man." Then a magazine catches his eye. "What about this?"

Cas looks up at the brightly coloured nature science magazine, where a big fluffy-looking bee is donning the front. His frown turns upside down as he takes the magazine from Dean's hand. "I do like bees."

"See?" Dean says excitedly and pulls two other nature magazines from the stand.

Cas puts the bee magazine on top of them together with the romance novel, and Dean bites his tongue to stop the stupid remark that is trying to escape his mouth.

-.-.-.-

They put all Cas's new things in Baby's trunk. Cas stands there, looking at Dean loading in the last bag. "Dean. This is too much."

"It's fine, Cas. You deserve it." Dean shuts the trunk and rubs his hands. "So? Hungry?"

"I don't feel hunger." Cas looks regretfully down on his stomach.

"But you can eat, right?"

"Yes, I can eat." Cas states with a smile.

"Awesome." Dean starts walking down the street. "Since having some time off, I stumbled into this little hole in the wall. They make the best burgers in town."

The front of the bar is only the width of the entrance door and two windows, and the sign above the door almost seems to fade in with the brick wall. Inside, the room is long and narrow. On one side there's a long bar with stools, and on the other side there are small four-man tables. Two grown men can't pass each other in the narrow walkway between the two sides without some involuntary slow dancing. But the staff and crowd are friendly. Something about the location, in a shopping street side by side with a bookshop and a florist, keeps the clientele cleaner than Dean's usual hangouts. Maybe that's why Dean didn't notice this place before he started cleaning up his own act. He's got Cas to thank for that.

"Mr. Dean. Right on time for lunch." The cheery old bartender, Pete, greets them. Pete would look like Santa's evil twin, all grey and scarred and tattooed, if it weren't for the big smile that he always wears. It somehow erases all the harsh lines on his face and body.

"Pete, this is my friend Cas. Cas, this is Pete, the owner of this fine establishment." Dean gestures between the two men. Pete sticks a sun-worn hand out and Cas accepts it, exchanging pleasantries. When that is done and out of the way, Dean speaks again. "You said something about lunch?"

Pete laughs with his entire body, before turning to Cas while gesturing to Dean. "This boy thinks with his stomach, huh?"

"He does have a healthy appetite." Cas smiles shyly.

"Damn straight I do, so how about we do something about it?" Dean suggests. "Two bacon cheeseburgers."

"You've got it. Have a seat, boys." Pete moves towards the kitchen in the back to place their orders.

Dean turns around, finally taking in the room. A few patrons are sitting at the long bar, and two tables are occupied, one by a couple and one by three guys who laugh heartedly at something one of them says. Dean nods at the people at the bar, having met them here before.

Dean sits down at the table closest to the windows and Cas follows suit, sitting opposite of Dean. Dean studies him as Cas takes in their surroundings. After a moment, Cas frowns and says; "I don't understand why this is a hole in the wall."

Dean chuckles. "It's just an expression. It means it's somewhere small, dark, and dirty."

This only deepens Cas's frown. "This place is a lot cleaner than most places you've taken me."

"Yeah, well, it's just a figure of speech." Dean tries to deflect.

They spend a minute in silence before Cas speaks again. "Pete seems nice."

"Yeah, he is. He's ex-military. So are the other guys at the bar. I guess we just…" Dean breaks off, not knowing how to explain it.

"You feel a fellowship with each other." Cas finishes.

"I wasn't military." Dean doesn't feel right being compared to the men who served.

"But you did fight in wars. Whether a battle is human or divine, it leaves its scars." Cas states. Dean ducks his head, avoiding answering. "You seem better though."

Dean whips his head up again. He hates the small swoop in his stomach. He's been trying to do better, to be better, after Cas sacrificed everything for him. He just never felt like he did enough or acted like a better man. He tries and fails to sound indifferent when he asks; "You think so?"

"Yes." The answer is immediate and certain. "It's hard to explain. But you seem lighter. Happier."

Dean nods, wishing he had a cold beer to distract his hands, but he forgot to ask for one. He clears his throat. "I am. Just knowing that no one's pulling any strings. It's not because a lot has changed, but we feel it, both Sam and me. Fewer monsters coming our way. Like we used to be monster-magnets but now our poles got mixed up and they don't come at us anymore." Dean taps his fingers on the table, pulling himself together to add the last part. "And… and the things you said… I heard you."

"I'm glad." Luckily, Cas is cut off from saying any more sappy things by the waitress coming up to the table with their food.

"Dean. It's been a while." She smiles.

"Hey Denise. Just been busy." Dean sends his standard flirtatious smile at her. She's a sweet but no-crap kind of woman, and Dean has sometimes compared her to a 30-year-old Ellen in his mind. He likes her, especially because despite their flirtatious routine, they implicitly agree that nothing will ever happen. And that's a nice change.

"So busy you forgot to order drinks?" Denise holds up two cold beers, the bottles clinking against each other as she waves them in front of them.

"Oh, you are a Goddess among men." Dean takes the two bottles to free Denise's hand so she can put the plates down.

"I know." Denise smiles at Cas as she places the burger in front of him. "And who's your friend?"

Dean gestures across the table. "This is Cas. Cas, this is Denise."

"Nice to meet you." Cas smiles back, but something about it doesn't reach his eyes.

"You too, Cas." Luckily, Denise doesn't seem to pick up on Cas's reluctant greeting, but just keeps smiling at him. "Let me know if you need anything else."

Cas smiles stiffly and keeps staring a hole in her back as she leaves. Dean looks between Denise's retreating back and the angel. He takes a long swig of his beer before addressing Cas. "You okay, Cas?"

Cas looks back at Dean, almost sheepishly. "Yes. I'm fine." He picks up his burger, looking for the right angle to attack the overfilled buns.

"Fine, huh?" Dean snorts. "I remember a certain angel giving me crap for saying those exact words." Cas looks unamused, so Dean decides to get to the point. "You realise she flirted with the both of us, not just me, right?"

Cas actually seem to blush a little bit at that, avoiding Dean's eye. "No, I didn't."

"Well, she did. It's just a bit of harmless fun." Cas only hums, so Dean once again pushes himself to say what really needs to be said. "Not that it matters, but… Nothing's happened. Between Denise and me. And nothing ever will."

"I didn't say- You don't need to-" Cas sets his burger down with a frustrated sigh.

"I know. Just saying." Dean tries to casually continue eating his food. It bothers him that Cas reacted like that to Denise.

Then again, Dean has done a lot of harmless flirting that lead to more than just flirting.

Dean has never really been in the situation where he's had the hots for someone and then had to watch them flirt with or be with other people. Well, there was that one time when Ben called him about an emergency that turned out to be Lisa going on a date. Dean never met the guy but… Yeah, he probably wouldn't have been super welcoming.

"I'm sorry, Dean. I didn't mean to ruin our day." Cas looks down in his lap, burger long forgotten.

Great, now Dean feels like an ass. "Oh, come on. Even another apocalypse couldn't ruin this day."

Dean lifts his beer, and Cas slowly smiles, picking up his own beer and touching it to Dean's. The clink of the glass shatters the tense atmosphere, and they go back to eating.