Disclaimer - They don't belong to me.

Note - Title is from Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.

Dean was whistling as he opened the door and stepped back into Bobby's house. He went silent as he found Sam pacing the kitchen nervously.

"Dean! I fucked up..." Sam said, stopping in the middle of the floor and frantically wringing his hands. Dean sat the groceries he was carrying down on the counter.

"Sam? What's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry Dean, I didn't think," Sam said.

"Sammy," Dean growled.

"Cas wanted to watch a movie, so I let him pick one... on his own. I have no idea how he even found that movie on streaming!"

"Dammit Sammy," Dean cursed. Cas was very sensitive to movies, they had to carefully monitor what he was allowed to watch. "What did he watch?"

"Um.. City of Angels," Sam replied quietly.

"WHAT?! Sammy, fuck, how could you let him see that?"

"I'm sorry Dean," Sam replied, pleading.

Dean sighed. "How bad is it?"

"He's been sobbing for half an hour now, he won't let me near him."

"Fuck. Is he in the guest room?"

Sam nodded and Dean started to leave but Sam caught his arm. "There's something else you need to know."

"What?" Dean glared at his brother.

"He has... um... wings..." Sam replied.

Dean stared at him for a long second before turning and heading upstairs. He paused outside the guest room door to take a deep breath and calm himself. He knocked softly before letting himself in.

The site that greeted him was both the most majestic and the most heartbreaking he'd ever seen.

Cas was curled up in a fetal position on the bed. Huge wings were draped under and over him. He'd shed his trenchcoat and suit jacket. His eyes were red and still dripping tears. He glanced up when he heard the door. "Dean," he said, whimpering. Cas pulled himself to the edge of the bed and slid off of it, crawling on his hands and knees to Dean. He had wrapped himself around Dean's leg before Dean shook off his shock at seeing Cas's wings. Dean reached down and gently disentangled Cas's arms from his leg before carefully going to his knees, managing not to kneel on Cas's wings.

"Cas, I'm sorry, you shouldn't have watched that movie, I'm so sorry." Dean brushed the tears off Cas's cheeks.

"Dean..." The way Cas said his name told Dean so much more than any other words could.

"I know, Cas, I know," he said as he pulled the angel into his arms. "Shhh, it's ok, it's ok," he soothed as he rocked Cas gently.

Cas cried for a long time. Dean's knees were beyond the point of pain before Cas came back to himself. The angel sensed Dean's pain and touched his leg. Dean sighed as Cas's grace erased his aches.

"I am sorry Dean."

"Hey, no, no apologies buddy, that was our fault." Dean ran his fingers over a wing. "What's with the feathers?" he asked.

"Oh, um, it's... comforting. I can get rid of them."

"No, no, keep them please," Dean murmured. "Could we get off the floor however?"

"Sorry," Cas said as he got up, helping Dean up as well.

Dean cupped Cas's cheek. "I said, no apologies." Cas looked down. Dean wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. Cas's arms immediately went around Dean, clinging to him again. Dean ran fingers over Cas's wings and the angel trembled. Dean stopped immediately. "Did that hurt?"

"No, it feels nice," Cas replied, his voice muffled in Dean's neck.

"C'mon," Dean said, nudging Cas towards the bed. "Back on the bed, angel." He toed off his shoes, and shed his jacket as Cas climbed onto the bed. Dean settled on the bed next to him, back against the headboard, and held his arms open. Cas quickly moved in, snuggling up close to him, one wing stretching over them both like a blanket. Dean clicked the TV on, and hit play on a nice, safe, nature documentary. Dean spent the next hour learning about the disappearing coral reefs while he held Cas close and continued to comfort him with touches and strokes along his wings. When his stomach finally decided to protest the lack of food, Cas pushed himself up.

"You need food, I'm keeping you from doing things you want, I'm s-" He was cut off by Dean's hand over his mouth.

"Don't you dare apologize."

Cas blinked and nodded. "But you should get dinner, I'm ok now."

"Are you sure?" Dean's fingers scratched lightly over Cas's wing. Cas's eyes closed briefly.

"I'm sure. Thank you Dean."

"Do you want to come downstairs with me?" Dean asked.

Cas nodded. "Yes. It is comforting to remain near you."

Dean gave Cas a squeeze before sliding off the bed. He turned to watch as Cas stood, lightly shaking his wings. Dean reached out to touch the feathers again. "Might want to put these away now," he said.

Cas nodded, shook his wings again, and Dean gasped as they disappeared. He shook his head in awe, speechless for a moment. Then his stomach growled again. Cas raised an eyebrow and Dean gave a huff. "C'mon," he said. Cas followed him out the room and down to the kitchen.

Sam hopped up from the sofa as they reached downstairs. "Cas, I'm so sorry..." He quieted when Cas simply walked over and gave him a hug.

"It's ok Sam, not your fault." Cas released the younger man and continued to the kitchen. Dean squeezed Sam's arm, silently letting his brother know he wasn't mad at him, before following Cas to the kitchen. Sam joined them a moment later and the brothers had dinner. Cas watched quietly, listening to them discuss a possible case not far away. Dean could tell the angel was still a bit down, so once dinner was done he nudged Cas's leg.

"Wanna watch some more documentaries?" Dean asked Cas.

Cas nodded. "Please."

"I'll clean up, you two have fun," Sam said.

Dean nodded his thanks, and he and Cas went back upstairs. Cas started for the bed, but Dean caught his arm. "Wait, we're doing this right. Take that dress shirt off and those pants." Dean grabbed an old soft t-shirt of his, and a pair of shorts from a drawer and tossed them to Cas. "Put these on." He quickly changed himself into a comfortable shirt and shorts. When he turned around, Cas was changed and standing there waiting. Dean pulled the covers down on the bed. "Ok, get in," he said. Cas got into bed, laying on his side, watching Dean. Dean turned the TV back on, and the lights off, before joining him. He flipped through the choices, picking a nature show about bears when Cas gently touched his hand. He dropped the remote on the table. "Are you ok?" he asked as he turned to look at Cas.

"I'd like to cuddle more Dean."

"Well, then come here," Dean said softly. Cas moved over, and Dean slipped one arm behind him. Cas nuzzled into his neck, one leg hooking over his, one arm resting over Dean's stomach. Dean ran his free hand over Cas's arm, tracing up to his shoulder and down again. He pulled Cas even tighter against him, eliciting a soft whimper from Cas. "Shhh, it's ok," he murmured. His fingers traced over Cas's cheek and down. He let his hand rest splayed over Cas's neck.

Suddenly Cas raised up enough to look at him. "Dean, there was a song in the movie I'd like to hear all of, could you find it for me?"

"Of course. Do you remember any of it? Or do you want me to just get the soundtrack?"

"Soundtrack?" Cas questioned.

"A soundtrack is all the music in a movie."

"Oh, yes, I would like that."

"I'll get it tomorrow. Do you remember any part of the song?"

"Yes. It started 'And I'd give up forever to touch you'."

"Ah, Goo Goo Dolls."

"Goo goo?"

Dean chuckled. "The band, they are called the Goo Goo Dolls. And that song is called Iris."

"Oh." Cas relaxed, snuggling up closer to Dean.

"You're the closest to Heaven that I'll ever be..." Dean whispered softly. Cas made a soft noise and clung tighter to him. Dean went back to stroking Cas's arms. "Would your wings help?" Dean asked.

He felt Cas shake his head. "I'm ok, as long as I've got you," Cas replied. Dean squeezed him tight, ignoring the sudden lump in his throat. They were both quiet for some time, watching the show. When Dean felt himself start to nod off he nudged Cas.

"Sit up a bit, so I can see you," Dean said. Cas complied, going up on an elbow so he could look down at Dean.

"Dean? What's wrong?"

"Nothing angel, but I'm falling asleep, and before I do I need you to promise me something."

Cas tilted his head in his usual curious look. "What Dean?"

"If you get upset while I'm asleep, if you need comforting, no matter how little, you wake me. Ok?"

"Dean..." Cas began to protest.

"No, you don't get to protest this. I won't be able to sleep if you don't promise this."

Cas blinked, thinking. But then he surrendered with a soft sigh. "I promise Dean," he said softly.

"Thank you," Dean replied.

"Would you like to turn the TV off?" Cas asked.

"No, it's fine." Dean reached over for the remote and passed it to Cas. "Here, but no movies or shows, only documentaries, ok?"

Cas nodded and laid the remote behind him. He snuggled back up to Dean. "Good night Dean."

"Good night Cas." Dean was asleep minutes later.

Cas finished watching the documentary about bears. He grabbed the remote and flipped through the selections, settling on another documentary about coral reefs. He found it absolutely fascinating and was entranced for the entire two hours. It ended and he saw another coral reef one in the suggestions and selected it. This one proved to be way less fascinating and his mind wandered back to the movie. His heart ached remembering how the angel in the movie had lost everything. Tears stung his eyes, and he remembered his promise to Dean.

"Dean," he whispered, lightly nudging the hunter. Dean snorted softly but did not wake. Cas reached out mentally. Dean, please...

Dean came awake with a gasp. "Cas? What's wrong?" Cas didn't answer, just buried his face in Dean's neck as he cried. "Shh," Dean soothed, hands caressing the angel again. "Movie again?" Dean questioned after a few minutes.

Cas chose to answer mentally. Yes.

There was a long pause and then Cas spoke in Dean's mind again. Dean, if I lost you, I wouldn't be able to go on..

Dean raised up so he could look down at Cas. "Cas..." He pressed his forehead against Cas's. "Angel, I can't promise nothing will ever happen to me, not in this line of work. But I promise I will do everything in my power to remain at your side for the rest of my life." He pulled back, looking into the blue eyes that had captured him long ago. "Ok?"

Cas nodded, sniffling. Dean laid back down and pulled Cas tight. Dean, I love you.

"Love you too Cas."