Sam, Dean, and Eileen go Hunting the next day. Castiel must've really upset Dean when he told the Hunter he couldn't take out the rest of his stitches, because Dean hadn't even invited him. But Castiel doesn't mind. He saw this coming. The last Hunt didn't go quite as planned, and Dean had to come to his aid yet again. It's as if the Winchesters are finally realizing just how useless he is to them as a human.

But Castiel doesn't really mind. It's better this way anyway. The Winchesters can Hunt more efficiently without him. Besides, Castiel needs some time alone. Spending all this time with Dean has only strengthened Castiel's feelings for him, and every day it becomes more and more painful to live with the man he loves but can a never have in the way he truly wants. He's quite relieved to get a break actually.

Castiel has the bunker to himself, and he's taken the time to continue his project with Sam and catalogue and translate old Men of Letters files. Once he's tired of that, he cleans. He lives here, and he's trying to make his existence as less of a burden as possible. He knows he's one more mouth to feed.

After cleaning, he's feeling quite accomplished and decides to take inventory of the kitchen. Perhaps he can go to the store and buy what the Winchesters need for when they return. He takes his phone out of his pocket and goes around the kitchen, writing down what they need in the notes app. Castiel sets his phone down on the map table as he goes to retrieve the reusable shopping bags from Sam's room. He grabs the bags and glances at the clock on Sam's nightstand with a frown. It's getting a bit late, and he should hurry. He knows the store is open twenty-four hours a day, but he doesn't want to stay out late. He wants to catch up on sleep while he can.

Quickly, Castiel grabs his keys from his room and dashes to the garage. He sets the bags down in the passenger seat and starts his truck. It's only until he reaches the Walmart parking lot that he realizes he forgot his phone. He sighs in annoyance. Oh, well. He'll probably remember most of the things on his list. He misses his infallible, photographic memory.

Castiel has only been to Walmart a couple times, and he's always been accompanied by Sam or Dean. He isn't expecting to be overwhelmed the second he steps inside. It's oddly busy for 7pm on a Thursday, and the crowd makes him anxious. He quickly grabs a cart but has no idea where he's going, and it takes him a few minutes to realize the food section is on the other side of the large store. He eventually makes his way over to the food. Castiel is grateful for the signs on top of the aisles and only has to go back a couple of times for items he's missed. He thinks he got everything on the list and is standing in the check-out line nearly half an hour later.

Castiel's grown a bit hungry, and he's ready to leave, but the woman in front of him has at least fifty coupons, and the poor cashier has to individually scan her coupons and the items they go to. Castiel is standing there for another ten minutes. It's irritating.

By the time he leaves Walmart and enters the parking lot, he is ready to go home. Castiel wants to try the frozen pizza he just bought and read the novel Sam recommended. There's traffic, and the drive home is slow, but Castiel doesn't mind. He enjoys driving; it takes his mind off things.

The Impala is parked in the garage when Castiel returns, which is strange. Castiel thought the Hunt was supposed to take longer. He hopes everything is alright. He quickly grabs his groceries and opens the door to the bunker.

"—don't know, Sam! Like I said! His phone is here, but he's not!" Dean is on his cell phone standing next to the map table, his back facing Castiel. "No, his truck is gone, too. I told you he wouldn't sta—"

"Dean?" Castiel asks as he descends the stairs.

Dean whirls around. "Sam, I'll call you back." He shoves his phone into one of his front pockets and rushes towards the stairs just as Castiel finishes his descent. Dean stares at Castiel with wide eyes. "Are you okay?"

Castiel squints in confusion. "Of course I'm okay. Dean, what's—" Dean pulls him into a tight hug. Castiel awkwardly stands there, his hands full of groceries. "Uh…Dean?"

Dean pulls back and looks Castiel over as if trying to find any injures. "Sorry, uh…" Dean momentarily cups Castiel's face with one of his hands as if to ensure Castiel really is okay. "Sorry," he repeats, taking his hand away.

Castiel has no idea what's happening, and worry tugs at his chest. "Dean, what's going on?"

Dean takes a step back and runs a hand through his hair. He swallows before speaking, "The Hunt, uh… There was this witch who could target people from really far away, and I thought she got you."

"Oh."

Awkward silence.

Castiel continues, "Well, I'm fine."

Dean chuckles. "Yeah. Sorry. You left your phone here, and you weren't answering, so I freaked out a little." He chuckles again.

Castiel glances at his phone on the table. "That was a mistake. I was just out buying groceries."

"Yeah, uh, obviously." Dean runs a hand through his hair again.

Castiel tilts his head. "Dean, are you alright?"

He nods. "Yeah, I'm—yeah." Dean stares at him before smiling a little. "I really thought she got you."

"Well, uh, she didn't."

Dean nods and smiles again. "Yeah. Yeah, no, that's good." He stares.

"Um…I'm going to put these up now." Castiel raises his hands full of grocery bags.

"Right. Right." Dean places his hands on his hips. "I should shower…and stuff."

"Yes, probably." Castiel attempts to give Dean a reassuring smile as he passes him on the way to the kitchen. Dean seems…nervous? He's definitely shaken up. Castiel isn't quite sure what's going on. He should check on Dean later just in case.

The door to Dean's room is open, but Castiel knocks anyway. Dean is sitting on his bed, his laptop on his lap. There's a bottle of whiskey on the bed next to him. He looks up when he hears Castiel knock.

Dean pauses whatever he's watching. "Hey."

"Hey. Can I come in?"

"Uh, yeah." Dean quickly grabs his laptop and the whiskey bottle and scoots over, leaving room for Castiel to sit next to him.

Castiel walks over and climbs on the bed, sitting next to Dean. "What are you watching?"

"Um, uh…" Dean trails off.

"Were you watching porn with the door open?"

Dean's eyes widen. "No! It was—um… It's a rom com," he admits.

Castiel's surprised, but he knows Dean will shut down if he comments as such. "I like rom coms. Which one are you watching?"

"Oh…uh…" He tugs the laptop closer and places it back on his lap. He tilts the screen over. "The Decoy Bride. It's my favorite one—uh, favorite rom com."

"I've never seen it before. Maybe we can watch it together sometime?"

"Yeah!" Dean clears his throat. "I mean, yeah, if you want."

Castiel smiles. "I'd like that."

Dean smiles back.

"Dean, are you alright?"

"Yeah, of course I am."

Castiel frowns. "I don't want to do this again. I know something's wrong."

Dean looks down at his laptop. He bites his lip. He closes the lid. "It's—these last few months have been… With you being human, it's hard, you know?"

"Yes, I know," Castiel says quietly. He knows his humanity hasn't been easy for Dean, but he didn't realize just how much it had been affecting the Hunter. Guilt settles down heavily in the pit of Castiel's stomach. "But, Dean, if there's anything I can do to make it easier for you, let me know. Please?"

Dean looks up, his eyebrows drawn tight in confusion. "What? Make it easier for me?" Dean's eyes widen. "No, Cas, no. That's not what I meant."

"I… I don't understand."

"I meant it's been hard because you're hurt. The stab wound. And—and then you keep getting hurt. Like, at the hospital when you were running around completely delusional right after you were stabbed. And when you went after that ghost by yourself. And how you always keep ripping your stitches. It's—you scare me, man. I can't… I can't lose you again, okay?" Dean is staring intently, his eyes searching Castiel's. He licks his lips and glances down before looking back. "I should've asked you to come with us on the Hunt today, but I couldn't risk you getting hurt again. It was selfish, and you had the right to choose, but I chose for you, and I still—" His voice breaks.

Castiel lightly grabs Dean's arm. "Dean, I'm okay."

"For real? You'd tell me if you weren't?"

Castiel says earnestly, "Yes, Dean. For real."

Dean nods. He looks down where Castiel is grabbing him, and Castiel removes his hand, placing it in his lap with his other one. He shouldn't have touched Dean.

A terrible silence begins to fill the room, but then Dean says, "Do you want to watch the movie with me?"

Castiel grins. "Yes, I do."

Dean smiles back. "Awesome."

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! They really mean a lot to me. We have one more chapter left!