M is for Meow
Dean grunted at Sam as he said good morning to him. Sam was always an early riser. Dean wasn't a morning person. Nothing in the world mattered until after he had coffee and breakfast. He needed time to wake up, something Castiel had learned too. He was searching for the other man. Maybe he had started breakfast or at the least a pot of coffee.
"Where's Cas?" Dean asked.
"I don't know. He's not my boyfriend," Sam replied.
Dean opened his mouth to retort, but the front door opening caught his attention. The brothers looked up the stairs as Castiel entered the bunker. He was carrying a box and gazing intently at it. Dean got a bad feeling in his gut about this.
"Cas," Dean said, getting his attention. Castiel looked up at the elder Winchester with a smile.
"What's in the box," Sam asked, eyeing the box suspiciously.
"Well, I was on my morning walk, and I found a kitten," Castiel said as he approached the brothers.
"No," Dean said quickly.
"Dean, she has no home, and she won't survive in the woods," Castiel said quickly.
"We don't have time for a cat," Dean said, shaking his head.
"I don't know, Dean, she's pretty cute," Sam said, looking in the box. He smiled down at the kitten.
Castiel reached in and pulled the kitten out. She was orange with white patches on her eyes and paws. Her eyes were green. She let out the softest meow Dean had ever heard. He had to look away so his resolve wouldn't break.
"We leave for weeks at a time sometimes. Cats need a lot of care," Dean said, shaking his head still. There was no way this was happening. They did not have time for a cat. There was so much that went into caring for cats, food, supplies, litter, and much more. This was practical right now.
"There are auto feeders now, and we can eventually train her to be an outdoor cat," Sam said reasonably. He held his hands out to Castiel. Castiel passed the kitten over. She curled into Sam's chest as he held her close. She started purring.
"Please Dean," Sam said melting for the kitten already.
"I'm keeping her," Castiel said matter-of-factly.
"Cas-" Dean started.
"Her name is Charlie," Castiel said, slamming the nail in the coffin.
"Fine, she can stay," Dean said, "but you're training her and taking care of her."
"I'll help," Sam said quickly. "We have to go to the pet store now!" he declared.
The two men took off back up the stairs, talking about what they needed to get for her.
"I'm gonna live to regret this. I just know it," Dean said, shaking his head as he made his way to the kitchen for some coffee.