Chapter 2: Family and Friends

He wakes with a jolt.

He feels dizzy, making it hard to identify where he is. The place is dark, only making it more difficult to see anything, but at least it's nicely warm, and he is laying on something soft.

Waking up in strange places seems to be becoming a bad habit of his.

His eyes adjust to the dim light, and he can finally identify the furniture around him. It looks like some kind of crappy hotel or motel room, but it's hard to tell, because all the curtains are drawn.

At least he is on a soft bed instead of the cold street. Except, his one hand is tied to the bed with a thin rope. It's not uncomfortably tight, and he's got enough leeway to move, but it still keeps him confined to the bed.

His ears catch up with him, and he hears murmuring from one side of the room. Maybe that's what woke him up? He squints, and it only takes him a moment to see who is standing across the room, still in that damn trench coat. Agent Will-No Castiel, 'Angel of the freaking Lord', talking with someone on the phone. He stills and listens.

"…don't sense any magic on him… No, I didn't ask him if he knew what a lamp is. How is that even relevant?... Oh… Well, I can ask him when he wakes up, but he seemed to remember those kinds of things. He had been eating and drinking when I found him… No, he is still-" Castiel turns around and stops abruptly when he looks at Dean. He must be able to see him watching, even in the dark. Dean can sense how Castiel's eyes widen when he sees Dean looking back at him. "Actually, he is awake now." Castiel walks towards the bed, and Dean instinctively scoots as far away on the bed as he can. But Castiel stops next to the bed, bending down to turn on the bedside lamp, before stiffly pointing at it. "Do you know what this is?"

Dean blinks at the sudden burst of light, covering his eyes with his untied hand. His eyes sting from the sudden attack and the room swims a little bit. When his eyes start accepting the new level of lighting, he squints at Castiel. The so-called Angel is still pointing at the lamp, waiting patiently for an answer. He is serious. Like, seriously serious. Is it a trick question? Dean looks at the lamp, and uncertainly answers; "A lamp…?"

Castiel frowns at him. Dean hears murmur on the other end of the phone, and Castiel sighs. "No, he answered correctly, but he sounded unsure." Castiel turns and points at a small, old TV instead. "Do you know what this is?"

"A TV." Dean says immediately, making sure that his voice is steady and certain, even if his brain is still one big question mark. What the hell is going on with these insane questions?

"He seemed much surer about the television." Castiel happily reports. "Maybe lamps are just not his forte." Another moment passes where Castiel listens to whoever is on the other end of the phone. He then takes down the phone and pushes the speaker button. "Your brother wants to talk to you."

"My brother!?" Dean exclaims.

"Hey Dean." A hesitant voice says over the speaker. He sounds younger and not rough like Dean finds his own voice.

"Hey…" Dean answers awkwardly.

"Sam. It's Sam." The voice says sadly, but not unkindly.

"Sam?" Dean mutters to himself. Just like when he heard his own name and when he saw Castiel for the first time, something feels right about Sam.

"You don't remember me, huh?" Sam sighs.

"No, not really…" Dean answers. How could he forget his own brother? "But something about you feels familiar, though."

Sam huffs. "Well, that's at least something."

Dean looks up at Castiel, who is patiently holding the phone. His eyes are soft as he listens to Dean's and Sam's conversation. Dean clears his throat before asking the phone. "And you know Castiel too?"

"Yeah, yeah of course." Sam says, and Dean is sure that he is smiling. "He's your best friend, Dean."

"He says that he's an Angel and kidnapped me from the police station and has me tied to a bed." Dean grumbles while staring at Castiel, who shifts uncomfortably under his gaze.

Sam laughs. "Yeah, I know that might seem strange, but, Dean, trust me. You have known each other for years, and he is like a brother to you. And yes, he really is an Angel. Please, trust him. Deep down, I think you already know that you can."

Dean studies Castiel, and he can't believe how hopeful and pleadingly he looks at him. This guy who could hold Dean when he tried to run, who could knock him out cold and somehow get him to a motel room, who could probably have hurt him but hasn't. If he really is an Angel, then why is he looking at Dean like that, looking for his… approval?

And that's when he feels the butterflies again. That strange feeling that he first felt when he saw Castiel. There's just something right about him, even though everything sounds so wrong. Dean feels himself relax a bit, and Castiel perks, watching Dean intensely. For some reason, it makes Dean smile, and he shakes his head. "Alright Sam. I'll give the Angel a chance."

Castiel relaxes and smiles too. "Thank you, Dean."

Is sounds like Sam breaths a sigh of relief as well. "Great. That's great. So, you really don't remember anything?"

"No, not since waking up this morning."

"Cas said you split up yesterday afternoon to check out the scenes. You don't remember any of that?" Sam inquires.

"No. Like I said, I just remember waking up in the alley this morning."

"Which alley?" Castiel asks.

"Uhm, the one by the bakery. The Goode Bakery."

"Thank God…" Sam sighs.

"What?" Dean frowns.

"At least you woke up at a place that your stomach would remember." Sam's voice is fond, and Dean can somehow just see the smile on his face, even if he doesn't remember what it looks like.

Castiel chuckles, and Dean can't help but to roll his eyes. Yeah, this could definitely be his brother and best friend, judging by the way that they are ganging up on him. "Hah-hah, very funny… So, what kind of scenes were we looking into? And why the hell are we playing FBI agents? Are we criminals or something?"

Sam laughs, and Dean rolls his eyes again, a little frustrated with the lack of answers. Sam clears his throat and Dean can hear him take a breath to answer, but he is interrupted by someone in the background. Sam answers, his voice a bit further away from the speaker before he returns to full volume. "Okay, I'll be right there. Sorry, guys, I have to go. Eileen needs me. Will you guys be alright?"

Dean expects Castiel to answer, but instead he looks to Dean. The question is clear on the Angel's face; Will you be alright?

"Yeah, we'll be alright." Dean nods, and it makes Castiel smile.

"Okay. I'll call you as soon as I can. When we are done here, we'll-" Sam is cut off again. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, coming. Alright. Call me if you need anything."

Before Dean can say anything else, the call disconnects. The room is suddenly quiet. Now, he can hear distant traffic. So, probably a motel room. He looks nervously at Castiel, who looks just as nervous. Even though he can feel that he can trust the Angel – Who is more trustworthy than an Angel? – Dean is still a bit unsure on how to approach him. Finally, he clears his throat and lifts his tied-up hand. "Do you mind removing the rope?"

Castiel jolts a little bit. "Yes, of course." He quickly moves around the bed to reach the bed leg where the rope is tied to. "I assure you that it was only to keep you safe."

"So, you tied me up so I wouldn't fall out of bed?" Dean asks with a raised eyebrow.

Castiel recognises the humour and smiles. "No. But I realise that my… little display of grace distressed you, so I needed to make sure that you would not try to attack me or run away."

The rope loosens and Dean instinctively rubs his wrist, even though it doesn't hurt. "Thanks Cas. Can I call you Cas? Sam did, and no offence, but 'Castiel' is a bit of a mouthful."

Castiel's smile widens. "Yes, you may. Afterall, you are the one who came up with it."

"I am?" Dean perks up at learning about a little piece of himself.

"Yes." Castiel sits down on the edge of the bed, still keeping a respectful distance to Dean. "You were… quite determined not to submit to the traditions of Heaven."

Dean swallows, not sure what to say to that. Castiel doesn't seem angry about it, but the guy is still an Angel. Why would Dean act like such an ass? "Uhm… Sorry 'bout that."

For some reason, Castiel chuckle, which makes him seem so human. "Don't apologise. You were… exactly the 'kick in the ass', as you might say, that I needed."

Dean leans forward, curious. The bed feels unsteady under him for a moment, but he catches his balance. "How did we meet? Are you on some kind of holy mission or something? Because in that case, the fake FBI badges are totally forgiven."

Castiel chuckles again, and Dean decides that he likes it when the Angel smiles and laughs. But then Castiel's face falls, and he looks at Dean with a hint of pain in his eyes. "That is… a very long story."

"I've got time." Dean tries to encourage.

Castiel smiles again, but it is sad and strained. "We will get your memory back soon, and then you will remember everything again. For now, I suggest we take a look at the place where you woke up this morning. Maybe we can find a clue as to who or what did this."

Castiel gets up from the bed, and Dean quickly follows. But before he can ask any more questions, the room suddenly sways, and he has to sit back down. Castiel is immediately in front of him. He raises his hands as if to touch the sides of Dean's face, but he stops himself before making contact. "Dean. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay." Dean brings a hand up to squeeze the brink of his nose, trying to force the dizziness away. "I just feel a bit woozy. Has been coming and going since I woke up. Just thought I sat up too fast."

Castiel hums with a frown. "May I touch you?" He still has his hands raised, and he slightly turns them towards the sides of Dean's head to indicate his intentions.

"Why?" Dean almost goes cross-eyed, looking at Castiel's hands. He considers pulling away, but part of him is also curious.

"If you allow me to touch you, I can identify if you have any illnesses to cause the dizziness and then heal it."

Dean's eyes go wide. "Really? You can do that?"

Castiel smiles gently. "Yes. It is one of the abilities of my grace."

"Grace?" Dean asks and Castiel just nods in reply. "Cool. Yeah, do it."

For a second, Castiel studies Dean's face with a look of curious wonder. Then he slowly, gently places his fingers on Dean's temples. Castiel closes his eyes and frowns in concentration.

Dean didn't know what to expect, but he doesn't feel anything.

"You have a bacterial infection." Castiel opens his eyes.

"Well, I did wake up in the dirt in the cold street."

Castiel nods. "Yes, that could explain it. It will most likely turn into a fever later if not treated."

"Can you heal it?" Dean licks his lips nervously, and Castiel's eyes drop for a second to follow the movement.

"Of course."

Castiel presses his fingertips firmer against Dean's skin, and this time, Dean feels a surge through his body. It's like a wave of wind that pushes into every fibre of his being. It only takes a second, but then his body feels lighter, and the dizziness is gone.

"Whoa. Dude. That was awesome." Dean grins.

Castiel leans back with a smile. "Glad to help."

"No, seriously, that was amazing. Can you heal anything?"

Castiel stands back up. "In theory, yes. Though it depends on how much grace I have. Right now, it is unfortunately a bit drained."

"But you will get it back, right? You didn't use it all on me just now?" Dean is suddenly worried.

"No, no, don't worry about it. It is… Another long story." Castiel smiles sadly. Before Dean can ask anything else, Castiel changes the subject. "So, let's go have a look at the alley where you woke up."

Dean jumps up from the bed, no dizziness in sight anymore. "Sure, and the bakery next to it. You have to try their muffins, man!"