3

Slipped away

After a few minutes discussing it, they decided to wait in the car in order to find out what was harassing Sam's family. Luckily, they could save them without exposing them to the frightening truth about the world. The only issue was that, then, they should stay in the car.

Together.

Again.

Actually, Cas had made peace with his romantic situation years ago. It was simple: he was in love with Dean Winchester and he would never get that love back. He had known that Dean loved him, of course, but not in the same way. For Dean, he was a friend. For Cas, Dean was the most precious person in the whole world.

Nevertheless, one thing was coming to terms with that and other quite different was to spend so much time alone with Dean. Was he feeling awkward? Cas guessed he was. Should he say something? What could he say to normalize the relationship between them? Hey, Dean, I know you would never be able to love me back and that's ok, I know who you are.

No. It was better to remain silent.

Silence was secure.

Next to him, Dean started drumming his fingers against the dashboard. Some country song was being broadcasted in that moment. It wasn't precisely Dean's kind of music. A little uncomfortable, he decided to talk again.

"You can change the station, if you want."

"Oh, ok. I guessed there will be a good radio station... Some eighties' hits."

"I have this."

Castiel showed his CD's collection, while he focused in the street. He wanted to watch, be on guard, but actually he was avoiding Dean's gaze. Still, Cas could feel its intensity. Somehow, he had done it again: leave him speechless. Quietly, Dean took one CD and put it on the player. Soon, Kansas started to sound.

"Why do you have them?"

"I like them. You taught me to love them."

"Yeah..." Even though Cas wasn't looking at him, he could glimpse his silly happy smile. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. "I have a pretty good taste in music– I had to have something good, I guess."

No. Not again.

Castiel stood still. Dean Winchester was the man with the worst conception of himself that had ever existed. He had always thought the worst about himself, which was something that terrible that hurt Castiel. Why didn't Dean see how incredible he was? Cas closed his eyes for a moment. He had believed that Dean would have accepted his virtues in Heaven, but it seemed that he had been wrong.

"You have a lot of good things, Dean. I told you."

"Do I? Do you still think that, Cas?" Dean's voice was full of bitterness. Suddenly, his body was tense. "I don't understand why. I mean, I abandoned you, dude. I betrayed you and your sacrifice... I'm a human shit."

"Don't say that."

"But it's true!"

Cas didn't know what to say, what to do, in order to make the situation better. It was true that he had felt a little disappointed when Jack told him that the Winchester hadn't even tried to save him, but it was also true that his sacrifice didn't have any intention beyond saving Dean.

"Why didn't you come after me?"

"I don't know... I don't know a lot of things, actually." Dean focused on the dark street, which helped Castiel staring his face, his tortured face. "I didn't want to think about you, I guess."

Castiel's injured heart hurt even more.

"I see. It must be difficult for you being around me. The gay angel."

"Wait, what? No, it's not that!" Dean seemed alarmed; he even turned completely in order to look for Cas's gaze. "I'm ok with that. I mean... It's not like I have to approve it, you know. You can be whatever you are or you want to be. It's not necessary that I... Fuck! I'm terrible doing this. Cas, believe me: everything is fine. Being with you is... is… peachy."

"Peachy?"

"Yes. And... now we're talking–" Dean silenced himself suddenly. Castile recognized that position, it was the professional hunter one. Then, he also examined the darkness in the street. "Do you feel that?"

"Yes. But I don't know what it is."

Both went off the car without sharing any words. It had never been necessary between them. Castiel was perfectly able to sense the supernatural source, so he approached it. After taking a couple of guns, Dean walked by his side and handed one to him. Together, they searched around but, despite the threat floating in the nighttime air, they didn't find anything.

"This is weird... Could it be the invisible man?" Dean asked, smirking.

"We wouldn't feel him. That's the problem, Dean. I never see anything."

"This is so weird."

For a moment, the only thing which Dean could see was Castiel's eyes. It was just a second, but everything changed... literally, because in that short blink, the sun was shining above them. Both frowned, looking at the sky. It was a blue and radiant morning. How was it even possible?

"It was night until a moment..." Dean observed, really confused. "What the hell?"

Castiel returned to the car, where he could check the clock. It was ten o'clock. Next to him, Dean was still walking around, gazing everything with suspiciousness, so he called his attentions with a noise.

"I think we have been frozen. The time has gone by, but we haven't realized it."

"So it's a witch."

"A very powerful one."

"But why did the witch freeze us? I mean, it's easier for it to kill us if it's so powerful." Dean's thoughts were the same that were concerning Castiel. Actually, nothing seemed logical. "Ok. We have lost an entirely night, but maybe we have an opportunity now. Dean and his wife work, I guess."

"Your nephew works at home, but the others are out."

"So I can't go there and talk to him. You'll have to do it alone, Cas."

Castiel rolled his eyes a bit. Sometimes, he was afraid of the image that Dean had about him. He crossed his arms, impatient.

"Have you forgotten that I've been hunting a while, Dean? I've already did that. I've already considered the witch theory: no bags, no weird signs in the house, no enemies or even visions... Nothing. That's why I've requested your help. Because it's so unusual."

"Ok, ok, you're right. But I still think that we should check the house again." Dean stayed still for a moment, reflecting on their options. Meanwhile, Cas tried to feel anything, to discover something out of place, but it seemed the same normal street as always. "I have an idea. Let's be direct. We go, we talk to him. If Dean panics, you'll do the Jedi trick." His Dean smirked a bit. "No, not the droids one. The sleeping one."

Cas didn't believe it was a great idea, but at least it was an idea. It was the only one they had, so he nodded. Together, they crossed the street and went into the porch, discovering then that the door was opened. That was strange. They shared a concerned gaze, before Dean aimed his gun. For just a second, Castiel thought about that fact: Dean had been in Heaven for decades, but he was still reacting as he had never stopped hunting.

The first thing they saw was the chaos. The furniture was in the wrong place, or dropped on the floor, just like a lot of belongings: papers, books, framed photos... It wasn't a good sign.

"Hello," Dean said, raising his voice. "Is anybody there?"

"I'll check upstairs."

Dean nodded, moving forward, while Cas went up the staircase. He inspected all the rooms, but the result was always the same: nobody was there. When he finished, he went back to the first floor.

"Anything?"

"Nothing. Not even this mess."

"There's no blood," Dean frowned. "They have been kidnaped, I guess." He didn't seem happy; his shoulders were a straight tense line and his eyes had that dangerous gleam mixed with concern. "Let's go, Cas. We have to save them."

"Wait a minute."

In his impulse to keep Dean still, Cas had stretched his hand in order to hold Dean's arm. It wasn't the first time, but it was so different then. Maybe Dean would feel awkward or maybe it was the familiar warmth. Castiel didn't know why, he just knew that, in the moment he realized what he was doing, he had to free him. Curiously, Dean seemed... sad? No, it couldn't be.

"I know you need action right now, but we need to think. We don't even know where they can be."

For a moment, just for a single moment, it seemed like Dean was going to scream, but eventually he nodded. Sighing, he sat down on a chair.

"It's weird, you know? I mean, I don't know him. He was born after my death... which, by the way, it's a weird sentence even for us... But the truth is that I care. I want to save him, Cas. He's family, he's Sam's kid. And, look around, he got it. He has a great life, he isn't cursed..."

"You weren't cursed... Well, if we omit Cain's curse."

"You know what I mean."

"Yes. I know." Castiel got closer to him, taking a sit on the couch. "You're still considering your life a curse, but it's not. Having a different life, something out of the regular, it's not bad or terrible, Dean. Yes, your life was never easy and you lost too many things along the way, but you were also loved and you had fun and you were happy even in a world full of monsters and dangers. I think you are a lucky man, Dean Winchester. There are people who have nothing to lose."

Silence between them.

Their eyes lost into the other's.

"I..."Dean opened his mouth, but he didn't add anything. "I've missed you, Cas." Those words heated Castiel's heart, because he had been longing for him, for his company, his way to talk or his way to eat up a pie. The shock was so heavy that he couldn't react, so Dean was able to change the topic. "Do you think they were kidnaped at night?"

"I don't know. But it seems logical." Cas stared at the messy sitting room where they were. "They fought and there's no police or neighbors talking, so I guess it happened while we were frozen."

"That's a lot of magic."

"We need help."

"Ok." Dean stood up. "We just have an option, Cas. We have to talk to her."

Cas imitated him and, again, he had to grab his shoulder. Every time he touched Dean, something complicated happened within him. He felt happy and it felt natural, although at the same time it was sad and kind of hurtful. Sometimes, with Dean, Castiel had the feeling that the man was like water: something impossible to hold.

Luckily, on that occasion, he just had to focus on traveling. After all the years and adventures that Castiel had lived with the Winchester, he had gained a lot of skills and also a bunch of friends. That's why he could appear in Hell in less than a second without being endangered or causing trouble.

The demon at the gate, who had the appearance of a short young man, recognized him, so he greeted with a movement of his head.

"Can the queen receive us?"

"I've to check it, angel. Wait a moment."

The demon smiled at Dean, who was staring at him. Surprised, Castiel frowned because he hadn't seen that expression before. He didn't know what it could mean. Dean, meanwhile, was tightening his lips. The hunter waited until they were alone in order to say with a weird tone:

"So... he seems to know you."

"I've been coming here for a while." Cas wasn't understanding the situation, mainly because Dean didn't look like he was curious or trying to chat... actually... he seemed... kind of... angry? But that didn't make any sense. "He is Rowena's doorman."

Dean nodded.

"And... are you friends? Acquaintances, maybe?"

"Eh... I've never thought about that, but... acquaintances, I think. Does it matter?"

"No!"

"It seems important to you."

"Really?" Before Cas could add anything, Dean started swinging. "Eh... well, I'm just curious because that demon is interested in you." Facing that information, Castiel just was able to blink, really confused. Definitely, the situation was exceeding him so far. "Oh, yes, I know that look. He is into you. Zero doubts."

"I have never thought about that either."

"Better."

"Why?"

Dean seemed in a predicament, but he eventually was saved by the arrival of two people: the doorman demon and a red-haired woman. She walked towards them, opening her arms as a diva, while she was smiling openly.

"Cas, my dear! It's always a pleasure!" He didn't have the occasion to add anything because Rowena immediately focused in Dean. Her smile had frozen in her lips, but her green eyes sharpened, like she was figuring something out. "Dean Winchester, you're back."

"Rowena," Dean said in a better mood. "You don't seem surprised."

"Like it would be the first time, dear..." Rowena smiled, indicating with a finger to follow her, so that was what they did. The woman leaded them to a comfortable room, where she took a sit on the most majestic chair. Then, she raised a red eyebrow. "Now that we're alone, I must confess seeing you together it's quiet... unusual these days."

"I needed his help," Castiel explained. "We have a situation–"

"Another novelty." Rowena rolled her eyes, leaning her back in the chair. "And I guess you need my magic, don't you?"

Between both of them, Rowena was updated with the latest news. As always, Castiel saw something different, a little bit of tenderness, in her face. When the story ended, the woman stood up, determined. Even though the start of their relationship had been complicated, both the Winchesters and Castiel had ended feeling affection for Rowena and it had been mutual. Nevertheless, Rowena's feelings for Sam were stronger, so she didn't even doubt it.

"I'll try to find them. Give me a second."

"Thanks, Rowena," Dean said, serious.

Rowena did her magical things. Castiel usually found interesting watching those rituals, but he couldn't ignore what had happened in the hall. Why did Dean react like that? Well, yes, it wasn't especially normal that an angel and a demon could get along, but nothing in their life had been regular.

He was considering that, when Rowena opened her eyes again, frowning.

"I can find Dean or his wife, but right now the little girl is at her school. You shall hurry, boys, because I don't think she's safe."

"At the school?" Dean blinked, confused. "But that doesn't make any fucking sense!"

"You'll solve it later, now you must part," Rowena insisted. Then, she smiled again. "It's been nice to see you again, Dean. I hope it's not the last time." The woman stopped for a moment, although then she added something with malice. "And you should solve the other question, Dean. Even I know what you were feeling back there, but... do you?"

Hello, everyone! The case is becoming more and more complicated because I'm a terrible person and writer and I don't know to write without complicating my life and also the characters' ones. But we algo have Rowena being amazing and Dean being as idiot as always... and, yes, he is so jealous in this chapter, which I enjoyed a lot while I was writing.

Thanks for the reviews! And thanks to my friend Deb, who is the nicest person ever and the one who reads this in first time and correct me.

Next chapter: Adventures in babysitting