Author's note: I have to apologize in advance for the length of this chapter. There was just so much I wanted to say in this one, and it ended up twice the regular size. Hope you guys don't mind? ? 😁
Leaning on the guy while he helped Dean walk back to his bed felt so good. Mike smelled so nice, like lemons and mint and for a guy that shy, he sure as hell was strong and for some reason, Dean found it so hot. Mike helped him to the bed and put him down gently, his hand firm on Dean's waist, sending millions of goosebumps to crawl over his skin. Damn, there was just something about this guy and about the way he was treating Dean like he was the most precious thing to him that made some strange emotions swirl up in Dean.
The hunter couldn't remember when was the last time someone took care of him.
Dean shook his head, trying not to let his thoughts venture where he didn't want them to go, because he had no business thinking like that about Mike. Hell, he wasn't even sure if the guy liked him, or even tolerated him, considering he still didn't say a word to Dean. Come to think of it, he hadn't said anything at all, and Dean isn't sure if he even heard him make a sound. Maybe the guy's mute?
Not sure what would be the polite way of asking someone if they are unable to speak for a medical reason, Dean decided not to go there at all. He really didn't want to sound like a jackass and make the guy uncomfortable, not when he went out of his way to help Dean.
As he was laid back down on he bed, Dean couldn't help but close his eyes and mourn to loss of those gentle hands just a little bit. A part of him expected Mike to take a blanket and cover him, tuck him in and... Dean had no idea he longed for a physical contact so much, but he was slowly starting to realize it. If he didn't count the occasional woman in his motel room, the last time he had a real connection to someone was... Oh, wow. Lisa. Nine years ago. Yeah, no wonder he was burnt up.
But Mike didn't cover him up and Dean startled, his eyes flying open as he felt the bed dip right next to his wounded leg. Mike froze, looking up at him as Dean was a wounded animal that might attack him at any given moment. He slowly raised his hands to draw attention to them and show Dean what he had in them. Oh. A washcloth and a cream box. Dean huffed a smile and gave a small nod, feeling dumb for scaring a man, but also strangely thrilled that... He was about to be touched again.
If it wasn't for the slowly intensifying pain in his leg, it would have been nearly erotic the way Mike took time to clean any blood residue off his calf and knee and... thigh and please go higher, oh, God, please... The guy was so gentle and meticulous and focused and Dean got lost for a moment, biting his lower lip and simply enjoying the touch before he realized he was wearing only his boxer briefs and they hid away nothing, especially not the semi he was currently sporting. Jesus, he had to calm down, he had to reel himself in, he didn't need to freak the guy out.
But Mike seemed too focused on the task at hand to notice Dean's slowly growing erection or the fact that the hunter was blushing like crazy. No, Mike just kept working, cleaning Dean's leg really good before he put the washcloth away, and then proceeded to slowly remove the bandage on the wound where Dean's broken bone pierced the flesh and the skin. Dean grimaced and let out a little hiss, and Mike looked up to him to make sure he was okay before picking up a cotton ball and peroxide and cleaning the stiched wound, so gently and tenderly, Dean fought hard and kept his tongue trapped between his teeth so that he wouldn't make another sound. Once he was done, he applied the cream that Dean knew for sure was a slightly magical concoction, he knew that smell, that texture, that colour.
Mike's fingers glided tentatively over the wound and wider and as the numbness spread, Dean couldn't help but refocus on the man's touch. Something in his mind screamed at him for more, something in his heart ached, starved for affection, but Dean dared not say or do anything and before he knew it, it was done. Mike applied a new bandage over the wound, checked the planks that held Dean's leg straight and then... Covered him with a blanket and tucked him in, wearing a small smile the entire time, and completely melting Dean's heart with it.
The soothing effect of the cream must have been slightly intense, because Dean didn't really remember when he fell asleep, only that he felt so warm and safe and he must have just let go, his body needing rest to heal better. But the best part of him waking up was finding Mike, sitting in his chair next to Dean's bed, reading and clearly watching over Dean. And then Dean was rewarded with another small, kind smile and it was the best thing the hunter had seen in... Years.
"Mmm... Mornin'... Or is it... Evenin'?" Dean asked as he tried to lift himself up a bit, Mike immediately rushing to his aid. The man looked out of the window and Dean followed his gaze, only to find that it was in fact evening and the sun was just about to set.
"Mmm... Sorry. Must have dozed off..." Dean said feeling the need to explain himself for some reason, but Mike just shook his head as if it was all irrelevant and handed Dean some water, clearly guessing that Dean was thirsty. As Dean drank down, Mike went away to the kitchen and fifteen minutes later he came back with a tray of the same soup, reheated, but this time there was an addition of crackers and toast and apple sauce and Dean was just... Touched by all this attention. And then the most amazing thing happened.
Mike went back to the kitchen and came back with another tray with all the same things, sat back to his chair and smiled at Dean, nodding at his food to get him to start eating. But Dean was... He had no idea how he felt, he just knew he had to find out...
"Did you... Did you wait for me to wake up to eat?" Dean asked and Oh! My! the casual shrug Mike gave him like it was no big deal... It was. It was a big deal, at least to Dean. Nobody ever waited for him. Nobody ever...
Stop. Just stop. No need to turn this into a girly moment, it is just food and... maybe the guy didn't want to eat alone. Maybe he is lonely and wanted to share a meal with someone. You don't have to make this into something that it's not. Dean told himself and dug into his food, deciding to ignore his feelings like so many times before.
"So... Whacha reading?" Dean asked trying to avert his own attention and thoughts and make conversation with the guy. It had nothing to do with his feelings and the fact that he wanted to get to know Mike a bit better. The guy looked at his book, picked it up and held it for Dean to read the title.
"The witch of Grich? Never heard of it. But I guess lore is lore, right?" Dean said and Mike shook his head in a clear no. "No? Then what is it?" To Dean's question, Mike thought for a moment before he lifted his hands up, brought the heels together and bent the fingers, effectively making a heart shape.
"A romance novel? Seriosly?" Dean asked a bit surprised and Mike just shrugged off as if he was trying to say that it was an interesting read. "Okay, well... You got anything else? I am going to be stuck here for a while and um... I wouldn't mind something to read..." Dean said, not really wanting to do any reading whatsoever, but knew that if he didn't do that, that he would go out of his mind, because here, there was nothing else he could do.
Mike nodded and pointed out of the room, the motion telling Dean there were more books in the living room. "Great." Dean said, his voice clearly lacking any excitement and Mike frowned at him. Dean scolded himself for not being a bit more grateful, but didn't know what to say as Mike's piercing eyes kept glaring at him in consideration.
Suddenly, like he had an epiphany, Mike's brows shot up, a smile spread across his face and Dean could practically see the light bulb above his head. Setting the tray down, Mike stood up, went to the large cupboard and flung the door open. Dean actually laughed, thrilled at the sight of an old TV and a VHS recorder, with a few lines of VHS tapes on a shelf underneath. But more importantly at the smile Mike had on his face, obviously thrilled he managed to make Dean happy, to make him smile.
This guy will be the death of him.
The movie choices were really good aside from a few Julia Roberts chick flicks, but Dean decided to let Mike choose first. It seemed like the guy had never seen or heard of any of these, or maybe Dean was just imaging it, he wasn't sure, but he was glad he chose a thriller/action movie called 'The Usual Suspects'. Dean himself had heard of it, but strangely never seen it.
And it seemed like an interesting movie with a good cast and a good plot, but Dean didn't really follow it well at first, his mind and subsequently his eyes falling back on the man in the chair by his bed. Mike was interested in the movie, followed every little detail and made all the right reactions to the scenes he was watching for the first time.
Dean figured the movie was about a group of thugs getting sucked into doing another man's bidding, but the more the story went on, the more he himself got sucked into it too. Never in a million years did he see that ending coming and it really made the movie so much better then what he first thought of it.
But then the last line was spoken and Mike, he...
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
Mike, he actually laughed. Like a really heartfelt, genuine laugh. Dean had no idea what that was about, but he didn't care, because hearing the sound of that laughter was... Amazing didn't quite do it justice.
It was like a cool breeze on a warm summer's night, a warm blanket on a windy day. A ray of sunshine when it rains, a cup of hot cocoa after a day in the snow. The sound was just...
Heavenly.