It only got better after the shower. First Mike struggled to remove the duct tape around Dean's thigh, the same one he put there around the trash bag to keep the water away from the wound. Dean might have exaggerated when he hissed and squirmed and made it look like the removal of the tape hurt a lot more then it did. But who could blame him, Mike took his time slowly removing it and touching Dean and brushing his fingers so close to his crotch, leaving pleasant tingles everywhere.
And besides, Mike was so adorable fussing over Dean, acting so caring and protective, it made Dean's heart swell.
When he finally finished and Dean's leg was once again free of the plastic bag, he took his time to examine the wound, testing the pain and trying to figure out where it is in the healing process. As Dean scooted over to the pillow and lifted his leg up on the bed, Mike disappeared to the bathroom for a moment, only to return with a glass of water, a small bowl, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Dean grinned up at him, brushed his teeth and grinned at him again, showing off his clean pearly whites. A part of him felt so childish, but another part loved it, especially when the guy smiled back at him.
After that, Mike seemed to get more attentive towards Dean, using every chance he got to sneak a touch, a soft brush of fingers or a warm comforting hand. It was like he could feel that Dean needed it, needed the connection and just for someone to be there. To show him it is okay to want more, to need more and that it is okay if you feel like you're falling apart. It is only natural, only human to feel like that from time to time.
Eventually, the evening came and with it another fun night of old movie watching. Mike chose a movie because Dean insisted on it, he made the popcorn and came up to the bed, looking back at Dean, silently asking him if it would be okay to join him on the bed. Dean's smile grew wider and he just patted the spot next to him, scooting over just a bit. Mike settled, placed the popcorn between them and started the movie.
"Oh, God, I haven't seen this one in ages. It is a classic! And one of my favorite Christmas movies." Dean said as they watched Kevin feel so alone in a house filled with people. He is about to make a wish that will leave him home alone for a few days, Christmas eve included.
As each of them reached to grab some popcorn, their hands came into contact a lot, and at one point they both had their hand in the popcorn bowl, Dean's hand over Mike's, just resting there for close to five minutes before Dean started second-guessing himself over it. Mike would laugh, silently, with huffs of air and hums every time the 'water bandits' would get themselves in one of Kevin's traps and Dean would always find himself drawn to the man's face when that happened. There was a spark of amusement in his green eyes, and a wide smile and there was just something about him looking so happy and relaxed that Dean could almost feel the positive energy seeping out of him. Like he was radiating happiness and damn if it wasn't contagious.
The movie ended and the bowl was empty, but Dean just wanted more, wanted this to last, and considering Mike liked 'Home Alone', it wasn't that hard to persuade him to put on the sequel too. Mike got up, changed the tapes and came back to sit next to Dean. The hunter had his hand lying next to his body, and Mike placed his own on top of it when he sat down as if it was the most normal thing to do.
They held hands thoughout the entire movie and Dean mourned the loss of its warmth when Mike got up to turn the TV off. It felt so good and so right and damn, Dean was getting sleepy, but he wanted to fight it, just for a possibility of another touch.
Dean woke up in the middle of the night and let out a small pleased sound, warmth and happiness bursting from his chest and spreading through his body. They laid next to one another as they did the night before, but somehow, Dean found himself using Mike's chest as a pillow while the man had his arm wrapped around him. The hunter shifted then smiled widely as the arm tightened it's hold over him and with that he fell back into slumber.
But it was the morning that brought the most thrilling feeling of all. Dean woke in the same position, his head on Mike's chest and the man's arm around him, but when he looked up at him, he found Mike wide awake and just looking down at him, eyes soft and kind. A few moments they just gazed into each other's eyes, a small blush spreading over Mike's cheeks. The man smiled kindly and then moved, his actions telling Dean he wanted to get up, so Dean lifted his head and freed the man's arm.
Mike smiled again, got up and wandered over towards the kitchen and the living room and eventually even outside. He fetched the firewood, feed the fire, attended to other things, visited the bathroom and made breakfast and pretty much left Dean alone for a good chunk of the morning. And all that time Dean wondered why the hell did he let the moment slip and didn't kiss the man when he had the perfect opportunity.