Eight

Those first few moments after were Sam's favorite.

After a hunt, when you could finally lay your weapons down and your shot nerves went with them. After a good cry when you felt lighter than before. After a long day when you could finally climb into bed and let the world drift away into darkness for a few peaceful hours.

After sex when the high was still there.

Eileen lay naked under the sheets next to him, staring lovingly. Sam ran a hand through his hair and gave her a childish grin. Streets lights leaked through the motel window onto the plain tan sheets they were under and the sound of passing cars in the distance added a nice reliable echo to the quiet.

"I swear you get better every time." Eileen said.

Sam snorted.

"I'm serious," she playfully slapped his chest. "You blow my mind every single time this happens, Sam Winchester."

Sam chuckled and laid back into the motel pillows. The sheets were draped halfway over his lower half, covering all of the most vital parts, and leaving one of his legs halfway exposed. The air conditioning felt wonderful against his rapidly cooling skin. Eileen snuggled into his neck for a moment before realizing he was staring intently up at the popcorn ceiling.

"Everything alright?" she asked.

Sam shifted, making sure she could see his mouth before he spoke.

"I just don't know what I'm gonna tell Dean."

"The truth?" Eileen suggested.

"I already tried that," Sam replied. "He doesn't know we're still doing this."

Eileen let out a deep sigh and Sam rolled over to face her, rubbing her side and trying his best to comfort her. He pushed some stray hairs from her eye and gave her a small smile. She returned it soon after.

"What is Dean afraid of?" Eileen asked.

"Witches," Sam offered. "Also, his hair being messy."

"I meant regarding us," Eileen chuckled.

Sam watched her carefully as she sat up and leaned over the edge of the bed for his t-shirt. His heart fluttered at the sight of her naked body and the way she stretched as she pulled it over her body, and it enveloped her. She laid back down and Sam almost forgot what he was talking about.

"Is he scared of losing you?"

"To be honest," Sam replied. "I think he's more scared of what Chuck will do."

Eileen cocked her head at him, having momentarily forgotten about all that was happening in the world. The hunts ate up most of her time, but whenever there was a spare moment, she was either sleeping, training, or thinking about the next time she'd see Sam.

"I mean I don't blame him," Eileen shrugged, the sheets scrunching up when she did so. "I feel like one day I'm just gonna wake up and this is gonna be a dream."

"It's a beautiful dream then," Sam smiled.

The air conditioner buzzed in monotony A car backfired in the distance. Sam ran his hand over Eileen's arm.

"Dean is afraid of a lot of things," Sam explained. "He's afraid of what's going to happen if we don't stop Chuck. He's afraid of telling of Cas how he feels. He's afraid I'll fly too close to the sun once I'm happy and end up losing everything I worked hard for."

"Does he know that you know?" Eileen asked.

"About two of those things," Sam said. "Yes. About Cas? No."

"Well anybody could see that from a mile away." Eileen sat up.

"Apparently not Dean," Sam sat up as well, reaching for his discarded boxers and pulling them on. He turned to face her once again and ran his fingers through his hair.

"He's as blind as it gets. I just wish he would take a chance. He claims we're the ones running out of time for happiness, but he won't just take his. It doesn't bother me, his preferences. Hell, we've all experimented."

Eileen gave Sam a look.

"It was college," he continued. "The guy's famous now. Either way, I wanted to know so I figured it out. I just wish Dean weren't scared and would do the same."

"Everybody does things in their own time," Eileen patted Sam's arm, making her way past him into the bathroom. "That's what Lillian always said. Have some faith in your brother, he'll figure it out."

Eileen started the shower, leaving Sam to contemplate her words.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

Dawn broke and Dean stretched and sat up in bed.

The sun shone through the cracks in the blinds and Dean blinked a few times before throwing the covers off of him and getting up. He ran a hand through his messy hair and stared at himself in the mirror.

The world felt so simple in that moment, quiet and bright. One never would have guessed that it could be ending soon. Dean suddenly felt as though he'd been punched in the gut just thinking about it.

"Hello Dean."

Dean jumped, realizing Castiel now stood in the room. The angel had been gone for over forty-eight hours, not that Dean was admitting to counting, and he'd begun to wonder if Castiel would even come back at all after what had happened.

Dean cast a quick glance downward and adjusted himself. Damn morning time.

"Damn it Cas," Dean replied, but only halfheartedly. "This couldn't have waited til after coffee?"

"Forgive me Dean," Castiel nodded. "I forgot about humans and their affinity for coffee."

Dean rolled his neck, rubbing at the back of it, trying to find words. He wasn't used to speaking to anybody in the mornings. Sam had become an acquired taste per say, but luckily the younger Winchester was usually the earlier riser.

"It's alright Cas," Dean stared into Castiel's eyes and paused a moment. The way the sun shone in, it illuminated the blue in them, making it seem as though he were looking into a warm water ocean. Flashes of the other day came into Dean's head. The bar and what Castiel would have seen in his head.

"I'm just glad you're here."

Dean waited nervously. Castiel smiled, and though it seemed a little forced, Dean didn't comment.

"I am too."

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

"Morning boys," Jody called out from the kitchen. "There are pancakes on a plate near the stove! Coffee is hot! I gotta head to the station, but I'll be back tonight for dinner."

Dean nodded, passing by a fully uniformed Jody as she made her way out the door. A bagel in her left hand and mouth and a mug of coffee in her right. She hip bumped the door open and nodded goodbye to Sam, who sat at the dining room table reading the local paper.

"Well don't you look peachy," Dean commented, regarding Sam's ragged appearance. He'd been up half the night at Eileen's going over the case.

"Research takes a lot of time Dean," Sam replied, and started on another article. "Speaking of which, I have a lead."

"Do tell." Dean poured himself a cup of coffee and handed Castiel a mug. Their fingers touched for a moment and Castiel looked away, pretending nothing had happened. Dean cleared his throat, trying his best not to run into the table as he sat down. His knee banging against the leg and he grunted.

"The ghosts seem to manifesting at the same time on the dot for past few weeks," Sam explained. "Knowing Chuck, since we're here, he'll go for some movie magic and rise them all near a graveyard or in a deep dark forest or some crap like that."

"So, this is one of those drive around town and try to find something type deals?" Dean asked.

"Seems to be that way," Sam sighed. "What do you say Claire?"

Claire had entered the kitchen, smiling at Castiel, and giving him a giant hug as she made her way to the coffee pot.

"Stake out?" Claire replied. "Hell yes."

"What about you Cas?" Dean asked.

Castiel looked over at the elder hunter, looking him over, probably still looking for any signs of werewolf infection leftover although there were none. Dean had felt well for a while now.

He'd just yet to feel fully okay.

"Yes," Castiel nodded. "I'll be where I'm needed."

"Here, with us," Dean thought. "With me. Stay please. Don't fly off back to Heaven. I can explain my earlier thoughts."

He didn't say any of that though.

"Thanks Cas." Dean said instead and took a sip of his coffee.

Read and Review!

A/N: Sorry this update took so long guys. I just got a new job and today was my first day! It went well, but I won't have as much time for writing anymore. Don't worry though, my stories will not go unfinished. I actually have a few other ideas circulating in my brain and I have written first chapters for them, but they will not be published until my first stories are done. Either way, I hope everyone enjoyed this installment and I will see you soon in the next one!