The Rest of Angel's Landing

Cas and Dean exchanged a look, both turning and heading for the truck to ride up to the house.

"You live at the house with Adam then?" Cas asked.

"Yep. I'm his legal guardian since mom died. Dad just disappeared. Sam and I tracked him down. He's living in Kansas. He came to the funeral, said he was done with us. My uncle Bobby and him went rounds and Dad said he wouldn't be back. Offered to take Adam with him, but Adam ain't goin nowhere. He loves this land."

"Wow, so you run everything?" Cas asked.

"Well, I have hired hands to work the cattle. Bobby helps at the stable and Ellen helps at the resort. But starting next week, I need to bring in a lot of staff. They're returning from last year, but I never had to manage people before. Sam will take over when he graduates in two years, but...I don't know. It's gonna be somethin else."

They pulled up to a two-story adobe house. The pinkish-red smooth square outline of the structure made it look so at home in the rugged terrain.

They went inside and Cas was surprised to note the hardwood floors and tile. It was neat but cluttered in the living room.

"I haven't done much since Mom..." Dean said, heading into the kitchen.

Cas washed his hands, following Dean. Dean pulled out a container of soup and supplies for sandwiches.

"Want a bowl of beef vegetable?"

"Sure," Cas said.

Dean sat out two bowls and Cas dished soup into them, microwaving them as Dean made a pot of coffee.

"That was a chilly ride. I'm surprised Jimmy held up as long as he did," Dean grinned.

"He would live outside if I let him," Cas laughed.

They put together tuna salad sandwiches and began eating quietly.

"Thank you for taking us out today," Cas said.

Dean nodded, looking down at his soup. "Jimmy is a great kid."

"You're good with kids," Cas grinned. "It surprises me."

Dean smirked, "Why?"

"I don't know...I guess it shouldn't."

"Maybe we can go to Ellen's for dinner instead of eating here. She'd be glad to see ya."

Cas nodded. "Sure."

Dean could see a reservation in Cas that he had not seen before. He was holding back. Keeping himself turned off. But Dean had seen glimpses of his true personality with Jimmy and Gabe. And maybe that stone should not be cracked. There would be no hooking up. No heart-breaking leaves. They could be friends. If that was possible. Or what Cas wanted. From what Dean could tell, Cas had come to make amends. And they had. Well, Cas had apologized. Thinking over their past conversations, Dean realized he had never forgiven Cas. Not out loud anyway.

"What time should we meet for dinner?" Cas asked, standing and clearing his dishes.

"Bout 5:30." Dean stood to clear his dishes.

"Did you make that soup?" Cas asked.

"No. Ellen. She keeps us fed pretty well. Although, I am learning how to cook." Dean smiled ruefully.

"I love cooking. Had I had my way, I probably would have gone into culinary." Cas said.

"Oh yeah? So, you can cook dinner tomorrow night then?" Dean grinned.

Cas stammered. "I can. But...Dean, I don't want to over stay. I know I just showed up out of nowhere."

"Yeah, you do that. Just, poof, you're here."

Cas looked down guiltily.

"Course, if I had called, you wouldn't have had to do that."

They exchanged a soft look, both dropping their gazes to the floor.

Dean took a deep breath, "I would really like it if you guys stayed a couple days. I mean, if you aren't in a rush to get anywhere."

Cas grinned, nodding and glancing up at Dean. "We are kinda floating right now. After cleaning up the mess at the company and liquidating family properties, we're just kinda winging it."

"You're not going back to Chicago?" Dean asked, leaning against the counter.

"No. There's nothing but paperwork for me there." Cas shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, leaning on the other counter.

A weighted silence sat between them, Dean looking very thoughtful.

"I should head back. Gabe and Jimmy will be back soon and Gabe won't make Jimmy take a nap." Cas said quietly.

"Sure, I'll run ya down," Dean said, grabbing his keys off the counter.

They rode down to the hotel. Dean dropped him off and left.

Cas sat in the empty lobby looking at the angel sculpture. He noted how the spirit horse perched at the edge of the cliff and could relate. He was perched at the edge of a cliff himself. A cliff of uncertainty. 'What am I doing here? Am I just pushing my way in here only to leave again?'

He sighed heavily.

Dinner that night was relaxed. Ellen and Bobby were warm and welcoming. Neither seemed too surprised by Jimmy, which meant Dean had probably already talked to them both. Cas was relieved to not have to explain his presence and the back story to go with it. It was one thing to talk about, it was another to talk about it in earshot of Jimmy.

"These are the best burgers in the world," Cas said, humming with delight on his third bite. Ellen and Bobby had set up a big table, joining them for dinner.

"Well I guess that's really saying somethin, seein how you've been around the world and all," Ellen beamed.

"Chicago, New York City, Memphis, nobody does burgers like you," Cas beamed back.

Ellen shook her head. "How bout you, Jimmy, have you traveled much?"

"Nope. Just Chicago. And now here. But I want to stay here. Can we stay here?" Jimmy said quietly, turning to Cas.

"Jimmy-"

"I don't want to go back to Chicago," he implored, a scared look crossing his face.

Cas put an arm around him, kissing the top of his head and pulling him close. "We aren't going back to Chicago. Ever." He tipped Jimmy's chin up, making the tearful eyes meet his. "I said we aren't going back. And we're not."

Jimmy nodded, looking back at his plate but not eating. He stayed tucked into Cas' side, arms wrapped around him.

Dean wondered what could make a 4 year old hate a city so much. Then he remembered Cas' brother Luc, who had had custody of Jimmy for several years. He could only guess what kind of childhood Jimmy had had so far. It made Dean cold inside. It made him think about his own dad. Adam nudged his elbow. "You alright?" He whispered.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," Dean nodded, schooling his face and tuning back into the conversation Gabe was having with Ellen about managing the hotel.

"I just don't know the day to day needs of a business so big," Ellen was saying. "I been runnin' this place for years, but I have a staff of 5. One of those is me and another is my husband."

Gabe nodded understandingly. "You guys might need to hire a good manager. I know it's a family business, but it gets big and complicated real quick."

"Know anyone who needs a job like that?" Dean said, glancing at Cas.

Cas' eyes widened, locking stares as he chewed and swallowed.

No one said anything for a moment.

"All I know is," Bobby cut in, "I can herd 300 head of cattle quicker than run a staff of 50. Cows and horses are better company than people for me."

Cas and Jimmy snickered. Dean could not stop watching the similarities between Cas and Jimmy. Their eyes, that quizzical look, the head tilt, the smile, even the way he held his burger. It was...endearing.

"I agree totally," Adam said, mouth full.

"Me too," Dean added, eyes back on his plate.

As dinner ended, Dean drove Adam and himself home, Cas, Gabe and Jimmy following in their rental.

"You thinkin bout offering Cas a hotel manager job?" Adam asked.

Dean glanced at his youngest brother. "I don't know."

"What did he do before?"

"He has a business degree. He...I don't know exactly what he did. But it was upper management of a huge company."

"Huh," Adam said.

Dean nodded. "I'll call Sam if I really think it's an option."

Adam snickered. "Well, I think he would pick up trash or clean rooms if you asked him to."

Dean glared at him. "Cas and I have kinda a rocky past. I don't think he has any intention of staying here. There's nothing here."

"You're here, Dean," Adam said, opening the truck door as they came to a stop in front of their house. "Besides, he already has a Homes & Land magazine for the local area. I saw him reading it this morning."

Dean watched as Adam left the truck. 'Huh. Maybe he's not gonna run off.'

Dean showed up at the hotel at 7:30 the next morning. Jimmy was up and playing in the hall as Cas sat in a lobby seat, trying to wake up with a cup of coffee. He was studying the angel sculpture and glancing every so often at Jimmy playing.

Dean wondered what exactly was brewing behind those blue eyes. But Dean was done guessing. Today he was taking steps to figure out what he wanted. And not just his libido, which screamed like a caged animal to go ravage him. He closed the office door behind him that he had come through and two sets of identical blue eyes turned to him. It made him damn near stagger.

"Dean!" Jimmy yelled, launching from his spot on the floor and running over to him. He skidded to a stop, looking like he wanted to hug him, but restrained, biting his lip.

'God, he bites his lip like Cas does. This kid...I just can't...'

"Hey little man, I brought you some stuff," Dean said, sitting a box on the chair next to Cas. "I went digging through the attic last night and found some old stuff of me and my brothers. Thought you could put it to good use. If that's okay with you, Cas," Dean said, giving him a grin.

"Yeah, sure," Cas grinned, spying a tiny pair of chaps.

Dean pulled them out, holding them up to Jimmy. "Nope, too big."

"Aw," Jimmy sighed.

"I got more," Dean laughed. He pulled out an even smaller pair. "Yep, let's get those on."

He handed them to Cas and the two figured out how to get Jimmy's tiny frame in them. When Cas closed the buckle at his waist, Jimmy took off galloping circles in the lobby.

"Yeehaw! I'm a real cowboy!"

Dean laughed hard, snagging Jimmy up and putting him on his shoulders for a ride. Down the hall they ran and back up, Jimmy and Dean both laughing. Cas watched, taking pictures with his phone and cracking up.

Dean swung Jimmy down and rifled through the box some more.

"What's that?" Jimmy asked.

Dean pulled out a small long coat. "These are the best coats for herding. This one was Sammy's."

Jimmy tried it on, the coat touching the floor and the sleeves too long. He looked like a miniature Marlboro Man and Cas had to take another picture. "That coat might have to wait til next year," Dean laughed.

Cas wanted to laugh, wanted to enjoy the moment, but at the look of happiness in Jimmy's eyes, Cas had a growing realization that Jimmy's heart might get just as broken as his own.

"Hey, look!" Jimmy said, pulling a picture out of the pocket.

"Let me see," Dean squatted down, looking at it. Cas leaned over to see as well.

"Aw. That lady right there is, was, my mom. She's holding Adam. Adam looks like he might be about your age. And that is Sammy," Dean pointed to a boy of about 8 with darker brown hair than his and a big grin. His arm was around Dean's waist, D ean's arm around Sam's shoulder. Dean had an ornery grin on his face and looked like he had just said something to make Sam laugh.

"And that's you?" Jimmy asked, pointing at the 12 year old that already looked enough like Dean for Cas not to doubt it.

"Yep."

Jimmy handed him the picture. "I hope I'm a big brother some day," Jimmy nodded.

Cas coughed on his coffee and Dean had to laugh. Kids.

"So, Cas," Dean said, changing that subject real quick, "can we go riding or what?"

Cas cleared his throat. "I just need to go get dressed and we can go."

"Good. I'll meet you at the stables."

"Can I wear these chaps?" Jimmy asked excitedly.

"You better!" Dean said with mock seriousness. "You're riding by yourself today."

"Really? Yes!" He jumped up and down and took off for the elevator. "If that's okay," Dean asked belatedly.

"Yeah. In the ring."

"Absolutely," Dean nodded. "On a lunge line. It'll be safe. Promise."

Cas nodded, going in the elevator as Dean left.

Gabe came along this time, bored in the hotel room.

"You gonna ride, Gabe?" Dean asked.

"Hells no," Gabe laughed. "I'm just supervising."

Dean nodded, stepping over to Cas.

"Sorry if I did too much with Jimmy, I just got kinda excited."

Cas nodded, looking down at his clasped hands resting over the top fence rail. "Yeah, be careful. He gets attached quick. He hasn't had a lot of positive interaction with adults like this."

Dean frowned at that. "I was gonna walk and trot on the line with Macey. Then I'll let him walk off the line if you're okay with that."

"Sounds good," Cas grinned, looking into those green eyes.

"Then maybe Gabe can do lunch so we can go have a beer at Ellen's or something."

Cas squinted at Dean trying to guess his intentions at that.

Dean looked at him with a slight pleading in his eyes.

"Just a beer," Cas said, standing up taller.

Dean nodded.

He walked over to Macey, tightening her cinch and checking the halter and lunge line. "Come on over, Jimmy," Dean called.

Jimmy walked over, eyeing the big horse dubiously.

Dean lifted him up onto the saddle, getting his feet into the short stirrups.

"I got you," Dean said firmly. "And Macey is a good girl. She loves kids. She has a couple of her own."

Jimmy grinned and nodded, looking more confident.

Gabe came to stand beside him at the fence. "How's it goin?"

"Okay," Cas admitted. "Dean wants to do lunch."

Gabe squinted. "Do you want to go do lunch?"

Cas snickered at his protective older brother. "Yes. We should talk some more."

Gabe nodded. "I like him. Wasn't too sure at first. But he's alright."

Cas grinned and shook his head. They watched as Dean coached Jimmy at walk and then through some trotting. Eventually, he took the lunge line off, walking close to Jimmy as he worked on steering, starting and stopping. Dean was full of praise and encouragement.

They ended their session at the fence with Cas and Gabe.

"How'd I do, Dad?" Jimmy asked.

"Fantastic!" Cas beamed.

"And who might this tall drink of water be?" Gabe asked, looking past Dean and Cas.

They all turned, seeing a tall dark-haired young man walking up the lane with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

"Holy shit," Dean said. "Sorry!" He winced glancing from Cas to Jimmy.

He handed Cas Macey's reigns and jumped the fence taking off and bear-hugging the guy.

"Oh shit is right," Gabe scowled. "You did ask Dean if he was seeing anyone, right?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean said, pulling back from the embrace.

"Took a long weekend to come home and see you. See how things were going."

Dean shook his head, one arm still slung up around the man's shoulders. They headed arm in arm over to Cas and Gabe.

"Cas, Gabe, Jimmy," Dean pointed at each one, "this is Sammy. My brother."

Gabe immediately relaxed and smiled. "Nice to meet you again, Sam," Cas said, shaking his hand. "I've heard lots of good things about you."

Sam gave him a warm grin. "And I've heard lots of good things about you too, Cas."

Cas blushed, seeing Dean avert his eyes.

He greeted Gabe and Jimmy warmly also.

"I can clean Macey up if you two want some time together," Cas said.

"Yeah," Dean nodded, "but don't go anywhere. I'm still taking you out for that beer."

Cas nodded, hopped the fence and helped Jimmy down. They took the saddle off and brushed her. Clipping the tie across her stall door, Cas wiped down the saddle in the warmth of the big tack room while Jimmy watched and Gabe scavenged the desk for candy.

Dean and Sam came in the tack room. "So, Cas and I are going for a beer," Dean announced. "Sam is going to take you and Jimmy over to Ellen's house if that's okay. She has milkshakes and burgers started for lunch."

Everyone nodded and they went their separate ways.

In Dean's truck, Cas was back to feeling nervous. Dean, however, looked more relaxed than he had since Cas arrived.

Dean turned to him, smile edging his mouth. "Mind if we have that beer at my house?"

Cas' mouth went dry. Were his plans to talk or hook up? "Sure," Cas answered nervously.

Dean obviously saw he was nervous. He pulled out of the parking area and headed up the lane toward his house.

Once inside, Dean told him to have a seat in the living room. Cas sat at one end of the couch. He had not realized how Jimmy had actually put the two at ease with each other. Cas had feared open hostility or angry rejection before he had come. But it had turned out both of them were more relaxed with him there.

Dean handed him a bottle of beer.

Cas took it, eyes darting nervously to Dean's.

Dean sat next to him on the couch, making Cas' stomach clench with waves of hope, nervousness, fear, and absolute want.

"Cas," Dean started, then took a swig of beer. "I'm glad you came. And I'm sorry I didn't ask you to come sooner."

Cas glanced at him nervously. "I pretty much came as soon as I could get out of Chicago."

Dean nodded. "I kinda gather that you are in between places to live and out of a job."

Cas nodded. "We haven't made any plans. Still recouping from all the legal clean up from Chicago."

"So, I need a good manager to run the hotel."

Cas looked at him steadily.

"No...wait," Dean said, turning to him. "I...I'm gonna go way out on a limb here and just say that I want to see you. I want you to stay. Around here. Or right here. I don't know. I just...if you think it's worth a try, we could try dating. Or something."

A weight lifted from Cas' shoulders. His lungs expanded and his heart beat stronger. 'Dean wants to date! Me! And wants me to stay! He wants me to stay around here!'

"Look," Dean said, nerves making him antsy. He leaned back, digging into his pocket and putting something on the coffee table.

Cas looked at it. A small faded, chipped, cracked blue stone. Cas' eyes flew back to Dean's. "You kept that?"

Dean nodded. "I carried it every day." He sat quietly, looking at it. "I'd get mad some times and throw it. One time it cracked and I damn near cried and glued it back together."

Cas pulled his worn, green stone from his own pocket and sat it next to the blue one.

"Most of the time I just carried it," Dean said with a far-away expression. He looked down at his hands. "I'd pull it out from time to time and wonder where you were. What you were doing."

Dean turned his green eyes onto Cas' blues. "I should have called you a long time ago, Cas."

"I would have come, if I could," Cas said weakly.

"I know. But, let's start over." Dean said it quietly, looking at Cas with all the desire that once was there.

"I can't," Cas said.

Dean blinked and looked down at his beer.

"I mean," Cas stood up, needing some space, "I never have been able to go slow with you. It's like I have no filter. I jump from 0 to 80 in a heartbeat!"

Dean jumped up, grasping what Cas was saying. "Fine, screw dating," Dean said, closing the distance between them, halting just in front of Cas. "Just tell me you won't leave. That you'll stick around and give us a try."

"I won't leave," Cas whispered, his eyes flicking down to Dean's mouth.

Dean breathed in. The tension was static enough to strike lightening. Their eyes holding each other in more than a stare.

"Dean," Cas whispered.

Their lips collided with a longing that seemed like a million years had separated them. Dean clung to Cas, powering over him. Cas fighting back with fervent effort. "Cas," Dean panted, pressing him back into a wall. "I want you."

Cas gasped, rocking his hips into Dean's forcefully.

Dean grabbed his hips tight enough to leave bruises. "You came back," he whispered, ripping Cas' shirt off.

"My heart never left, Dean. Not really." They paused, breathing and eyeing each other possessively.

Dean stifled a pained expression, nodding, agreeing. "I love you, Cas." He looked shocked that he had said it.

"I love you, Dean," Cas said, tears welling up in his eyes.

"You-" Dean pulled back, "you don't have to say that."

"But I do!" Cas came at him fiercely, pulling his shirt off. "I do love you."

Dean took a step back, looking lost.

Cas gave him a quizzical look. "You don't think you deserve to be loved."

Dean stepped back, looking down.

Cas' chin dipped and his eyes took on a determined look. He took Dean's hand and pulled him upstairs. Dean followed in a daze.

"Where's your room?" Cas growled.

"Here," Dean pointed.

Cas stepped inside, turning Dean around and into his arms. "I love you, Dean Winchester."

"I-I love you too," he answered with a dazed look, watching Cas closely.

Cas pushed Dean back and onto the bed. Cas undid his own pants, shucking everything as Dean followed suit, eyes never leaving each other's bodies.

Dean sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Cas toward him. He slid back, dragging Cas over top of his body and wrapping his arms around him. They kissed with passion and heat that had both of them covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Dean rolled over, pinning Cas down and biting his nipple, one hand stroking Cas' length several times then venturing further rolling his balls and sliding deeper to probe his ass.

Cas panted and kissed him feverishly. Dean stopped, pulling his nightstand drawer open and pulling a bottle of lube out. He was rushing, needy and pushy. He lubed his fingers and Cas clamped a firm grip around his wrist.

Dean pulled his mouth off of Cas', searching his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Dean."

Dean took a breath. "Okay."

"I'm staying here as long as you want me."

"Okay," Dean said again, the heat in his eyes losing the frantic lust.

"We're not hooking up," Cas choked out, getting tearful again.

"No. We're not," Dean said, his body relaxing. His clean hand softened and ran through Cas' hair. "I've got you, Cas," he said gently, kissing him softer with no less heat.

"Make love to me Dean, don't..."

Dean smiled, holding back tears of his own. "I will. I am."

Cas nodded and Dean leaned into him, kissing him with a slower passion. "I love you," he whispered in his ear.

Cas relaxed and opened up. His legs widened and Dean massaged around his opening, sliding a finger in. Their mouths panted and kissed as his second finger slid in, widening a way.

"I want to be inside you," Dean moaned, Cas rocking onto his hand and biting softly at Dean's neck.

Three fingers and stretching. Cas was putty in his hands and Dean marveled at his lithe, supple frame working so hard underneath him.

Cas reached for the lube, squeezing some into his hand and then massaging Dean's dick with each stroke Dean's fingers made.

"Uh, Dean," he called.

"I'm goin," Dean grinned, sliding his fingers out and both of them sliding his dick inside.

Dean pushed firm and held at his full length. Cas relaxed into the fullness and precum leaked from his cock pinned between them.

Dean bit lightly at Cas' ear. "You're beautiful."

Cas blinked at the compliment and grinned.

"And all mine," Dean grinned greedily.

"All yours," Cas said back. Dean began moving in and out gently.

"Faster, Dean," Cas whined.

"No," Dean panted, "I'm making love to you, Castiel. And I wanna see you. Every second. I've missed so much."

Cas pushed up onto him further, his feet wrapping around to pull him in deeper.

"I love you, Dean."

Dean grinned, kissing him again. Those words were like a balm. Like a fresh shower washing a lifetime of dust off of him. He gripped Cas tight in his arms speeding up slightly and pounding firmer with each thrust.

Their eyes locked, blowing wide with lust and need and want and love.

Cas threw his head back reeling with erotic pleasure. Dean reached down, sliding his slightly lubed hand onto Cas' dick. He stroked and thrusted together, Cas clawing at the bedding and at Dean's back.

He had him. He had him in his grasp. In his bed. In his home. He was his. And he was staying. Dean surged three forceful thrusts and strokes, Cas feeling warm liquid spread inside him and he was lost. Ropes of white shot between them as they rocked into a dazed stupor.

Eyes coming back into focus, Dean kissed Cas' still panting mouth. He pulled out, semen leaking everywhere.

Dean grabbed a shirt from the hamper, wiping them both off and snuggled into his waiting embrace.

Minutes ticked by and nothing moved except their breathing chests. A joy and happiness seeped into their souls. Never before had either of them felt so at home. So in the right place.

After almost an hour of just lying there, Dean sat up, running his fingers down Cas' cheek. Cas blinked dreamily at him.

Dean leaned down and kissed him. "Come on."

Cas sat up. "It's the middle of the day and I have chores to get done and the phones at the hotel need checked."

"And dinner at Ellen's," Cas said.

They reclaimed their clothes as they went, dressing in stages from upstairs to down.

They left the house and got into Dean's truck.

"So, what do you want to tell people?" Dean asked.

"The truth. I can't even hide it."

Dean smiled, looking over at Cas' happy grin. He was right. Happiness shined out of him like the friggin sun.

"Okay," Dean chuckled, "but what about Jimmy."

"I'll explain everything today. Kids adapt quickly. And he adores you."

Dean grinned but gave Cas a warning look. "Kids can surprise you too. He just got you for himself. He might not be ready to share."

Cas grinned at the thought. "I guess we will just have to see."

"I'm just sayin I can chill a minute to get Jimmy on board."

"Thank you, Dean."

Dean nodded. "It's important."