Cas was not in the cabin when he woke up. Dean's hands curled up in the sheets, holding on like he needed the anchor that would keep him from straying back off into a world of dreams that had a great potential to be uncomfortable upon his waking.

He breathed out a long held sigh and got up. There was a second room with a bed. He thought that maybe he should have slept in there. Then at least, Cas could have had the TV or something. He let himself wonder briefly where Cas had gone. He wandered off to the bathroom and then back out to his bag. He got dressed with an economy of movements. They would go into the hills today to see the site of the killings. The door opened as he pulled on a sweater over his t-shirt.

Cas was holding a small bag in one hand and a steaming cup of what Dean hoped was coffee in the other. "I went into town. The breakfast options were limited. They had a breakfast burger though." Cas held out the bag and then added, "And coffee." Dean came over and took both. Cas sat at the dining room table and Dean joined him, unwrapping the food as soon as he sat. "I hope the food is acceptable."

"Breakfast burger, Cas. This is more than acceptable." Dean stuffed the burger in his mouth. It had a fried egg on top of a patty. And if that wasn't enough, the chef who concocted this glorious bit of creation had added a couple slices of bacon to the thing. Dean let out a satisfied moan as he closed his eyes and chewed the food. When talking became once again possible he said, "This is awesome."

Cas smiled at him from across the table. He reached over and pulled back the curtain so that light from outside would illuminate their room. It cast him in a type of glow that seemed to soften him a little. Sometimes Dean thought that Cas looked older somehow. It was odd, because he was an angel and not prone to aging. Dean wondered if it was evidence of the harshness of living amongst the Winchesters. I suppose we even affect angels.

"What are you thinking?" Cas folded his hands on the table in front of him, a posture designed to tell Dean that he had all the time in the world for listening.

"Nothing," Dean answered quickly then realized that Cas would want more of an answer than that. He knew something was up in Dean's head. He always knew. "I was just thinking about something that maybe I started thinking about last night." Dean set down the burger and took a sip of the coffee. "Why would you want to grow old and die? As someone who has recently been feeling the effects of old age, I can tell you it's overrated."

Cas seemed to think about this for a few moments, during which time, Dean began eating the burger again. "I have come to admire humanity a great deal. I admire the the strength and perseverance of humanity in the face of insurmountable odds. I admire the self-sacrifice, and kindness that beats in the heart of humanity. There is an abundance of beauty in humanity. There is in fact nothing more beautiful than humanity. There is loyalty and kindness, gentleness and a will to make a difference in all that humanity endeavors to do. Why wouldn't I want to be more like this, more like humanity?"

"You already are like that, Cas. You don't have to be human. You don't have to grow old and die to have those traits." Dean watched him as he spoke and saw the slight curl of Cas' lips into the beginnings of a smile.

"Thank you Dean." Cas looked away from him for a moment and then his gaze returned. "You're wrong though. It is the finite nature of life that makes humanity struggle and strive. It is the fact that there is an end that makes you fight harder for what matters. I want to know that feeling, that feeling uniquely human. I've lived a long life. I would regret nothing about spending the last stretch of it as a human. It would be a blessing far beyond what I would deserve."

Dean took another sip of coffee, and wondered what he could say to that. He should have been bothered by the idea of Cas dying, but somehow this was different. This was Cas wanting to be human, an exercise in free will one might say. In a way, it made Dean happy. It made him think that maybe Cas wanted this because he wanted something else, something that perhaps an angel couldn't have. He couldn't comment on that though. He wasn't ready. Instead he said, "Sounds like you really love humanity, Cas."

"I do, Dean. I love humanity a great deal." They stared at each other across the table and let the words carry more meaning than any literal definition could supply. Dean felt his face grow warm with the moment. He chose to focus on finishing his meal. They had much to do today, and talk of this sort wasn't getting anything done.

Eddie's shop had skis and snowmobiles in abundance. Dean didn't think that he would be able to handle skiing. He had done a little of it once when he was a kid. It was awful. He opted for the snowmobile. Cas leaned into a whisper and said, "I could just take us to the site. Why do we need this?"

"It's about the journey, Cas. There might be something along the way that we need to see." Dean gave Eddie the credit card and he took them out back to give them some instructions on how the vehicle worked.

He asked Cas, "You sure you don't want to rent some snow gear. I mean, your outfit is a little…"

"What's wrong with my outfit," Cas asked.

Eddie stammered a little and said, "I didn't mean any offense. I just think that the suit you're wearing might not be the best thing for the snow." Cas looked down at himself then at Dean.

"Go on in and pick something out, Cas." Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Here." He handed it to him.

Eddie added, "My wife's in there. She'll help you pick something out."

Cas left for a time and Dean got situated on the snowmobile. He had every intention of being the driver. Cas could ride on the back. He never even considered renting a second one for Cas. One would be plenty. He convinced himself. Then Cas came out of the shop wearing ski pants and a beige sweater. It was a simple outfit. He even had on gloves, black and a knit cap, also black. The one splash of color that adorned him was the scarf that he had wrapped around his neck. It was green and looked like it was made from an incredibly soft yarn. Dean pushed aside the feelings that were bubbling up inside him. Perhaps I should have gotten two vehicles, he thought for no reason whatsoever.

Eddie stepped aside and said, "Good luck finding the animal that did this. I really want to imagine what a full season of tourists looks like again."

Cas got on the vehicle behind Dean and held the bar on the seat behind him. "We'll do our best," Cas said.

Dean accelerated out of the area and into the hills. They climbed at a fast clip up into the snowy mountains. The sky seemed big with large white fluffy clouds that almost looked like they could be harbingers of a storm if they just got a little greyer. The bright blue around them though was enough to make one forget how quickly the world could change, from something pleasant to something harsh. There was a coldness to the air around them, augmented by the speed at which Dean was traveling. He got to the top of a hill and came to a stop. He needed to figure out how to not freeze to death. He was shivering hard, and they had only just started out. "Freezing."

Cas leaned into his back and said close to his ear, "Here." Dean felt Cas wrapping something around his neck, the green scarf. Dean turned in his seat a little and started to protest that Cas would need the warmth too. "No, Dean."

"What?"

"You were going to try to tell me to take it back, because for some reason you can't seem to recognize my many angelic qualities, despite the fact that you wish for me to retain them." Cas still had the ends of the scarf in his hand while he spoke like he was going to use them as reins, guiding Dean through the mountains.

Dean brought his own hands up to his lips and cupped them around his mouth. He blew warm clouds of air out to them. A light dusting of snow fell from the tree that they were parked under just as a little breeze kicked through the area. Dean felt himself shivering again. He had gloves, but they weren't the best. Cas took his hands in his and held them. Dean could feel the warmth course through him. "Thank you," he breathed out on wisps of winter air.

"Of course." Cas let his hands go and Dean turned back to the trail ahead. This time though when he accelerated along the mountain. Cas was no longer holding the back of the vehicle. He wrapped his arms around Dean's waist and had his chest pressed solidly to Dean's back. Dean did not think of warm showers from the night before and the imagined body that had done just as Cas was doing now. Cas had his chin hooked up over Dean's shoulder. They dropped down into a valley and were going to drive up past the second ridge. Cas' words ghosted his ear, sending a different kind of shiver through his body. "Go left up past the trees."

"You see something," Dean shouted back over the wind that buffeted his face. He was wearing goggles, so his eyes were at least shielded.

"Call it a hunch." Cas pressed impossibly closer to him and Dean drove faster and to the left. There was another trail marked off, and Cas pointed at it. "Follow that."

"They found the victims way south of here," Dean said, but he followed the trail anyway.

"Something is odd about this region." They soared past trees and small rock outcroppings. The trail was wide though. There were tracks in the trail where cross-country skiers went before them. The tracks were old though, likely from before the attacks.

Maybe it is just an animal, but Cas said something was odd. Dean felt himself smiling about the prospect that he might be right until he remembered that being right meant monsters or demons, and that was not worth smiling about. Cas body radiated warmth, and Dean couldn't help but focus a little on the pleasure that that was providing. Cas moved a little and his cheek brushed Dean's ear. Another little shiver ran down his body.

"Are you still cold?" Cas asked. Dean realized then, that his shiver was likely noted by Mr. Angel Senses.

He shifted about a little in his seat and said, "Only a little." Cas moved his hands and arms more tightly around him and seemed intent on hugging the entirety of his own warmth into Dean. And Dean for his own part was loving it. Perhaps I should be cold more often. Perhaps I should only work cases in the winter. Perhaps I should...Stop.

"Stop," Cas said as they rounded a bend in the trail. Dean stopped. There was a small mountain lake formed by run-off. It was a blue so deep that one would easily believe that it had been formed by magic. The blue a deep sapphire, and the edges of the water were white and seemingly frozen. The ice there gave off the appearance of a ring holding back the world from the ethereal center. The trees had become lush in this area too, so they were surrounded by green, and white, and blue. If he didn't know better, he'd say that Cas was trying to press his words directly into his ear. He could feel Cas' lips moving against his skin as he spoke. "The area on the other side of the lake." Dean had been so mesmerized by the lake that he hadn't looked past it much.

Dean let his eyes glide over to the other side. It was black. Apparently there had been a forest fire some time recently. "Does it seem odd to you?" Dean turned a little toward Cas as he asked it. This caused Cas' lips to graze over Dean's cheek a little inadvertently.

Cas leaned back a tiny bit. "The pattern of the burned area seems strange. Why would that area have been burned?"

"Maybe we should go check it out." Dean drove around the lake trail toward the burn region. There was snow here too, but the blackened trees poking out through the white gave the spot an eerie look. The charred region was also small. One had to wonder why it hadn't spread more. Dean stopped again at the edge of the space and the two of them got off of the vehicle. Cas walked up to a tree and ran a finger along its charred remains. "Picking up on anything?"

"Well, the fire was likely put out by the forestry service. There is some residual evidence of that." He held up his fingers and Dean saw the orangish powder that stuck to his fingers. Dean strode down to the water and tapped the edge with his foot. It looked like it was pretty solidly frozen. He didn't step out onto it any further as he didn't want to take any needless risks. He walked up the shoreline a little more and over a small rise. He turned back and saw Cas stoop down to the ground where he brushed aside a thin patch of snow. He ran his fingers over the earth beneath and brought them to his nose to sniff.

"Weird, dude." Cas glanced up at him and furrowed his brows. Dean went back to exploring the region. Dean wandered down the side of the little hill that was dotted with sharp rock outcroppings. Strangely enough it made the walking easier, as the snow didn't stick to the rock so well due to the angle.

The other side of the rocky region opened up onto a small clearing that was just as charred as the one he came from. This one though, seemed to have been more recently burned. In fact there were places that still smouldered with wisps of smoke curling up into the chill air. Dean stopped moving forward. In the distance there was a cave, then there was a shadow. Dean looked up too late. "Son of a Bitch!" Dean ducked and the deep dark scales and wings soared just inches over him. Dean scrambled back and bolted as best he could back over the rocky trail that he had made to get to this place. "Cas!" He shouted. He practically fell down the other side of the rocky hill as a shadow passed over him again. Cas was at his side.

"What happened?" They both looked up at once and saw the creature high over head preparing to dive down at them again.

"That is not a Yeti!" Dean yelled and ran toward the lake. Cas was shouting at him, but he was running. Then he was sliding over the frozen surface.

Cas was at his side again. "Do we fight it?"

"How? What is it?" They were both standing on the lake staring up at the creature as it circled. Then quick as a thought, it dove toward them with a fireball blasting out of its mouth

Now many things were unfortunate about this moment. One was the mere fact that fire and ice do not play nicely together despite the fact that a hunter and angel really need something solid beneath their feet. The second unfortunate factor was that Cas did not whisk them both immediately away on a wing and a prayer as he was still likely contemplating a good old fashioned fight. And lastly, was the issue that they would both have varying thoughts on, the creature's talons, which hung from the edges of its wings, dripped poison that would kill a human if it managed to enter their body. However, an angel, now an angel could survive this, but not without an intense amount of suffering.

The fireball blasted the ice beneath them into liquid. Cas pulled Dean to him and seemed to smother him with his body. This protected Dean from the likely death that would have come from a direct blast. They fell together into the icy water, Cas clinging to Dean as they fell. In that singular moment, Cas would have flown, but the creature sunk its talons into Cas' back. Luckily it let go. They sank. Dean could feel the unconscious weight of Cas' body slam into his as they hit the bottom of the lake. Cas' eyes came open as if some small bit of consciousness had been forced to the surface by an intensity of angelic will. He pulled Dean close, and like that, they were back in the cabin.

Dean breathed heavily and then sank to the floor in front of the fireplace. Cas was at his side and then he was falling. Dean snapped out of it fast enough to catch Cas. He saw the claw marks that had torn through Cas' clothes and immediately began removing the tatters of sweater and what remained of the undershirt to assess the wounds. Everything that Cas had on was both singed and soaked. None of it was salvageable. The wounds on his back were deep and there was something noxious seeping from them.

Dean hauled Cas up and pulled him to the bathroom. He couldn't see a better way to clean the wounds. He didn't touch the area, thankfully. He turned on the shower and pulled Cas into the space with his own arms propping Cas up by the armpits. It was hard to be careful, hard to keep from coming into contact with the vile substance oozing from Cas' back, but somehow Dean managed this little miracle. The water was at least a little warm. It sloshed over Cas' back and further soaked Cas' already soaked pants and all of Dean's clothing. Dean's rush of adrenaline was starting to fade as he stood in the shower. The weight of Cas in his arms was becoming almost too much. He leaned them both against the wall and tried to get a better look at the wounds.

"Waking up would be great right now, Cas." Cas didn't wake up though. Dean felt his body sliding down the wall. He just couldn't hold up anymore. Then his legs gave out completely, and he was splayed out in the bottom of the tub with a lot of dead weight angel on top of him. He could see the wounds better now. They were no longer oozing. He managed to get a leg out from under Cas and used it to kick the water off. Then his leg slumped back down, and he too lost consciousness.

He did not know how long he had been unconscious beneath Cas. The shivering woke him up. He was still fully dressed and soaked to his bones. Everything was cold. The fire from the night before was surely long dead. Cas was heavy. Dean pulled his arm out from under him and brushed back Cas' hair from his face. "Time to wake up, Cas," his voice was a low whisper, a wish sent out in the florescent lit bathroom. Cas didn't stir. Dean cupped his cheek and then tried to gently pat some wakefulness into him. "Come on Cas. Please be okay." He didn't try to get up at first. He was too worried. He brought his other arm out from the mass of angel on top of him. He settled it over the top of Cas' shoulders. It would be a hug if they were upright; this looked more intimate. "Look buddy, I know you like me and all, but usually I get dinner first." Dean's tone was all jest.

Dean tried to shift a little to look more at his wounds. They seemed okay. Well, not okay. They were ugly actually, like an infection gone so so bad. If Cas were human, Dean would assume that he was dead. That thought gave him pause. He brought the hand that was on Cas' face closer to his mouth. He let his thumb settle on Cas' lips, telling himself that maybe he would feel a breath from Cas' nose. Angels don't need to breathe. He moved his thumb back and forth. "Told you it wasn't a yeti," he tried to joke some more. "You owe me dinner. You and Sam both. I take payment on unofficial bets in the form of burgers, you son of a bitch." He felt suddenly overwhelmed by the moment. Don't be dead. I don't care how much you like the idea of dying as a human. Please don't be dead. Dean prayed the words. It felt like too much to say it out loud.

Cas' mouth parted beneath Dean's thumb, but his eyes remained closed. "So, I have to buy you dinner first?" The question was a dull muttered thing, but it made Dean laugh just because if Cas was talking he would be okay.

Dean wrapped his other arm around him in the soggiest hug of all times and said, "Damn straight you gotta buy me dinner first. I'm a classy guy." He thought he felt Cas laugh a little. Dean pressed his face into Cas' hair and laughed a little more. He breathed in the scent of him, the very alive, not-ever-gonna-die scent of him.

After a few moments of pure bliss, Dean worked his way out of the tub and hauled Cas out with him. It was messy, and difficult. Cas was of no help at all. His arms hung at his sides. His head drooped. He couldn't support his own weight. Dean hefted him up into his arms, finding a small reserve of strength left in him. He carried him out to the other room and set him on the end of the bed, wet clothes and all. "Everything's cold," Cas' words were so quiet Dean almost missed them.

Dean came down to his side. "Gonna start a fire and get your wet clothes off of you. You okay with that?"

Cas flicked a weak arm at the fireplace and then squinted at it like he was frustrated by its existence. "I'm powerless."

Dean walked over to the fireplace and got it going the old fashioned way, with kindling and a lighter. He came back to Cas and pulled off his boots, socks, and ski pants. He considered ridding Cas of his underwear which were also soaked, but he thought that might be too awkward. He scooped Cas up and brought him down closer to the fire and the warmth that was radiating there. He grabbed the top blanket from the bed and wrapped it around Cas' shoulders. "You okay?"

"I'm powerless," he said again, this time with more force. "It poisoned me."

Dean reached out and smoothed back Cas' wet hair from his face. "He sure did. What was it?"

Cas seemed to consider his answer for a moment, and seemed about to answer before a rib-breaking string of coughs erupted from him. Dean felt achy just hearing them. "It's a…" then there was more coughing.

"Shh, shh." Dean smoothed back his hair and pulled him close rocking him in his arms. "Not important what it is. You can tell me when you aren't coughing up a lung. Didn't even know this sort of thing happened to angels." Cas eventually stopped coughing and did not try to resume talking seemingly out of the fear that the coughing would pick up where it left off. He nuzzled into Dean's chest and seemed to fall into unconsciousness again. Dean leaned back against the foot of the bed and watched and waited.

AN: So there's chapter two. Hope you all are liking it. Two more to go.