OK! Here's the next chapter! I have to give a HUGE thanks to everyone who gave some suggestions for the story as they have given me some inspiration for where I'm going to take this story! And I also have to give a HUGE thanks to Crafty because she came up with the absolutely brilliant idea for what the seal is that they have to protect! So here it is. I wish I could write more, but I have a headache and really need to get some sleep! I hope you enjoy! Feedback always is welcomed and enjoyed!

Chapter 3

Uncomfortable Meetings

Dean flipped his newspaper closed and huffed out an annoyed sigh.

"Dude, are you sure this is where Cas said to go? There's nothing here!" Dean grumbled.

Sam looked up from his laptop and sighed.

"La Sal, Utah. That's what he said," Sam replied patiently.

"Sam, there is nothing here! I don't even think there are enough people in this town that even Uriel-the-Dick would feel the need to smite it!"

"You don't know that, Dean."

Dean rolled off the bed and stood up. He walked over to the window and looked out.

"Sam, I see plains and then a forest. That's it. Maybe Castiel is smoking something. Maybe that's why he wasn't acting normal."

"Somehow I doubt that."

"Well, I don't," Dean retorted, sitting in a chair in front of the TV set. He flipped it on, a small pout on his face. "He needs to get his angel ass over here and explain what the hell we're doing here!"

Sam rolled his eyes and went back to searching on the computer. Dean glared at the TV, as if it was the TV's fault Castiel hadn't shown up yet.

In truth, Dean was worried. They had arrived in the town (although handful of buildings would have been a more accurate term) yesterday and they had heard nothing about what they were supposed to be looking for. No secret messages. No divine signs. Not even a prophetic dream. Nothing. And Dean really wanted to see Castiel himself. He wanted to make sure he was OK. This wasn't like the angel at all. Usually by now Castiel would have made twenty different appearances with cryptic messages that they would have to spend hours deciphering. Instead, he has been a no show and the brothers were forced to hang out in a rundown motel room out in the middle of nowhere.

Dean swallowed hard as he allowed his mind to think more about Castiel. About his deep blue eyes. The way his clothes appeared slightly too large to fit his smaller frame. The questioning looks he gave him when Dean said something he didn't quite understand. His soft, inviting lips that Dean desperately wanted to taste to see if they were as good as they looked…

"Earth to Dean Winchester!"

Dean startled and looked over at Sam who was looking at him expectantly.

"What?" Dean asked, trying to sound more annoyed than the embarrassed he felt.

"I said, how long should we wait for him?"

Dean shrugged. "I dunno. I guess we can hang out here for another day or so."

"OK," Sam said with a sigh, returning to his computer.

Sam had a feeling he knew what part of the problem was, but wasn't about to mention it to Dean. He suspected that there were a few more feelings involved besides the standard human/guardian angel bit. He had seen the way Dean had been looking at Castiel. He had seen the same look when Dean was checking out a girl he really wanted, but didn't think he could have. Two specific examples that came to mind were Cassie and Lisa. And he had also seen the way Castiel had been looking at Dean. The way he watched his every move. At first Sam had chalked it up to just Castiel learning about Dean. But lately, well, it felt like more. The last few times Sam had sworn the sexual tension in the air could be cut with Dean's hunting knife!

The funny part was that Sam honestly could care less. Yeah, normally he knew that he should be giving Dean a stern talking-to and make him come to his senses. But then, when had anything in their lives been normal? Sam decided that if Castiel could make Dean happy then whatever. He'd deal with it.

Sam glanced over at Dean who was fidgeting nervously in his chair. Hopefully Castiel would show up soon, otherwise Sam was pretty sure Dean would go insane!

***

Angels weren't supposed to be afraid.

And yet here he was, Castiel, one of the Lord's finest soldiers, a divine being who had plunged heedlessly into the fiery pits of Hell to drag out God's chosen soul, an angel chosen to be on the front lines to defend Earth from the Apocalypse…

And he was afraid to face Dean. A human.

It was pitiful.

Castiel hadn't been able to rest for days. He knew his vessel was beginning to show the signs of his own fatigue, but he could not bring himself to stop. He desperately tried to keep busy. Tried to avoid coming face-to-face with Dean. He had managed to be successful, albeit briefly.

He had to remember the purpose of this visit. The preservation of the seal was what was important. And the only ones who could protect the seal were Dean and Sam. And in order for them to protect the seal they would have to know what it was they had to protect. And his superior's orders were clear; Castiel had to be the one to deliver the news.

Taking a deep breath Castiel raised his hand to open the door with a gust of wind and stepped through.

***

The brothers both looked up, startled, as the door flew open and Castiel walked in. Dean's heart leaped into his throat at the sight of him. He quickly got up and tried to hide his excitement.

"Finally! It's about fricking time! Where the hell have you been?" Dean asked, trying his best to sound annoyed. His breath hitched, however, when he took in Castiel's appearance.

It was clearly obvious that the angel had not been taking care of the body he was inhabiting. Dark circles were under his bloodshot eyes. His clothes were dirty and unkempt and his hair was disheveled. He also wasn't meeting Dean's gaze. Dean stared at him and couldn't mask the shock in his voice.

"What the hell happened to you?!"

Castiel shifted uneasily under Dean's gaze, a movement not lost on the hunter.

"I… I've been preoccupied lately. I'm sorry I did not make it here sooner."

"It… it's OK, Castiel. We knew you've been busy and you'd get here when you could," Sam quickly interjected, trying to diffuse some of the tension. "Right, Dean?"

Dean moistened his lips uneasily and forced himself to nod. "Yeah. We knew."

"Yeah, see? No big deal. So… why don't you tell us about the seal? The one we're supposed to protect?" Sam was eager to get to the point of the visit. They could deal with their couple issues on their own time. Sam wanted to make sure he got the information they needed before Dean said something to piss Castiel off and make him leave.

Castiel nodded, appearing to be relieved at the change of conversation.

"There is a seal that we have received word that is in grave peril. Its location is five miles south of here at a church."

Dean frowned, allowing himself to focus on the case at hand. "A church?"

Castiel nodded. "It is the minister who resides in that church that must be protected. The demons require him in order to break the seal."

"Right," Sam said slowly. "So… could you be a little more specific? About what the seal is, I mean?"

Castiel looked at him and nodded.

"When twice hallowed ground is subjected to the trespass of the damned and a sacrament of blood is wrought from man of faith that therein resides, the seal shall be broken and the sacred ground hallowed no more."

Dean and Sam stared at him for a minute.

"Right…" Dean said slowly. "Now can we have that in English, please?"

Castiel sighed. "Talk to the minister of the church. He will provide you the answers you need."

Sam glanced back and forth at Castiel and Dean and could sense that Castiel was getting ready to leave. Sam quickly jumped up.

"OK! We can do that. So, I'm just going to go make sure the car is ready and, Castiel, you can give Dean your little angel… pep talk… thing… or whatever it is you do."

Sam grabbed the keys and practically ran out of the door before Dean or Castiel could say another word. They then looked at each other.

"God, my brother's weird!" Dean said with a sigh.

"I'll be going then, Dean. You have the information you need," Castiel started to turn to leave.

"Whoa! Whoa! Hold on a sec!"

Castiel tensed before reluctantly turning back to face Dean. Dean's face was filled with concern.

"Look, you look like shit and you're acting all weird. Seriously, is everything OK? I mean, with everything that's happened between us I think I deserve the right to know if something's wrong with you."

Castiel couldn't bring himself to look Dean in the eye. His heart thundered in his chest so loud that he was sure Dean could hear it. He slowly shook his head.

"I… I'm fine, Dean. The matter is nothing you should concern yourself with."

Dean's frown grew. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? If something's wrong with you then you damn well better believe that's it's my concern too! If there's something wrong then you need to tell me! I might be able to help."

Before he could stop himself Dean reached out and touched the sleeve of Castiel's coat. Castiel's breath hitched and he quickly jerked himself away from Dean's touch, his fear obvious to Dean in that moment. Castiel took several steps back on trembling legs.

"Go to the church and talk to the minister," Castiel said almost harshly. "Protecting the seal is your only concern."

Before Dean could say another word Castiel had vanished. Castiel's reaction had felt like a knife stabbing his heart. It hurt beyond anything he had ever felt before. Tears began stinging his eyes which he quickly wiped away. Composing himself, he resolutely walked out of the motel room to the car where Sam was waiting.