Dean did as he was told – he ate the donuts and sat quietly in Castiel's office as he went about his business. Despite the door being closed and locked he could still hear the rumbling tones of the priest's commanding voice during his sermon, washing over him like the deepest reaches of the ocean while he allowed his mind to wander. Would his life have been different, would he have been different if he had met Castiel earlier? The disappointment in his blue eyes sliced through Dean like the sharpest knife. He'd only known the guy two days and already he had saved his life twice, no small feat to be sure.

He'd never honestly felt like this before, wanting to make amends so desperately. Castiel was swiftly becoming his only life raft and the idea of being left out at sea terrified him. Hours flew past while the cleric finished his sermon and farewells, ensuring that the church was closed and the fresh plastic over where the window used to be was boarded off he ushered Dean into the Impala while the winged man silently directed him to his apartment. Finding himself afraid of Castiel's anger, he neglected to fiddle with the radio or add sarcastic quips at all, favoring the deafening silence between them. Dean liked to think his fear came from the arsenal in the trunk.

It wasn't until he opened the front door to his two bedroom apartment that he realized why he never invited anyone in; the destitute state of the living quarters only accentuated by the stench of decay, Dean had to give the guy kudos for not gagging upon entry. Peering over to Castiel, he still said nothing as he walked straight to his room to start packing. It took him five minutes to throw his personal effects into a duffel bag, another ten to tidy up his room a bit as his own form of an apology to the landlord for ditching without prior notice.

It was like walking into another apartment when he exited his room, the discarded items and debris cleaned up and in its respected places. Rounding the corner he found Castiel washing dishes in the kitchenette. It was hard not to notice the darkened spot on his back from sweat, his sleeves rolled back and his hands soapy.

"Dude, you didn't have to-"

"I promised my assistance."

"Yes, but after this morning-"

"It was as much my own fault as it was your own. I apologize for lashing out at you, I was frustrated and I should not have taken it out on you."

"No, no! Cass, you were right. I mean, I sprouted wings overnight – I need to learn to be more careful. I may not be one hundred percent sure what the fuck went on back there but I know you saved my life. Honestly man, thank you. I don't know what I would have done or where I would be right now if I hadn't found your church."

"Then we are both to blame – your lack of foresight and my withholding of information."

Castiel's eyes twinkled with amusement as a small smile graced his lips, leaving Dean guessing if that was the closest to a laugh that he was going to get from him. The dishes were done at this point, each carefully arranged in the strainer while the other side drained. Castiel turned to him then, wiping his hands on a towel while his smile grew a little larger.

"This is a learning experience."

"Yeah."

They finished the apartment within an hour, working in a comfortable silence before Dean placed his key in the super's mail box with a hastily written apology on crumpled stationary. They returned briefly to the church to collect Father Christopher's belongings before departing. As always, nothing could be that simple. A loud knock resounded from the front door as Dean exited the bathroom. Looking to Castiel, the priest gestured for him to go back in while he made his way to the door.

Castiel couldn't shake the nagging feeling that somehow this visit was connected to the last. Reaching into his robe, he wrapped his left hand around the flask of Holy Water that he always kept on his person. Cautiously opening the door, he was oddly relieved to find his eyes drift down to meet the honey brown irises of his favorite drug dealing pet shop owner.

"Father Christopher, I'm so glad I caught you! I was really worried since I missed your sermon and I knew you are leaving today and all."

"It is good to see you, my child."

"Yeah, you too! Look, I wanted to talk to you about something-"

The smaller man pushed his way into the church, much to Castiel's dismay.

"- because I was kind of losing hope until I met you."

Gently closing the door, he turned to face Gabriel.

"You can tell me anything, Gabriel."

"I know, Father. Look, you know I'm not from around here, right?"

"I believe you mentioned it in passing, yes."

"Well, the reason I left home was because my brother went missing."

"I-I see. Has there been any word?"

"Not for a long time, no; his trail went dead here in New York so I stuck it out. It's been five years since that day and it's only gotten harder."

"You must have faith in the Lord, my son. He will deliver him in time."

"I know that now, but I'd forgotten. I just…wanted to thank you for teaching me that again."

"It was my pleasure."

"I'm actually gonna pick up the search again, too. I think he's waited for me long enough."

"May God be with you, Gabriel."

"Thanks, Father Christopher. Who knows, maybe we'll meet again."

Castiel graced him with a genuine smile.

"I'd like that."

Gabriel gently touched Castiel's hand and squeezed once before he went to the door again. At the last second, just before stepping outside he turned back to the priest on last time.

"You know, you remind me of him. You're both so young and stronger than anyone would give you credit for. Stay well, Father Christopher."

Without waiting for a reply, he exited the church and left Castiel wondering if he had somehow missed something. Dismissing the thought, he knocked on the bathroom door to alert Dean that they were alone.

"You can come out."

Multiple loud crashing noises resounded from within the tiled room, panic settling in his stomach as he swung the door wide. It took all of his carefully built self control not to laugh at Dean – wings tangled on the half torn shower curtain and his body awkwardly sprawled inside of the tub itself. The wide eyed look of terror on his face swiftly turned into an embarrassed rage.

"Dude! You could've said something first – I thought it was someone else!"

"My apologies."

"Whatever, just get me out of this death trap!"

Chuckling softly, he carefully maneuvered the curtain from between his flight feathers while he soothed down each one that was otherwise ruffled. It took fifteen minutes for him to work Dean's wings free, twenty to help the larger man out of the tub without any further incidents. Only when Dean was safely standing by the bathroom door did either man realize that they both really needed a shower. Thinking a moment, Castiel sighed.

"I realize that we are both in a state of uncleanliness-"

"Yeah, I could go for a shower."

"-but if we wait until we reach our destination I can assist you with your wings, which this bathroom is not equipped for."

It took less than a minute for him to reply.

"Yeah, alright."

They packed the last of everything, loading the Impala before any other interruptions could take place. Sunset was upon them as they pulled out of the city, the nearly nine hour drive from New York, NY to Columbus, OH seemingly elongated by the silence between them. After the first hour passed without so much as a word, Dean had enough.

"Look, Cass-"

"An explanation is in order."

"Yeah – what the Hell happened this morning?"

"Dean, I believe that you are a…special case."

"Really? What tipped you off?"

The reproachful look was noted.

"There has never been a record of an Angel spontaneously coming into existence. I do not know why you suddenly acquired wings as you did, but you are the first recorded case."

"So I really am a freak of nature? Great. Sounds peachy."

"Due to your status of the first and only one, I am under the impression that you are…'in demand', so to speak."

"…What?"

"That demon wanted you, Dean – more than your physical attributes. Do not think I missed what was said, she wanted your soul."

"She mentioned my wings."

"She saw them?"

"No! I mean, I put the trench on before answering the door. I had them hidden and she was all 'gimme'."

"Then this is worse than I thought."

"What d'ya mean?"

"Demons know about you and they are hunting you down. This may have been the first attempt, but it is safe to assume that it will not be the last."

"What're we gonna do?"

"Whatever we can."

Dean couldn't shake the fear that it wasn't going to be enough.