Part IV
Surprise!

Castiel had three visitors that day, and each one ended more awkwardly than the last. The first was Charlie. She swung by around lunch, thrusting some sort of pita sandwich on him while commenting that he looked like shit. Castiel didn't take it personally because he had caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror earlier that morning and knew the bags under his eyes were more pronounced than usual. A sleepless night would do that to a person. She had briefly stood in his kitchen, nervously picking at the sleeve cuffs of her light jacket in a way that made Castiel more edgy, and had asked him about what the man had taken.

The odd thing was that as far as Castiel could tell, nothing was missing.

Later, after Charlie left, Kevin had stopped by. Kevin was the behavior analysts from the department, relatively new and fresh out of college. What he lacked in experience he tried to make up with being overly polite. Castiel didn't allow him into the apartment, instead holding the door half-way open to talk to his co-worker standing in the hall. Kevin made an awkward offer to talk about what happened, and Castiel made an equally awkward excuse to not needing to confide with a shrink. They had stood stiffly, staring at each other without really making full eye contact. Kevin had shuffled his feet, tucked his chin and quietly mentioned it was mandatory for department to perform a psyche evaluation on its employees.

Castiel shut the door on Kevin and made it a point to flip the deadbolt hard enough to be heard down the hallway.

The last person to visit was his squirrely neighbor, Chuck. Castiel didn't bother unlatching the chain, and just peered at his neighbor through the vertical slit made between the door and jamb. Their blue eyes clashed, and Chuck was even worse than Kevin about looking Castiel in the eyes. Chuck had started out with a strained attempt at a casual greeting. He shifted, stuttered, then simply turned and walked back to his own apartment without another word.

So it was no surprised, when a fourth visitor came knocking, Castiel didn't bother getting up from the couch. The knocking became less polite and more demanding. Castiel had a feeling he knew who was arrogantly pounding on his front door, and he felt it appropriate to ignore it. He tilted his head back and waited out the noise. The banging stopped and Castiel could hear muffled curses being directed at his locked door. A moment later Castiel's phone rang and he knew his ruse was over.

Castiel pulled it from his pocket, smirking at Dean's name popping up on the screen. He cleared his throat before answering in a falsetto voice, throwing in an accent for kicks. "Hallo?"

"Castiel?"

There was a period of silence where Castiel could imagine the confused twist to Dean's expression and the detective pulling the phone away from ear to check the dialed number was right. "Who dis?"

"... Cas ... do you want me to kick in the door, because I swear to God I will."

"You no break'ah down my door. I make'ah you pay, I sue you ass."

"Cas, I know that's you, I heard the phone ringing in the apartment before it you picked up."

Castiel turned his head just enough to glance at his front door with a smile as he wondered if Dean was trying to peer in through the peep hole, "I know no Cas. No Cas here. You have wrong numbah. Go break'ah down someone else'ah door."

"You think you're cute, don't you."

"I very handsome man."

There was a mixed sound of a snort and a laugh from the other end of the line. Castiel smiled to himself and stood from the couch and quietly made his way toward the door.

"Seriously Cas, open the door."

"I no want open door," Castiel played while stealing a quick glance through the peep hole. He planted his free palm against the wood and leaned against it, smiling to himself as he watched the detective on the other side. "You sound wike'ah very violent man."

Castiel could see Dean smiling on the other side of the door.

"What if I said I brought dinner?"

"Mmm," Castiel bit down on lower lip, trying his damnest not to smile like some high school girl talking to her latest crush. "Keep talking."

"It's... Chinese."

Castiel raised up on his toes to try and get a better view of Dean, but he couldn't tell what the man was carrying. The accent and pitch he had been faking began to slip, "What kind?"

"Open the door and you can find out."

There were a low, almost husky quality to Dean's words that made Castiel's pulse quicken. He needed to put an end to this game before he fooled himself into think the detective was actually flirting with him rather than just playing along. Castiel drew away from the door and undid all the locks before opening the door - but just enough to peer out at the detective and hang up the phone.

Dean leaned against the door, forcing Castiel to put a foot against the back of it and grip it tightly with one hand to keep it from opening any further. Dean continued to lazily push his weight against the door, "Don't make me use my officer of the law voice."

"How about you put down the food then just walk away. No one will have to know a thing."

Dean's grin flashed wide in challenge, "Castiel Novak," His voice boomed, effortlessly filling the apartment and hallway. "This is Detective Winch—"

Castiel let go of the door, sending Dean stumbling inside to nearly crash against the kitchen counter. Castiel calmly shut the door, flipping the dead bolt, and with heated cheeks (oh god what would his neighbors think was going on?) turned to face the detective with a mild scowl. The expression blanked when something small, furry, white, and staring up at him with crystal blue eyes and pointed ears was shoved into his hands. Castiel stared at the kitten.

The white kitten stared back.

"What the hell is this?"

Dean smirked from where he leaned against the counter, "What does it look like?"

The feline twisted in attempt to dislodge itself from Castiel's awkward grasp. It's needle-like claws dug into his hands, eliciting a sharp cry from Castiel. He jerked his hand away while his other pinched the nap of the kitten's neck to hold it apart from himself. Pin pricks of blood welled on the flesh of his thumb and Castiel habitually brought hand to mouth and sucked on the offended flesh. Noticing the odd look Dean was giving him, Castiel glared at the detective.

The kitten let out a piteous mew.

"Ooh, you bring'ah me Chinese." Castiel mocked while stalking into the kitchen. Dean curiously followed after him. A large soup pot was retrieved from one of the lower cabinets. He set the pot on the stove and dropped the kitten into the gleaming silver. Castiel glanced over his shoulder, viewing Dean's struggle between amusement and concern. Castiel kept his own expression serious as he brought out the matching lid and lowered it over the bobbing head of the small kitten.

"Cas..." Dean's tone warned.

Castiel reached forward and turned on the burner. Granted, it was for the wrong burner the pot was over, because Castiel wasn't so cruel as to really cook a cat in a pot. Not to mention Charlie would skin him alive if she caught wind of his actions. Dean, however, wasn't going to take the risk. He was instantly on Cas, pinning the smaller man against the front of the oven while reached over Castiel's out-stretched arm to flick the knob to the off position.

Castiel turned it back on.

Dean turned it off.

The kitten meowed from inside the pot.

On. Off. On. Off. At some point Dean wrapped an arm around Castiel's waist and pulled him away from the stove and pressed him into the lip of counter instead. Dean had one of Castiel's wrists seized and pressed against the small of back. The other arm was twined with Castiel's as they fought over the position of the knob. The cheap plastic broke after Castiel's last twist, the position stuck in the on position.

The stove top wasn't the only thing turned on.

Castiel went still, realizing, with a healthy dose of embarrassment that colored him up like a beet, that he would always have a certain set of kinks because of Lucifer. Now, having his arm restrained – gently, as there was no pain from the way Dean kept his hand pinned between them. The pressure was firm, dominating. The detective had wedged a leg between his in order to maintain control. Castiel was partially bent over the counter and his mind was racing off with a number of filthy thoughts.

Castiel bit down hard on his lower lip to keep himself composed. By stint of will Castiel kept his captured hand from sliding fingers down the front of Dean's trousers, although right then he really wanted to know what equipment the detective was packing aside from the standard issue .40 cal Beretta on his hip. Castiel silently cursed Lucifer's name while pressing himself forward into the counter instead of rocking his hips back against the detective's. "Dean," His low voice came out strained. The detective instantly released him, backing off a step.

"Sorry Cas - I wasn't thinking. Shit, that's kind of how that man had you pinned. Sorry man,." Dean rambled while grabbing the pot from the stove and moving it onto the counter. He removed the lid, retrieved the bewildered kitten and cupped it to his chest with one hand. The other smoothed the fur between the kitten's ears.

Castiel straightened, but didn't turn around in fear of the bulge in his jeans being noticed. He let Dean mistake the situation for something else. The position had bit similar, yes, but different in the fact that Castiel trusted Dean not to hurt him. It was a big difference. Castiel edged sideways, opened the junk drawer to grab a pair of needle-nose plyers and used it on the metal prong that was left of the stove knob. He forced it to turn into the position he hoped was off. The broken plastic knob was tossed on the counter to be repaired later. The plyers went back into the junk drawer and Castiel moved on, keeping his back to Dean, and started to fiddle with the coffee pot. He didn't care that it was too late for coffee, because he couldn't turn around until his arousal problem had deflated.

"I really did bring Chinese," Dean said softly with an apologetic tone.

There was a rustling of plastic and when Castiel glanced over his shoulder Dean had set two styrofoam to-go boxes on the breakfast bar. Castiel swallowed, attempting to clear his throat, but his voice still came out graveled, "Thanks. You didn't have to bring me anything, I do have food in the house."

Dean chuckled, "Well if I have to be here, we're going to eat something good."

"You don't have to be here," Castiel growled as he jammed his thumb against the coffee pot's on button.

There was a pause in sound as Dean momentarily halted his actions of removing the wrapper from the plastic fork. Castiel could feel the man's eyes watching him, questioning him, but Castiel didn't turn to meet the look. After a moment Dean resumed his motions, freeing the fork and flipping one of the to-go boxes open. "Everyone's just concerned about you."

It didn't sound right to Castiel's ears. He crossed his arms before turning around to glare at Dean... and the kitten that was wandering around on the counter because that was where the detective had set it. Oh hell no. Castiel swept forward, snatching the kitten off the counter and lightly tossing it to the floor - what? Cats landed on their feet. Blue eyes narrowed on the scampering feline before flicking up to glare at Dean, "I said I was fine."

"The words I'm fine coming from the mouth of a man that hasn't slept in over twenty-four hours sounds like bullshit to me."

Castiel continued to glare, but the sound of ripping caught his attention and he immediately bolted for the living room. His hands instantly went to his hair as he watched the white demon kitten claw its way up the sofa. "Why did you bring this thing here?"

"Aw, relax cupcake, the couch was already ruined, and I thought you liked animals."

"No," Castiel frowned, watching the kitten run across the couch to leap on the arm. "I've never owned a pet, never have wanted to own a pet and my rental agreement forbids it."

"Oh," There was sound of chewing from Dean. "I saw adoption pamphlets, and donation tabs.."

Castiel's head whipped over to the detective, brow furrowed with question. Dean slurped up teriyaki noodles before side-stepping and plucking said pamphlets from the stack of mail. He smacked them on the counter and Castiel wandered back over to peer down at them. Charlie must have left it for him. She was always bugging him to donate to one fund or another. "When did you go through my mail..?"

"I didn't go through it," Dean argued as he returned to his dinner. "I'm a detective, have a bit of faith in my observation skills."

Castiel snorted, "Charlie gave me these. She's the animal lover, not me."

Marching back into the living room, Castiel picked the kitten up by the nape and went up to Dean, holding the infernal beast out for the detective. "So take it away."

"Mm, nope," Dean loaded another forkful of noodles.

Castiel frowned, then as the kitten began to squirm, he hung the white beast on Dean's arm. Sharp claws pricked the detective through the shirt and Dean gave an annoyed growl before removing it - and much to Castiel's horror, placed it on the counter, going so far to praise the creature with an ear rub. Castiel chewed on the end of his thumb as he watched it pounce the donation pamphlets. "I don't want it."

"Don't be like that," Dean teased with a Cheshire worthy grin. "I can see you're falling in love already."

Castiel's voice flat-lined, "Don't make me put the cat in the pot again."

"I just think," Dean edged in with caution, "you need someone here with you. It'll make you feel better"

"People get dogs to protect them - what is a cat going to do?"

"Give it a week. If you still feel the same, I'll take it back."

Castiel sunk into the seat next to Dean, not at all pleased by the arrangement. He folded his arm on the counter and let his forehead fall onto his arms. "Why do you insist on torturing me?"

"Because," Dean reached over, lightly patting Castiel's between the shoulders. The last touch lingered, turning into a gentle squeeze to massage the tension located there. "I like you."

Snorting, Castiel rolled his head to lay his temple against his forearm and defiantly stared at the detective. "You have a funny way of showing it."

Dean's lips quirked, mischievous. He glanced aside, clucking his tongue. "Are you kidding me, I brought you a kitten, that's like boyfriend level material."

Castiel's heart skipped a beat while Dean laughed the comment aside. The hand continued to knead at the back of his neck a few seconds more before lifting away. Ignore it, Castiel chanted to himself. It didn't mean anything. Some guys were just chummy with their fellow co-workers. It's not like Castiel got all hot and bothered when any guy happened to get close. Hardly so. Dean Winchester was just.. hot, and Castiel had been something of a dry spell since Lucifer skipped off to some Caribbean Island. It also didn't help that Dean's playful comments continuously came off as a flirting.

There was no way, though, Castiel was just some lab rat and Dean was a top-shot detective.

The disappointment settled like a crushing weight over his heart. Without thinking about his actions, Castiel reached forward to capture the kitten, drawing it off the counter and into his lap. His rubbed his fingers across its head, feeling the kitten press more demandingly against his hand while... vibrating. It was a strange sensation to feel against his hand, the repeating high and low of the kitten's thrumming. That must be a cat's purr. Castiel had watched more than his fair share of animal geographic to know felines purred (except some of the big felines, although Castiel couldn't remember which ones or the reason to why, or even if it was true, not like he had the pleasure of petting a tiger to see if it was capable of purring).

It was new to him to feel it against his hands.

Dean was chuckling, standing up from the stool. Castiel glanced at him, and Dean had one of those knowing looks. Whatever, this didn't mean that Castiel liked the kitten. He glared at the detective, hoping that by harsh look alone he was expressing that as soon as the man was out the door, he was going to toss the kitten down the garbage chute.

The detective merely smiled, checked his phone and quietly exhaled. When his green eyes flicked back up to Castiel, the man was once again putting forth a bright smile, "You eat, get some sleep, call me if–"

"–if I can't manage to feed myself, you'll come over and do it for me?"

Dean smirked, "If that's what it takes."

Castiel had a feeling the detective would do just that if challenged enough. He saw the man to the door, raised his hand in a halfhearted wave. As he leaned against the jamb and watched Dean stride down the hall, Castiel realized just how big his little crush was becoming.

A white furball curiously wandered out into the hall, and for a moment Castiel considered shutting the kitten out of the apartment. Someone would surely take pity on the baby blue eyes and find it a home. In the end, Castiel scooped the white kitten up in one hand and brought it back into the apartment. After the locks were in place, Castiel held the kit up to eye-level, their blue eyes meeting. "You and I are going to establish a set of ground rules. First rule, you listen to me or I know where to find a bag, a rock, and river. Understand?"

The kitten purred.

Things to Know:
1.) I mixed in a bit of Misha in with this Castiel. Misha once crashed a Jared/Jensen panel, pretending to be one of the questioners, he faked an accent as he asked them questions. Also, in a panel with Sebastian, he said his favorite sound was that of a cat... in a food processor. Panels are highly amusing.
2.) Guess what will be the kitten's name.