Realising there was a good chance he was going to regret it, Sam pressed his ear against Castiel's bedroom door, wincing even as he listened, trying to work out if the two men had made up, killed each other or were, you know, in the process of making up. Hearing nothing but gentle snoring, Sam very carefully turned the door handle and opened the door a crack, just enough to peek in and make sure all was well, or as well as it could be.

Sam felt a goofy smile spread across his face as he took in the sight of his brother and his friend curled up together, fully clothed, arms wrapped around each other, legs entwined, foreheads pressed together, both men smiling a little in their sleep. With a relieved sigh and a happy heart, Sam closed the door and left them alone.

~#~

The men collapsed down onto the bed, Cas laughing with joy as Dean wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close as they kicked the blankets out of the way and settled into each other's arms. Castiel felt that almost-painful thud of his heart as Dean looked at him, his eyes a sliver of soft golden-green surrounding large black pupils. Cas knew that blown-pupils usually meant happiness, lust, love and wondered if his looked the same. They looked at each other in silent wonder for a moment before Dean ducked his head then rolled onto his back.

'Christ, Cas, this isn't what I was expecting. I thought…' he trailed off. Cas propped his head up on his right hand and looked at the soft curve of Dean's lips as the other man blew out a breath. 'I dunno what I thought, just, I didn't wanna hope…'

Cas reached out with his left hand and gently turned Dean's head to face him then pressed their lips together. Dean huffed a laugh into Cas's mouth then kissed him hard, his tongue licking at Cas's lips, holding him tighter when Cas opened his mouth, teasing Dean's tongue with his own, his entire body thrumming with a desperate need. Dean rolled onto his side and swung a leg over Cas's, running his fingers through Cas's dark, messy hair, setting off a chain of tingling sensations that Cas felt all over his body, a small gasp falling unbidden from his lips as Dean moved his face down to bury it in Cas's neck. Cas desperately wanted to feel of Dean against him but, hearing the hunter yawn, Cas was happy just to be together.

'Cas, I don't wanna talk, can we just…' Dean whispered then yawned, burrowing into Cas's touch, clearly exhausted by the emotions of the day. Soon both men were snoring.

~#~

Sam was in the kitchen, drinking coffee and trying to read a book on Aramaic translations, hoping that the knowledge would be useful somewhere down the line. Hearing a shuffling noise, he looked up to see his big brother wandering into the kitchen, wearing one of the robes that he'd found and washed, effortlessly Dean even in a soft robe. Sam felt an immediate thrum of anger when he saw him but it was soon quashed by the sheepish look Dean sent his way.

'Hey, Sammy. Uhm, any coffee left?' Dean mumbled, awkwardly searching for coffee mugs in the soup cupboard.

'In the coffee maker,' Sam said, a little bite to his voice that made Dean bite his lower lip. 'Also, the mugs don't live with the soup. No one wants tomato coffee.'

Dean raised his head, a sadly hopeful look on his face that made Sam want to reassure him, even after he'd been such a monumental douche. That was the thing with Dean; no matter how bad he fucked up, you had to forgive him because his intentions were always good, always trying to help everyone but himself. Sam sighed and took a big swig of his coffee as Dean poured himself a cup.

'You know what I'm gonna say, Dean' Sam kept his tone level but he found himself tense, waiting for the usual bullshit Dean came out with when anything emotional needed to be discussed. Dean scuffed his bare feet against the kitchen tile and then nodded, gulping down coffee as he settled down opposite Sam at the table.

'Yeah, I know Sam. I just…' Dean sighed and gulped down more too-hot black coffee, 'Can you hear me out before you rip me a new asshole? Please?'

Sam pressed his lips together, taking in the desperate look in his brother's eyes before he nodded and motioned with his hand for Dean to continue.

'Ok. I guess… I guess you know about Cas… and me. How we… you know, about each other.' Sam tried not to roll his eyes, wanting his brother to finish his speech.

'Ok, so, you know the night we got drunk? The Matrix night?' Sam nodded. Dean hesitated then chugged the rest of his coffee, wiping little droplets off his lips.

'Well, I… Fuck, I don't know why I did it but I knocked on Cas's door and we…'Dean trailed off and twined his fingers together around his now empty mug.

'Had sex?' Sam prompted, biting his lip a little when Dean widened his eyes in horror.

'No! Jesus, Sam! No, we didn't… not like that… Anyway, you don't need to know the details.'

'No, I really don't.' Sam shook his head emphatically as he spoke and felt his mouth twitch when Dean glared at him. 'Ok, so you and Cas did, whatever, and then what? You just bailed on him? When he was already so fucking fragile, Dean?' Sam felt his voice raising and sat back, trying to calm his anger. He knew his brother was useless with emotional matters, always had been, always had to be, conditioned by their idiot father who never let them just be kids, never let them live. Sam knew why his brother was the way that he was; all the guilt, all the homophobic bullshit John would spew. Sam took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He'd been so wound up by the fear that Cas would just waste away or hurt himself in a way that Sam couldn't fix, that Sam had lost sight of why Dean may have reacted as he did. And, for all his faults, it seemed that he was ready to make amends, to be with Cas in the way that the both of them had been dying for since they first met. Sam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

'Dean, I know you didn't mean to hurt him. I just… I was so worried about him and I couldn't do anything because he wanted you. Needed you.' Sam bit his lower lip again as Dean dipped his head, the excruciating weight of guilt showing in the set of his shoulders. With a deep breath, Sam readied himself to tell Dean what he knew to be the truth.

'Dean, Cas loves you. You know that right? And I don't mean angel love for humanity, I mean he fucking loves you…' Sam felt a sting as his eyes as he saw drops of moisture drop onto the table between them, quickly swiped away by the sleeve of Dean's robe.

'I know, Sam. I… You know I…' Dean's shaky voice broke as he dipped his head lower, resting his chin on his chest, a sign of contrition. Forgetting all the rules of the Winchesters, Sam rested his hand on Dean's arm and shook it gently as his brother composed himself. Looking up at him with red rimmed, bright green eyes, Dean let his face be truly open, silently pleading for Sam's understanding. Sam saw the helpless love Dean felt for Cas and couldn't help the little half smile on his face.

'You love him too and I'm pretty sure you'll be together forever so pull your head out your ass and go be with him. I'm gonna head off to Rufus's cabin for a few days, give you guys some space.'

Dean laughed, a sad little chuckle that made Sam's heart twang as Dean smiled gently and nodded his assent at Sam.

They were gonna be ok.