Chapter 10

"Stop me if you've heard this one before"

The door had closed and everything was silent in the kitchen. Both Cas and Dean refused to look anywhere else but at their shoes and were sitting as close to each other without actually touching. Blood was ringing in Dean's ears, now that he was alone with Castiel there was no distraction from the aching feeling. He didn't know for how long they continued to stay like this until he felt the silence was crushing him. Abruptly he stood up and Castiel automatically followed, unconsciously brushing his arm against Dean's. The jolt of electricity that shot through them made Dean jumped and he turned around angrily.

"Don't touch me," he hissed through clenched teeth. Castiel was taken aback by the hostility in the tone but soon angered flared in him as well. Trying to be considerate had clearly not worked and the memory of the fury he had felt in the hotel room days earlier came rushing back. How good it had felt to get his frustrations off his chest, to have Dean listen to him for a change. Yet Dean's behavior had not changed much at all and this irritated and saddened Castiel. Clearly he did not mean all that much to the hunter. Feeling he had little dignity to lose now anyway, Castiel spoke.

"Dean, we need to talk." From the look Dean gave him Castiel could clearly see a conversation was pretty much the last thing on his mind right now. "Dean." Castiel began again. "About what happened in the hotel room…" but he was cut short.

"I'm not having this conversation with you" Dean shot at him before he started to stubbornly walk towards the living room. He didn't get all that far, however, because Cas gripped him tightly by his shoulder, preventing him from setting another step. Looking down at Cas' hand on his shoulder Dean thought it was best to soften his tone as he spoke.

"Look, things haven't exactly been easy with this curse, but Sam and Bobby will get us out of this." Once again Dean had used the spell as an excuse for everything and Cas felt jaded. There was no use pretending now, he was done fighting and hiding his feelings now, clearly it would make no difference anyway.

"I am not talking about the spell." Cas said as he locked his hand tighter around the hunter's shoulder "I am talking about us." Dean looked up in surprise, clearly not expecting the words he had just heard. Cas directed his gaze at Dean but found the wondering eyes before did little to calm the nervousness he was feeling.

"What I am attempting to say.." Castiel paused again, somewhere still cowardly hoping Dean would interrupt him again but the other man did no such thing and just continued to stare.

"Prior to the Bacche's enchantment, when I came to you in that hotel room, when I was expressing my discontent, my anger." Cas spoke almost mechanical now, determined to get the words out. "I thought we shared….this moment. And ever since that moment, it appears to me I cannot shake the feelings that began surfacing. I do not know what to name these feelings, they are mostly foreign to me"

Castiel hesitated, he wasn't exactly sure anymore what it was he was trying to say. It wasn't helping that Dean wasn't replying or showing any sort of reaction, he just continued to look into Cas' eyes.

It felt like the haze in Cas' brain was slowly fading as he thought for a while on what he wanted to say next. "Regardless of what I just said, I am done with putting up with your behavior, Dean. I suppose it is necessary I repeat myself again. I am done with you treating me as if I were your personal servant. You are supposed to be my friend?"

Cas hadn't meant to make that last sentence come out as a question, but it had and Cas felt vulnerable and exposed. He thought trying to explain his new-found feelings would have been the hardest part but now he realized it was his friendship with Dean that mattered to him the most and having to question that friendship hurt more than he expected.

It was Castiel's question that finally made Dean react. "Cas, come on, you know we are friends. You know how much you mean to me, how I can always count on you, how I don't know what I would do…"

But Dean had stopped talking, realizing he was saying more than he cared to. A quiet desperation took over as he realized he didn't have the slightest idea how to communicate what he was actually feeling. He tried walking away but then realized Cas was still blocking his way and prevented him from moving forwards. So Dean backed up until he reached one of the walls and found himself in a very similar position as a few days earlier.

It wasn't Cas who let his eyes flicker all over the other man's face this time, however. It was Dean who was the one actually moving forward, unable to fight the urge that he somehow had to make things right with Cas. Words had failed him so all he had left were actions.

He very slowly brought his right hand to Cas' shoulder, almost as if he was trying to console him. He didn't stop there, however, and he raised his hand to Cas' face until he was cupping the angel's cheek. There Dean froze, looking uncertainly into the blue eyes before him.

"Admit it Dean. Admit something is there between us." Cas' tone wasn't pleading, angry or urging, it was factual and surprisingly certain. Dean said nothing but suddenly turned the angel around so it was Cas who was with his back against the wall. Dean stood impossibly close and Cas was quite certain his breathing had become heavier. When Dean continued to stay silent Cas tried again "Dean…" but he didn't get the opportunity to say anything more because Dean's lips crashed to his with a violent urgency.

Dean moved one hand to Cas' hair, holding him steady against the wall as his lips continued to explore Cas'. Castiel tried to make sense of what was happening but soon he stopped caring for any logic. Dean was tracing Cas' lower lip with his tongue and almost automatically Cas opened his mouth. The kiss was heated and filled with need, and it wasn't before long both Dean and Cas were out of breath.

As soon as Dean had recovered he began kissing Cas' neck, relishing the sounds Castiel was making. Somehow his hands found his way to Cas' waist and as he put his arms around Cas he moved back for another kiss. Cas' shaking hands, meanwhile, were fumbling with the buttons of Dean's shirt. Dean thought it best to help him with that and broke free from kissing Cas to pull his shirt over his head. Cas took in the sight before him and couldn't help but immediately placing his hands on Dean's chest.

As they shared yet another kiss Dean and Cas heard the kitchen door open. They broke their kiss to find Sam and Bobby staring at them in shock. Dean's shirt was lying somewhere forgotten on the floor, Cas' hair was tussled and he still had his hands on Dean's chest. There really wasn't any way to deny what they had been doing. Dean nervously looked at his brother and Bobby.

"This is not what it looks like." He began, "it's the curse, I just couldn't fight it anymore." Dean didn't look at Cas, knowing very well how he had used the curse as a cowardly excuse, again. To his surprise Sam began smiling and then he scoffed.

"Dean, we broke the curse twenty minutes ago already."

A/N

I know it took me too long to update. I've learned my lesson and next time I write a story, I will first write it, before regularly updating. Anyway, I really hoped this chapter was to your liking, it was difficult to write. I hope stayed in character and made the chapter believable. If you could give me any feedback, it would be very very much be appreciated. Also, one more chapter to come!