On the way back to the motel, Dean called Sam and told him what had happened at the store. Sam laughed and made several snide comments about how Dean needs to "protect what's his". Dean rolled his eyes and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"Listen when you get back here, there's something we should talk about." Sam said. Dean immediately sat up in his seat.
"Something wrong, Sammy?" He asked, trying to keep calm.
"No, no…" Sam reassured quickly. He heard the distress in his brother's voice. "I've just found a possible case."
Dean breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, we'll talk about it." He said and hung up the phone.
Castiel sat stiffly in the passenger's seat. She had noticed Dean's reaction too. "Are you…" She started, but Dean quickly interrupted her.
"I'm fine, Cas." He mumbled.
Castiel surveyed the man before nodding slightly and accepting his answer. She had realized that Dean rarely talked about things. He hardly shared his feelings and that was alright. Castiel felt as though she was terrible with feelings anyway. It was one of the reasons the angel enjoyed Dean's company so much. She never had to try as hard around him.
The car ride lapsed into a comfortable quiet until Dean pulled up to the motel. He hurried out and into the room. Castiel came in behind him and closed the door.
Sam was sitting on one of the beds, his laptop in hand. He looked up at their entrance. His eyes caught at Castiel's sundress. Dean eyed his brother sharply as he continued to stare at the angel.
"Sam," Dean said unnecessarily loudly after a moment of his brother's eyes remaining fixed.
Sam immediately ripped his eyes from Castiel. "Yeah, yeah… Sorry." He mumbled awkwardly.
Castiel looked at both Winchesters. She was completely oblivious as to what had just happened.
"You have a case you wanted to talk about?" Dean asked, trying to reduce the awkward feeling that hung in the air.
Sam cleared his throat and looked back to his laptop. "I have something interesting." He said, turning the screen towards Dean.
Dean leaned in and looked over the webpage. "Okay, so a teacher dropped over dead during class. It sucks, yeah, but how is this at all interesting?" He sounded doubtful.
"Well, according to the autopsy, this woman died of a gunshot wound, yet she had no wound where the bullet entered. And here's the really interesting part… she was teaching a lesson of weapons of the Civil War when she died." Sam said, sounding proud.
"Weird coincidence?" Dean offered.
"It might have been, but last week a businessman died while giving a presentation on global warming. He literally fried to death in front of his audience."
Dean raised his eyebrows. "Okay, not coincidence…"
"There have been more too. At least 5 from what I can find." Sam said quickly, again turning the screen to his brother.
Dean rubbed a hand over his mouth. "So, what are we dealing with here?"
"That's the problem," Sam said, closing his laptop and setting is on the table next to him. "I can't find anything that could… or would do this kind of thing. In fact, the only name that comes to mind…"
"Gabriel," Castiel mumbled quietly to herself. Dean and Sam glanced towards her. "This is the work of Gabriel." She repeated, louder.
Sam nodded in agreement. "Whoa, whoa, whoa…" Dean said, holding a hand up. "Gabriel is dead. Lucifer killed him. Are you telling me he's back?"
"I'm back," Castiel said, as if this answered his question.
Sam shrugged towards Dean. "Maybe God is helping us out here."
"Yeah, well, how many times has God helped us in the past?" Dean asked sarcastically "His track record isn't great."
Castiel tensed. "God helped more than you will ever know, Dean. We are all still here. Still alive. We should be thankful."
"You might be right." Dean said. "But, if this is Gabriel, he's just back to killing people for entertainment. We can't let him keep that up."
"I don't know, Dean. We do kind of owe him. I mean, he died for us. And he's not killing good people, right? Maybe… maybe we just leave this alone." Sam said.
"Geez, Sammy. You got a thing for Gabriel or something? These are people. We don't let people get killed, not if we can help it." Dean responded sharply.
Sam turned slightly red. "Dude, just because you've got a thing for an angel, doesn't mean we all do." He said, looking at Castiel.
"I do not…" Dean muttered under his breath, also turning red.
"Just think of everything Gabriel's done for us." Sam spoke again in the archangel's defense.
Dean raised his hands dramatically. "I don't know if it's slipped your mind, but he killed me… over and over and over."
Sam's face darkened and for a moment he was lost in despairing memories. "Trust me, man, I remember. You're right. I know. We can't let this slide. Sometimes though, I really wish we could just take a break."
"I know, Sammy. So do I." Dean answered honestly.
Castiel stood rooted next to Dean. She hadn't spoken through the entire argument.
Sam stood and grabbed his coat. "Listen, I'm starving. I'm going to run to a burger place. Dean, you want something?"
"Of course!" Dean said with a grin. "The usual. Just get me something greasy. And see if they have pie!"
The younger Winchester rolled his eyes as he left the room. Dean and Castiel were now alone.
"What angel do you have a 'thing' for?" Castiel finally asked, breaking the silence.
Dean's eyes widened. "Come on, Cas. I know you're clueless and naïve, but you can't be serious."
Castiel didn't reply. She only stared back at him blankly.
Dean rubbed a hand over his face. "Sam thinks… I guess he just, uh, he likes to say that I've got a thing for, uhm, you…" He spoke awkwardly, hoping that the angel wouldn't question him further.
"A thing? Feelings?" Castiel asked, immediately showing Dean that he couldn't get out of this conversation.
"Yeah, that." Dean said, coughing slightly through his words.
"This vessel is sexually attractive." Castiel said, without skipping a beat. "You are a male attracted to females, correct? This female vessel is pleasing to you."
"God, Cas… This conversation is over." Dean walked into the bathroom quickly. It was his only escape.
Although, Castiel had said was completely true. Dean did like pretty women and hell, Castiel's vessel was in a whole other league than most. Dean and Cas had always gotten along well. Castiel had been there for Dean more than anyone in the world, even Sammy. Cas was stable and dependable. She would always be there. Dean finally caught control of his thoughts.
"What am I getting myself into?" He muttered, splashing water on his face from the sink.