Part 2

The first thing Dean Winchester realized when he woke up was that he felt calm. There was no restlessness, panic, urgency that he had woken up to, for the past… hell, for as long as he could remember. He had never slept this peacefully.

The second thing Dean realized was that he was alone. He knew Castiel had crawled into his bed last night and held him. And he had fuckin' enjoyed it! Not that he had ever denied ever having attraction for men. And Castiel, tho' not Dean's type, was sexy enough… but "Dean Winchester don't do cuddling" had been his motto ever since he was old enough to get laid. Especially when there was no sex involved. And comfort cuddling… who was he, Sammy? Well... it was good thing he was gone.

He waited a minute or two, letting his body settle, then slowly dragged himself to the edge of the bed, towards his waiting wheelchair. He was somewhere mid-air between the two, when heard someone outside his door and the door slowly pushed open. His mind shut down and instincts took over as he twisted around to retrieve the gun he usually kept in his night stand. The odd angle, coupled with the fact that he abso-fucking-lutely had no control over his legs, made him lose his balance and he crumpled into a heap on the floor, barely a step from his wheelchair, as a pair of bare feet, extending upwards into a faded blackish pair of sweatpants, entered the room. He lay still, cursing under his breath, and raised his head only when he heard a faint plop.

He looked up to see Castiel standing by the door, carrying a tray, his eyes wide in horror. "Oh, shit!" then Castiel moved forward, placing the breakfast tray on the bed and strong hands under Dean's armpits, raising him to his wheelchair. He was almost in the seat when Dean's mind kicked back in gear. He looked into the bright blue eyes staring into his soul – something that made him feel happy and uneasy at the same time – and hissed, "Get back! I don't need your fucking help."

"Fine!" Cas hissed back and let go, letting Dean fall back on the floor. Dean didn't know whether to be shocked or glad, either way he couldn't meet Cas' gaze. Instead he concentrated in getting back into his chair.

By the time he had finally settled in his chair, Cas was sitting down on his bed casually munching on a generously buttered toast. There was a pot of fresh coffee on the tray along with two mugs. The guy sure had been busy.

"Toast?" Cas offered, dismissively waving at the food.

Dean opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Nope, he had nothing. He opened it again, but closed it back. Nope, still nothing.

"You know… you kinda look like a goldfish," Cas smiled, bringing Dean out of his stupor.

"What's this?" he asked incredulously. Cas tilted back and squinted at him. Dean realized it was the same the expression from yesterday. And it was very cute and made Dean think of…

"Toast," Cas answered braking into his thoughts. "You know, when bread is heated till it becomes brown and crisp." He was staring at Dean like he was idiot.

"No… not that!" Dean glared. "This," he waved his hands frantically between them. "What are you still doing here?"

Dean realized that hadn't come out right because Cas visibly cringed. "Hadn't thought you'd be the kind of man who would kick someone out after sleeping with them," he joked half-heartedly.

"No! That's not…"

"Don't bother," Cas sighed, standing up and raising his hands defensively. "I'll let myself out. I hope you don't mind the simple breakfast. It's all I could fix up with the stuff you had in the house. I was thinking about going shopping but…" he said striding out, "thanks for putting me up last night."

"Wait… Cas," Dean finally got his brain and his tongue on the same wavelength. "Cas… stop," he said following him. "Just wait."

Cas stopped and turned, his face blank, his knapsack already on his shoulder. "What?"

"That…" Dean waved his hand in general direction of his bedroom. "That didn't come out right. What I meant…" he rubbed the back of his neck. "What I meant was… uh… I thought…uh… I didn't expect you to still be here."

"Oh!" The bag dropped on the ground with a faint thud. "Well… you were sleeping so peacefully… and after last night… and I was hungry and… I don't really have anywhere to go… and you did say I could stay as long as I wanted… so… I figured…"

"Cas, you're not making sense," Dean said sternly. Cas fell silent. Dean opened his mouth to speak but something nagged at the back of his mind. "What do you mean you don't really have anywhere to go? I thought you were going to Vegas."

Cas looked like a deer caught in the headlines. Or more specifically a man caught in a lie. He nervously ran his hand though his hair making them stick up in all directions. "Well… about that… it's kind of a long story," he smiled sadly.

"You have to understand," Castiel said, nervously raking a hand through his head, making his hair stick out in all directions, "I am not comfortable doing this." The way he had been scraping at his hair for the past 15 minutes, it was a miracle he hadn't managed to pull them out.

"Yeah," Dean scoffed, "you and me both, buddy." Cas tilted his head back and looked at him. Gosh he had to stop doing that! "What? Talking is Sammy's department. I'm of the 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' variety."

Cas smiled. "You're preaching to the choir," he interjected.

"But…" Dean pressed on. "I really think of you as a friend. And I wouldn't be me if I didn't at least try to help. And I never rush blindly into a situation without minutely dissecting it first. So I need to know what I've got to work with."

Cas exhaled deeply. "Well…" he paused and scratched his nails against his scalp once more.

"Seriously dude, I thought we already covered that part," Dean protested impatiently.

Cas glared at him and Dean promptly shut up. Cas turned his attention back to the breakfast tray he had retrieved from Dean's bedroom, picked up a toast, broke a piece with his fingers and popped it in his mouth. He mumbled something, his mouth still full.

"What?" Dean asked a hand behind his ear.

Cas sighed. "There were three of us," he repeated a bit loudly, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. "Nick was 15, I was 7 and Claire was 2 or 3, I guess, when our parents died, and we were pushed into the system." Here he paused, waiting for the old memories to settle down so he could proceed. There was a reason he didn't talk about it. "It was hard… the first year. I mean… our lives weren't exactly peaches and cream before, y'know, but afterwards… Nick tried really hard, y'see, keeping us together. But there's only so much a 15 year old, on mercy of total strangers, can do," he paused and absently sipped at his now-cold coffee and shuddered. "Then Claire was adopted. Well, at least I pray she was adopted… she just went missing one night. But no worries," his voice bitter, angry, "children go missing from the system all the time," he spat, his gaze bearing down on the poor wall.

Dean finished his coffee and quietly placed the mug on the table. Cas was still gripping his half-empty long-forgotten mug like a vice. Dean silently reached forward and removed it from his hands. Cas' eyes briefly flashed to Dean's and widened slightly, as if he'd just realised he wasn't alone. Then he let the cup go. Dean gently placed the cup beside his, and waited for Cas to continue.

Cas took a deep breath. "After that it was just us two… and Nick became more determined than ever to keep us together. It started small at first… sucking the foster-people off so I could get an extra ration of food… stealing wallets so I didn't have to ask foster-people for keep money… I was good at studies, the teachers used to like me… So Nick insisted I keep on studying, he would take care of everything. At first I was blissfully ignorant. Nicky would take of everything, because he always did," he paused and looked at Dean, his eyes ghosting with wetness. Dean's hand unconsciously found his and held.

"I was 10 when he was arrested for the first time. Prostitution… theft... a bunch of other minor charges. He got out by agreeing to bend over for the vice cop," the grip on Dean's hand tightened. "I was scared. I didn't want any of it. I knew he was doing it for me and God I hated myself. I just wanted Nicky to be safe, home, with me. But he convinced me otherwise. He always said, 'you are the good son, Jimmy. I am doing this because I believe in you. I know you'll do good and make me proud. And when your ship comes in, we'll leave all this shit behind and never ever look back.' And help me god, I believed him. I did everything I could to help, y'know. Straight-A grades, sports captain, debate champion. The perfect all-round student… Figured if Nick was taking one for the team…" his voice broke away.

"I don't how or when… maybe on one of his inside stints, I guess, but he got mixed up with the local Mob. Took up the name Lucifer – 'after the angel who fell' –started carrying a gun, dealing and shooting up, rising among the ranks so fast... I was scared… I really was. But Nick was always there… 'For you, Jimmy,' he would say 'It's worth it,' and the fucker was such a sweet talker, I would actually believe him. Dream that we really would be happy together," Cas smiled ruefully. "Then one day he showed up outside my foster home with a horribly patched gunshot wound… totally sloshed. This time when he yet again told me to keep studying, he said 'when your ship comes in, leave all this shit behind and never ever look back.' Not we'll leave… just leave. He made me promise. I never said anything, never called him out on it… I guess deep down we both knew Nick was never gonna get out… not alive at least."

"But that wasn't all he was. My brother… he had heart of gold. He started working with good shelters and churches, helping kids who genuinely showed promise. When he realized his baby brother was a queer pansy – tho' woe befall anyone who said that to his face – he issued orders to his people that all fag kids had to be protected. You should have seen the look on Father Greg's face when he dragged a young tranny streetwalker into the church one night and paid her to sleep on the pews," Cas laughed softly letting the long suppressed memory surface. "Maybe that's why people respected him. He had morals and rules – never hurt the innocent… never took from the poor… helped anyone who deserved it… he was like this mini version of Michael Corleone," Cas looked at Dean and smiled sadly. "You would've really liked him… most people did. They called him the 'Devil with a Heart of Gold."

"I was 16 when he handed me a 9mm, but…" Cas smiled fondly at the memory "he threatened me within an inch of my life if I ever used it. Not that I needed to. People feared him. Everyone on the streets knew Lucifer Novak's brother was off limits and people didn't generally cross him, especially those who valued their guts. If anything, I think most prayed that I would end up on the other side of the tracks," he huffed a laugh. "Wonder what they'd say now?"

Cas exhaled and pressed on. "Then he started disappearing… days at a time. 'For your safety,' he would say. There was this guy… Gordon. Led the gang down south… always trying to wheedle in on our territory... break out gang wars. Sadist bastard… had no rules, no morals... preferred to attack the weakness's first. And everyone knew if there was anyone that Lucifer Novak would bend over for, it was me. So Nick mostly kept away."

"Not that it ever affected us. Whenever he turned up at my foster home shot and wounded I looked after him… sometimes, a couple of his buddies too. I really liked Meg, Nicky's girl... she was like a big sister to me, looked out for me when Nick wasn't around. I, on other hand, would take her to the clinic when she couldn't handle her drugs or came on his wrong side... I guess that's why I decided I wanted to be a doctor. When I got my acceptance letter to Chicago U., pre med, full ride, Nick had free booze for the entire 'hood. When I graduated, class valedictorian, top honours, I don't think anyone was more proud in that hall that day. He came to me… eyes bloodshot… looked like he'd been crying. He was wearing a goddamn suit… said he was trying to clean up. He wanted to be respectable… didn't want to people to say 'Dr. Novak's brother is a small time gangster'. He told me he was going away for a few days to take care of some things. That was the last time I saw him."

"A few weeks later, I was walking home from one of my classes when I was attacked by some of Gordon's men. For the first time in my life, I used that bloody thing. My first kill. I'd never been that terrified before… I rushed to Meg, the only one who could possibly find Nick, but even she had no idea where he was. I guess, I knew then and there that Nick was never gonna come back home again. Then came the news that Lucifer Novak, the notorious 'Devil with a Heart of Gold, had been found in a garbage dump just outside of Pontiac. They even had funeral for him. He was buried in the suit he wore for my graduation. Meg OD'd that night. She was buried beside him. Two days later, Gordon's headless corpse turned up in the town reservoir."

"I joined the army to get as far away from all that as I could. After that, the army became my home. I lived my life one mission at a time. It's easy to throw yourself into work when you have nothing else to live for. Figured I was making a difference. I guess that's also why I joined the trackers. I thought about all the people who were waiting for soldiers back home – wives, husbands, kids, families… I thought about Claire and Nick and how if I found to a way to get these people back to their families, maybe karma would reunite me with my family again," He scoffed a dry laugh. "Pretty stupid, eh?"

He looked at intently at Dean, waiting for him to say something. Dean swallowed dryly. This story had hit closer to home than he'd realized. If Bobby and Ellen hadn't been there after dad died, this was how he and Sammy would have ended up. Sammy… scared, alone waiting for his big brother to come back home while he… he unconsciously squeezed the hand he held and looked at Cas and shook his head. "No…" he replied softly. "Not stupid at all." He smiled. "And when the army fired you, you had no place to go," he stated filling up the remaining piece. "How long have you been wandering like this?" he asked.

"Almost two years," Cas shrugged. "I stay if there's work or something. I was about to ask Ellen if needed help, seeing that her waitress, Carmen? is pregnant. But then you came in and I guess I was a bit overwhelmed to meet you… I didn't want you to know the truth. So I said the first thing that came to my mind."

"Then why did you?" Dean asked.

"What?"

"I mean if you didn't want me to know the truth, why did you just pour your heart out to me?"

Cas shrugged. "Well… after last night," he blushed slightly, "I didn't want you to think I had some kind of unfair hold over you. That I had seen you at your worst and was gonna take advantage of it or something."

"So you bared your soul out to me?" Dean asked incredulously. "And what makes you think people don't know about my nightmares?"

Cas huffed a laugh. "If you wanted people to know the truth, you wouldn't be living it up outside and screaming your ass off in the dark here. You wouldn't be grinning like a fool in that bar when the smile never even touched your eyes. You forget, Major," he leaned towards Dean and lowered his voice. "I grew up in a ghetto and have been trained as an interrogator. I take pride in reading people within 30 seconds."

"You got a sassy mouth, Novak," Dean replied. "So what are you planning to do now?"

"I don't know. I really meant it when I said don't want to impose. I'm leaving."

"Where are you going to go?"

"Wherever the first ride outta here goes, I guess."

Dean nodded thoughtfully. "If we hadn't met you'd have stayed right?"

"I guess… if I'd found some work."

Another nod. "How good are you with cars?" Dean asked.

"Not much… but I can fix a few kinks, change a tyre, just basic stuff. Why?"

"Well… the garage where I work needs a mechanic," Dean stopped letting it sink. "The asshole rookie, Max, is such a nervous wreck that we are scared to let him near sharp objects. Andy is a stoner, but great with detailing n stuff, though we are a bit vary of leaving him alone with paint thinner. Don't ask," he said shaking his head. "And then there's me," he added waving at his wheelchair, "I am basically useless when it comes to bending over the hood. So Bobby has me doing books and inventories and shit. That leaves only Bobby the owner, who's pretty much the only full time mechanic right now. Jo helps out sometimes, but we could use another full time mechanic, y'know."

"Why don't you just replace one of the other mechanics, then?" Cas asked curiously.

"Bobby won't have it any other way," Dean replied. "He has this affinity towards abused and abandoned kids. Bobby's dad was the town drunk back in the day… and a wife-beater to boot. Beat them every day till he passed out. Bobby was 15 when he shot his dad in the head to protect his mamma. Of course, she blamed him for her husband's death and cast him out. He was taken in by my grandfather. We are a small town… we look out for each other. He served with my dad during Vietnam. They opened this garage together. Anyone who needed help… anyone with a sob story was welcome. That's how they came across Ellen and Jo. Ellen's husband, Bill, had served with dad and died in line of fire. She had nowhere to go and sought him out. Bobby and dad helped her established the joint. They also had one of those promo deals… y'know… free beer with every full engine service," he smiled. "Ellen held out on her own after that, with her cheeseburgers and pies. She still cooks the food there. Carmen helps out sometimes."

"After dad died, he took me and Sam in... made sure we finished our schools, didn't fall on the wrong path… when Sam wanted to go to college and the money dad had saved wasn't enough, he paid outta his own pockets. Said he had been saving up for his kids someday, and since Sam was as close to a college educated kid as he was gonna get…" he smiled nostalgically. "The day I shipped out, he cried a little. Though I think we'll find you buried somewhere in the scrap yard if you ever bring that up. Then came Andy, abandoned outside a church, raised by anyone who had food or clothes or a bed to spare… and Max, with a dead mom, a shit scared stepmom and deadbeat alcoholic wife-beating dad. I guess that's why Bobby loves him best. Reminds him of his younger self."

Dean shook himself. "Anyway… that's enough sob stories for today. You agree or not?" he asked in finality.

Cas nodded. "Yeah… I could do that. But I still got no place to stay. I mean I don't want to crash at Ellen's. I'd fear for my virtue there," he feigned a shudder to clear the air.

Dean grinned. "Good boy. You should be afraid… Jo's relentless. She still hasn't given up on me, even though she knows I don't really swing that way anymore," Dean smiled pointedly. "But she's cool like that. And you can keep staying here… I have 3 bedrooms… I use one… one's for Sam and Jess when they come to visit and the third that belonged to my parents. I'm not really comfortable sleeping there… but you can have it. You'll need to air it out a bit though." He paused and looked and the clock on the mantle. He needed to be at garage, like, 45 minutes ago, but he guessed Bobby would understand just this once. Still he had to put in an appearance. "I need to get going," he told Cas. "Are you gonna come or do you want to settle in first?" he asked.

Cas thought for a minute. "I can always unpack at night," he finally said. "And I'm already showered, so I guess I'll come with you. There's no place like today."

Dean nodded and went back to his room to get ready.

One hour later, Castiel was standing beside Bobby getting a basic tutorial in truck engines.

When Dean first entered, Bobby had practically torn him a new hole but his whole demeanour changed when he saw Cas behind him. He had shook his hand, awkwardly man-hugged Cas and patted on his back thanking him for getting the idjit home. He said idjit like he was talking about a snot-nosed 10 year old, not a 34 year old man who was scowling at him. When Dean explained why Cas there, he had more than obliged. Cas was then introduced to Max who stuttered his greeting before turning back to his car and Andy who pressed flush against him and proclaimed 'you have stars in your eyes, man… your hair so soft…' before offering to hook him with all the weed he wanted. Then he went back to painting a Camaro bright cherry red.

At lunch, Jo came in and dropped two lunch specials – one for Dean, his usual, and one for Cas, on the house.

On the way back, Cas insisted on stopping at the market to buy some groceries for the house. This basically led to a few more thanks and congrats – because news travels fast in a small town – a couple of free coupons and dinner invitations – which were gracefully declined – and a few more phone no.s slipped not so discretely in Cas' pockets. Apart from that, everyone had pretty much given them the wide berth.

All in all it was one of the good days.

Which is why Dean feared the night. Mainly because Sam hadn't called the whole day. And though he wanted to believe that The News hadn't reached Sam yet, which was highly unlikely, the possibility that he was waiting to ambush Dean when he couldn't escape was as big as his brother's hair.

Sure enough, there were 10 voicemails waiting for him. Each one telling him to call as soon as he and Castiel reached home… each one sounding more and more like a 13 year old girl closing in on Justin Beiber after the concert. He was gonna have to talk to Jess about that some day.

"Oh, c'mon," Cas spoke up, when Dean replaced the receiver in its holder for the third time. "I mean how bad can it be? It's not like he can stop you from keeping whoever you want in your house. At the most, he'll get a bit angry, but there's nothing more that he can do, right?" he added reassuringly.

"That's the thing, Cas," Dean replied smirking. "He's not going to stop you living here. I'm pretty sure he's planning our big gay wedding right now… and he's gonna embarrass the fuck outta me by asking you to choose between magenta and fuschia centre-pieces," Dean shuddered, remembering Sam's freak out at his wedding. "I still don't know what the heck is the difference. They're both pink. But I guess what has to be done, has to be done. You can't escape your destiny." He picked up the phone and dialled.

Sam picked up on the third ring. "Ohmygodisittrueisitreally him?" he asked breathlessly, imitating a 13 year old girl who was told Justin Beiber was finally ready to meet her.

"Online… 30 mins," Dean replied gruffly before cutting the call.

"Are you always this rude to your brother?" Cas asked unhappily.

Dean smiled and shook his head. "Only if he starts acting like a 13 year old chick at Beiber concert. I swear I really am a nice guy," he said raising his hands defensively. "Besides… I gotta pee first."

By the Dean had bathed, changed, locked up and connected online, Cas too had finished unpacking and freshening up. When he walked in Dean's bedroom that night, he was wearing the black sweat pants from the morning and a faded yellow t-shirt that looked like it had seen better days.

He fell down on the bed behind Dean and waited.

"Hey Sammy," Dean said as soon as his brother came on the screen. Cas noticed a faint crack in his voice… like the one he had usually heard in Nick's when talking to him. Dean really loved his brother. "How's it going?"

"Good," Sam smiled. "How're you holding up?"

"Oh you know…" Dean grinned. "My back feels like shit… I can't walk… Jo's driving my baby… I got a familiar stranger…" he looked back at Cas lying on his bed and smiled. Cas smiled at the roof, "crashing at my house… so just peachy as always."

"Dean!"

"S'okay, Sam. I fine. How's my babygirl? When's she coming in?"

Sam smiled devilishly. Dean didn't like that look. "Jess just finished feeding her and took her for her bath. So it's gonna be a good half an hour at least."

Dean cursed under his breath. Jess had made sure Dean couldn't use Dee as an excuse to get out of the upcoming interrogation. He looked at the excuse of a poker face his brother was trying to keep, a million thoughts fluttering around in his eyes. "You should really work on your poker face. I can see the tells in your eyes."

"That's because you're a freak of nature," Sam piqued. "My poker face's awesome. Even Zach thinks so."

Dean laughed. Yup! Sammy was a 13 year old girl. He wondered how the heck anyone had made him the youngest Legal Executive at the Smith and Wesson Pvt. Ltd. But then Sam was really good at his job… whatever it was. Otherwise he wouldn't be playing poker with Zachariah Smith himself. "You are the freak of nature," he replied instead.

"But you still love me."

"Yup! And I hate myself for it. I know you're over-brimming with questions. Better start asking before your giant head explodes and the world laments the loss of the last surviving Sasquatch."

"Shut up," Sam blushed. "Okay…" he took a deep breath. "First… what's his name?"

"Castiel," Dean replied. "His name is Castiel."

"Castiel? Ohmygod, it's an angel right?"

Dean rolled his eyes. Sammy was probably having a nerdgasm of some sort. Even after 30 odd years, he still couldn't believe they actually shared genes. Heshrugged and turned to look at the man behind him.

Cas was still lying flat on his back, but he had raised his head on his elbows and was looking at him with half-lidded eyes. He shook his head and sat up. "I think so," Cas replied. "I was named after an eccentric great uncle. He'd left my mom a bunch of money in his Will and she expressed her gratitude by naming me after him. But he did have brothers named Raphael and Uriel and my grandmother was named Anael. So I guess it's possible."

Dean conveyed the message. By the time he finished, Sam was squirming and twisting in his chair, straining to see behind Dean. "I'll save you the trouble, Samantha," Dean murmured moving away from the screen so Sam could have the clear view of the bed and the man on it.

"Hey Castiel," Sam blushed and fluttered. "I've heard a lot about you." And the 13 year old girl finally comes face to face with Beiber.

"Hey Sam," Cas replied."I've heard about you too." And Dean could swear Sam was holding onto the desk to not fall off his chair. OHMYGOD‼ Justin knows I exist!

They talked for a few minutes after that, wherein Dean zoned out and replayed it in his head as the conversation between the said fangirl and Justin. He was really proud of his fawning fangirl of a brother for successfully forming coherent sentences and getting them out of his mouth.

Then Samantha squealed, "Oh my god, Justin, do you have a girlfriend?" and Dean jolted back on earth. Wait, what? He looked at the people having a blissful conversation before him.

"Not really my thing," Justin… er, Cas!… replied.

"What?" Sam asked oh so innocently. "Relationships or girls?" Dean raised his eyebrows and shook his head, hoping Cas wouldn't fall for the bait.

Unfortunately, he did. "Both," he replied quickly before realising what Dean was trying to say. His eyes widened and he blushed. Dean acknowledged he really loved a blushing Castiel.

"Hmm," Sam hummed triumphantly. Dean hoped Dee would puke on him just to wipe that silly smirk off his face. "So… Castiel… you're gay?" he pressed for confirmation. Cas nodded. "Did you know Dean's bisexual?" Sam asked, not really trying to hide the fact that he was trying to set them up.

Dean finally found his voice. "SAM!"

"What? I'm just saying…it's nice to have someone around, right?" Innocent puppy-faced Sam was back. "Right Castiel?"

Cas opened his mouth but Dean glared at him and he shut it. "That's it, Sam. I'm going to bed," Dean hissed through his teeth.

"Oh, hey Dean," Jess interjected on cue, coming to stand behind her husband.

Was she waiting in the wings? "Hey Jess," Dean replied smiling. "How're you?"

"Oh, good. Good." She peered at the screen. "That must be 'Batman'," she said looking at Castiel. Dean gritted his teeth. He hoped Cas hadn't heard that last part, but Cas had already come to crouch beside him, a questioning look on his face. Dean shook his head silently saying, "Not now", even as Sam explained, "Y'see Dean always said that if he was ever in trouble, the only person who could save him, without him having his mancard revoked, was Batman. So that makes you 'Batman'."

Cas looked at Dean, his lips curled upwards, amusingly staring at Dean. "I'm Batman," he simply stated. "So I guess that makes you Robin," he grinned. Sam and Jess shared a look of their own and grinned. Oh God… Kill me, Dean thought turning a special shade of magenta.

But apparently Sam hadn't finished embarrassing him yet. Now that Cas was standing so close that his features could clearly be seen halfway across the country, Samantha spoke up, "Wow Cas! You have such lovely eyes."

He had no brother! He was gonna bury his head in the sand and pretend like he didn't exist. "Do you want to lick them too, Sammy?" he retaliated. Eye for an eye… Jess laughed and Cas had tilted his head back, looking at him in confusion. "There was this girl he liked," Dean explained. "She had lovely eyes… greyish blue with a tinge of yellow and green… the best set of eyes I've ever seen… and Sam wanted to lick them off, because they reminded him of rainbow ice-lollies."

"I was nine, Dean!" Sam groaned. Mission accomplished!

Cas straightened his head. "But I really love my eyes Sam. They've stars in them," he said it so innocently and with such perfect poker face that Dean could've kissed him. Instead he doubled over laughing. Soon Jess joined him, then Sam until all four of them were sputtering out in breathless guffaws.

Just then Dean noticed Jess was swaying slightly on her feet. "You okay, Jess?" Dean asked suddenly concerned. "You look beat."

"Yeah… yeah… I'm fine. Just… The kids were extra annoying today," she replied waving away the chair Sam offered with her right hand, while her left found the small of her back and started rubbing circles in it. "And Dee was missing you a bit too much. I'm pretty sure she's still sitting upright in her crib playing with Uncle Dean."

Dean smiled. He had given Dee a teddy bear for her 1st birthday and she had promptly started calling it Uncle Dean. She dragged the poor thing around everywhere. "I'll take care of that in minute," he replied, his eyes moving from her face to the hand that was still absently rubbing her back and back to her face and back. His eyes widened slightly as he came to a conclusion. It must have shown on his face, because Sam was looking at him with interest. He grinned, "Oh my god! Congrats Jess‼ Why didn't you tell us? How far along are you?"

Suddenly as if the director had yelled "action", the entire set sprung to life. Jess paled and started muttering "but… how? nevermind… I just… how?" Sam jumped up and all but pushed Jess down on the chair he'd vacated. Cas who had been crouching beside Dean's chair fell down with a thud, then stood up, openly gaping at him. Then everything stilled at once. Dean looked between Sam and Jess, confused. "You are pregnant, aren't you?" he asked, suddenly nervous that his assumption might be wrong.

"Yes," Jess spoke up, "Maybe. I don't know," she replied her shoulders shagging. "I think so," she replied finally settling on an answer. "I was waiting until I got the confirmation. I didn't want to disappoint you guys again." She said.

Dean pursed his lips and looked at Sam. He knew Sam and Jess had been trying for another kid since Dee was 1, but a few false alarms and a couple of miscarriages later, they had all but given up hope. "Jess…" he smiled as Sam crouched down beside the chair and cradled her close. "You can never disappoint us. Now get your ass into bed and get some rest. Me and Sam will put Dee to bed."

Jess nodded thankfully, blew a kiss towards the screen with "Good night, Dean," and went away. Sam also stood up, "I'll get her," and walked away. Dean then turned to Cas who was still gaping at him. "What?"

"That?" Cas asked disbelievingly. "How'd you do that?"

"Dunno," Dean shrugged. "I've this thing. When it comes to people I'm very close to, I just… know," he was cut off by Sam appearing with a squiggling Dee, holding her teddy bear and ready to leap at the computer, in his arms.

"Whoa… whoa… Easy there, tiger," Dean cajoled. Dee giggled but calmed down. "Had a good day at school?"

Dee nodded emphatically, then grabbed at the screen. "Led!" she squeeled.

"You want me to sing Led song?"

"Yeah," she giggled again. "Dee's song."

"You want me to sing Dee's song?"

"Dee's song," Dee stated crossing her arms over chest, her teddy squashed in her armpit, and glaring at the screen like her grandpa. Where she had picked that, Dean had no idea. Maybe it was the Winchester gene.

"Hand me that guitar, will you?" he turned to Cas. Cas handed him the guitar beside his bed, then went outside and dragged a dining chair planting it beside Dean. "Okay... We've done four already but now we're steady. One, two, three, four," Dean said in the deepest voice he could muster, as his fingers traced the opening chords.

"Singing in the sunshine, laughing in the rain… Hitting on the moonshine, rocking in the grain…"

He finished with, "Sitting round singing songs 'til the night turns into day… Used to sing on the mountains but the mountains washed away… Now I'm singing all my songs to the girl who won my heart… She is only three years old and it's a real fine way to start." He ghosted his fingers on the remaining chords and looked up to see Dee already tittering on the edge on consciousness. The sudden transformation never ceased to amaze him.

"More…" she said sleepily. Dean sighed and started once more. Cas joined him at the second verse. By the time the third repetition ended, Dee had already fallen asleep. Even Sam had started nodding off. Cas was the only one singing and Dean was quietly playing the guitar, strategically placed to hide his raging erection. Things that voice did to him…

"Night Dean," Sam murmured, standing up as soon as the song got over.

"G'Night Sammy. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Dean replied, shutting off the computer. He wanted the gathering to get over as soon as possible, so he could have place to himself. He placed the guitar in his lap to hide the telltale tent and turned to main cause of his discomfort, "I think you too need to get going."

"Are you alright?" Cas asked. "You are sweating profusely."

"What? This?" Dean asked swiping a hand across his forehead. "It's nothing. I have this night sweat thing. It's perfectly normal… You don't have to worry about it," he said pulling at his tee's neck. If Cas didn't stop talking and take those ocean blue eyes away from him, he was gonna shoot all over his boxers.

"Do you want me to do something?" Cas asked… as Dean gulped visibly.

"No… no! Nothing. You just… go."

"Are you sure? Should I take the guitar at least," Cas pressed, concern furrowed into his brow as he reached for the only thing protecting Dean's virtue.

"No!" Dean exclaimed pulling it back into his lap. "Just go…" He all but pushed Cas out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

"Dean?" Cas was still outside his door. "Dean, are you alright? Should I do call someone? Dean, say something!"

"Jesus fuck Cas, leave me alone!" Dean shouted at the door.

"Fine!" Cas spat and Dean could hear the footsteps walking away from his door.

How could that guy turn him on with just a look and a voice? Dean wondered as he climbed into his bed and pushed his restraining boxers out of the way. That night he touched himself for the first time in almost two years and came down hard with Cas' name on his lips.

And when Alistair paid him a visit that night, he could see flashes of brown and ocean blue battling for his soul. And he knew he was going to be okay.