Castiel sat on Dean's bed, watching the hunter pace back and forth, occasionally grabbing something and tossing it in a bag. It wasn't long before his bag was completely packed.

For a moment he paused, his eyes on Castiel, and then he was moving again, unloading his guns and taking them all apart to be cleaned.

As the night wore on, the moon rose high in the sky filling the room with a bright light. Castiel's head tilted. "You should rest."

Dean shook his head, putting a gun back together. "No. Too much to do."

Castiel placed a hand on Dean's shoulder. "Sleep. I will take care of this."

Dean knocked the angel's hand away. "No! I don't need your help."

Castiel glared. "You need your rest to be able to function in the morning. It is biologically necessary."

Dean turned to face Castiel, snarling. "I am perfectly capable of doing this alone."

Castiel was done listening. He reached his hand forward and pressed two fingers firmly to Dean's forehead. The hunter fell into the angel's arms. With a gesture the guns were cleaned and reassembled. He carefully undressed Dean and tucked him into bed. He ran a hand through the hunter's hair, his trailing fingers ensuring his charge would have no nightmares. Then he sat back and watched.

When the sun rose, Dean blinked awake, and slowly sat up. His head felt fuzzy. Gradually the previous night came back to him. He looked up sharply. "You bastard!"

Castiel looked at him in confusion. "As I was not born, I was incapable of being conceived before my 'parents' were married, therefore I cannot be a bastard."

Dean scowled. "You know what I mean. If you're going to be following me around like some lost puppy, no more angel-mojo crap, understood?"

Castiel scowled back. "If you intend to be stubborn, then I will take action."

"No, that's cheating!"

They glared at each other for a few minutes before Dean's bladder forced him to get up and go to the bathroom. When he was finished he went downstairs without a backwards glance, fully intending to ignore Castiel for as long as he felt like.

Sam and Bobby were already up and waiting. Sam tried to talk Dean out of leaving again, but when it became clear that wasn't going to work, he settled on establishing the deal. "You're going to call me every night and tell me everything!"

"Of course, Sammy. Just like before."

Sam was rather upset there wasn't a bigger fight over it.

Dean went upstairs and grabbed his bag, and then came back down to hug Bobby and Sam goodbye.

He walked out to the Impala and loaded his things. He was fairly certain she'd run for him. He got in and slammed the door. Another man appeared in the car. Dean jumped. "Jesus, Cas! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"I am sorry, Dean. Are you done ignoring me?"

Dean grumbled and put the key in the ignition. The car roared to life. He carefully maneuvered her out of the lot, and took off down the road. Castiel watched him intently. Dean frowned, and put on some music to fill the silence.

His heart began to lighten the further down the road he got. Traveling was in his blood, and he felt tense staying in one place for too long. He rolled the window down and let the wind come in and tousle his hair as he sang along loudly with his stereo. Casually he glanced over and saw a faint smile on his angel's face. Dean grinned.

They drove all day. As the sun started to go down Dean pulled into a small town. He found a cheap motel. He knew Cas didn't need a bed so he only got one. The motel manager eyed him oddly as he handed over the key, but didn't say anything.

Dean grabbed a paper and went back out to the Impala. "Alright Cas, lets go." Dean grabbed the bags and headed off towards the room.

Castiel stood in the doorway as Dean dumped his stuff and jumped onto the bed, flicking the paper open. Occasionally Dean's eye jumped to the door, watching the angel watch him. It was extremely awkward.

Dean reached out a hand and found the TV remote; he clicked on the set. Some infomercial was running about natural male enhancement. With a strangled cry Dean changed the channel. Smiling Bob was eyeing his wife and the neighborhoods women like a serial rapist. He changed the channel. A woman professed her love to the most gorgeous man Dean had ever seen. Well… he eyed Castiel, second most. He changed the channel. Dr. Sexy was busy telling a busty nurse how to do her job. Dean sighed happily; he'd always loved this show. Job complete, he turned back to his paper.

The show was half over; Dr. Sexy thought he'd solved the case, but there was still fifteen minutes left which meant he was wrong. With a sarcastic grin Dean turned to Castiel. The angel was watching him intently. Dean's grin faltered, but he recovered quickly. "Think I found a case. I'm going to head off tomorrow. You'll be good here, right?"

Castiel's head tilted. "I will be with you."

Dean's nostril's flared. "No. I work alone."

Castiel's eyes hardened. His shadow spread behind him. "You should show me some respect, Dean Winchester."

Dean glared at Castiel, but his eyes kept being drawn to the shadows. He stepped forward, and reached out a hand to touch them. Castiel's eyes narrowed, and he took a step back.

Dean kept advancing. The closer Dean got the more the shadows drew in until it was clear they were holding tightly to Castiel's back.

Dean grabbed Castiel's tie to hold him in place and reached out a hand. He felt soft feathers along a solid bone. Castiel watched him with wide eyes. "How are you doing that?"

"Carefully."

Dean stepped closer, burying his hands in feathers. Castiel's breath caught. They were so close, so close. All Dean had to do was lean forward…

His phone rang shrilly.

The moment broke.

Dean casually walked over and fished his cell out of his pants. "Hey Bobby, I was just about to call you." He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. No, I found a case. Yes. Yes." Dean grinned and grabbed the paper, and started describing an article. The conversation ended with Dean deciding he'd be hunting a ghost, and bidding Bobby a good evening.

He hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed. He grabbed a jacket and looked at Castiel. The angel hadn't moved from the wall. Dean grinned. "Wanna go get dinner?"

The angel's head fell to the side, and Dean just knew he was going to say 'angel's don't need to eat.' Instead Castiel's eyes narrowed and he nodded. He vanished, and immediately reappeared right next to him. Dean suppressed the urge to flinch, and instead led the way outside.

Dean picked a diner near the motel. It was lit by bright blue and white fluorescent lights, and the interior had comfortable seats padded with red leather. The diner was half full; a few families sat around small tables, and men in trucker hats sat at the bar, buried in their plates. Dean quietly moved them to the back.

A young waitress wearing a light blue that accented her cleavage appeared by their table. She smiled widely at Dean. "Can I start you with something to drink?"

Dean's smile was bright and flirtatious. "Two beers please, darling."

The waitress made a note on her pad, smiled at him and Castiel, and then practically skipped away.

Dean watched her go, and then smiled at Cas. "Like what you see?"

The angel looked at him incomprehensively.

Dean sighed. "Come on, Cas. First rule of riding with a Winchester is that you need to get laid every now and then. You never know when you're going to die; you've got to go out with no regrets."

Castiel leaned forward slowly. "Why would I regret not getting…laid?"

A voice cleared itself. They looked up. The young waitress was blushing as she placed their drinks on the table. She shot Castiel a furtive glance. "Do you two know what you'd like to order?"

Dean handed her his menu. "I'd like a bacon cheeseburger."

She nodded, and turned to Cas with a small smile. "And you?"

Castiel frowned. "I do not require sustenance."

The waitresses smile faltered; she nodded, and headed back.

Dean shook his head sadly. "Dude, no. I think you just lost a good opportunity."

Castiel's bright eyes watched him. "I have not missed any opportunities."

Dean rolled his eyes. "So you're just going to hang around me all the time?" He laughed into his glass. "That is just pathetic."

Castiel's eyes narrowed. "Why is it pathetic?"

"Think of all the places you could be going! All of the people you could see! Instead you're just hanging around with my old ass. I mean come on, you're an angel. Shouldn't you want to hang around priests, or devout people, or whatever?" The angel still looked at him quizzically. "Come on, hanging around a sinner all day? That's not really angelic."

Castiel leaned in close, his eyes searching upward, his lips parted ever so slightly… Dean was completely distracted.

Castiel was speaking.

Dean shook his head. "What was that?"

"You have a beautiful soul."

Dean was at a loss for words. He stared at Cas unblinkingly as the waitress set down a plate of food.

Dean ate his food quickly; he was used to sitting at a table alone. He glanced up at the angel and almost against his will he smiled. He tried to hide it in his burger, but he failed. Castiel smiled back.

When they returned to the motel Dean killed time flicking through the old television and laying out the tools he would need for the next day.

Around midnight he lay down to go to sleep.

As usual Cas took up his spot on the end of the bed, content to watch him. Dean was surprised to find that he'd already grown used to the angel's vigil, and that he felt comforted by it. Sleep found him quickly.

The next day they headed out to hunt.

Dean was pissed Castiel got in the car, but there was literally nothing he could do to make him leave. He made a quiet note to read up on how to kill angels. He didn't want to kill his new guardian necessarily, but it might do good to have some leverage.

They pulled up outside an old school. The place certainly looked haunted, but then, Dean never was much for school. He stashed the car in a small grove of trees, and they casually meandered over.

A few people were walking in sight. Dean wasn't sure if they'd seen them, but just to be safe he headed to the schools playground. He sank into a wooden bench, and Castiel sat beside him.

They watched two women walking their dog around the perimeter of the fence. The brunette looked at them and smiled. She whispered to the blonde. Both looked at them and giggled, before hurrying away.

Dean scowled. He glared at Castiel. The angel was smiling at the play set. He turned to see what the angel was looking at. There was nothing. "What are you looking at?"

Castiel sighed happily. "So many people have been happy here. Small children playing, just enjoying existence. It is bliss."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Right. Kids getting picked on, falling down and scraping their knees; crying. This is such a great place."

Castiel frowned. "Why do you find the negative in everything?"

"Because that's the way life is Cas! Life is not all sun and roses! Life sucks."

Castiel looked like a kicked puppy. His eyes were full of sympathy. "Life is a beautiful thing."

Dean's eyes softened. His fingers touched Castiel's face lightly. "Not in my experience."

Castiel smiled making him seem years younger. His hands cupped Dean's face, drawing him closer. "The world shines, Dean. It shines with joy and beauty and innocence."

Dean brushed Castiel's hair behind an ear and cupped his neck. "You shine. You radiate with… innocence. This world is dark; it is filled with death and hatred. People are killed, families are shattered, and people have their… their innocence stolen every day."

"Dean –"

"No, Cas. You have to trust me. This world will eat you alive." Out of the corner of his eye Dean saw the two women look at them with bright smiles before turning on to a different street. Dean groaned, touching his forehead to Castiel's.

They rested for a moment before Dean opened his eyes and found Castiel's eyes boring into his. Dean sighed. "Let's go toast this ghost."

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