2011

The swirling water and cracking wood was like a hazy dream. And even before he opened his eyes, Dean could feel the soreness of his body. Yet, Dean woke up feeling the warm sun on his skin and a comforting weight caging him to the bed. He reached out, touching the tips of his fingers to warm skin, soft and firm. The person behind him snuggled into his neck and made a quiet sound of contentment. Dean turned within the arms holding him and came face to face with none other than Castiel.

"Morning," he smiled sleepily at Dean.

Dean didn't remember getting here.

He remembered falling through a staircase, he remembered rushing water and shooting pain, he remembered getting clotheslined by an i-beam.

Dean remembered being pissed at Cas...

He certainly did not remember going to bed with Cas.

...But something told him to ignore it. Just ignore that little fact. A cold pit in his stomach demanded Dean just let it be. And Dean was comfortable lying with him, and tired of fighting it, and finally didn't see any reason not to do just this. "Morning Cas," he smiled back shyly.

He should have been confused, he should have been on guard, he should have been freaking out...

Let it go Dean, his mind demanded.

Years of living on the edge of death with no comfort, no peace of mind, no one to come home to. Waking up with Cas was feeling so right.

Cas leaned in and nuzzled his face to Dean's, rubbing their foreheads together and Dean closed his eyes, trying to memorize the feeling. It was strange...exactly what he had always wanted and never realized he'd needed so much. A simple, honest touch.

Dean tried to roll closer to Cas, closer to that warmth, but winced at the feeling of the fractured bone in his leg. "Careful," Castiel warned. "You're supposed to have a cast on."

"How'd I get out of there?"

"Perhaps it was your lucky day."

Dean groaned in obvious disagreement.

"You look groggy," Cas stated. He pressed his fingertips feather-light to Dean's bruised face, "You took quite a bang to the head." He leaned over and pressed his lips ever so slightly to the heated, purpling skin. Dean's heart jumped at the feel of his soft lips. It felt so new yet so natural, and his heart thumped against his ribcage like a girl on her first date. He felt a blush in his cheeks. Cas let out a soft laugh against his skin. "I'm kind of glad you did get your skull cracked," Cas smirked against his skin before moving back down to look Dean in the eye. "Had you been in your right mind, this may never have happened."

Dean didn't bother to tell Cas that "this" was all a blur to him. He was just glad that something had finally brought them together.

Cas continued, "You gave us quite a scare, Dean. You gave me quite a scare."

"I'm sorry," Dean said simply, meaning it. "For everything." He slid his well leg against Cas', "I guess it's pretty obvious now I was lying when I said I didn't care if you left again." It was strange how easily the words came out. Saying what he truly felt was an utter impossibility for Dean most of the time, and he pretended it wasn't so, but in truth he knew that about himself. Which is why he was so relieved, albeit confused, that this particular morning everything seemed to be so easy. It was like his every fear and emotional hang-up was just knocked out of him with that beam to the head - swept away, leaving him to wake-up into this dream world where he knew so specifically how important it was to tell Cas the truth.

Cas' smile at Dean's words nearly knocked the breath out of the man. A smile like that, was worth everything. Dean watched Cas with a kind of awed adoration- dark hair a mess, lips stretched into an honest to God smile, morning scruff on his cheeks. There was something inhuman about him even now, something more.

Cas ran his thumb over Dean's hand. "I'm happy to hear you say it."

Dean considered a moment whether he really wanted these words to come out, "I'm glad for you to finally hear it." What a weight off. And so much easier to admit than he'd thought.

Cas ran his hands softly up Dean's back, caressing the valley of his spine, and Dean let out a singular laugh, feeling lighter than he had... ever. "What did happen last night?"

Cas smirked at him and rolled over on top of him.

It was so easy for Dean to give in.