Michael knocked on Cas's door, impatiently waiting for an answer. "Castiel!"
After a moment of silence, Michael knocked even harder. "Castiel! Open your door!"
Michael sighed and tried the handle, surprised to find it unlocked. No Castiel. He grew suspicious and went to the bathroom, where the door was open and unoccupied. Michael stood and looked about the room for any answer to where his brother could be. He saw the closet door ajar. He walked over to it and opened it, only to find most of the clothes gone along with Cas's suitcase.
"Gabriel!" Michael pounded on his door.
"What?" Gabriel groaned as he tiredly swung open the door.
"Where's Castiel?" Michael demanded.
"I don't know. Isn't he in his room?" Gabriel lied.
"No. His clothes and suitcase are gone. He could've been gone for weeks, Gabriel. This is important. You have no clue where Castiel is?" Michael pressed.
"I said I don't know." Gabriel repeated.
"Fine." Michael huffed. "I'll be back within the hour."
"Where are you going?" Gabriel asked.
"Dean Winchester's house." Michael answered, slamming the door shut and quickly descending the stairs.
"Hell is about to freeze over..." Gabriel sighed as he crawled back into bed.
John grumbled as he got up to answer the vicious rapping at the door. He opened it ajar, only for a dark haired man to violently push it all the way open and force into the house. He quickly searched the living area and the kitchen area before turning to the lower hallway. He pushed open the doors one by one, revealing empty rooms.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my house?!" John yelled.
Michael ignored him and continued pushing open through doors until he pushed open the guest room door where he saw Cas glaring at Dean who was tugging Cas's face into weird expressions.
"Dean. I said t- Michael." Cas froze.
John ran past Michael and stood in front of Dean and Cas protectively. "Get out of my house."
"Not until I get what I came for." Michael scowled.
Cas subconsciously grabbed onto Dean's arm, Dean reassuringly placing his hand on Cas's leg.
"What would that be?" John demanded.
"My brother. Castiel!" Michael pushed past John and grabbed Cas tightly on his arm. "We're leaving."
"Let go of me!" Cas shouted, yanking his arm from Michael's grasp.
"You will listen to me, Castiel! We are leaving. And that's an order!" Michael proclaimed.
"I don't want to leave, Michael!" Cas scowled.
"Cas..." Dean said softly. "Fighting's just going to piss him off more."
"Let him be pissed off. I'm staying here." Cas protested.
"It's Michael, right?" John turned his attention to the furious man standing in front of his son.
"Yes." Michael nodded.
"Did you not know that Castiel was over here or something?" John continued.
"Of course not." Michael growled. "Castiel isn't even allowed to be with your son and it seems that's all he ever wants to do."
"Dean, what'd you do now?" John sighed.
"Nothing!" Dean exclaimed. "I'm innocent here!"
"Except for that time that you cheated on him." Michael snapped.
"I didn't!" "He didn't!" Dean and Cas protested at the same time.
"I gave you the evidence." Michael replied.
"No. You gave me falsified photographs." Cas retorted. "Fuck you very much for that, by the way."
"What he said. Now get out of my house. Cas is welcome here. You're not." Dean ordered.
"I think I agree with Dean here. Get out of my house. Now." John glared at Michael.
"Not without Castiel." Michael responded.
"Get out of my house before I call the cops and file breaking and entering charges." John scowled.
"I can report kidnapping." Michael argued.
"Really? How about we ask Castiel some questions then." John smirked turning to Cas. "Castiel. Do you feel safe here?"
"Yes, sir." Cas answered.
"Are you free to leave anytime you want?" John asked.
"Yes, sir." Cas replied.
"Did anyone force you to come here?" John continued.
"No, sir."
"Are you being deprived of anything. Food? Water? School? Whatever?"
"No, sir." Cas was smiling smugly over at Michael as he answered John's questions.
"And are you being harmed in anyway by staying here?" John finished.
"No, sir." Cas responded.
"Then, Michael, get the hell out of my house and away from my son." John sneered.
"This isn't over, John Winchester." Michael huffed as he stormed out of the house.
"I don't want to hear you ever complain about your brother again, Dean." John said. "And is he always like that?"
"To much dismay, yes he is." Cas sighed.
"Real asshole he is." John snorted. "You live with him?"
"He's gone most of the time away on business and the such." Cas had relaxed now, but still clung onto Dean's arm. "He is a very powerful man though. I'd recommend not getting on his bad side. You should've stayed out of it and let him and I work it out."
"And me." Dean added.
"Especially notyou." Cas replied sternly.
Dean frowned, but let it rest.
"Can I borrow a phone?" Cas asked.
"Oh, um sure. I'll go get you one." John answered, walking off to get a phone.
"Who you gonna call?" Dean smirked. "Not the Ghostbusters."
"Lucifer. I'll make sure he tears Michael a new one." Cas mused.
"You have a brother name Lucifer?" John scoffed as he tossed Cas a phone.
"That's the typical reaction, but yes. He's the eldest next to Michael. I'm the youngest in the family." Cas explained.
"I'm not even going to ask." John muttered as he left the room. "Happy Valentine's Day by the way, boys."
"Valentine's Day?" Dean and Cas choked at the same time.
"Valentine's Day. That holiday all about love and fat naked babies and chocolate hearts that single women hate cry, then, get another cat over? You've heard of it haven't you?" John smiled.
"That's today?" Dean mused.
"Your father is right, Dean." Cas gestured towards the calendar on the wall. "Today is the 14th. Today is Valentine's Day."
"I hate Valentine's Day..." Dean sighed.
"You aren't planning on crying and getting a cat are you?" Cas asked. "That would be perfectly fine, of course. I love cats."
Dean smiled amusedly at Cas. "No. I'm not getting a cat, Cas."
Cas looked a little disappointed, but dialed Lucifer's number. After a quick, yet detailed explanation on Michael's actions, Cas placed the phone on Dean's dresser.
"Get your shoes on." Cas ordered.
"What? Why?" Dean snorted.
"Because we're going out for lunch." Cas stated.
"We are?" Dean raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. We are." Cas replied. "It's Valentine's Day, whether you hate it or not."
Dean glared at Cas, but sighed in resignation. "Fine. You should go take a shower or clean up or whatever."
"Good idea." Cas nodded.
"Fuckin' Novaks..." Dean laughed to himself as Cas left the room.
Cas walked back into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist, and another he was using to finish drying his hair.
"Look at you." Dean grinned.
"What about me?" Cas asked.
"You look hot." Dean breathed.
"Is that anything new?" Cas smirked.
"Arrogant prick." Dean retorted.
"You should show me some respect." Cas growled.
"Why's that?" Dean taunted.
"I volunteered to come here, and I can leave anytime I want." Cas stated.
"You won't though." Dean said.
"You know this fo- What in the hell happened to your hands?!" Cas exclaimed running over and picking up Dean's hands in his own. He gave them a once over, examining the surplus of shallow scratches all over Dean's hands.
"Nothing." Dean replied.
"Bullshit!" Cas protested. "I was in the shower for barely twenty minutes and you manage to hurt yourself! You can't be safe for twenty minutes? Of course you can't. You're you. Now what did you do?"
"Well. It's not entirely my fault..." Dean muttered.
"What. Happened. Tell me. Now." Cas ordered.
"The neighbors-" Dean started.
"Your neighbors did this to you?" Cas scoffed angrily. "I'll make sure they're sent to court-"
"Cas. Let me finish will you?" Dean laughed.
Cas remained silent.
"What I was saying, was that my neighbors don't tend to their garden very well. So when I went to get these..." Dean pulled a bushel of flower from behind his back and handed them to Cas. "The weeds and thorns scratched me up."
Cas looked at the flowers in his hands with extreme scrutiny. "Dean?"
Cas paused and tilted his head. "Why did you give me these?"
"That is still what people do on Valentine's Day, right? Or did I miss the memo?" Dean replied.
"People give each other flowers." Cas said.
"And that's what those are." Dean stated.
"No, Dean. These are weeds." Cas twirled the dandelions around in his hand.
"No they're not! They're obviously flowers. They're daisies or something like that." Dean argued.
"Dean. I know my botany. These are dandelions. These are weeds." Cas repeated.
Dean frowned. "Well they look like flowers. Points for effort, right?"
"I was unaware there is a point system when it comes to holidays, but I suppose you can have points for your effort." Cas mused. "And it is the thought that counts, given that this is a holiday around love and companionship versus holidays such as Halloween or Christmas which are based around material items."
"That was a mouthful." Dean chuckled.
"I'll be right back." Cas replied, hurrying out the door.
Cas returned with some bandages in his hands. He knelt before Dean and gently took one of Dean's hands in his own, beginning to slowly wrap it. Sam walked past their room and gagged.
"Don't you two know how to close a fucking door!?" Sam exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?" Dean asked, Sam covering his eyes with both hands.
"Can't you guys just do that in private. I don't need to see gay porn every time I walk past your room!" Sam retorted.
"Hold up, Sammy." Dean ordered.
"What." Sam scowled.
"Open your eyes." Dean smiled.
Sam hesitantly removed his hands from his face.
"Look." Dean held up his hands. "Cas is bandaging my hands. Sadly, he's not doing something sexy right now."
"Dean." Cas snapped.
"Oh..." Sam said quietly. "That's a relief. My point still stands though. I'm still traumatized from the other week and I always will be."
"Sorry." Dean snorted.
Sam sighed, shooting Dean a bitchface before continuing on down the hallway. Cas finished wrapping Dean's right hand and moved to his left.
"Did you even think to wash your hands? You have dirt all under your finger nails. It's unsanitary. You do so many unsanitary things, that the FDA would deem you hazardous to even have in a food environment." Cas scolded.
"You're so adorable when you make a nerdy insult." Dean grinned.
Cas ignored the remark and snugly began wrapping Dean's hand. He wrapped around Dean's palm once...twice...three times and then tore off the excess bandages. Cas smiled softly at his handiwork and then brought Dean's hands together, planting a light kiss to them.
"There. All better." Cas finished, placing Dean's hands back in his lap. "Don't go picking weeds again."
Dean grabbed Cas by his sides and pulled him up on top of his lap. Dean quickly pressed his lips into Cas's, pushing his hands into his hair. Cas looped his arms around Dean's neck, interlocking his hands at the back. Cas moved his face just barely away from Dean's, looking him square in the eyes.
"No." Cas glared at him, climbing off and standing up, his towel falling off as he did so. "God dammit."
Cas fumbled with the towel for a minute before giving up and just grabbing the closest pair of underwear and pulling them on.
"The love the view, Cas." Dean smiled.
"Fuck you, Dean." Cas scowled not all that seriously, flipping him off.
"Nice choice in underwear by the way." Dean smirked.
Cas looked down and realized he'd pulled on a pair of Dean's boxers. They were pink with 'I 3 JB' written on the back in glittery red typing. On the crotch part was a photo of Justin Bieber with his mouth open right over the flap. Dean laughed even harder each time he looked at Cas.
"Dean, where the fuck did you even get these?!" Cas exclaimed.
"Believe or not, your brother." Dean wheezed.
"I could believe it." Cas sighed, looking down at his underwear. "I just think I'm about to barf."
"Hate to break it to you, Cas, but you're going to have to spend another Valentine's Day alone. No way you're getting laid in those." Dean snorted.
"What do you mean 'alone'?" Cas furrowed his brow, suspicious.
Dean smiled. "Well, if you're planning on going to a bar to pick up some vulnerable girl to go home with you, don't bother. She wouldn't go with you anyways."
"Why would I want to have sex?" Cas asked.
"Rephrase that first." Dean chuckled.
"Okay. Why would I want to take advantage of vulnerable women and sleep with them?" Cas repeated.
"Why wouldn't you?" Dean countered, with a smirk
"Becuase I have you." Cas answered blatantly. "And I'd rather be with you than anyone else, especially on Valentine's Day."
"How sweet." Dean cooed.
"Shut up." Cas snapped. "Just sit there and try not to be annoying."
"Another reason you'll have the hardest time getting your girlfriends and boyfriends to stick around." Dean retorted.
"Well, I don't think dating is going to be a problem for a long while." Cas mused, buttoning up his shirt.
"Better not be. You're taken." Dean smirked, grabbing his crutches.
"Dean." Cas observed his crutches. "If you were in your neighbors' yard, where is the dirt and mud on your crutches?"
"I didn't take my crutches. Simple as that." Dean replied.
"How'd you get around then?" Cas asked intrigued.
"A not at all graceful, dignity ruining process of hopping and crawling." Dean answered.
"That must've been a sight to see." Cas retorted.
"Says the one wearing Justin Bieber undies under that suit." Dean laughed. "I'm glad I didn't burn those the second I saw them."
Cas smirked as Dean walked – er crutched – to the doorway. Dean crookedly linked his arm at the elbows with Cas's. "Shall we?"
"We shall." Cas smiled up at Dean, stumbling along Dean's side as they lopsidedly made it out into the living room.
A lady led Dean and Cas to the same room that they'd eaten at before. It looked exactly the same as it had then down to the bonsai tree. Dean laid his crutches on the booth across from where they were going to sit. Cas placed his leg behind him and held out his hand. Dean smiled as he took Cas's hand and sat down in the booth, Cas scooting in next to him.
"I remember how good the fries were." Cas mused as he looked at the menu.
"There were another good thing than just the fries." Dean stated.
"Oh yes. The burger was also quite enjoyable, too." Cas didn't look up as he flipped to the next page.
"That wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but okay." Dean replied.
"What else could you have in mind? You obviously did not approve of my blueberry scone." Cas asked.
"Cas..." Dean put his finger beneath Cas's chin and turned his head to face him. "You."
"Oh." Cas smiled.
Dean leaned in and began kissing Cas slowly, placing his hands around Cas's waist. Cas brought his hands up to Dean's hair and ran his fingers through the messy, blonde strands.
After a moment, Cas pulled away, giving Dean a look of curiosity and confusion. "Why'd you take me back?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Dean raised an eyebrow at him.
"A logical one. You never told me why you took me back. You just said you forgave me." Cas answered. "You don't deserve a piece of crap like me. You deserve someone who'll be good to you."
"Cas..." Dean sighed, placing a hand on the side of Cas's face, Cas immediately leaning into the touch. "I took you back because I love you. It's simple. And don't you dare say that you don't deserve me, Cas. I'm a terrible person. You're so much better than me. And you are good to me, Cas. You're the best thing to ever happen to me."
"Dean, you're not a terrible person. You're the best person I've ever met. You have the largest metaphorical heart I've ever seen. You fight for what you believe in and the people you love. Your intentions are always true. You're so righteous." Cas snapped. "What I really don't understand is why you love me. I've hurt you in so many ways, Dean and I'll never forgive myself for it, yet you always do. And I just don't understand! Tell me Dean. Tell me why you love me. I'll never understand."
Dean brought Cas into a tight hug. "Do you really need an explanation, Cas. Isn't 'I love you' enough?"
"I just don't understand, Dean." Cas whimpered. "I want to – I need to understand what you see in me."
"Okay." Dean huffed, still holding Cas tight to his chest. "You could ask any one of my friends or family if I could ever love a guy like you, and they'd all laugh and say no. They'd be absolutely right."
He could feel Cas shift beneath him. "But it's so much more complicated than that. Any other person, I would hate and could never be in a room with them for more than two minutes, but not with you, Cas. Not with you. I could never hate you and I wouldn't mind being locked in a room with you for the rest of my life."
"Get on to the part where you explain why you love me already." Cas ordered.
Dean chuckled. "Everything, Cas. Everything about you, everything you do, everything you say makes me fall more and more in love with you. Everything you are is perfect. Being with you makes me indescribably happy. You're smart, yet stupid, you're sarcastic, yet overly literal, you're needy, yet giving, you're egotistical, yet modest, but most of all, you're...you're beautiful."
"Beautiful?" Cas asked.
"Yes. I'm not talking about your clothes, or hair. I'm talking about you. And you are beautiful. Everything about you is just stunning. From the little wrinkles around your eyes when you smile, to the way you tilt your head when you're confused. And who you actually are is addictive, Cas. You're like a drug that will never leave my system. You've been through so much shit and yet you still shine. Contrary to that, you're so flawed and fucked up and I love every single bit of it. Every time you screw up a social situation or trip over your own feet, every time you put your tie on backwards or your shirt on inside out, it's perfect."
Cas pulled away from Dean. "Do you, do you really mean all that?"
"No. Of course not." Dean rolled his eyes. "I made up a whole mushy gushy speech to humor you."
Cas pounced on Dean and nuzzled his face in Dean's neck, wrapping his arms tightly around him as they crashed onto the cushioning of the booth. "I didn't think it was mushy gushy."
"Whatever." Dean smiled. "Do you understand now?"
"I don't, Dean, but I know exactly what you were talking about." Cas replied, barely hovering above Dean before leaning in and kissing him. Dean paused when he felt something wet on his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Cas was crying.
"Whoa, Cas." Dean pushed Cas off him, bringing a hand up to caress Cas's face. He wiped away a tear with his thumb. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Cas smiled. "Everything's just so right."
Dean smiled back at him and sat up. Cas returned to kissing Dean, slowly moving their lips in perfect synchronization. They didn't notice when a waitress entered to take their order. After a moment of waiting, she tapped her pen against the table. Dean and Cas looked over and Cas's face flushed red with embarrassment.
"Do you know what you're ordering, or do you need a minute?" She smiled.
"We know what we want." Dean answered, Cas shaking his head.
"Okay. What can we get for you?" She asked.
"I guess I'll have a blueberry scone and s-" Cas started, Dean cutting him off.
"Don't mind him. He's you know..." Dean twirled a finger by his head, claiming Cas's insanity. "We'll get two burgers and four orders of fries."
Cas glared as Dean as the waitress walked off. "What was that for?"
"I'm not having you steal my burger again." Dean said. "Not happening."
Cas sighed, but intertwined his hand with Dean's. Dean smiled at him as he squeezed his hand.
The waitress delivered their orders, setting a burger in front of each of them and giving them each two plates of fries. Dean immediately pushed his over to Cas and the waitress's eyes widened in disbelief that the small, sexy boy in front of her could be expected to eat all that food.
"Enjoy!" She chided as she walked off.
Cas took a bite of his burger and frowned. "This tastes weird."
"What's wrong with it?" Dean asked.
Cas nabbed Dean's burger and took a bite of it. "It's not yours."
"Give that back you little shit!" Dean exclaimed as Cas held his burger out to the side.
Dean grabbed Cas's burger and took a bite from it.
"Oh no you don't!" Cas grabbed back his burger and turned his back to Dean, alternating between eating each of the burgers.
"You fucker." Dean retorted.
Cas turned back around to Dean and smiled smugly as he finished the burgers.
"Do I have anything on my face?" Cas mumbled.
"Yeah." Dean answered. "Some ketchup."
"Where is it?" Cas replied.
"Don't bother. I'll get it." Dean said, reaching for a napkin. As he brought the napkin up to Cas's mouth, he set it down and kissed the side of Cas's lips. "I got it."
Cas smiled as he turned and looped his arms around Dean's neck, Dean placing his hands at Cas's waist and smiling back.
Cas leaned at put his head against Dean's chest. "Those burgers make me so happy."
"Well, you make me so happy." Dean countered. "Not-as-terrible-as-usual Valentine's Day, Cas."
"Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, Dean." Cas chuckled, leaning up and catching Dean in a passionate liplock.
Michael paced back and forth across Lucifer's bedroom. "No matter what I try, those two always get back together!"
"That's what you get." Lucifer retorted. "Karma's a bitch, Michael."
"I have to make sure they don't see each other again!" Michael exclaimed.
"Tell me again why this is a problem." Lucifer sighed. "You say Castiel can't be seen by someone of his social class, but has anyone except you cared about who Cassie is dating? No. The only interest the media took in it was that he was dating period. No one gives a damn who he dates except you. Can't you let it go?"
"No. I can not." Michael protested. "They have been together for three months at the least now. This needs to end. This needs to end right now. I need to do whatever this calls for."
"You're don't mean..." Lucifer's jaw dropped.
"I said whatever separating them calls for. And it calls for that. So yes. I do mean that." Michael answered.
"This is going too far, Michael!" Lucifer scolded. "You can't just do that over a relationship! That's all they have!"
"Well if that doesn't work, we'll just have to take away everything else Dean has: Castiel." Michael stated, leaving the room.
Lucifer ran after him and grabbed his arm. "Don't do it, Michael. Just leave his family alone. If not for Castiel, then for me. I like that Dean kid and I really like his brother, Sam. He's a good kid. Dean and his family don't need this Michael. They're my friends. Now I'm begging you. Don't do this."
"I'll do what I please, Lucifer." Michael glared at him, jerking his arm from his brother's grasp.
"I'm sorry, Dean." Lucifer whispered into the air as he turned back to his room.
A/N: Ominous ending there. *spooky music ensues* What could be going on? Hm? Hm? Hm? Next chapter should be up tomorrow. ;) In the mean time, I've lost two hours of sleep. I have to get up in less than 5 hours, but finishing this was totally worth it. Every single word. Reviews are awesome, since I'm probably bringing this to a close in around 5 chapters. That's the plan at least, so any ideas or comments are still helpful.