A/N: Sorry about the change in tense, from past to present. This one just came to me in present tense, and every time I tried to change it my mind kept slipping back into present tense. I'm very sorry about that.

In this tale, Cas and Dean sort of celebrate Valentine's Day.

Cas knows there's something up today. Sam had a talk with Dean before the two of them went off for a drive, and Dean left looking uncomfortable and slightly irritable. He'd entered the garage after he asked Cas to meet him there with a huff and a door slam, and had stared at Cas for a good few minutes, eyes darkened and glowering.

Cas says nothing, and climbs into the passenger seat without a word as Dean drops into the driver's seat. They're going out for yet another driving lesson, and although Cas still isn't quite sure how all the intricate road rules worked, he understands enough to get to most places without killing anyone.

He would be proud, under different circumstances, but now Dean was looking tired and unhappy, slumping in the driver's seat, hands clenching at the wheel. They weren't moving yet.

"Dean…" Cas starts gently, reaching out a hand to his friend's shoulder. Dean doesn't react to the touch, although, with a closer look, Cas can see his face soften slightly.

"You wanna drive?" Dean asks. When Cas nods Dean opens the door, not bothering to take his keys out of the ignition. They had finally moved to the Impala, because Dean now trusted that Cas wouldn't crash it and his Baby was much nicer anyway.

They switch seats, and Cas nervously adjusts his hands behind the wheel. He shifts the car into reverse and backed out, shooting glances at Dean every few seconds to judge his reactions. When none of the movements bring a scowl to Dean's face, he figures he's done well and heads off onto the road, driving into town.

"Are we going anywhere, Dean?" Cas asks, not taking his eyes off the road.

Dean shrugs. He could hear the rustling fabric, but couldn't really tell what his friend had done until Dean says, "Let's just go to the bar tonight, okay, Cas?"

He sounded vaguely miserable and of course, Cas isn't going to deny him anything.

After a fifteen minute drive, they find themselves in the parking lot of a dimly lit, probably shady bar. The sign outside was fading neon, and it seemed kinda derelict from the outside. Dean shoved the door open like he'd been there before, and he walks in, Cas following him.

They sit together, in the corner, and Dean orders some special beer that required questions about beer Cas doesn't really understand. Something about hops, whatever that means. Cas just orders whatever was on tap and hopes it's good. Most beer tastes pretty much the same to him, anyway.

The two of them say nothing, merely watching everyone else in the bar. There's a pool table, and a small crowd of guys watching a game of pool. There's a lot of shouting involved, and normally, Dean would be hustling at a game like that but here he was. Watching with a scowl. A young man and a woman drink together at a table, and from the young man's posturing, it's very clear he wants to score tonight. And if her drunken laughter is any indication, he will.

Cas takes a sip of his beer. It was good, more or less, but just beer to him. He drinks some more of it and wipes the foam from his lip, watching Dean as he drinks his own beer.

He's been unusually quiet, and Cas needs to know what's wrong.

"Is something troubling you, Dean?" the angel asks, and Dean glances at him, pulling a weary smile over his face.

"Nah, Cas. I'm fine."

Cas nods. Drinks more beer. "You've been acting differently today. Are you sure you're alright?" He hates it when Dean is upset.

Dean sighs. Drinks his beer to stall a bit. "You know, today's Valentine's Day, and, damn, this is stupid, but it used to be my favorite holiday and now, well, it's just kinda a day and it doesn't mean anything." Dean looks up, at the bartender, who keeps sending them looks from behind the bar. "And since it is Valentine's Day, people are going to assume we're a couple, which is just… weird."

Cas has heard of Valentine's Day. Remembers the last one he acknowledged, with the cupid and- was it Famine?- four years ago.

He doesn't reply. He just touches Dean's hand, gently, reassuringly, and uses his other to sip at the beer. Dean's hand moves slightly underneath his own, flips over, and fingers wrap around his wrist. "They'll definitely think we're a couple," he says quietly.

"Dean, you shouldn't care what they think," Cas replies.

Dean shrugs. He goes back into his beer, but his hand remains underneath Cas's and Dean has started rubbing his thumb in mindless, soothing circles around his wrist. Cas doesn't say anything, but he wonders why Dean is being more… willing than he usually is. Dean will usually shrug off a gesture or a hand, and today? Maybe it has something to do with Valentine's Day.

"Dean?"

"Yeah, Cas?"

"What exactly is Valentine's Day?"

Dean sighs, and the circling thumb pauses for a second. When Dean talks, the movement starts again, and it feels very nice. "Well, it's sorta like, a romantic holiday, you know? Like, boyfriend and girlfriend have an extra special day to celebrate love. Basically, it's just a day that celebrates love." Dean meets Cas's eyes, and his gaze softens. They say nothing, just stare at each other for a few long moments before Dean tears his eyes away.

"Used to be my favorite holiday. But now? Now, I don't really do holidays, I guess. Not since," he stops talking, and thinks. "Christmas, 2007. Before I died."

Cas nods. "I'm sorry to hear that, Dean." His own fingers wrap around the hand below him, so now they're officially, really holding hands and none of that seems strange to Castiel. Not like it should be.

"Yeah, well. Haven't missed much of anything, really." Dean laughs humorlessly, and the conversation is pretty much over.

Dean finishes his beer and Cas's beer, since the angel doesn't really mind the taste much. He pays for their drinks, and holds the door open for Cas when they head out. The gesture is unnecessary but kind, and Cas doesn't question it.

When Dean puts himself in the driver's seat, Cas is relieved. It's gotten dark out and he doesn't want to cause any sort of damage to Dean's baby. Cas clambers into the passenger seat, Dean turns the keys in the ignition, and they're off, heading back home to the bunker.

Cas doesn't question the hand, warm and steady, resting on his knee whenever Dean's not shifting gears. Doesn't question it, and instead, places his hand on top, taking a leaf from Dean's book and rubbing soothing circles into the wrist underneath his own.

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