"Sammy, I fucked up."

Sam looked up in surprise at his brother who sat across from in the booth at Tessa's Diner. It had become a tradition for the Winchesters to have lunch together every Sunday at Tessa's ever since Sam finished law school and moved back Lawrence.

He sighed. "What did you do this time?"

Dean's mind was on the events of last night that he didn't even bother to throw Sam an insult at the phrasing of his question.

"I might have come on too strong to Castiel." Dean groaned out and then proceeded to tell Sam about what happened after him and Gabriel had left.

"You can tell me, I did come on too strong, didn't I?" Dean looked down at the table, clearly troubled that he had messed everything up.

"You think? You practically jumped the poor guy. What happened to wanting to take it slow since Castiel is shy?" Sam knew Dean must be really upset about it since his burger still sat on his plate, untouched.

"I was. I mean, I will." Dean grunted in frustration, "I guess I just over did it. I just lost it at the thought that he wants somebody else so I wanted to get his mind off of what's his face and remember me."

Sam laughed at Dean's logic. "Oh, I have no doubt he'll remember you. Eat your food before it gets cold."

Sam took a bite of his own burger but almost choked when Dean pushed his away. "I'm not hungry."

Sam put down his sandwich and eyed his brother speculatively. "Dean, before you get yourself all worked up, I think you need to ask yourself this. Do you want a fling or a relationship with Castiel? I might not know Castiel, but he strikes me as the kind of guy that is looking for something long term."

Dean grew quiet for a moment before he answered Sam. "I don't know him well enough to say I want a long term relationship, but I do know I want to find out if the potential for one is there."

"Then why are you treating him like one of those bimbos you would mess around with before you came out?"

Dean sat in his seat, shamefaced. He just knew he was eager to show Castiel how interested he was in him that he took it too far.

"Shit, I probably fucked everything up." Dean rubbed his tired eyes and tried to ignore the regret that hung heavy in his chest.

Sam grabbed Dean's forearm and gave it a little shake. "Just talk to him. Show Castiel there is a gentleman buried in there somewhere." Sam coughed to cover a smile at the next part of advice he was about to dispense. "And no sex."

Dean opened his mouth to protest but Sam held up his hand.

"If you really want to know more about this guy, lay off the sex for a while. It will only cloud your judgment."

"You want me to take a pledge of abstinence? But I'm so damn good at sex, how the hell am I going to be able to impress the guy? No…no way, Sammy." Dean practically whined.

"Do you really want to know him on a deeper level or what?" Sam waited for Dean to grudgingly nod. "Then trust me on this. It's not forever anyways, just for a little while."

Dean gave a petulant little whine and then sighed dejectedly. "Fine, bitch. I'll give it a try."

Sam bit into his burger to hide the smirk that was threatening to spread across his face.

"Are you going to Gabriel's party next weekend?" Dean asked, pulling his plate back toward him, apparently his appetite restored.

Sam shrugged. "I'll show up only to see you stumble around to impress Castiel."

"You know that's not the only reason you're going."

"Of course, Gabriel's is my paralegal and I guess we've become friends of sorts." Sam admitted, paying special attention to his half eaten burger.

"Friends?" Dean raised his hands at Sam's glare.

"Friends…friends is good." Dean smiled before polishing off the rest of his sandwich.

At least it was a step in the right direction.

Castiel knew it was going to be a hellish week when he woke up Sunday morning to go on his jog only to open his eyes to find Balthazar in his face.

"How'd it go last night?" Balthazar asked, lying on his side, facing Castiel.

Castiel had long ago stopped being shocked to find the angel in his bed. It was practically a daily occurrence.

"They left together last night, that's a good thing, right?"

Balthazar grinned and gave Castiel an over exuberant kiss on the mouth. Castiel grabbed the angel's face with one hand and pushed him away in disgust.

"Ugh, you taste of cigarettes and cheap wine coolers." Castiel got out of bed and started rummaging through his dresser for a t-shirt and running shorts.

"I decided to give you some precious privacy in case you decided to bring Winchester home which I'm disappointed by the way that he isn't here. I decided to observe the mating rituals of college students instead."

"In other words, you went to a frat party." Castiel shook his head as he pulled on his shorts.

"Yes, and I must say, those boys could use a lesson in finesse, especially when they managed to get the women to consent to sexual relations. It was quite laughable really even though I felt sorry for the poor girls because it was over before it even begun." Balthazar propped himself up on his elbows and hummed thoughtfully.

"You're such a pervert. You need to stop spying on people. It's getting creepy."

"You find my spying endearing."

Castiel stared back at Balthazar, expressionless.

"Or maybe not." Balthazar cleared his throat and got off the bed and went back to the topic at hand. "So Sam and Gabriel left together? That is a good sign. Now tell me, what happened with you and Mr. Orgasmo."

Castiel finished tying his running shoes and shook his head at Balthazar's nickname for Dean. "Nothing happened. We played a little pool and then I went home. Alone."

Balthazar tsked sadly. "You should have pursued him, brought him home and fucked like proverbial bunnies. Maybe it would have put you in a better mood."

"I would like to get to know somebody before having sex." Castiel said over his shoulder as he walked out of the bedroom.

Balthazar followed him through the living room to the kitchen. "Come on, Cassie, that's the best part of getting to know somebody. You have to know if you two have sexual chemistry also. Just put yourself out there. Show Dean you're a dynamo in bed."

Castiel paused in the act of pulling the orange juice out of the refrigerator to glare at Balthazar.

"For an angel, you give horrible advice."

"You know lots of people would be honored to get advice from a heavenly being."

"Then go honor them and leave me alone."

"I don't need to take this abuse. Go on your run, but you'll still be a cranky bitch until you get some cock. Really, that much pent up sexual frustration is not healthy." The muse gave Castiel a cocky smirk before he vanished, the breeze ruffling Castiel's messy hair.

Castiel stared at the space that the angel had just occupied and his brows drew together in confusion.

When did the mission turn to getting two soulmates together to me getting laid?

"Castiel, just the person I wanted to see." Castiel internally groaned at the post mistress, Pamela, as she walked into the back. It was Monday morning and Castiel had just walked into the backroom of the post office to get ready for his deliveries.

"I have a huge favor to ask of you, Castiel." Pamela grinned, leaning against one of the large trolley bins full of mail.

"What do you need Pamela?" Castiel liked Pamela, she was a good boss, but sometimes she unnerved him with her ability to know everything.

"I need you to help run the front desk this week. Becky is sick and she will be out the entire week, doctor's orders."

Castiel blanched. "Why do I have to do it? Isn't there anybody else? Besides, who will cover my route?"

"Garth said he could use some extra hours so he's going to take over your route for the week and you are the only one that has experience running the front desk."

When Castiel first got the job at the post office, he was assigned to the front desk. He hated having to deal with customers. The majority of them were good natured, but there were several that were just out right rude and hateful. As soon as an opening for a mail carrier opened up, he jumped on it and never looked back.

"There is absolutely nobody else?" Castiel asked, already putting down his satchel.

Pamela gave him a kind smile. "Sorry hon, you're it. Now get up there, we're about to open."

Castiel groaned and made his way slowly to what he was sure was perdition.

Despite having to man the front desk, the week was going by pretty quickly. It also helped that he had to look forward to talking with Garth at the end of his shift.

It started on Monday after work where Castiel was walking to his car when Garth stopped him.

"Wait up Castiel!" Garth came running, all gangly arms and legs.

Castiel sighed but stopped. He actually really liked Garth for his happy-go-lucky attitude in any situation, but today he didn't want to deal with anybody.

Garth ran to the car and stopped a moment to catch his breath. "I ran into somebody on your route. His name is Dean. He was asking about you."

Castiel froze and turned wide eyes to Garth. "He was? What did he say?"

Garth gave him a big, silly grin. "He was worried something was the matter since you never miss work. I told him how you have to work at the desk this week. He then asked me to give you this."

Garth handed him a folded piece of paper and gave him a friendly wave, going off to his own car.

Castiel watched Garth go before turning his attention back to the paper. He opened it and started to read.

Cas,

Sorry about Saturday night. I acted like an ass. I hope you won't judge me based on that one night. Can we start over? I really would like to get to know you better. So tell me, what kind of music do you like?

-D

Castiel's face blossomed into a smile. He got into his car and dug for the pen he knew he kept in his dash. Using the opposite side of the paper, he started writing out a response.

Dean,

I apologize that I so rudely left that night. I did not think of you as an "ass" but very charming even if you were very enthusiastic. I'm very rusty with how to act around other people since I tend to be a bit of a hermit at times. I would very much like to start again and get to know about you also.

As for my music tastes, I enjoy a wide variety of music but my personal favorite is classical, especially classical piano.

What about you? What kind of music do you enjoy?

-Cas

Castiel bit his lip as he read over the note, feeling slightly foolish. He was thirty-three years old and he was acting like he was thirteen passing notes to his crush. But then again, Dean started it, not him.

He started up his car and took a different way home to drive past Dean's house, feeling slightly like a stalker. He let out a relieved breath when he didn't see Dean's Impala in the drive. Castiel parked and quickly got out and stuck the note in Dean's door where he was sure he would get it.

On Tuesday, Garth handed him another note accompanied by a cassette tape. Castiel once again waited for Garth to head to his car before he got in his own and read the letter.

Cas,

Thought it would be better for you to listen than tell you about it. Tell me what you think. What's your favorite TV show? Movie?

-D

Castiel smirked. Dean made him a mix tape. On cassette even. Castiel refused to feel ashamed of the slightly foolish way they were getting to know each other since Dean obviously didn't.

Castiel quickly wrote another note answering Dean's questions and asking some of his own and once again drove by Dean's to drop off the note. That night, he listened to the tape, enjoying in particular Traveling Riverside Blues. He wrote a brief note about which songs he liked the most and burned Dean a disc of some of his favorites. The next morning he handed it to a laughing Garth who obviously knew what was going on, but didn't care.

Castiel was enjoying the little notes and comments he would get from Dean. They never went into anything too deep which for now was fine with Castiel.

The bubbling good mood that Castiel was enjoying was ruined on Thursday morning when he heard a crash in his bathroom, startling him out of bed.

He gasped when he raced into the bathroom to see that part of the plaster ceiling had collapsed, exposing the wood structure of Castiel's ceiling and the floor of the upper level. Water steadily ran down, flooding his bathroom.

"Shit!" Castiel grabbed a bucket to put under the worse of the leaks and ran out of his apartment to the foyer, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the other apartment door, letting himself inside.

Castiel lived in an old Victorian house that was converted into apartments. Castiel lived on the first floor while the owner lived on the top floor. Until recently, a sweet little old lady named Mrs. Gardner lived above him, but she decided to move to Florida and sold the house to a young woman named Charlie a few months earlier.

Castiel and Charlie hit it off immediately sharing many things in common; especially history even though Charlie used her knowledge of history for Renaissance faires, but that didn't bother Castiel.

In the short amount of time they had known each other; they had become friends and even trusted keeping their apartments unlocked; only keeping the main street entries locked.

"Charlie!" Castiel called out, but already knew Charlie was gone for work. He went into her bathroom to see that her tub was overflowing. He quickly shut off the water and reached for the plug to let the water out, all the time muttering under his breath.

He loved Charlie, but the girl could be flighty sometimes.

He mopped up her bathroom as best as he could and went down to his own apartment to call her.

"Wow, why the early phone call?" she asked when she finally picked up.

"Did you plan on taking a bath this morning?" he asked into the phone.

"Wow, how did you know? Yeah, I was going to but then I decided to play a quick game before work, but then played too long and was going to be late for work…" Charlie suddenly stopped talking.

"Fuck, I forgot to turn off the water, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. I cleaned up your bathroom the best I could, but you'll have to send somebody to fix my ceiling and possibly some of the floor. It seemed a few tiled were cracked when the plaster hit."

"Oh shit Cas, I'm sorry. Mrs. Gardner gave me Rufus's number, that's who she would use for repairs, right? I'll give him a call immediately and get it all fixed up."

Castiel tried to calm down a distraught Charlie as he tried to get ready for work. Luckily he had taken a shower before bed so he could skip it this morning since he didn't have time to clean the plaster out of the tub so he could take one.

Charlie promised to call him on her lunch break to let him know what Rufus said.

The first half of the day went slow but luckily he didn't have to deal with any irate customers. At lunch time, Charlie called.

"Hey Cas, I called Rufus, but apparently he retired last month. He did recommend somebody to me that does good work. I called him and he said he was pretty busy during the day, but he said he would come by around six after his last job to take a look."

Castiel was a little surprised the guy was willing to come during off hours, but he was relieved that somebody was going to look at it that night. "Sounds good, I'll be home by then."

"Sorry I couldn't be there to talk to him, but we had a system crash here at the office and I'll probably be here all night trying to fix it. Damn amateurs." Charlie muttered over the phone.

Castiel laughed. "Not everybody can be a computer genius like you."

"I know, I know. I'm just cursed with this gift. I'll stop by and see you tomorrow when you get off of work though."

After saying their good-byes, Castiel went back to work, waiting impatiently for the end of the day.

When five o'clock came around, he practically raced to his car to meet Garth. Garth gave him another silly smile before passing him yet another note.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on? You're not like a spy are you?" Garth teased, his smile growing bigger at Castiel's blush.

Castiel shook his head and gave his friend a smile. Garth laughed and took off for his car. As always, Castiel waited until Garth was gone before opening the note.

Cas,

I listened to the cd last night. I think we should progress from notes to maybe phone calls? Call me tonight after 8 and I'll tell you what I think of your music choices.

-D

Castiel stared at the number at the bottom of the note. He found it so much easier to converse with Dean over letters, he was nervous to actually talk to him and hear that raspy voice of his.

He got in his car and drove home, lost in thought. Once home, he changed into sweats and t-shirt and quickly cleaned up the bathroom before the repairman arrived.

Once done, he lied down on the couch, flipping on the TV and found a Dr. Sexy marathon. Dean had said it was his favorite show so he wanted to see what it was all about. His mind kept wondering back to the note and whether he should call him.

He smiled and decided that he would. Really, what would it hurt?

Except for having to run the front desk and the disaster in the bathroom, the week wasn't so bad between the notes from Dean and being Balthazar-free. He did feel a wiggle of worry that he hadn't heard from the angel in days, but sometimes he would disappear for days at a time.

Castiel was starting to really get into the show when the doorbell rang. He got up and padded over to the foyer to let the repairman through the main entry.

Before he opened the door, he suppressed a smile at the thought that by the time the repairman left, it would be time to call Dean.

This week hasn't been so bad after all.

I imagine you all can guess who the repairman is going to be. :D The inspiration for Castiel running the front desk is actually from a guy from my own post office. He works in the back, but occasionally he has to sub for one of the ladies if they're sick. The look of trepidation on the guy's face cracks me up every time.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and once again, thanks for the favorites, follows and reviews….it makes me very happy! :)