Dean felt himself being pulled through a field of white static, not an unfamiliar feeling as he'd traveled with Castiel this way before. This time was different. Before, it felt disorienting, like his thoughts and body were being dragged in a million directions. Now, he seemed to be in tune with Castiel's intent. Rather than feeling torn apart, he instead felt a thrumming throughout his body, like he was a guitar string being strummed. Suddenly, the thrumming stopped and he felt as if he'd been dropped through a trap door. He found himself in the middle of his room, Cas' arms still wrapped tightly around his waist.
"Aw, Cas," Dean said, trying to hide his disappointment, "this ain't my room any more. Too many nightmares."
"If that is your wish," Castiel said in a low, measured voice. He moved his hands slowly up Dean's back with featherlight touches. He coaxed Dean in closer, and ran his right hand up his neck to cradle the back of his head. He curled his fingers through Dean's sandy hair in exactly the way Dean had imagined in the shower, and Dean shivered and hummed through tightly pressed lips. Castiel pressed his stubbly cheek against Dean's and hummed right back, "I do think that we could do something to help make this a positive space again. My new friend Charlene told me-"
"Wait, what?" said Dean with surprise as he pulled back to raise an eyebrow at his angel. "Friend? Like… a friend? Named Charlene?"
"Yes, she works at the diner and helped me work out-"
"The waitress?!"
"Yes, she is a waitress, and she is also well-versed in-"
Dean lifted a finger and placed it on Castiel's mouth. "Cas, go back to the part where you tell me you have a friend."
Castiel took his hand from Dean's hair and used it to gently pull Dean's hand from his lips. He tipped his head slightly with a puzzled look that told Dean he just might, just maybe, quite possibly have said something... bad.
"Dean, why does it confuse you that I have a friend?" the angel asked, sad-eyed.
"Aw, Cas, I don't mean it like that!" Dean said, scrambling to recover. "It's, just…" Oh god, Dean, open mouth! Remove foot! "...you don't really have friends." Dean winced as if to prepare for a blow.
Castiel stared intently at Dean for a moment and then squeezed his hand. "Dean, I have you. I have Sam." Castiel smiled. "Now I have Charlene. Without her, I most likely would not be here with you right now."
Dean blinked a few times, then shrugged with a half smile. "Well Cas, if that's the case, she sounds like a pretty amazing friend," said Dean affirmatively.
Castiel released Dean's hand. "She has invited us over for a 'John Cusack movie marathon'," he said making air quotes.
"Chick flicks?" asked Dean suspiciously.
"Dean," Castiel replied seriously, "without John Cusack I also would not be here with you right now."
"Oh." Dean bit his lower lip. His gaze met Castiel's deep blue stare, then fell down to his full lips. He traced all the contours of his angel's face with his eyes, his furrowed brow, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, the wild hairs around his temples. He remembered the way Castiel danced in front of the Impala with abandon, performing just for him. Then he smiled. "It's a date, Cas."
Castiel replied, "that pleases me, Dean. But now, we need to discuss the matter at hand."
"My bedroom," Dean stated flatly with a slight wrinkle of his nose.
"Dean, I would like you to lay down on your bed."
Dean's bloodshot eyes widened, "no, Cas, please. I can't-"
"Dean," Castiel's voice came out severely, blue eyes flashing, "you are exhausted, bordering on collapse."
"But-"
"Dean, you trust me, correct?"
"Yes," Dean mumbled, eyes down.
"Then let me try to help you." Castiel's growl softened to a purr, "please."
Dean, still in his t-shirt and sweatpants, nodded and walked over to the double bed to lay on his back. Castiel followed slowly, deliberately.
"No, Dean, you should lay on your side." Dean complied wordlessly, and with that Castiel quietly removed his dress shirt, shoes, and slacks, folding and stacking them on the metal folding chair the brothers left in the room. He was down to his boxers when he slid into the bed next to his human. Castiel folded one arm and tucked it under his head, and wrapped the other one tightly around Dean, pulling him closer so that the contours of their bodies aligned perfectly. Dean could feel a soothing heat radiating from his angel, and he sighed.
Castiel brushed his lips against the back of Dean's neck, breath mingling with the baby-fine hairs that lived there. They laid there in silence for a few minutes, bodies pressed against one another. Eventually, Castiel whispered, "Dean, I want you to focus on my breath. I want you to breath in and out with me, and I want you to listen to your heartbeat rushing in your ears. Can you do that, Dean?"
Dean was unresponsive. In fact, Dean had fallen asleep mere moments after Castiel tucked his arm around him, feeling both comfortable and safe for the first time since he could remember. Castiel slid his leg in between Dean's and pulled him all the closer. As an angel, Castiel did not need sleep, but he felt more than content pressed up against his human, watching over him as he slept, protecting him from his own subconscious.