The elevator ride down to the garage was quieter than Cas thought that it would be. They stood side-by-side, arms brushing despite the fact that there was room for them to have a little personal space. Not that Cas was complaining, mind you. Dean had grabbed up the tool box and was holding it at his side. When Cas finally thought of something to say to break the silence.

"That's a mighty big tool box you have there." Okay, not his best line. Seriously, I come from the land of cheese and sap. I should be banished to a distant land where no one has to hear me speak.

Dean, to his credit, laughed a little and said, "The better to fix your bike with." Then he smiled down with a wolfish grin and let out another little laugh.

"I guess you weren't kidding when you said that I didn't need to worry about getting any tools together for you. Not that I have any." Cas hoped that he had already forgotten the very recent awkwardness.

"So, if I remember right, you said that you haven't been able to start it for awhile now and that it may need some body work. Did I remember right?" Dean looked over to him.

"Yep. I haven't even tried to start it in months." Cas looked away. Looking at Dean was proving difficult for him. This was steadily becoming the most difficult friendship ever forged. Unless, of course, one is supposed to want to tear the clothing off of said friend, in which case, Cas was doing splendidly.

"So, the bodywork will likely have to wait. I'm good, but I don't have a mobile bodyshop. If you want, we might be able to haul the bike to my uncle's place to finish it up, but that will have to be later." Dean took the first step out of the elevator as it reached the garage floor.

"I think that you should not offer up so much of your time before you actually see the beast." Cas said as he stepped past Dean to lead the way to the storage locker. "You are way too generous. I'm surprised. I don't meet many people like you." Cas was glad that he was ahead of Dean so that he couldn't see the blush that he could feel creeping up into his cheeks.

"Sam has told me how much you have helped him. I think that I can't even begin to pay you back for all that you have done for my brother. So, to my way of thinking, I'm not being generous. I am just doing what I can to show appreciation." Cas turned as he was walking to look back at Dean. Dean's head was hanging a bit-almost shyly.

"So you are here as a big thank you on behalf of Sam?" Cas asked, almost hoping that the answer was no. Yes meant just friends though, so that was okay, right? He stopped at the slide up door to his locker and stooped to put the key into the lock.

"No, and yes too. I, um, I don't know. You do know that this is like a really rare bike, right?" Dean seemed to be struggling with what he wanted to say and Cas found it endearing despite the fact that Dean pretty much said that he was basically here to drool over a rare bike-not Cas.

"Yes, I have been told that it is something special." He lifted the slider up to the ceiling and went into the dark locker to find the light switch. He turned the light on and beckoned Dean into the space.

"Oh, wow." Dean let out. "Someone has been unkind." He said to the bike as he stooped down to run a hand along its body.

Cas stood off to the side feeling a little guilty. He had not done much to preserve the bike. It was a nostalgia purchase. He couldn't let it go to a stranger, so when Charles' bike was going to go up for auction, he found out about it and paid far more than he should have, given his complete lack of mechanical skills. "Yeah, I have not done nearly enough for her."

"So you think of the bike as a girl?" Dean looked up at him and smiled a little.

"I guess so. It's not like I named her though," He smiled back and stooped down across from Dean. "So, is it bad?"

"It is definitely in need of body work. I haven't tried the engine yet." He stood up then and mounted the bike, "Well, no time like the present." He turned the key that was already in the ignition and then tried to start it. Nothing happened. "Hmm." Dean looked over to Cas who was standing off to the side kind of awkwardly. "Do you happen to have fuel?"

"I have a gas can in the corner." He walked over to retrieve it. He carried it over to Dean, who took it and began filling the tank.

"I'll have a better idea once there is a little gas in her. Kind of hard to start her without that." Dean seemed to slip into another world then and Cas just sat back and watched. He couldn't offer any help as he understood nothing that Dean explained. Dean did try though. Literally the necessity for gas was the last thing that completely made sense.

He was content to watch though. Dean had decided that once the bike turned over a little that he would need to shut it off and work on it a little more closely. He explained and Cas nodded as if he understood. Occasionally, he would ask for a tool, and Cas would guess at which one to offer from the box. He was wrong every time, but he liked the way that Dean would look at him as he handed him the wrong piece. "Now how about the other one?" Dean would offer with a half turned smile playing out on his lips. This was how time passed for them. It could have been minutes to Cas, but it was actually hours, and he couldn't even tell. Cas wanted to sit there all night and just watch him.

"Would it be easier for you if I weren't hovering? I feel rather useless." Cas offered up.

"Nah, I like the company. Besides, I'm almost done for the night. I think that hunger is going to win out pretty soon." Dean stood then and absently reached over to the toolbox for a rag that he had there. He wiped his hands on it leaving behind slight traces of grease in its wake. "Mind if I just leave the tools in here?"

"Of course not." Cas said just as Dean rose from the side of the bike.

"Sorry if I am not much company while I work. I tend to get a little sucked into my projects. Must have been pretty boring for you there." Dean reached up to pull down the slider while Cas got out his keys to lock up the room.

"Oh, seriously? I was worried that I was the most useless helper ever. I should be apologizing to you." Cas and Dean walked side by side to the elevator. Once again personal space seemed to be lacking as their arms brushed each other with each of their steps. Cas could feel the jitters of attraction run from his arm through his body and to his stomach. Wow, guess I'm really hungry. He told himself as the first flutters frolicked through him.

"Is it just me or are you always going to be unnecessarily apologizing for something?" Dean chuckled a little at Cas' expression.

"Sorry about that." Cas offered then Dean laughed again and it was a deep melody to Cas' ears. He couldn't help but smile a little at that even though the laughter was directed at him.

"What time is it? I feel like we just got down here, but I am thinking that I lost track of time there."

"Hmm," Cas pulled his phone out of his back pocket and looked at the time, "It's 8:30."

"Yikes, I really shouldn't have looked at the bike until after dinner I guess." They got into the elevator to ride up. "Now, even if it is the worst meal ever, you'll think that it is amazing because of the starvation." Dean put his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels letting his shoulders hit the back of the elevator for support. It was a relaxed posture, that set Cas' mind running again.

I am losing it here. He is purposefully standing like that so that he will be more attractive. It is patently unfair. Does he even know that his shirt is way too tight. I mean really, I can actually see every muscle in his chest. How much does he work out? I wonder if he just looks like this from work. I need to start going to the gym again. He looked down at his chest and felt slightly inadequate as he ran a hand past his stomach. He was feeling for the muscles that he hoped were still there.

Dean looked down at Cas' hand then as it moved across his stomach. "Starving too?"

"Um, yeah." Cas felt like Dean could read his mind again and that when he said starving he really meant starving in a different way. Cas was starving. He had been starving for a long time. It was hard to live that way, but one manages to adjust, to compensate for the ache that fills one every time that a song comes on the radio, or when a you see the light spark of new romance in your friends and acquaintances. It is hard not to be jealous at first. It is hard not to be resentful. In time though, one can push it aside, learn to function in the emptiness. It was possible to live for a long time like this, but it was not sustainable. He wanted desperately to feel full again-or to, at least, ache a little less.

The door to the elevator opened on Cas' floor and they walked out side by side. "I'd ask about your thoughts, but you would probably not share." Dean said as he looked ahead toward Cas' door.

"You're right, I wouldn't." He smiled up at Dean. "It is nice to be around someone that knows me so well."

Dean laughed a little. "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing." Cas got out the keys then, unlocked the door, and they went inside.

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