A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews and it makes my heart flutter with joy when I receive follows and faves! :)

Chapter 3: Freckles and Blue Eyes

Castiel was stunned. He knew he was staring, but he just needed a minute to gather his thoughts because this...

Because this was just crazy.

Dean Winchester was so much like the sub he had dreamed about that Castiel was just stunned.

Stunned stupid, apparently.

Sam asked him if he was ok. Was he ok? He thought about that as he stared at the sub that he was supposed to assume guardianship over in the next few weeks and realized that this sub may just be his perfect match. Soul mate? True mate? Whatever...Castiel was so going to hell because Dean had to be the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Forget watching his bees flitter around or his hens cluck around in his yard. He could just sit and look upon the beauty that was Dean Winchester and be perfectly content.

Sam called his name. Based on his Sam's expression, he had said his name several times. Castiel's gaze slides back over to Dean. He was just...so beautiful.

What in God's Creation is wrong with you, Castiel? You are a Dom. Get a grip and act like a normal person instead of just staring like a stupid...oh dear sweet baby Jesus. He has freckles. Dean Winchester has freckles.

"Yeah, he does have freckles. Are you ok, Castiel?" Sam was looking at Castiel like he was worried that Castiel had lost his mind. Maybe he had. Because this just couldn't be real. Dean Winchester looked so much like the sub of his dreams that Castiel was just. Stunned. Stupid.

Castiel jumped when he heard Sam clear his throat. Suddenly he remembered that Sam asked him a question, so he tried to compose himself enough to answer him. Castiel finally tore his eyes from Dean and looked toward Sam when Sam asked again if Castiel was ok. "I apologize. I was just...lost...in thought there for a moment."

Wait..."What did you say, Sam?"

"Um, I said that he does have freckles. Are you sure you are feeling ok? Did you skip lunch...or something?"

Castiel mentally shook himself. He felt a moment of panic set in as wondered how to answer Sam. He felt his face heat as the humiliation of the moment set in, which really didn't help his stuttered response. "Oh. Yes, Sam. I am quite alright. I was lost in thought...and...well. I just noticed his freckles. And...I guess...Well, sometimes I think aloud. That is...a...thing that I do. Sometimes. It...I...It is something that I am trying to work on...because, you know..." Castiel's voice trailed off as he mentally berated himself for blabbering like an idiot. Castiel put on a smile that he hoped didn't look as fake as it felt. He was probably showing too much teeth. Castiel knew he was socially awkward at times, but he was never as inept at social situations as he was just now. Dean Winchester, with his green eyes, brown hair, and perfect freckles had definitely thrown Castiel for a loop. The thought that Dean was possibly his made him ecstatic, but he knew that Dean would no doubt be unhappy about it. Castiel knew he had to chose the right moment to touch Dean to find out what he was almost certain of to be true; Dean Winchester was his.

xxxxx

Sam was a little weirded out by Castiel's whole "He has freckles" comment. He wasn't sure what in the heck was going on, but Castiel stared at his brother in a way that definitely made him uncomfortable. "Ooooh-kaay. Um, as I was saying earlier. Dean, this is Castiel. Castiel, this is my brother, Dean." Sam glanced between the two men and had to do a double take toward his brother. He had apparently been so focused on Castiel's weird staring and freckles comment that he just noticed that his brother had the same intense stare as Castiel. Sam felt as though he was officially a part of one of those old Twilight Zone shows, because this was seriously freaking him out. With a frown and mouth slightly gaped open, Sam turned toward Missouri. He wasn't sure what he expected from Missouri, but figured that she would be just as confused about the situation as he was; however, she seemed to be amused and not at all freaking out. He turned back to Castiel and was relieved to see that he seemed to be trying to compose himself, but the relief was short lived because now he was just smiling in a way that made him look like a crazed serial killer. All he needed was blood smeared on his face and clothes to complete the look.

Just when Sam thought that things couldn't possibly get any more awkward, Dean voice breaks the silence.

"Your eyes are really blue."

Well, shit. Sam literally facepalmed. He was too young for this shit.

xxxxx

Missouri watched scene unfold before her. She was surprised when Castiel made the freckles comment, but couldn't quite contain her smile and quiet laugh when Dean commented about Castiel's blue eyes. She felt as though these two were going to get along just fine once Castiel was able to show Dean that he could be trusted. She looked toward Sam to see his reaction to this sudden turn of events. Sam looked very confused; apparently, the young Dom didn't understand what was taking place before him. She chuckled as she thought about how his face looked like one of those victims on those practical joke shows with the hidden camera's. She considered saying something about hidden camera's just to see his expression, but then promptly decided against it since he looked as if he was one step away from being Sam, Interrupted. She would need to speak with the young Dom later and make sure that he understood the dynamics between soul mates. She realized that if Sam was clueless about what was happening, Dean may very well be in the dark as well.

xxxxx

Dean stared at the man with the bluest eyes he had ever seen in his life. He couldn't look away. It was like a moth to a flame. Dean knew that some Dom's were traditionalists when it came to eye contact and considered prolonged direct eye contact from subs to be a challenge to their authority. He had no way of knowing whether this Dom was one of those traditionalist types, but still he was unable to look away. Dean could hear the conversation around him, but it felt as though he was listening under water or through a wall. Those blue eyes held him captive as he felt like they were boring holes into his soul, seeing down to the very essence of who he was, as if he could see everything about Dean...secrets and all. Their intensity held Dean captivated like a butterfly pinned to a board. Dean blamed those damn blue eyes for his break from reality when he said something as monumentally stupid as "Your eyes are really blue."

When Dean realized with a start what he had said, he finally tore his gaze from Castiel and looked down at his hands in his lap. Dean felt his chest tighten and his face heat up with humiliation. Dean recognized that the Dom was...well, he was beautiful. Dean could appreciate the good looks of another person, but he learned the hard way that beauty truly was only skin deep. At least in Michael's case that was how it was, and Dean's experience was pretty limited. He knew that he based his fear and belief that Dom's were narcissistic controlling manipulative asshats on his experience with Michael, but he was unable to make himself believe otherwise. Not without proof. One thing weighing heavily on Dean's mind was how did Sam, or Missouri for that matter, know that this Dom wouldn't demand...stuff from Dean? Stuff that Dean didn't want to do? Sam was his guardian, and he was just a little annoyed that Sam was so trusting to just hand over guardianship of Dean to a virtual stranger. Of course, Dean kept his annoyance to himself. If he wanted to be free to live alone then he needed to be good. Being good was a challenge for Dean, and he was continually put into The Pit for his inability to do as Michael commanded. There was a rational voice inside Dean that told him that Michael had set Dean up for failure time and again, but Dean couldn't stop the voice in his head that sounded a lot like Michael's. It constantly reminded Dean that he was weak, pathetic, and that his sole purpose as a sub was to please his Dom and he couldn't even do that. Dean could feel the panic build in his mind as his heart sped up and his chest tightened in fear. He didn't want to think about his time with Michael and his failures as a sub. He had truly believed when he left Michael that his life from then on would be his own, but it was all just an illusion. This Dom was about to assume guardianship over him and there wasn't anything Dean could do to change that. As tears welled up in his eyes, he just prayed to whatever God was in Heaven or up above that Castiel would not be anything like Michael. If Dean had to live through another situation like that, especially one that he knew he couldn't escape, he figured he might as well just give up his life right then. He glanced at Sam and shook his head as the tears slowly leaked from his eyes down his cheeks.

Sam hugged Dean as he whispered that he would be ok and that he wasn't going anywhere until he knew that Dean was comfortable with Castiel. Dean nodded, even though he felt as though the situation was hopeless. Growing up, he just knew he was going to be a Dom. Everyone believed it, too, so when he presented as a sub at the age of sixteen with a mark on his upper arm that was large enough to be the hand print of a man he hid it from everyone for as long as he could...until his dad walked in on him changing his shirt one morning and saw the mark for himself. Having a mark show up on your body like that could only mean one thing since Dom's didn't get a mark. Dom's, and some subs, dreamed or had visions about their future soul mate. Anyway, his dad had been furious that Dean had hid his status from him. His dad was humiliated when he had to tell all his buds that his eldest son was really in fact "just a sub" and not the Dom that he thought he was. The fact that his mark on his arm was most definitely a size of a man's hand didn't escape his father's notice either. Not only was his son a sub, the mark on his upper arm was a clear indicator that his soul mate was most definitely going to be male. It always confused him that his Dad had that much contempt for his son having a sub status when the love of his life, Dean and Sam's mother, had been a sub. Dean figured that if he had been a girl then it would have been different. A girl sub would have been honorable, whereas a male sub was just shameful as far as John Winchester was concerned. As for the mark, Dean tried his best to ignore it. He figured he was best living without his soul mate. Actually, that wasn't true. His soul mate was better off not knowing Dean. Especially, now.

When Sam let go of Dean, he kept his hand on Dean in an effort to keep him calm. Dean glanced over at Missouri. She was quietly watching from the side of the room with a weird smile on her face. "Dean, I think it is time that you and Castiel begin to get to know each other. Sam and I are going to stay in the room with you as the two of you talk." She pulled a chair over to Dean's right and indicated to Castiel that he should sit there. Once Castiel sat down, she motioned for Sam to follow her over to the little table that sat in front of the window. Missouri allowed Castiel and Dean to interact without any interference from them, but it was really an illusion of privacy since Missouri and Sam was sure to hear every word.

"Hello, Dean."

"Hi...sir." Castiel's gravelly deep voice was really nice, which annoyed Dean. He didn't want to like anything else about Castiel. It was better that way. Then he wouldn't be disappointed when Castiel turned into an asshat.

Castiel smiled faintly at Dean. "How are you feeling, Dean?"

"Um...ok. Better. Thank you for asking, sir."

"That is good. I am really glad to hear that you are feeling better." Castiel cleared his throat while he glanced over at Missouri and Sam. Dean looked their way, too. They were having a quiet conversation. Dean couldn't make out what they said, but it appeared that they were discussing something serious based on the frown of concentration Sam currently had on his face. Castiel turned his attention back over to Dean. "So, is there anything you would like to discuss or would like to ask?"

Dean shook his head quickly, before he said "No, sir." He figured he would let Castiel lead the conversation until Dean could get a better feel for the Dom's true nature. "Dean, you can ask me whatever you want. If it is something I don't feel comfortable answering then I will tell you, but I will answer anything you ask as honestly as I can."

Dean nodded slightly, as if to himself, as he decided that he could make small talk. "How long have you lived in Lawrence? Oh, and what...what do you do for a living, sir?" Castiel smiled as he told Dean about his time in Lawrence and all about his farm. He explained how he loved working in his garden and watching his hens cluck around his yard and his bees buzz around. Dean wasn't sure how he felt about gardening since he wasn't too big on vegetables. He liked to eat chicken and eggs, but somehow he wasn't sure about just watching them cluck around the yard. That sounded kind of boring. Now, bees he definitely didn't like. A nest of bees got in their attic when he was younger and it was a horrible experience when they tried to get those suckers out of the house. He was sure he got stung hundreds of times during the process even though he used a home made torch. Castiel told him about his two cats that seemed to love the farm as much as Castiel did and how he was impressed that they left the hens alone. Apparently, he had worried that they would chase the hens at first.

"What are their names, sir?" Dean was ok with cats as long as they didn't jump out at him. He had one do that at school one time when a guy decided to play a prank on Dean after he had presented as a sub by putting a cat in Dean's locker. So what if he screamed like a girl...no one ever teased the Dom, who stood several lockers down from Dean and wasn't privy to the joke, about his scream. The Dom's scream had been every bit as high pitched as Dean's, but no one said anything to him...because he was a Dom.

"The solid black one is Demon. The other one is Angel. He is mostly white with a dark charcoal black that fades down toward his belly. They are both quite beautiful."

"Do you...have any...dogs?" Dean was afraid to ask. More afraid of the answer. Relief flooded him when Castiel shook his head no.

"I thought about getting a German Shepherd, just to have around as a guard dog. I just never got around to it. Do you...I take it you are not a fan of dogs?"

Dean shook his head. "Not really, sir."

"Well, then as long as you live on my farm, I will not have any dogs around. How about that?" Castiel offered Dean a slight smile in reassurance. Dean nodded and attempted to smile back, but at the moment he was fighting back memories as they threatened to flood his mind. He sighed and looked away from Castiel as he stared at Dean like he was trying to figure him out. His eyes were so scarily intense that Dean was afraid that Castiel really could see through to the very deepest parts of him that he wanted to stay locked in a box. He knew that Missouri wanted him to open up to Castiel about everything. Dean didn't want to talk about any of it, but was terrified that those intense blue eyes was going to make him spill everything.

xxxxx

Castiel enjoyed talking to Dean, and was learning a lot about the sub. He doubted that Dean understood how much he was actually revealing to Castiel during their conversation. First of all, it was apparently going to take a while before Dean would trust him. That just confirmed what they all pretty much figured to be true anyway. His abuse was great enough that he didn't trust anyone, especially another Dom. Missouri was his therapist, and he still refused to open up to her about his abuse. Castiel figured that he was so burned by his experiences that he trusted no one.

"Is there anything else you would like to know, Dean?

Dean searched Castiel's face as he seemed to struggle with something. "Not at the moment, sir."

Castiel tried not to feel disappointed at that. Missouri came up behind him after she apparently overheard that their conversation was coming to a close. "Sounds like you guys are off to a great start. Conversation such as these are important for both of you. Dean, would you like something to help you rest?"

Dean paled when Missouri suggested something to help him rest. Castiel wondered if Dean had a phobia about needles. Dean shook his head as he answered Missouri. "No, ma'am. That won't be necessary."

"Ok. Well, if you decide you need something just tell the nurses and they can page me or the doctor." Dean nodded. "Ok, then. I will see you in the morning Dean. I am going to walk out with Castiel."

"Yes, ma'am." Dean looked down at his hands in his lap as he nodded.

Missouri looked pointedly at Sam and Castiel, and he assumed that she was expecting both of them to follow her out. Sam leaned over and hugged his brother telling him that he would be back in a few minutes and for him to rest like Missouri said. Castiel smiled at Dean and was once again blown away by the beauty of the man. Castiel enjoyed talking with the sub, and couldn't wait until he could return tomorrow. Castiel smiled at Dean. "Dean, I will also visit tomorrow. Please get some rest, and we will talk more tomorrow." Dean looked at the Dom and nodded. "Yes, sir." Castiel wasn't a traditional Dom, but hearing Dean address him as sir stirred his Dom instincts like nothing else ever had.

Castiel knew he was going to have to keep his attraction under wraps because the last thing the sub needed was to get romantically involved with a Dom so soon after leaving an abusive situation. Dean was the most beautiful sub he has ever seen, and Castiel was confident now that Dean was his sub. Castiel knew he could settle the matter by simply touching the sub. If he really was his then there would be a surge of electricity, a spark of sorts, flow through the two when they touched. Whatever mark Dean had that signified his sub designation should tingle and flare with heat whenever touched by his soul mate, and Castiel's palms itched with the urge to reach out in confirmation. Instead of reaching out, Castiel nodded to Dean one last time before he followed Missouri out of the door. Castiel wasn't prepared for how difficult it was to walk away from Dean, and he was already thinking about his plans for visiting Dean the next day as he caught up with Missouri and Sam in the hallway.

A/N: So I struggled with their first meeting. We all love the stories where they meet and it is like instant lust, they do the do, then they fall in love and live happily ever after. While this story will have a happy ending, it will take a little time to get there. I wanted instant attraction with a confident Castiel, but an insecure Dean. With the story that I have set up here, I hope you guys will understand that it will take a while for Dean to trust Castiel. ;)