It was four days later when Cas found the hunter at his desk, staring at his open laptop. His heart immediately dropped when he saw Eastham in his search bar.

"Dean…"

Dean looked up for just a second. He took a deep breath. "I didn't do it...I didn't have it in me."

"Please don't." Cas pressed, walking over and closing his laptop.

"Do they have a number yet?" Dean asked.

"Dean."

"Do they have a number." He repeated, voice dropping near a growl. He needed to know the final body count.

Cas simply looked at him, his expression stoic. "Yes."

"Tell me."

"No."

Dean blinked a few times. "Cas-"

"What is it going to do for you?" Cas asked. "You can't help. And you're already punishing yourself."

Dean fell silent, looking away.

"You should sleep." Cas suggested.

Dean shook his head, leaning back in a failed attempt to look indifferent to the conversation they were just having. "Nah. I'm not tired."

Cas knew that was a lie, but Dean was becoming more restless about sleep, rapidly approaching his old normals for rest. He had been anticipating this response. "Alright, then let's finish setting up the television."

Dean looked up, his mind taking a second to catch up before he looked back to Cas. He had forgotten about the tv. Before he died they had bought it with plans to set it up in Cas' room. It became one of those projects they just never got around to and then had become rapidly overshadowed.

Cas knew he had grabbed Dean's attention and he was relieved. He started out the door listening to Dean follow.

Dean cut open the box and got to work pretty quickly. It didn't take long, more or less in spite of Cas' attempts at help.

When it was done, the hunter stepped back and admired their work. "Not bad." He said, a smile making its way onto his face. "Get over here, let's try this baby out."

Cas removed his coat and sat on the bed, watching Dean select a movie. It had the desired effect. Halfway through Dirty Harry, Dean was unconscious against his shoulder. The angel picked up the remote and turned the volume almost all the way down, his angelic hearing having no problem hearing it. He would continue to watch whatever netflix suggested, occasionally soothing Dean's nightmares, until morning.

.

When Sam arrived back at the bunker the following morning, he found Cas sitting at the table in the kitchen, absently sipping a cup of coffee. "Hey."

Castiel looked up at the newly arrived hunter. "Hey."

"Dean?"

"Shower."

Sam nodded. He walked across the room, pouring himself a mug of coffee and settling in across from Cas. "How were things here?"

"Quiet. He finished fixing the impala." Cas turned his mug in his hands. He hesitated. "He asked me what the numbers were for Eastham. He almost looked it up himself."

"What did you tell him?"

"No." Cas said with a small shrug. "Whether or not that will work..."

Sam nodded, sighing.

"How was your case?" Cas asked.

"Uncomplicated." Sam admitted. "It felt good. A problem with a straightforward solution. No surprises."

Cas gave a small smile. "Good."

Sam frowned.

"What is it?" Cas prompted.

Sam sighed. "Hunters know about Cape Cod."

"They know it was Dean?"

"No. Not yet anyway. In the videos he was already so covered in blood. If you weren't looking for him I don't think…" He shook his head. "But they're keeping an eye out, and if one of them figures it out…"

They both looked up hastily when they heard Dean approaching down the hall, dropping the subject quickly. The older hunter walked in through the door and flashed a grin at his brother. "Sam!"

"You dick." Sam returned, his accusatory voice somewhat dampened by the emerging smile.

"Didn't find your accommodations up to your standards?" Dean dodged a spoon letting it clatter behind him. "Very mature." He walked in, putting his hand on Cas' shoulder for a moment before moving past him and pulling out some pans to make breakfast.

Sam tracked the movement, clocking the small intimacy of touch. He turned and watched Dean cook. The expression his brother wore was complex, but almost… okay. At least for the moment Dean looked fairly relaxed, and Sam felt the return of that glimmer of hope.

Dean concentrated on what he was doing for a while before finally asking, "How's Rudy?"

"He's good." Sam said, a little too quickly, feeling slightly jumpy about what Cas and he just talked about.

Dean didn't notice though. He turned the heat off the oven and plated both his eggs and Sam's egg white omelette. He figured it was time to make nice with Sam after the gift of clowns. He handed off his brother's plate before sitting with his own. He looked next to him at Cas and noted the mug. "You're drinking coffee now?"

Cas shrugged. "I felt like participating in the morning routine."

"You enjoying it?" He nodded towards the coffee.

"No."

"Okay." the hunter replied, rolling his eyes. He reached over Cas' arm, taking the mug and claiming it for his own.

Cas let go, hardly seeming phased by this.

Sam hid his smile behind his own mug.

Dean cleared his throat. "So, any plans for today?"

Sam shook his head. "Nah. Day off."

"Nice." Dean replied, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He knew Sam was being careful with him, but he was starting to get tired of it.

"Yeah." Sam agreed, but his tone faltered slightly when he saw his brother's reaction. He could tell Dean was getting anxious stuck in the bunker.

Dean didn't comment further however, turning his attention back to his food.

.

That afternoon brought the daily call Sam sent Kevin's way.

"Anything yet?" Sam leaned back at his desk, knowing there wasn't. Kevin would have called him if there was.

"Nothing." The prophet sighed. "I'm still looking though it all. It's slow."

"I know." He paused. "Thank you. I know reading that thing isn't easy."

"It's worth it." Kevin paused. "How is he?"

"He's doing okay. Or at least he's covering well. Cas still doesn't think he's really processed it yet."

"Yeah. It sort of seemed like it."

Sam shook his head. "I don't know. We'll see how it goes."

"I'll call if I find anything."

"Okay. Talk later." Sam hung up, sitting for a moment, looking at the phone. Even anticipating the answer, he still felt the sharp disappointment.

He dragged himself to his feet, feeling a need to update Dean, even if he had nothing new to bring him. He wandered into the hallway, starting to check around to find him. Dean's room and kitchen turned up nothing. He walked out towards the library, finding both Cas and Dean there.

Sam paused in the doorway, taking in the scene.

Both were entirely focused on their books. Dean was leaning back on the one couch they had put in the corner. Cas was lower on the couch, his legs up on it, leaning back against Dean. His face rested against the hunter's arm relaxing across his chest.

Cas' coat and jacket were on the back of one of the chairs, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. This was the most casual he had ever seen the angel before.

At that moment they both seemed so content.

Dean noticed him first, his expression faltering slightly, body tensing subconsciously. Cas meanwhile lazily pulled his gaze to the hunter, not bothered at all by the discovery.

The younger hunter pushed forward, covering for his surprise quickly. "Just talked to Kevin."

"Anything?" Dean asked, also already knowing the answer.

"Not yet."

Cas pulled himself upright. "There is more to go through?"

"A bunch."

"Good." Dean leaned forward. "Well. Fingers crossed."

"Yeah." Sam hesitated. "I actually uh… I think I found us a case."

Dean closed his book, expression guarded. "A case?"

"Yeah, I was scanning the local news. Not too far. About an hour. Three bodies, police have no idea what killed them. Just that their insides were completely liquified."

Dean regarded him carefully. "Yeah, that does sound like our kind of thing."

"I figured we should check it out."

"You just got back in this morning. You sure you're up to heading right back out?"

"Yeah man." Sam replied, forcing his voice to sound casual. "You don't have to come if you don't want."

Dean shook his head. "No, I'm good. I was just making sure." He relaxed somewhat, relieved to finally have something to sink his teeth into.

"Great." He looked at Cas. "You game?"

Cas took a second to think before he shook his head. "I think you two should go." He said slowly.

"Yeah?" Sam said, brow furrowing.

"I think I will be of more use here. Kevin mentioned that my translation skills may prove helpful." It wasn't a lie exactly. He knew his assistance would be useful to Kevin. But more than that, he wanted to see Sam and Dean find their stride again. Rebuild the dynamic they had before the mark took Dean the first time.

Sam kept his face still, but his eyes caught the angel's seeming to plead with him not to leave them. But Cas looked away, finding the older hunter's gaze instead.

Dean took a moment to process but he gave a small nod. "Alright. Your loss." He said at last. He stood. "I'll just get my shit together, and we can head out, eh Sammy?"

Sam stood as well. "Yeah." They watched Dean leave before Sam whipped around on him. "Do you think this is a good idea?"

"The case is only an hour away. If you require assistance you can call, and I will leave immediately."

"Yeah-"

"Dean is in control for the moment. I think he just needs to keep moving."

"Cas-"

"It will be fine." Cas insisted firmly.

Sam stayed still for a moment, looking at Cas and frowning. "Okay." He relented, not feeling the confidence Cas seemed to have. But he turned anyway, heading out to pack his gear.

A short while later, they said their goodbyes to the angel and headed out.

.

Cas was in the library when the two hunters more or less limped back two days later, looking more than a little worse for wear. Sam in particular had a fair amount of blood on his shirt, partially covered by some hasty bandages. Dean was sporting a pretty good gash across his cheek and an impressive array of bruises to match. Cas got up immediately, heading over to meet them as they sank into chairs.

Dean flashed him an exhausted smile. "Hey."

Cas didn't stop to ask before laying two fingers on Sam's shoulder, healing his wounds before turning his attention to Dean. "What happened?" He asked, reaching out to heal him as well.

"We got it."

"What was it?"

Sam shrugged. "Honestly, still don't really know." He admitted. "Never seen anything like it before."

Dean grinned. "Which means we get to name it."

Sam rolled his eyes. "I'm not calling them that."

"Squelch-gutters." The older hunter announced. "Because they turn your insides into goo."

Cas studied him quietly.

"Eh?" Dean encouraged expectantly, his smile not wavering.

Cas furrowed his brow. He opened his mouth but interrupted before he could think of what to say.

Sam pushed up from his chair. "Well, cutting off the head and putting a silver bullet in it's heart seemed to do the trick." He stretched out his shoulders. "I'm going to go catalogue it while the details are fresh."

"Nerd."

"Whatever, squelch-gutter." Sam headed out towards his room.

Dean pulled himself up as well, throwing a tired look at Cas. "Keep me company?"

Cas tilted his head but followed, hoping Dean might actually be seeking rest, but not surprised when the hunter headed back towards the garage instead.

"Sam bled all over the back seat before we got that under control. Gotta clean it out before it sets." Dean explained as he headed over to grab some rags and a bucket of water to bring to the black muscle car.

Cas wordlessly dragged a stool over, taking a seat and watched him get to work.

"Thanks." Dean said softly without looking up from his work. "For sending me and Sam out there alone." He had figured out what Cas was trying to do for them from the beginning. "It was good. Getting back into the swing of things."

"I am glad it worked."

Dean let a small smile work across his face, letting them fall into a sort of familiar routine. "Hey, hand me that cloth."

Cas grabbed the clean rag, handing it over to the hunter as he slid all the way into the car to reach the far side.

When he was done, Dean turned, leaning back against the far door, his body sinking down onto the freshly clean leather as the exhaustion caught up. He crumpled the rag, tossing it across the bench and onto the floor. He hesitated before he caught Cas' eyes, raising his hand to beckon the angel into the car.

Cas settled onto the bench next to Dean and they readjusted. Cas closed the door and leaned his arm on the door in the open window. Dean shifted to lean back against him, allowing himself to take comfort in his presence.

"Perhaps we should move to your room."

"Nah." Dean replied simply. He was happy where he was, and entirely unwilling to move again. He let his eyes close when they got too heavy, fully relaxing at last.

Cas smiled gently when he heard the hunter's breath even out, the familiar surroundings combining with fatigue from the hunt coaxing him to sleep far more effectively than anything else could. He let his head fall back against the frame and let himself hope that this fragile control lasted.