Chapter Twenty-Nine

At last, after a long week of his absence, Cas returned and Dean went to the airport to pick him up.

As soon as Cas saw him, he smiled brightly, and all but ran across the room to meet him. He threw himself at Dean, kissing him.

'I missed you so much,' Cas said when he pulled away.

'I missed you too,' said Dean. 'You ready to go home?'

Cas nodded. 'You were right, I did have a good time.'

'That's awesome, Cas,' said Dean, as they made their way to the Impala.

'Anna has a huge aquarium in her house with a school of angelfish,' Cas continued excitedly. 'And I got to meet her parents too. They're very nice.'

Cas talked all the way home, and Dean was more than happy to listen. He'd missed Cas's voice.

Once home, Cas hugged Mary when he saw her, and gave Sam a high five.

'I think he missed us,' Sam grinned.

'I did,' Cas smiled.

'You wanna DM for us next week?' Sam asked.

'Maybe,' Cas said. 'We've got a lot of studying to do, but I'll let you know.'

'Awesome.'

After the break, it was almost a relief to go back to school. At the very least, it made Dean less restless. Rhonda still sat at the back of homeroom, and Dean caught her glaring at them every so often. For the most part, he was able to ignore her, but the sight of her face contorted in anger still made his stomach churn.

The end of the month arrived in spring showers. Cas and Dean arrived home one afternoon to find Mary already waiting for them, several envelopes in her hands.

'Your college letters are here,' she said excitedly, handing them out.

Dean's stomach dropped and he tried to stop his hands shaking. He and Cas opened theirs at the same time. Cas received acceptance from all the schools he'd applied for, but while he and Mary celebrated, Dean just stared at his in disbelief.

'What is it?' Mary said, when she noticed that he had frozen.

'I - I applied on a long shot,' he mumbled.

'Wait a minute, is that Carnegie Mellon?' Cas said, pointing at the logo on the envelope.

Dean nodded.

'What did they say?'

Dean couldn't speak, he just handed the letter to Cas.

'You - you got in?' he said, his mouth falling open.

'I got in,' Dean said, hardly believing it himself.

'You got in!' Mary exclaimed. 'I didn't even know you applied, this is incredible!'

'I didn't think I would,' Dean said, taking the letter back and reading it again, just to make sure.

'Hey, there's another letter in here,' Cas said, pulling it out of the envelope.

Dean opened it curiously.

To Dean Winchester

I don't often make home visits, but I was intrigued when I read your personal essay, so I thought I'd bring you a challenge. I have to say, I was very impressed by how you handled the engine in my car. You really are a natural. You were right, your transcript was a little hit and miss, but after seeing your talent myself, I was more than happy to make a recommendation to the admissions board. I'm looking forward to having you in class.

Robert 'Bobby' Singer

Head of Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University

'Oh my god, it was that guy,' Dean said. 'The one that broke down outside.'

'He drove all the way out here to test you?' said Mary. 'Wow, he must have really liked your essay.'

Dean finally let his excitement take over his disbelief, and a huge smile spread across his face.

'Hold on, let me call your dad,' Mary said, yanking her phone out of her pocket, just as Sam arrived home.

'What's going on?' Sam asked.

'They got their acceptance letters!' Mary said, to Sam and John down the phone. 'Cas, you know which one you want to pick yet?'

'George Washington,' Cas beamed, showing her the letter.

'Yeah, he's going to D.C. He says that's awesome,' Mary told Cas.

'Good job,' Sam said, patting Cas on the back.

'And Dean got in to Carnegie Mellon!'

They all heard John's voice shouting incoherently down the phone and Mary laughed.

'No, I didn't know he applied either,' she said.

'You're serious?' Sam said, staring at Dean.

'Yeah,' Dean said.

'That's insane!'

'Okay, well you don't have to be too shocked about it,' Dean grumbled. 'I'm smart.'

'Yes you are,' Cas smiled.

'Oh, we gotta tell the guys!' Dean said, grabbing his phone.

Dean

You guys get your letters yet?

Kevin Tran

Hell yeah. MIT here I come

Dean

That's awesome dude!

Crowley Sucks 🍆

Back across the pond to Edinburgh for me

Dean

No way how am I supposed to go on knowing you're not on the continent

Crowley Sucks 🍆

I'm sure you'll find a way to live without me

Cas 😇

Dean got in to Carnegie Mellon

Jo H

WHAT

Kevin Tran

Amazing!

Dean

Thanks guys

Cas 😇

And I'm going to D.C

Jo H

I'm going to Kansas State so I'll he right here in case you guys want someone to come back to

Dean sighed. It hit him that he and his friends wouldn't be seeing each other every day after the year ended.

Dean

As if I'd need an excuse to visit you

Mary tapped Dean on the shoulder.

'Get changed, we're going somewhere fancy to celebrate.'

'Let's not get too excited, we still have to actually pass finals,' Dean pointed out.

'Oh, I'm not worried,' said Mary.

'Well, that makes one of us,' said Dean.

'Come on, you guys work hard. Hurry up and get changed, your dad's on his way home already.'

Dean rolled his eyes, but hurried upstairs with Cas.

'Wait, wait,' Cas murmured, grabbing Dean before he went digging through his closet for something to wear.

Dean smiled and let Cas kiss him. 'I'm so proud of you,' Dean whispered. 'You got accepted by three schools, that's so amazing.'

'You should be proud of yourself too.'

'Oh, I am. Big time,' Dean grinned, and kissed Cas again. 'Come on, get your nice sweater.'

Dean put on a nice shirt and pants, and waited for Cas. 'You look great,' he whispered, giving Cas a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, before they went out to dinner.

They went to a fancy restaurant, where Dean still ordered a burger, but insisted that it was a fancy burger so he still wanted it.

'Oh, Sam, I have some time at the weekend if you still want to play,' Cas said.

Sam nodded, chomping through a spoonful of spaghetti.

Dean bit his lip. 'Could I play?'

They both turned to stare at him.

'What? I wanna know what the big deal is.'

Cas smiled. 'If it's all right with Sam.'

Sam looked suspicious, but nodded. 'Sure. We could probably do a one-shot so we can show you the ropes.'

'I have a couple to choose from,' Cas said. 'I'll be sure to take it easy on you.'

'I sure appreciate that,' Dean chuckled.

'Okay, a quick toast,' Mary interrupted, holding up her glass of wine.

'Mooooom,' Dean complained, but held up his glass of soda.

'I just wanted to say that I am so proud of both of you. You've both come so far and worked so hard. I couldn't have asked for more. To our boys, Cas and Dean.'

Sam and John repeated her words, and Dean tipped his glass towards Cas, whose cheeks had turned bright pink with happiness.

They stayed out late, and were ready to sleep by the time they got back. Soon enough, the house was quiet once everyone had gone to their rooms.

Dean changed into his pajamas, and was just about to climb into bed, when Cas came over to his side of the room and wrapped his arms around Dean's waist.

'Hey,' Dean murmured, turning around so he could see Cas's face.

Cas kissed him softly. 'You are so smart. And beautiful.' Cas kissed him again.

'Coming from you,' Dean said, cupping Cas's face.

A familiar tingle filled his stomach as he tasted Cas's tongue, but it soon twisted and Dean had to pull away.

'Not yet?' Cas breathed.

Dean shook his head. 'Not yet.'

Cas rested his head on Dean's shoulder.

'You can stay with me again, if you want,' Dean whispered.

'I'd like that.'

They settled into bed together, Cas resting on Dean's chest.

Dean slowly ran a hand up and down Cas's arm, and Cas sighed.

'What's up?' Dean whispered.

'Nothing.'

'Come on, I know that sigh. That's your thinking sigh.'

'It just feels strange to have plans. A future,' Cas said, cuddling closer to Dean. 'You go through life day by day when you're in the system. I worked towards getting out the right way, but it always felt so far off. Sometimes it felt like it would never come.'

Dean held him tightly, rubbing his back. 'I've had moments that felt like that,' he said.

'It's exciting, but terrifying,' Cas whispered. 'To be in charge of my own future and not have to be pushed and pulled in any direction the state sent me… But if it goes wrong, it's all on me.'

'That seems like a lot of pressure you're putting on yourself.'

'That's just how it is.'

'Not necessarily. You've got us. You've got me.'

Cas kissed Dean's cheek. 'Thank you.'

At the weekend, Dean felt oddly nervous about joining in on Cas and Sam's game, but Cas guided him through it step by step.

They set up their table and camera, and video called with the rest of the party.

'Oh, hey, Charlie,' Dean said, surprised to see her.

'Hey, Dean,' she grinned, and Dean blushed as he remembered that she knew about him and Cas.

'Sure your brother's up to this?' Sam's friend Garth said, his slim face frowning on camera.

'Cool it, Garth,' said Sam, rolling his eyes. 'He just got into Carnegie Mellon, I'm sure he can handle it.'

Garth looked impressed, and Cas started helping Dean with his character.

'Let's start you off with something simple while you learn to play,' Cas said. 'Maybe you'd like to be a fighter.'

'Basically, you get to kill monsters with cool weapons,' Sam said.

'What do you guys do?' Dean asked.

'Warlock is my favourite,' said Sam.

'Rogue, obviously,' Charlie said through the computer. 'Sneak and stab.'

'What about you?' Dean asked Cas.

'I'm usually dungeon master, but when I'm playing, I like to go with cleric.'

'What's that?'

'It's more of a support role,' Sam said. 'Healing and stuff.'

'Sometimes I get to bash things with a mace though,' Cas said.

Dean nodded, and continued with the game.

He had more fun than he expected, though he had to force himself to concentrate several times, when he got caught up in listening to Cas's storytelling. He managed to play it off as not understanding what was going on, but he was sure not only Cas, but Charlie too, had caught on. The redness in Cas's cheeks whenever it happened certainly seemed to suggest so.

'So, dungeon master?' Dean said to Cas with a wink, when they were alone in their room.

Cas gave a coy smile. 'That's right,' he said.

'You like being in charge?'

'Something like that,' said Cas. 'I'm not very good at taking orders.'

'Is that right?' Dean said, biting his lip. 'What happens if someone tries?'

Cas shrugged. 'Maybe you'll have to try it and find out.'

Just then, Mary called them down for dinner.

Cas surprised Dean with a kiss, then left the room.

It took Dean a moment to calm himself down, so he was decent enough to go downstairs.

Cas was digging in to his mashed potatoes, when John looked up from his food.

'You got track tomorrow?' John asked.

'No.'

'You got time for driving practice?'

'Oh. Yes, of course,' Cas smiled.

John came home early from work to meet Cas after school.

'You guys can use my car, if you want,' Dean said, handing Cas the keys.

'Are you sure?' Cas asked.

Dean nodded. 'I trust you. And Dad won't let anything happen.'

Cas and John left for their drive, and Dean settled on the couch, spreading his study materials on the floor and much of the couch. He heard the sound of the Impala before he saw it, and looked up to watch Cas bring it to a halt on the driveway.

John came in first and tossed Dean his keys. 'Good job,' he said to Cas. 'Same again next week?'

'Sure,' Cas smiled, closing the door.

John went through to the kitchen, and Cas sat down with Dean.

'How'd it go?' Dean asked, squinting at his chemistry notes that he couldn't quite decipher.

'Well, he didn't really say much,' Cas told him, handing him the stack of the same notes that had been typed out instead of scrawled on a post-it.

'Oh, yeah, that's exactly how a car ride with Dad is supposed to go,' said Dean. 'He does that on purpose, so you can talk to him if you want, but you don't have to if you don't want. It's his way of giving you a calm space if you ever have anything you want to talk to him about.'

'Oh. That's actually very kind.'

'Yeah, I guess it is.' Dean smiled at him. 'You wanna study chem with me?'

Cas nodded and went to get his books, then sat cross-legged on the floor, deep in concentration for the rest of the evening.