Three days had passed since Dean was in Maine. He hadn't seen Sam or Castiel and he'd only spoken to Bobby once.
Days went by slowly with no cases on the rise. Things were quiet and while he'd usually enjoy a little down time the simple fact that he had no one to enjoy it with pulled at the hunter's heart strings. He was lonely but too stubborn and proud to ever admit it to anyone.
On the first night Dean went to the bar opposite his motel room, got drunk and then passed out on his bed sometime after midnight. He tried flirting with some local woman but that went bust when her husband found them. Apparently he didn't appreciate people trying to hit on his wife.
The second night he stayed in not bothering to go out again, not wanting to use the energy he knew he didn't even have. Instead Dean bought a bottle of whiskey and slumped down on his tattered bed, ignoring the creak in the mattress springs. Flicking through the channels Dean eventually settled on football.
The third night was different because that morning Dean had a visitor. "Cas," the hunter did his best to keep his expression flat when all he really wanted to do was smile.
Immediately the angel knew something was different about the man before him. He already knew that Sam was elsewhere trying to sit out the apocalypse. In the time that they'd spent tracking down and capturing Raphael, not to mention a few shenanigans in the process, Castiel could tell Dean wasn't the same. Sure he seemed to enjoy himself on their outings but in truth Dean was struggling to adapt to his new found independence.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around," the angel's gaze shifted over the hunter.
"It's okay, I don't expect anyone to check up on me," Dean replied with an air of sadness in his voice.
Frowning Castiel took a step closer, but still remained out of Dean's personal space.
"So," Dean kept his breathing under control. "What brings you by Cas, you taking me to meet the rest of your family?"
The angel's head shook. "I just came to check up on you." If anyone else had said it Dean would have thought they were mocking him, but Cas just too innocent as he spoke.
"Oh," Dean nodded understandingly. Same old Cas pop in to see all is well then disappear a moment later, probably for days. Slumping his shoulders Dean waited for Cas to vanish any second now.
One last look into the hunter's eyes, Castiel let his gaze fall to the ground. "I also didn't want to be alone."
"You just came to hang?" Dean smirked.
"If that is a problem-"
"No, no!" Dean ignored the flutter in his chest, and tried to keep himself from sounding like a little girl, because yeah he didn't want to look too pathetic. But Dean was lonely and Cas was here, he didn't want to act like a dick and force the angel away. "So," Dean drawled not knowing what to talk about. "Anything in particular you want to do?"
Castiel just stared at him, his head tilting to the side; God how Dean missed that odd quirk.
"I am unsure," Castiel replied, happy to remain standing right where he was.
"Tell you what," Dean mused. "I'm going to take a shower then we can think of something, I'll take you for a slice of pie."
Thinking it over Castiel eventually nodded a yes before Dean closed the bathroom door behind him. He could see right through every defence the other man put up, he knew Dean was lonely and he couldn't leave him like that.
It wasn't Sammy but Dean really did like hanging out with Castiel. The angel was different, interesting and he needed Dean as much as Dean needed him. Smiling the hunter turned off the hot spray of water in less than ten minutes. Drying off Dean changed into the second pair of clothes he'd brought in with him and exited the bathroom. "So where did you..." Dean's words trailed off when he saw that the angel wasn't in the same spot he had been earlier.
"Cas?" Dean called, looking to his right, his bed was empty – wait why'd he immediately want to check to see if Cas was in his bed? Shaking the thought away Dean walked further into the room. Then he smelt it, like someone was cooking. Snapping his head to the left Dean looked around the corner of his motel room at the tiny kitchen tucked away.
Castiel was in there, his trench coat gone and tie tucked into his shirt. Several packets, cartons and boxes were spread out atop the bench. Castiel the mighty angel of the Lord was baking.
"Ah," Dean really had no clue what to say. "What are you-"
"Pie," Castiel cut him off.
"Pie," repeated Dean raising a brow. "Why are you cooking pie?"
Setting the timer on the oven the angel turned to face the other man. "That is what you wanted is it not?"
"You're making it for me?" Dean was stunned.
"Consider it a thank you for helping me," explained Castiel. "The time we spent together last week was...intriguing," Castiel replied with a faintest of smirks on his face.
Dean couldn't help but smile in return as he remembered the ordeal with Raphael. "So," Dean gestured towards the oven, before looking back at the bench top
"Apple cinnamon," Castiel answered understanding the unasked question. "And it will be ready in about thirty minutes.
The grin on Dean's face grew. "And the mess?"
"Human apparatuses are more difficult to use than I thought they would be," the angel explained frowning as he held up the flour sifter.
A laugh escaped the hunter as he grabbed a garbage bag and within minutes the mess which consisted of a lot of stray flour and milk spills was cleaned up. Tying the bag, Dean disappeared out the front door to drop it down the chute. "Now all we need are some nice cold," he lost his train of thought when Castiel opened the fridge door to reveal a fresh six pack which sat alone on the top shelf. "Cas you rock," beamed Dean, grabbing a bottle.
Although Dean liked spending time with Cas, the awkward feeling never got any better. Just what do you talk to an angel about? The simple 'how was your day?' out of the question. And Dean didn't really feel like talking about the other angels, Lucifer or the apocalypse. Instead he just let his head fall to the ground and prayed silently that the timer would go of any second.
"You miss him?" Castiel's voice rang through the silence.
Taking in a deep breath Dean should have known that he couldn't escape talking about Sam. "Yes, but I mean it's for the best right?"
"It'll all work out eventually," the angel reassured him a smile planted on his lips, his words sounding so sure.
"What did I do to deserve you?" Dean speak for thank you.
"You went to hell," retorted Castiel.
Dean paused frowning, but then his face light up. "Cas, did you just make a joke?"
"I believe I did," he replied. "I guess it's from spending so much time around you."
Dean put a mock hand to his heart pretending that he was hurt. He tried to think up of a comeback but the buzzer from the oven's timer drew his attention away. "Finally," Dean huffed out.
Castiel forwent an oven mitt and retrieved the pie. The burns on his hand healing almost as fast as they'd appeared whilst the angel's face showed no sign of pain.
Slicing it, the angel put a rather generous piece onto a plate and slid it, along with a fork, towards Dean. It looked good noted Dean, watching as the steam gently rose off of the still hot contents. Digging his fork in the hunter rose a piece to his mouth.
It was hot but bearable as Dean began to chew. Castiel smiled as he watched on. A few seconds later Dean's mouth stilled. This pie was, oh God it was awful. Too much salt and flour with not nearly enough sugar. Who put salt in apple pie anyways? "Mmm," Dean forced the noise out. "It's good." He swallowed hard before taking a much needed swig from out of his beer bottle. As he continued eating the taste became slightly more tolerable.
When Castiel offered seconds Dean refused, saying that he preferred to save it for later. He'd simply throw out the remaining pie when Cas was gone. Dean just couldn't bear to tell Cas the truth and be forced to see a look of disappointment across the angel's face.
"So anymore surprises?" Dean asked with a chuckle, completely caught off guard when the angel kissed him.
It was short and over all too soon as Castiel stood back looking ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry," his voice but a whisper. "I shouldn't-"
He didn't get to finish his sentence as Dean grabbed his shoulders and drew him back in. Their second kiss lasted longer, with teeth and tongue as Cas let out a stifled moan.
Dean pulled gently on Cas' bottom lip as they pulled away. "Now that was much better than that awful pie." Damn it, Dean slapped himself mentally for saying it when he saw the angel's face drop in sadness. "Cas I'm sorry," he immediately said pressing his forehead against the angel's.
"You said you liked it," Castiel replied.
"I'm sorry," Dean replied. "It was great, I mean it didn't taste the best but the gesture was good and hey it's the thought that counts right?" But Castiel still looked perplexed. Great things were finally going perfect and he'd gone and fucked it all up in a nanosecond. Now Cas was probably going to pull away and take off leaving Dean alone and feeling like the world's biggest dick once again.
"I guess," Castiel began. Oh God here it comes Dean closed his eyes waiting for the worst. "I guess I'll just have to try a little harder next time."
It was Dean's turn to be confused as he opened his eyes and looked back at Castiel. "What?"
"I said-"
"I know I heard," Dean butted in. "So you're not upset?"
"I am an angel Dean, not a chef," the smaller man glared at him. "Besides I have seen the limit of your culinary skills."
Dean laughed, all the self doubt dissolving from inside of him as he pulled a willing Castiel back into another kiss.
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