My Mate, My Bond 2/7 (FIC)

[pelagia911]

Title: My Mate, My Bond 2/7

Rating: hard-R

Pairing and Characters: Dean/Cas, Sam/Gabriel, Jo/Anna, mentions of a couple other characters

Spoilers: Not really. AU

Warnings: Underage sexual contact(both 17), little bit of blood, maybe a little language

Word Count: ~4,700 (this chapter)

Summary: In this world, angels are known and low in numbers. In order to keep their numbers growing, they have begun taking humans as their partners. Once a year, families are chosen to give their first-borns up to be paired with the angels. They are bonded at a young age to avoid mixed feelings that come with adulthood. The Winchester family has been chosen and Dean is put in the mix. He is paired to Castiel, but will he accept the human?

This Chapter: Sam goes through the bonding ceremony and befriends his angel.  Dean and Cas get closer before Cas suddenly disappears.  Dean finds some comfort in Jo.  Dean and Cas go from ages 12 to 18.  Sam is 8 to 13. Jo is 9 to 14.

Previous
The selection ceremony had arrived.  Dean and Castiel were in Dean’s room while Mary fussed over Sam downstairs.  Dean was pacing around the room.  Castiel stood silently.  They were both wearing similar outfits to what they had worn four years ago.  Castiel’s dark suit was a little disheveled and his blue tie was a mess.  “Who dressed you?”
Castiel looked down with a frown.  “I did.”

“Your mom let you leave like this?”  Castiel nodded.  Dean needed something to do with his hands anyway.  He walked over to the angel and straightened his jacket.  His hands shook slightly as he turned and tightened Castiel’s tie.

“He’ll be okay, Dean.”

“You don’t know that.”  He reached to button Castiel’s top button but Castiel stopped him.

“I can’t breathe if you do that.”

Dean rolled his eyes and set his tie under his shirt collar.  “Sam could get a psycho angel, someone who treats him like a jerk.”  He fixed his collar before flattening his shirt.  He could see his amulet under the white shirt.

“Dean,” Castiel put a hand on his shoulder, “he will be okay.”

“Do you know any of the angels for this year?”

Castiel nodded.  “I probably know who all of them are.  I know a couple personally.”

“Are they okay?”

Castiel smiled.  “Yes.”

Dean felt a little relieved.  Maybe he was overreacting.  “You know, you don’t have to go to this.”

“I want to.  Sam is your brother.  I want to be there with you.”

Dean smiled slightly.  “Thanks.”

Castiel sat with Dean and his parents as Sam lined up with the rest of the children.  He was the oldest one, just like Dean had been.  His 8th birthday was next month.  Jo and Anna were sitting in front of them, showing their support for Sam.

With every name called that wasn’t Sam, Dean grew more and more nervous.  Sam seemed fine as he stood patiently.  Finally, the man on stage, whose name he caught this time, Chuck, called Sam’s name.  “Human: Samuel Winchester.  Angel: Gabriel Enoch.”

Dean saw Sam’s eyes widen momentarily before he walked calmly to the stage.  He stood beside the angel with longer, light hair and a smirk that seemed permanently stuck on his face.  Dean wasn’t sure if he liked that look.

Castiel had a finger over his lips as he tried not to smile.  Dean leaned in towards him.  “What?”  The angel shook his head.  “Cas, do you know him?”  He nodded.  “Is he okay?”

“Yes.”  He smiled fully now.  “His mother is a human.  He lives near me.  Sam will have his hands full.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s alright.”  Castiel turned to face him.  “He’s very good.  Sam will never be bored, that’s for sure.”

The rest of the ceremony seemed to fly by.  The bonding went quickly and then Sam was back and talking to them.  He still seemed so calm.  Dean didn’t remember feeling so relaxed when it was him.

During the dinner, Gabriel joined the Winchesters, Castiel, Jo, and Anna.  He wasn’t shy at all.  He had the whole group laughing within minutes.  Even Castiel was smiling and laughing quietly.  Dean guessed that Sam could have done worse.

Over the next couple years, Gabriel was almost a daily visitor.  He and Sam were almost immediate friends.  Gabriel kept Sam laughing and Sam kept Gabriel out of too much trouble.  They both loved to pull pranks on Dean.  At first he blamed everything on Gabriel, but soon he realized that Sam was helping.  He would have been upset if Sam didn’t seem so happy.

Jo was still over just as much and would help Dean get Sam and Gabriel back.  Castiel worked as their spy on occasion.  Dean had to admit, those years were some of the best he remembered having.

His parents allowed Castiel to fly over whenever he wanted when they were 15.  Castiel didn’t take advantage as much as he could have, but he would drop by a few times a week.  Most of the time they would watch TV or play video games together.  Dean still couldn’t believe that Castiel’s family didn’t have a television.

Castiel preferred watching movies, but Dean wanted to play games.  They compromised by switching off every visit.  During one of Dean’s game nights, Jo and Sam joined them.  The four of them played for hours.  Sometimes Anna or Gabriel were there as well.  The group of teens did a lot together now.  They were becoming like a small family, which was mostly what they were to each other: family.

During one of Castiel’s movie nights, things took a little turn.  They were alone in Dean’s room watching some sappy drama, Castiel’s choice, on a Saturday night.  It was the night before Dean’s 16th birthday.  Castiel’s birthday was the month before.

He and Castiel had not really ever been physically close.  They didn’t hug or play- wrestle like Sam and Gabriel had started doing, Gabriel was jealous of Sam getting height on him, and Dean had never been a touchy person.  Recently though, he had wanted to be closer to Castiel.  The angel had gotten more attractive to Dean as they got older.  He doesn’t know when it happened, but he found himself staring more and more.

During the movie, Dean slid closer to Castiel as the angel watched the screen intently.  He stayed when he was as close as he could get without touching him.  Castiel noticed the move eventually and looked at Dean briefly before turning his attention back to the movie.

They stayed that way for most of the movie.  When the big, dramatic ending started, Castiel reached a hand out to Dean.  He didn’t try to grab Dean, but he let his hand hover over Dean’s.

An electric charge seemed to travel through Dean’s hand as Castiel kept his in place.  The hair stood up on the back of his hand and his arm.  He shivered slightly at the feeling.  Castiel turned bright blue eyes to him.  He pulled his legs up to sit and turned to face Dean.  He replaced his left hand with his right and let it glide up Dean’s arm, never touching.

Dean watched the hand closely as it made its way to his face.  He met Castiel’s eyes as the angel’s hand continued its move across Dean’s face.  Dean swallowed as Castiel dropped his hand, moving down his chest, and leaned his face closer to Dean.  His hand landed on the mattress beside Dean.

Castiel’s face was only inches from Dean as he rested on his hands.  He waited, giving Dean a chance to turn away or pull away if he wanted.  When he didn’t, Castiel tapped their noses together lightly.  Dean leaned into the touch.  Castiel nuzzled along Dean’s cheek and down his neck.

Dean’s heart was racing and his body felt like it was vibrating.  Castiel was barely touching him, but it was more than they had ever done before.  He kept his hands down as Castiel moved back up to line up their noses.  Both had their eyes open and were staring at each other.  Dean tilted his chin up a little, brushing their lips together slightly.  Castiel pulled back enough to prevent a kiss.  Dean made a small noise of annoyance.  Castiel smiled and pressed his nose against Dean’s cheek.

Dean turned his head and closed his eyes.  He was breathing heavily as Castiel nuzzled him again.  The angel brushed their lips together and Dean pushed forward, capturing Castiel’s lips before he could pull away.  Castiel hummed against Dean and pushed back, pressing him into the wall by the top of his bed.

It wasn’t a graceful kiss, but it was amazing for the two involved.  Dean wrapped his arms around Castiel’s back, pulling him to lie over Dean.  Castiel let himself be moved and kissed Dean harder.  When Dean grabbed Castiel’s shoulder blades, the angel growled into their kiss and brought his hands up to weave through Dean’s hair.

Dean’s heart skipped at the rough treatment as Castiel pulled his hair and bit his lip.  He squeezed the angel’s back again and Castiel threw his legs over Dean, now straddling him, and tugged Dean’s hair hard enough to throw his head back.  He was reminded of Castiel’s strength when he couldn’t move his head at all.

Castiel leaned over the human, pressing his lips to Dean’s ear.  “Be careful, Dean.  You don’t know what you’re doing.”

Dean was about to ask what he meant when sharp pleasure shot through him as Castiel gripped the mark on his shoulder tightly.  He moaned loudly and arched toward the angel.  Castiel kissed his lips quickly before releasing his shoulder and his hair.  He leaned back against the wall, catching his breath.

Castiel remained on Dean’s lap, watching him gasp.  A smile pulled at Castiel’s mouth.  He ran a hand through Dean’s hair gently.  “Happy Birthday, Dean.”

Dean smiled.  “It’s not my birthday for a couple hours.”  The angel just shrugged.  He sat up a little.  “You are coming by tomorrow, right?”  Castiel nodded.  “Good.”

“Tomorrow.”  He leaned in and barely touched Dean’s lips in a kiss before flying off.

Dean watched the credits of their movie roll across the screen.

The next morning, his dad gave Dean the Impala.  Dean thought he would die in excitement.  He insisted on driving Castiel around the city that day.  Castiel reminded Dean that he could fly, but he rode with him anyway.  They went to the park and sat at the top of the jungle gym together for a good hour.

When they were about to climb down, Castiel stopped Dean with a hand.  “I got you something, Dean.”  He dug through the pocket of his new trenchcoat.  After a few seconds of searching, he pulled out a small item.

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Cas.”

“I wanted to.”  He opened his hand, revealing a small round jewel.

“What is it?”  Dean was afraid Castiel had gotten him jewelry.  He held his hand out and Castiel dropped the small item into his palm.

“It’s a piece of crystallized lightning.  I found it in a small town in Brazil.”

Dean raised his eyebrows.  “You’ve been to Brazil?”

“I was searching for a gift.”

“You say that like its normal to go to another country for a gift.”

“For me it is.”  He looked Dean in the eye.  “If it’s for you.”

Dean smiled and looked down at the gift in his hand.  It was pretty cool.  There can’t be a lot of them in the world.  “Thanks, Cas.”  He smiled up at Castiel.

Castiel and Dean had fallen into a comfortable place in their relationship and were spending almost every day together.  Sam teased him about finally falling in love with Castiel.  Dean would call him a bitch and put him in a headlock until Gabriel tackled him off and thus started a rather unfair round of wrestling.  Gabriel and Sam would tease him more as he left for his room in defeat.

Their movie/game nights continued and Dean could see this being some kind of tradition with them.  He’d be okay with that.  Every once in a while, the game or movie was abandoned and they would make out for a while.  Dean was finding out how sensitive Castiel’s back and ears were, while Castiel would drive Dean nuts with his mark and by licking the roof of his mouth while they kissed.

During the summer before his last year of high school, he and Castiel had the house to themselves and quickly found themselves in Dean’s room.  Dean had tried walking towards the bed, but Castiel maneuvered him to the wall instead.  They hit the wall with a thud.

“Cas.”  Dean was cut off as Castiel pulled his head down for a rough kiss.  Castiel had gotten more aggressive over the last couple months.  Not that Dean was complaining.  It wasn’t until Castiel bit his lip, actually drawing blood, that he got nervous.  He pulled his head back.  “Cas.”

Castiel’s pupils were blown wide with desire as he looked at Dean.  Dean could have sworn that the small line of blue he could see was almost glowing in the dim room.  When the blood on Dean’s lip caught his eye, Castiel immediately pulled back.  “I’m sorry.”  He put a finger on the bite, healing it.  “I’m sorry.”

Dean grabbed his waist when he looked like he would fly off.  “Wait, its okay.  Don’t go.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“I could.”

“Cas…”

“Dean, I can’t.”  He pushed away.  Dean walked around him as he turned away.  “Dean, you don’t understand.”

“Then tell me.”  He really wanted to know what he was so freaked about.  So what if he bit his lip a little hard?

Castiel sighed.  “There are things that come along with maturing as an angel.  When bonded and reaching adulthood, angels have a growing need inside them.  A need for contact, connection, and it gets stronger every day.”

“Okay,” Dean relaxed.  He thought it would be worse.  “That’s fine.  We talk and see each other every day.  We have a connection.”

“It’s not just that, Dean.”  He closed his eyes and took a long breath.  “We also have a drive, like an instinct, that pushes us to…” he looked away.  He didn’t want to say it.

“What?  What do you need?”  He took Castiel’s hands.  Castiel squeezed his eyes shut.  “Let me help you.”

Castiel suddenly grabbed the front of Dean’s shirt and ran him back to the wall.  He kissed him fiercely, hands holding his head in place.  Dean huffed in surprise, but held Castiel close as the angel attacked his mouth.

He broke the kiss to let Dean catch his breath.  Dean pulled his hips closer, pressing Castiel against him.  Castiel groaned and dug his nails into Dean’s shoulders.  He thrusted back against Dean.

“Dean,” he ran his teeth across Dean’s jaw, “angels have a drive in them that makes them want and need to claim their mates.  We need to take them.”  He placed his hand over his mark on Dean when Dean made a noise in the back of his throat.

“God, Cas.”  His body shivered at the angel’s touch.  “You feel that now?”  Castiel nodded and kissed his neck.  “How long?”

“A few months.”  He pressed against Dean and ran his nails down his chest.

Dean groaned and hooked his fingers in Castiel’s belt loops.  He met Castiel’s lips in a hungry kiss.  The other man returned it eagerly.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Castiel pushed his knee between Dean’s legs, making him moan and push back against Castiel.  “I didn’t want you to feel obligated to anything.”  His hips were moving against Dean in small thrusts.

“But you want this?”  His grip tightened as Castiel’s head dropped on his shoulder and he made a low sound in the back of his throat.  “You need this?”  Castiel nodded and held Dean’s arms with an iron grip.  Pleasure made Dean’s eyes roll back as Castiel covered his handprint again.  “You can have it, Cas.”  He gasped as the grip tightened.  “I’m yours.”

The angel growled low against Dean’s ear.  His thrusts moved faster and harder.  Dean moved a hand around Castiel’s hips, down the front of his jeans, and cupped the erection the angel was sporting.  Dean pressed his palm into Castiel, relishing the moan it got from him.

“Dean.”  Castiel pushed back into Dean’s hand and kissed Dean roughly.  Teeth and tongue claiming the human’s mouth.  He bit and sucked Dean’s tongue and lips as he held his hair tight and pressed him into the wall.

Dean unbuttoned Castiel’s jeans and pulled the zipper down, trying to keep his hips still as he slipped his hand in.  Castiel was warm and already wet.  Both boys groaned at the feeling.  Dean palmed him over his boxers.  Castiel cried out and bit down sharply on Dean’s neck, soft skin giving under his teeth.

Castiel’s jeans slipped down to his knees and Dean pulled him out of his boxers.  His hand moved in strong, quick strokes.  Castiel kept one hand on Dean’s shoulder while the other moved to Dean’s jeans, mirroring what he had done for Castiel.  Dean whispered encouragement as Castiel opened Dean’s pants and took him in hand.

Hot breaths and moans filled the room as the couple worked each other up.  Dean pressed Castiel’s back, pulling him closer, and moved his hand so he was holding both of them.  Their dicks slid together as they moved.  Dean stroked both of them.  He felt Castiel’s muscles tighten in his back and his nails cut into Dean’s sides as he held onto him.  He hissed in pain, but then cried out in pleasure as Castiel pushed up his sleeve and pressed his mouth to the angel’s mark.

“Fuck, Cas!”  His hand moved faster over them.  His head hit the wall as Castiel licked and nipped at the mark on his shoulder.  Dean had never felt so much at once in his whole life.  His heart was pounding, toes curled in pleasure, insides tightening as his climax approached, and Castiel was keeping his mouth by Dean’s mark, making him buzz with want and need.

Castiel then joined Dean’s hand in pushing both of them over the edge.  Dean came first with a moan of the angel’s name.  The lights in the room started flickering as Castiel clenched his eyes shut and yelled in a voice that made Dean’s ears protest in pain.  The lights shattered around them as Castiel came and curled into Dean.

Dean stroked Castiel through his orgasm and held him close.  He looked around the dark room.  “Cas, did you take out all the lights?”  He nodded guiltily before the lights came back on.  Dean looked out his window and laughed.  “The street lamp too?”  Castiel huffed out a laugh.  “It’s okay, leave it.  I didn’t like it shining in my face anyway.”  He smoothed down the angel’s hair.  “You okay?”

“Yes.”  He pulled away and looked up with worried eyes.  “Did I hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine.”  He smiled.

“I’m sorry, Dean.”

“For what?”

Castiel pulled away from Dean’s hold.  He looked sad.  “I never want to hurt you, Dean.  Remember that.”

“Cas, I know, what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry.”

Dean was about to ask again when fingers touched his forehead and he blacked out.  When he woke up, sunlight was shining through the window and he was clean and laying in his bed.  “Cas?”  He hoped maybe the angel was still around.  “Cas?”  There was no answer.

He tried calling his phone, no answer.  He shrugged it off for now and got up for the day.  Throughout the day he called for Castiel with no answer.  This wasn’t like him, especially after what happened the night before.  He was worried now.

That’s how it was for days, then weeks.  After a month, Dean’s mom called the Novak house.  Castiel was alright, but Mary was told that he wouldn’t be over.

Dean’s shoulder was burning and he was angry.  Why wasn’t Castiel coming over?  He said he wouldn’t hurt him.  Didn’t he know that’s exactly what he was doing?

School started after Castiel had been gone for a month and a half.  Jo came home with Dean after school.  “Dean, you look awful.  When was the last time you saw Cas?”

“A little over a month ago.”  He sat on his bed and rubbed his tired eyes.  He was a little pale and was losing weight.

“Dean, you can’t do that.”  Jo knelt in front of him.  “You know what will happen.”

“I know!”  Jo jumped at his outburst.  “Don’t you think I know?  It’s not like I’m avoiding him.”

“Can’t you drive to his house?”

“I’ve never been to his house.  I have no idea where he lives.”

“Ask Gabriel.”

“No, just leave it.  Obviously he doesn’t want to see me.”  He moved to lie on the bed.  Jo stayed with him and did her homework silently.  She left when it grew dark outside.

For the next couple months, Jo did the same thing every day.  She would go out with Anna later or Anna would come over too.  Gabriel was kept away by Sam.  The last thing Dean needed was an inappropriate joke to make him try to hit the angel.

By the end of November, Dean could barely attend school.  Jo was beginning to spend the night on occasion.  She wanted to help Dean, but she didn’t know what to do.  He had stopped talking and was curled up on his bed.  She wrapped her arms around him and stayed there as he slept.

School was on Christmas break when Dean had been forced to stay home.  It was late and he was trying to sleep, but the nauseous feeling churning inside him made sleeping harder every night.  He thought for sure he was done.  This is how he would die: drawn out and vomiting, too weak to sit up.  He felt another round of pain coming when the sound of wings stopped everything cold.

Dean barely registered the change before his covers were thrown to the side and Castiel was on top of him.  Lips met in a hard kiss as Castiel held his face close.

Although Dean felt a swell of relief and happiness at Castiel’s appearance, he was tired and still angry at the angel’s disappearance.  He pushed on his chest, which was about as useful as punching a marble statue.  “Cas, get off me.”  He kept pushing on the other’s shoulders until Castiel growled angrily and pinned his hands up by his head.  “Cas!”

The angel didn’t seem to hear.  He moved down to Dean’s neck and jaw and sank his teeth in painfully.  Blood ran down into his sheets and Castiel didn’t stop.

“Cas!”  Dean figured if he couldn’t make him stop, someone in the house would hear him and come to help.  “Cas, stop!”  He tried to push back or kick out, but he was immobile.  “CASTIEL, STOP NOW!”

As if slapped by the statement, Castiel flew off Dean and stood by the bed.  A few spots of blood were on his chin and his eyes were wide in horror.  Dean was released and he sat up quickly, covering the bites with his hand.  “Dean.”  His voice was small and broken.

Dean really looked at him then.  He had been just as sick as Dean.  His face was pale, eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he was shaking.  He was weak, but he still had the power to rip into Dean if he had kept going.

Castiel took a few steps closer and reached out a hand.  Dean ducked away.  “Don’t touch me.”

“Please, let me heal you.”

“NO!  You’ve done enough.”  He pulled his sheets around him and glared as the angel looked at the floor in shame.  “What happened to you?  Where were you?  I needed you here.”

“I’m sorry.  I couldn’t.”

“Why the Hell not?”

He shook his head.  “It doesn’t matter now.  I’m 18 and I can make my own choices now.”  He looked up at Dean.  “I’ll never leave again.”  He faltered at Dean’s look.  “Unless of course, you want me to.”

Dean was tempted.  His anger made him want to snap at Castiel and tell him to go to Hell.  He wanted to shout and tell the angel how he never wanted to be around him, that he was ruining his life.  Without the stupid bonding he could be dating girls right now.  He would be able to choose his own girlfriend, wife.  Maybe he would even be dating Jo.  God knows they spend enough time together and she was getting prettier every year.

Castiel seemed to suddenly change.  His eyes got darker and he moved closer to Dean.  “Dean,” his voice was hard and angry, “no one else will ever touch you.”

“What?”

“You will not touch anyone else.”

Dean was confused for a moment, but then he realized.  “Were you reading my mind?”  The look was answer enough.  “Cas, I told you not to do that.  It’s not fair.”

“If Jo ever touches you Dean, I will kill her.”

Dean stood from the bed.  “Excuse me?”

“And if you touch Jo, Anna will kill you.”  His eyes bored into Dean.  “An angel’s mate must never be shared with another angel or human.  You are mine, Dean.  I claimed you.”

“Well maybe I don’t want to be property, Cas.”

At the words, Castiel softened a little.  “You’re not property.  You made a vow to me and I to you.”

“When we were eight!”

“That makes no difference.  The instincts of angels and their mates is embedded in all angels from birth.  We have no control over it.  I would kill anyone who made a pass at you, no matter who they are.”  He took a step away from Dean.  “That was one of the reasons human mates were kept in cages hundreds of years ago.”

“Back when they really were just slaves.”

Castiel nodded.  “The drive in us is the same, Dean.  Not all angels give their humans the choice I’m giving you.”

“What choice is that?”

“You don’t have to be with me, Dean.  If you wish, I can leave and you would never see me again.”

“Wouldn’t I just end up being as miserable as I just was?  Wouldn’t I die?”

“Yes, but you would be free.”

Dean laughed.  “Yeah, some choice.  Life or death.  That’s super.”

“Freedom is what I’m offering.  I know you never wanted to be with me.  I know you were forced into this.  I’m sorry.”

“You were too.”  He admitted it grudgingly.  He might be angry now, but he needed to remember that Castiel had no more choice in this than him.  “Tell me where you were.”  Castiel turned away.  “Please.”

“I was at home.”

“And?”

“I couldn’t come to you.”

Dean sighed.  “I’m gonna need more than that, Cas.”

He licked his lips as he fought internally.  “I was being held at my house.”

“By who?”

“My mother.”  He shook his head.  “She wouldn’t let me leave.  She put bindings on the house so I couldn’t fly.”

“You were trapped?”  He felt his anger slip away.  “By your mother?  What was her problem?”  Castiel just shrugged.  “What, does she not like me?”  Castiel’s eyes shifted a couple times.  “So, she would rather watch you suffer than let you leave and be happy?”

“Her opinion doesn’t matter anymore.  When angels turn 18, they can do whatever they want.  She couldn’t hold me anymore.  I made my choice.”  He looked at Dean.

“What will you do if I don’t want to be around you?”

Castiel looked away.  “I don’t know.”

Dean could tell he was lying.  “You don’t know?”  He shook his head.  “Would you move, travel, what?”

Castiel closed his eyes.  “No, I wouldn’t be strong enough after a while.”  He turned to face Dean with a sad look.  “Humans who leave their angels aren’t the only ones that die.”

Dean raised an eyebrow.  “You would die too?”

“Eventually.  It would take over a year of horrible pain and sickness, but yes I would die.  That’s how it’s always been.  The other reason humans were kept in cages.”

Dean’s stomach turned at the horrible thought.  He might have considered freedom and death for him, but knowing that it would kill Castiel too was too much.  He couldn’t be angry.  Castiel had been a prisoner in his home and suffered the same as Dean, and now he was giving him the chance to refuse him.  “I may not have chosen you back then, Cas,” he took the angel’s hand, “but I’m choosing you now.  I don’t want you to leave.”

Relief filled Castiel’s eyes and he rested his forehead against Dean’s, healing his wounds as he did.  “You need to sleep.”

“So do you.  You look like crap.”  Dean laughed and Castiel smiled.

“I don’t sleep, Dean.”

“Right, I forgot.”  Dean dragged his feet back to bed and crawled under the covers.  Castiel stood awkwardly by his side.

“Can I stay here?  I don’t want to go home.”

Dean lifted the covers in response and Castiel snuggled in against Dean’s chest.  He may not need sleep, but he could rest while Dean recovered fully overnight.  Dean had a fleeting thought as he drifted into sleep.  “Happy Birthday, Cas.”

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