Tell me where we go from here 46/47
Chapter 46
Cas wasn't even back yet but Sam could see that Dean truly meant it when he said that he would try. The most visible thing he did was to rearrange his room. He took everything Cas had left and some of the stuff Dean had bought for him and brought it over to his room.
When Sam had a look later, he had to say that it was still clearly Dean's room, with the weapons on the wall, the records and the pictures, but it was Cas' too. Not only because his clothes were in the closet now but there was the rug Dean had bought him and the lamp.
"It's a start." Dean said rather meekly when he noticed Sam's critical eye on his work. "He doesn't have much personal stuff."
"When he comes back, I could snap some pictures of you two." Sam offered. They had very few family pictures as it was and not one with Cas in it, time to change that.
"That's a great idea." Dean smiled at him and Sam knew that smile was for more than just the offer to play photographer for him.
"Of course." Sam tried to brush it off before this could turn into something awkward. "And wait until he figures out how to use the camera on his phone."
Dean groaned to that but there was a glint in his eye and Sam wondered who would be quicker to show that little feature to the angel and sic him on the other one. The game was on.
A more subtle thing Sam noticed was that Dean joined him in the library more often, doing his own research. When asked Dean only mumbled something about the Mark but every time Sam came close to seeing the screen Dean was quick to switch windows.
One time Dean left for a quick bathroom break without closing the sites he had been reading and Sam risked a quick glance.
The open window showed some boring text about an old European legend Dean had told him about hours ago. The second window, however, had quite a few tabs open about different kinds of sexuality in general and asexuality in particular. Dean had even found an asexuality forum.
Smiling to himself Sam left everything like he'd found it and when Dean was back a minute later Sam looked as engrossed in his own work as he had been when Dean had left.
"We have a few days off, we should do something." Sam said over dinner one evening. Hanging out in the bunker with the occasional trip into town for a beer was nice and all but they probably should do something more. It wasn't often that they had actually time to do something fun. If one of them actually remembered how to have fun, that is.
"What are you suggesting, Sammy?" Dean put the dishes in the sink and dried his hands with a towel. "A vacation?"
"We should wait with that until Cas is back." Sam said but then another thought occurred to him. "Or you could go on vacation with him, just the two of you. I wouldn't mind."
The glance Dean threw at him was unreadable.
"But we should do something now, maybe a little trip, just a day or two." Sam continued with his line of thought. "There has to be something interesting near by."
Odd, he'd traveled all over the country all his life but when he should pick a place for fun, he was lost. Sure there were places and attractions they always wanted to come back to, one day, when they weren't busy with work, but now that they had the time, Sam couldn't remember one of those places.
"As long as you don't want to go hiking." Dean took two beers out of the fridge and handed one to Sam. "We could use a little down time. Dunno when Cas will show up again, anyway." He said the last part without bitterness in his voice. Cas had his responsibilities and they had theirs, it for sure sucked that they couldn't be together all the time especially now when Dean was eager to start over with their relationship, Sam could tell, but that was their life. Besides, they were both grown men, they didn't need to be together 24/7 like lovesick teenagers. However, Dean and Cas seemed quite fond of texting nowadays, Dean was almost constantly checking his phone lately and texting back as soon as he got a message from his angel.
Dean told Sam the important stuff, mostly that Cas was fine, but he never let Sam see the messages so Sam figured he didn't want to see them. For all he knew there were dick pics attached.
The longer Sam thought about it, the more he grew fond of the idea of a short trip. Just him and Dean, no case, no pressure, just a little fun.
"We should do that." Dean said with a dreamy glaze over his eyes.
They spent the rest of the evening huddled over the laptop, searching for attractions near by. Due to the location of the bunker there was a lot near by and soon the list of their bookmarks was longer than Sam's forearm. Even he had to admit that there was no way that they could hit all these places over a short trip. Even a month would be too short for all of them.
In the end they settled of drawing numbers out of a hat the modern way. Sam opened every bookmark in a tab and asked Dean for three numbers between one and eighty-seven. It may be a silly way to settle this but it was fun and that was what counted.
"Only you can come up with such a geek way to get us on a vacation." Dean muttered. "Okay, fifteen, thirty-seven and sixty-six. If they're lame, I'm totally going to blame you."
"Let's see." Sam counted the tabs. "An amusement park, a steak house and haunted mansion. Not bad." He had to admit. Especially the mansion was something Dean would dig but to Sam it felt a bit close to work. But it could be fun to see something made up.
"Did you say steak house?" Dean perked up.
"Best steaks in the states." Sam read the advertising on the website. Aside from the steaks it was medieval themed with the steaks grilled over open fire and served on wooden boards. The beer mugs in the pictures looked bigger than Sam's head.
Dean looked over Sam's shoulder and Sam expected him to start drooling on him any second now.
"We're going to hit that one first." Dean decided.
They had never been big on planning trips, they knew where they wanted to go and how to get there, they usually figured out along the way. So they just put their three targets in a more or less reasonable order, steak house first, and then went to bed to get an early start in the morning.
After a quick breakfast the next morning and a text from Dean to Cas to tell him that they would be out for a few days, they were on the road.
It was a nice day, blue sky and a warm sun, and Sam instantly relaxed in his seat when the car purred over the open road. Why they had even bothered with picking places to go he didn't even remember, just hitting the road was more than good enough for him. The bunker slowly became his home but this was where he truly belonged and he knew Dean felt the same. If anything Dean felt it stronger than him.
Their first destination was the steak house but they were in no hurry to get there so they stopped over lunch at a nice spot just a little off the main road and just relaxed for an hour, enjoying the landscape.
In the middle of the afternoon a short restroom break became a shopping trip which got Sam three books and Dean a few magazines and tools for his car.
They arrived later that evening and went to get themselves a room first. In walking distance to the steak house because at least Dean wasn't planning on getting out of there sober. And with a full belly he was even less keen on walking than without.
"You're getting lazy." Sam teased him but silently he had to agree. This was supposed to be fun. So they could drink as much as they wanted and walk as less as they wanted.
"And you're getting slow." Dean countered. "Hop, hop, Sammy, there's a steak with my name on it waiting for me."
According to the online comments, the steaks were really good here plus they made quite a show out of it. Sam didn't deny that he was looking forward to that as well. At least it was the middle of the week so chances were good that they would get a table without waiting.
They stayed in their room just long enough to drop their bags and to splash some water on their faces and then they were back outside. Dean was almost skipping.
"Man, you're in a good mood." Sam had trouble keeping up with his brother.
"Why shouldn't I be?" Dean answered with a broad grin. "It's you and me and a steak and Cas just texted that he misses me, that big softy. Life's good." He paused. "It would be perfect if Cas was here but still."
They walked the rest of the way in silence but still in a good mood. When the steak house came into view Sam noticed something.
"Speaking of Cas." He squinted, not sure if he was seeing right or not. "Did you tell him where we were going?"
"Hmm?" Dean had his phone out once again. "Of course I told him that I was going to have the best steak in the states tonight."
"Did he say where he would be?" Sam asked but coming closer to the figure that had caught his eye he was pretty sure he knew where the angel intended to spend the evening. They would need to get a second room later on, he realized but didn't mind.
"Only that he wouldn't be home for a few more days." Dean shrugged with one shoulder and sent a text with his other hand.
They were close enough for Sam to see the hint of a smile on Cas' lips. Dean still hadn't noticed him because he was still fumbling with his phone.
"Hello, Dean." Cas greeted him and Dean dropped his phone. For a second Dean gaped at him, blinking as if he wasn't sure if this was real or not.
"Dammit, Cas." He finally muttered and embraced the angel in a bear hug. "What are you doing here?"
Cas hugged him back and over Dean's shoulder his eyes met Sam's. There was a warm welcome in there for him as well and Sam just new that he wouldn't feel like the third wheel this evening. Not that Dean would ever want to shut him out, not like this, but it felt good that Cas wanted him to be part of this as well.
"You seemed to like my last surprise visit." Cas explained and Sam was just glad that they were in public, he remembered Cas' last surprise visit way too well for his liking.
"Yeah, I do." Dean answered and gave Cas a quick peck on the corner of his mouth. "And now I want my steak."
"I think we can arrange that." Sam ushered them towards the entrance.
The rich aroma of grilled meat reached them as soon as they were through the door along with the soft noises of people eating and conversations in low voices.
They were seated in a corner from where they had a good view on the open grill manned by a chef wearing a blacksmith's apron.
Eyes bright like a kid's in a candy store Dean looked around, taking in every detail.
"Sammy, this is awesome." He proclaimed, sneaking his arm around Cas' waist.
Sam only grinned.
When Dean had his first look at the menu Sam wasn't sure if he was about to faint or cream his pants, maybe both.
Smiling to himself Sam sat back in his seat, watching his brother and his boyfriend for a moment before he set his mind on the difficult task to find the right steak for himself.
Epilog
Masterpost