Chapter Text
“Seriously Cas.” Dean says, flipping the curtain back and staring out into the gloom of the afternoon. “Why the fuck couldn’t you and Kelly decide to live someplace other than the frigid pacific northwest? Between the lack of sun and the cold, it sucks ‘cause I would love to be on a beach right now instead of watching another foot of snow falling from the sky and freezing my balls off when I have to go out and clean my Baby off.”
Cas laughs as he comes up behind Dean, wrapping his arms around his waist as he kisses his neck. “Oh, come on. It isn’t that bad. It’s pretty to look at and you have nothing to worry about, your balls are safe in my hands. I promise to keep them toasty warm all winter.”
Dean turns, wrapping his arms around Castiel’s neck, kissing him deeply. “Yeah, but my birthday is next week, and I would love to get sand in places that I probably shouldn’t with you as my birthday present.” Dean whispers, kissing Cas again softly.
“Oh, is that right?” Cas smiles against Dean’s lips, his hands sliding down Dean’s back and settling on his waist. “I might be able to arrange something. I know a guy who could probably get us there.”
“Can you get me there?” Dean grinds his hips forward into Cas.
“Definitely.” Cas returns into Dean’s open mouth, pulling Dean against him. They begin to sway next to the windows, Cas tipping his head down and nuzzling up against Dean’s neck.
Claire makes a gagging sound as she walks by the dining room on her way to the kitchen to get drinks for both her and Jack. “Guys, really? There are kids in the house.”
“Where?” Dean asks, looking around dramatically. “I don’t see any kids. You see any kids, Cas?”
“Nope. Not that I’m looking though.” Cas answers, his face still buried in Dean’s collar.
“Seriously. Get a room.”
“We have a room.” Cas says, his answer muffled by Dean’s shirt. “It’s just right down the hall from where our two kids are hanging out currently. It has a real comfortable bed and nice cozy sheets that feel good when you lie in them naked.”
“Ugh. Nevermind. I didn’t think about that.” Claire shakes her head. “And I’ve slept in that bed, Castiel. Now I really am traumatized.”
Dean stifles a laugh as he watches Claire go into the kitchen, open the fridge, grabbing two cans of Coke before shutting the door and reaching for the bag of Cool Ranch Doritos on the counter. She tries to walk by them quickly, holding her hand up to cover her peripheral vision as she passes the dining room.
“Hey Claire?” Dean asks as he watches her walk by as he continues to sway with Castiel.
“Yeah?” She asks, caution in her voice.
“What ever happened with your friend from the library?”
“Oh. Nothing really. It was fun for a few weeks but wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Kinda hard to be in a relationship with someone when you’re constantly traveling the country and they have no idea it’s because you’re killing monsters.”
“Yeah.” Dean sighs. “I think we all get that one.”
Claire nods before making her way back upstairs to Jack’s room.
“You don’t think they’re getting into trouble up there, do you?” Dean asks, staring at the empty steps.
Castiel gives a small laugh. “Our kids? Never.”
“They could be building a bomb.”
“Or they’re watching America’s Next Top Model and doing each other’s nails. Now where were we?” Cas asks, kissing Dean’s neck up to his jaw and finally his lips.
The next morning Dean wakes up alone and heads downstairs to find Cas and Jack huddled together at the dining room table, whispering as they look at something laying on the table. From the stairs Dean can’t tell if they are arguing or just passionately discussing something since their backs are turned but as soon as Cas feels his presence, he squares his shoulders and whatever was on the table is immediately hidden as they both turn quickly to face him.
“Good morning.” Dean says cautiously to both of them as he tries to read their faces.
“Good morning, Dad.” Jack answers back with a grin.
“You look like the cat that ate the canary, kid. What’s going on down here?” Dean asks, stepping off the bottom step and starting towards them.
“Nothing.” Castiel answers quickly as he glances at Jack who nods in agreement.
“We were just discussing our … fantasy football strategy.” Jack informs Dean.
“Fan- Jack do you even know what fantasy football is?” Dean laughs.
“Not really, no.” Jack shakes his head.
“Yeah. I didn’t think so.” Dean rubs his hand through his hair. “You hungry?” He asks.
“I could eat.” Jack nods.
“Cool. I’ll make some waffles.” Dean says starting for the kitchen before he stops himself and turns back to Jack. “Where’s your sister?”
“Still asleep.”
“Awesome.” Dean nods. “You get to wake her up.”
“Oh, god, no anything but that.” Jack pleads, dropping to his knees, begging, with a grin on his face. “She’s a monster in the mornings. She’s like a dragon. She might melt my face off.”
“Jack.” Dean stares at him trying to keep his face neutral.
“Fine.” He whines getting to his feet. “I’ll go but if I’m not back in five minutes, just know that I loved you both dearly.”
Dean and Castiel share a grin as Jack stomps up the steps. "Your kid is weird.” Dean says as he shakes his head and goes into the kitchen to get the waffle batter started.
Cas nods. “I know, he takes after you.”
After breakfast Jack takes Claire home to Sioux Falls by way of Nephilim Express as he likes to refer to it, and immediately returns back to his home with Cas and Dean.
“So, what are we doing today?” Jack asks, his eyes bright.
“I think you’re looking at it, kiddo.” Dean motions around the bottom floor of the house. “There’s too much snow to take Baby out anywhere and your dad’s truck would be all squirrely without snow tires and sandbags in the back.
“Okay.” Jack’s shoulders sag.
Cas looks quickly from Jack to Dean and back to Jack, stepping forward and putting his hand on Jack’s lower back, ushering him towards the stairs. “You know Jack, I was actually hoping that you could help me out for a little bit.” He looks over his shoulder to Dean as he and Jack make their way up the stairs.
A couple hours later Cas is back downstairs with Dean, lying wrapped up in each other’s arms on the couch watching Netflix.
“So, what did you need help with earlier?” Dean asks, placing a kiss on Cas’ temple.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing. I was just trying to get his mind off of being bored. I told him we could redo his room, paint or whatever, and wanted his input.”
“How very HGTV of you.” Dean smiles.
“Eh.” Cas shrugs. “What can I say? Property Brothers got nothing on me.”
“You’re such a dork.” Dean laughs.
The rest of the week passes a little faster, the snow lets up and roads open again so Mary Sam and Eileen make the drive from Lebanon to spend a few days with them for Dean’s birthday. Jack waits with Cas on the front porch for them while Dean finishes making lunch. He has it on the table by the time the five of them are coming in the front door, Sam and Cas carrying their bags through and taking them to the foot of the staircase.
“Bitch.”
“Jerk.”
The boys greet each other with a hug before Dean turns to Eileen, hugging her gently leaving room for her growing belly. He motions down to her stomach to ask permission before he leans down to greet his niece or nephew. He might spend a little more time than polite with Eileen’s stomach, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Dean tries not to show how excited he is for the new baby coming but he gives himself away by the grin he has on his face when he stands, his knees popping.
“How was the drive?” He asks, turning to his mom to hug her and give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Well, I’m glad the snow finally stopped. Otherwise, we would’ve been relying on Jack as transit and as much as I love the kid, I hate flying.” She grins. “Give me the open road any day of the week.”
“Damn, you really are my mother, aren’t you?” Dean laughs before clapping his hands together. “Alright lunch is on the table, let’s eat before it gets cold.”
They gather around the dining room table, Dean and Cas sitting on one side together, Dean’s hand resting comfortably on Cas’ knee, while Jack and Mary take spots at the ends and Sam and Eileen sit across from Dean and Castiel.
“So, how’s everything been going with hunting and the network?” Dean asks, taking a bite of his lasagna.
“Good.” Mary smiles. “It’s actually gone a lot smoother than I anticipated. We have about ten hunters staying at the bunker full time with about ten more that rotate through whenever they need a place to crash or to dig into some lore.”
“Is Mike still with you guys?”
“No. Mike left after the first of the year.” Mary answers, looking over to Sam.
“Why?” Dean asks looking from Mary to Sam, seeing the look they are sharing.
“Uh. Well. Like I was saying at Christmas, he wasn’t exactly that open minded when it came to our family’s circumstances.” Mary smiles earnestly at Jack before looking back at Cas and Dean. “It’s really a long story but the short version is he wasn’t accepting of a few relationships that we have, and I wasn’t going to be with someone who couldn’t get past his own bigotry.”
“Wait.” Dean says, putting down his fork. “You mean he had a problem with me and Cas?” Cas moves his hand over, and gently squeezes Dean’s thigh to remind him that he’s home and there isn’t a threat that needs to be taken care of like there was in San Francisco over the summer.
“Not like you’d think.” Sam answers quickly when Mary remains silent.
“What do you mean not like I’d think? What else could it be other than he has a problem with two men being together?” Dean asks, his face getting red as he takes a swig of his beer.
“Dean.” Cas whispers, trying to keep Dean calm.
“No.” Sam shakes his head. “More like he had a problem with a relationship between a human and an angel. And it wasn’t just you two. Gabriel and Rowena ended up leaving for about a week when we came back to Lebanon because of him. He kept spouting off scripture and was just a total douchebag about it.”
Dean shakes his head. “That motherfucker.”
“Trust me, I wanted to kick his ass.” Eileen says, taking a small bite of her garlic bread. “I got your backs.”
Dean smiles.
“I promise Dean, as soon as he started causing trouble, I told him it was time to leave.” Mary says gently.
“Thank you, Mary.” Cas says, almost as a whisper. “I’m sorry that we caused you to lose a good hunter and friend."
Mary turns to Cas. “There’s absolutely nothing for you to apologize for Castiel. His biases are his biases. I know what a good match you are for my son and that’s all that matters.” She leans over, grabbing Cas’ hand that is on the table between them and squeezes gently. “Besides, if it weren’t for you, both of my boys would still be in Hell. We are extremely lucky to have you in our lives. Some people just have a harder time seeing and understanding that than others do.”
After lunch Mary and Jack make quick work of the dishes while Sam, Eileen, Dean and Cas get a chance to catch up in the living room.
“You feeling better?” Dean asks Eileen as he watches her rub her belly as she looks out the window.
“I am.” She nods. “They ended up having to give me a prescription because I was so sick all the time, but I feel so much better now that I can eat and hold things down. I feel more energized and I'm definitely sleeping better.”
“That’s good to hear.” Cas smiles. “I was hoping the suggestions Alex gave you would help; natural remedies have been used since the beginning of time to cure a lot of ailments. We tried to devise a natural system that could cure any problems that would arise by using what was around you.”
“Yeah, you know Eileen, if you want Cas to deliver your baby he totally could.” Dean grins, nudging Cas who’s sitting beside him on the couch. “He took online classes to become a doula when Kelly was having Jack so we could totally save you a hospital bill.”
Eileen and Sam laugh as Cas seems to get redder in the face.
“Thanks. No offense, but I think I’ll just stick to modern medicine.” She winks at Cas.
“None taken.” Cas laughs, wrapping his arm around the back of the couch.
“You still planning to keep up with hunting?” Dean asks, looking at Sam.
“Well, that’s actually one reason why we wanted to come see you face to face. We had a big ask of you.” Sam says, setting his beer on the coffee table in front of him. “How would you feel about having a few more people under foot for a while once the baby comes?”
Dean can’t contain the grin spreading across his face. “Are you serious?”
Eileen nods and smiles. “We are. As much as I love hunting, I just don’t see how I’m going to be able to continue once the baby is here. I would feel too guilty if something happened to one of us leaving them without one or both of their parents.”
Dean turns to Cas. “What do you think?”
Cas puts his hands up and smiles. “Don’t look at me. They lived here all last summer, and I loved it.”
“Of course, that means a baby crying in the middle of the night and losing sleep again.” Sam points out.
“Well at least this time we won’t have to worry about him or her wielding unfathomable powers that could end the world with a temper tantrum.” Dean points out.
“That’s true.” Sam laughs.
“And I don’t sleep so, again, I would be more than willing to help out.” Cas smiles at Sam and then Eileen. "Jack survived under my care, I think I could manage to keep a human alive."
“Well, then it looks like you might have some roommates in a few months.” Sam sighs triumphantly.
Dean wakes up on his birthday to the sun shining through the bedroom window. Cas isn’t there with him but his spot on the bed is still warm, so Dean knows he hasn’t been gone for that long. He climbs out of bed, heading to the bathroom, emptying his bladder and washing his hands before returning to bed. He rolls onto his back and stretches. He breathes out hard as he relaxes his muscles but continues to lay spread eagle across the bed. He rubs his hand down his face and closes his eyes just for another minute. It's his birthday, he's allowed. He doesn’t realize that he's accidentally dozed off again until he feels the weight of Cas coming back to bed. He slowly opens his eyes and finds Cas sitting next to him holding a steaming mug of coffee.
“Good morning.” Cas whispers, carefully leaning over Dean and placing the mug on his nightstand. “Happy birthday. I wanted to give you my present first.”
Dean smiles, reaching out and snagging Cas before he makes it back to his side of the bed. He wraps his arms around Cas’ waist, pulling him down and kissing him deeply. Cas sinks down, pressing his chest against Dean’s, moving his leg in between Dean’s and using his thigh to gently apply pressure to Dean’s balls causing him to groan into Cas’ mouth.
“Shhhhhhh.” Cas breathes into his ear. “We have a house full of people.” He says kissing down Dean’s neck. He runs his hands up Dean’s shirt, stroking his fingers down his ribs before playing with his nipples with his thumbs. Dean digs his head back into the pillow trying desperately to keep quiet as his hips involuntarily jerk up towards Cas, begging for contact.
Cas reaches back and pulls his t-shirt off, dropping it on the floor beside the bed before Dean reaches down, crossing his arms and grabbing the bottom hem of his own t-shirt, lifting himself up and pulling it off as well, letting it fall next to them on the bed. Castiel grinds his hips down onto Dean, letting him feel his hardness through his thin pajama pants, rocking slowly, driving Dean crazy.
Dean slides his hands down past Cas’ elastic waistband, cupping his ass and pulling him towards him. Cas leans down, kissing Dean deep, his tongue filling Dean’s mouth. Dean moans quietly as he begins rutting against Cas’ leg.
“Please Cas.” He whispers. “You’re gonna make me come in my pants if you keep this up.”
Cas grins. “Maybe that’s my plan.” He winks rocking up onto his knees. He works his pants and boxers off, leaving him naked, his erection pointing at Dean. Dean sighs at the sight of it, reaching down to take Cas into his hand. Cas lets him stroke him a couple times before pulling away and grabbing the waistband of Dean’s pajama pants and boxers and slowly works them down to his thighs as he follows with his mouth, kissing down Dean’s stomach. He bypasses Dean’s dick and continues kissing down his thighs as he slides his clothing off of his feet.
Cas motions for Dean to roll over onto his stomach and Dean does slowly as Cas waits near the bottom of the bed. Castiel slowly crawls up Dean’s body, trailing kisses until he reaches Dean’s shoulders, where he bites down, sucking a mark where his neck and shoulder meet. Cas works his way back down Dean’s back, kissing his hips, settling in between his legs. Taking the thumb of his right-hand, Cas spreads Dean’s ass cheeks while working his left hand under Dean’s hip to prop him up a little. Dean feels the warm surge of Cas’ grace entering his body, relaxing and prepping him at the same time.
Cas tenderly nudges himself into the crease of Dean's ass, his tongue finding Dean's hole. Dean instinctively jerks his hips forward, his hands forming fists as he grabs and bites his pillow, a low groan involuntarily pulled from his throat. Cas grins as he continues licking, feeling Dean squirm under him, his tongue finally breaching the rim and entering Dean.
“Jesus.” Dean breathes as he tries not to fuck back onto Castiel’s tongue. “I want you so fucking bad.”
Cas moves slowly, reaching for his pillow, tucking it under Dean’s hips, gently brushing his knuckles against Dean’s cock in the process. He pulls back, positioning himself over Dean, bracketing his arm next to Dean’s body. Dean moans into his pillow as Castiel takes his cock in his hand, jerking a few times slowly and then presses the head against Dean’s hole.
“C’mon man. Fucking do something.” Dean pants impatiently as he waits for Cas to make a move.
Cas smirks above him as he sinks down, pressing deep into Dean in one long thrust.
“Ohhhhhh.” Dean moans, forgetting he is supposed to be quiet.
Cas holds himself still, deep inside Dean, feeling Dean’s body stretch to accommodate him. Cas takes hold of Dean’s hips, using them to press as hard and as deep as he can, tightening and relaxing his muscles to move himself inside Dean without thrusting.
“Cas, wha - what are you doing?”
“Trying something.” Cas whispers. “Good or bad?”
“Fucking AMAZING.” Dean breathes.
“Oh. Well, that’s too bad.” Cas grunts, pushing against Dean trying to give more, even it’s just another centimeter before he slowly drags himself back, almost out of Dean before working his hips in slowly again, pushing deep once more. He does this several more times, watching Dean’s body shake underneath him, listening to Dean’s ragged breathing as he tries not to cry out with pleasure.
“I need more, Cas.” Dean says, turning his head, the entire left side of his face still buried in the pillow. “Please. I’m begging you. I feel like I’m going to explode.”
Cas nods, pulling back, repositioning his hands on Dean’s body as he begins to work his hips in precise, quick thrusts causing the headboard to repeatedly bang against the wall.
“How’s this?” Cas pants.
Dean is being fucked so good he can’t answer, all of his thoughts are on the fullness in his ass and the pressure in his lower abdomen and balls that is building. As Cas gets closer to climax his rhythm falters, causing Dean to start rocking himself back onto Cas to try to keep the rhythmic friction on that sweet spot inside of him.
“Ohh fuck.” Dean grunts as he finally reaches the peak, Cas still thrusting into him, and he spills cum all over Cas’ pillow. Cas comes almost simultaneously, his hips snapping a few final times before he collapses over Dean’s back, kissing him breathlessly.
Cas carefully removes himself from Dean, using his grace to clean them both up, before pulling his pillow out from under Dean gently turning him over onto his back, hovering over top of him. Dean falls back onto his pillow, framing Castiel’s face in his hands and stares into his eyes. He wonders if there will ever come a time when he gets tired of this.
“I love you.” Dean whispers.
“Happy birthday.” Cas smiles, leaning down and kissing Dean slowly.
They take their time getting dressed, houseguests be damned. Dean pulls on a pair of light jeans with holes in the knees, a black AC/DC t-shirt and a red and black plaid flannel while Cas opts for dark jeans and a light gray long sleeved thermal shirt that shows every muscle Cas’ normal get-up back in the day kept hidden. Cas notices Dean staring and looks back at him, self-conscious.
“What?” Cas asks, grabbing a pair of socks out of his drawer.
“Nothing.” Dean shakes his head. “You’re just so fucking sexy. God, if you would’ve worn that ten years ago, I can promise you I wouldn’t have been able to hold out as long as I did.” Dean smiles, walking toward Cas and wrapping his arms around his waist. “Why did I wait so long?” He asks, kissing Cas deeply.
“You really want me to answer that?” Cas mumbles into Dean’s mouth.
“No.” Dean laughs quietly. “I already know what an idiot I was.”
Cas drops down to the bed, pulling on his socks before grabbing his boots from beside his nightstand and putting them on, lacing them quickly while Dean does the same on his side of the bed. Cas glances at the clock on the nightstand before standing to take Dean’s hand before heading downstairs.
As they reach the bottom step, Dean realizes that everyone in the house is up and not only that, but there are also several new faces hanging out that he wasn’t expecting to see. Jody, Donna and the girls are in the dining room setting up for brunch while Gabriel and Rowena sit on the couch snuggled together. Dean turns to Cas questioning, but Cas just shrugs his shoulders and smiles. Dean shakes his head, turning back and watches as Mary, Sam and Eileen come out of the kitchen, each with platters of food, handing them off to the ladies in the dining room to find spots for them on the table.
Dean steps off the last step, causing it to squeak, and everyone looks up at the sound.
“Mornin’ everyone.” Dean says sheepishly with a small wave.
“Good morning!” Most of them respond back to him.
“Well, we would ask you what Cas got you for your birthday Dean, but we already know.” Donna jokes, wagging her eyebrows.
“Does it begin with O and end with rgasm?” Gabriel asks the room as they laugh.
“I wish my mornings were that eventful.” Jody says, bumping her hip up against Donna’s.
“Oh, you just wait, Missy.” Donna grins. “It’s not your birthday yet.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dean mumbles looking down at the floor in front of him, his face getting red.
“Oh please.” Jody says looking at the two of them. “We could hear everything. You need some soundproof padding on those walls, Cas.” Jody grins.
“Or at least a new headboard.” Claire chimes in as they all start laughing again.
Dean crosses his arms and shakes his head. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on, so he gives up.
“Happy birthday.” Jody says, putting down her last plate and walking over to hug Dean, kissing him on the cheek.
“Thank you. What are you guys doing here?” He asks, looking around at everyone.
“It was Jack’s idea.” Sam tells him, stealing a piece of bacon off of the platter in front of him and popping it into his mouth.
“Jack? Really?”
“Mmm.” Cas nods his head. “That’s what we were talking about the other morning when you came downstairs and caught us.”
“Huh.” Dean shakes his head. “Where is he now?” He asks, looking around and realizing he isn’t there with them.
“He’s picking up my gift.” Cas says. “He should be back soon.” Cas places a hand on Dean’s lower back ushering him over to the table. “Since it’s your birthday you get to eat first.”
Dean grins, grabbing a plate off of the stack and fills it full. He has bacon, scrambled eggs, a biscuit smothered in gravy and sausage on his plate. He grabs a fork and heads to the living room where he places his food on the side table and sits in the recliner to dig in.
After everyone has had their fill of brunch Dean gets up out of habit to start clearing plates and taking them to the kitchen.
“No.” Mary says, shaking her head. “It’s your birthday, we’ve got this covered. You go hang out with everyone and catch up.” Dean makes to argue with her, but she takes the plates out of his hands, spinning him around. “I mean it. Go.” She says, pushing him gently out of the kitchen.
Dean sits in the living room with everyone else, making small talk and listening to each of them talking amongst themselves. Claire comes over and hands Dean a small blue box. It has a silver ribbon wrapped around it.
“Happy birthday.” She says quietly.
“Thank you.” Dean smiles taking it out of her hands. He unwraps the ribbon, wrapping it around his wrist before gently taking the lid off of the box. Inside he finds a thick silver chain link bracelet. He pulls it out, reading the initials on the top. DW CN. Spinning it in his fingers he sees that the underside is engraved with a few protection sigils. He looks up at her, fighting the tears trying to form in his eyes.
Claire nods a few times, seemingly trying to also fight tears. “I engraved it myself.” She says. “The DW is obvious, Dean Winchester, but the CN could be for Castiel Novak or Claire Novak, just so you know, it doesn’t have to be for me.” Claire says as Dean stands quickly pulling her into a hug.
“It’s perfect, kiddo.” He says, kissing her on her temple. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She says, picking at a hangnail on her thumb. “It was between that and a knife, but I know you’re out of the life now, so I went with the bracelet.”
“I love it.” He smiles at her warmly before sitting down and clasping it onto his wrist.
Dean looks up at Cas who is leaning against the wall watching them. Dean holds up his arm showing Cas the bracelet and Cas nods back as if to tell him that he knew what she was getting him. Cas quickly turns his head towards the front door and then turns back to Dean, his face unreadable. He walks over to Dean and offers his hand.
“Jack is back.” Cas smiles.
Dean takes his hand and Cas pulls him out of the chair and into the middle of the room. He instructs Dean to close his eyes, which he does without hesitation.
“Okay, you ready?” Cas asks.
“I am.” Dean nods nervously.
“Don’t open your eyes.” Cas warns. Dean nods. “Okay, Jack. You can come in.”
Dean hears the front door and the screen door open and some shuffling near the door. There are a few gasps from the people in the room, but they are quickly hushed by Cas or Jack Dean assumes. He hears the screen door close and then the front door and then footsteps heading towards him.
“Eyes still closed?” Cas asks.
Dean nods. There is some final shuffling in front of him and then everything is silent.
“Okay Dean, you can open your eyes.” Cas says.
Dean takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly as he opens his eyes. His mouth falls open as he looks from his ‘gift’ to Jack and then to Cas, who is looking at him with an unreadable expression on his face. Dean’s eyes fill with tears as he turns back to the figure standing in front of him.
“How?” He breathes, tears breaching his lids and falling down his cheeks.
“Hello brother.” Benny smiles.
Dean reaches out, grabbing Benny around the neck and jerks him into a hug. Benny wraps his arms tightly around Dean’s waist and squeezes like he never wants to let go. They take a few moments breathing each other in before Dean finally releases him and steps back. Dean laughs as he uses his palm to wipe the tears streaming down his face looking from Benny to Castiel who is now a few feet to the right of him.
“How?” He asks again, looking from Castiel to Jack and back to Castiel.
“Well, we’ve been trying to get Benny out for a while now. Pretty much ever since we found out that Jack could hear Purgatory.” Cas explains. “But Benny was always on the move so Jack couldn’t really pinpoint where he was at any given time. He finally found him last week right when you caught us huddled together in the dining room. I was showing Jack where you buried Benny’s body so he could get him out and join the two together again.”
“You did this?” He asks Castiel.
Cas shrugs. “Well, it was Jack who pulled it off, but it was my idea, yes.”
Dean laughs again, reaching for Cas, placing his hands on both sides of his face and kissing him before resting their foreheads together. “Thank you.” He whispers. “I - thank you.” Cas nods, taking a step back again.
Dean then turns to Jack, embracing him, his hand on the back of Jack’s head. "When did you have time to do this?"
Jack shrugs. "Remember the other day when I was bored?"
"Yeah." Dean nods.
"Well, Dad and I weren't really looking at ways to redo my bedroom. He was actually up there by himself giving me an alibi so that I could do what I needed to do to get Benny." Jack smiles.
“I can never repay you, kid.” He whispers, pulling back, sliding his hands down to Jack’s shoulders.
“You guys should take some time and get caught up.” Cas says with a sadness in his voice that Dean can’t quite put his finger on.
Dean turns to Benny. “You want to go for a drive?”
“Anything you want.” Benny drawls.
Cas watches as Dean leads Benny back towards the front door, grabbing his jacket off of the hook and fishing in his pocket for his keys.
“We’ll be back in a few, everybody.” Dean calls behind him.
Cas watches until they disappear off the porch. He hears the doors of the Impala open and close before the engine fires up and they head down the drive.
Cas slumps against the wall, fighting the tears that want so desperately to make themselves present. He looks to Jack and nods once before turning and heading slowly up the stairs. He sits on the edge of his and Dean's bed looking out the window overlooking the water with his hands in his lap. Compared to how busy it is downstairs, up here it’s quiet. He turns when he hears a light knock on the doorframe, seeing Jody standing in front of him, leaning against the doorframe.
“Is it okay if I come in?” She asks quietly.
Cas nods, wiping the tears from his cheeks turning back to the water and the mountains, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.
Jody walks into the room, sitting next to Castiel on the side of the bed, their shoulders rubbing together as the mattress gives with the weight of both of them on one side. They sit quietly for a few minutes just looking out at the water.
“It’s a beautiful view.” She says motioning towards the windows.
“Mmm.” Cas nods in agreement, still staring out the window, not daring to look at her.
“You wanna talk about it?”
He sighs. “I’m not really sure what to say.”
“Well, I guess you could start with what you’re feeling right now.”
Cas lets out a small laugh. “That’s hard to explain. How would you describe the crushing feeling you have in your chest when the love of your life walks out the door with the only other person you know with one hundred percent certainty they’ve been in love with?” He asks as he looks up at Jody, meeting her eyes. She looks at him with sympathy but doesn’t speak so he continues. “They were in Purgatory together, you know, for a year. Fighting together, becoming close. They spent an entire year alone, just the two of them. I don’t even know all the details. I could ask but …” Cas shakes his head, looking down at his hands in his lap.
“You’re right.” Jody nods, placing her hand on both of Cas’. “They were there for a year, fighting together, getting close, surviving. But the story that I’ve been told was that they could’ve left at any point, but Dean spent that entire year risking his life looking for you. You were the one on his mind, Cas. In his heart. You have to see that. Benny isn’t someone that you have to worry about taking Dean from you. Dean is yours. He always has been and always will be.”
Cas looks up, meeting Jody’s eyes. “You really believe that?” He asks quietly.
Her eyes soften as she smiles wide. “I don’t have to believe it Cas, because I know it.” She wraps her arm around Cas’ shoulders and lets his head fall onto her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, I promise you. He would rather die than lose you again.”
Dean drives with Benny beside him, both of them quiet, Benny looking out the window at the passing scenery, his hands passively in his lap. Dean doesn’t have a plan when he pulls out of the driveway but somehow he ends up driving to a scenic over-look, pulling off of the road and putting Baby in park. He turns off the engine and sits quietly looking out the windshield.
“You’re lookin’ good, man.” Dean says finally, turning to Benny, breaking the ice.
“Yeah? I look a lot better with my head attached to my shoulders, don’t I?”
Dean shoots him a guilty glance. “Benny -”
“Dean. It’s okay. It’s what I wanted. You needed to get your brother back and you know I’d do anything for you. There wasn’t much of a life for me once I got here anyway.” He smiles sadly.
Dean nods, sighing, turning back to the mountain view over the hood of the Impala. “It still doesn’t make it any easier though.”
They sit in silence for a while, until they start to see their breath in front of them.
“So, you and Cas huh?” Benny asks.
“Yeah.” Dean smiles and nods, playing with his bracelet on his wrist. “Me and Cas.”
“I have to tell you brother it shocked the hell out of me when Jack showed up in Purgatory like he owned the place. I had heard whispers that there was a child who was capable of breaking into The Empty and to Purgatory and walking back out again without a scratch, but I didn’t believe it.” Benny smiles as he shakes his head. “And then he’s right in front of me, telling me that he’s there to break me out all because his daddy wants me topside. Of course, I wanted to ask questions but I also wanted to get the hell out of there, so I hitched a ride and found myself returned to my body right next to my grave where I assume you buried me again.”
Dean turns slightly, looking at Benny who’s staring at him. He takes a moment before nodding. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.”
Benny huffs out a laugh. “I always knew you were a stubborn son of a bitch.”
“Yeah, well.” Dean shrugs. “The plan was always to bring you back. Just took a little longer than I expected. So, what about Jack? What happened next?”
"Oh, well, once I was standing next to my grave back in my body, only then did I get the full story. That this kid, this Nephilim, Jack, was the son of the angel Castiel and none other than Dean Winchester himself. And at first, I thought he had to be puttin’ me on because the Dean Winchester I knew would have worried himself to death about what his daddy would think before he would ever give in to that temptation. But Jack had stories, information that only you or Castiel would know about our time in Purgatory. Things we did, things we said, and I knew it had to be true.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“Nothin’ much. Just that Castiel had him searching for me because I was one of your biggest regrets in life. Not what happened in Purgatory, but what happened after with havin’ to kill me to send me back to find your brother. After that, he helped me get my strength back, set me up with someone who helps vamps stay clean, and got me a place to stay for a while.” Benny smiles. “You got a good kid there, Dean.”
“I agree.” Dean smiles.
“He even warned me that if I even thought about trying to do something to get between you and Cas that he would send me back to Purgatory with no chance of parole.”
Dean laughs. "Yeah. That sounds like him. Are you happy now that you’re back?”
“I am.” Benny nods. “I plan on keeping my head this time though.” He jokes, even though Dean doesn’t laugh.
There is another uncomfortable silence that falls between them.
“You and Cas.” He sighs, turning to look out his side window.
“Me and Cas.” Dean agrees. He takes a beat before he reaches out, offering his hand. Benny takes it reluctantly and Dean squeezes it in the middle of the bench seat between them. “We had a good thing though, didn’t we?” He whispers.
“We did.” Benny nods, looking at him again. “But I always knew that it was temporary, that I was just a placeholder. It was no secret what you were looking for down there. I may have had your heart for a time, but Cas? Cas has always had your soul.”
“Yeah.” Dean nods, trying to fight the tears. “Yeah, he has.”
“What do you say we get back to that birthday celebration? We don’t want your sweetheart to worry.”
Dean nods again, releasing Benny’s hand and turns the key already in the ignition. He puts Baby in reverse, spinning her around and makes his way back to the cabin only to find that more people have arrived to celebrate his 39th birthday with him since he left with Benny. He sees Garth's car, along with few others he doesn't immediately recognize.
As soon as Baby stops rolling Dean has her in park and is out of the car, quickly making his way towards the front door in search of Cas, Benny following behind him. Jody sees him coming through the door sweeping the room with his eyes and points towards the kitchen. Dean nods a thanks and makes his way through the crowd not bothering to take off his jacket or to wipe his boots. He claps Jack on the shoulder as he passes him, giving him a smile.
He finds Cas with his back to him as he’s leaning into the fridge looking for something for Sam who is standing next to him. Dean comes up behind him, placing his hands on Cas’ hips and spins him around to face him. Castiel barely gets Dean’s name out of his mouth before Dean is crushing their lips together, kissing him as if it’s the only way he’ll be able to breathe. It’s sloppy and toothy and Dean doesn’t care that there are people in the room witnessing it. Cas snakes his hands up under Dean’s coat, pulling him close as their audience begins to catcall and whistle.
Dean pulls back, panting, resting his forehead on Castiel’s. “I love you.” He whispers before kissing him again. “I love you so fucking much.”