Dean deserves a Hug

3-Like Real People Do

Just a milk run, he had said. Quick and simple, in and out, done before you know it. Bullshit, Dean thought. He never should've let Cas go by himself. Taking out a whole vamps nest by himself ? What was he thinking ? Even if he was an angel, he could still get hurt. Could still die. He should've fought harder, insisted to come along, just in case. But no, Cas is an almighty angel, a weapon designed by God, there's no way he would need backup, he can smite practically anything with the snap of his fingers. And yet, somehow, he had walked through the bunker door a mess: clothes torn and dirty, covered in an obscene amount of blood that Dean prayed did not belong to him, looking as if he would collapse before making it halfway down the stairs. Dean had rushed to his side, getting him to a seat before running to grab whatever supplies he could get his hands on, all the while mumbling under his breath about how stupid Cas was and how stupid he had been to let him go.

"Can't believe you, honestly", he whispered while finishing patching Cas up. He was sat on top of the map table, surrounded by a first aid kit and many, many blood soaked bandages and cloths. "Said you could handle it."

"And I did", Cas bit back, looking up at him.

"Really ? You call this handling it ?" Dean motioned to the mess around him, picking up a band aid.

"I don't know what more you want from me, Dean. We're hunters, I think it would be more strange if I DIDN'T get hurt."

"don't know what more you want from me, eh-how bout 'I'm sorry' ? 'You were right' ? 'I'll be more careful next time' ?"

Dean moved to place the band aid on Cas's head, but Cas blocked him and rolled his eyes. Dean nodded, glaring at him, before crumpling the band aid and standing up. He began to collect all of the items on the table and pack up the first aid kit.

"Fine then. Get killed, see if I care."

Castiel brought his hand up to his forehead, as if just the sound of Deans voice was causing a headache.

"Dean, enough. I don't have-"

"Don't have the energy, the time, yeah yeah. Same shit, different day." He looked up at the ceiling. Castiel narrowed his eyes, tilting his head to the side.

"Are we still talking about whatever apology I should be making ? Or is there something you would like to share."

Dean shook his head, pausing for a moment before turning back to him.

"You're not all there, Cas. Part of you is human now. We all see it, and yet none of us talks about it. But you can't just....continue to fight like you've got nothing to lose. Like you're invincible, cause guess what ? You're not, and one of these days you're gonna go too far and it's gonna bite you in the ass."

Castiel stood up, trying to match their levels of intensity to win the argument.

"Dean, I know what I'm doing. I think I'm capable of setting my own limits."

"Well then why is it, every other day I'm pulling you out of the fire or playing doctor after you do something stupid ?" Dean yells, throwing the kit back onto the table.

"I'm not a child, and I would appreciate it if you'd stop treating me like one !"

"Then maybe act your age ! For once in your god damn life, think like an adult !"

"DAMN IT, DEAN !" Castiel slammed his hands on the table.

Dean's fists tightened, his body went stiff, and he took a sharp inhale before relaxing again. It was barely there, a fraction of a second, but still, Castiel saw it, and was immediately engulfed in a wave of guilt.

Dean had flinched.

Their eyes were locked and both stayed silent. Slowly, Castiel stood up straight. He no longer felt the need to compete. All of the anger he held had been drained away and all that was left was sympathy and remorse. In that moment, he wished to Jack and Chuck and to every other God that existed that John Winchester was burning in hell, wished that he could be there to personally beat the shit out of him. The things he knew Dean had been put through, the things he didn't know he had been put through, all of it feeding into the rage he had against their father. But there was no point in focusing on John. He couldn't go into the past and stop everything that had happened. All he could do was remind Dean of every good thing he had now.

"Are you alright ?" Cas asked, his voice low and soft. Dean continued to stare at him, trying his best to keep a straight face, but Cas could see how uncomfortable he was.

"Why wouldn't I be ?" A rhetorical question. His tone was flat and cold, his jaw clenched as tight as possible.

It was silent for a few seconds before Cas walked around the table towards Dean. He studied his face a minute before slowly pulling him in for a hug. Dean stood awkwardly, unmoving, before eventually warming up and wrapping his arms tight around Castiel's torso. He closed his eyes, burying his face into Cas's neck.

"I'm sorry" Cas whispered, wishing he could do more.

"For what, exactly ? The yelling or the almost getting yourself killed ?" Dean joked.

"Both. For anything I've done. And anything I haven't....For everything."

"It wasn't your fault." His voice was soft.

"And it wasn't yours, either." Castiel pulled back enough to look at Dean's face. He was no longer angry or numb. He was...beautiful. He was Dean Winchester. "You know that, right ?"

Dean closed his eyes and sighed, placing his forehead on Castiel's. He was quiet for a moment, trying to clear his mind.

"Just let me go with you next time. I don't care if you think you can do it alone. Just let me come."

He brought his hand up to the side of his face while he spoke, then leaned in to kiss him. It was soft and slow and exactly what they needed to ease the tension. Helping remind them both that they are here and they are loved. They separated and their eyes met.

"If you die, I'll kick your ass" Dean said, only half kidding.

Cas smiled and let out a small laugh, causing Dean to grin.

"Fair enough."