Starstruck II: Saruman's Curse

Hotel Winchester Pt 3 (Hotel Manager AU)

Dean woke and stared up at the ceiling, hands crossed behind his head. He was alone, and wondered longingly if he had seen the last of Ezri, but the overwhelming feeling of contentment that ran through him was enough to fortify him with strength to move forward with what must come next.

He walked to the hotel restaurant and sat across from Sam at their private table in the hotel restaurant. He poured himself coffee from the carafe on the table. Dean hadn't slept in the suite he and Sam shared last night, a fact that hadn't escaped Sam's attention. "Same outfit as yesterday. You're gonna wanna do something about that, before the employees notice."

Dean looked down at himself. "Geez, yea."

Sam gave him a warm smile over the top of his coffee.

"Like being reborn, wasn't it?"

Dean hesitated. It still felt weird.

"It's ok Dean."

"Yea, Sam. That's an understatement. I guess we needed the recharge to get ourselves back on track. Are things as clear to you as they are to me?"

"I think so. I'm living the life I've built for myself and feeling more and more alien to it with each passing minute."

"Exactly."

"Maybe Cas can help."

The brothers walked past the line outside Cas' office door, marveling. It was just as long as yesterday with an entirely new cast of faces. Best. Psychic. Ever.

The brothers pardoned themselves for cutting the line and entered the office as a client was leaving. Cas looked up and greeted them with a smile, which became clouded with confusion after a closer examination of the men before him.

"Um, guys, you appear to have a whole different perspective about you today. Sudden revelation?"

Dean answered, "Yesterday was a big day, Cas. First we were touched by an angel, and later we were touched by a spirit guide." He winked to punctuate his point. "With her help the...situation...somehow became clearer to us. We understand that we've got some supernatural work ahead of us. The hunt for a portal."

A sadness swept through Castiel as he realized that while Dean and Sam had apparently gotten on board with the alternate universe conundrum, Dean was unaware of the relationship that existed between them. He resolved himself to be patient, knowing that it could be awhile before they were back home and back to normal.

"So, Cas, where do we start?" Sam gave him a quizzical look, wondering what could be clouding the angel's mood so suddenly.

"I'm pretty sure a good place to start will be with your cook. I think he's going to be the key to us locating our portal."

Dean chuckled, "Don't let him hear you calling him a cook! He's a chef. That's like calling a supermodel cute."

"Ok, whatever. See Harry."

Sam and Dean swung past the front desk to pick up a package, then met Harry in the kitchen, where he was bent over a large pot of soup.

"Harry, your Machalepi has arrived."

Harry turned on them, snatching the package from Sam's hands.

"Well, by Merlin's Beard it's about time. My grandfathers are coming to the restaurant for dinner today, and coming damn near from Middle Earth that's how far! I feared I would be unable to give them a proper taste of Cypress."