Grey

Chapter 8

This is very uncomfortable," Cas complains from where he's stretched out on the floor of Bobby's living room. "I believe I am developing contusions upon my buttocks."

Dean snorts into his pillow. "Tough luck Cas. I called dibs on the couch."

Cas huffs indignantly and spends the next few minutes rolling around, adjusting his bedding and muttering to himself. Dean can't quite make out what he says, but he picks out "Buttface" and something about a goat.

Five minutes later he's snoring anyway, a sort of whistle on the exhale. Like a cat with hayfever. Dean rolls over and looks down at him. He's managing to frown even in his sleep.

Sometimes Dean looks at Castiel, his earnest intensity as he tackles the most mundane of tasks - tying his laces, shaving, having to use the door when he wants to get out of the car, sleeping - and finds himself just awfully... fond. He wants to just keep him. Not because he's his mate, but because he's Dean's friend, and Dean hasn't ever really had many friends.

He wonders how long he'll keep making those frustrated little faces. How many years until he learns to swear properly, until using the door is automatic and toothpaste doesn't make him gag.

If they survive, somehow, if Dean survives and Cas survives and Lucifer and Michael don't - Dean thinks he'd like to find out.

Maybe Dean and Sam could become a three piece. Even without his angelic powers and strength, Cas's knowledge alone means he'd make a formidable hunter.

Cas lets out a particularly loud snore and manages to wake himself up.

Dean sniggers.

---

His brothers are dead.

Sam and Adam burn in Hell, where it's black and white, but really red, and Cas is gone.

He's dead. Again. Blood and bits of meat and bone smeared across the grass of the cemetery, splattered across Dean's jacket and face, black because he can't see red anymore. Bobby lying there in the middle of it, head twisted back at an unnatural angle.

Dean leans against the Impala and manages to breathe, that's about all he can do.

Then his mate is alive again, perfect and whole and standing at Dean's feet. Behind him the sky suddenly glows blue.

He touches Dean, presses warm fingers to his face and Dean is healed.

Bobby gets up. Frowns. Dean wonders if his mate isn't actually an angel, but god.

"No Dean." Cas tells him. His voice is soft and fond and Dean feels warm.

Sam and Adam are still gone, but Cas and Bobby are alive. Dean thinks perhaps he'll be okay. He remembers his promise to Sam, that he would try and be happy. Normal.

He's lost his brother, but he still has his mate and Bobby and the sky is still blue. He'll try and keep his word.

Bobby goes home. He needs "some time." Dean understands. He needs some time himself.

Cas folds himself into the front seat of the Impala and Dean drives. Drives away from the hole that swallowed his brothers. The one he loved and the one he didn't even know. He doesn't have a destination in mind, he just drives. Cas is talking about heaven and peace and freewill and Dean just wishes they could be quiet for a minute. Just sit.