Two Men and Half an Angel

Chapter 5

"Dean!" A small voice shrieked through the bunker. "Dean!"

Dean bolted from the kitchen to the library with his breath held in nervous fright. His eyes settled on the small angel now standing on top of the center table with a book in his hand that was cocked behind his head like he was ready to throw it. When Dean met Cas' eyes he saw wide fearful blue and it made his hunter's instinct flare.

"What-" Dean huffed out before he glanced around the room and saw Gabriel sitting on one of the chairs with a small animal in his lap. "Gabe?"

Soft eyes rose and met Dean's with a wide smile. "Isn't he adorable?"

"The hell is it?" As Dean kept his eyes trained on the lump of fur he stepped forward to the edge of the table and held his arms out for Cas. "And why is it in the bunker?"

"It's a guinea pig." Gabe explained as he made kissy faces down toward the rodent. "I named him Fredrick. Found him when Sam and I were out shopping for clothes. Sammy said I could keep him."

"It's a monster!" Cas let out a small whimper as he rushed forward and collapsed into Dean's chest with fearful tremors. "Don't let it near me, Dean! It's gonna eat me!"

"It's not gonna eat you." Dean soothed as he rubbed circles into Cas' back. His arms wrapped protectively around the angel as he took a few measured steps toward Gabriel and Fredrick. His first instinct was to make Cas see that he wasn't in danger, the second was to beat his brother for allowing such a thing to happen. "It's harmless."

"Fredrick just wants to be your friend, Cassie." Gabriel stood with the guinea pig hugged tightly to his chest.

Castiel sniffled against Dean's neck before turning slowly and staring down at the animal with concentrated wonder. "My friend?"

"Yeah, buddy." Dean crouched down to bring Cas closer to the guinea pig. "It's nice to pet, see?" Without hesitation Dean unwrapped one of his arms and reached out to softly stroke Fredrick's back.

Cas' eyes widened a little. "Oh." A small gasp let his lips as he hesitantly reached out and poked the animal. Before Dean or Gabe could react Cas was squirming out of Dean's hold and scooping the animal against his own chest. "Hi Fredrick. I'm sorry I thought you were a monster."

Dean watched with a loving smile as the smallest angel took Fredrick and sat down. "Looks like you made a new friend." A pool of warmth sat heavily in his gut when Cas started to whisper sweet nothings to the guinea pig.

"So we can keep it?" Gabriel winked up at Dean with a smug grin.

The hunter glared down at the kid. "You are lucky Cas likes him so much. No more pets in here unless I have a vote."

Gabe shrugged before his eyes went over and fell on Cas and Fredrick. "I want him happy, Dean. No matter if that means giving him the childhood he was never able to have. I know that the old Cas always liked animals."

Dean's glare melted as he looked over Gabriel. "I'm sorry for being such a dick to you. I know you care about him."

"Yeah." The archangel huffed out a short laugh. "And I know you love him."

Dean nodded. "Truce?"

"Hell no. It's too fun to mess with you. But when it comes to Castiel we work together."

"Alright, pipsqueak, enough chick-flick. I think you have a bedroom to clean."

Gabriel threw his arms up into the air with a whine that bordered on an animalistic growl.