Late Night Hunting

Chapter 7: Secrets

Cas was awakened when he felt Dean lightly poke him in the shoulder. He opened his sleepy eyes to find that it was pitch black outside, and the clock on the dash read 7:47. Then he saw Dean smiling over at him, noticing the small worry lines around his red, puffy eyes and the guarded, haunting look within them. Cas was instantly concerned, so it barely registered that they were parked in the motel parking lot. He looked closely at Dean, then asked "Dean, what's wrong? And don't give me that "I'll be fine." crap, because I can see that there's something wrong with you." Dean shrugged and started turning away.  "Oh no you don't." Cas said sternly, grabbing Dean's shoulders and turning him around. Dean sighed. "Cas, I really don't think-" But Cas cut him off. "No, Dean! I'm tired of the secrecy. Tell me what's wrong!" Dean was amazed at Cas's brashness. Then he winced and said "I would, if you'd let the blood circulate back to my arms!" Cas hadn't realized before, but he'd been grasping Dean's shoulders increasingly tighter. "Oh, sorry!" Cas squeaked in alarm, quickly letting go of his shoulders. In his frustration, he had completely forgotten about the hand-print on Dean's right shoulder, which had come from the angel that he and Sam used to be friends with. "Jeez man." Dean grumbled. "I didn't know you were that strong." Cas laughed, smiling a gentle, angelic smile, Dean laughing with him. They laughed so hard that they were laying in the seats clutching their sides as they recovered from the 20 minute long laughing fit. For the first time that afternoon, Cas actually felt safe, carefree, even..... happy. Then it hit him. "Crap!" He cursed, then sighed. "What is it?" Dean asked worriedly. "Nothing. Can I borrow your phone?" Cas said, adding "I won't look at all the compromising pictures you have, either." and grinning. Dean looked at him, shaking his head and smiling, and handed him his phone. Cas dialed his moms number and waited for her to pick up. "Hello?" said a gentle voice at the other end of the line. "Hey mom. I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be home tonight. I might stay with Dean for a few days, if that's okay with you?" Cas said quickly. "Oh sure, honey! I'm glad you asked before you went gallivanting off, chasing who knows what. Have fun, see you on Friday!" his mom said cheerfully, then hung up. Cas sighed gratefully and handed Dean's phone back to him. "What was that about?" Dean questioned, curious. "Nothing. Just making sure I can stay with you for a while." Cas said, casting his eyes out the window and looking up at the stars, his ice blue eyes reflecting all of the sky. "Oh." Dean said as the breath left him, catching himself staring at Cas's beautifully cobalt-and-navy blue eyes reflecting the pure white starlight shining down from the heavens above. Cas realized Dean was staring at him and turned just as Dean was looking away. Cas smiled, said "Dean, you don't have to hide it. I know you were looking at me.", and laughed. Dean tuned and faced him, smiling wide, and said "I thought you wouldn't notice." Cas rolled his eyes, saying "Of course I noticed, Dean! I'd have to be blind not to.' and smiling. Dean grinned and opened his door. "Let's get inside so we can get you some answers. Then I'll tell you what I meant earlier, and all that I know about your daughter." He said, the smile turning to a hard line. Cas nodded and got out of the car, grabbing the pie his mom had baked earlier that morning for Dean and his brother and father, and following Dean to his motel room. On his way, he paused, looking up at the sky and smiling, thinking how beautiful and amazing it looked. He decided he would admire God's handiwork for a few moments.  Little did he know, Dean had gone up to the floor where the room was because he had thought Cas was right behind him. When he turned around and realized that he was still in the parking lot, he was about to call out until he saw that Cas was smiling up at the sky and thanking God. Dean wasn't a very religious person, he was more of a "I have to see it with my own eyes." kinda guy, but looking at Cas, hearing him talk to God as if he were an old friend...... It made him want to believe that, at the very least, there was someone out there. Dean smiled and shook his head, hearing Cas coming up the steps to get to his floor. "Oh the things you do to me, Cas." He whispered silently, sadness and regret in his voice, a tear on his cheek. He quickly stood up straight and wiped away the tears from his eyes. He wouldn't cry in front of his best friend. From that moment on, Dean vowed to protect Cas from harm, even at the cost of his life.