A Hunters Heart

What Happens Now

"Please, Cas. Nobody's in the wrong here."
In telling the story of the incident, Dean found himself crying. Silent tears slipped down his eyes as he realized how much he needed Castiel to be his again. Dean wasn't begging for his angel, no. He was pleading for his life.
Castiel seemed to be in shock. He was taking in the story of what actually happened. He had been so mad for so long. There was something to be said for the fact that Castiel had waited all these months to hear Dean's side of the story, to hear how Dean had been in the wrong and, generally, to confirm what he thought. But now, Castiel was listening to his hunter tell him the honest truth, he could see it in his eyes, and he didn't know what to do. Castiel couldn't bear the fact that all the pain he had felt was because of his own mistake. He had only himself to blame.
"Cas, please, say something."
The angels eyes were wide and dewy as he looked at the green eye's of his hunter, trying to put the right words together to get across what he was trying to say. After a few moments of silence, Dean spoke once again.
"Look, Cas, you did nothing wrong, I did nothing wrong. I don't see how we can't just act like this whole thing never happened."
And, just like that, Castiel heard the words he had been searching for.
"Yes," the angel responded, "let's pretend like this whole thing never happened.'
"Seriously?" Dean questioned, "Cas, that's, that's amazing. Thank you. So, are you really okay with this? This never happened?"
"Yes." the angel stated, "I'm okay with this. We never happened."
Dean was blindsided, "No, Cas," he chuckled, "That's not what I meant. I meant we should act like that whole thing at the barn and at the bar never happened. You and me? We still work."
The angel only shook his head, "I understand what you meant Dean, but, I haven't seen you in almost a year. I don't think it would be wise to 'pick up where we left off' as some might say. I feel the best way to proceed is to go back to being just friends."
"Cas, face it, we were never 'just friends'. From the first time we met each other, we knew what we were."
Castiel had stood up and was now looking the hunter in the eyes, "You may have always known, Dean, but only a few years ago did I understand what the word 'relationship' meant to a man like you."
Dean gasped, "'A man like me'? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
A smile cracked Castiel's lips, "You and I both know that relationships mean something more to hunters than they do to regular people. Starting over is definitely the right choice."
"Cas, I don't know if I can do 'just friends'. Not with you-"
"Just. Friends." the angel demanded, "Take it or leave it."
"Okay." Dean said quickly, not wanting Castiel to flash away before they could reason things out.
"Okay." Cas gave a lopsided smile, maybe not even that, it seemed like more of a half-smile, half-frown-that-won't-go-away-so-let's-attach-it-to-half-of-a-smile, "there will be no unnecessary touching or contact of any kind. Compliments will be accepted, but flirt at your own risk. I'll move back into my old room, oh, and," the angel's gaze faltered from his hunter's eyes, "I'm not sure what is customary for this situation, but I feel it's only right that this stays with you," Castiel handed Dean the ring box. Though both of their hearts broke, Dean's pain coated his face. As the angel began to leave the room, Dean had so many questions, but as he was about to ask the most important one, Castiel answered, having read his mind. As he approached the doorway and peered over his shoulder, Cas muttered, "Of course, Dean. I always will."

"Shit," Lexi muttered, still staring at the phone.
"Yeah. 'Shit' is right." Sam said, standing up from his position crouched over the cell phone.
"Well, what do we do now? It's not like they know that we heard them, but there's also no way we're going to be able to act like we didn't," Lexi had stood up and was now pacing, rambling about what they would do next, "I mean, I see both sides of the argument and I feel bad for Cas, but I think it was mostly his fault. He shouldn't have stayed away for so long, there's really no excuse for that. And then there's your brother! I'm sorry, but that boy is just messed up. There's no way around it. I mean, sure, Cas has blame in this too, but Dean has got to be delusional if he thinks they can 'act like none of this ever happened'. No! This is not something they can just forget! What are they gonna do? No. Don't answer that, I already know. Dean is gonna sulk around the bunker for the next few days only to throw himself into the next hunt in a suicidal rage. Cas is probably gonna need more grace and, to be honest, I'm not sure how good a resource I am. Not to mention the overall hunt that we have to go on. Into hell? Seriously! How is that an okay thing to do!? That's not something that happens everyday, Sam! Thank god I've got you being Mr. Cool over there because otherwise, I might be punching Dean and Cas in their throats until one passes out and the other has to give him CPR so he wakes up kissing the other one!"
Sam just smiled as he watched the steam coming out of Lexi's ears slowly dissipate. He sat back down and leaned on the table, patiently waiting for Lexi.
"What!" Lexi finally noticed how quiet Sam had been.
"Nothing." he stated, "Are you done?"
Lexi took a deep breath and sat down across from the hunter, "Yes. Thank you."
"No need to thank me. I really just wanted to see how long you could talk without taking a breath."
They both chuckled and Lexi put her head down on the table, crossing her arms overhead.
"You don't need to worry, Lexi." Sam's hand reached across the table, fingers stretching to find a grip with Lexi's. Lexi looked up at him, trying not to think so far into this gesture. Sam didn't falter, only continued, "Those two will figure stuff out for themselves. As for the whole 'Hell' thing, don't worry. You've heard our stories, you know that the Winchesters are famous for going to hell and back for someone they love."
A deep blush washed over Lexi's face, and Sam's hand retreated into his hair in a purely 'casual' gesture. He cleared his throat, "I mean, I've been to hell a few times, Dean practically has a summer home there, Cas had to go down there to get both of us, and the king of hell is on speed dial. I'm sure we'll manage.
Lexi's eyes narrowed, "King of Hell? You know what, save it. I'm turning in for the night."
"Alright. I'm gonna be up for a while. I'm gonna translate the rest of the ingredients."
"Kay. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow. Oh! And, Lexi?"
"Yeah?" Lexi looked up, half asleep, only to see Sam blushing furiously.
"Sweet dreams."
Lexi was on cloud nine as she floated back to her room. But she found it took effort to curl up under her covers. It took a long time to let sleep embrace her. Lexi couldn't ignore the sobbing that bled out from the wall that she shared with the almost-angel Castiel.