My Angel

~8~

"Dean, I have a fondness toward you, too. That's why I had to lift you from Hell. You only died to save your brother—your intentions were pure. I couldn't bear the thought of you, the person I was supposed to protect, rotting in Hell", Cass explained carefully.

"So, are you saying that you feel the same about me?" Dean asked, his excitement almost too much to handle.

"In a way, yes, but Dean, I'm not sure how to say this."

"What Cass? Just tell me... please?" Dean begged, subconsciously placing his hand on Cass' shoulder.

"It's a crime for us Angels to have sexual relations of any sort with a human. I could be punished severely for having anything more than a business relationship with you, Dean. I'm—I'm sorry."

Dean's face fell. His heart didn't just sink; he could feel it shatter into a million pieces. He was broken, not just in heart, but in spirit. He looked at the floor to take a moment to get himself together. This wasn't the end of the world, right? He was going to be okay... eventually. When he looked back up, the Angel was already gone. He didn't want to see the face of the man he'd just wrecked. Sam walked back in the door and immediately saw Dean's facial expression. "I take it didn't go well?" Sam asked.

Dean shook his head, "No, apparently a human-angel relationship is highly illegal."

"Oh, Dean, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'm fine. I knew it was coming", Dean lied. "I just, y'know, wish it could've turned out differently." There was an awkward pause. "Blech, I sound like a friggin' girl."

Sam snickered, "So how about you get your mind off things with this case?" Sam tossed a newspaper to Dean.

"When did we start running away from our problems by hunting?"

Sam shrugged, "Beats hitting the bottle."

__________________________________

"Dean, what's been up with you?" Sam asked, a hint of anger in his voice.

"What do you mean? I'm fine" Dean spat back.

"You've been really reckless lately, more reckless than usual."

"No, I haven't."

"Dude! Today you ran right into a vamp nest without any backup! You could've gotten bitten, or even killed."

"I could handle it."

"Yeah, maybe vampires you can handle, fine, but what about next time? Next time it could be a shifter, or some kind of god! I can't lose you, Dean. You're all I have left in this world, don't you get that?"

"I know, Sammy, I know."

"Is this about Cass?" Sam asked quietly.

"You mention that asshole ever again and I'll break your nose." Dean's voice surged with new found anger.

"It's hard Dean, I get it, but you need to talk this stuff out. You can't bottle it up forever."

"Watch me."

"It's too late, Dean. You've cracked. That's why you've been different lately, don't you see that?"

"I'm not talking about this anymore."

"So, what? Practically killing yourself is the better option?"

"Yes."

"You'll see, everything will turn out okay in the end."

"Sammy, shut up. I said I'm done talking."

Sam reluctantly gave up on the conversation. He knew there was no way Dean would understand. He was too stubborn. The only way to help Dean was to repair the relationship with Cass, and Sam was going to try his damnedest to get Dean and Cass together, one way or another.