Dear Addiction

Chapter forty one

Dean had never been to a zoo, as a kid he didn't have the money, and as an adult, it seemed sad to spend the day alone at a zoo. He'd quickly come to accept that he'd simply never go to one, until they pulled up to chicago.

They'd been driving for two and had decided they needed a break. Dean had suggested the zoo, for Jack, though the moment Dean had stepped in he knew he was going to adore it. He was happy to follow Cas and Jack around to wherever the child wanted, bouncing between various animals, and play areas. The only downfall being Dean himself seemed to be as much of an attraction as anything else there. Often getting stopped by parents and teens for photos. It wasn't until they'd reached the penguin exhibit, where they could stand apart from the crowd that Dean was given a break.

"Jack what's that?"

"A penjin!"

Dean laughed, moving his phone so it no longer recorded the penguins and instead pointed at Jack. The child looking up to Dean with a wide grin, his eyes bright, and hair done in  it's usual mess of blond strands.

"Penguin," Castiel corrected. Dean looked over to the other man, though kept his camera on Jack. "Pain-gwin."

"Pen-" Jack began slowly, his face scrunched slightly in concentration, as he attempted to say the word. "Jin!"

Dean laughed again, despite Cas's sigh. "Do you like the penguins?" Dean asked, getting an excited nod from the child, Dean's grin only widening. He couldn't help it, the child's happiness was contagious, warm and comforting. He reminded Dean of Cas, the warmth, the smiles, the only difference being how much more frequent Jack's happiness was.

"I- I love tem," Jack cried. He bounced slightly on his heels, as he spoke his wide eyes continuing to look up at Dean. "so many!"

Dean pressed stop on the camera's recording, putting his phone back into his pocket after he'd posted the video to his instagram's story. He crouched to the child's height looking back to the penguins that walked around behind the glass. "Which one's your favourite?"

From his corner of his eye he could see Cas step closer, a habit the other had picked up on since they'd left. If Dean was near the child, if he touched Jack, even as simple as helping zip up his jacket, Cas was there, tense, eyes on Dean as if waiting for something. Dean had yet to mention it, though he certainly had noticed, especially that no matter what was happening Cas refused to leave Jack alone with Dean.

"Tat one." Jack said. He pressed a finger to the glass, pointing to a cluster of five penguins.

"The tallest one?"

"Yah!"

Dean looked back to Jack, the smallest smile tugging at his lips. "Do you think it has a name?

Jack didn't respond, only shaking his head.

"Should we give it a name?"

There was another pause, where Jack once again didn't reply, insead continuing to stare at the penguins with an intense look. "Tony!" Jack finally declared. He turned back to Dean, his concentrated gaze becoming a large grin that Dean returned.

As Jack turned away from the penguins, and began walking off to the next exhibit, Dean stood.

"Are you sure you're fine with me and Jack staying with you." Cas asked as they followed Jack down the path.

Dean glanced to the other who walked almost shoulder to shoulder with Dean. Close enough that he could feel the other's heat, the occasional brush of his trench coat against Dean's hands as their arms swung. They'd been yet to talk about anything, them kissing, what they were, and part of Dean was fine with that.