Chapter Text
Castiel stretched and flung his arm out only to find Dean's side of the bed empty yet again. Dean had started rising much earlier than he would under normal circumstances and it was an increasing source of frustration to Cas. He loved waking up next to Dean, loved watching him wake up, even if he was grouchy. However, the positive side of Dean's new early morning habits was that he was showing absolute commitment to his new life and status, and that was something to be encouraged.
Cas got up and headed to the bathroom. He could have used his angelic powers to get ready, but he'd found that he actually enjoyed the human ritual of showering, shaving and getting dressed. It gave him time to think. It also was, oddly enough, comforting in a way.
His thoughts turned back to Dean's determination to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. The spur had been Cas's return home last week after his first formal training session with his brother Gabriel. Gabriel had wiped the floor with him and Cas had just been grateful that his humiliating defeat hadn't been used as an object lesson for training other angels. After the sparring session, Gabriel had forced Cas to review each mistake he had made, to talk through what he had done that had allowed Gabriel to get past his defences to land blow after blow.
Castiel was an effective warrior, however Gabriel had two distinct advantages over him. The first was aeons of existence prior to Castiel's birth. The second was that when God created Gabriel, he created him as an archangel, whereas Cas had risen from seraph (and he hadn't been a seraph for long) to archangel, a change in rank that held extreme challenges ahead. After that first session, Cas had been so exhausted.
When Dean had seen his condition, the cuts and bruises that Cas just didn't have the energy to heal, he was ready to challenge Gabriel himself. It took all of Cas's remaining strength and a lot of fast talking to stop Dean.
However, these were, in reality, minor problems compared to what Dean was going through. Dean was having to adapt his human soul to his archangel status, opening the doors to knowledge spanning the whole of creation. Although Dean was adapting well, Cas could see a high price, one that he was going to address today.
He got ready quickly, dressing in jeans and t-shirt and padded quietly downstairs. He headed straight for the kitchen and made two coffees. Leaving one on the bench, he made his way to the study and pushed the door open. Dean was so deeply absorbed in his work that he was completely unaware of Cas's presence, right up until the point that he placed the mug down in front of him.
"You read my mind!" Dean leant back into the chair, claiming Cas's hand before he could withdraw it and giving it a quick kiss.
Dean wasn't overtly demonstrative by nature, so little touches like this always gave Cas a shiver of pure pleasure. He draped his arms around Dean, pulling him back.
Dean closed his eyes as he relaxed into the embrace, wondering yet again what he had done to deserve the love of this amazing being. He felt Cas reach past him and heard the book he was working from slam shut.
"Hey! I've got to finish this today!"
"No you don't," Cas countered. "I spoke with Gabriel yesterday. He's given you a two day extension." A brief pause. "We both need a break, Dean."
Dean had to admit that Cas was right.
"So what have you got in mind?"
"Well, tomorrow," Cas's voice had deepened with anticipation. "We are both having a long lie-in before going back to work."
"And today?" Dean fought to keep his voice steady. Sometimes Cas's tone was enough to drive him to the point where all he wanted to do was drag Cas back upstairs.
Cas chuckled, and Dean felt his heart skip a beat. It was almost as if Cas was reading his mind, even though he knew Cas would never cross that boundary unless invited.
"You've been here over a week now." Cas said seriously. "Isn't it time?"
Dean could hear the gentle note of reproof in Cas's words. He knew exactly what Cas was talking about and knew he was right.
"You're saying I should go visit mom and dad, aren't you." More a statement than a question.
Dean sighed. This wasn't what he had in mind as a relaxing break from work.
"Mom will probably be okay, but I don't know about dad. He's traditional, conservative....." Dean's voice trailed off as he tried to work out how on earth he could tell his father anything of the most recent events in his life.
He felt Cas's arms tighten around him. Cas had never met John Winchester, Dean's father, but over the years he'd learned a lot about him. As a result, Cas's views of Dean's father were somewhat mixed.
Cas bent forward, his lips brushing the side of Dean's neck softly.
"I still think this is something you need to do," he murmured. "I'll be right there with you, if you need me."
"I know Cas..... I know."
It was a long time before either of them moved.