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Cas was drying the last of the pie plates, happy things had eased up from their failed hunt. Seeing Dean and Jack bond was just icing on the cake. He finished with the dishes and happily made his way to the bedroom, ready to wrap up in Dean's loving arms and go to bed.
“Uh… Yeah, yeah. I can be there in a day, two tops.” Came Dean’s hushed voice from behind their closed door. Just as quick as Cas’ spirits had lifted, they plummeted to the floor. They all agreed, no more hunts for now, at least not until after the holidays. They deserved the break and they deserved to all be together. Cas pushed the door open and glared at Dean.
“You’re taking a case?” He said flatly, fighting back the urge to scream. “Dean, you are the one who said that was it. You didn’t want to do another one for a while. We needed a break.” Dean sighed. He avoided Cas’ hurt yet pissed eyes, and just pulled out a dresser drawer and began rummaging through his clothes.
Annoyed, Cas flicked his wrist, and the drawer slammed shut.
“The hell, Cas?!” Dean hissed, barely pulling his hands away in time.
“Don’t ‘the hell’ me, Dean ‘the hell’ yourself! ”
“Cas it’s just a simple case…”
“A simple case that will take you almost two days to get to.” Cas snapped. “Then however long to solve, and a two day drive back. What if you miss Christmas?”
“I won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?!”
Dean slammed his hands on the top of the dresser, causing Jack, who had heard the commotion and was listening outside the door, to jump. “Dammit Cas! It’s just a few days. I don’t see why you’re making it such a big deal!”
Cas opened his mouth to bark more anger filled words back. But what was the point? Dean was not the swaying kind, not with hunting. Especially not when he felt he had a point to prove; like he wasn’t a failure at saving people. “You know what. Just go, Dean.” He mumbled bitterly, and climbed into bed.
The door slowly creaking open got both of their attention, and they looked up to see Jack standing solemnly in the doorway. “Stop fighting… please.” He said softly, childlike even, then turned and sulked back to his room.
~✶~
Dean woke, after a horrible sleep, grabbed his bag and headed for the stairs. Leaving without so much as a goodbye to anyone was a low blow, but it was easier than more lecturing or disappointment. He yanked the door open and… “What the…?”
Snow.
A whole wall of it, blocking the exit. Dean reached up and scooped some from the top, only to find more snow. “Dammit, Jack…” he sighed and pushed the door closed.
Dean walked back through the bunker to the garage, only to find the snow pouring in from the tunnel leading outside, and another wall at the door. He rolled his eyes and searched for something to shovel himself out. After 10 minutes of digging into the snow, however, he realized it was hopeless. It just kept going.
“Dammit, Jack!” He yelled and slammed the door shut. There was a rumble and the door flung back open, snow pouring in through it and over Dean.
“What the hell…” Sam said, running into the garage. “What the hell!?” He repeated, shocked at the sight of the mini avalanche. “Dean?”
Dean climbed out of the snow and brushed it off as best he could, shivering from his now cold, damp clothes. He pushed past Sam and went into the bunker, and straight towards Jack’s room. Cas was already there, knocking gently on the door.
“Jack. Please open the door.” He called.
Dean pushed past the angel and gave his own, much more forceful knocks. “Jack! What’s with the snow storm!?”
“Because that’s going to get him to come out…” Cas mumbled.
Dean scoffed and narrowed his eyes at Cas. “If you wouldn’t have made such a big deal about me taking that case, he wouldn’t have overheard us fighting.”
“So you're saying this is my fault?”
Before he could respond, Jack opened his door, tears in his eyes, and glared at them. “ Stop fighting!” He cried and slammed the door back. There was a pop and the lights flickered off in the bunker, as did the heat.
~✶~
Dean wrapped the scarf around his neck, pulling it a little too tight out of frustration.
From the current situation. Being snowed in the bunker and now freezing.
From the pointless fight he had with Cas. Because in the end, he knew Cas was right to be upset.
But mostly for upsetting Jack to the point he was locked in his room, and ignoring all their attempts to apologize.
“Jack…” He said, taking Sam’s place outside the door. “…kid, I’m really sorry.” No answer. “Jack, please. I… I know it’s hard when your… your parents fight.” He sighed, and thought back to all the times he had overheard his mom and dad arguing, wondering if it was over something he had done, or stressing over how he could fix it. “But Jack, people just disagree sometimes. I still love him, ya know?” This was all coming out… bad.
He walked back to the war room where Cas and Sam were trying to make a fire, sacrificing the older tattered lore books. Cas fiddled in his pockets for a lighter that wasn’t there, so Dean pulled his own out and handed it over. “Thanks.” Cas said quietly, as their hands briefly brushed over each other.
Dean grabbed Cas’ hand, pulling the Angel to him. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.
“So am I.” Cas looked into Dean’s eyes, and wrapped his arms around his back.
“I should have never offered to take that case. This is where I want to be, this is where I should be.”
“I know why you took it. I should have talked to you about it instead of attacking you.” Cas leaned up and pressed his lips to Dean’s. They stayed like that for a moment, until they heard Sam clear his throat.
“Look I’m glad y’all made up. But… the fire? Warmth? Please?”
“Oh. My apologies.” Cas laughed and struck the lighter, holding some loose pages to the flame and tossing them into the old books.
~✶~
They sat huddled around their little fire, as the music played through Dean’s phone. He had an arm wrapped around Cas’ shoulders and the angel had his head resting on Dean’s shoulder. Sam looked at them and laughed.
“What?” Dean said, confused.
“Nothing. Just… you two, I guess. You’re so… cute.” Dean narrowed his eyes at Sam, who laughed harder. “That’s not a bad thing, Dean.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Dean rolled his eyes and glanced down towards Jack’s room. He still was locked inside, ignoring them.
I really can’t stay…
But baby it’s cold outside.
I’ve got to go ‘way…
But baby it’s cold outside.
This evening has been…
Been hoping that you’d drop in.
So very nice.
I’ll hold your hands, they're just like ice.
Dean listened to the song and thought for a moment. “Hey Sammy… you remember how I’d get you to open the door when you locked me out, cause I’d pissed you off?”
“Oh god… Dean no!” Sam laughed, as Dean grabbed Cas’ hand and pulled him towards Jack’s room.
He knocked on the door, not expecting a reaction, so he wasn’t surprised when he got no answer.
He cleared his throat and turned up the song.
“ I ought to say no, no, no sir…” Dean sang, eyeing Cas to follow, but the angel simply tilted his head. “ At least I’m gonna say that I tried.” Cas squinted, and Dean swatted his arm, nodding towards the door. “ I really can’t stay.”
“Baby don’t hold out.” Cas added, with a humored grin, now understanding.
“ Baby it’s cold outside.” They sang together.
“ I simply must go.”
“But baby it’s cold outside.”
“The answer is no.”
“But baby it’s cold outside.”
“The welcome has been…”
“How lucky that you dropped in.”
“So nice and warm.”
“Look out the window at that storm.”
Sam and Eileen were watching them sway together outside the door, trying to stifle their laughs so as to not ruin the… interesting moment.
“ My sister will be suspicious. ” Dean said and winked at Eileen.
“ Gosh your lips look delicious… ” Cas followed, leaning in towards Dean's mouth, but getting pushed back for the next line.
“ My brother will be there at the door. ”
“ Waves upping a tropical shore.”
“My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious.”
“ Gosh your lips look… delicious.” Cas said and leaned in again catching Dean’s mouth before he could stop him again.
“Stop stop STOP!” Jack cried through his door. The lights popped and restarted. Instantly they could feel heat filling the bunker. “Please.” The door opened and Jack stepped out. “I forgive you… just, stop… that .” He laughed, awkwardly.
“We’re sorry, we upset you, kid.” Dean said, pulling Jack into a hug, and reaching out to grab Cas too.
But you don’t have to worry, we aren’t going anywhere…” Cas added, and Jack smiled into Dean's chest. “Neither of us.”
“At least until Christmas, right?” Jack asked, pulling back to look at the two.
Something in the question made Dean’s heart ache. He looked at Cas, at Sam, at Eileen cradling her small bump. For the first time since he began hunting he wanted to be done.