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Just like any case they ended up at a motel for a night. Two beds, one tiny TV, one even tinier bathroom, and three men. The receptionist hadn’t batted an eye when the three of them asked for two beds, and as Dean laid on his he wondered if he should be offended by that. Maybe in the morning. Right now he was already half asleep and he hadn’t brushed his teeth yet.
Sam finally got out of the bathroom and Dean peeled himself off the thin motel sheets to stagger into the small bathroom. He left the door open and watched Cas through the mirror. The angel didn’t need to sleep, and it was clear from the way he held the two exhausted brothers up when they first got to the motel. Now, he simply looked relaxed, even though he didn’t get sleepy he did wind down when it got late. Dean spit out the remaining toothpaste and rinsed his brush. Cas turned at the sound of the faucet.
Dean would like to say he doesn’t know when it started, that the strange bedtime ritual he and Cas adopted just seemed to appear. That would be a lie though, because Dean had been counting the nights to see just how long he could get away with it.
Sam was half tucked into his own bed, laptop still bright in front of him but his eyes were fighting to stay open.
Dean looked away from his brother to address Cas, still sitting in front of the TV. Dean cleared his throat, made eye contact with the angel, nodded, then shut the bathroom door to pee.
Dean remembered about a month ago, sitting at some diner with Cas laughing about a story he was telling. Sam had gotten up to take a leak and Dean took the time to continue the tormenting story of Sam when he was younger.
“I would be sleeping soundly, then wake up, 4 am! To this kids bony knee in my nads! He wasn’t trying to wake me up sure, but how can I stay asleep when theres a kid crawling all over me!” Dean had laughed and Cas had smiled before looking confused.
“I still don’t understand. Why was Sam in the bed?”
Dean shoved a few fries in his mouth, “eh he was just scared. Dont blame him for that, when I was that age I was still trying to climb into Dad’s bed. Always easier to sleep when there’s a body next to ya.”
Cas nodded at this, “and this is why you take female companions often?” Sam had wonderful timing and arrived just to hear this and watch Dean’s colourful reaction.
“No! No, God Cas!” Sam cackled and Cas looked confused once more, “that shit’s just for fun. I’m talking about being a kid, crawling into bed knowing the person already there can protect you. Now I’m all grown up, don’t need anyone to protect me.”
Cas tilted his head and almost looked offended, “I protect you. I’ve protected you and Sam on numerous occasions.”
Sam laughed, “he makes a good point Dean. You may not need someone to protect you, but you’ve got someone just in case.”
“Yea yea whatever.” The conversation had died down and faded into other embarrassing stories from the brother’s childhood, but that discussion marked the day for Dean. That night, after running through some woods, burning the wrong bones, falling into the lake and almost watching Sam die, Dean couldn’t sleep. Sam was out like a light but Dean sat in his bed staring at his brother trying to pry the image of Sam drowning out of his mind. Cas hadn’t BAMFed out of the room yet, captivated by whatever was on the TV.
“Dean, you should sleep now, you need to drive tomorrow morning.”
Dean didn’t even turn to look at Cas, just stared at his baby brother. He was startled by Cas’ hand on his shoulder and the angel sitting down next to him on the bed.
“I can protect you two.”
Dean was taken back to when Cas had first insisted on staying in the room and watching Dean sleep. This was different though, this was Cas offering to protect. Dean knew he could keep them safe, he’d seen Cas fight. He still shook his head, “its okay man I just need to watch him tonight, keep him safe.”
Cas scooted closer onto Dean’s bed. Dean felt Cas right behind him as he still watched Sam. Cas used the hand on Dean’s shoulder to push his body down to lay fully on the motel bed.
“I can wake you if anything happens Dean. Sleep.”
Dean doesn’t remember agreeing, but he does remember waking up from one of the best sleeps he’s had in a while. After that, Cas had started to sit in bed with Dean as he drifted off. Sam never commented, sometimes he even talked with the two until he eventually dozed off. Dean slept peacefully knowing Cas was right there beside him to protect them.
Back to the present night, Dean left the bathroom to see Cas in his usual spot. He had taken his trench coat and tie off and was sitting reading a book. Despite the siren call that the bed sang to Dean’s tired aching body, he stood there for a moment, staring at Cas this time. Cas finally looked up feeling eyes on him.
He tilted his head before coming to some realization.
“Oh, sorry Dean did you not want-“ he started. Dean shook his head and walked over and got into the bed. Cas always left the side closest to Sam’s bed open for Dean. Cas always got under the blankets so he wouldn’t be in the way for Dean. Cas always told Dean that he’d be awake to protect him and his brother. As Dean scooted down the bed to get his head on the pillow, he turned to face Cas.
“What’ca reading?”
Cas looked down at Dean, “Little Women, its a classic. Very dramatic.”
Dean let out a grunt in acknowledgment before making up his mind and wrapping his arm around Cas’s waist.
“Thank you, for protecting us.”
Cas melted under Dean’s arm. He placed his book down and slowly, and hesitantly he slid down the bed to mirror Dean’s position. Dean’s eyes were closed but he was still a bit awake. He tugged Cas closer to himself and tangled their legs together, before letting out a content sigh and drifting off.
When Sam would wake up first and spot this he wouldnt’t say anything. He wouldnt tease Dean or take any photos. He would smile at Cas, and thank him for taking care of his brother when no one else could.