Finally decided to actually write a bit of this idea i had a while ago. This one’s for you, @maxity 🫶
I See Forever in You pt 1
He came back to me. He’s safe.
Dean watches where he sits as Sam helps Cas to his feet. Watches as Sam pulls him into a hug, mutters a ‘Glad to have you back, man’ as Cas slowly puts his arms around Sam.
Dean stands, starts to move towards the angel. Wants to hold him and never let go. Tell him everything he’s been holding back all these years. Tell him what he couldn’t the last time they saw each other. He’s looking at Cas’s face, and suddenly, he’s back in that room.
Suddenly, he’s watching helplessly as black goo encases his angel and takes him away. Watching as Cas closes his eyes and looks the most content he’s looked in years. After saying what Dean has dreamt of hearing for years. After leaving Dean to pick up the pieces.
Dean blinks, and clasps a hand on Cas’s shoulder instead. Ignores the tingling in his hand. “Had us worried there, buddy.”
“Bit of a long story, but short version is, Rowena found some really old spell that we weren’t sure was actually gonna work. Basically centered around deals with the Empty, which we will talk about at some point,” Sam explains, glancing at Dean when he adds that last part.
Cas’s eyebrows furrow and his head tilts a bit. God, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.
“You… got me out. I’m free?”
“As far as we can tell, yeah. You’re here to stay,” Sam offers Cas a smile.
“I — thank you. Thank you both,” Cas isn’t meeting Dean’s eyes, which Dean can’t really complain about. He’s focusing all his willpower on staying put rather than getting in Baby and driving until he’s out of gas.
“He’s ok,” Dean says. “We haven’t really been able to reach him lately. He’s been a little busy.”
Dean hesitates enough that Sam chimes in. “Jack… He took over the God role after you were gone. He’s been focusing on restoring balance, or something like that.”
“Jack is… God. My son’s God,” Cas sounds exhausted and angry and a little sad. “Ok, ok, I need to call him.”
“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty fucking beat. It’s been a really long three weeks of barely any sleep and I’ve got some catching up to do,” Sam announces. “Cas, do you want your old room back? It’s still got all your stuff in it. You can use my phone to call Jack.”
“Yes, actually. I would like to rest.” Cas starts following Sam out the library. He pauses at the doorway, turns halfway back to Dean.
Dean doesn’t trust his voice. He just nods, and watches Cas turn and disappear into the hallway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost four days pass before Dean finds himself in the same room as Cas again for longer than two minutes.
Dean walks into the kitchen later than normal, mentally planning breakfast. He almost doesn’t register the smell of coffee brewing and the familiar figure sitting at the table.
Oh, hell. His steps falter. “Cas. Hey.”
“I started the pot already. I thought about making breakfast for you and Sam, as a thank you, but, um, I don’t really know how to do that.”
Dean huffs out a laugh and says, “Don’t worry about it. I got it.”
Dean starts grabbing things for pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Grabs a couple pans and the butter. Tries to pretend he doesn’t feel Cas’s eyes on him. Tries to ignore the warm feeling of domesticity settling in his chest.
“So, uh,” Dean starts after some time, “how’s it been being back? Haven’t seen you much lately.”
Dean says it like it’s just been coincidence that they’ve been missing each other these last few days. In reality, he’s been avoiding Cas. Since that specific little memory invaded Dean’s mind, he hasn’t been able to stop thinking that maybe they got it wrong. Maybe they only got Cas out because the Empty let them. Let them rescue him so they could think they’re free and let their guard down, and then take him back again when they’re happy. Dean can’t risk that. He won’t. But he also doesn’t trust himself to not blurt all his shit out when the moment finds him. So, he’s avoiding.
He glances back at the angel.
Cas looks a little pained and hesitates, “Y-yes. It’s been.. an adjustment. I wasn’t really expecting to back, at all, really.”
Dean shuts off the shove, and turns. Keeps his hands busy with a dish towel and tries to not look as angry as he feels. “Yeah, I figured.”
Cas glances up at him and sighs. Guess I failed at that.
“Dean,” Cas looks like he’s trying to figure out exactly what to say, “is my being here — is it bothering you?”
“I haven’t seen you in four days. Every time we’re in the same room, you suddenly remember you have something to do. I may not be well-versed in all things human, but I know you. I know when you’re avoiding something.”
Dean opens his mouth but then Cas brings up what Dean’s been dreading since he came back.
“Is this about what I said to you? Before the Empty?”
Dean inhales sharply, feels like his heart is being squeezed. “Cas—.”
“Because we can forget about it. Please, let’s forget about it.”
Now, Dean feels like he’s been slapped.
Forget about it? How can you ask me to do that? How, when that’s all that’s kept me going the whole time you were gone? I can’t forget about it. I don’t want to.
“I don’t want this to change anything between us. Yes, I meant it, and I think I always will… but I don’t want anything from you. That was my truth, but it doesn’t have to change anything between us. We’re friends. Just friends.”
I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want anything from you. We’re just friends.
“Ok. Ok, great.” Dean internally winces, hopes he doesn’t sound as hurt as he thinks. “Just friends. Great.”
Cas looks like he wants to say something but Dean can’t be here anymore.
“Food’s done. Help yourself.” He tosses the dish towel on the counter behind him and stalks out of the kitchen.