#borrower!cas

[shrinkynatural]

#1 Sam plays the safe person for the other two men in the bunker. They both talk to him, but not to each other. Dean is waiting for Castiel to take his time and approach him, but Sam finds out that Castiel was doing the same! The two times the borrower had gone to Deans room the hunter had been sleeping or busy with something at his desk, with his headphones blocking all outside sound, there was no way Castiel would enter his room without permission, but he couldn't get it if Dean couldn' hear

him. so Sam gets crafty. he thins that there's more than friendship on the table for these two, but he can only be the go between for so long! he invites both of them for breakfast. yes, Dean is the better cook, But Sam can do decent omelettes and hash browns. Both men enter the kitchen nose first, wearily eyeing each other, but sit in their usual seats. "hey Cas." Dean extends a hesitant olive branch. " Hello Dean." Castiel grasps it.

[shrinkynatural]

#1 its not like Dean has been avoiding Castiel. He hasn't. But when he sees neither hide or hair of the guy for four days after the hunt gone wrong he takes the hint. He spends time out of the bunker, catching movies, spending more times at bars. but he ended up drifting back to a small hobby shop more than once looking out the sewing section. they had a great selection on thread. Dean may or may not be buzzed when he buys a set of expensive thread and one square foot of blue cloth.

after long hours of denial, Castiel has admitted that it would be nice having more plants like Dean suggested. But small plants. and maybe nothing too tasty. He's had to kill more than one roach from eating his violets which turned out to be safe for consumption he now knows thanks to google. it tastes mildly sweet. He thinks he wouldn't mind a succulent plant or two. or three. he likes how simple they are and easy to care for. If only he could muster the courage to face the older Winchester.

Dean has been avoiding him lately and he's not quite sure why. there hasn't been any hunts lately but he's been out of the bunker more often than in the past few days. He did pass Dean's room, but found the hunter face down in his pillow, fast asleep in a late nap. Castiel didn't turn around and instead watched the man breathe slowly, the sudden thought that he'd like to be down there, sleeping with Dean made the borrower blush. Dean only did that when he was sick. But still, it was nice.

[shrinkynatural]

#1 the hunt was easy enough. The brothers poured a ring of salt around their bags and the borrower and dug up the grave. Even when the ghost showed up the specter didn't even do anything, just stared at Castiel and tried to reach for him a few times until the brothers burned the remains. Once the brothers were fulling in the grave Castiel relaxed, until a large owl swooped forward, intent on snatching up the borrower for dinner. a yell escaped his throat as an even bigger

figure moved forward, arms waving and yelling, knocking the bird off course and distracting it while he was quickly bundled into a set of warm hands. He panicked for a moment until he realized that the hands were keeping him safe, but it still wasn't easy to calm down from that fright! outside the hands, the owl screeches as Dean chases it away. The men exchange a few words about leaving and they move to the car, Sam's large hands still cupped gently around Castiel. He knows he's safe, he wishes he could stop shaking. 

An OWL! a fucking predator of the night built to eat tiny things like him. it was worse than the ghost! The hands shift and Castiel finds himself gently pressed against Sam's coat with one hand while he opens and gets into the car with the other. The hand he's crouched in is pulled away from the coat and is placed on the seat. The borrower can feel the worried gazes on him because he doesn't want to look up and see them. He shifts himself off the hand and huddles against the back of the seat. Why did he agree to this?!

"You alright Cas?" one of the hunters ask. He doesn't answer, still too shaken to reply. He jumps when a finger makes contact with his shoulder. "Sorry Cas." Dean mumbles. "I-I just want to go home." He tries to keep his voice steady but he doesn't think he managed it. "okay." and that's what they did. even without looking up he can tell the brothers are having a silent conversation he can hear mouths moving and hands gesturing.

(I just realized number 5 is also missing so I’m going to leave this part blank, post number 6, and edit it in after if you remember it!)

less than a minute after entering his home, and Dean is blaming himself for putting Castiel in so much danger.

[shrinkynatural]

#1 "you want ME to come with YOU on a hunt." the statement holds the most shocked sarcasm that Dean has ever heard, and he's told people that monsters exist. "yeah, three heads are better than two. you could be a lookout!" Castiel just squints at Dean. "please?" Dean pleads. "I-I guess, but I'm-" he pauses, gesturing to his small form and then to Dean's much bigger one. "just because you're small, doesn't mean you cant help with a hunt. we could always use a third head."

Dean's large green eyes are melting Castiel's defenses. he wants to say yes. he really wants to go outside and help with hunting, but the world was too dangerous. The only times he had ever been anywhere other than the bunker was with the Winchesters, and they had always kept him safe. maybe he can finally help keep them safe. "Okay. I'll help." The smile that lights up dean's face reminds Castiel of the flowers in the city. So rare, but beautiful and he would work for more to show.

"So we'll meet up in the war room in an hour, it'll be a fast hunt, only two hours away, an easy salt-and-burn, and then back home. So dress warm, its coldish outside." An hour later Castiel finds himself pacing by the base of a bookshelf. why did he agree to this? but before he could freak himself out anymore the ground underneath him shook with familiar footsteps. "Hey Cas," the nearby giant greeted. "Ready to go?" Castiel heaves a soft sigh. "Yes, Let's go."

[shrinkynatural]

#1 Castiel is pulled from sleep with three bangs on his newly-repaired door. "Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!" Dean sings. the smell of breakfast pulls him out of bed to wash his face and out the door. He blearily exits to find Dean smiling, holding a steaming plate. "you didnt come to dinner last night or breakfast." "I was, marathoning a show last night and wasnt in the mood to walk, I had food, and I was up late." Dean accepts this excuse with a nod and lowers

the plate onto the porch. somehow, Dean obtained very small plates. they are as long as castiel is tall, but its a pleasant downsize from the previous larger plates. (Dean will never tell him that he found a jewelry dish in a superstore) on it is scrambled eggs and bacon. Castiel LOVES cooked meat! "I'll leave you to your breakfast. Come find me later. I'll most likely be in my room." and with that he leaves Castiel alone to enjoy the food. he really doesn't liked to be watched while eating.

Dean waits in his bedroom, surfing the internet. there's a ridiculously easy hunt. a simple salt-and-burn only two hours away! its the perfect time to try to get Castiel to come on a hunt with them. he could play lookout or something. He looks up when he hears a bang over his head. its Castiel at the vent. Dean stands on his bed and reached out a hand to help Cas down. "glad you could make it." "my yoga class got canceled, there was an opening in my schedule." Dean wants

to burst out in a loud laugh at that. the Borrower's sense of humor was getting much sharper over time. instead Dean bent his head with a few smothered laughs as Castiel stepped on to his palm, smug. Dean lowers him to the pillow that he previously used, so used to seeing him there. Cstiel settles in, making an indentation. "you wanted to talk to me dean?" get it together winchester. "so there's a hunt nearby, really easy, like almost ridiculously easy. do you want to come with us?"

[shrinkynatural]

#1 the brothers start a search. they start with checking out all available structures in a five mile radius of the bunker. there probably isn't much chance of the community moving to multiple houses, so only bigger places are considered. There's a small office building, an apartment complex, and a motel that are contestants. Sam researches the building to find it mostly a few doctors and a nail polish company. the small community wouldn't be living there. The apartment building, while big,

also allows pets. Castiel told them the story of his great uncle and the cat. and the dog. and the squirrel. Borrowers try not to live anywhere near animals if they can help it, so when Sam digs a little and finds hat at least half of the apartments have a cat or dog so that’s crossed off too. what’s left is the motel. funny thing is, they’ve never been there, with an actual home in the town, they’ve never had a need to check out the local motel. its actually nice as motels go. privately owned

as usual, but with its own website? and one that has a modern, clean look at that! its surprising. with over 40 rooms available its big enough, plus a small restaurant attached to the property is a food source making it the most probable place the community moved too. now, how to tell Dean about it? there’s always the knowledge that Castiel might be around, somewhere nearby. even though he keeps away from the bedrooms unless invited. So Sam sends Dean all the info through an e-mail. 

Ten minutes later Dean approaches Sam. “Sam, a word.” he grabs on to Sam’s arm and proceeds to drag him out the door. twenty feet outside he stops. Dean is, upset, but he wants what’s best for Castiel. “So what now, we check ourselves in and yell: ” any borrowers there?“ down the vents?” “or maybe Cas can check it out?” Sam suggests. “look, we dont have to tell him now, but maybe let’s suggest the idea of coming out with us more, see if he likes it? for a hunt that isnt too far?” Dean agrees.

–

Something is, up, or going down? is that right? slang has changed. But Castiel can tell that something is happening. if only he knew what it is. the hunters have been hinting at something for days. yes, he does have warmer clothes, no, he hasn’t listened to Dean’s favorite music yet. Sam invited him to come out with him on a walk. well, Sam would be the one walking, and Castiel would be hitching a ride. its sounds nice. once the mechanics of where he would be is worked out

he will be sitting on Sam’s shoulder, near his neck. its a nice walk. at first its terrifying, shifting with Sam’s wide stride, and hearing his breaths and heartbeat, but after a few minutes he became used to it. besides, the sun was out and a cool breeze blew, but the collar of Sam’s coat kept him warm. he’d never seen the colorful fall leaves still on the tree before! when Castiel tells him about the leaves that he’s collected that cover his ceiling, Sam picks up several colorful ones,

prompts only a minor argument that ends once Sam selects a leaf that displays several colors. Even Sam has to admit that its pretty. Castiel arrives home with a red and runny nose but he’s also very excited to take down the old leaves and put up the new ones. Later, Dean makes chicken soup. “warms the bones, and good for keeping away colds.” it is warming his hands and throat and he does feel better once it goes down. the only sounds in the kitchen are spoons clanking and happy slurping.

[shrinkynatural]

#1 its neen almost a week since the, er, incident and Sam and Dean are trying Not to over mother Castiel. Well Sam is holding back,but he has to remind Dean ocasionally. Castiel eats dinner with them every night since then and joins in conversations.

he may not be dehydrated anymore, but something is wrong with Castiel. Sam goes on a supply run with Dean to talk. " I think we should look for the other borrowers. Castiels family." Dean shifts his gaze from the road to his brother for a moment.

"and do what? Invite them to come back to the bunker?" "maybe. Or bring Castiel to them. He needs other people. Theres only so much we can help him if we're not there all the time." Dean contemplates. "We can ask him if he wants to come with us."

"okay, so if he comes with us hes going to stay in the motel or be carried around in a bag or pocket and then what? He can help dig a grave? Or search a forrest?" Sam feels a bit ashamed pointing out what Castiel cant do

pointing out Castiels obvious hunting handicap, but dean doesnt want to see that. " hes great at research. You know that, and hes better at noticing clues than either of us!" he points out. Sam nods. But both of then are right.

"dean, we cant always be there for him. besides, do you think he'd rather spend the rest of his life in that place while we come and go while his family might be a few miles away?"

"but dean isnt happy with that. What if Castiel chooses to stay with his family rather than come back with them? He would never force the little guy to stay here but dean would miss him. Its been nice talking to someone who isnt sam more than

[shrinkynatural]

loud things, moving, shifting. what's so loud? Castiel is pulled to conciseness when water splashes over his face, causing him to sputter and flail in surprise. something large moves behind him and helps him sit up and stays as he weakly coughs what water was inhaled. "wha?" "Cas." Castiel looks up and for a moment is shocked to see humans! but half a second later his brain reminds him of the Winchesters. they both look worried, but Dean looks relived? they're sitting down so that must mean

he's on a table. Sam leans over and squints a bit, looking him over. "are you alright?" "I-" here he pauses. he has no idea how he got here. the last thing he remembers is sweeping the furnace room and then, nothing. weren't the brothers coming home two days later? "I dont know." he drops his gaze to his legs. Is he on a towel? "Cas, what happened?" Dean's usually loud voice was soft and strained. Castiel followed his arm to see that it was Dean's hand propping him up. "I was sweeping, and

then, I dont remember." Dean leans in. "we found you passed out in the furnace room! when was the last time you are or drank anything?" he demanded to know. "uhh." when was the last time he ate? didnt he have something in the morning? Dean picks his head up and looks at his brother. some silent exchange goes on because Sam gets up and moves quickly out of the war room. "Cas, if you fainted or something the day after we talked, then you've been unconscious for at least 36 hours."

Castiel contemplates that for a moment when Sam comes rushing back in with a plate and a shotglass. "here.eat." the food is placed in front of him. Castiel has no idea what these round, cake-like things are but he's famished and eagerly chows down. after a minute or so Dean tells him to drink, bringing the glass of blue liquid closer. "medicine?" no Cas, its gatorade. good for dehydration." Castiel tries to get up but his

legs refuse to let him stand. "I gotcha." Dean hand supports his weight as he drinks the blue stuff. its not that tasty but he drinks what he can. after half the thing dean calls a pancake is done, Castiel feels like dropping off into a "food coma" a phrase he leaned from the brothers, but they need to make sure that hes alright, so they lean in close and shine a light in his face along with a magnifying glass to check his eyes. Castiel checks his head for bumps, and no, nothing's broken.

"you're bunking with me tonight buddy, no crying, but first you should probably clean up. back to your place?" Castiel nods and Dean carefully gathers him close and they head off. Dean waits outside as Castiel relives himself (and he's also relived that he didnt while he was passed out) and changes his dirty clothes. he barely manages to stay on his feet while exiting his home. Dean's hand is there, catching him before he can fall. "we were really worried about you." he says on the way.

"sorry." Dean lets out a sigh. "you have to stay hydrated buddy." Castiel isnt sure what that means, something to do with water? he stays quiet. the door to Dean's room opens quietly and Castiel finds himself on the pillow he has begun to think of as his. Dean passes him the spare blanket "you scared me when I saw you unconscious." "Dean.." he doesnt know what to say. "just sleep Cas, I'll be right here." a large finger rubs his arm. Castiel can only pull the blanker over himself and sleep.