By the time he hits thirty-three, Dean’s given up on the apple pie life, accepting that a serious relationship isn’t in the cards for him. But when he meets Cas everything falls into place. Now he’s happily married, hopelessly in love, and they’re about to buy their first home together. It almost feels too good to be true.
It turns out it is. His world comes crashing down when he wakes to find that he’s been a subject in a virtual reality simulation gone wrong. All the years he thought he spent with Cas were actually experienced in less than a week. And when he gets out, Cas is nowhere to be found and nobody has heard of him. Ignoring the possibility that Cas may not be real, Dean sets out to find him and convince him that it’s worth giving Dean — and their relationship — a shot in the real world.
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By the time he hits thirty-three, Dean's given up on the apple pie life, accepting that a serious relationship isn't in the cards for him. But when he meets Cas everything falls into place. Now he’s happily married, hopelessly in love, and they’re about to buy their first home together. It almost feels too good to be true.
It turns out it is. His world comes crashing down when he wakes to find that he’s been a subject in a virtual reality simulation gone wrong. All the years he thought he spent with Cas were actually experienced in less than a week. And when he gets out, Cas is nowhere to be found. Ignoring the possibility that Cas may not be real, he sets out to find him and convince him that it’s worth giving Dean — and their relationship — a shot in the real world.
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Sam takes a deep breath and lays his hands on the table. “I think it’s time you seriously considered that Cas isn’t real.”
“Sam, don’t,” Dean says, warning him off the subject. This time, Sam doesn’t listen.
“Just hear me out and try to look at this objectively. While in a virtual reality program — specifically designed to make you happy — you met someone exactly your type, fell in love almost instantly, got married, and lived in wedded bliss. Have I got that about right?”
Dean folds his arms as he battles unease. “Yeah, so?”
“Dean.” Sam runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “Let’s set aside the fact that Valis is a solo experience and that you can’t find any proof of Cas. When’s the last time you had a relationship last more than a week? Lisa? That didn’t even last a year and the only reason it lasted as long as it did was because you were crazy about her kid.” Sam smiles sadly. “Doesn’t this perfect relationship sound a bit like wish fulfillment to you?”
Dean clenches his jaw as anger and fear battle for control. He can’t deny the truth behind Sam’s words. He’s shit at relationships. He’s always known that. Does it really make sense that someone as amazing as Cas would choose to be with him? And if he is real why haven’t they found each other? Where is he?The only possibility Dean can think of is that Cas just isn’t interested. Dean isn’t sure which is worse.
