Chapter Eight

Cas fussed over Dean as soon as they got back to the hotel claiming that he hadn't entirely healed the damage to his heart, which for the record had stopped completely from the lightening during the fight. Dean insisted that he felt fine, but then Sam joined in and the both of them wouldn't stop until he agreed to lay down and let Cas finish - the lewdness of that phrase not escaping his dirty mind.

Sam claimed that he was still lit from the fight and told them he was going to go fetch burgers and beer, as Dean settled against the headboard. Cas had healed most of the damage to himself in the car, but a few cuts remained. He said he wanted to use the rest of his juice on Dean.

"With all the horrible food you eat, we cannot afford to have your heart in any worse condition." He murmured, pressing an open palm against his chest. The warm feeling started again, but Dean didn't taste it this time, much to his dismay. Cas closed his eyes in concentration, giving Dean the opportunity to stare unabashedly at his face. His brows drew close together, and his lips parted slightly. Full, pale lips, just slightly moist as his breath ghosted across them. Dean was drawn in, mesmerized, the heat of his grace filling him from his top to his toes. If he didn't do it now, he may only get the nerve again after considerable liquid courage, and Cas deserved better than that.

He surged forward, pressing his lips chastely against the angels' and breathing in sharply. Cas made a surprised noise but quickly recovered, turning his hand to clench the front of Dean's shirt and pull him closer, moving his lips against his. The angel's lips were soft - he could drown in the feeling of his mouth. Dean moved his hands up to cup his face, pouring all his unsaid emotions into his kiss, slow and strong.

Cas slowly pulled away, breathless and ruffled. He was beautiful. And dammit, as much as he knew he didn't deserve it, he was his - if only for this moment. Their eyes met and it filled Dean with courage to speak.

"I don't want to fuck us up." He started, unsure of what he wanted to say. "You're my best friend...dammit I don't know. I don't want that to change..." The bold feeling started to slither away, and he pulled back.

"Dean, nothing you could do could change the fact that I'm your friend. Don't you feel the same way?"

"See, in our line of work, we can't say that." He threw up his hands, starting to feel an anger burn deep in his gut. Their lives were so cruel sometimes. "We can't say what will work out, or what won't. Nothing ever goes to plan in our lives. Not ever."

"Fair enough." Castiel's eyes searched Dean's face, and he bit at his bottom lip, all the fuller from the kiss. "I can promise you that I will always try to be your friend. Just - don't push me away. Please."

His heart broke a little seeing the angel beg for something as simple as his presence. Cas shifted a little, looking down at Dean's lips.

"Why did you kiss me Dean?"

He was being baited, he knew. But they way his angel was looking at him, pleading - how could he resist?

"I -" he paused, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. "I needed you to know. You almost died today. I don't know what I would have done - I needed you to know that I felt... the same."

Dean silently pleaded that Cas would understand his meaning, and of course he did. The angel smiled a brilliant smile, that made the corners of his eyes crinkle. He leaned forward again, catching Dean's lips in a searing kiss. Somewhere he had always known that if this happened it would be hotter than anything he had experienced and it was - but what he hadn't expected is how natural it felt. The way they moved against each other, like they were somehow joined - it was like a dance. They moved to lay down, sucking and pulling at each other's lips with growing speed. Cas bit down slightly at Dean's lower lip and he moaned, the air sucked into Cas's mouth. Their hands gripped each other tightly, like they were teetering on the edge of a cliff and they had to hang on to each other to keep from falling. But maybe falling with Cas would be the best thing he's ever done.

"I don't deserve this…" Dean murmured, half to himself, pulling away from Cas and nuzzling against his neck. He sighed in response.

"Yeah, you do. But we'll work on that." Castiel replied, his voice rumbling across the top of Dean's head. He rubbed circles across the hunter's back and drew him in closer. Sam would be back soon, but they didn't care. For the moment they had each other, and right now was all anyone was ever guaranteed anyway.

A/N Thanks for reading! I wanted to write a Christmas story, and it went a little differently. I'm working on a sequel about the favor Sam owes Rowena and it will involve a lot more Cas/Dean man sexy time, now that we've gotten all that pesky emotional stuff out of the way :)