A/N: Second Destiel fic, yay! There might be some mistakes because English isn't my native language. I own nothing.

Neither of them talks about Purgatory. Sam doesn't pressure them. Things seem to be back to normal; Dean's appetite is back, and he devours cheeseburgers and apple pies as if nothing is amiss, while being his usual sarcastic self; Castiel is once again clean-shaven and in his tan trench coat, observing humanity with his penetrating blue eyes.

And yet, despite all their efforts and their pretense, Sam can tell that things are not the same. How could they possibly be? His brother and their angel friend spent a year in freaking Purgatory, fighting for their lives every day, trying to find a way out, a way back.

There are always dark circles under Dean's emerald green eyes. Sometimes, while consulting a book for a case or while eating, he retreats inside himself, eyes open but unseeing. Sam wants his brother to open up to him, to share his burden, but he knows that this is not going to happen. If he even attempts to stir the conversation there and offer any help he can give, Dean will simply cut him off by shaking his head and saying that he's all right.

Castiel is not the same either. He looks tired, although he tries to hide it. He also appears to be guilty, and Sam knows why that is: because Cas let go. Because Cas pulled away from Dean, choosing to remain in Purgatory in order to pay for his sins.

Sam dreaded arguments at first. Dean yelling at Cas, telling him that he shouldn't have let go, angrily and bitterly trying to make the angel understand that they're family.

But that didn't happen.

Instead, there is peace and tranquility. There is often silence between the hunter and the angel, but it doesn't feel awkward. No, it's like they're both remembering Purgatory and comforting themselves and each other without words. Sam feels like he walks in on them, like he interrupts a very intimate moment.

Sam notices other things as well.

One time, when Dean hands the case file to Castiel, their fingers touch, and they remain like that for a while, as though time has frozen. No awkwardness, no pulling back. Sam softly clears his throat, and only then do the two men break contact. Almost reluctantly, it seems.

And then, there are times when one's eyes remains on the other a bit too long. Forest green eyes fall on the dark-haired angel with tenderness. Sparkling blue eyes focus intently on the young hunter with fondness. Sometimes their eyes lock when they speak, and Sam gets the feeling that the two are no longer even aware of his presence in the room.

Not that he minds. Dean is his big brother, the person he has looked up to all his life, the most important person in the world for him. And Cas has become his best friend, something akin to a second brother to him. They deserve happiness, especially after everything that they've been through.

So, he's not surprised when he walks into the motel room one night and finds the hunter and the angel curled up together on the couch. They seem at peace, happy and calm, their arms wrapped around each other, providing comfort and warmth. A genuine smile - which has become such a rare thing - appears on Sam's face at the heartwarming scene before him. Careful not to make a sound, he turns around and walks out of the room.

He doesn't know just how far the relationship between his brother and their angel friend has gone. All he can think about, all he whispers in the darkness of the night is, "Finally..."

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