Sleep

Dean woke up in the middle of the night, unsure of what was responsible for that. He turned around and saw Cas sitting on the side of his bed.

"Cas, what are you doing?", he asked.

"I'm watching you sleep", the angel replied in his sombre voice.

"And why are you doing that, Cas?"

"I'm not sure. I felt the urge to do that. Human emotions are very confusing."

"Yeah, I know", Dean sighed, "You'll have to find a way to live with them. Now go to sleep."

"Sleep?", Cas asked, rather confused.

"Yes, you're a human now, you have to sleep." Dean was slowly but surely losing the little patience he had for obnoxious ex-angels at three in the morning.

"I'm… I'm not sure I know how that works", Castiel confessed. Dean stared at him in disbelief.

"You're serious?" The former angel next to him shifted nervously.

"As an angel I didn't need to sleep. I've never done it before." Dean sighed.

"Okay, fine. It's not that hard, alright? First, you lie down."

Castiel nodded very earnestly and then hauled his legs onto the mattress.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not here, dude! Your own bed!"

Castiel looked at Dean with big eyes.

"But I'd rather stay here", he stated, very matter-of-factly. Dean rubbed his hand over his face. At that time of day (or rather night) he just wasn't up for arguing.

"Fine, stay here", he gave in, so Cas lay down next to him, then looked at him expectantly.

"And now?"

"Now you close your eyes and wait." Castiel closed his eyes.

"And then?"

"Then you will fall asleep." Cas remained silent, so Dean tried to go back to sleep himself. He closed his eyes and relaxed his limbs. Just, when he was about to drift off…

"It's not working."

Dean opened his eyes reluctantly. He shot one frustrated glance at the ceiling, then turned around, only to find himself face to face with Castiel who had propped up on one elbow. He could feel the former angel's breath on his face.

"Um, Cas. Once again: personal space."

Cas looked around.

"This bed is a little too small for personal space, I'm afraid", he answered, "I'm sorry."

"Right. Just do again what I told you. And this time, wait a little longer, okay? Sleep will come to you."

"Okay", Castiel nodded, so they both lay down again, Dean praying that Castiel's now human body would be exhausted enough to fall asleep quickly.

"Dean?"

No such luck.

"Yes?", he growled impatiently.

"I feel lonely without my brothers."

"Dude, we're already lying in the same bed, you will not talk about your feelings."

Dean turned around, so that he was facing Cas who lay on his side. In the dim moon light he looked so lost and confused and vulnerable that it made Dean's heart, which had survived twenty-eight years of Sam's trademark puppy dog face, wrench. Back then, when his brother had jumped into that hole and had left him all by himself he had wanted to kill himself every single day. Castiel had to feel similar. As he watched him, a single tear rolled down the fallen angel's cheek, leaving a salty trace on his face. Reluctantly, Dean reached out to gently wipe it away. Cas looked up at him, a glimmer of hope in his sad eyes.

"It's okay", Dean murmured, "I'm here." He gathered Castiel in his arms and the former angel buried his face in the crook of Dean's neck, while the hunter gently stroked his back.

"It's okay", he whispered into his ear, „Just sleep."