for hunterfamilybusiness

[trenchcoatbaby]

[Continued from here.]

Cas woke up some time later. How much, he didn't know. He squinted at the clock on Dean's nightstand, but it wasn't very helpful since he never noted the time before he fell asleep. He did see the water and assumed that Dean had been in to deliver it some time before. And now that he thought about it, he was still very thirsty and grateful it was there.

He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and reached for the water, drinking most of it down. Sighing in relief, he realized he felt better than he had almost all week. He raked his hands over his face and thought that he could probably use a shower as well. It was still weird to have those thoughts and to worry about personal hygiene but he knew in time it would just become part of his life.

Cas stood up on tired and aching legs and went out in search of Dean or Sam.

Comments

[hunterfamilybusiness]

It was sometime around 3 in the morning. Dean had peeked in on Cas a handful of times, but had never tried to wake the former angel. After what Cas had been through, Dean knew he needed the sleep.

He was currently stretched out on a couch they'd put in a corner of the library getting his required four hours of sleep when Cas came looking. His face buried in a pillow, arms pressed under it and clutching at the silver blade he always kept handy. Not that he really ever thought he needed it in the bunker, but better safe that sorry right?

He sighed, shifting a bit and turning his head, unaware that Cas had finally woke up.

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas headed out into the bunker. It was dark and quiet with light only coming from what must have been a single reading lamp in the library. Cas assumed it was nighttime because Dean and Sam were not up and about, but it was hard to tell in the bunker what time of day it was at any point.

His suspicions were confirmed though when he found Dean asleep in the library. Even though the couch did not look like an adequate sleeping surface for the tall man, he appeared to be asleep anyway. Cas was torn between letting Dean sleep and waking him up to tell him he should go to his own bed. Cas had taken up the space long enough.

Watching the man now, he was reminded of all the times he had done the same when he was an angel. Sleep was the only time Dean ever looked at peace. He did not see the sense in waking him. He instead went and pulled a book off one of the shelves and sat down to read.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

A couple hours later he shifted, stretching and groaning as his back and knee popped. "Fuck."

He turned his head, looking around slowly before he spotted Cas sitting down at one of the tables reading. He raised an eyebrow, shifting again before rolling off the couch and standing up.

"What're you doing up, Cas? Its late." Right? It had been when he laid down and he knew he hadn't slept for that long. He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, moving over to see what the former angel was reading. "How're you feeling now? You look better." He said, smiling softly.

[trenchcoatbaby]

At the sound of Dean stirring, Cas lifted his head to look at the hunter, watched him stretch and push himself up.

"I was done sleeping for the time being," Cas said with a shrug at Dean's question. His sleep patterns had been erratic since falling. He went from never having to sleep, to not understanding when he had to sleep, to not wanting to sleep because there was no where safe to do it. It would take some time for him to adjust.

"I feel...better. Although, I think I could use a shower. I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to decide when to do that, but I sense that I don't smell entirely pleasant right now."

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He nodded, making his way over. "We'll get you righted." He started towards the kitchen. "Go ahead and go get a shower and when you're done I'll have some food cooked and coffee made for everyone." He smiled.

He headed into the kitchen, moving around as he started cooking some breakfast. He hummed to himself, frying up bacon and eggs, even a couple of pancakes for all of them.

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas nodded at Dean's suggestion and watched the hunter head to the kitchen before he got up and went to use the shower. It felt good to get clean. He never quite understood the appeal of a hot shower until now. He spent time inspecting all the bottles in the shower. The shelter he had showered in earlier in the week just had one soap he assumed you used for everything. Sam and Dean's bathroom had multiple things that were for different uses. He tried them all.

When he finally came out he realized the only clothes he had were the dirty and smelly ones he had came there with. The same clothes he had been wearing for years, except now, without his Grace, he couldn't keep them clean.

He sighed and wrapped the bath towel around his waist and went to find Dean.

"Dean," he said as he entered the kitchen where things smelled...divine. He almost lost his purpose with the distraction of those smells. "...I need...clothing..."

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He looked up when Cas spoke, blinking and staring at him for a long moment. Then he cleared his throat and looked away quickly. "Ah...um you can grab something from my room. You know where everything is in there." He scrubbed a hand over his face.

Why in the hell had Cas thought it was a good idea to come out like that? He tried not to think about it, but his mind kept drifting back to the man still somewhat wet, dripping and in just the towel.

Well...fuck.

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas could tell the hunter looked uncomfortable by his partial nudity. Dean didn’t seem the type to be a prude about it but humans were strange when it came to their bodies Cas had found.

“Thank you, Dean, he said before he went into Dean’s room and found a pair of his jeans and an old flannel that he put on. The jeans were a little long no but otherwise the clothes fit ok he thought. It was a bit strange to be wearing different clothes but everything had been strange since he fell.

Once dressed, Cas went back to the kitchen to see if he could assist Dean.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He looked back at Cas when he came back into the kitchen, nodding a bit. "We'll have to go out and buy you some clothes. Didn't realize my jeans would be long on you." He said, tilting his head a bit and actually appreciating the way the man looked in his clothes.

He motioned him over, holding out his spoon so the other could taste the food. "Almost done. So if you wanna grab a couple of plates to set on the table? Get you a drink and me a beer?"

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas shrugged. He’d rolled them once which had been fine, although he was going to need his own clothes. He doubted Dean would want to share indefinitely.

“You are a bit taller,” he said as he went over when Dean motioned him and looked at the spoon for a moment before leaning in to eat whatever it is off of the utensil. Food was never something he was interested in as an angel and it was taking a little time for him to remember he needed it now and figure out what he liked and didn’t.

“Mm, that is quite good, Dean. What is it?”

He knew it was something they ate a lot, but he didn’t really pay attention. He mostly knew hamburgers, sandwiches, and pie, of course.

When Dean asked him to set the table he nodded and then stared at the cupboards trying to figure out which one would hold the plates.

“Um...”

[hunterfamilybusiness]

"Its a breakfast hash basically. Potatoes, eggs, bacon, some seasonings and once everything is completely done I'll throw some cheese in to get nice and gooey." He said with a smile before going back to stirring everything up in the skillet.

He gave a soft hum, turning and pointing to the cabinet where the plates where. "Plates are there. Forks and all that are over there." He pointed to a drawer, looking at the man for a long moment.

"We'll go out later today if we don't get a case or anything."

[trenchcoatbaby]

"I suppose I'm not expert, but I think you are a good cook, Dean."

Cas smiled at him before he went to get the plates and silverware and put them on the table how he remembered seeing them in the many diners he had sat at with the hunters. He stood back to inspect his work. It looked right to him.

"I don't have any money."

He knew that clothes and other things he would need like a toothbrush and soap and shoes, would cost money. Cas didn't like the idea of Dean and Sam footing the bill for him.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

"Thanks, Cas." He said, feeling a bit proud that the man liked his food, even if he didn't have much experience with it.

He glanced at the man as he started setting the table, pulling out a couple of cups for them to have drinks. "Here, put these on the table too. Sam'll wake up shortly. Always done when I'm cooking."

He hummed then before turning and tilting his head. "What about it? We've got it covered, Cas. Don't worry about it."

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas added a third place setting for Sam. He looked at the three spots and felt rally ok about his humanity for maybe the first time since he fell. If he could be part of this - sharing meals with the hunters, feeling like part of the team, then this could be ok in the long run. If he never got his Grace back.

He looked up at Dean’s next statement.

“I do not want to be a burden. I want to contribute. I can’t rely on you and Sam to buy all my things and provide shelter.”

[hunterfamilybusiness]

"You aren't a burden so stop. Until you get things figured out and can start helping, you let us take care of things." He said, shaking his head as he brought the food over to the table. He divided the food up between the three plates before going to the hall and yelling out.

"Yo! Sammy, breakfast! Get your ass in here!" He heard a muffled grunting coming back at him and he nodded before turning back around. "Go ahead. Sit down and eat, Cas." He sat down, watching him carefully. "Just...look, it'll all get worked out."

[trenchcoatbaby]

"Thank you," Cas said because what else could he say? He felt a weird feeling in his chest and throat that made it feel hard to speak.

He sat down to eat as Dean had suggested. The food smelled delicious and there was that weird noise in his stomach that he had started to associate with when he needed to eat.

So he did.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He smiled over at Castiel before he started tucking into his own food. A few minutes later, Sam finally stumbled out of the hallway before making a face. The first thing he did was to pour himself a large mug of coffee, adding sugar and cream before taking a gulp and sitting down.

"You know, just because you've worked out the fine art of only getting 4 hours of sleep doesn't mean the rest of us have." He muttered, looking at Cas and giving him a weak smile. "How're you feeling, Cas?"

[trenchcoatbaby]

“Better, Sam, thank you,” he said around a mouth full of food. Cas doesn’t exactly know the etiquette associated with eating.

“I appreciate your help last night.”

While he and Dean may have a deeper bond, Cas truly does like and respect the younger hunter.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

Sam smiled and nodded at Cas before taking a large gulp of his coffee. Dean sat down beside Cas, looking at the two. "So I figure in a couple of hours we could head into town to get Cas some new clothes."

He looked at Cas, motioning to his own clothes on the former angel. "I mean, I doubt he wants to go trying to wear my clothes all the time and there's no way he could wear yours, Sammy."

[trenchcoatbaby]

“I don’t mind wearing your clothes,” Cas interjected in between bites.

“Aside from the pants being a little long, they’re quite comfortable.”

Something he hadn’t ever had to worry about as an angel.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

Dean turned his head and looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Surely you want stuff of your own though, Cas. Right?" He asked, taking a few more bites and licking his lips.

Sam looked between them for a moment, raising an eyebrow before smirking and looking down. "Why don't you guys go do that after breakfast? I mean, at least let Cas look around."

[trenchcoatbaby]

“Yeah, I guess my own pants would be nice,” he confirmed, although Cas had never really owned much of anything so the concept of having stuff was pretty foreign to him. He didn’t really understand why humans had so many things.

“Whatever you think is best. I’m just happy to not be eating out of trash cans anymore..”

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He nodded, watching him some more before finishing his food. "Alright, lets go ahead and get dressed to head out." He stretched, cleaning off his plate in the sink before smiling at Cas.

"Just let me get dressed real quick and meet me in the garage?"

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas nodded and copied Dean's motions with his own plate.

"Alright," he said and watched Dean walk out of the kitchen.

He wasn't sure how long it would take Dean to get dressed, so Cas just said goodbye to Sam and went to wait for Dean in the Impala. That seemed like the most logical thing to do.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He went looking for Cas, smiling when he found him in the car. "Have you been out here since we got done eating?" He asked, tilting his head before slipping into the car.

"Alright so we'll go take care of getting you some clothes and some personal items. It'll be good for you. You'll have your own room and everything now too. So we can get you a blanket and some pillows." He smiled wider as they pulled out of the garage and onto the road.

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas blinked at him, not getting the point of the question.

"This is where you said to meet you wasn't it?"

He watched Dean slide into the driver's seat and thought that it was likely he was going to need a car eventually too. Although, Sam didn't really have a car.

Cas couldn't help smiling back at Dean. It was so rare to see the hunter smile so wide and freely. It made Cas warm from the inside out. He was still getting used to how his vessel...body, felt as a human. He could feel things even when he was an angel but everything was magnified now. He supposed his grace had been creating a screen that was filtering out some of the human senses and reactions.

"I admit, my own room sounds nice. Will it be the empty one that's next to yours?"

[hunterfamilybusiness]

"Yeah but I didn't think you'd come out here first and just wait. Hell it took me 20 minutes to finish getting ready!" He laughed a bit, shaking his head before glancing back at him. "Then again I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. You always did take things pretty literal. You'll get used to it more now that you're human."

He cleared his throat, looking out the windshield for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "You want the empty room next to mine?" He had to admit, it was nice. Knowing the former angel wanted to be close to them. He'd always known they'd shared a much closer bond. Or a more profound bond as Cas had once put it.

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas frowned.

"I didn't know how long it would take you and if I hadn't been sitting here then I would have been sitting somewhere else waiting anyway. At least this way, I was ready for when you did come out."

He didn't really see what the difference was. Maybe it would come to him the longer he was human. He'd try it out next time.

"Is that alright? I am fine with whatever room you want to offer. I just know there's an empty one there. And with the amount of time we already spend together it would be convenient."

Cas couldn't hear Dean's prayers anymore. He couldn't keep watch of him and Sam while they slept. It seemed the next best option to deal with that problem.

[hunterfamilybusiness]

"I'm just saying, you didn't have to sit out here the whole time." He shrugged a shoulder, smiling and pushing his fingers through his hair. "Its fine. You'll get used to things the longer you have the chance to be human." He said before reaching over and clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah you can have the room next to mine. It will be more convenient, yeah. And this way, you need anything I'm right there."

[trenchcoatbaby]

Cas nodded and gave Dean a small smile. He was glad to have the hunter to help him figure everything out.

"I promise I will try not to be a 'baby in a trench coat,'" Cas said, the smile still on his face. "Although, I don't even have the trench coat anymore, so at least part of that will be impossible."

[hunterfamilybusiness]

He raised an eyebrow at the words, chuckling softly. "Nah I don't think you'd be a baby in a trench coat, Cas." He glanced over at him, sighing before looking back at the road.

"I mean, we could get you a trench coat if you miss it. I know its probably a comfort thing for you now, having spent so long in it."

[trenchcoatbaby]

"No," Cas said quickly. "I...no I would prefer not to wear a trench coat anymore."

Jimmy's clothes had been of no concern to him when he was an angel. He did not even think about them unless someone else pointed it out. But when he became human, those same clothes started to feel restrictive and not just in a physical way. They were the only clothes he had and now he needed them to protect him from the world. They were a necessary evil and while he was happy to have had the coat to stave off the cold and rain he'd experienced as a human, he now felt an aversion to it and the rest of Jimmy's clothes.

"Those clothes were Jimmy's. I would prefer my own."

Or Dean's apparently. He seemed to have no problem wearing those.