AN: This story contains gay/slash fiction. WARNING: Explicit Nudity/Sex

A three-part story about Dean, Gabriel, and Crowley and how they find their respective saviors in a time when being alone is worse than dying.

Part 1: Dean

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Dream

The light pooled through the trees, dappling the ground softly and turning the forest into an estranged wonderland. He could hear the babbling of a brook nearby, soft noises that could be a deer…or a Wendigo.

"There are no such things here."

Dean spun around before relaxing at the sudden sight of Castiel just behind him.

"Dammit, Cas, can't I have a single dream to myself?"

Castiel looked around himself at the woods. "I'd like to think that our relationship has progressed so that if I needed to speak with you, I would not have to invade your dreams."

Frowning, Dean took a step back. The angel still had a thing to learn about personal space.

"So, you're not in my dream? I'm having a dream about you?"

"It appears that way."

"Why would I have a dream about you?"

Cas sighed. "I assure you, I do not know."

"That helps," Dean tossed up his hands turning around. "Don't I get enough of you during the day? Sleep is for sleeping and dreaming about half-naked women…"

Cas looked confused then down, as if Dean had somehow hurt his feelings. "I see."

"No, Cas…" Dean sighed. "I didn't mean it like that."

Castiel looked up at him and something crossed his face for a moment, too fleeting for Dean to read it and he found himself stepping closer to the angel, trying to see what Cas didn't want him to see. Then Cas was kissing him and nothing else mattered.

Dean felt Cas push him back against a tree, his nimble hands already working at Dean's belt and jeans. Dean felt his body responding before he could even work in a word of protest, why would he protest? Cas was pushing his jeans and boxers down and Dean couldn't stop himself from moaning against the angel's lips.

"I'm sorry," he heard Castiel whisper and then Castiel was kneeling before him, was he going to…?

"Dean, wake up!"

Dean bolted awake, nearly falling off the shabby bed in the process. Sam gave him a look of relief from across the room, the laptop's glow the only light. He stretched and reached across to turn on the bedside lamp. "What?" he asked groggily.

"You were making weird noises. I thought you were having a nightmare."

"No…just a really weird dream."

"Clowns or midgets?" Sam asked, his lips twitching in a quirky smile.

"Weirder." Dean shook his head as he sat up. "Find anything?"

"Yeah, actually." Sam offered, turning back to the laptop. "Turns out there used to be schoolhouse on that hill outside of town. 30 kids plus the teacher burned down when some guys got drunk, locked them in, and set it on fire."

Dean rubbed his face, the images of his dream still fresh in his mind, unfazed. Why…Castiel?

"Castiel?"

Dean looked up, spotting the angel his brother had just addressed standing across the room.

"Do you need something?"

Sam shook his head. "No, it's turning into a typical 'salt-and-burn.' Why?"

"I thought I heard my name."

Sam glanced to Dean before slowly shaking his head but Dean quickly got to his feet.

"Yeah, that was me. I had this…really weird dream and you were there and…that wasn't you, was it?"

"I would like to think our relationship has progressed to the point that if I needed to speak with you, I would not need to invade your dreams."

Dean blinked in surprise. "Dream you said something really similar to that."

"I assure you, it was not me."

Dean nodded. "I believe you. Just…if you get the urge, don't."

Castiel looked confused and for a moment, Dean thought he looked hurt, as if the idea that he would betray Dean's trust like that was inconceivable.

"No, Cas, I didn't mean it like that."

No, Cas…I didn't mean it like that.

Castiel looked up at him and something crossed his face for a moment, too fleeting for Dean to read it and he found himself stepping closer to the angel, trying to see what Cas didn't want him to see. Then Cas was kissing him and nothing else mattered.

Castiel and Sam were both looking at him strangely and Dean shrugged. "I'm…um…gonna check on the car."

He slipped past Cas and headed out, the door slamming shut behind him. Cas had turned to watch him leave, his eyes sad. After a long moment, he blinked and looked to Sam.

"So I am not needed?"

"Not unless you want to help dig up a grave."

When Sam looked around himself at the now empty room, he laughed lightly. "Yeah, me neither."

Dean stood outside, leaning against the Impala. He rubbed at his eyes. The dream hadn't faded yet, it was still stark and clear in his mind. It was odd, he could recall every detail. He shook his head, putting it out of his mind. It was just a weird dream, nothing else.

He was unaware that Castiel stood a few feet away, invisible to his human eyes. Castiel watched him torment himself over the dream, wishing he could catch more than the bare glimpses Dean's psyche provided. He knew that Dean did not like it when he spied on his thoughts but Dean didn't understand that trying to ignore a human's thoughts, particularly one as emotional as he, was like trying to ignore a jet engine when standing directly next to one.

He wanted to say something, anything, but he couldn't bear what Dean might say. Already Dean was putting it out of his mind, forgetting the idea, the possibility…

Castiel ran.

Across the world in an instant, Castiel found himself in the high peaks of the Himalayas but he barely felt the cold. His tears froze on his cheeks as he shook. How could any being bear this pain? To watch someone they love, to give everything for them, and to be dismissed so easily? He didn't even know what Dean had dreamed about but that it had been about him and Dean did not want the dream to return.

Every night for the next couple weeks, Dean dreamed of Castiel. And not just of Castiel, he dreamed of having sex with him. It varied in time and place and…position…but it was always Castiel. The angel always looked at him so possessively that he felt if another one of his dream lovers might try to encroach, the angel would send them to perdition in a handbag. What bothered him wasn't that he was now randomly having sex dreams about a certain angel but that he was now starting to look forward to them.

So every night, he'd crawl into bed or try to catch a few hours in the back of the Impala while Sam drove, and sure enough before the night was over, Castiel would ride him. Or he'd ride Castiel. Now those were really interesting dreams as he wondered how the hell his subconscious came up with the sensations he was feeling. Or was he just imagining what angel dick felt like?

And the worst part was he had a growing feeling that Castiel knew what was going on. The angel usually stopped by to check in on them at least a couple times a week and now he hadn't been back in almost two. Not since that first dream and Dean wondered if Castiel was avoiding him.

"I'm worried about Castiel," Sam said softly, seeing he was awake. The road was dark, lit only by their headlights and Dean sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Hm?"

"Well, he hasn't been by lately. That's not like him."

"He's an angel, Sam. Maybe he has angel stuff to do."

"Maybe we should call him. Just to make sure he's okay."

"And how is that going to look, calling him for no reason? What if he is busy?"

Sam sighed. "We went through this last time. Wouldn't you rather know if something's bothering him so that maybe we can help? Especially after all he's done for us."

Dean sighed, silently giving in to his brother's logic. He was just nervous about facing the angel after the incessant dreams he'd been having.

"Sure. Whatever this job is, we'll call him."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Dear Castiel…we have a bug…issue and we need…

Dean's voice reached him in the wind and he sought them out through the folds and faces of the world, finding them at Bobby's. He appeared in the center of the room before Dean had even finished his sentence. For a moment, Castiel tried to determine how much time had passed since he'd last seen the boys. At least a week, possibly more; he lost track of time so easily here on earth when an instant could last hours. He looked at Sam who was explaining something to him then Bobby spoke and none of it seemed important.

"Dude…you're covered in ice."

Castiel looked down, the snow from his jacket melting into a puddle on the floor. "Yes, it was…cold…where I was."

Dean looked confused and Sam sighed. "Well, we could use your help, Cas."

"Yes, of course," Castiel agreed, not even sure to what he was agreeing. "What do you need me to do?"

Dean clapped him on the shoulder. "Kick door in. Kill monster."

"Yes, of course." Castiel nodded.

They'd spent the past few months picking off the last remaining demons that had come through the gate. He wondered how the boys would take the decrease in mortal peril, sliding back into the mundane jobs they'd started out doing. Like tonight, hunting down a mogget and her nest.

He rode in the backseat of the Impala quietly. Sam was discussing their plan. Attack from three fronts, burn it all down. Outside, Sam was all business but on the inside, he was wondering the same thing Castiel was. What would they do when tracking down demons wasn't so easy? When a demonic possession was the rarity, not the commonplace? He turned to Dean, wondering what he was thinking about the situation. He got a lot more than he expected.

Their naked bodies entwined, flesh against flesh, skin slick with sweat. He reached up, tangling his hands in black hair, pulling his lover down to his lips. He groaned softly, exploring his lover's mouth with his tongue. His lover arched against him and he ran his hands over the firm, distinctly male chest…feeling the scars from the battle so long ago, so familiar…

"Castiel…"

Castiel was suddenly aware he was staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the back of Dean's head. Dean shook his head, unaware of the attention, and continued driving.

Great, now Cas is back and I still don't know why I keep dreaming about having sex with him. And great, now I've got a boner. Hope Sam doesn't notice.

Castiel barely suppressed a whimper. Luckily, Sam was paying more attention to the road than his brother's…new erection. But Dean…Dean was dreaming about him. Had been. Repeatedly. How long had he been gone? How often did Dean dream of him?

Dean is attracted to me!

The proof was in Dean himself and Castiel felt strangely giddy with relief. After all this time, all those years of hiding his affection for Dean, always fighting, always there…even if it was only sexual, for however short a time it lasted, there was a chance he could know what it was like to love Dean Winchester and be loved in return.

After they'd burned down the mogget's nest, Dean and Sam decided not to waste what they called a 'beautiful summer night' and sleep outside. They built a small fire a little ways away from the road, the Impala parked beneath a tree, and sat around it for a little while. Sam and Dean joked, telling stories to Cas about each other, more for each other than for him since he was paying little attention. He was more amazed at how in depth the human mind could be. Dean would be retelling something he and Sam did as children but thinking about how he almost lost Sam to Lucifer. For Sam, it was the same. They relived their worst memories as they told their happiest.

After a while, the stories died and they listened to the sound of the woods around them: soft crickets, the snap of a twig beneath a deer's hoof, and the nearly silent flutter of wings in the night.

Well, he is kinda attractive in that rugged…soft…kind of way…his skin looks soft, kinda glow-y against the fire…

It took all Castiel had not to stiffen in sudden awareness that he was being "checked out" by Dean. He actually took a moment to verify that Sam was asleep and it was definitely not Sam's thoughts he was hearing.

There are definitely worse angels I could have a crush on. Doesn't make this any less weird.

Feeling strangely devious, Castiel sighed as if he were worn from the day and unaware that Dean was still awake. He pointedly didn't look towards Dean but pulled off the tan overcoat, letting it slouch to the ground behind him. He slowly untied the blue tie and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. He gave a soft groan, rubbing the back of his neck as if sore and stretched his head to one side, letting his hand slip slowly, casually, down his chest.

….damn…

Castiel 'casually' noticed Dean watching him. "You can sleep, Dean. I will keep watch. No harm will come to you tonight."

...right…

"Yeah, night, Cas."

Cas resumed his silent watch of nothing as Dean rolled over, pulling his jacket over himself. Shortly, he fell asleep. Then the real fun began.

At first Dean's dreams were as normal as they could be, fleeting instants of vague memories or conjured oddities and Castiel shadowed them all, hoping, daring for a glimpse of what Dean saw of him. Then he found himself looked at a copy of the very evening they had just finished. Himself, Sam, and Dean all curled up around the fire. He watched as Dean remembered the way he'd attempted a seductive pass, letting the coat slip from his shoulders, unbuttoning his shirt. He heard himself say again…

"You can sleep, Dean. I will keep watch. No harm will come to you tonight."

But this time, Dean, or rather his dream self, got to his feet. "You should watch yourself, not me."

Then Dean was pushing him to the ground, buttons popping as he tore the angel's shirt open, kissing him roughly. Castiel saw himself respond in kind, pulling Dean's shirt over his head, running his hands down Dean's chest and Castiel was suddenly firmly aware that he was jealous…of himself. Dean was working on his belt and slid a hand down the front of dream Castiel's pants and the real Castiel gave a petulant whimper.

Dean froze, looking off into the woods, down at Sam, then back out into the woods. Castiel jerked himself out of the dream as quickly as he could, in his haste he overcompensated for the physical return and ended up flat on his back, toppled over the log he'd been sitting on.

"Cas?" he heard Dean's sleepy voice. "Cas, are you okay?"

Cas started to sit up then became aware that Dean was kneeling over him and he was suddenly rendered speechless. Dean seemed to have noticed the similarity between his dream and the now reality and they lay there, staring at one another.

I could kiss him. I could kiss him right now and no one would know. Well, except me. And him. And he'd probably smite me or something. But I could. Right now.

Castiel stared, trying not to look hopeful…or eager…or desperate. Do it, Dean. Do it. Kiss me. Kiss me please. Do it.

"Cas…"

"I am fine, Dean. You should rest."

"Right…"

Dean looked at him, confused, before he went back to his side of the fire. Castiel was suddenly aware of how hard his heart was pounding.