When Dean couldn't sleep, his mother used to tell him about angels, always watching over him and guiding him, protecting him. Of course, Dean didn't believe it, not once did he believe it when he was a child and he certainly wasn't going to when he was an adult.

Then Castiel came along. An Angel of the Lord.

Years had passed and the two had become friends, hunting together, saving the world with the help of Sam and Bobby. But still Dean would have those sleepless nights, just like when he was a child.

At first Dean just lay awake, watching the figure in the corner through half open eyes, Castiel watching over them as they slept. Then as time moved on, they would gently talk in low voices so not to disturb Sammy who needed his beauty sleep.

They became closer, Dean often falling asleep during their conversations, waking in the morning with the crappy motel duvet over him and Castiel sitting on the edge of the bed, one leg up and one leg on the floor, his eyes closed as if sleeping as he leaned against the headboard.

Sam, to his credit, never said a word. He knew the connection between these two, the battle Castiel had been through to save Dean from hell, the battle he still fought every day to keep him alive. Who was he to get in their way? He didn't even say anything when Castiel ended up in Dean's bed one night and every night after.

But it all changed when Dean came back from Purgatory, his angel gone once more and a good chance he would never come back. Dean couldn't sleep, not without that man by his side. Even in Purgatory, they had slept side by side, Castiel protecting him as he rested.

Some kind of a miracle brought Castiel back, Dean didn't care how or why. Castiel was back and that's all that mattered. But still he couldn't sleep, too scared he might wake up and Castiel might be gone.

One of those long nights, Castiel smiled and took Dean's hand in his, leading him out to the parking lot where only their dusty old banger sat. No patch on the Impala.

"Where are you takin' me, Cas?" Dean asked, frowning a little bit and looking round.

Castiel just dipped his eyes down and took Dean's hands in his, his coat billowing around them both in the slight breeze.

"Stand on my feet, Dean." Castiel ordered gently, in his deep, gravely tone.

Frowning a little bit, Dean did as he was told, standing on the angel's feet and looking up at him.

"Okay, now what do I d-WOAH!"

Castiel lifted Dean clean off the floor and into the sky, shooting through a cloud into the moonlit realm above. Dean was clinging to Castiel, his green eyes wide as invisible wings batted beside him. He could hear them, but not see them, which to him was wholly disconcerting.

"Look up." Castiel said gently over the beats of his wings.

Dean did and his eyes widened at the sight of the stars, so brilliantly clear in the night sky. He'd never seen them like this before. He smiled and laughed a little bit, holding onto Castiel round his middle. Castiel didn't bother looking up. He had eyes only for Dean and when the elder Winchester looked down, Dean smiled softly at him. Their lips met briefly under the starlight, a chaste kiss between man and angel.

"Thanks, Cas."

"Anytime, Dean."