Fallen

Chapter Thirty-One

     We leave for the bunker the next morning. We don't actually get there until afternoon. Cas greets us when we walk in the door and down the stairs. I never really stopped to realize how adorable he is. He's a few millennia old, but he still doesn't quite grasp the whole human interaction thing.

     Dean and I further enter the bunker and put our things away. When we meet back up in the lobby-type thing, Cas is still standing right where we left him. He wears a distraught look on his face. I imagine that he's still mulling over how exactly to human.

     "So what's it like being human, Dad?" I ask, patting him on the shoulder.

     "I'm hungry," he simply states. "I find this all very tiring and high-maintenance."

     I smile and shake my head. Then I take his hand. "How about I make you some lunch?"

     He nods. "That would be lovely."

     With that, I lead him to the kitchen. There, I sit him down at the small kitchen table we never use. I decide to make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Everyone needs to try a PB&J at least once in their life. I get out everything I need and lay it out on the counter.

     "How are things with you and Dean?" Cas asks.

     The question takes me by surprise. "Great," I say. "Why do you ask?"

     He shrugs. "I was curious," he explains. "I want to learn from the both of you."

     I stop mid spread and turn around to look at him. "Learn what from us?"

     "The way couples act. I would very much like to model myself after you two."

     I can't help blushing a little. I turn around and return to his sandwich. "So, what?, you're saying you wanna try and find yourself a girl now?" I tease. I glance behind myself to look at him. He looks like he's thinking.

     "Well, that is what normal humans do, yes? They find someone to love and reproduce."

     I nearly drop my butter knife. "It's not just about reproducing, Cas," I correct him. "Some people don't want kids, and that's okay. They find other people who don't want kids to love," I say. "But you don't need to find love to be happy. It just helps." I smile and turn back around.

     I flip the slice of bread with peanut butter smeared on it face down on top of the jelly-covered slice, fusing the two ingredients together. I move the sandwich to a plate and place it on the table in front of Cas. Then I sit down across from him as he bites into it. I watch as his face changes to a look that can only be described as that of awe.

     "Is it possible to be in love with food?" He asks.

     I laugh. "It's definitely possible to love food. I don't know about being in love with it."

     "Is there a difference?" Cas asks, taking another bite. I open my mouth to answer, but I'm cut off by Dean.

     "Cel?" He says. I look up at him standing in the doorway. His expression instantly worries me. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asks, only worrying my more.

     I give Cas a reassuring smile before I get up and follow Dean out of the kitchen. "What's wrong?" I ask.

     Dean runs a hand through his hair and scratches the back of his neck. "I don't know how to tell you this."

     I frown. "Tell me what?"

     He sighs. There's a long pause before he finally speaks. "Cas can't stay."