Just A Bit Closer (Book Two)

In Which They Think Out Loud

{Cas's POV}

Later on in the day, we were one of the few people left on the beach. Dean had pulled on a T-shirt and I had a towel wrapped around my shoulders. Dean's arm was snaked around my waist as I leaned on him, watching the sky turn orange.

"You know," I said quietly, "I've seen a lot of sunsets, but this is, by far, the best."

"I agree." He was quiet for a moment before sighing. "I wish it could be like this every day."

My hair, sticking in every direction, brushed Dean's jaw and his lips quirked up. "Why can't it?"

"Cas, I'm a hunter. I have to-"

I sat up and looked him in the eye. "I know. You have to kill the things that go bump in the night. But, Dean, don't you think it's time to let someone else do the job. You've already saved the world, more than once. You've lost so many people you love. Wouldn't it be much easier to stop?"

He crossed his legs and faced me. "I don't know. I don't think I could live a normal life."

"You have before. With Lisa," I added in a hushed voice.

"And maybe I could again. But not right now. Maybe later I could."

I took his hand and squeezed it. "But you don't have the promise of tomorrow. You can die so easily fighting monsters. You've done it countless times already."

Den put his hand on top of mine. "Cas, don't worry about me. I'm fine."

My eyes floated to the Mark on his arm, and I'm pretty sure his did too. "Fine?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm great."

He pulled me into his side and we watched the sun sink beneath the horizon.

I started to fall asleep on Dean's shoulder. I blacked out for a moment and when I came to, I was bobbing up and down in Dean's arms. I laid my head on his chest as he walked up the stairs. He opened the door and sat me on the seat. I pulled the seatbelt across me. When Dean got in, I stretched across the seat so my head was on his thigh. He ran his fingers through my hair before starting the car.

He reached for the radio, about to turn it off. "No," I mumbled sleepily. He returned his hand to my hair, still damp from the ocean and we listened.

I'm thinking 'bout

How people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe just the touch of a hand

Well me, I fall in love with you every single day

And I just want to tell you I am

So honey now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades

And the crowds don't remember my name

When my hands don't play the strings the same way

I know you will still love me the same

'Cause honey your soul could never grow old

It's evergreen

And baby your smile is forever in my mind and memory

I'm thinking 'bout

How people fall in love in mysterious ways

Maybe it's all part of a plan

And I'll just keep on making the same mistakes

Hoping that you'll understand

But baby now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

So baby now

Take me into your loving arms

Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars

Oh darling

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

That maybe we found love right where we are

Oh baby

We found love right where we are

And we found love right where we are

Dean's thumb rubbed gently on the back of my head, lulling me to sleep. And right before I was pulled under, I heard him whisper, "Good night, my angel."