Dean ended up falling asleep. With the nightmare it only lasted about an hour.

He was trapped in this small dark room with no windows or doors, chained to a metal chair, unable to move any part of his body. Paralyzed.

No one could hear him screaming. It was just him, only him, and the sound of the song Simple Man playing quietly in the background. It wasn't the solitude that unnerved him, though. It was the feeling someone was there, watching, that struck fear into the pit of his heart.

Dean woke up in a sweat, breathing heavily as he sat up in the hospital bed. Panic welled deep in his chest. He had sat up. He's supposed to be paralyzed, how was he now able to sit up on his own?

Dean saw a man in a suit and a trench coat walk past the room. He swung his legs to the side of the bed and stood up on his feet, shocked as he was able to run across the room and out the door.

When he exited the room, everything blinked into an entirely different scene. It wasn't a hospital; it was a bar. Dean was no longer wearing his hospital gown, instead his everyday outfit of a plain black shirt, a dark blue twill - long sleeves rolled to his elbows - and blue jeans with black utility boots.

He saw the man sit at a table. Dean slid into the seat across from the stranger and studied him carefully, "I know you..."

The man nodded, "Yes, I was in your dream before. I am Castiel."

Dean gave him another suspicious once-over, "Uh... right, Castiel, where am I?"

"You're dreaming, Dean. We seem to be at the same bar in which you first met me," Castiel explained.

Dean looked around, then picked up the beer sitting on the table and began chugging, "Why are you talking to me as if you're real and not just a part of my imagination?" He asked between gulps.

Castiel said, "Anything can happen in a dream, correct?"

Dean gave a dismissive shrug, "Eh, you're right. Heard about this thing called lucid dreaming where you know you're dreaming while it happens. Guess you're from that part of my mind," He looked around the bar. If he was dreaming, he wanted it to be somewhere classier than this.

"So, Cas, wanna take a walk?" Dean grinned mischievously.

Castiel nodded and followed him as he got up from the table. All they had to do was take a few steps and they found themselves in a big city. It could've been Chicago or New York. Buildings towered over them. The sky was dark and they illuminated the night with neon signs and dim street lamps. Dean marveled at the view, "Ain't it a beaut?"

Castiel gazed around at all the towering buildings, "Humanity does not ever seem to stop amazing me with its abilities to build such civilizations."

Dean looked at him. This man just had an air about him that he couldn't put his finger on. This man's eyes were a blue that intrigued him. Every way this man moved had an inviting quality. Words came from this man's mouth with the innocence of a child, but a strength that could support a building. Everything about this man made Dean feel calm, relaxed, protected... safe.

He reached down and gently took Castiel's hand, intertwining his fingers. Castiel stared down at the hands holding each other like the touch was foreign.

Maybe it was.

Dean gently tugged Castiel down the middle of the street. They began walking side by side under the streetlights. The area was deserted of any life. It was just the two of them, walking down the street together in silence.

"I wish this wasn't a dream. That it was real," Dean turned to Castiel, "I wish that you were real."

Castiel opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. He looked up at the buildings and smiled slightly. Dean smiled at him, "You are... beautiful."

Castiel stared at him, "Thank you."

"I'm being honest," Dean said, "A specific kind of beautiful. I keep looking for a word that could describe you better, but I don't think one exists. You're just... Beautiful."

Their voices echoed through the vacant city. Dean stared up at the starry night sky.

Castiel tried to think of something that could match his compliment, "You have a wonderful mind."

Dean looked at him as if he were crazy. Castiel looked at him disoriented.

"Should I not have said that?" He asked bluntly.

Dean chuckled, "You're very different, Cas. I don't usually like different, but I like your kind of different."

Castiel smiled slightly. He never thought humans would be so kind. He's heard stories about them. Not many of the stories were good. They were depicted to be worthless mistakes. He was always told God left because of His mistake; that humanity was filled with hatred and betrayal and never loved God as much as God loved them. That's what Castiel's older brothers in the garrison used to tell him anyway...

Dean let out a huff of laughter at the concentration on Castiel's face, "Whatchya thinking, beautiful?"

"You are a very kind person, Dean," Castiel told him.

Dean smiled, "Don't assume so soon."

Castiel shook his head and spoke in all seriousness, "Dean, you are the kindest human I have ever met. No one has ever been this nice to me."

Dean chuckled, "People act this way all the time when they like someone. Also known as flirting. Has no one ever flirted with you before?"

Castiel's brow furrowed, "Flirting? What is that?"

Dean grinned, "I have so much to teach you, young Padawan."

Castiel opened his mouth to question, but Dean cut him off, "It's from Star Wars."

"I don't understand that reference," Castiel replied.

There was a long pause as they continued to stroll. It wasn't awkward. Silence between the two of them felt comfortable. Warm. Maybe even familiar.

"Have you ever been in love, Cas?" Dean asked finally.

Castiel stared at him blankly, "I love God, if that is what you inquired."

Dean shook his head, "I don't mean religion or some goddamn make believe figure. I mean have you ever been in love with a real live human being before?"

Castiel simply shook his head. No.

Dean gave a slight smile, "I think we're gonna learn something new together."