._.__.~Dean~.__._.

We hadn't heard from Cas or Felicity in a couple days, and I was starting to worry. I voiced my concern several times, but Sam always said the same thing.

"I'm sure they're fine," He'd say. "If anything goes wrong, they'll let us know somehow."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I'd always mutter.

And finally, one night, they returned. There was the sound of wings flapping, and I thought it was Felicity's wings. It was Cas's. He flew in, carrying an unconscious Felicity in his arms bridal style.

I jumped out of my chair in the library. "Cas! Is she okay?" I approached them.

"She will be fine. She used much of her power today. She eradicated a shapeshifter. She... smote it."

"What, you mean like with all that white light?"

"Yes."

"Now, I thought you didn't have the angel juice to fly anywhere. How'd you get here?"

He sighed. "You don't want to know."

I suddenly realized he was holding a purple leash in his hand. I looked down and saw a beagle puppy at his feet.

I took a deep breath and tried my best to speak calmly. "Cas?" I spoke through gritted teeth.

"Yes, Dean?"

"Why... do you have... a puppy?"

"She helped us with our hunt. She found... who we assumed was the werewolf, but she turned out to be their human step sister. It is a long story."

"We can't keep it."

"She has a name, Dean. Echo."

"Echo?" I repeated.

"Yes. Because she echoes the actions of others. I would show you, but I should first take Felicity to bed."

I nodded. "Yeah. You do that. And you come back down here so we can talk about this dog. Echo, or whatever."

He nodded and took Felicity up to their room, Echo following close behind. I sat back down at the table and took a sip of my beer. A puppy? Really? Of all the things in the world, he had to want a puppy?

I guess she was pretty cute. But there was no way in hell I'd let her stay.

Cas soon came back downstairs carrying Echo and sat down at the table. "Dean, I know you don't like dogs, and Felicity was hesitant about getting a dog for that reason, but I can take care of Echo. I will feed her, clean up after her-"

"Cas." I interrupted.

"Yes?"

"Why a dog of all things, man?"

He looked down at Echo. "Because... well, I suppose it would be nice to have a new species around here. It just feels like there's one species short. Human, angel, now canine."

He looked back up at me, flashing one of his rare smiles. His smile is less rare, now that he's got Felicity. It was nice to see him so happy, but there's that part of me that... wanted him to be happy with me.

The corners of my mouth twitched upward, threatening a smile. "Okay. I-I guess."

His smile grew. "Thank you, Dean. And I promise I will take care of her."

"Now... what do you mean, she echoes?"

Cas demonstrated how Echo mimicked whatever anyone else did. It was kinda cute, the way she tilted her head to the side the way Cas did and everything. I got a kick out of that.

After a little while, we decided to go to bed. Cas joined Felicity, and I was alone. Just like every night. I hated myself for even thinking like this, but... I was jealous of those two. The way they laughed together, the way they'd just talk, or when they'd kiss. I hated it when they kissed, which made me hate myself even more. I knew I shouldn't have been jealous, but I couldn't help it. I wanted what they had. With... a certain someone. But... that someone was taken. It was too late for me now.

._.__.~The Next Day~.__._.

I slowly drifted into consciousness once again and groaned. Another day. Another damn day.

I looked at the clock next to my bed. 10:15. Way too friggin early. I preferred waking up at the crack of noon. But I managed to drag myself out of bed and plod downstairs to the library.

Cas and Felicity were sitting at the table. El was doing research on her laptop. Cas... well, he just looked deep in thought. This piqued my interest ever so slightly. He was so deep in thought, he didn't seem to notice my presence.

I cleared my throat, which got both of their attentions.

"Good morning." El greeted.

"Hello, Dean." Cas muttered. His usual greeting. I loved to hear it every day. The way he spoke my name sent shivers down my spine. His deep, gruff voice was pure bliss.

"So, um, what're you researching?" I asked El.

"I'm trying to find a case."

"You wanna hunt? Even after what happened when you... beamed that shifter up to... well, Purgatory?"

"That is, by far, the dumbest thing you have ever said." She chuckled.

"Oh, shut up. Whatever, have you found anything?" I glanced over at Cas, who had his head tilted to the side. I loved it when he did that. The confusion on his face always left a smile on mine.

"Not much. It's pretty quiet."

"Which, I for one, am thankful for." Cas added.

"How come?" I asked.

"I meant to explain this to you last night; the werewolf-shapeshifter twins, that was a trap set by Django."

I sat down across from them. "What?"

They explained it all to me. The deal with the twins, Linda, all of it. Which was why Cas was so hesitant to allow El to go hunting. And I was kinda on the same boat.

"Wow. The werewolf-shifter twins is bad enough, but they were hired by Django to kill you?" I asked her.

"I can handle myself just fine. Besides, I wouldn't be going alone. I'd have Castiel with me." She looked over at Cas and smiled. He smiled back, but I couldn't help but notice neither of their smiles seemed... sincere.

"Well, based on that whole smiting thing, it sounds like you should just... take a break. Give it a rest before you jump back in."

"Dean, you were recently cured of being a demon. Did that stop you?"

I raised a finger pointedly. "That was different. It didn't wear me out or anything. From what I'm hearing, whatever happened, it took a lot out of you."

"I don't care. I'm only gonna get stronger through practice, Dean."

There was no arguing with this girl. There just wasn't. I sighed defeatedly. "Alright. Fine. Knock yourself out."

"Felicity, look at this," Cas spoke up. "In Lincoln, Nebraska, there have been two deaths in the same house. Husband and wife, Dan and Wendy Phillips. They had been murdered, no signs of forced entry. It sounds like a vengeful spirit."

"There we go!" El chirped. "No way he could've hired a ghost, right?" She looked over at me.

I sighed, knowing better than to argue. "Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. Just promise me that if it starts to smell like angels or demons, you'll get back down here ASAP. I'm willing to bet those hell dwellers would love to get their hands on a fledgling."

"You got it. Angels or demons, get the hell out of town. I'll get Echo, and we're outta here."

She went upstairs to get Echo, and I decided to ask Cas a few questions.

"Alright, Cas, what's eating you?"

He cocked his head to the side, causing me to shudder ever so slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I can tell when someone's got something on their mind. C'mon, spill."

He sighed lightly. "It's Felicity. I... might have said the wrong thing to her. I think I have upset her."

"What'd you say?"

"I said... well, she was trying to convince me that Linda was human. I look back on that now and I feel like such a fool. She was trying to tell me what she thought, and... I said it didn't matter. She interpreted that to mean... it doesn't matter what she thinks."

I sighed lightly. "Sorry, man. That blows. That's not what you meant, right?"

"Of course not."

"Then explain that to her. Explain what you meant. Don't let her think that you don't care. 'Cause I know you do."

He nodded slightly. "Okay. Thank you, Dean."

"No problem. What're friends for, right?"

"Right."

Felicity came back downstairs with Echo in her arms, fully leashed. She wore her red leather jacket over her wings, so she didn't attract any unwanted attention.

"I believe we're all set." She smiled halfheartedly.

"Does Sam even know you're back?" I asked.

"Yeah. Bumped into him this morning."

I nodded. "Alright, then. I guess I'll be seeing you guys later."

"Just a few days. C'mon, Castiel. Off to Lincoln, Nebraska."

And they left. And I was alone again. Naturally.