How to Save a Life:
Pairings: Dean & Cas
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural L
A/N: Okay, this is my first chapter story. It's probably going to be short chapters (at least the first chapter) & I'm not sure if the story will work so reviews would help. Also, Cas has fallen and is now a human.
Cas was sprawled across the motel room's king sized bed like a sick puppy afraid of a thunderstorm. He was completely worn out and badly bruised. He groaned and rolled over as Dean cut the peach thread he'd used to sew Cas up and closed his eyes, defeated.
"Twenty-six stitches, Cas," Dean mumbled, "I knewit was too soon for you to start hunting again."
"I am fine, Dean. The demon just got the jump on me, is all." Cas stated, "It's nothing too bad, it's okay."
Dean turned away, "No, it's not okay, Cas, it's not... Not okay. You're not an angel anymore, you can't just... You could've been hurt worse out there, Cas. If I hadn't gotten there when I did, you would've..." Dean's words became inaudible.
"... I would've died," Cas finished, "but you always said that was the risk of the job."
Dean shifted in where he was perched on the bed and for a moment, Cas thought he wished to leave. "If I can help it..." He said quietly, "No one's dying around here again for a long time. Not you, not Sam, and not me... It's..." Dean choked up, "It's my job, now, Cas, to protect the three of us."
Cas blinked incredulously and struggled to sit up, but Dean lightly pushed him on the chest to stay on the bed, stiff as a board. He tried to act nonchalant as he listened to Dean and stayed down.
"Everyone dies, eventually." Cas whispered, tentatively, "You and your brother would know that more than anyone, I think..."
As Dean let out an indignant sigh and got up, trying to act stolid, Cas thought about following him. He had qualms about it, though, Dean was likely to tell him he needed rest for his injuries. But Cas limped over to Dean, and he could notice tears forming in his eyes.
"Cas, no... Just go lie down." Dean ordered. That was Dean, always the altruistic one.
Cas was vacillate over whether to or not, and grimaced slightly once he felt a small twinge of pain in his lower left leg, and began to fall over. Dean didn't notice, did he?
"Cas!? You okay?"
He noticed.
Dean caught Cas by the arm, led him to their bed, and slowly let him fall on top of the covers.
"Dean?" Cas asked.
"... It's okay, Cas, just rest." Dean said.
"... You always said family was the most important thing, right? That they were all you could count on?"
Dean's facial emotions changed, as though Cas was being equivocal. 'What does that have to do with you being hurt?' He wondered.
"I think that, too. You were right... Just... Keep that in mind." Cas told him.
Dean said nothing. Only looked at Cas blankly, as though he didn't believe that Cas really thought that.
"But then what would I know? I'm just a fallen angel, with a rudimentary knowledge of humans." Cas deadpanned. If Dean could be stubborn he would be, too.
"I'm going... Out." Dean searched for words. "... You gonna be okay by yourself for a while?" He's said the last part quietly, as if he were begging Cas to give him a reason, any reason to stay.
And for a moment, Cas wanted to. He wanted to ask him to just lie there, on the bed with him, for hours, content with the world. Cas' injuries were gruesome and they both knew it, but Cas also knew that if Dean were there, he forget about them in a second.
He glanced at Dean, who's winsome smile was dancing lightly on his lips. He wanted Cas to ask him to stay, really really badly.
But Cas was playing Dean's stubborn game.
"I'll be... Fine." He said, tentatively, because he was sure he wouldn't be. He tried not to watch as the smile from Dean's face slowly disintegrated.
"Good," Dean grumbled but neither of them believed it was truly good for a even a fleeting second.
Cas shut his eyes as he heard the sound of Dean's baby driving away. If Dean had only known what Cas had been doing, what he'd been trying to do, when the demon attacked him...
All Dean needed to know though, was that Cas was still the Winchester's guardian. Cas might not be an angel anymore, but that never changed.
TBD?