He is consistently everyone's favorite. No matter what they came in for they always find their way into his small space, as if, his simple presence could bring them some sort of peace to their condition. Even the staff are enamored by his soft shy smile and you would often see them sneaking small treats for the messy brown haired boy with the all to bright blue eyes.
"Castiel?" The round faced, currently blonde nurse calls into his room. She is his favorite caretaker out of his three years here and wakes him up the same way every morning. A soft call of his name, and she plays along with his fake sleeping by tickling him or covering his face with the blankets. It made his day that more bearable waking up with a laugh on his tongue even if he couldn't hear it any longer. She believes one day he will just laugh out loud without thinking about it and it did give him hope that maybe he would speak again someday. He chances to sneak a peek at her position but her pretty face is an inch from his as if she moved through the room in a puff of smoke.
"Boo!" Her smile is upon him and Castiel can't go on the defense before the attack of fingers grab at his sides. Even at 15 years old he can't help but love this special treatment from Nurse Meg.
"Wake up goofball! We have a new patient coming in today." Meg's laughs fills the room and Castiel sits up to twirl a finger around her blonde strand.
"Hey, come on, you know I like to switch it around." She says in what she calls her 'seductive voice' and sways her hips, flips her hair over her shoulder, all while walking towards the door. Castiel rolls his eyes as dramatic as possible and it has the desired effect when it brings an explosive laugh out of the nurse. She shakes her head in amusement as she retreats to wake the rest of the house. Meg is their only nurse on staff here at the moment so she has her own room on the lower level. No one has been in there but he can imagine the walls covered in rock and roll posters and lots of purple. Every other month she wore her hair a different way. Castiel liked the rough edge about her and it helped keep the rest of the 'family' in line.
He sits up on the bed and stares out the large window. He had the best room in the house in his opinion. Bright sunshine pools through the window every morning creating big squares of light on his bed. He fingers the green blanket in his lap watching the shadows play across his legs. The view overlooks the backyard of the house. Large in scale so all the patients, well, his siblings, could have space to be themselves. Bright green grass covers the expanse of small hills. An old playground set rests on the very top crown of the largest hill on the left. Three swings are usually filled by late afternoon and a tall plastic slide they were all too old for sits abandoned on the right. The sun peeks at the edge of the bright white wall surrounding the enormous home.
"To keep the bad guys out." Meg had explained to him when he first arrived and saw the strange symbols drawn across the wall in chalk. A scrawny yet tall, twelve at the time, British boy with unruly blonde hair covers the white surface in ancient looking symbols everyday. His mental condition made him think demons and evil angels were out to get him. His art was what helped him stay calm so they let him do it. They didn't hang out much but Castiel didn't mind. The big willow tree was his favorite spot of the yard though. It's long swaying branches kiss the ground in the right spaces and when he wants quiet its his retreat. Everyone made a point to be around him but he truly liked to be alone.
Castiel slides out of bed and grabs a pair of dark jeans along with his favorite black button down from the dresser. His body was hitting a growth spurt at the moment and Michael joked he will be over six feet tall by 16 if he kept eating his veggies. He loved running so his legs were strong and complimented his lean upper body. His father use to be a cop and had shown him how to fight with a knife in case he was in danger. To date he still trains late at night in the gym to keep himself healthy. Being mute doesn't help with his anxieties when it comes to being in danger. He might not be able to scream but he will fight to the death if he needs to.
He was made fun of in the beginning for always wanting to dress up. He hated it the most because he couldn't defend himself and they just couldn't understand why he had to. It took some time, but once they realized the effect he had on new patients they turned their teasing elsewhere. His fathers blue tie rests on a hook by the wall and it brings him to a pause mid buttoning. His hand reaches out and pulls it down softly. Finger caress the fabric as he walks half dressed and barefoot back to the window.
He misses his father terribly. The accident was just that, but it doesn't lessen the pain of losing him forever. He was all he had and now he will forever be trapped in this large house filled with people just like him, all trying to move on with their life and deal with loss. Castiel rests the tie on the window sill and bows down to pray for a good day. For strength to make it another day. To give him a sign that he is meant to remain here and not be in heaven with his father and mother.
Mornings are always the same in Camp Michael, well, that was what Castiel thought of this place as. It was a massive white mansion in the middle of nowhere, bought by a Doctor on a mission to save children in need of a safe place to live. All the kids here needed help in different ways and many found comfort in living in a safe environment while dealing with their problems. This was Castiel's third year here. He arrived at the age of 12 fresh from the hospital when they learned he was mute. His fathers death on his mind and no way to communicate it other than through writing caused many emotional problems for him. He is thankful Michael took him in that day. Castiel most likely wouldn't be around anymore if he hadn't.
He finished getting dressed and walks towards the cherry wood grand staircase. Beautiful high ceilings come into view adorned with a bright crystal chandelier. Enormous golden framed pictures of Angels smile brightly at him as he descends. Michael had a special interest in bringing kids into his home that had names of Angels, saying "God has a plan for you and I am here to make sure you continue with his plan." Castiel didn't even know he had the Angel of Thursday's name until Michael showed him the beautiful painting in the downstairs hall.
He pauses at it now, fingers slightly shaking as he touches the Angels hand gripping the Righteous Man from hell. Michael had said that was why everyone liked him, because he saves everyone, even put a mortal soul above himself. The Angel of Thursday was a good soldier but more then that, a good friend. With that on his mind he makes his way to the dining room. The noise of breakfast can be heard ahead, however, one voice is louder than all the others.
"Cassy! Hey!" The loud blonde boy shouts from his spot at the table. "Benny made pancakes!"
Castiel shakes his head while he walks towards Gabriel. They were the closest friends here and arrived nearly at the same time. Gabriel had stated right away that he could be loud enough for the both of them since Castiel couldn't speak anymore. That was pretty much how they became friends. He slides into the seat and automatically passes the syrup towards his friend. Gabriel could eat sugar all day and never gain a pound. Michael even had all these tests done on him with no results.
"A medical mystery spot that one is," Michael had stated one day. The syrup soaks through his four pancakes and Gabriel pours some on Castiel's to before passing it along. Breakfast was the only meal of the day Michael required attendance. He thought it set the entire mood of the day being together as a family and because of classes and treatments it was always harder to round up the five of them at a specific time for lunch or dinner.
The dinning room is home-base in a way. Many of his siblings work on school work here since they were all home schooled and close in age it was easier to make use of the large table. When ever you were looking for Michael this was the room to check first. Tucked in the corner is a massive bookcase filled to the brim with books. Two comfortable sage green chairs rest on either side of it which is where Michael ends his day absorbed in a story. Castiel thinks its the shear size of the room that makes it so comfortable to his family. The dark cherry wood from the staircase continues into the room and contrasts with the massive oak plank table. The walls are painted a soft cream yellow and decorated in six different types of molding to give it an Southern Estate charm. Light pools in from the four windows that over look the side garden of the house. Benny, their chef, grows all their vegetables and herbs, and even tends to a beautiful rose garden in Michael's late brother, Lucifer's, honor.
Castiel cuts his pancakes into perfect rectangles. His brothers and sisters, as he looks at them now, are all cheerful today. It must be because they have a new patient, no, a new brother coming to live with them. Kids came and went here after they felt better, or were adopted, or turned 18, like Uriel did, and left on their own. He missed Uriel. Whenever he was sad Uriel could always make him laugh. Castiel's naming of Camp Michael was the only thing he ever did that made Uriel roll on the floor laughing. Which in turn, resulted in referring to himself as the "funniest Angel in the Garrison" whenever he could. He did miss Uriel's laugh a lot now a days.
Michael's voice cuts through the chatter and brings their attention to the head of the table. Castiel puts his fork down and glances up at his savior. Michael is a ridiculously beautiful man. As if he actually has the grace of the Archangel. His eyes glow with purpose, light brown hair kept short but professional, and his broad shoulders rest in good posture in his chair. The white lab coat rests on the back of the chair. Seeing it always makes Castiel think how funny it was that Michael had no interest in his 'children' calling him Doctor even if he was one of the top children's doctors in the area.
"Quiet down now." Michael's deep voice reaches the large table and quiet happens instantly. A large smile of white teeth beam at them. "Good morning family." A round of 'good mornings' makes its way forward and Castiel bows his head forward slightly when Michael makes eye contact with him.
"Today we have a new brother to include in our family. He will be here around lunch time so make sure you say hi." Castiel counts two seconds before Anna's hand flies into the air immediately. Which always amuses him further because it reminds him of Hermione Granger. Harry Potter is and will always be his favorite book series.
"Michael, what's his name? How old is he? Will he be staying long? Why is he here? What happened?" Anna ticks off her questions in one breath which earns a loud snort from his brother Samandriel. Sam is a quiet friend alongside Castiel but him and Gabriel get into pranks too easily for the boy to earn his trust entirely. He is always telling him he has too big a heart, and that it will be his downfall. Sam meant well at times but sometimes he brought the worse emotions out of Castiel. Michael shakes his head in matched amusement and brings his hands under his chin, elbows resting on the table.
"Anna, you know better..." He pauses to see five sets of curious eyes staring back at him, "...then to ask those questions at breakfast." Michael finishes lamely closing his eyes and reaches for his coffee.
It was known as an off hand rule that they wouldn't talk about each other's 'history' at the table. Anna tucks her bright red hair behind her ear in slight embarrassment but Castiel could still see the little rebel's mind of hers working on finding out the answers first. Anna was their trouble maker. She loved to challenge Michael's rules and even though she was 16 and should be a little more mature she still acted out. Castiel thinks its her bi-polar high that gets her in trouble but he is always there for her when she crashes down back to Earth. He likes Anna's soft spoken voice when she sits with him under the tree. She has been working in secret to get him to talk back by using meditation. He should know how but after the accident. His fingers touch the edge of the tie. The smell of syrup reaches his nose. His mother always did like making him pancakes. His father would slice up a banana and make a terrible looking smiley face on the them which he only did to earn a laugh from his only son.
"So have a great day. I won't be in the house much today but you know how to reach me." Castiel must have missed Michael's entire morning speech and it doesn't go unnoticed by Gabriel who nudges his shoulder lightly. The chairs are loud scraping against the floor as his family gets their day started. Michael stands and the black of his suit jacket swirls in the air as he pulls it on before he reaches for the lab coat.
"Hey you there Cassy?" Gabriel pauses mid last bite and fixes him with a worried look. Castiel can feel the tightness pulling in his chest. The bright blue tie resting around his neck feels heavy.
"But Dad come on! We have to go to movies! You promised!" Castiel begs from the back right seat. His father fingers across his scruffy beard as if deep in thought.
"And whys that little one?" He responses before turning on the engine drowning out the loud gasp from his son.
"I am NOT little dad, oh my god, please don't say that anymore! I am twelve!" a deep blush runs up his neck so he leans forward to give a light punch on his father's shoulder. They share a laugh between them as they head to the movies.
"Well, can I say you look mighty handsome tonight? or is that also too much?" his father's compliment catches his eye in the rear view mirror. They had decided to dress up for their little outing. Castiel in dark gray slacks and green button down. He pulls the silver tie loose around his neck which brings a chuckle from his dad.
"No, you too dad." Was the only response he could think of but it was the truth. His dad looked very handsome with his dark black suit, white button down, and water blue tie. For the movies it was completely overdone, but they never had an excuse to dress up so date night together was when they did. The blue tie catches his eye in the mirror. It was his mother's favorite color.
"What the…" his father's words are cut off when the car is illuminated in light. A loud force of crunched metal projects him to the right slamming his head into the window.
"Castiel." A warm hand rests on his shoulder. He can feel the weight of it but can't leave the blackness.
"Castiel, look at me." Michael's voice is demanding and when the dinning room comes back into focus its empty of his siblings. He turns his head to see Michael kneeling in front of him eyes filled with worry but patience. He leans into the touch on his shoulder so Michael moves it up to his face using his thumb to wipe the stray tears.
"It will get better, I promise." Michael says pulling the trembling boy into his arms. Castiel feels the tightness in his chest lessen slowly the longer Michael holds him. He glances over his shoulder and see's Benny holding a large cookie. He was wearing his trade mark suspenders and tight gray shirt. Dark jeans rolled up to his ankles so they wouldn't get wet if he went into the garden or greenhouse. The man never wore shoes but he was one of the coolest adults he has ever met. He makes a mean apple pie and likes to make campfires in the yard so they could make smores. His eyebrows go up in curiosity before the chef uses hand signals to show Castiel its for him. The smile is upon his lips before he can catch it but Michael feels it and pulls away.
"Maybe it should be a writing day Castiel?" Michael asks politely even if he knows its more of an order. He nods, wipes his eyes one more time, and signs 'thank you' to his guardian. Michael pets his head lovingly before leaving the room. Castiel sits there for a moment before his throat chokes up again. No more tears are falling but he still feels the lingering effects of his memory. Benny walks by and casually slides the fresh chocolate chip cookie into his hand. It brings out an instant smile before taking a tentative bite. Oh my god. It was still warm.
"Maybe it will be a cheeseburger kinda day today Castiel?" Benny's southern draw carries from the Kitchen in slight mocking tone of what Michael's order was. It is Castiel's favorite food next to these cookies and when Benny pops his head out he nods a yes earning him an "alright then son, cheese burgers for lunch it is."