So here's chapter one of my first Destiel fic! I'm pretty excited with where it's going, and it will probably get quite soppy, we'll just have to see. Feedback always appreciated, positive or not (but do try to be nice)! I won't keep you hanging too long for chapter 2, I promise! Amy xoxox

Dean stopped to catch his breath. The last of his energy drained from him and he collapsed, his head falling into Sam's arms. His mind throbbed, and as the darkness shrank his vision to a pinpoint, he heard the soft rustle of wings.

"Castiel- the hunt went wrong, we didn't know what we were up against- I don't know how-" Sam pulled Dean's unconscious body into a sitting position.

"Can you fix him, Cas- hang on, how did you know where to find us, we're supposed-" Sam's brow furrowed as he spoke, but Castiel cut him off.

"It doesn't matter. But this isn't something my power can cure. I'm going to need a more complex spell, and I need someone to get the ingredients."

Sam frowned and ran a hand through his hair. "Sure, uh, you go get the ingredients, I'll stay with Dean."

Cas looked up from Dean's still body, meeting Sam's eyes for the first time. "I can't. Certain items are… impossible for angels to obtain. You will need to do it." He reached across to Sam and touched two fingers to his head, giving him a mental map of the spell and how to perform it. Sam jolted slightly, and blinked, recovering quickly.

"Woah, Cas. Maybe a little warning next time?" Sam glanced at Dean and worry showed in his eyes. "Uh, so now I've got the handy mental-shopping-list, how long will it take to gather the stuff for the spell? And when will you explain how you know what the hell is going on?"

Castiel watched, concerned, as Sam pulled his fingers through his hair, stressed about his brother's condition. "I should think it will take a day or two. The spell is rare, and the methods are… undesirable, especially for angels. We'll talk when you get back."

Sam sighed, handed Castiel a credit card and pocketed the Impala keys.

"Well," he tapped his temple, "at least I'll know what to get. Thanks, Cas- take him to a motel, use the credit card but don't go overboard, okay?" His eyes flicked back to Dean. "This'll work, right? He'll be okay with you, won't he?" He shook his head, brow creased. "Ah, anyway. I should go. Don't forget to get him to eat, we don't all have angel metabolisms." With a final glance at Dean, and a tiny nod as though to reassure himself, he turned and headed to the Impala.

Castiel turned to Dean, kneeling down to touch a hand to his head. The ground beneath their feet was suddenly replaced with soft carpet, and he laid Dean on one of the Motel's beds before awkwardly paying for the room using the card Sam had given him.

He returned to the room and sat on the cheap cushioned chair in the corner, and he waited.

He watched as Dean slept restlessly, sweat breaking out in beads on his forehead, his breathing unsteady. He watched as Dean clenched his fists, watched as his eyes moved behind his lids before he sank into a deeper sleep. For hours Castiel watched, his mind silently ticking. He felt the whispers of the other angels, occasionally building to a crescendo in his head, calling him back to heaven. He was needed there, but still he waited.

It was in the early hours of the morning when Dean awoke, his head throbbing. He blinked, trying to make out his surroundings.

"Sammy?" His voice was hoarse. He tried to sit up but felt a searing pain, shooting through every fibre of his being. He clenched the sheet of the bed, hissing with pain.

It was then that he saw Cas in the corner, eyes fixed on him.

"Cas. Cas, what happened? Where's Sam?" He tried again to sit up, but his strength was drained from him and the sharp pain pierced his insides again. He frowned at Cas, his tone rising.

"Cas, you better tell me what the hell is going on, or so help me-"

"Sam has gone to get the ingredients for a spell- that wasn't a shapeshifter you were hunting-"

Dean scowled. "Yeah thanks for the memo Cas, bit late though. What did it do to me?"

Cas tilted his head slightly, and his eyes shifted to the side, a flicker of doubt crossing them. "Well whatever it was, it will take more power than what I possess to heal you. I can perform the spell, but the ingredients have to be collected by a human. He didn't want to leave you, but I assured him I would watch over you."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks Cas, that's real reassuring." He glanced at the angel, seeing his brow tighten. He sighed. "Sorry, Cas. I'm joking, okay? You managed to get me to wherever the hell we are, so you're not totally incompetent." He tried a smile, and Cas met his eyes again.

"Hey, help me sit up, would ya? I'm not a fan of feeling like a complete invalid." Castiel strode across the room and eased Dean up into a sitting position, wincing as Dean growled with pain. Their eyes met and Dean got the feeling Cas was looking deeper than just his pained face. He blinked quickly and tried to change the subject.

"So, uh, how long have I been out cold? Where'd you come in?"

Castiel stood up and turned to the clock. "9 hours. I arrived just when the poison took you."

Dean raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Jeez, close call. Good thing Sammy had the sense to call you down." Something changed in Castiel's eyes, and Dean saw it. "Cas?"

Cas looked back up to him again, his blue eyes boring into him. "Sam didn't call for me."

Unease crept into Dean's eyes. He told himself he knew Cas, that he was easy to read. He could always tell when he was lying, or when he didn't get one of Dean's jokes but pretended to laugh anyway. But this was different. This was something bigger.

Dean pushed himself up further, leaning forward and wincing at the pain. Cas flinched without warning. Dean tried to catch his eyes. "Cas. Cas, what aren't you telling me?" He reached for Castiel's trenchcoat collar, meaning to yank him back into reality for an explanation. As he did so, the searing pain streaked up his side, and his vision went starry. Castiel grabbed him by the shoulders, abrupt but surprisingly gentle. His eyes flashed with pain.

"Dean, just, just stay still."

"What the hell, Cas? Why are you acting like you're the one in pain? Thanks for the sympathy and everything, but don't MOCK me, damnit!" Dean closed his eyes and slumped his head against the pillow that was propped up. "I know something's up, Cas. Just tell me. When has keeping it a secret ever worked out for us?"