Castiel had always been different, even from the other angel's.
He'd always be by himself, though he enjoyed the company of his older brother and sisters. They called him an old soul, one who was wise beyond their years. Even for an angel to be an old soul was rare. He remembers as a young angel sitting atop the highest building in Heaven looking down seeing all the humans. He longed to be with them, he felt a deep love for them, one that would never be broken no matter what stood in his way. Gabriel came up beside him and looked out with him,
"You'll be there one day Castiel. Your training to become a Guardian is almost done, now all you have to do is pick who you want to watch over."
Castiel smiled softly at Gabriel's presence but it quickly faded
"Do you think I'll make it big brother?...the others say that I'm too soft…."
Gabriel smiled and patted Castiel's shoulder
"I know you will. I have no doubts because that softness isn't such a bad thing. That is what makes you so different from the others."
Castiel's shoulders sagged even his brother called him that dreaded word.
"I know I'm dif-"His wings fluffed in surprise as Gabriel stopped him in mind sentence
"Ah!" Gabriel said shaking a finger in a playful warning manner.
"It's not a bad thing that your different, in fact I was just like you when I was your age and look! I'm an Archangel! Be proud of being different, that's what makes you special."
Castiel nodded fully understanding what his older brother was saying. Castiel was special an angel with free will something that other angel's didn't have.
"Special not different." He smiled to Gabriel
"Thank you, Gabriel."
The memory flickered away once Castiel awoke in a cold sweat, the pain in his chest erupting again. He clenched onto it before the wave of coughing came too. His hand rushed to his mouth to cover knowing Dean was just in the near bedroom. The cough was so rough that it made his whole body hurt, the world was spinning, he passed out the world swirling into darkness. The bright color red blood remained on his hand for the whole world to see, he couldn't hide it this time.
Days before he'd seen the only doctor in all of the Camp. Only too find out that he had contracted Tuberculosis. Dean would, well he didn't know what Dean would do; he was almost scared to know there was a chance that Dean would get rid of him. He had kept it a secret until he could find out how to tell Dean.
Castiel awoke in the doctor's quarters, the cool rag on his head was the first sensation that he could register. His vision was blurry, he felt cold but then a warm hand touched his. It was Dean, at his bedside staring sadly at the man he'd come to love so deeply. He smiles softly to Castiel "Morning sleepy head." This sent Castiel's heart racing "D-dean….I…..I can ex-"Dean cut him off "Hey, no need to explain alright. Just get rest. I'm not leaving alright, no one's leaving." He patted Castiel's hand reassuring him. Castiel smiled to Dean while he asked weakly "You know don't you?" But before Dean could respond Castiel had another bad coughing fit, the doctor came rushing in Chuck following only seconds later. The doctor asked Chuck to take Dean out of the tent before the Doctor put on a mask. The last thing Dean saw was Castiel's pained face and bright red blood, this sent him into anger. "I have to go to him! He needs me!" Chuck pushed him back gently "Dean…he needs you to be there when he's stable. Right now you need to let the doctor help him. There's nothing we can do for him right now. I'm sorry…" Dean just stared at the closed tent hearing the jagged coughs and wheezing from inside.
