Don't own Supernatural or its characters.
Slightly inspired by Mockingjay, "Because that's what you and I do, protect each other."
Hope you enjoy.
Fear
Dean was scared.
He wasn't afraid to admit it, and damn right was he scared; he was in Purgatory for God's sake.
On top of his fear for himself, he was also scared for Sam.
Or rather, he was scared he would never see Sam again, and that terrified him far more than any Godforsaken creature in here. So maybe that counted as fear for himself again, but he didn't really care. He had a right to be selfish here.
He was also scared of Cas leaving.
He kept waiting to lose Cas to his own little world of bees and happiness, leaving Dean to face the horrors of Purgatory alone.
Maybe he was selfish about that too.
But Cas remained lucid, face solemn, eyes serious, watching the darkness silently.
"Is there a way outta here?" Dean asked hoarsely, rising to his feet from where he'd been sat, leaning against a withered tree.
Cas didn't move, didn't even blink.
Oh crap, Dean thought to himself, his stomach twisting.
"Cas? Hey, Cas," he said, keeping his voice calm. Two seconds later, he snapped. "Castiel!" he yelled, the name feeling odd on his tongue after so long without it.
"I can hear you, Dean," Cas replied wearily. "I was concentrating."
"On what?" Dean asked harshly, wishing he could tone down his aggression. He felt like a caged animal and it was beginning to show.
Not Cas, he told himself firmly. Don't take it out on Cas.
"Protecting you," Cas said simply.
Dean swallowed nervously.
"About that…I didn't get a chance to-you know, what you did before. Thank you," he forced out. "You went for him, you…to help me. Thanks."
"It was you," Cas said quietly. "Of course I protected you. Isn't that what we do? Protect each other?"
Dean smiled then, the first time since they had fallen into this hellhole, walking forward to clap Cas on the shoulder lightly. Cas turned, eyes bright, and rested his hand against Dean's arm, right over where his hand was imprinted onto Dean's skin.
"You're damn right we do," Dean said gruffly.
And suddenly, standing side by side with Cas, he wasn't so scared anymore.