Dean awoke to the high pitched ding that was his text alert noise. He rolled over, rubbing harshly at his sleep-heavy eyes as he felt around in the pitched black for his phone. When he finally got a grip on it, he ripped the phone from the charger and flipped it open.
Dean, I have something you might want back. Meet me at Conner's Diner at noon. - Charlie
Dean groaned as he checked the clock. 3:30. If they were gonna make it to St. Louis by noon, they would have to leave now. He forced himself up off the memory foam mattress and began padding toward his brother's room. When he reached the slightly cracked door, he pushed it open, peeking his head through. "Sammy," he called, effectively waking his brother up. Sam sat up with a jolt, looking at Dean with wide questioning eyes. "Get your stuff. We're leaving." He left before Sam could ask any questions.
The Impala was loaded and ready to go by 4. Throughout their packing, Sam had asked Dean over and over what this was about, but he had replied with the same vague answer every time; "Charlie needs us." Sam decided to finish up his night of sleep when he realized Dean wasn't going to budge.
They made it to Conner's just before noon, noting the absence of Charlie's car. Dean figured, in the mean time, he could grab a burger, which he had once claimed were better than sex. Dean reached over and shook Sammy awake, causing a whine from the younger of the two. "Come on, sleeping beauty. That's 8 hours. You're rested." It took Sam a moment to shake off his sleepiness and then they headed inside.
Charlie showed up at 12 o'clock on the dot, her presence noted by the tinkling of the bells on the door. The brothers looked up simultaneously and motioned her over, noting how exhausted she looked. She slid into the booth next to Dean, watching him eat carnivorously. "These burgers," he began, through a mouthful, "better tha-"
"Better than sex," Charlie finished and was given two very suspicious stares. "Read the books, duh," she shot back. "Anyway, that's not why I'm here. Dean, Sam, there's something you should see. Come with me." The brothers frowned and followed her out but not before leaving a twenty on the table or Dean without the other half of his sandwich.
Charlie led them out to her small, silver Prius (Dean practically had to bite his tongue to keep from saying anything mean about the car) and opened up the back seat door. Sprawled out across the backseat was a very frail and beaten up looking Castiel. Sam's eyes widened and Dean practically choked on the current bite of his sandwich. "Cas," he blurted before Charlie could quiet him. Cas laid on the leather seats unmoving, but looking ever so peaceful. "He's not…" Dean trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. Charlie shook her head though. "No, just sleeping." She closed the door softly so they could continue talking.
"I found him on the side of the road. I was heading up to my lady friend's house in Michigan when I saw this thing just lying there. I got out to see what it was and I just knew. I mean, how many guys are walking around in tan trench coats any more? I knew it was Castiel, so I loaded him into the back seat of my car and texted you right after. Also, dude is a lot heavier than he looks. You try carrying an unconscious angel to your car in the middle of the night. I got a lot of weird looks from passer-byers, so you're welcome, about twelve people think I'm a serial killer."
"Wait, wait wait," Sam said, stopping her. "How did you know he was unconscious and not…"
"He was still warm," she replied. "It was like he had just passed out there or something. It couldn't have been too long before I found him. Anyway, we were driving along and I heard this noise, like a whimpering of sorts, so I pulled over and there he was, big blue eyes staring up at me. So, I told him who I was and said that I was bringing him to you two. Now, here we are."
Dean was absolutely floored. Cas was here! Cas was alive! Cas was here and alive! Cas was- "Dean," a soft yet familiar voice echoed, ripping him from his thoughts. There stood Castiel, leaning heavily against the car. His eyes were unfocused and his knees were shaking, not at all like the poised, perfect angel he had grown to know and love. "Cas," he replied, voice breathy with surprise. "I- You- How-" He didn't know what to say. There was so much to say, but he couldn't think of a damn thing right now.
Castiel didn't utter a single word as he lifted his free arm that wasn't clinging to the car and pointed straight at Dean. Dean was slightly taken aback as he looked to Sam and Charlie for answers, but neither of them understood either. "Wha- What is it, Cas," he finally asked.
"That's a burger," Castiel murmured, eyes on the half-sandwich in Dean's hand.
Dean frowned, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Y-yes, Cas. This is a burger."
"I want it," he deadpanned and Dean couldn't help but be totally lost. Cas had just been found half-dead on the side of the road and all he could think about was food? But who was Dean to deny him that little bit of happiness if that's what he wanted. This past year was hard on all of them, so he slowly approached the angel and placed the sandwich in his hand.
Castiel didn't even acknowledge Dean as he tore into the burger, eating it just as messily and sloppily as Dean himself. The three couldn't help but watch the strange behavior and were all definitely more than a little nervous. "So uhh Cas… what happened to you?" Dean finally asked.
Cas's head was lolling around when it finally stopped and he looked up to Dean. He was definitely not himself. "Metatron," he finally said, "He took my grace. The angels fell. I'm human." He spoke so matter-of-factly, like this was something that happened every day.
Charlie was the most shocked out of all of them. "Wait, that wasn't in-" but Sam quieted her.
Dean swallowed and looked into Cas's eyes in an effort to make them focus, rather than rolling around in his head. "So… how are you feeling? Are you okay," he asked slowly, trying to find any sort of hints in Cas's facial expression.
Cas was silent for another minute before he spoke. "I have to use the bathroom… rather badly." He pushed away from the car as if forgetting that he could barely stand before his knees gave out and he fell to the ground. "Cas," Dean yelled, failing to catch him. He knelt down beside the angel-turned-human, waiting for some kind of reaction.
Then, in a very Cas-like manner, Dean heard it, clear as day. "Son of a bitch," he uttered, pushing himself up off the ground, and Dean couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips.
Dean had decided to ride back home with Charlie and Cas, reluctantly allowing Sam to drive his baby alone. And it certainly didn't take long for him to realize that he'd made the wrong decision.
To start off Dean's lovely ride through hell, Cas fainted on his way back out to the car. He had only taken a few steps after leaving the diner before he dropped to the ground, eyes rolling back in his head and body going limp like a rag doll. Dean ran over, cursing under his breath as he leaned over to lift the fallen angel, learning quickly that Charlie was right about the bastard being heavy.
"Again? Really?" Charlie cried, peeking her head out of the driver's side window, "We better get him back to your place quick and figure out what the hell's wrong with him."
"I know, I know, just give me a minute. You said it yourself- this son of a bitch is heavier than he looks," Dean called back, slowly trudging his way over to the waiting car.
"I told you," she chuckled, shaking her head and grinning, "but I think you've got it under control. Carrying a dreamy angel like that bridal style seems to be the way to go." And then she had the nerve to fucking wink at him.
"Yeah, whatever," he growled, throwing open the door to the backseat and trying to ignore Charlie's laughter. He carefully laid Cas down on the backseat, placing him carefully so that his head rested against the armrest of the door while his legs could comfortably stay stretched out.
Before shutting the door, he took the time to really take in the fallen angel's appearance. His typical trench coat seemed rattier than usual, the soles of his shoes showed more scuff marks and small tears were visible near the bottom of each pant leg. Dark circles under each of his eyes stood out against his pale skin and a small cut ran across the bridge of his nose. However, there was one detail that Dean thankfully found to be the same: his navy blue tie was still backwards. Dean smiled weakly at the sight, knowing full well that there were a lot of details the fallen angel was leaving out of his story, but letting that one little thing settle him for the time being
Dean slammed the door shut, coming around and throwing himself down into the passenger seat. He tried to put on his best poker face, keeping his gaze focused forward and lips set into a thin line. He couldn't let Charlie know how worried he really was or he'd never hear the end of it. Chick flick moments were really beginning to dominate his life despite his constantly vocal stance against them.
Charlie was staring at him, eyebrows raised and lips twisted into a concerned frown. When Dean refused to acknowledge her leering gaze, she sighed and turned back to look at the road. She shook her head, hands gripping the steering wheel much too tightly as she began to drive.
After several seconds of awkward, oppressive silence, she finally spoke up. "So… Castiel certainly is as hot as I imagined he'd-"
"Just shut up," Dean snarled, sending a quick glare in her direction and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Jesus Christ, Dean, calm down," Charlie retorted angrily, "All I'm saying is that he's pretty easy on the eyes. Well, for a dude."
Dean rolled his eyes and turned to look out the window instead. The pavement streaked by, yellow lines and trees blurring before his eyes. Small houses sat comfortably in the middle of acres of lush grass, some with classic brick red barns nearby and cattle milling aimlessly about in carefully fenced-off pastures. The sky seemed impossibly blue, only a few, wispy clouds hanging here and there. It was all so peaceful, so easy, so alluring.
"Whatever," he muttered, face still turned away from the redhead at the wheel. He could sense that there was something Charlie was trying to get him to say. He had no clue what it was, but he sure as hell didn't want to think too hard about it.
Silence filled the little car, seeming to press in from every direction and crush Dean. He longed for the strangely comforting atmosphere the bunker provided, the feeling of being at home. The quicker they could get there, the better.
"You know," Charlie sighed, "he said something to me as I was sticking him in the car."
Dean turned quickly, his curiosity getting the better of him. "And what's that?"
Charlie chuckled softly, glancing over at Dean's inquisitive stare. "Well, at the time, I thought it was a little weird, but it's starting to make more sense now."
Well, that piqued his interest.
"I was leaning over to check on him, make sure he was breathing and everything, and he whispered something. Really softly, like I almost didn't catch it."
Dean shifted nervously in his seat, eyes focused intently on the redhead. Somehow, he knew what it was before it even passed her lips.
"He said your name," she muttered, eyes full of concern as she looked over at Dean again. When he failed to respond, staring down at the gear shift as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, she charged on without even pausing to take a breath.
"Yeah, I thought it was pretty weird. So, of course, I didn't know how to take it or anything. I mean, I knew immediately that he must be Castiel with the trench coat, but the second he said your name, I was sure-"
"Stop," Dean whispered, still averting his gaze as he spoke, "just stop, okay? Don't make a big deal out of this. He probably just figured it must be Sam or I since we usually are the ones to find his ass after he magically comes back to life."
Charlie pursed her lips, failing to nod her head or agree in any way. It wasn't the response she was looking for and he knew it.
Suddenly, a small whimper came from the backseat. Dean quickly turned in his chair, protective nature taking over and eclipsing all of his other current concerns.
Cas's nose was scrunched up and eyes squeezed tightly shut. His lips parted slightly as he let out another little mewl of discomfort, body shifting so that he could lay on his side. "Dean," he whimpered softly, pulling his legs in closer to his chest.
Dean watched in horror, hoping that maybe he had just heard him wrong. His mind had been known to play tricks on him after all.
"Dean," the fallen angel sighed, his face relaxing and lips turning up into a small smile. He rolled over on to his other side, nuzzling against the leather of the seat cushions and letting out another content sigh.
Dean swallowed anxiously, turning back around. He purposely refused to make eye contact with Charlie as he turned, trying to ignore the smug smile on her face.