A/N: Another fic from a prompt over at the sickdean meme: Dean/Castiel - Dean has an Asthma attack and no medicine, Castiel talks him through it. Hurt/Comfort to the max please! has slashy undertones if you have your slash googles on (which I do, constantly)
He couldn't breathe. His chest felt constricted; like someone had their arms wrapped around his chest and were squeezing the life out of him. He needed Sam to help him; he was always a calm and level head when Dean had one of his asthma attacks but Sam wasn't there. He was all on his own and he felt like he was going to die.
The attack had come on suddenly, he hadn't had one for months and as a result, he had no medication. His inhaler had been lost on a hunt a million miles ago. It was the first time he'd had an attack whilst he had been on his own. He had tried to grab his phone to call Sam but he couldn't move from the spot on the floor he was currently curled up in.
Dean's vision was beginning to blur when he felt someone kneel beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down Dean," the voice was deep and rough, certainly not Sam's. "You need to calm down."
"Ca... Ca... Can't..." Dean gasped for air but with each passing moment it was becoming harder. "He... he... help me Cas."
Dean felt the hand move from his shoulder to his back as Castiel began to rub soothing circles intended to calm him down. "Just breathe deeply. Do you have medication?"
"Lo... lost it. Ca... Ca... Can't breathe."
"Then I need to get you to a hospital," Dean shook his head in protest but was overcome with wheezing once more. "No argument," Castiel told him as he reached for Dean's phone. "Don't worry, just focus on your breathing."
"Can't."
"Yes you can," Castiel's hand was once again rubbing Dean's back. Dean had to admit, the contact felt good; soothing even. Dean chose to focus on this and the soothing sound of Castiel's voice instead of the feeling of imminent death. "It's going to be all right, just breathe. Take deep breaths and try not to think about it. Just concentrate on the sound of my voice. The ambulance will be here shortly."
"Do... Do... Don't go," Dena gasped as he felt the darkness start to surround him.
"I won't," Castiel said just as Dean began to fade.
xXx
When Dean awoke, he groaned. He was definitely in a hospital; oxygen mask on his face, IV in his arm. It hadn't been a bad dreamed like he hoped. He cracked an eye open and turned his head to find Castiel sat in the chair next to the bed.
"I didn't know whether or not to tell Sam."
"Did you?"
"No."
"Thanks," Dean wheezed slightly; his chest still feeling a little tight. "Doesn't need to know."
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired. And stupid. Should'a known better than not to have my inhaler. Glad you came. Don't wanna die."
Castiel didn't say anything. Instead he reached over and rested his hand over the hunter's in another comforting gesture.
"Thanks Cas."
"For what?"
"For everything," Dean said as he let the tiredness overcome him and finally succumbed to sleep.