The brothers had just finished a job with the help from their Angel.
"Thanks Cas we really needed your help with this one." Sam said while putting some weapons in the truck of the Impala. "Yeah what he said you had our backs." added Dean. Castiel looked from dean to Sam "you're welcome." The brothers walked to the front of the Impala hands on doors about to get in when they notice Cas was still there, he usually leaves when the hunt is finished. "Right I'll be leaving then." Cas said clearly lingering. " Um you want to come back to the hotel…" Sam started. "We were just gonna watch some TV before hitting the hay if you…" Dean was cut off by Cas. "No that is alright. I'll see you two later." And with that he was gone.
The drive back was silent besides the music on the radio which was a turned to just a murmur. Sam was dozing off while Dean's mind was to preoccupied to notice. "Cas was acting weird" he thought "I wonder what was wrong." The rest of the ride he played the hunt back in his mind.
It was like any other job demons running amuck. So the three show up to put an end to it. They were out numbered and were ready for them. Cas grabbed two and with a flash of light made their vessels go still. Dean was restrained by two of them Sam was busy with two of his own. A third demon walked up to dean and with a flick of his wrist broke both of dean's legs. Cas twisted around toward the sound eyes wide. Just in time to see a demon send dean flying towards him, their bodies collide. "Dean!" Cas called as he sat up Dean lied next to him shaking. Cas grabbed him and pulled him close looking over the damage when a hand grabbed the cloth on him chest "Cas." Dean said gasping. Cas could tell he had internal damage as well as broken legs so with a touch to Dean's forehead he was healed. When dean opened his eyes he was being cradled by Cas and their faces were way too close. Dean pushed up off the floor and ran to were Sam was surrounded. Dean tackled one to the ground Sam tossed him the knife. One down Dean looked up to see the remaining two closing in. In that moment Cas appeared in front of dean and stopped them dead in their tracks. The boys got up and dusted them self's off Castiel looked around "One got away." "It was that bastard that crippled me. He was one strong son of a bitch." Cas followed them to the impala parked close by. "And that was that" Dean thought as he pulled into the motel's parking lot.
He shook Sam awake. Sam stumbled into the room and landed on the nearest bed. Dean sat down on the other bed about to take off his boots when he saw his keys weren't on the table or night stand where he always puts them. "No way I forgot them." he thought confused trying to remember if he left them in the baby. He quietly walks past Sam who is asleep now. When Dean got to the impala he looked in and saw the keys on the dash doors unlocked "what the hell?"
The sound of wings made him turn around "Cas?" he asked "What's wrong, did something happen?"
Castiel looked at Dean with concern in his eyes. "You were hurt today."
"Yeah and you fixed me right up, everything is fine"
"It's not, fine that is."
"Hey bud that's part of the job"
"Yes well with each "job" you get hurt more and more"
"That's why we have you to make us pretty again." Dean tried to joke and make light of it.
"And if I'm not, I can't always be there dean." Cas was getting frustrated.
"Well trying to save people is a dangerous job and the big bads just keep getting stronger."
"Or you're getting weaker." Snapped Castiel.
"Excuse me." Dean said teeth clenched. Castiel knew that would make him mad yet he still said it which he thought was odd.
"I did not mean to anger you." He kinda did though. "I am sorry, I just mean you should take a break and let your body and mind recuperate." Castiel suggested.
"What the hell is up with you?" Dean questioned.
"I'm sorry I'll let you be now" Cas said as he turned away from Dean. Dean grabbed Cas's arm "hold on what is going on with you?" dean asked pulling Cas to face him again. Castiel avoided his gaze looking at the ground. "You are not acting like your self man." Dean stated. After a moment Cas looked up at dean locking eyes "It's nothing." and with that he disappeared leaving Deans hand holding air. "What the hell?" he thought "God I'm going to sleep this is just too much for one day."
Dean tossed and turned until finally falling into a deep sleep. He dreamt of the days before being a hunter. The morning light shinning down on the dinning table looking up to see his mothers smiling face as she lies breakfast in front of him. He woke up smiling but it quickly faded. It was odd he didn't have such vivid dreams of his mother, not anymore at least.
Castiel sat down next to dean as he punched the pillow trying to soften it. Castiel wanted to forget their conversation they just had moments ago had ever happened. He was acting out of character and didn't know why. But with seeing Dean in so much pain so often he wanted it to stop. Dean grumbled as he flipped on his side. Though Cas was invisible to dean his breath caught in his throat when it seemed as if dean was looking right at him. Unable to sleep as usual, so Cas put his two fingers on the mans temple and watched as he closed his eyes and went into a deep sleep. He should leave he thought he knows that dean doesn't like the idea of someone watching him sleep but he doesn't have to know. Just one more night.