Please...please don't go.
A small smile graced the angel's lips, eyebrows furrowing down in an empathetic expression.
No words left his lips.
The hunter continued to speak, taking Castiel's face into his hands.
Green eyes poured into blue.
Green. Usually such a lively color. Usually so bright and happy, now turned broken and dull. Now such a dismal color.
Blue. Usually such a solid color, one of the primaries. Usually so sturdy and stoic, now turned loving and empathetic. Now such a hopeful color.
You don't know how much I need you.
You don't know how much I miss you.
You don't know how much I...
Dean's voice broke. Tears pooled in his eyes. Shakiness took over his limbs.
He couldn't think properly, he couldn't speak properly, he couldn't breathe properly. Not without Castiel, not without his angel, not without-
Dean.
Focus. Focus, he's talking.
You need to let me go.
But he's not making any sense. He's saying to just let go. He can't just let him go.
You need to watch over your brother.
You need to watch over humanity.
You need to watch over yourself.
Dean couldn't look, not anymore. He couldn't stand gazing into those blue eyes he'd grown addicted to, because those eyes only held memories. Memories that once made him smile, now made him cry.
I can't...Cas, please, I can't...I can't do this without you...
A simple hum. That was the response. Then, there was warmth. Warmth at Dean's chest.
Briefly, only briefly, green eyes blinked open to see the angel, his angel, with his face buried in his shoulder, huddling against the hunter.
Again, teary eyes fell closed, and no time was wasted in wrapping his arms around Castiel.
Yes you can. I know you. You can overcome anything. Just let me go. You'll stop dragging yourself down once you do. I hate seeing you like this. I don't blame you, it wasn't your fault.
Dean only tightened his grasp on Castiel, tears falling freely down his face by now. He just wanted to stay here. He wanted to stay here forever. Stay here forever in his dreams where the angel was alive.
But Castiel was already disappearing. He could feel it. The angel was coming apart bit by bit, fragment by fragment. Fading away like sand being blown from an abrupt wind, pieces of him flaking off freely.
It's time to let me go.
I love you, Dean.
And then, Dean had his arms around nothing.
~oOo~
"Dean!"
Dean Winchester's eyes flashed open, accompanied by a startled yell. He sat up quickly, looking around for the source of the exclamation that awoke him.
His brother was standing next to the bed Dean had dubbed his. He was already dressed in suit and tie, and he looked like he was in a hurry.
"Dude, I've been trying to wake you up for five minutes. Sheriff called. There's another vic, we've gotta go check it out, c'mon," Sam said quickly.
Dean merely nodded, swallowing thickly and hastily wiping his eyes of tears that had started to form.
Sam's expression went soft, concerned. "...Dean, you okay?" He asked gently, looking at his brother with slight worry.
Dean cleared his throat, looking back to Sam and putting on his mask of a smile, "Yeah. I'm good. I'll be ready in a minute," he said. But it was a lie. He wasn't good, not at all. But if he said otherwise, Sam would worry, and Dean didn't want that.
Sam hesitated, but nodded, walking away from Dean to head out of the door.
The eldest Winchester just sat there for a moment. He didn't think, he didn't speak, he almost didn't breathe.
But, one single thought eventually came to his head as he stood up to get ready.
...I love you too, Castiel...