"He's not an angel," Dean repeats for the third time, pacing and staring at his mate, who lies pale and sweaty on the med cabin bed.
"He's not completely human," Chuck explains again, like he's talking to a child.
There have been a few signs to back his theory up. Lights flickering during sex, a burst bulb during a particularly heated argument. But they always wrote it off as coincidence.
"There's no other way this could have happened, Dean." The prophet tells them.
"There could be traces of grace in me still," Cas says wistfully, as if he could somehow muster up the strength to sprout wings again. This unsettles Dean, because if his mate is still an angel, and if he could channel that energy, he could leave him to go back to Heaven like he deserves. Get the fuck out of this shitstorm. "I'm just not powered-up enough to feel it."
"I thought you were on birth control," Dean says, changing the course of the conversation because the current topic is making him uneasy.
"I was," Cas tells him defensively. "I am."
"You didn't skip any by mistake?" He takes so many goddamn pills it's a wonder he can keep any of them straight.
"No. I'm not incompetent."
"Birth control can sometimes be less effective with true mates," Jane explains.
Dean stops pacing and stands next to the bed. He brushes some damp hair off of Castiel's forehead. His mate looks so small in the loose-fitting hospital gown, IV in one arm.
"Having a kid in the middle of an apocalypse wouldn't end well," Dean tells him. "This is for the best."
The devastated look on his mate's face hardens into a stone-cold glare.
"Get out."
Dean looks to Chuck, then to Jane, seeing that they look about as shocked as he is.
"What?"
"I said get out," the omega snaps harshly.
Dean had only meant for it to make Cas feel better, but now he can tell by his mate's glower and the sour scent of his rage that he only thoroughly pissed him off.
"You know it's true," Dean says stupidly instead of apologizing like he should.
"There is no way that the loss of an innocent life is 'for the best.'"
"Did you even want a baby?" Dean asks, digging his hole a little deeper.
"No."
"Then I don't know what the big deal is."
Jane sighs audibly and Chuck honest-to-God slaps a palm to his forehead. The alpha knows he's fucked.
"Get. The fuck. Out. You insensitive asshole," Cas bites out, and then the lights are flickering. If that isn't a sign that his mate has some remnants of grace left, Dean doesn't know what is. And that scares the shit out of Dean.
"Fine." He makes his way towards the door, despite his natural instinct to stay with his omega, to comfort him.
Cas must be absolutely furious, because before Dean even grabs the knob the door swings open, nearly hitting him in the face. Dean hurries out, slamming the door behind him and heading out into the rain.