Title: Friend Zone Part 1

Characters: CastielxReader, Dean Winchester.

Word count: 1,629

Prompt: Imagine stitching up a human Castiel.

The hunt hadn't been easy, but then again when was a case ever easy? People got hurt, stitches were needed and blood was everywhere. Some of it was yours, but most of it was the blood of the now dead monster. The sticky red liquid stuck to your hair making it clump together, soaked the front of your shirt and little dots stained your boots. All four of you were disgusting and needed medical and hygienic care.

The four of you stumbled through the bunker door then down the metal stairs that led to the war room. Dean and Sam helped each other down while you, a little more unscathed than the boys, helped a very wounded and in pain Castiel down then to one of the chairs that sat around the lighted table map. "Y/N, I'm gonna stitch Sam up, you got Cas?" Dean asked with a point to his brother who disappeared down the hall.

"Yeah, I got him." You said stretching your back with a groan. Dean gave you a nod then disappeared down the hall after his brother. When you could no longer see Dean's back you turned to Castiel to see him giving you a pained look. "Where all do you hurt?" you asked, scanning his body for blood, but there was so many different stains on his coat and white shirt that you couldn't tell what was his and what wasn't.

"My arm and abdomen hurt the most." He said as he sat up with a groan. "This was easier when I could just…" he said, holding his hand over his upper arm, but nothing happened.

You tried not to give him a sympathetic look and instead of talking about his loss of grace you focused on the problem at hand. "I'm going to get my first aid kit. If you wouldn't mind, just uh, take your coat and shirt off so that I can see if you need stitches." You said with an uncomfortable scratch of your head. He nodded at you before you went to your room and grabbed your kit out of your closet and a soft wet washcloth out of the bathroom.

When you came back, Cas had done as you asked and removed the clothing from his upper body. It was the first time you had seen him topless and for some reason how good he looked, even covered in blood, took you off guard. When he saw you staring he simply asked, "This is correct, yes?" he asked with a look down at his naked torso.

"Y-Yeah, yeah, I just uh…never mind." You stumbled over your words before you shook it off and walked over to set the kit down on the table. As you looked him over you noticed a deep diagonal slash about three inches long across his lower stomach and another deep horizontal gash on his bicep. "I apologize in advance if I hurt you." you warned before you used the washcloth to wipe the blood from around the still bleeding gash. Once you had the area clean enough to be able to see to stitch it you plucked a package out of the kit and opened it. You laid it out on the table then picked up the sterile needle off of the plastic. As you placed your left hand on his shoulder to brace him your eyes landed on his. He was looking at you like a puppy that had been kicked and was now asking why it had happened. You couldn't help but take your hand off his shoulder to reach out and cup his sand papery cheek in your hand. His eyes slipped closed at your touch, but just for a second before he looked back up at you. "I'm sorry, but this is going to sting like a son of a bitch." You warned and he nodded his head so you placed your hand back on his shoulder then got the needle ready. "Here goes." You warned then stuck the needle in. He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth and grunted as his hand gripped the edge of the table. When you glanced up from your work you saw that his chin was tucked to his chest and his eyes were closed. As you stitched he slowly grew a little used to the pain and un-tucked his chin from his chest and opened his eyes. His hand, however, still gripped the table, his knuckles turning white from the tight grip. He watched as you made the last stitch and tied it off. "How did you get so good at this?" He asked as you cut the string.

"My mother." You answered simply. "And the years of practice." You could feel his eyes on you as you turned your back on his and put the needle down on the package it had come in then picked up a bandage to cover the stitches.

"Does this one need stitching as well?" he asked as he pointed to his stomach.

When you nodded he made a pained face. "We can take a break if you'd like." You suggested, but he shook his head no.

"I just want to get it over with." He answered in his usual gruff voice.

So you did as you had with the first and cleaned the area then began stitching. Just like before he hissed, grunted, closed his eyes and tucked his chin to his chest. "I really hate this." You admit without meaning to.

"You hate helping me?" He asked sounding g confused, but you didn't look up.

"No, I hate causing you pain." You answered, your brows knit as you try to concentrate on the stitches. "I actually love the fact that I'm able to help you now."

"I don't understand. You've always been able to help me." He said looking confused in a way that only Cas could make look cute.

"Yeah I mean, I try to help with the hunts, with Crowley and such, but I wasn't raised to do the hunting in my family. I was raised to be the care giver to the hunters." You try to explain.

But Cas still looks confused. "I still do not understand."

You sighed as you made the last stitch and tied it off. How were you supposed to tell Cas that his lack of grace made you feel like you were finally worth something to him? Like you were finally useful. You thought carefully about how to answer his question as you picked up a bandage and started gently placing it over the stitches. "My main job is helping heal people. Keeping the boys fed and healthy, physically and mentally, but you? You didn't eat, you didn't sleep. You healed yourself. I've never had a role to play in your life, until now." you said as you made sure the bandage was securely in place, then stood up straight. You couldn't look him in the eyes. Instead you stared at your blood splattered shoes.

"Y/n." Cas said and you hummed, letting him know you had heard him, but didn't look at him. "Y/n." he said again and when you still didn't look at him he hooked his finger under your chin and lifted your face up then looked you in the eyes. "You have always been a very important part of my existence."

His eyes, so sincere, cut right through to pull at your heart strings and when his pointer finger moved to trace your jaw line, butterflies started fluttering in your stomach. "And what part might that be?" you asked feeling as if you might cry even though there was no reason to.

"You've been my best friend." His words made your heart sink down, crushing the butterflies and ceasing their dancing. The burn of getting put in the friend zone hurt worse than any cut or bruise. "If I ever needed to talk you were there. If I was confused you helped me understand. Your existence goes far beyond patching wounds and cooking food." As he kept talking you turned from him and crossed your arms over your chest. "Y/n, are you okay?" he asked, but you didn't look at him.

"Um, yeah." You answer, trying to keep the tremble out of your voice. "I'm just uh…" you looked around for an excuse to leave to room and your eyes landed on the blood that was now dried on your skin. "I'm gonna go take a shower." You said then disappeared down the hall, leaving a confused Castiel behind.

Dean passed by you on your way down the hall and noticed the hurt on your face, plain as day. When he got to the war room he saw Cas looking after you with a confusion twisted face. "Hey, what's goin' on with y/n?" he asked. "She looked hurt."

"I…tried to tell her how much she means to me, but she just walked away." Castiel explained to his second best friend. Dean had known for a while that Cas had a thing for you, but Cas asked him not to tell you.

"Well, what did you say to her?" Dean asked as he sat down in one of the chairs and propped his feet up on the table.

"I told her she was my best friend." He said with his brows drawn down into a v.

"Oo, ouch, Cas, bad choice of words." Dean said as if he had been the one to be hurt.

"I thought being best friends was a good thing?" he asked as he cocked his head to the side.

"Not when you're talking to a woman." Dean said with a head shake. "You totally friend zoned her, man." he explained and Cas just stared at him.