"DEAN! DEAN!" Sam started yelling his brothers name as he tumbled down the steps of the bunker with a beaten-up angel in his arms. He stumbled into the library and sat Castiel down on a chair, unconscious. Dean ran into the room, taking in Castiel's appearance.

"Sam, what the hell happened?" He looked frantically from Sam and then to Castiel, rushing over to his side. He knelt onto his knees to investigate Castiel's face.

"Angels came for us and I had to cast them away. I found him a few miles from where we were, and I don't think the trip did him any good."

"Why would you do that? Sam, he could've been killed!" He barely took his eyes off Castiel and he touched his face softly, fighting back tears.

"Dean, I'm sorry, but Cas knew I didn't have a choice."

"You could've fought." Dean snarled at him, picking Castiel up in his arms, bridal style, taking him into Dean's room.

Sam followed him and stood in the doorway while Dean laid Castiel down gently on his bed.

"Dean, I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen."

"It's okay, Sammy. He just doesn't have much grace so wherever he landed must've knocked him unconscious. He'll be fine. Go get some rest." Dean said, pulling up a chair next to the bed, not taking his eyes off the angel. He wasn't entirely sure how to help him get better, but he didn't want to worry Sam.

"Sure, Dean. Get me when he wakes up." Sam said and wandered off to his room.

Dean stared at Castiel as he laid there, his chest rising and falling. Dean leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"Dammit, Cas, you should be awake right now," He whispered, "I can't lose you, man. You're my best friend," He sighed, "Hell, you're more than that. You're someone I can't live without. Don't do this man." Dean had been fighting back his tears but couldn't help letting a few slip down. He should've been there to fight with them. They went off to talk to someone for the case and he had a bad feeling, but he let them go without him. He was too tired to fight with Sam when he said he should stay home and get some sleep. He'll never forgive himself for that. He knew Cas was weak with little grace left, becoming more and more human every day.

"Cas, I-I love you, man and to hell if you're gonna leave me." He started crying and looking at the ceiling because it broke him to see the angel in this state. He pulled the first aid kit out from his drawer and started to patch up the wounds he could. He had hoped that the stinging from the cuts he was patching up would be enough to wake him, but no such luck. He stitched up a few cuts on his hands and wiped his face of the blood. He saw that his shirt was torn and stained with some blood, so he unbuttoned it to assess the damage. He had some pretty deep cuts, but nothing life threatening, angel or not. He stitched up what he could and bandaged the rest. When he finished, he buttoned his shirt back up and look down at him.

He hesitated for a moment and then gingerly kissed the angel's forehead, holding Cas's head with one hand and squeezing his eyes shut, stopping the tears from flowing.

"Dean?" A deep voice came from Cas.

"Cas?" Dean pulled back slightly, and a smile spread across his tear stained face. Castiel smiled up at him and looked around, realizing where he was. After a moment of looking around, his eyes fell on Dean. The hunter he always trusted with his life and the lives of others. Dean had a look of relief that washed over him, and Cas could see that he had been crying. He saw how much he meant to the hunter in that moment and he didn't want to let that go.

"I love you too, Dean." He said, with a mischievous smile.

"You heard me? You were awake?" Dean asked with shock and confusion.

"Yes. The stitches barely hurt; you must be well practiced. I guess that makes sense considering what you do. Thanks for cleaning me up." He looked near his stomach where Dean had done the most stitching and glanced at his hands admirably before shifting his gaze back to Dean, whose face was still only about five inches from his own.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm not sure." He looked down and started to blush. Dean ignored that and looked to catch his eyes. When he did, they stared at each other for a long moment before Dean put his hand to Cas's cheek and rubbed his thumb over it.

"Cas?"

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you're okay. Don't you ever do that again." Dean got a few inches closer to Cas and he looked at his lips.

"Promise." Cas closed the rest of the space between them, crashing his lips into Dean's.