With a grim frown still visible Sam strode back into the motel room. But when he directed his eyes on the angel, his mouth fell open in shock.

Castiel was sitting on the floor with his arm leaning awkward on the overturned chair, where he had been sitting on, only five minutes ago. In one hand he firmly clutched the red colored handkerchief and in his other hand he held a number of culets from the glass he probably was holding during his fall.

"Sam," the angel said with a terrified tone. As if he didn't know what happened.

"Castiel! Hey hey hey. What are you doing on the floor?" Sam cried worried and rushed himself to the angel.

"Just spilled some water. Got dizzy when I restored my blouse. I think." At that moment Dean also came back inside.

"Wow, what happened here?" he asked. Without waiting for an answer he knelt down by the angel and hoisted him carefully off the ground.

"Sorry, Dean," the angel said softly.

Castiel quickly regained some balance and walked with some help to the nearest bed. There he lowered himself quietly. For a while Dean just searchingly stared at him. When he was sure that the angel didn't collapse again, he did let him go. Quickly he accompanied his younger brother and they cleaned the mess up. Sam already gathered some of the broken glass from the ground and put them on the kitchen table. When Dean swept the rest of the shards away, Sam glanced backwards to Castiel who gazed dully ahead of him. He felt bad for the guy. He was clearly not feeling well.

"Don't worry, Cas. I will get you another glass of water, man. Stay there and take it easy. Okay?"

...

When everything was cleaned up Sam sat beside the angel on the bed and handed him another glass of water. The angel nodded gratefully and took the icy water to his mouth. When his lips touched the glass the water turned red, almost immediately. Instantly after that, the angel began to cough. The water he'd just had managed to pour inside of his mouth he spat it back out right in Sam's face.

"Oh ... wow ... erm. Calm down. Small sips, remember." The angel looked apologetically at the younger Winchester, and did what he was told. By then his hands started shaking. He just was exhausted from all of this.

It was better, now that he took small sips. But Castiel knew by now that he was too fast with thinking he was well enough to sit up. He needed more rest. And the Winchesters probably had already seen this. He should have listened to Sam when he told him that he would be better off in bed until he felt better. They are much more experienced with all sorts of physical problems. He should've known that by now.

With a sigh he gave the empty glass back to Sam.

"Thank you, Sam. Sorry I spit out the water on you."

"No problem, man."

The youngest Winchester stood up from the bed, to make room for his big brother. There was a long silence. While Sam rubbed a towel over his face, he knew what Dean was planning to do. Dean must have thought that this was the right moment to ask the angel what had happened. When he was still awake and reasonably sane; that is. Moreover, Sam could see that his big brother was actually very worried about Castiel.

So he let them alone, but stayed close listening what Castiel has to say.

"Cas. Could you perhaps tell us what happened to you? I mean, we can guess but it's better to hear it from you." At these words the angel dodged his stern look, as if he got embarrassed.

"Cas? Come on, man. It's just me. You can trust me. You know that, right?" Deans' gaze softened at the sight of two frightened big blue eyes. The angel sighed as he locked his gaze on to the ground. Dean was afraid that the man was going to faint ones more by the sight of his grayish tint. With one hand on the man's shoulder Dean watched him expectantly. Finally the angel gave in.

"There ... there was a man on his way to the wedding of his only daughter. The terrible storm had blocked the only road to the church by fallen trees and mud. The man tried to walk on foot and lost the road. He prayed for help and I was in the neighborhood." Castiel looked deep in to the eyes of the older Winchester to make his point clear.

"Dean. It's one of my tasks to assist lost people while traveling, especially on Thursdays. You have to understand. His conscience was so pure and he deserved to be on time for the wedding. So I helped him as best as I could." Dean blinked.

"Okay. I understand completely. But when you mean 'helped' you mean that you basically bend the time a little so he couldn't miss this wedding, right? So, I'm thinking: How much? Twenty years?" The angel was feeling uncomfortable again.

"Half a day, at most." Castiel shook his head as he sighed deeply. "Dean. Normally it wouldn't cost me that much of power. I'm getting weaker. That worries me. I feel so ashamed. I'm useless in the battle against Lucifer and the Apocalypse. I'm sorry for failing you."

Castiel sighed again and closed his eyes bleakly. Dean swallowed hard by the shock of what he just heard. Meanwhile the angel grabbed at his own white blouse.

"Just wanted to get this stain out. Then I got dizzy. I am afraid, Dean." The angel looked at him with those kicked puppy eyes.

Dean stared at the wet spot on his shirt and finally saw the trouble in this whole situation.

"Ow. You are falling faster than we thought. I am sorry, man." And Castiel nodded. There appeared a small smile on the angels' lips.

"I believe your 'that sucks' is the best sentence for it." Dean grinned as he watched the angel smile. He didn't do that very often. "Yeah, you got that right, my friend."

…

A/N: Well. This story is getting along just fine. I am glad it worked out. But this story is not done yet. So support me and I can get the next chapter ready! Thanks for reading. Don't forget to review.

X

Josie