--To those who reviewed and didnt receive a reply, I am so very sorry. I had a very, very hectic week and am just now able to have the time to post this chapter, so Im also sorry it took so long. I thank everyone that reviewed and assure you that your reviews will be answered forth with. Once again, thank you all so much--

4

Heaven Isn't Too Far Away

The room was spinning, making an unpleasant sensation in my stomach. That organ was really starting to get on my nerves. There seemed to be a hammer inside my skull, banging on my temples as if it were church bells.

"Dean?" I said, an unpleasant taste in my mouth. "Dean, what's wrong with me?" Dean looked at me and laughed, smirking in an "I know something you don't know" fashion.

"You're hung over, Cas," he said, turning on the coffee maker. "It'll pass in a few hours."

"Hours?" A horrible smell filled the room, the odor so pungent it burned my nostrils. My stomach flipped again and my head gave a nasty throb. "What is that?" I groaned.

"Coffee," Dean said. "It'll help."

I didn't see how anything that smelled this horrible could help.

Sam opened the door, carrying food that smelled sickening. I winced against the harsh light that followed him through the open door and grunted in pain as my temples screamed at me.

"Here," Dean said, holding a mug out to me. I grimaced and jerked away as that terrible smell filled every inch of my head.

"No…" I moaned, jerking away from the cup. Then something strange happened. My stomach gurgled and flipped several times, the room taking another lap in front of my eyes. An awful burning substance worked its way up my throat. "Dean, I'm-" But he was already hauling me up and running toward the bathroom. I was dropped to my knees in front of the toilet before something horrific happened.

Then a lot of things happened at once. My entire abdomen contracted against my will, the bile came up further, my head gave a nasty throb, my vision went blank, the room spun and the horrible liquid spilled past my lips.

Nearly every muscle in my body tensed. My stomach flipped and rolled as if part of a circus act. I breathed raggedly between gags, tears in my eyes, heart pounding. I was so scared.

"Dean!" I croaked, throat on fire. "Dean what's happening t-to me?" I did it again. It hurt. "PLEASE!"

"Cas, Cas, it's alright!" Dean exclaimed. Castiel was sobbing between stomach heaves, body shaking. He was terrified. "Cas, it's okay. You're okay," he assured, rubbing his back. "Just let it out. Let it out, let it out. It's okay."

"No, no, I don't want-" He wretched into the toilet, coughing and gasping.

"D-Dean, make it s-stop." He was begging.

"Cas, it's alright, relax, shh…"

"N-no more. No more, p-please," he pleaded. He shook his head, his stomach still heaving even though there was nothing left.

"Cas, it's okay. This is normal, it's normal. It's called throwing up. It's because you drank so much, it's alright."

He looked over his shoulder at Sam -who was equally as shocked- for some kind of help. But he was as helpless as he was. What they had thought was going to be a normal, even mildly amusing, situation had turned to this. This horrible event of a person so naïve to human behavior he'd never been blessed with puking before.

"Cas, hey," Dean soothed, a hand on his shaking shoulder. "It's alright. It's gonna be alright. You just have to let it happen. It'll be worse and take longer if you fight it, alright?"

Finally he stopped. His body relaxed and he fell back into Dean's arms, gasping and sobbing. "Wh-what did I just do?" He trembled.

"You puked," Dean said gently, breathing hard. "It's okay."

"I d-don't understand," he said quietly.

"Cas," Sam stepped forward. "Your body was trying to get rid of the alcohol you drank last night. That's the only way it can. It's alright. You're gonna be fine."

It took about fifteen minutes for the former angel to stop shaking, and another five to stand up. He sat down on the bed he had passed out on the night before, paled with a sheen of sweat on his face, looking exhausted.

"You okay?" Dean asked. Castiel looked at him as if he were getting over a scare.

"I don't know," he answered stoically before smiling ruefully. "I guess that's my problem, isn't it? I don't know." His smile turned into a low chuckle that continued while he spoke. "Am, am I laughing?"

"Yeah," Dean smiled, relieved that the tension had been lessened in the room. "I think you are."

"No wonder humans do it so much. It feels good," he giggled.

Sam and Dean looked at each other and shrugged, smiling with him.

"Hey guys?" Castiel said, still giggling like mad. "Can, can we go back to that bar today?" He sounded like a little kid wanting to go to the park.

"I don't think you should drink anymore, Cas," Sam frowned, lips pursed.

"I don't want to drink," he just couldn't stop laughing, "I want to see if that girl we saw yesterday is there. I have no idea why, but I want to see her."

"Alright, Cas," Dean grinned. "We'll go. But only if you eat your vegetables," he chuckled. The prior celestial being cocked his head to the side, frowning at the reference that he didn't get. Dean's smile faded. "Never mind."

I wanted something to do. No, I needed something to do. I sat there, bouncing my leg while Sam and Dean did monotonous research about what could've caused my sudden brink of humanity. I twiddled my thumbs, hummed a song I only knew the chorus to. And I didn't even know all of the words. I hadn't listened to music in some time.

I blew air through my lips, making a strange noise. I did it again, and again. A few times.

Sam sighed and shut the book he was holding rather hard, glaring at me, then at Dean, who barely stifled a laugh.

"Did I do something to upset you?" I asked, brows raising. Dean laughed again. Sam sighed and picked up another book. I looked back at my hands.

"Cas, are you bored?" Dean asked, looking amused.

"Am I what?"

"Uh, you want something to do and you think you'll lose your mind if you don't do something?"

I nodded. "Yes. Very much so." Dean sat up, shutting the laptop and tossing the books aside.

"Then I think it's time for a dinner break," he hit Sam's boot with his own, knocking them off of the coffee table. "C'mon, Sammy."

I didn't know where we were going. But when we pulled in the parking lot of the bar we'd gone to yesterday my heart beat a little faster and some weird sensation appeared in my stomach. I hated that organ.

Both feelings intensified the closer we got to the bar. And when we were inside I thought my chest would burst. What was happening to me?!

"Dean, I feel strange," I said quietly in his ear as he walked in front of me. Dean smiled at me.

"It's called a crush, Cas. And that feeling won't go away, trust me," he grinned, seeming to take great delight in my discomfort.

I looked around, swallowing hard, looking for her but part of me hoping I wouldn't see her. I hated human emotions. They were so complicated.

My heart stopped.

There she was. She was serving a few people drinks at the bar, smiling, looking –in a word- stunning. I swallowed hard, palms sweating, heart pounding.

"C'mon, Cas," Dean said, grinning as broadly as ever. He walked toward the bar, toward three open stools. Close to her. I swallowed again.

"Be right with you!" She called as we sat down. I stared down at my hands, trying not to look at her, to stare at her. My heart was thundering so hard.

"Calm down, Cas," Sam chuckled.

"Easy for you to say," I mumbled.

She bounced over, smiling routinely.

"So, what can I get you, boys?" She asked. I glanced up at her, right into her eyes. I quickly looked away, my cheeks hot. "Hey, I know you." Her hand touched my chin, lifting my face. I thought my heart was going to explode. "Yeah, couldn't miss those pretty eyes, huh?" My face got hotter. She giggled, her nose wrinkling in delight as she let my face go.

"Nice to see you again, uh, Annie, right?" Dean asked.

"Annabelle," I answered immediately. Dean looked at me, a smug look on his face. I scowled at him. Until she giggled again. Then my attention was back on her.

"So, Castiel," she leaned on the bar, ever still smiling. She shook her head. "That's still a funny kind of name. You mind if I call you Cas?" I smiled against my will.

"You can call me whatever you want." My face grew so I hot I was sure you could cook things on it as soon as the words were out of my mouth.

If only they knew. If only they knew they were being watched.

--Aww, angel crush. And foreshadowing! More soon!--