Chief Warrant Officer Dean Winchester could feel it. He banked the aircraft to turn and the tail rotor hit the ground just after they had taken off. They hit with enough force to break the tail skid, losing four inches off the tail blades and sending shrapnel into the flight controls. The bird slammed into the ground hard and as soon as he can turn around to check his crew he sees what no pilot wants to see. Two members of his crew are injured. He must have hit his head on impact because he can hear his little brother tell him he's fine. His head falls to one side and he slips out of consciousness.
Screaming wakes Castiel. He swears he has only just fallen back asleep a few minutes ago. When he arrived back home, he found Dean asleep on the couch. It wasn't like he'd expected him to sleep in his bed. They had not shared a bed in months. They really were passing ships or roommates as Dean so eloquently put it earlier.
Castiel is all too familiar with the screaming though. It comes along with the territory of having a loved one returned to you from war that is more or less, emotionally wrecked. The night terrors were always the same and Castiel knew how to help. It was the only time Dean would actually let him touch him.
He rushed quietly down the hall and found Dean violently turning in his sleep dream state. No sudden movements. He moved just close enough for Dean to hear him, but kept a safe distance from flailing arms and powerful punches. He'd mistakenly doubted Dean once and tried to wake him from a nightmare. The force of Dean's fist practically dislocated Castiel's shoulder.
"Dean." He spoke softly and tried to ease him awake with his voice.
"You need to wake up. You are having a nightmare." It was difficult to remain calm given their current situation. He hated to see Dean like this. It was awful and he felt helpless.
The thrashing subsided and Dean seem to wake somewhat and he immediately blinked in the darkness to get his bearings. Tonight was proving to be more of a challenge though. When he opened his eyes he couldn't see the living room or Castiel. He saw Sam with a chest full of shrapnel and blood. So much blood.
"Sam! Sam! Don't you die on me little brother. Sam!" He blinked again and Castiel came into focus. The bloody crash scene dissipated into the recesses of his mind. Castiel placed his hand on Dean's shoulder. He didn't speak, but his breath hitched when Dean reached up and placed his hand on top of Castiel's. They sat there in silence for a few minutes while Dean recovered. Castiel could not fight the urge to speak and he instantly regretted it because Dean's hand left his and the moment was gone.
"You could come to bed, if you want."
Dean stood up and began walking to the kitchen.
"I don't want to sleep anymore. I'm gonna grab another beer." He was already in the kitchen before Castiel could protest. He turned and went back to his room and cried himself to sleep.