SPN

Castiel looked at the man sitting next to his bed. The bags were prominent against the tanned face and red cheeks. But his eyes were as green as ever. Castiel watched the man with worry, seeing his rough lips stretch into a smile. It was gone as quick as it had appeared.

"Cas…"

Castiel watched as tear slipped down the side of Dean's face, quickly being wiped away by his hand. He went to go wipe it from his face but Castiel learned quickly that he should not be moving. At all.

He sucked in a sharp breath, which was also another mistake. Looking down at himself and saw the damage; cuts and bruised littered every inch of him, braces were engulfing his right arm along with his right leg. He went to prop himself up a little and found that his midriff was also cased with a back brace. Castiel groaned.

"Dean, where am I?"

"At Lebanon Memorial Hospital. Do you know why?" Castiel moved his good arm over his stomach and found more cuts and bruises; a particular gash standing out so prominently against his paled skin.

"What happened, Dean?" He could hear his heart monitor hasten as he discovered more damage done to his body. He knew the answer but he wanted to know what happened.

Dean turned pale and his eyes focused on something that Castiel himself could not see.

"You were in a bad car wreck. I found it after you called me for help. Do you remember calling me?" Castiel could hear how Dean's voice had grown thick as his eyes continued to focus on something only trapped in his mind.

"Do you remember anything, Cas?"

He closed his eyes as the man beside him, his angel, called him his nickname.

"Nothing. I woke up in your arms, you singing something about angels or angeles. Crying. I wanted to tell you everything was going to be okay, to hold you but I could not move. Everything started going cloudy then went to black."

Dean's voice was tight, controlled, when he spoke, "Do you remember what caused the wreck?"

"A man pulled out of that pub and then swerved onto my side of the road. I went over to the other lane to avoid his car and then last minute he went onto the side I was on at that moment and then- then nothing."

Castiel watched as Dean's face went pale then red, a vein showing itself on his forehead. His fists grabbed the bed sheets causing his knuckles to whiten.

"Dean, what is it?"

"The guy that hit you, he was drinking and driving! Cas, don't you see? He caused all of this because he was too fucking stubborn to call a taxi!"

Castiel knew that he should be mad with the other driver but he could not find it in him. He was worried more about the man.

"Did the police find him… in time?"

Dean's face looked shocked and then was back to focusing on Castiel before he could get a look at Dean.

"Of course they did. But by the time they would have started questioning the accident, the alcohol would've been out of his system."

Castiel reached across to Dean's hand, which was taking more sheets in it the more he talked about the accident. When he touched his smooth pale skin to the man's tanned roughed hand, the muscles loosened, smoothing out the back of his hand.

"Dean, listen to me. It will be okay. I will be fine and back to as normal as I was before the crash."

They met eyes, locking onto one another. Castiel searched the grass green eyes for a shred of ease or happiness and only found worry. But the action next never showed in the green eyes.

Dean leaned forward in his chair and pressed his lips to Castiel's forehead. A breath escaped Castiel's lips as Dean stayed there. He pulled away and pressed his own forehead to Castiel's.

Castiel opened his mouth to ask what that was for when a sharp knock made both men jump.

"I hope I'm not interru- Cassy! You're awake!" Gabriel ran to his brother's bedside. Castiel felt relief and happiness wash over him, relaxing his body even more.

"Hello, Gabriel."

"How are you feeling? I need to go get Balthazar and the doc. One sec bro."

Gabriel left the room as fast as he had come in. He reappeared with Balthazar and who Castiel guessed was the doctor. They did an examination of him, careful with his leg and arm, making sure that his cuts were healing properly.

"I am going to keep him for another 24 hours. He is healing better than I expected. After tomorrow, he will be able to go home." He looked at Dean and nodded. Dean looked away as if he had not seen the action.

After the doctor left the room, a very tall and broad shouldered man entered the room. He had longish hair that was a dark brown and bright hazel eyes. He had to be at least 6'5".

"What was that about Dean?" Castiel was confused as to why Dean would "blow off" the doctor, the man who had helped heal Castiel. "Nothing Cas, I'll explain later. Promise." Dean leaned forward and surprised Castiel with a kiss on the forehead. He felt himself relax and trust that Dean would keep that promise.

"Sam! This is Cas. Cas, this is my brother, Sam."

Sam nodded to Castiel, "hey, Cas. How are you feelin?"

"Better now, thank you Sam."

"That's good. Let Dean know if you need me to do anything alright?"

"Again, thank you Sam. I wil."

"Cool. Okay Dean, I am gonna head back to your place and let everyone know that Cas is awake and okay. I'll see you there."

"Thanks Sam."

"Jerk."

"Bitch." Castiel watched the brother's exchange these "harmful" words and saw the smiles that appeared on their faces. Sam left the room chuckling to himself.

Gabe stood in confusion but was brought back by Castiel turning to look at him. But Dean was the one to break the silence first.

"Oh! Also, Cas, Gabe and Balthazar are staying at my apartment because yours is too small. And I'm not leaving your side. Sam and Jess came to help with everything so they are staying with Bobby. You remember Bobby?"

"Yes, I do, Dean."

"Okay. I'm goin' to stay right here." Dean turned his attention to Gabriel and Balthazar, "are you two staying here tonight too?"

"Of course Dean-o! We have to stay with our darling little brother here." Gabriel smiled and winked at Castiel. Starting to pull a candy bar from within his coat pocket, "besides you've done enough; let us be with our brother for a little bit." Balthazar smiled and made a scoffing noise. "You may want to go get some coffee and food mate, you are turning a bit pale."

Castiel watched as Dean rose from his chair with his hand still in his. Castiel gripped onto him, refusing to let go. Dean looked down and smiled, "I won't be long. I promise," as he dipped down a final time and kissed him, this time on the corner of his mouth.

Dean left the room after exchanging words with Balthazar. Castiel watched as the strange yet wonderful man left the room. Gabriel and Balthazar crossed the small room over to their brother's bed.

"What did Dean ask you?"

"Nothing, just told us something." Balthazar smiles as he looked down at his youngest brother. "How are you feeling? Want us to do anything for you?" Castiel could hear the sarcasm drip from his voice as Balthazar asked the last question.

"No I am quite alright. Thank you anyway."

"Oh, Cassy, don't be that way. He's just havin' some fun. Besides, you could use a good laugh after sitting in this bed for so long. When was the last time you laughed or even pulled a prank?" Again, Gabriel pulled a snickers bar out of, from what seemed like, thin air.

Castiel thought of the last time he actually had laughed and it had been with Dean, when Jo had thrown the dish rag at him. He felt his face break into a small smile and thought of the view he had that night.

"Yeah, I was only trying to be a nice brother, but my heart will go on. Bloody awful movie…" the last bit being mumbled to himself more than the two men in the room.

"Okay, Cassy, you need to get some sleep. The doc said!" Gabriel laughed and turned to leave the room. "We're going to go get some dinner and then we will be back later. Dean should be back soon. God knows, he hasn't left your bedside since you got here." The two men walked out, leaving Castiel to his own thoughts. He leaned back onto his pillow and shut his eyes.

Was that actually true? Had Dean refused to leave my bedside? He has a job and other responsibilities. I am just another person so what is the significance of me that would cause him to act this way? I have to ask Dean what happened and why he-

A sharp rap on the door pulled Castiel from his thoughts and looked up to see Dean standing by the door.

"Hello, Dean."

"Hi, Cas. Shouldn't you be sleeping? I saw Gabe in the hall."

"How long have I been unconscious Dean?"

"Three days."

"I have been asleep for three days. I believe that I will be fine to stay awake for another hour."

Dean smiled as he took his spot next to Castiel.

SPN

He took his usual spot in the chair next to Cas, which now seemed conformed to his butt. He looked up at him and was greeted with a worried and confused face. He was doing this head tilt thing that made him look like a lost puppy. Even more surprising was that Dean found that kinda hot.

"Why are you here Dean?"

What?

Dean was not expecting that. His mind was truly blank. He bowed his head to avoid the smolder of a look that was being given to him right now by the man who was bed ridden. And he was intimidating Dean!

He had an answer but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Have you slept at all Dean? Even for twenty minutes, have you closed your eyes and rested?"

Again, Dean couldn't answer.

"Did you eat today? Or yesterday for that matter? Have you taken care of yourself? If you have not noticed Dean, I am stationed in a hospital of nurses and doctors who are being paid to take care of me. You need to take care of yourself Dean because what good are you going to be if you cannot function? I want you here, I do, but I want you to feel good and to be healthy.

Do not practically drain yourself of energy for me. You are more important."

He couldn't listen anymore.

"No."

"No what?"

"No, I haven't slept. I've been here with you Cas, sitting right next to your bed, never leaving. I couldn't bring myself to leave. I blame myself for you getting into that accident. I should have picked you up, then we wouldn't be here. We could be at home, watching a movie, or holding each other. But we are here, you are in pain, and it is my partially my fault because I wasn't there to help! I should have been there when you were in the accident. I could have protected you, or taken the wheel, or something! Cas, don't you get it? I want to be here with you, broken or not."

Cas looked as if he had been struck. His eyes had glazed over, watching Dean who was now pacing the room.

"Castiel, I could have lost you. You don't get it. I've become interested in you, more than interested. I don't think I could leave you if I wanted to or if you wanted me to."

Dean went back to his blue-eyed man. He took his hand, "I don't want this to be something I screw up. I want this, what we have, to last."

He screwed up his face and then decided the best way to say it.

To not say it at all.

Dean leaned forward, slow, waiting for Cas to turn away or to say no. But he never did. Dean was close enough he could hear Cas' breathing halt as he realized that Dean wasn't going to stop until something made him stop.

Dean's lips met Cas' and he stopped, again waiting for Cas to push him away. But he didn't. Their mouths pushed against each other, Dean testing his boundaries. He flicked his tongue against Cas' bottom lip, making a moan escape from Cas. Cas' mouth opened slightly and Dean slid his tongue against Cas' lips. Dean felt a something sharp graze his lip only to feel Cas bite down on it. He couldn't stop the sound that came from him and felt Cas smile beneath him.

"Maybe we should save this for another time Dean. Maybe when we are home."

Dean couldn't argue with him because if someone walked in, that was going to be very hard to explain.

"Fine. I guess I can wait." But what was making his pants tighter, may not be able to wait."

Cas smiled, "good night, Dean."

"Night, Cas."

The rest of the night passed without excitement. Shortly after Cas fell asleep, Dean fell asleep with Cas' hand in his.

….

The next morning before Cas is awake, Dean goes home to move furniture around and do laundry. Everything was a mess. He would have to do grocery shopping too, but that could wait for after they got Cas home.

Home. The word made Dean smile.

After taking out the garbage and making sure everything was "Cas friendly", he went back to the hospital to meet Gabe and Balthazar to get him checked out.

Dean walked up just as Balthazar was signing a few papers. "Is everything ready then?"

"Yeah, all we have to do is get him in the car then."

"Then let's go. I'm ready to get out of this awful place."

"I couldn't agree more."

They made their way to the room where they found a young nurse helping Cas into a wheelchair and telling him about his medications.

"Thank you ma'am."

Gabe was giggling as he grabbed the handles on the chair and started to push him down the hallway.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Oh nothing. Just that the nurse was flirting with Cas, and he had to let her down. And then he precedes to fall out of the bed." By now, Dean though Gabe was going to bust a gut as Balthazar was starting to laugh too. The only one who wasn't laughing was Cas.

"Oh lighten up. It happens to the best of us."

"But it seems it happens to me the most." Cas actually seemed embarrassed. They were at the car now, Dean went to go lift Cas out of the wheel chair but he held up his hand. "No Dean. Let me do this."

He pulled himself up, but then soon was falling back over. Dean knew what was going to happen as he slowly watched Cas. He wrapped his arms around his waist and shoulders, holding him in his arms as he helped him regain his balance.

"I gotchya."

"Thank you, Dean."

He sat him inside the car and the other brothers were already in the back seat. Dean roared the car to life and they took off for home.

….

They pulled up to the front of Dean's apartment, and suddenly he thought the elevator is broke. And I live on the fourth floor.

Dean braced himself for what he knew was going to happen. Gabe and Balthazar grabbed the suitcases while Dean grabbed Cas. He wrapped his good arm around him neck, lifting him only slightly.

"Dean! What are you doing?"

"We have to get you up to my apartment somehow, Cas. And I am not letting you what you call 'climbing' those stairs when I can just carry you."

"But Dean, you cannot possibly car- Dean!"

"I gotchya. Don't you trust me?" He felt the small smile show on the surface of his face as he watched Cas look at the ground. Dean watched as Cas gulped and turned to look back at his brothers. The smooth and yet prominent muscle stretched the more he turned his neck, causing Dean to want to kiss and make it stretch in all the right ways.

"Of course I do, Dean. I do not trust gravity."

"I know. But it won't be able to mess with you while I have you." He smiled again and kissed Cas' hand that was sitting on Dean's chest. He was sure that he heard a murmured "get a room" come from behind him.

They were already on the third floor with only two more stair cases to go, each consisting of eight steps. He had to admit the Cas was a little heavy but if he could show off just a little, it was worth it.

And Dean's front door appeared in front of them in no time. He sat down Cas and unlocked the door, then turned to grab his arm again and lead him into the apartment.

"Welcome to my home, Cas. I'll show you what room is yours." Dean pulled/pushed him into his room (which was also the one Dean was going to be sleeping in) and gave him the grand tour.

"This is the bathroom, we'll have to share, and then the bed of course, some of your clothes that I have washed and we already went through the kitchen/living room/dining room. It's nothing fancy, but I like it."

Cas turned to Dean as best as he could, "I love it Dean. It's quite and quaint and you. It's perfect." He ran his hand over Dean's sheets, looking almost new since they hadn't been slept in in almost three days.

"You need to get some rest Cas, you've had a long day."

"Stay with me."

This caught Dean off guard.

"What?"

"I want you to lay with me Dean. I have had you sitting at my bedside for now four days and I want you there now. I do not want anything different. And you need sleep as much as you will deny it."

"Cas…"

"Please, Dean." Cas' eyes melted into a sea of blue and greys, overcome with a want that only Dean seemed to be able to help.

"Okay."

"Okay."

Dean helped take off Cas' shoes and jacket, helping him under the covers, and fix the pillow.

SPN

"Please, Dean." Castiel looked at him, thinking about everything that had happened and how Dean seemed to be there through it all.

"Okay."

"Okay."

Dean was moving across Castiel, taking off his shoes and jacket, helping him under the covers, and fix the pillow.

Dean laid next to him, the strong arms wrapped around Castiel's waist as he settled next to him. After the past couple of days, the hospital, coming to Dean's apartment, meeting Dean, the late nights of texting and talking, and the dreams that all seemed so real. Castiel had never felt more at home than within Dean's arms. Castiel felt like he could finally breathe deep. It did not take long for Castiel himself to drift off listening to the light snores coming from the man lying beside him.