This chapter started off a nice, fluffy one... it didn't end that way.
Dean /
Dean wished that Castiel waited a little while longer. But he claimed he was strong enough to get up out of the bed. Dean wasn't so sure.
"Are you okay? You don't have to do this-"
"I've heard this like ten times," Castiel laughed at the other boy.
Castiel grabbed onto Dean's shoulder and pulled himself up onto his feet. Dean stood absolutely still and flexed the muscles in his arm, partly to help Castiel up and partly to show him how strong he actually was.
"Alright," Castiel grunted. "You can stop showing off any minute now."
Dean laughed and held him up. Together they got Castiel completely on his feet, until he was standing up straight. Castiel took one step forward, and then another. His joints were stiff, Dean could tell, by the way he moved slowly and awkwardly.
Castiel's breaths were coming faster and heavier now. Just this little movement was beginning to wind him. Dean had to remind himself that this was Castiel's idea, even if it was a stupid one.
"Why are you doing this? You need your rest-"
"I have to get back to school somehow, I just need to learn to cope with the pain."
"You have all of the time in the world. I don't care how long you use my bed, the floor is comfy actually-"
"First off, you're so lying. And secondly, after a while the school calls my parents to ask why I haven't been there." Castiel's voice came out strained and every couple of words he had to pause.
Dean has actually found it enjoyable having Castiel around all of the time. It gave him the excuse of not going to school himself, and having someone besides Sam to talk too.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Dean said in defeat. "How much longer you wanna go?" They were about to walk into the wall.
"I want you to let go, just be ready to catch me if I fall, 'cuz that's gonna hurt like a bitch." Castiel said, gently pushing Dean away.
When Dean finally stepped away, after giving him a confirming look, Castiel used the wall for his main support. But then he pushed off and headed back to the bed. Dean walked at Castiel's pace with him, each step he took, Dean took one to match it.
When Dean's knees bumped the bed, he sat down and reached his hands out to catch Castiel if he needed it. When he was only a step away, Castiel stopped. With Dean sitting down, Castiel stood taller than him.
"Look who the bigger one is now?" Castiel taunted.
Dean smirked and placed his hands on the other boy's hips. Said boy sucked in a gasp so fast that Dean thought he'd hurt him. But before Dean could even move his hands away, Castiel's slightly smaller, thinner ones were covering them.
Dean started humming softly as he inched Castiel even closer until the blue-eyed boy stood between his legs. Castiel wavered for a moment and Dean guessed that it probably wasn't from his injuries.
Castiel brought one of his hands up and tangled his fingers in Dean's hair. It has been a whole week since Castiel has been here. Which means it's been that long since his last shower. And this is the first time Castiel has been able to stand up.
"No offense, Cas, but you kind of stink."
"Thanks, Dean." Castiel removed his hand from Dean's hair. "I can try to take a shower, but if I fall..."
"It's gonna hurt like a bitch, got it." Dean backed Castiel up a little bit so he could walk around him and to his dresser. "But, if I were to sit in the bathroom with you - even as creepy as that sounds - I could catch you if you fall."
Dean turned his back to the other boy and started looking for something for Castiel to wear for when he was clean. He decided on a simple pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt.
"Would you really be willing to reach into the shower and stand me back up, even if I was completely nude?" It was a challenge, Dean knew.
"Why not? I'd be helping a friend." Dean looked back to what he was doing and missed Castiel's expression.
Dean stopped for a second after realizing what he said. It took him a moment to recover. Were they still just friends? Was he just going to ignore everything that's happened?
Castiel cleared his throat nervously and said back, "Yeah."
There was an awkward silence between them as Dean helped Castiel to the bathroom. Dean led Castiel to the toilet and he sat on the closed lid. Dean started up the shower, putting it on a gentle spray and keeping it at a suitable temperature.
"Do you have to pee?" Dean came out and asked him. Castiel shook his head. Even if he had to go, he could just do it while he was in the shower.
Dean walked back over to the sink and dried his hands on a hand towel. Dean hesitated for a moment, contemplating on what to do next.
"I'll step out…" Dean said as he shuffled to the door.
Dean could hear the sounds of Castiel struggling to get his clothes off. It was almost five minutes later when Dean wasn't able to hear anything. Dean thought of just walking in, but then he heard Castiel's voice, "Don't come walking in, but I need help getting my pants off…"
"Okay, my eyes are closed."
Dean walked out and kept his arm raised and used touch as his guide. Castiel called him over to where he was standing and kept a hand on the bottom half of his vision, but opened his eyes enough to see Castiel's face. The dark-haired boy's face was completely red, probably a mix of exertion and embarrassment.
"I'll try not to look," Dean said as he felt along Castiel's hip to get to the waistband of his jeans - they were pulled down a couple of inches already, but not off enough. Dean then, as gently as he could, started to tug them off. When he got too low, he crouched down and kept his eyes shut tightly, his knees hit the bathroom floor and he knew how this would look if somebody like Sam were to walk in…
"Okay, step," Dean instructed. Once the jeans were gone - his underwear with them - he threw the dirty piece of cloth to the side.
"I'm good now," Castiel said.
Dean stood up and turned around. Dean heard the shower curtain move and slide back over. Castiel said he was in the shower and Dean turned around and picked up Castiel's soiled clothes and threw them immediately in the washing machine so that he could wash them as soon as the other boy was done with the shower.
Dean made it back to the bathroom in record time, and sat on the closed toilet seat. He listened to the sounds of the water hitting the bottom of the tub and Castiel occasionally grunt in pain.
"Hey Cas," Dean said.
"Yes, Dean?"
"How are you doing? Need any assistance?" Dean couldn't help but smirk at the shower curtain.
"No I think I'll be fine-" Castiel's voice cut off because he started to violently cough.
Just like last time, his whole body was thrown into it, his breath coming out in deep hoarse gasps. Dean stood up but didn't walk any closer to the shower. His heart pounded loudly as he remember how his friend's body was thrown across the bed when he had his last coughing fit like this one. He had scared Dean, but he was alright.
"Cas? Castiel, are you gonna make it?" Dean asked over the coughing.
"I-i'm f-f-fin-ne." Castiel tried to speak between coughs.
Dean watched in horror was Castiel's hand came out to find purchase and grabbed the shower curtain instead. Castiel collapsed and pulled the curtain down with him. Dean froze for a moment at the sight of his naked body - he landed over the side of the tub on his stomach. But when Dean saw that he wasn't moving he immediately sprang into action.
Dean ran forward and grabbed Castiel's shoulders, lifting his head up to check if he was breathing - weakly, but yes, he was.
"Jesus, Cas." Dean muttered as he propped the naked, unconscious boy against himself.
"What the hell, Dean?" Sam was asking at the door. He must have gotten out of school already.
"He had a coughing fit in the shower, he's unconscious. Come here and help me get him up!" Dean yelled. His voice shook.
"Uhh.." Sam didn't move until his older brother yelled again.
Together they got Castiel semi-straight in the bottom of the tub. Sam had already shut the water off and Dean grabbed a couple of towels. Neither Winchester said anything, and there was tension in the air.
Dean grabbed an extra hand-towel and threw it over Castiel's hips and thighs, covering him enough for them to not-so-awkwardly dry him off.
Once Castiel was dry enough, he told Sam to get the change of clothes that he'd gotten earlier. Dean had tried to block Cas's arms and legs from his little brother, but Dean's positive he seen them. The cut scars.
The crisscrossed and overlapped and they were so ugly and so foreign on the angelic-like boy's skin. Dean turned over Castiel's left arm and traced one with his thumb. Some look old, and some looked new. He didn't really have a whole lot of knowledge on this kind of stuff, but he knew it was bad. He didn't like the lines cut into Castiel's skin. He didn't like them at all.
Which is why he vowed to keep anymore from Castiel's skin. As long as Dean was still kicking, Castiel would never harm himself again.
How much you wanna bet he doesn't keep his promise?
