Dean is still at the hospital but what about the three men he left behind in the supernatural word, how will they cope? and can they find a way of saving Dean? stretched across two chapters. ^_^

hope you enjoy, please review xxxxx

It had been six days since Dean went back into his head in the arms of his angel in the back of his beloved car. Apart from the occasionally twitch or moan he lay deadly still in one of Bobby's spare rooms. Cas stayed by his side the entire time, sometimes perching on the bed, others he stroked Dean's hair sitting very close nearly on top of him, though he thinks no one knows once he even laid down next to Dean, and held the sleeping beauty in his arms all night, but for most of the time he stood in the corner eyes fixed on Dean's breathing, making sure it stayed even and constant.

Every now and again he would whisper enochian prayers into Dean's ear, praying that they would keep him safe. He also, which put both Sam and Bobby in a deeply set state of shock, continued to shimmer Dean in essence of his grace, soothing him and making him more comfortable, despite this sacrifice of Cas' he still felt useless, he still couldn't save Dean or even reach him.

Every few days or so Cas would come down stairs and fine the two hunters as always knee high in books, information and beer bottles, beer bottles more then anything the past few days. They found a spell a few days ago though it ended in them not knowing exactly what is at the bottom of this, the spell let them cross demon of the list. Cas was also certain the angels were not behind this either, although he was cut of from heaven, if he concentrated he could still hear them and no one new anything, at least no one was talking about it besides they needed Dean conscious for their plan.

Since watching over Dean, Cas has near enough forgotten he could fly, either that or he just didn't have the energy or at least that was what he told the hunters downstairs. He walked, it was strange but he was getting accustomed to it. Cas made his way to the library and found Sam asleep head resting on the page he was last reading.

Cas would have woken him up told him to keep working, but he knew humans had a habit of needing sleep and in all fairness to Sam, he has been working non stop for three days, so instead Cas made his way into the library and quietly closed the window behind Sam, knowing that a cold draft blowing in isn't favourable when a human is trying to relax and dream.

Cas looked around Bobby wasn't in the library, strange Bobby was always in the library, then he heard whistling and sizzling from the kitchen, Bobby was cooking he seemed to be enjoying it. Cas moved to his desk and peered at what was open at it. It was a magazine with an article on coma patients Cas sat down to read just as the smell of bacon was stirring Sam awake, he sat up and nodded to Cas who was now engrossed in the story and then left joining Bobby in the kitchen.

The article was about some women who fell from a window hit her head then went into a hallucinogenic coma and came out of the coma 7 months later, she told her family 'for much of the time I was unaware I was in my subconscious as every thing felt real' it seems similar to Dean. The last line stuck in his mind the most, 'she had chosen to wake up'. Maybe Dean just had to want to be here. But then he felt stupid as he remembered the heart breaking time when Dean held onto him and begged for help because he didn't want to go back, just the memory of this made his stomach knot. So Cas removed himself from the library then Sam saw Cas appear,

"Hey Cas, you want some." Cas simply looked at Sam and then to the pile of greasy food on his plate and he pulled a disgusted face at the young hunter and then left went upstairs to continued watching over Dean.

Cas seemed so like a human in his sadness and determination to help the one he…he, the one he was close too? Sam didn't really know and didn't want to ask in case it was some freaky angel thing or something. But Sam lapsed in the whole angels don't eat or sleep deal, since he came in to see Cas laying eyes closed on the bed holding Dean and... what seemed to be snuggling with him, yeah that is now imbedded on his brain. But Sam was almost certain Cas was sleeping or at least trying too.

Recently It seems that Sam was now eating for Dean, throwing health out the window and indulging in grease covered processed foods every day, it wasn't half bad either. Bobby remained unchanged by the events although it was obvious he cared for the boys, he didn't suddenly go all sappy or mopey because how would that help Dean. Right now Dean needed his family of hunters to sort this out, not a family of idjits crying into their cereal cursing the world for being a bitch, but doing nothing about it.

Cas reach the room Dean had been residing in for nearly a week. He stopped when he got to the door he closed to give Dean some privacy. Shielding Dean in his grace has left him weakened, making him more human than he has ever been. Once Dean is better he will stop and in time will regain what has been lost in the process, but until then Cas will gladly continue, even if it means Cas is running on empty and is out of angel juice, if it means Dean's safety he will do it. Though he's not even certain it is helping him where ever he is, but there's a possibility it is and that possibility is more than enough of a reason.

Cas raised his hand and rested it on the door feeling the wood under his finger tips, Cas tried to steady his breathing. Since he's become more human his eyes kept watering when he let his guard down slightly, this was what Cas hated most about his situation. The constant pain in his gut that seems to suck any good thoughts or energy out of him, how it got 100 times worse when he looked at Dean helpless and lifeless, but wanting nothing more then to be with Dean and watch over him despite the pain, Cas didn't understand it and did not like it.

Slowly Cas pushed open the door and stared at Dean's unmoved body, laying right where Cas had left it. The angel's heart dropped and he closed his eyes tight to stop those god damn tears coming again. Cas made his way slowly to Dean's side, sitting on the bed he gently held Dean's clammy hand.

"You can't stay in there forever Winchester."

Cas said whilst running a hand through Dean's hair, the angel was trying to joke and lighten the mood in the room that only Cas created so the attempt seemed useless. But it did comfort Cas slightly; talking to Dean he hoped Dean knew and could hear him. Though it seemed unlikely Cas still hoped.

"Please Dean, I don't know how much more I can take, how much anyone can take. Sam has red eyes most the time; I have gathered that comes with crying. He misses you Dean, I think it's slowly killing him watching his big brother fade away. Bobby seems more distant then normal, you told me once he killed his possessed wife, I guess he thinking about that, you're like a son to that man Dean. Come back to me Dean. I think their loosing hope."

A tear fell before Cas could try and stop it, he slowly lent to Dean and rested his forehead against the dreaming hunter's, Cas tearfully breathed out some more shimmering light and it rested on Dean's face, making him glitter slightly before it seeped into his skin. Then the angel placed a soft kiss on Dean's forehead, there was a creak at the door and Cas swung around, it was Sam he had one tear in his eye another slowly rolling down his cheek.

Sam came up to cheek on the two of them but ended up watching Cas how he treated Dean how he spoke and how he shared his most personal and treasured part of himself, his grace, with the person that he treasured the most.

Sam felt guilty for spying on the hurting angel so tried to open his mouth to talk, but Cas waved his hand to shut the door. The door however merely shook slightly, Sam's eyebrows lowered and he frowned at the door, Cas tried again and again, nothing. Sam opened his mouth again this time to question this, but before he could Cas resorted to standing and closing the door in Sam's face like a human.

Cas lent against the door and slid down and ended up sitting back up against the old wooden door holding his knees to his chest, Cas hadn't realised just how much shielding Dean had taken out of him. He put his head on his knees and silently sobbed, another way he could tell he was now more human than angel, crying has become a very regular event, it is very hard to make angels cry, it wasn't necessary for angels to cry to show their feelings, mostly because they didn't really have any, even when Cas experienced emotions tears never really came into the equation. But now, now its hard to stop them cascading down his face.

Sam stood at the other side of the door; he didn't want to open it but could hear soft muffled sobs coming from the room. Sam didn't believe it was the angel but it certainly wasn't Dean. Something was happening to Cas and it scared Sam, Cas was always strong and steady. Sam turned and made his way down stairs he had things to discuss with Bobby.

"Bobby?"

"What is it boy." The old hunter asked as he switched off the TV, having a well deserved break and looked at Sam's worried screwed up face.

"Have you noticed anything about Cas recently?"

"Like what?"

"Like how he walks now, he doesn't seem to fly…"

"Yeah, because he doesn't have the energy."

"What about the tears."

"This is a stressful time son, especially for Castiel. I mean it is Dean."

"Okay what about him not being able to mind mojo the door shut upstairs?"

"what?"

"he had to get up and do it, like a…"

"human. I didn't want to mention this Sam, but a few nights ago I heard a noise came into the kitchen and it was Cas…eating, he didn't notice me so I left."

"and a saw him sleeping, you think?"

"well he didn't fall."

"didn't he?"

Both men were worried as hell, so decided when they made dinner to give Cas some too as it seems he now has an apatite. They called Cas downstairs as the food was placed on the table.

"yes?" Cas asked who looked around at the steaming food on the table.

"you want some?" Sam asked joining Bobby at the table and starting to dig into his food. Cas wanted to go off on a rant about how angels do not need to eat, but he new it didn't apply to him any more, so he gaped at the well cooked meats and longed to eat.

"what is it with you and offering me food today Sam?"

"just get your butt in here and eat something you idjit."

Cas did what Bobby said, partly though respect this was after all his house and they had even set him a place at the table and partly because of his need to eat, its been days since he sneaked into the fridge to satisfy his growing hunger. Cas sat slowly and eyed the food on his plate, before looking at the two hunters already eating, Cas followed suit and picked up the cutlery and began eating. near the end of the meal sam turned to Cas "Cas, why are you hungry?" he asked slowly not really sure of how to ask. "and why are you suddenly sleeping?"

At the last part Cas froze, food hovering on his fork a few inches from his slightly parted mouth, he flushed red slightly, he didn't know anyone saw him sleep and the one time he had he was holding Dean, not something he didn't want everyone to witness.

"it's okay, were not mad but you seem more…" Sam was struggling to find the words so Bobby decided to put it blankly.

"you seem human, did you fall?"

At even the suggestion of this Cas put his cutlery down and glared at the man.

"no."

"well something has happened."

Cas could not argue this point so sat there, for some reason he felt slightly ashamed of what he did and what it was doing to him.

"I'm drained."

"huh?"

"Me shielding Dean in my grace is draining my angel mojo you might say, for now I'm more human than angel."

The two stunned men stared at the now silent angel. Cas got up looked over at Bobby "Thank you for the food. Excuse me." Cas then went up stairs again to be with Dean. Sam and Bobby stared at each other they had not expected that response, they didn't even think that that kind of sacrifice would be on the table for Cas, but then again this was Dean.

After dinner Sam and Bobby retired to the library to once again bury themselves in books, books that don't seem to hold the key for saving Dean.