Author's note: So I just wanted to say thank you for all the fantastic feedback! It makes my day to read all your reviews, and it means so much to me when you enjoy what I write. I'll keep the updates frequent until the very end because you guys are so awesome! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
In the next few weeks, Castiel finally received a phone call. In his entire time at Blue Grass, he hadn't had one person try to contact him, but since he had started to speak again, he'd been expecting someone to. Though Dr. Perri never told him so, Castiel knew she sent progress reports to Balthazar (he'd seen them sitting out on her desk on occasion) and he knew she would want to share the big news with him. He suspected that Balthazar didn't check them very regularly anymore, though, since it took him so long to call. Castiel had almost given up hope that Balthazar cared about his progress at all when Anna paged him down to the nurses' station and handed him the phone.
"Hello?" Castiel answered cautiously.
"Oh my, Cassie!" Balthazar exclaimed. "Who would've guessed that your doctor was telling the truth?"
"Hello Balthazar," Castiel said, rolling his eyes. "Good to hear from you."
"You as well, my brother! I honestly thought I'd never hear that voice of yours again! It's quite a bit lower than I remember."
"Yes, that is part of what they call puberty."
"Ah, still sarcastic as ever, I see! I really have missed that wit. How have you been?"
"Better, obviously. Dr. Perri is on the brink of diagnosing me, which brings me several steps closer to release."
"Release? Really? They're talking about letting you leave?"
"Not anytime soon," Castiel replied. "But it is an option now."
"Wow, that's fantastic! I remember when they said you would never speak again, and now look at you: walking, talking, and on the road to recovery at last! What brought on such a huge change?" Balthazar inquired.
"I don't know," Castiel answered dimly. He heard Balthazar scoff.
"Yes, you broke two decades of silence without being aware of the catalyst. Come now, Castiel, do not take me for a fool. Was it a girl? It was a girl, wasn't it?"
"No."
"A boy then?" Balthazar pressed. Castiel hesitated a moment too long, causing Balthazar to pounce. "Oh it is a boy! So come on then, what's his name?"
"Balthazar, please," Castiel tried, attempting to steer away from the topic.
"I just want to know his name. And how you met him. Is he a patient? Of course he's a patient! Unless he's not. Unless he's a nurse! Or better yet, a doctor! That's scandalous. Castiel, you naughty—"
"Stop!" Castiel interjected. "Just stop. He's not a doctor, nor is he a nurse. He's my roommate, and he is just my friend, okay? His name is Dean Winchester, and that is all you need to know."
"Dean Winchester, eh? He sounds like one of those bad boys from the movies. I like it. So when do I get to meet your new boyfriend?"
"What? Never! And he most certainly is not my boyfriend."
"Sure, Cassie, sure. But I will be meeting him, and soon too. It's your birthday next week, remember? You don't think I'd miss your birthday, do you?" Balthazar cooed.
"You've missed it every other year."
"Only because you weren't speaking to me! Or anyone else, for that matter. And I sent you cards. I never forgot."
"Yes, I know, but—"
"So it's settled then! I'll see you next Thursday! Goodbye Cassie, love you!"
"Balthazar!"
"Kisses! Mwah!"
And then the line went dead. Castiel considered calling back and telling Balthazar that he couldn't come, but it would do him no good. His mischievous little brother was coming to visit and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He was doomed.
"When's your brother gonna get here?" Dean asked, lounging on his bed. He was tossing a hacky sack into the air over and over again, and it was driving Castiel mad.
"I don't know," Cas replied. He was sitting at the foot of Dean's bed, trying to remain calm. He had no idea what to expect from this visit. Would it be pleasant and calm? Would Balthazar take the opportunity to unload his thoughts and qualms onto Castiel? Was it just Balthazar, or was Michael accompanying him? Worse yet, would his father be there? Castiel tapped his foot anxiously while pondering these questions.
"You seem nervous. Do you want me to come with you?"
"Oh God, no! I don't need Balthazar saying something stupid to make me look bad. That's what he's best at. Any time he meets any of my associates, he makes some asinine remark or tells some horrifically embarrassing story."
"That's what little brothers are for! Besides, I don't really think he can say much to phase me. You saw the psychotic meltdown with my dad; I think I can handle some bogus kindergarten stories."
"Dean—"
"Come on, man! You haven't seen him in years and you're totally strung out on anxiety. You need me for moral support and you know it."
"Fine!" Castiel caved. "You can come, but only if you promise to never repeat anything Balthazar tells you."
"You act like he knows something of national importance, not just some stupid baby stories."
"Just promise."
"Okay, okay. I promise," Dean said, holding his hand over his heart. Castiel opened his mouth to threaten Dean, to say he would murder him if he broke their promise, but he stopped at the sound of heels clicking on linoleum. He'd know the sound of Balthazar's boots anywhere.
"Well hello, Cassie!" Balthazar bellowed, bursting into the room. "Come here and give your little brother a hug."
Castiel grimaced but did as he was asked. Balthazar about squeezed the life out of him before letting go and pulling back to study his brother.
"My, my, aren't you all grown up! It's been, what, eight years since I last saw you? Nine? And you finally don't look like a hobo! You clean up rather well, actually."
"Thank you," Castiel replied awkwardly.
"So, are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend or am I going to have to do it myself?"
"For the last time, Balthazar, he is not my—"
"I'm Dean," said Dean, sticking his hand out. Balthazar took it and shook it firmly. "It's nice to finally meet ya, man. Cas has said lots about you."
"Mostly bad things, I'm sure." Balthazar's voice was harsh, but his grin betrayed him. "I'm Balthazar, by the way."
"Yeah, I assumed. Cas has been kinda stressed about you visiting, but seems like you two get along just fine." Castiel smacked the back of Dean's arm, glaring at him. "What? You were stressed out! Just before he got here, you were trying not to bounce off the walls!"
"Is that true, 'Cas'? I quite like that nickname. Did you start that one, Dean?"
"Yeah, Castiel is kind of a mouthful, and I could already tell he didn't like Cassie."
"Could you please not talking about me as if I am not present?" Castiel growled. Dean shot him a look.
"C'mon, Cas, relax. Your brother drove all the way here to see you; you can't keep that stick up your ass and expect this visit to be fun. You gotta chill out."
"I have no such thing inserted in my anus!" Castiel cried indignantly. Balthazar and Dean snickered.
"It is just a saying, brother," Balthazar laughed. Castiel's cheeks flushed crimson and he frowned angrily. It was just like these two to humiliate him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Dean apologized, still chuckling. "I feel like we're picking on you."
Castiel pursed his lips and sighed. He'd have to put up with at least an hour of this mess. By the end of it, Dean would have all sorts of dirt to embarrass him with. God knew he would probably never be able to look him in the eye again.
"But honestly, Castiel," Balthazar began. "I am proud of you. I know you had a lot to overcome, and for me to be able to joke with you like this is wonderful. I never thought I'd hear one of your naive responses ever again. It's nice to have something to make fun of you for once more."
This made the heat in Castiel's cheeks fade. His brother wasn't trying to upset him, and he knew that. He just had to remember that this was how Balthazar showed affection. He was a trouble maker and a joker, but definitely not an intentional bully.
"Thank you," Castiel muttered, genuinely grateful. "That… That means a lot to me."
"That's enough with the chick flick moments," Dean decided. "Give me some dirt on Cas!"
Balthazar launched into his favorite tale, the one about the Christmas program. When Castiel was in the fourth grade, he was chosen to play Joseph in their church's Christmas play. He felt very honored to have such an important part and he took the role very seriously. He got the most realistic costume possible, complete with a threadbare robe and broken down leather sandals. On opening night he walked on stage and began his lines… unaware that his robe had come undone. The entire congregation saw his Batman boxers, and he wasn't made aware of the wardrobe malfunction until after the curtain dropped. All of the parents found it to be adorable, but Castiel was mortified. He sat in the back of the church for years, just to avoid his peers.
Balthazar shared a few other stories, most of them memories he shared with Castiel from their childhood. He told Dean about when they would go camping, and how Castiel would roast marshmallows for him because he was the only one who could get them the right shade of golden brown. He talked about how Castiel taught him to ride a bike, how he would walk him to and from school. Dean enjoyed learning so much about the part of Cas that he didn't know. Castiel wasn't one to share memories from his past, especially not such sentimental ones. It was great to get to know him from another person's perspective.
After a few hours of swapping adventures and memories, Dustin came in and informed them that visiting hours were up. Castiel went to the front desk to sign Balthazar out, and Dean went to follow when Balthazar caught him by the arm.
"I didn't say anything in front of Castiel, because he would throw a royal fit if I did. But today is his birthday, and I think you guys should do something special for him tonight. I left his present up at the front desk, and a couple bucks so one of the orderlies could run out for decorations. He doesn't say it, but birthdays mean a lot to him. Please make it special."
Dean nodded, happy to know that Balthazar trusted him with this task.
"And… thank you for making my brother open up. I can see just by the way he interacts with you, the way he looks at you, that he cares about you an awful lot. Don't let him get hurt, okay? Because he has been hurt enough," Balthazar confided.
"I know. I'll look after him, I promise."
"Good." Balthazar clapped a hand on Dean's shoulder and smiled gently before disappearing out the door.
Dean was glad that Balthazar loved Castiel so much. Dean had assumed since he hadn't come to visit in such a long time, that he had stopped caring about his brother, but he was dead wrong. Balthazar was simply waiting for the opportunity to come back into Castiel's life, and now he'd found it. Dean had to take this chance to prove that he cared about Castiel as well.
Now, what theme should Castiel's surprise birthday party have, Dean wondered.