It was the middle of the day when Dean felt his body jolt to life. He felt chills run up his body as he eagerly collected himself and searched for the clock, 5:12 pm.
He sat up in the hospital bed, "I need to find him." He whispered.
Hurriedly, he rushed over to the chair in the corner, snatching his jacket before heading for the door. His head peered around the rim of the doorframe and into the hall. The hallway was for the most-part clear, except for a few civilians straying outside family's rooms. He looked both ways down the hall before attempting to make his escape.
He held his jacket in his right hand, wrapping it around his wrist in attempt to cover the hospital bracelet. He casually turned the corner down the second hallway. He took a sigh of relief as he scanned the hallway and found it to be clear. He saw a directory sign as he neared the end of the hallway and stopped to read it:
'Exit: Next right down the hall.'
He felt a wave of happiness and reassurance as he turned down the last hallway. His smile suddenly jolted into a thin line as he saw both Lisa and his nurse come out of a door in the middle of the hallway.
Dean froze.
The nurse looked down at her clipboard and had her back facing Dean. Lisa's eyes shot up and locked hard on Dean.
Dean stood completely frozen, unable to move his body. He fastened his eyes on Lisa's. His mouth parted as he tried to take in air.
The nurse began to turn around and Dean became even more trepidatious. His legs screamed at him to run, but it felt like his shoes were glues to the ground.
When he gave up in thought that he was going to get caught, Lisa's hand grabbed the nurses shoulder and whipped her around before she had a chance to see Dean.
The nurse shot her a puzzling look, "What's the matter, Dear?"
Lisa hesitated for a second before momentarily glaring at Dean and then motioning her eyes down the end of the hall. Dean swallowed hard before understanding Lisa's intentions. A part of him was almost in complete awe.
"So, um," Lisa stuttered massively and the nurse became suspicious, "So, what's your opinion on Dean's situation?" She blurted out.
Dean crept slowly behind the nurse, tip-toeing down the hall. He clenched his fists and jaw tightly. He became more nervous with each step. He felt like he was stepping on a potato chip every time his foot touched the ground.
The nurse chuckled, "Personally, I believe he may need to talk to a counselor, or take some programs. He seems very emotionally unstable."
Dean stopped moving and gave the nurse a heated glare. Lisa saw Deans reaction and couldn't help but smile.
Lisa began answering the nurse as Dean started to creep down the hallway again. He became more agitated as he got closer and closer to the nurse.
The nurse started to turn around again when Lisa grabbed her shoulder, "So-so, uh, when do you think Dean will be all set to leave?"
At this point Dean was directly behind the nurse. Dean saw Lisa start to grow utterly uneasy.
If he gets caught, so does she.
He had no idea how much trouble he'd be in.
This is for Cas, he pondered as he swiftly kept moving.
He was 10 feet from the door when the fear and anxiety began to leave his body.
Lisa started walking and talking in the other direction, cautiously leading the nurse away from Dean. She slowly walked backward so she could make sure he got out.
Finally, Dean thought as he was almost to the door, I did-
His thought was interrupted by the sound of a large bang and the sudden feeling of pain in his toe. His head shot down to see the rolling gurney slowly moving forward. His head whipped around to the nurse and Lisa.
He shut his eyes. It was over.
The nurse gasped and Dean heard the sound of her clipboard drop to the ground, "Oh my god!" She yelled.
Dean opened his eyes.
He stared in complete disbelief.
Lisa lay on the ground, body stretched out and eyes tightly shut. The nurse, back still facing Dean, leaned over Lisa.
Dean stopped at first, in fear that something had really happened to her. But then she slowly opened one eye and exchanged a small grin. The nurse was too busy staring down the hall and calling for help to even notice.
The nurse stepped over Lisa and ran down the hall as she called for medics. Dean took this as his opportunity to run to the door. Dean looked down at Lisa as he pushed it open and felt a gust of wind across his face.
"Thank you," Dean whispered as a delighted smile spread across his face.
Lisa smiled back, "Go!" She said chuckling, "Go find him and tell him, Dean. Before I do it myself."
They smiled at each other for a moment before they heard the sound of people rushing down the hall next to them.
Lisa mouthed, 'GO!' To him again and Dean briskly stepped out the door and shut it behind him.
Dean leaned back against the door and took a deep breath, "Story of my life," He whispered as he exhaled, "Alright, now time for the real adventure," He said pushing off the door and running back to campus.
It took Dean no more than 20 minutes to get back to campus. His breath was uneven and he was more than fearful of what was about to happen.
The hallway to Cas' room seemed to stretch for miles. With every step, he felt his body grow weaker and weaker.
When he finally reached Cas' dorm, he took no hesitation to grab the knob and push the door open with whatever strength he had left in his body.
"Cas?!" Dean screamed. He scanned the room quickly.
His eyes sunk when there was no sign of Cas.
He ran a hand over his head as he walked over to Cas' bed, shutting the door behind him.
Dean threw his jacket on the floor and flopped his body on the bed.
Deans stomach tied into a knot. He wanted to give up. He wanted to give up so bad. More than he ever has in his whole life.
But the thought of never being able to see Cas again, that's what kept him going.
Just the simple mindless thought of being able to feel Cas under his hands again was enough to get him out of bed in the morning.
Dean gazed out the window and at the orange sunset that begun to appear over the sky. He took a raspy breath, "I'll just wait until he comes back," Dean said, his voice hoarse.
He shut his eyes for a few moments until slowly opening them and staring at Cas' desk across from the bed. His eyes trailed to Cas' computer screen, which glared brightly at Dean.
He squinted in blindness from the glare in the dim-lit room. He got out of bed and walked over to the desk to turn the brightness down.
As Dean fiddled with the keys, a tab opened up to Cas' email. Dean couldn't stop himself from reading.
Hi Castiel,
How are you feeling? I know you were having a rough time and I wanted to check in. I do however need your project. I emailed Dean and he hasn't gotten back to me. If you could drop it off sometime within the next week that would be great! If I'm not in my room just feel free to leave the papers on the desk.
Thanks and let me know how you are!
Crowley.
Dean paused for a minute.
Shit...I totally forgot...
He kept reading down the email chain.
Hi Professor,
I'm doing great, thanks. Would I be able to stop by today at around 6:30?
Thanks for checking in,
Castiel
Dean felt the knot in his stomach tighten.
6:30?
Dean fondled with his phone in his pocket until it came out. He checked the time.
6:15.
He gazed back at the email chain once more.
It's good to know you're doing good, Castiel! And yes that is fine. I won't be in but if you just leave it on my desk that would be perfect! Thanks!
-Professor
Dean immediately shot up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket as he bolted out the door.
He ran as fast as he could to Professor Crowley's room. He was excited and completely and utterly terrified all at the same time.
This was it.
This has to be it.
There was nothing Dean wanted more than to just see him. He didn't even have to speak.
He didn't even have to say a word.
He just wanted to see him.
Dean slowed down and placed his hand on the hard metal door to the lecture hall. He stared at the dull navy door and swallowed hard.
This is it.
Just tell him.
Just tell him everything.
Dean placed his head up against his arm. His arm lay between his head and the door.
In all truth, he had no idea what to say.
He had nothing planned.
He had no idea if he was going to walk in there and then fall completely speechless, or walk in there and blabble on about his mistakes.
He had no fucking idea of what was about to happen in that room.
Before he knew it, his hand gripped the door knob and he pushed it open.
"Cas?!" He yelled, scanning the room. He suddenly felt like gravity was against him.
No one answered.
"Cas!?" Dean yelled again, his voice slightly cracking.
"Dean?"