Chapter 14: Second Day

In the next day Sam woke up and felt someone moving in his serum and painkiller tubes that connected the suspended bag to Sam's arm. He started to feel the burn in his wrist hurting again. It usually started to hurt at night, Sam hoped it stopped, but it never did, not until a nice nurse came and unblock the tube of the painkillers and let the transparent liquid pass to his veins. But this time it wasn't her who was next to his bed. This time was a man, and he seemed familiar to Sam.

"What're you doing?" Sam asked with a sleepy voice. He sat on the bed.

"Oh, you're awake." The man said turning to him. "I'm giving you analgesics so you can rest. The bag was empty."

No wonder he was in pain. His nice doctor had told him second-degree burns were very painful but not very serious. In 2 weeks his arm should be as new.

Sam recognized the man. He had seen him the day before. Even for a few seconds he could memorize his face.

"Who are you?" Sam asked.

"I'm Gabriel. Novak."

Sam was a little confused. That meant that the man the day before warned Castiel about his doctor visit and was now in front of him was…

"Yeah, I'm Cassie's brother. If that's what you're wondering." Gabriel concluded Sam's thought.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked with a confused look.

"I work here."

Sam had to admit that had been a stupid question considering Gabriel had a blue costume like all other nurses.

"Since when?" Sam hadn't seen him working until that day.

"You do a lot of questions, don't you?" Gabriel wasn't sure if Sam doubted him or he just wanted to know him. "I work here since today. Thanks to Cas, I had a date with your sexy doctor Kali last night. I told her I took a degree in nursing but I hadn't got a job yet. I told her about my curriculum. As she was amazed with my qualifications and she offered me a job." But that wasn't the only thing Kali gave him. Gabriel remembered the hot a sweaty night he had had. "Just don't tell Cas. He doesn't like I use my natural skills for my own propose. But it was his fault, he suggested it. I'm surprised he did, actually. But it doesn't matter; I won." Gabriel was glad; once more he had succeeded to Castiel's stupid test.

"I thought Cas couldn't leave home." Sam commented.

"And he can't. Mike forbade him, and told me to keep an eye on him." Gabriel explained.

"But you didn't." It was supposed to be a question but it came more like affirmation.

"No, I did. Otherwise I wouldn't have been here yesterday." Gabriel tried to make a point. "Cas was most of the time in his room. He didn't leave home. It was making no good to him."

"I guess your brother thought so."

"He doesn't know anything about Cas. He's always working, he barely stops at home." Sam could feel anger in his voice. "He doesn't know what happened to you two. He doesn't know how Cas feel about it. He doesn't know what is like to see Cas depressed every day, I do!" Gabriel exhaled. "He was killing himself. And when finally he wanted to get out and look for you again, I couldn't tell him no. We both knew the odds of you being alive were almost none but Cassie had to try. He had to make sure, as he said. Honestly, whatever happened, he couldn't get worse."

"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" They turned their attention to Castiel that had entered by the half opened door.

"Oh, am I?" Gabriel started to approach Castiel. "You almost didn't eat, only when I compelled you. I bet you didn't sleep either. A few more days like that and you would be here."

Was I like that? Was I that bad? I know I was mess but… Castiel looked down. He remembered the past 2 weeks he had passed in pure depression. Gabriel is right. How I didn't realize? But he should talk to me not tell this things to Sam.

"Why? Why are you telling him this? What's your point?" He knew Gabriel. He didn't use to talk about Castiel's life, especially with a stranger.

"My point is that you suffered enough for him." Gabriel turned to Sam. "So if you hurt my little bro again, I'll turn your life into a hell."

Sam just nodded. He wondered if Gabriel knew about his relationship with Castiel. Probably yes.

"You two be good while I'm out. I'll be right back." Gabriel left the room.

"Does he know? About us?"

"Well, yeah. He guessed. I didn't confirm… but he's convinced we're together."

"And he's cool with it?" Gabriel hadn't been very friendly in his statement.

"Yes, he's cool. If he wasn't he wouldn't have warned you first."

"Lucky me." Sam said ironically.

Castiel smiled. "How are you feeling today?" Castiel sat on the bed.

"Better. Now that you're here." Castiel stared at him. "What? Too sappy?"

"A little." Castiel confirmed.

"Well, it's true." Sam shrugged and made an angelic look.

"Or maybe it's the painkillers." Castiel suggested.

"Then it's better we make sure."

Castiel smiled. He leaned forward to find Sam's dry lips. Castiel managed to wet his lover's lips. The glow in those beautiful lips made them even more kissable. So Castiel went deeper into Sam's tasteful mouth and more frenetically.

"Definitely not the painkillers." Sam said in a whisper between kisses.

Castiel gave a quick smile. Sam put a hand on Castiel's neck, pulling him closer.

"Hey, I told you to be good." Gabriel entered with a tray with food for Sam.

"Eat this." Gabriel put the tray between Sam and Castiel. "Instead of my brother's tongue."

Sam and Castiel were looking at him. Sam was surprised and Castiel wondered if Gabriel could have been more subtle. No, Gabriel wasn't like that.

"What? I told I was coming back."

"Ok, thanks Gabriel." Castiel said. "Can you leave now?"

"I was just taking care of my personal sick boy."

Sam reflected about what Gabriel had said. "So no other nurse will come here?" The implicit question was 'Will we be completely alone?'

"Don't get ideas, kid. I'll be watching you." Gabriel said before he leaves.

Gabriel had brought him a strawberry yogurt and bread with cheese. Sam started to eat the yogurt.

"One thing I don't get it is how did you find me?" Sam commented.

"It was in part thanks to Gabriel actually. Gabriel was watching an episode of CSI and it gave me an idea. The media always passed the information that you were dead, and I thought it was for your protection. If the drug dealers knew you had survived, they could come after you."

"And finish the job." Sam concluded. "Cops said it was better if no one knew I was alright, besides my family. But how did you found out I was here in this hospital? You didn't just asked for me and the nurses told you. Only a restricted number of doctors and nurses know my file."

"I have contacts." Sam raised an eyebrow. "I have a friend. He's a hacker and I asked him to access to hospitals files and search your name." Castiel explained.

"You know that's illegal." Sam said in shock.

"I know. But I had no other option."

Sam kept staring at him.

"What?" Castiel asked confused.

"You. I didn't think you would do illegal stuffs." Sam said surprised.

"Only when I need to. It's not like I'm into drugs or something."

"Speaking of which, cops have been here making questions."

"What did they ask?"

"They wanted to know the all story. But mostly they wanted the description of the drug dealers."

"Did you talk about me?"

"…No. I don't know why. I mean, I didn't know what had happened to you… but I had a feeling that your were alright. Have I done wrong?"

"No. You did well." Castiel gave him a small smile.

"You think cops will catch them?" Sam asked.

"I hope so. But honestly, I think they are already miles away from here."

"Justice must be done. They have to pay for what they did."

"The important is that you're ok." That was what mattered to Castiel.

"I wasn't talking about what happened to me. But to other people. People before me that they probably killed and people they'll hurt to take them off their way. No one cares about that."

Sam seemed disturbed and disappointed. Castiel felt some experience Sam had in past was implanted in his speech. But that was no place or time to talk about it.

"Well, you do."

"You don't?"

Castiel exhaled. "Call me selfish if you want… but the only person I care about, right now, it's you." Castiel said truthfully with love in those words.

Castiel gave him a little but tender kiss.