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In the morning, Castiel woke up to the black screen of his laptop. The battery must have died during the night. It was until later in the day when Castiel gave Dean a phone call. He wasn't sure Dean even wanted to talk to him anymore, but he had to try.

Dean answered after a lot of ringing. "I was sleeping," he grumbled on his end of the line.

"I figured you would be," Castiel said. He poured himself some coffee. Gabriel hadn't returned from his outing yet, and Castiel wasn't hungry. There was just coffee for breakfast.

"Cas? I wasn't expecting your call. Hang on—did that really happen last night? The video call? Oh, fuck."

"Dean, could we talk about that? I have many things I need to say to you." Castiel leaned against the kitchen wall, running a hand through his damp hair.

"No, Cas, we're not doing this," Dean said, his voice hard. "You wanna know why? 'Cause we're never going to be friends if we keep digging deeper into our relationship. You left. That was your choice, man. I have to deal with it. I'm not going to force you to be with me because I know you don't want that."

"Dean, please listen—"

"I'm not doing this, man," Dean said. "I have to go."

"Dean."

It was too late. Dean hung up. He wouldn't listen. Why wouldn't he listen?

An Open Book was busy for most of the day. Castiel preferred keeping his mind occupied, to keep himself from thinking about Dean. It was unbearable seeing how Dean was hurting. But Dean refused to talk about their issues. They needed to really talk to each other, like they did before. If Dean was angry, he had a right to yell. Just like Castiel had yelled at Bela's party. It was impossible to move forward without getting things out in the open.

Beside him, Hannah gasped at her computer screen. Castiel stopped flipping through his book and turned to her.

"Exciting news?"

Hannah flushed and smiled coyly. "I'm not big on celebrity gossip, really."

Castiel raised his eyebrows.

"I do like to follow the actors from your movie, though," she said. "I always thought Dean and Bela were good together. And I would never ask you for information about them, but I am curious."

Castiel sighed. "Dean and Bela, what an epic love story."

"I know they were never together," Hannah said, frowning. "I mean, he said so himself in an interview. But now look at this—" Hannah turned the monitor screen toward Castiel, scrolling to the top of the page. "Dean Winchester and Ruby Jones are apparently dating. And I get that she's beautiful and everything, but she's all wrong for him. Maybe it's not my place to speak. I don't personally know either of them."

Castiel couldn't look away from the screen. In the picture, Dean had his arm around the so-called Ruby Jones. The brunette was gorgeous. She had a smirk on her face that could break hearts in an instant. There was no doubt that they made a great couple. Except, were they a couple?

"I don't understand," Castiel said. "Dean never mentioned that he was dating her."

"Maybe he's not," Hannah said, shrugging. "You know how people lie and spread rumors. They have been seen a lot together lately. Who knows what's real and what's made up on the Internet anymore, right?"

Castiel swallowed, and suddenly his chest hurt. "I'm going to go home, Hannah. Would you please close the store tonight?" He grabbed his bag and keys.

"Yeah, I'll take care of everything," Hannah said.

The road to his house felt endless. Castiel cursed when he saw that Gabriel still wasn't home. He needed something to keep his mind off of Dean. This entire situation was consuming him. Why couldn't he and Dean go back to the easy days at the Roadhouse, at the beach? Why did Castiel let this happen?

Dean had every right to be with Ruby or anyone else he might choose. Castiel should only wish him happiness. So why did it hurt so much to lose him this way?

The neighborhood was dark and desolate. Slamming his car door, Castiel stomped to his garage. He grabbed his rusty bike and climbed on it. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and took off his dress shoes. A long bike ride was the only thing he could think of to clear his head.

Castiel rode around the streets in his neighborhood. The Rain Song, that quiet and mellow song that often played in Dean's stereo was stuck in his head. He could hear it loud and clear, as if the music was really playing. As if he was in Dean's Impala, driving to the beach to hunt for ghost crabs or break into haunted motels.

Castiel pedaled faster, heading toward the main street. He rode on the right lane while there were no cars. The song from his memories was still playing. He remembered the way it'd made him feel. He remembered the softness of the melody, mixed with the leather scent from the seats of the Impala, and Dean's familiar cologne. Castiel could still sense everything so clearly.

This is not working.

Lawrence was a lonely place at night. People went to sleep too early here. Everyone was too involved in their own lives to let anyone new in. Castiel understood this now. He'd created so many ideas about this town, but it was just another town. It meant nothing to him at this point. Gabriel would eventually leave, and the only person Castiel would have around would be Rufus. But Castiel had depended enough of that kind man. He didn't need to bother him any longer.

This place Castiel called home didn't offer him any happiness. And what was a home, if it wasn't happiness?

I made a mistake. I made a mistake, Dean.

A bright light appeared at a turn. Headlights, Castiel realized too late. The car came fast, swerving at the corner.

The bike, along with its passenger, flew quite a length away from the pavement.

Castiel was sure he was no longer lying unconscious on a street under a night sky. He was in a room without any lights, which wasn't much of an upgrade.

"Cas?"

Castiel groaned, shifting slightly. He stopped moving when he felt several parts of his body aching. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and when he tried to wipe it away, he felt the cast that was covering his right arm.

A light came on in the room. Gabriel hovered over him, anxious and worried all the same.

"Can you see me?" he asked.

Castiel nodded, wanting to speak, but his mouth was too dry and he had little energy.

"Do you recognize me?" his brother asked.

Castiel nodded again, although the motion was making him dizzy.

"Good. I just didn't believe the doctor," Gabriel said. "Apparently you came in here looking like a dead man, and you have a concussion. Sometimes they lie to you just 'cause they pity you. Anyway, you have a broken leg and a broken arm. What the hell were you doing riding your bike in the middle of the street, kiddo? Are you twelve?"

Castiel closed his eyes, nauseated. He stretched his left arm until he felt the cast on his leg. This was not the right way to train for a marathon.

"I'm really sorry I couldn't be here yesterday," Gabriel said. "I got back into town late last night. I wouldn't have known you were in here if I hadn't seen the news. You had surgery on your leg and arm, and it looks like you're going to live to tell the tale. You really should get your emergency contact updated. You only had Naomi, but she's somewhere in Canada. Who goes to Canada on vacation?"

Castiel cleared his sore throat. "How long…how long have I been here?"

"Two nights," Gabriel said. "You were out all day yesterday."

"What…what did you say about the news?"

Gabriel winced, taking a step back. "Sorry, kiddo. Word got out that the enigmatic Castiel Novak, actor in the upcoming Coffee Dates blockbuster, had gotten hit by a car while riding his bike. There's a whole news station campground outside of the hospital."

Castiel was sure that he'd died and gone to hell. The last thing he wanted was to be talked about by strangers. As if his life was anyone else's business.

"I can't stay here. Get me out," Castiel said, attempting to sit up. He didn't get very far before his body sprung back to the bed.

"No can do, kiddo," Gabriel said. "You could have died, you know. I'm not letting you leave this hospital until the doctor says you good and ready. You got that?"

"Gabriel," Castiel complained. He didn't have any strength to do much else but accept his brother's command. In fact, the only thing Castiel wanted was to go back to sleep. His eyes fluttered, but right before he lost consciousness again, he heard the words that shook him awake.

"Did I forget to mention that your dear old buddy is waiting outside?" Gabriel said. "Dean Winchester came before I did. Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed in here. Family only."

"Dean," Castiel said, licking his dry lips. The last thing he remembered before being succumbed to incredible pain was Dean. "I want to see him."

Gabriel laughed, patting Castiel's shoulder gently. "I knew you'd perk right up when I told you that. Wait here, I'll see what I can do."

Castiel released a long breath. "My Dean came to see me," he whispered, doing his best effort to keep his eyes open.