Dean was curled up with Cas in the hospital bed watching him munch on some broccoli. Hospital food seemed pretty crappy, so after Cas was finished absorbing his IV bag of water and they could leave, Dean was making him real food to make up for it.

The silence between them started to grow uncomfortable. Cas swallowed his last piece of broccoli. Dean didn't know what to bring up first. How sorry he was for kicking him out, how sorry he was that Cas got stabbed, why Cas was outside his building in the first place, why he hadn't eaten, why his friends hadn't seen him, how sorry he was for blaming Cas for Sam's withheld information. He could go on. He felt awful.

"I'm sorry," they said at the same time.

Dean balked. "What're you saying sorry for, Cas? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be in here," he said.

Cas shook his head, "That was the mugger, not you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Sam."

"It's okay. I know Sam twisted your arm. I'm sorry I got so mad about it," Dean replied.

"You had every right to be mad," Cas said, "I should've told you. It just didn't feel right. I didn't want to lie to you, but it was very clearly not my secret to share."

Dean wrapped an arm around Cas' shoulders.

He nestled his head between his boyfriend's neck and shoulder and said, "I understand. I'm not mad, Cas. I should never have been mad at you. It's okay."

Cas reached for a spoon to take a bite of vanilla pudding.

Before occupying his mouth with food, Cas asked, "Are we okay?"

Dean backed off of Cas to look at him directly.

"Are we okay?" Dean echoed, "Can you ever forgive me for-"

"Yes," Cas said quickly, "Of course. There's nothing to forgive. I understand why you-"

"I kicked you out, Cas. I kicked you out on the street like it was nothing. I am so sorry. I never should've hurt you like that. I never wanted to-I'm sorry," Dean said.

Cas kissed Dean quickly.

Cas said, "I was upset, but I know why you did it. I forgive you. Is that the only reason why we might not be okay?"

Dean nodded. "Nothing else comes to mind," he said.

Cas smiled, "Then, we're okay."

Dean pressed Cas' lips to his.

"We're better than okay," Dean said.

Cas laid back on Dean's chest and pulled the food tray up with him.

"Can I ask why you haven't eaten in a while?" Dean asked after a bit.

"It was only five days. I stayed with Gabriel for two days and he gave me waffles," Cas said, "But mainly, I didn't eat because I left Gabriel's place and I didn't have anywhere else I wanted to go. And I'm broke, so restaurants were out of the question."

"You couldn't have gone to Balthazar's?" Dean asked.

Dean's stomach flipped uncomfortably. Cas hadn't eaten because Dean kicked him out, and he was too afraid of making things worse to come back. Goddammit. The stitches may not be Dean's fault, even though Cas wouldn't have been mugged if he had been home with Dean, but the five days without food was entirely Dean's fault. Shit. Dean was the worst person he knew. Aside from Luci. Maybe.

"I didn't want to tell him about getting kicked out. I understood why you did it after a few hours, but Balthazar would be much less forgiving," Cas replied.

Dean asked, "What about Benny?"

Cas shook his head, "Benny is my friend, but he is also yours. I didn't want to tell him either since I didn't want to make him feel like he had to choose or something."

Dean nodded and wrapped his arms around Cas. "I'm so sorry, Cas," he said quietly.

Cas put the tray aside. He flipped over to look up at Dean.

"It's okay, Dean," he said, "I'm okay."

Dean sighed, "You could've so easily been not okay."

"Yeah, and that would've been my problem. This is not your fault," Cas said. Dean nodded, but he couldn't help it. None of this would've happened if he'd just grown a pair and let Cas stay even if he was upset. Cas resumed eating and relaxed against Dean's shoulder.

"Next time we fight or I get mad or something," Dean said quietly, "The furthest I'm kicking you out is to the couch, okay?"

"I do really like that couch," Cas said with a grin.

Dean asked quickly, "Did the muggers take anything?"

Cas shook his head. Around a spoonful of pudding, he said, "No. They asked for money, but I didn't have any. So, they searched me. Apparently, my being without cash frustrated them, because that's why they stabbed me."

Before Dean could respond to that, a nurse came in and said, "It looks like you're done with the fluids." He peeled back the tape on Cas' arm and pulled out the IV needle which was much longer than Dean had expected. The nurse pressed a gauze pad to Cas' arm where it had started to bleed.

He pulled out a pressure bandage from one of his pockets and told Cas, "Leave all this on for at least four hours."

Cas nodded quickly.

As the nurse grabbed the empty IV bag, he said, "The doctor said you're free to go when you're ready, but not to rush you or anything, we do need this room pretty soon. Just got another emergency in."

Cas sat up slowly. He'd only needed three stitches, but it was probably a good idea not to push it. He was going to have a pretty decent scar on his side.

"Does that hurt at all?" Dean asked as he slid out from the hospital bed.

Cas shook his head, "They numbed the area to put the stitches in. I can't feel it at all, which frankly, feels exceedingly weird."

Dean handed Cas the shirt he got him from the hospital gift shop. Cas' shirt wound up being cut open in the ambulance, whereas Dean's was so blood-soaked from holding it against Cas' stab wound that he decided to just toss it out. After it was clear Dean couldn't have accompanied Cas into the operating room, he ran over to the gift shop, bought them both shirts, and waited in the waiting room for any news.

Cas took the shirt and slipped it on carefully. When they walked out to the reception desk, Dean watched Cas in case he was weaker than he seemed. Eating something really made a difference in the pale, half dead look Cas had come in with.

"Castiel Novak?" the lady behind the desk asked.

Cas nodded.

She said, "It's a thirty dollar copay and the doctor left a note here saying you need to come back in two weeks to get those stitches out."

Dean handed her his debit card and said, "No more hospital trips for a while, alright?"

His wallet was really starting to feel it. He was out 90 bucks from Sam and Cas combined, and the hospital hadn't yet billed him for the stuff the school insurance didn't want to cover. He may have to start working at the garage earlier this year.

Dean pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Jo.

She picked up right away and, before he could say anything, she said, "Be right there." Then she hung up.

Dean put his phone away, having not said a single word, and told Cas, "She's on her way." Cas shot him a quizzical look but didn't ask.

When Jo got there, Dean saw it was pretty steadily snowing. He took off his jacket and handed it to Cas.

"We're just going to the car, Dean," Cas protested.

Dean sighed, "You just had stitches, and I figured I'd be a good boyfriend and make sure you don't get too cold. If nothing else, please take it so Jo doesn't smack me for not giving it to you."

Cas accepted the jacket and pulled it on.

"It would be pretty funny to see Jo hit you," he said.

Dean laughed, "Shut up." The ride back to Dean's place was pretty smooth, and it was even better given the fact Cas spent the whole ride with his head on Dean's shoulder. When they got home, Dean was worried for a minute that Cas was asleep, and he'd have to carry him upstairs. But Cas stirred right as Jo pulled up to curb.

"For the love of God, be careful," Jo said as they got out of the car, "This car may be fast, but it's not a freakin' ambulance. You guys stay safe."

Dean nodded at Jo from outside the car, "Yes, ma'am."

Jo rolled her eyes and drove away.

As they walked inside, Dean decided Cas could wear his leather jacket whenever he wanted; it was slightly too big for him, and he was absolutely adorable wearing it. His fingers barely made it past the sleeves. So. Fucking. Cute.

When they got to the apartment, Charlie ran out of her room and hugged Cas tightly.

"Careful, Charlie," Dean said, "The guy just got stitches."

She released Cas quickly like she broke him, "Oh my God. I'm sorry! I didn't even think-I'm glad you're okay."

He smiled, "It's fine."

Charlie, much more slowly and gently, hugged Cas again.

"I'm glad you're home," she said against his chest.

He hugged her back and said, "Me too."

Charlie released Cas and said to them, "Well, I'll leave you to it."

She quickly retreated to her room where Dean heard her say to Dorothy, "Cas is back and he's not dead and Sam's back and he's not dead and Dean's fine and I'm so happy right now."

Cas turned to Dean and asked, "Sam's back? I thought you said he went to Gabriel's."

"He did," Dean said, "If he's here, it may not have gone well."

Cas walked over to Sam's room and knocked on the door. Dean was going to suggest letting Sam come talk to them when he was ready, but Cas' direct approach could work, too.

"Come in," Sam said. Cas walked in and Dean followed suit. Cas sat next to Sam on the bed.

"How are you?" Cas asked, as if he wasn't the one who just got out of the hospital.

Sam shrugged, "I don't know. I'm glad you're okay. I'm really glad you're here, and Dean isn't being a dick. So, I'm kind of good, but I might've done something stupid."

"What'd you do?" Dean asked in a teasing tone.

Cas shot him a look to stop joking.

Sam sighed, "I feel like I broke up with Gabe."

Cas cocked his head to the side, "Were you dating him?"

"No," Sam said, "But I told him we shouldn't hang out anymore."

"Why?" Dean asked.

"Because I want to date him," Sam replied, "I just got away from Luci, though. I don't want anything serious for a while. And Gabe is Gabe and...I need to get my head straight before I see him again."

Dean nodded. It made sense that Sam wouldn't want a relationship right away after all that shit. But he didn't think Sam was telling the full story. Something else was there. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on Sammy until he figured out what was up. No more fucking secrets.

Cas said quietly, "Did Gabriel take it well?"

"Yeah, he took it surprisingly well," Sam said.

Cas nodded, "I should call him. I doubt he's really okay."

Sam stared at him, "What? Why wouldn't he be?"

Cas put a hand on Sam's shoulder and fixed him with a strong gaze. Dean felt for Sam's predicament of being stared at like that. Cas could be really fucking intense.

"He really cares about you, Sam," Cas said evenly, "He's going to be worried about you, especially if he can't see you."

Sam nodded and looked at the floor.

Dean stood up and said, "We'll see how Gabriel's doing in the morning. In the meantime, Cas needs rest. Sammy, I want you to do what you think is best. If you think being away from Gabriel is good for you, do it. If you think seeing him would be better, fine. Just try to be happy, okay?"

Sam looked up at Dean and nodded, "Okay."

Cas stood up and joined Dean at the door.

"Goodnight," Cas said before he left. Sam gave Cas a tight smile.

Dean put a hand on Sam's arm. "It'll be okay, Sammy," he said, "Goodnight." He followed Cas out into the hall and closed Sam's door.

They crossed the hall to their room, and Dean helped Cas out of his shirt so he wouldn't stretch his stitches. After he disrobed down to his boxers, he sat on the bed and gently tugged Cas' pants off. Cas helped a little, but Dean liked to believe he did most of the work.

A soft sound caught Dean's attention, but since they lived in an apartment building, noises happened all the damn time. He dismissed it and lay down next to Cas.

He curled his arm around his boyfriend and said, "I missed this."

Cas smiled, "I missed your bed."

Dean propped himself up on an elbow. "I'm never letting you go again," he said, "I promise."

Cas hugged Dean, one of his stitches scratching against Dean's bare stomach.

"Good. I'm holding you to that," Cas said. Dean grinned and kissed Cas softly.

"You should get some rest," he said. Cas nodded and curled up against Dean's chest.

That soft sound pricked at Dean's ears again. It was quiet, but it didn't sound like it was coming from their neighbors. Suddenly, he knew what the noise was. And he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Dean shut his eyes and tried to drown out the muffled sobs coming from Sam's room with Cas' steady breathing. Only Gabriel would be able to help Sam. Nothing Dean or Cas said would do any good. He just wished his brother wasn't hurting so bad.

"Is that Sam?" Cas mumbled.

Dean nodded, "Yeah, it is."

Cas lifted his head.

"I don't think we should leave him alone," Cas said.

Dean sighed and sat up.

Cas rubbed his back softly, making Dean want to lay right back down and make out with Cas.

"We can cuddle later," Cas said.

Dean stood up and got his shirt and pants back on. Cas did the same.

Before Dean even left the room, Cas walked across the hall and into Sam's room without even knocking. Dean was partially worried at how Sam would react to the intrusion and partially impressed at how Cas had some serious balls doing that.

Sam sat up, surprised, and Cas hugged him. Dean leaned against Sam's doorway as he watched his brother cry into his boyfriend's shirt.

This was one of those things he did not think he'd see when he woke up in the morning. As Sam started to calm down, Dean realized that if Sam wanted to get his head straight before seeing his friend, Gabriel was going to be waiting for a long time.

"Cas doesn't think we should be leaving you alone tonight," Dean said when Sam stopped crying.

Sam sniffed and asked, "What?"

"You seem very upset," Cas explained, "Usually company can help with that."

Sam smiled and told Cas, "I'll be fine. Thank you for sitting with me, but I'll be fine. Go to bed."

Cas nodded and stood up, clearly not wanting to press the issue.

Dean said, "If you need anything, including a hug from Cas apparently, we'll be across the hall."

Sam nodded and said, "Thanks guys."

Dean and Cas went back to their room. After undressing yet again and getting back in bed, Dean was asleep within seconds of hitting the pillow.