That evening, Dean was able to get up and move a bit. He walked around the hallway outside his room and even sat up in the chair Cas had claimed as his bed for the duration of Dean's stay. Charlie and Dorothy showed up with a duffel bag: changes of clothes, toiletries, both of their phone chargers and a few of the books that had been stacked on Cas' nightstand.

"Cas," Dean had tried to persuade, "you need to sleep at home. Sam's all by himself. And what about work? You can't take time off because of me."

"First of all," Cas said firmly, "I can sleep here just fine, thank you very much. Charlie and Dorothy are staying at the house with Sam, so he is certainly not alone. Besides, do you honestly think Bobby and Ellen aren't there all the time? Second of all, I can – and will – take time off of work to be here with you. I already talked to the principal about it yesterday, and they have a sub in place for me. Third, you can't tell me what to do." Cas smiled at Dean and leaned down to kiss him. Dean knew there would be no arguing with Cas about it; he was just as stubborn as Dean. Dean was adamant about Sam returning to school that Monday, however. Sam raised little objection. He knew the distraction would be good for him, and he knew Cas was there with Dean.

Sam was there every day after school and Cas stayed with Dean night and day. He never even left to get food. Ellen had it covered. The next morning, she showed up with three meals for Cas and Sam, each enough food to feed at least four people. Dean grumbled about how unfair it was that they got to eat all of Ellen's home cooked comfort foods, while he was stuck with beef broth and jell-o.

The third day, Jodi showed up to inform them that the District Attorney had officially charged Bela with two counts of first degree attempted murder. She had been arraigned, plead 'not guilty' and was being held without bail.

"We don't know the trial date yet, but I imagine it will start just after the New Year," she said. "The DA seemed pretty eager to get moving on this one. She's trying it herself."

"No kidding?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," Jodi shifted a little, "she...uh...she wants to come talk to all of you, if you're up for it." Cas and Sam looked to Dean.

"Sure," he shrugged. "I wanna get this over with ASAP."

"Great," Jodi seemed relieved, "I'll let her know. She'll probably stop by this afternoon."

As promised, around four, the DA showed up. A woman in her late thirties with a no-nonsense attitude, long brown hair and a killer body arrived. She strode into the room as though it were her office and Dean had come to see her. She extended her hand as she moved confidently to the side of Dean's bed.

"Pamela Barnes," she said with a smile that could easily seduce anyone, "Call me Pam." Dean shook her hand. She plopped herself down on the edge of his bed, placing her hand on the opposite edge, and leaned over his legs as though she'd known him for years. "So," she said with a sigh, "nothing like a crazy ex, huh?"

Dean shot a look to Cas, who raised his brow at the familiarity with which this woman spoke to them. Sam smirked. He liked this woman.

"So, I've read the police report, and the paperwork for the PPO, as well as the report on Ms. Talbot's little visit to Singer Auto, but I'd like you to talk me through it all, if you're up for it."

Another look to Cas, who moved closer to him, and Dean nodded. He filled Pam in on every one of the incidents, starting with when they broke up and ending with the hospital. When he was finished, Dean felt drained. He leaned back against the pillows and took a deep breath.

"Well," said Pam with an air of satisfaction, "that's enough."

"Enough?" Cas asked, speaking up for the first time. Pam gave him an appraising look, then smiled; she liked what she saw.

"Enough to put her away for life," Pam said. "Most likely, she'll go to a treatment facility, rather than prison, but she'll be off the streets."

Dean's brow furrowed, but he nodded. As long as she was out of their lives. For good.

Cas leaned over and took Dean's hand. Pam smiled at them both.

"I'm sure you suspected as much, but I'll be calling both of you as witnesses." She nodded toward Dean, "and I'd like to call your brother as well," she looked over at Sam. "Seeing as how he is a minor, I will need your permission as his guardian."

"Only if he's willing." Dean's answer was firm. "I'm not going to force my brother to testify if he doesn't want to." Dean's eyes flashed with pain. "He's been through enough already."

"I'll do it." Sam's answer was just as firm as Dean's. Dean looked to Sam, and his jaw clenched. His brow drew down into a frown that betrayed a deep sadness.

"Drop it right now, Dean," Pam was even more firm.

"Excuse me?" Dean was lost.

"The guilt," Pam said. "I can see it. The guilt you are carrying about all of this. You've been caring for him your whole life, and you've done an excellent job of it. Don't start thinking that you did this."

"You been talking to Sam already?" Dean asked suspiciously, looking between the two.

"No." She shook her head, "I can just tell." She stood up and moved toward the door.

"Remember this, Dean: Bela Talbot did this." She turned back to look him in the eye. "Not you."

The muscles in Dean's jaw jumped as he clenched it, but he nodded at her. Cas squeezed his hand.