"What's this I hear your going out with some faggot?" John slurs loudly when Dean enters the door to their house. He wasn't shocked about how his dad was reacting more so by how soon he found out. Dean knew Lawrence was a small town, but he didn't realize word would spread so quickly. Before the eldest Winchester brother could get a word in edgewise John hit him, and hit him hard. Dean was used to this by now, the pain, the beatings, it wasn't unusual at this point in time, but it didn't make it hurt any less.
He knew John was so drunk he didn't know what he was doing, and that hurt almost as much as the beatings themselves, but as long as Dean was getting beat Sam was in the clear. He hadn't let Sam get hurt yet, Dean doubted Sam even knew. Sure the kid was smart, but he never questioned Dean to much, and he never fought Dean on if he was okay or not. Dean himself had taken every belt, every switch, every punch, kick, and slap John ever did because of his little brother, for his little brother, in fear that if he didn't he feared it would trickle down to Sam.
Sam always seen the bruises, but always believed Dean when he said he tripped and fell or got in a fight at school. He never told Sam the truth, never wanted to, he didn't want Sam to know what their father was capable of doing, and did quite often. The youngest Winchester never second guessed his older brother, therefore he was never at risk for his own brutal punishment, which Dean was quite alright with.
John took notice of Dean scrambling to stand back up, get purchase on anything so he would once again be vertical. So the eldest of the Winchesters hit the blonde again, and again. Once the teen was down, he was being kicked, over and over, in the ribs, in the head, one barely missed his groin. His father wasn't aiming, he was to drunk for that. Unfortunately for Dean, he was just kicking with all his might, with the intention of hurting him. Which was by far, much worse.
As John stumbled away, Dean got up and made his way to the bathroom, he knew this one was one of the worse ones. Climbing into the shower to wash away the blood, he started coughing more up, he knew something was broken, but without worry he wiped his mouth and continued washing. Dean washed as bright red mixed with clear and turned into a swirl of pink as it was sucked down into the plumbing. As the elder Winchester boy stepped out his blue towel quickly tinged with pink and red. The boy knew his father would just do more harm if he seen him again, so he checked the hallway before quietly running down the hall to his own bedroom. Once again, he vowed Sammy wouldn't find out as he clambered into bed. Dean laid there for what felt like forever before he finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning.
As the blonde awoke the next morning he was sore and bruised all over. His chest, back, and arms where a nasty shade of purple and his head throbbed. He knew he wasn't in any shape to go to school, but he also wanted to see his beloved Castiel. The thought of the man in which caused him such pain the night before, gave him enough power to get dressed and ready for school. He covered the bruises as much as possible, but he knew it'd never be enough for Castiel.
The minute Castiel's sights landed upon Dean's busted lip and split eyebrow he bombarded Dean with question after question. "What happen Dean?" and "What did you do?" Yet the one that got Dean to tell the wing obsessed Novak what happened was the words "What happened baby?" before Dean knew what was going on, words were spilling out of his mouth a mile a minute, and tears poured from his eyes. Castiel would be the first person other than Jo to know what happened behind closed doors in his household.
"Dean, Dean what happened? I don't understand. Your father did this?" Cas asked for the millionth time. Dean knew he didn't want to believe someone's parents could be so cruel. Unfortunately his father was, but only when he was drunk. That's how it had always been, sober Dean was in the clear, but if he heard heavy footsteps or glass clanking, he knew it would be a long night.
Dean composed himself enough to speak some more. "It's been going on since freshman year, when mom died. He'd get so drunk he wouldn't know what he was doing. I let him go after me so he won't go after Sammy. Sam doesn't know, and I don't want him to. He asked this morning and I told him I got into a fight with someone that confronted us on our date." Castiel's heart broke a little more with each word Dean spoke. That wasn't a parent that was a monster.
"Dean-" Cas began before being interrupted.
"It's fine, handsome, I've only got a few messed up ribs, but other than that I'm fine. I've learned the difference," Dean shrugged at the comment. He'd unfortunately learned the difference between broken, bruised, and a hospital trip. "I've got it under control," Dean whispered with a forced smile.
Castiel wasn't convinced, "If you need a place to stay my house is always open, and if you need anything," Castiel grabbed Dean's phone and put his number in, before shooting himself a text so he had Dean's as well. "You now have my number as well. Be careful Dean, please?" Dean had never seen anyone so concerned about him in years. John would never mention the bruises or cuts spread out over his body, and Sammy never hounded him after he was told Dean just got in a fight with someone. His mom was gone, and no one else knew him well enough to know when something was wrong.
Dean smiled at the the thought of having Castiel's number. "You're pretty great, Handsome," Dean whispered as he leaned in and kissed Castiel. Cas no longer cared if anyone seen them together, he was happy to be with Dean. Cas wanted to show Dean all the love he could as he kissed all the tears away.
When they finally pulled away the bell rang signaling Cas' first tardy, ever. Dean watched as Castiel's eyes grew wide and he struggled for a way to depart. Dean just laughed and walked away. Letting Cas run to class, he knew he should go to class, but he also knew his teachers would once again ask why he was all bruised and beaten. He'd had enough of their nosy demeanor for a lifetime. He walked out the door and to his hiding spot that had enough room for no more than two people. As he crouched down to hide from his responsibilities, the tears started to fall.
Dean hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep until he fell his phone ringing in his pocket. He seen the screen name written across his phone and he smiled. "Hey Cas," Dean spoke into the phone as he answered it's constant ringing.
"Where are you? I've been looking for you since fourth hour!" Cas yelled into the phone. He'd been panicking when he hadn't heard from Dean since that morning.
Dean grinned at the thought of Cas being worried about him, but instantly felt bad. He groaned as he tried to get up, smacking his face on the bricks surrounding him. "I'm out by the football field. The little place between the changing room and the bleachers." Dean mumbled as he held his bleeding nose.
"That's it, I'll be right there." Cas hung up and all but ran to where Dean said. It took the boy a minute to find the place Dean had been trying to explain. Dean was back in a small alcove wedged between two brick walls and leaning against the back of the wood bleachers. When Castiel's sights landed upon the man, he knew he needed to do something. Dean looked as though he was unconscious, as he lay there nose bleeding and bruises spread across his face and arms.
Castiel ripped his button up white shirt off and pressed it to Dean's nose, soaking up the falling blood. He checked to make sure he was breathing before getting under one of Dean's arms and nearly dragging Dean to the school. He was beyond worried at Dean's condition as they neared the school doors. Once inside, Castiel realized class had started and he was once again late.
Although Castiel was serious about school, he was more serious about Dean Winchester, and the man of his dreams was currently in a worse state than Castiel had seen him. He knew Dean would be mad at him when he realized Cas was the one that took him to the nurse's office, but Cas was more worried about Dean's well being than he would be when Dean was mad at him. He could be forgiven, whereas if something happened to Dean he would never be able to forgive himself.
As Castiel was stumbling into the nurse's office, which was three doors from the classroom he was suppose to be in. The nurse opened the door and nearly screamed. "What happened?" She asked pointedly to her star student Castiel as she ushered them into the room. Cas laid Dean down on the nearest cot before answering her.
"I don't know, Mrs. Harvelle, I found him outside like this, I think he's hurt," Cas mumbled sadly as he pulled his now bloody white shirt away from Dean's face. He knew Jo's mom was the school nurse, but he was always respectful. He looked around for somewhere to throw his shirt, he didn't need it anymore. It was beyond repair.
As the nurse inspected Dean she clucked her tongue. "Looks to me like he got into another fight." Ellen looked at her daughter's best friend in disapproval. How Jo put up with him was beyond her, but she loved the boy like he was her own. "I'll just fix him up, aren't you late to class, Mr. Novak." It was not a question, but an order to go to class. When she didn't hear him move she looked up at him with a questioning authoritative look, much like a mother would.
"I, uh, am already late," Cas spoke quietly, almost to quietly for her ears to pick up. It took her a minute to realize what exactly he meant, she looked at the clock, and laughed. Only 30 minutes left of class. Mrs. Harvelle walked to her desk, and pulled out a thermometer. Castiel noticed on her trek back she had a mischievous grin on her face.
"I wouldn't suppose you have a cold, would you Mr. Novak? Open wide." She said winking at him, he opened his mouth, letting her take his temperature. "Oh dear, looks like you've got a fever, you may stay here, go lay down in the cot right over there, you may rest up, while I tend to Mr. Winchester. Cas smiled at her, taking to aforementioned cot, just on the other side of Dean.
He laid there, watching Dean, or rather watching nurse Harvelle fix Dean up. He looked bad, his nose was covered in his blood, some dry, some still a wet bright red, a little blood still trickling out. His left eye was bruised and swollen, so much so it looked as though it wouldn't open regardless of if its owner tried. Deans shirt was bloodied, the brunette watched as Ellen cut it off to look closer at Deans bruised body. The Winchesters top lip was split, while the bottom lip was swollen, a rather large scabbed over cut, surrounded by an even larger bruise was on his right cheek. His arms, shoulders, and hands had bruises spread haphazardly over lightly tanned skin. His chest and right side looked as though it was one large bruise, and lastly his skin was covered in slightly older bruises, some yellow, green, and fading, others still slightly new.
It was a shock to Castiel to see so much harm on one person. Mrs. Harvelle finished up patching the open cuts, and stopped the major nose bleed, she through a blanket over Dean, and turned to the other boy. "You may stay for a while, make sure he's okay. Jo told me you two went out last night, I can see how much he means to you." She smiled sweetly at him, before turning and walking back into her office.
"I'm so sorry Dean," Castiel spoke to the quiet boy beside him. He sat up and grabbed Deans hand smiling at the blonde, with tears in his eyes. He knew Dean would be upset when he awoke and found out, but Cas had been far to worried for the other boy.
Cas sat watching him for what felt like forever, it was after the bell had rang, and the halls quieted back down, it was after Mrs. Harvelle had came back and checked on Dean once more, when he head it. The sound of a whisper or a slight cough. Cas heard it again, "Cas," Dean whispered eyes fluttering behind his still closed lids. "No! Leave him alone!" Dean screamed sitting straight up in the cot he was laying in, his head whipping back and forth, once his eyes landed on Castiel, they softened and he all but threw himself into the arms of the other boy.
This was by far the longest chapter, I took my time, took things out, put things in. Although even with scrolling through Tumblr for 30 minutes because I got distracted, this only took me a short hour to do. i really like how this chapter ended and now I have to completely reconstruct the next few chapters because I took out a HUGE part, but that's okay I like the way this sounds and goes much better which is the point of writing. I can now say i have 3 parts I'm quite proud of haha. Hope you enjoy it! Any Ideas feel free to comment! Happy holidays to all of you!
Word Count: 2404