Well...this chapter is a little longer than the previous two? heh. I tried to make it a bit longer, but I thought I kept you guys waiting long enough. Sorry for the tone of this chapter, I guess it's just the mood I'm in.

If you haven't heard yet:

My papaw is in a coma and is dying. His stupid family didn't contact us to tell us, finally, where he was until like late Saturday night and we went to see him Sunday. So I've been depressed all week, and so has Mom, and I've stayed home from school. Now I'm going to have to deal with his family when he passes. It's going to suck so very much. So, if I haven't been around much lately, you know why. I will try to update quicker, but it really just depends on what mood I'm in. Generally, this story has a more happy/fluffy tone (at least I think so) and thus I usually have to be in a good mood to write it...

Ok...scratch that...Dad just told me he passed away...so...yeah...:( Time to cry for about...four years? Yeah. Then I'll be good.

Onward...

Chapter Fifteen

No.

That was all Castiel could think as he waited for his brother to pick him up. How long had it been since he'd hung up the phone - or rather, had dropped it and the battery had popped out? Forty years? That seemed about right. But a glance at the clock assured him that only a minute and a half had passed by since then, and he felt like clawing his eyes out and pulling at his hair in frustration. His breath came in short, quick gasps as he struggled to keep himself calm, but damn it, it was hard. How was he supposed to be calm and 'not freak out' when he'd just been told Dean and Sam were in the hospital? His boyfriend and his boyfriend's little brother.

It just wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Hadn't Dean and his family been through enough already? Why was this happening? Who would have set fire to the Winchesters' house? Why? It wasn't making sense and it was starting to drive him crazy. Everything had been going so well for the first time in a while, and now this? Why did something bad always have to happen?

Be okay, he silently pleaded, unable to form words as the seconds ticked by like hours as he stared at the clock, willing it to move faster so his brother would get there quicker and they could get to the hospital. He had to see Dean. He had to see that he and Sam were okay. He had to find out what had happened. He had to know…

There was a lot he wanted to know. And this waiting was driving him insane.

Hurry up, Jimmy.

Not two minutes later, the front door was thrown open and Jimmy stood there, frowning at him. "Are you ready?" he asked. Castiel didn't bother responding as he darted out of the house and toward Jimmy's car. Jimmy climbed in as well and the two sped away from the curb.

"So what happened?" Castiel asked once he managed to find his voice. The words came out shaky and he cleared his throat.

"I don't really know," Jimmy said. "I was just driving by and saw them loading Dean and Sam into ambulances. The police said arson."

"Were they okay?" Castiel asked quickly. "Dean and Sam? How were they?"

"Unconscious," Jimmy answered, and Castiel felt a dark pit tighten in his stomach. Unconscious wasn't good. He remembered the last time Dean had been in the hospital after passing out in Drama Club after the hit and run, which they had later found out to have been caused by Justin. "I didn't see much, but they were okay…I think. I'm pretty sure. They wouldn't tell me much and they left in a hurry, but they were both breathing. Calm down, Cassie - it's not going to do anyone any good if you panic."

Castiel, on some level, did know that. But that didn't matter at the moment because all he could see in his mind was Dean's still form, the way he had looked when he had been in the hospital form, still and quiet in the large bed, the room smelling of antiseptic and medicine. He shuddered at the thought, and at the thought of Sam being there as well. He cared also for the younger brother, because Sam seemed to be an attachment of Dean. The brothers were close and were together a lot, bringing Castiel along as well. They did a lot with the three of them, just Castiel, Sam, and Dean. He didn't want either of them to be hurt, or worse.

No, he chided himself quickly, don't think of worse. They're okay, you heard Jimmy. Calm down.

But how was he supposed to calm down when he'd just heard his boyfriend had been unconscious, as well as his boyfriend's little brother? It just wasn't right - none of it was right. This was all so very wrong and he just didn't know what to do. He hated this. He wished he could rewind time and somehow warn Dean beforehand, but he couldn't and he hadn't known before. He knew it wasn't his fault, but he still felt somehow responsible. There was a dark pit hiding in his stomach, twisting and turning and making him feel overly nauseous each time he thought about it, about earlier today with Dean and the food, about this morning, about all their times together, and Sam…

"Calm down," Jimmy said as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Castiel took a few deep breaths and he did try, but it was hard. All he could think about was all the hardships they'd already gone through, first with coming to terms with the fact that he and Dean liked each other after Dean ran from the kiss, then with Dean getting put in the hospital from the hit and run, then the headaches and the whole police thing that had happened when they'd finally gotten Justin put away…and now all of this. It just wasn't fair. When would all the bad things stop happening? Hadn't Dean and Sam been through enough already? It wasn't right. And that was all Castiel could think as he and Jimmy entered the hospital.

A police officer was standing at the end of the hallway, talking to John, Dean and Sam's father. Castiel swallowed and moved toward them, Jimmy quietly following after him. "John?" Castiel asked quietly.

John stiffened and nodded in his general direction. Bandages were wrapped around his head, shielding his eyes. Even so, Castiel could see some of the marred flesh from the burns that had taken his sight. A part of him wondered, briefly, if Dean and Sam would now wear those kinds of burns, but he quickly shook the thought away. He couldn't think about that right now. "Castiel?" John asked as though for clarification. He sounded tired - overly so.

"Yeah." Castiel took in a deep breath, struggling to say what he wanted. Next to him, Jimmy shifted. "I…how are they? Are they okay?" He desperately needed to know, but yet he was afraid of the answer. What would he do if they weren't okay? What if they…what if they were dead?

Stop that! his mind growled. Stop it. Don't think like that, be positive.

But it was so hard…

"We…don't really know right now," John said roughly. "They haven't told me anything yet."

"Do…what happened? Do you know? Arson?" Jimmy asked as though sensing that Castiel couldn't form the words at the moment. Castiel sent his twin a grateful glance.

The officer touched John's shoulder and then walked away, reaching for the small radio he kept on his belt.

John sighed heavily. "The police think that someone broke in earlier today…and turned on the stove, just the gas. And then…they lit it when the kitchen was filled with it. That would have been about the time Dean got home, or so they tell me. Sammy…was in his room. I'd left earlier to…haggle out some of the Justin business." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The fire spread quickly, but help responded quickly as well. I don't know how Dean and Sam are. I'm sorry."

Castiel's head felt like it was spinning. How could this be happening? It just wasn't fair! "But why…would someone want to do that? Why would they do that?" He didn't understand. It just didn't add up.

"Has…Dean said anything about Justin?"

"He just…" Castiel frowned. "He just said he died in jail and that the police suspect he was murdered. Why?"

"Well…the police also suspect that…whoever killed Justin will come after us. We were supposed to leave and go into protective custody…but Dean didn't want to. We've been…fighting about it, lately. He didn't want to leave you and his life here. He said he was eighteen and didn't want to go if he didn't have to. And since there hadn't been any signs that the police were right and the person was after us…" John paused momentarily. "We didn't go. We stayed…."

This was all news to Castiel. He stared at John for a long moment, his mind scattered for the time being. The police thought the person was going to go after the Winchesters? Why? And why hadn't Dean said anything? Why hadn't he told Castiel he might have to leave? That no, things were not okay. Why hadn't he said anything? Castiel just couldn't fathom it at the moment. Dean hadn't told him. He hadn't even mentioned it, hadn't let him know anything was wrong. Why not?

"I know he didn't tell you," John sighed. "I tried to tell him to. I did. But he…Dean just didn't want to worry you if…there was a chance we could stay and not have to leave. Please don't take it out on him - it's been hard on all of us, and…" He trailed off slowly, his voice a low whisper by the time he was done. Castiel could see this was hard for him.

It was hard for Castiel too. There was a lot he wanted to talk to Dean about, but right now wasn't the time. He didn't even know if Dean was okay, let alone able to talk about it, and that was hard to think about. Those horrible images were bombarding him yet again and he couldn't get them to stop.

"When…" Castiel licked his lips and swallowed thickly as Jimmy put a hand on his shoulder as though for reassurance. But the feel was all wrong, because at that moment, the only person he wanted next to him was Dean, like it had been earlier. He just wanted everything to be okay. He wanted them to be okay. "When do you think they'll tell us anything?"

"I don't know," John sighed tiredly, scrubbing a hand across his face. "They just…told me to wait. That they'd let me know when they could…"

Castiel nodded even though he knew John couldn't see.

Waiting really was the hardest part. Waiting and not knowing whether one was going to get good news - everyone was okay - or bad news…like that someone had died, or…

But he couldn't think about that. He forced the thoughts away and tried to tell himself that everything was going to be fine.

But after what he'd just heard…he wasn't so sure anymore.

It was nearly an hour later when someone finally entered the waiting room, where John, Castiel, and Jimmy were sitting. Castiel all but jumped to his feet, desperate for good news as he watched the doctor looked at them. Jimmy stood as well while John just stayed sitting in the hard, plastic chair. "Family of Dean and Sam Winchester?" the doctor asked.

"I am," John said. "That's my son's boyfriend and his brother."

The doctor paused for a moment and then nodded. "Very well, then." He cleared his throat. "Sam Winchester suffered a third-degree burn to his left shoulder and smaller burns around his torso and a few minor cuts and lacerations on his face. He's responding well to medication and we cleaned up the burns and gave him antibiotics. He should be just fine, and should wake within the next few hours."

"That's great," John said with a massive amount of relief. Castiel was also very glad to hear that Sam was going to be okay. It felt like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. "And Dean?"

"Dean suffered a blow to the head from where, we suspect, he was thrown around due to the small explosion that occurred. He also suffered minor burns and lacerations, and he got a pretty nasty fracture to his right ankle. I recommend that he stay off of it for at least 2-3 weeks, and if the pain gets worse, to contact me."

"How's his head?" Castiel asked worriedly, remember Dean's previous head injury from before.

"He suffered a minor skull fracture and there was swelling, but we managed to get that down with no complications. He is currently being kept unconscious for recovery reasons, but we will take him off the sedatives by tomorrow at the latest. He, too, will be fine."

Castiel released a massive breath he hadn't known he'd been holding until then, his legs feeling overly weak with relief. Oh thank God, he thought to himself, and saw the look on Jimmy's face as well. Dean and Sam were both going to be okay.

"Both of your boys were very lucky, Mr. Winchester," the doctor said, stuffing his hands in his giant white coat. "They will both need time to recover, but bearing no complications, they should both be allowed to leave here within the week."

"That's great," John sighed in relief. "Thank you, Dr…"

"Gerald."

"Dr. Gerald, thank you," John said. "Can we see them?"

"They are both resting. Sam is currently already in a room, but Dean is still in recovery from where we relieved the pressure. He, too, should have a room very soon, but if you would like to see Sam for now…"

"That would be great," John said. "Please take me to him." He paused. "Do you boys want to come?"

"Yeah," Castiel said, because he had to see for himself that both Dean and Sam were okay. He would see Dean later, but right now, he did want to see Sam.

"Me too," Jimmy spoke up.

The doctor nodded slowly. "Very well, but don't stay for too long. He's resting right now, and he needs all the rest he can get."

"We understand," John said.

The doctor nodded again and turned to lead them from the room.

...thanks for reading...please review...bye.

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~