Yay, chappie eighteen! Sorry for the delay O.o Like...what, 2 and a half weeks or so? Hmm. 3 weeks? Anyway. The reason/excuse behind my delay:

I AM SO LOOPY! XD It's...not fun at all. If any of you have gotten messages/reviews from me, then you know allllll about it. Cuppie especially (she forced me to take them and laughed at me when I got loopy...=-= glare!).

Why am I loopy? Wellllll...Remember I said I went to neurologist? XD Funny story. They gave me headache meds, right? Well they didn't work so they upped the...the...? How strong it was. There. And the side effect is that it makes me reallllllly sleepy XD So I sleep sooooooo much now and if I'm not sleeping I'm mega loopy and spacey O.o and I can't remember the last word I typed. So typing is kinda out of the question...so yeah XD But I'm kinda used to it now so I can kinda type when i'm loopy...ish...sorta...this chapter was typed when I'm loopy so we will see how well it's working out, yeah XD Lemme know! XD Poor Dean is sex-deprived hahahaha my loopiness apparently makes me want to see stuff like that O.O wow.

Anywho wow long note.

And thank you all so much for your wonderful and lovely reviews! I love them all and cherish them and read them over and over like some creepy person who should be locked up XD Thank you!

Onward!

Chapter Eighteen

School was unpleasant without Dean. Well, perhaps that wasn't the right word. It was mostly the same. People were still friendly to him - sometimes even more so, giving him sympathetic looks. He collected Dean's homework for him in the classes they shared, and the teachers always asked how Dean was doing and how his family was, and how Castiel himself was taking things and about his general well-being. He knew they meant well, but honestly, it was grating on his nerves. He wished they would stop, because it was hard to pretend everything was normal when they were behaving so strangely.

He had been back to school for four days now. Dean was to be released from the hospital today, and he was overly excited about that. Sam had been released two days ago, and according to John - who he saw on his daily visits to Dean at the hospital - the younger brother had been irritable in the safe house the police had gotten them in town.

Safe house. Castiel shuddered every time he thought about it. He tried not to think about it too much, or give it too much thought because, honestly, it hurt to think about. The police wanted to send Dean and his family away for their own safety, and after that fire, it was probably the best move. Even Castiel had to admit that. That didn't mean he liked it. In fact, he hated it. The thought of Dean leaving, the thought of not being able to see him every day…

Not being able to see him at school right now was torture enough as it was, and he was only in the hospital. Castiel visited him every day. He had also visited Sam when the younger brother was at the hospital as well but he had been released. Dean would be going to the safe house today as well and he would get to see both brothers together again. Dean would be happy about that. Sam had been told not to move too much simply because of his burns and whatnot. Since he was still in his early stages of healing, the doctors didn't want him leaving the safe house for a few days, and neither did John so he hadn't been able to visit Dean in the hospital. According to John, who Castiel had talked to in the hospital, the younger brother had been increasingly grumpy at the safe house.

Castiel didn't bother going to Drama Club without Dean. It just wasn't the same, and he simply wasn't in the mood for it. He still saw the majority of the people in it throughout the day in his classes and at lunch, though. Anna kept asking about Dean and Sam and had visited the hospital once with Hunter. Castiel had debated about telling her about the safe house and about Dean maybe having to leave - he wasn't sure if Dean wanted her to know, though, so he didn't tell her, in the end. He would wait and let Dean make that decision on his own.

Jimmy drove him to the hospital after school. He wanted to go with Dean to the safe house. John had already signed Dean out but Dean couldn't leave until the police officer arrived to take him to the safe house after the officer's shift ended. John wouldn't be here today, though, since he was home with Sam and his eyes were bothering him these past two days.

Castiel rode the elevator up to Dean's floor and quickly walked to Dean's room, smiling as he entered and saw Dean looking at him. Dean smiled back at him with that cheeky grin of his, the TV remote held in his hand. "Hey, Cas," he said in his usual greeting. " 'bout time you got here. I need my dose of Cas a day."

Castiel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes as he sat in the hard plastic chair next to Dean's bed. Dean was certainly looking better. He still had bandaging around his head, but it wasn't that thick bandaging anymore, only a thin line of it that was mostly hidden by his bangs. He wasn't as pale anymore, just the kind of pale someone was because they were inside for so long. The heart monitor beeped a steady rhythm.

"This place is so boring," Dean complained like he always did as soon as Castiel entered. "You should totally sneak in here at night and we can-"

"Dean," Castiel cut him with a quirked brow.

"What? Can you blame me? I'm touch deprived here, man! And…" Dean's eyes roamed over him eagerly. "C'mon, you can't just sit there looking all delicious and not let me even speak my mind. This is America, we have rights. Look at the first the first amendment, I can speak my mind!"

"You were actually paying attention in Government? I thought you slept first period."

"…Okay so I was semi-conscious. So what? I was having dreams of doing naughty things with the first amendment that included you." Dean wiggled his brows.

Castiel couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head. "I don't think that's what the teacher had in mind when he was giving us those lectures, you know."

"Yeah, well, he should have thought about that when he was using those words. I have a right to think anything and say anything…just, you know, not in school…or yell 'fire!' in a crowded building…oh, idea! What if I yell 'sex!' in a crowded building? What would happen then? No one said anything about that and I think that has some potential. We should collect more data on this, Cas."

"You have officially lost your mind."

"I think you're right. You wouldn't have found it, have you?"

"What are you feeding you?"

"I don't know, but it tastes awful. Please bring me cheeseburgers and pie like I've begged you - begged, Cas - several times!" Dean looked at him with shimmering green eyes and a pouting expression.

"They won't let me. Besides, you get out today anyway. What would be the point?"

"I love you, that's the point."

Castiel sighed heavily.

"When am I getting out, exactly?" Dean asked, leaning back into his pillows with a heavy sigh.

"I don't know," Castiel replied truthfully. "Sometime around four or five?"

"That could be an hour or two hours away…damn it! I want out of here. It's boring. My skin itches. I don't like these sheets. This room is too white. This bed sucks. The TV is too high on the wall. It's almost on the ceiling. I hate this remote. The food here tastes like shitty cardboard and I don't even know how I know what that tastes like. My ankle itches and they won't let me touch my own leg. It's my leg for crying out loud. Sammy keeps calling my room. He's talking my ear off and he's not even here. Where's my cell phone? I'm bored, have I mentioned that? And you're laughing at me. Stop laughing. I hate hospitals." He crossed his arms across his chest petulantly.

Castiel snickered, unable to stop. "Well…you sure have a lot of problems, huh?"

"I'm troubled."

"I can see that."

"No you can't, you're looking at my ear. Stop looking at my ear!"

Castiel laughed and rolled his eyes, looking away from Dean's head. He'd only been looking at the side of Dean's head because Dean had been looking at the TV and he'd been looking at Dean. "Someone's hyper today."

"I'm not hyper, I'm bored. There's a difference. I want to leave."

"Soon."

Dean slid his gaze toward Castiel suddenly, smirking. "Well…I know of a way you could distract me."

"Dean. We're in a hospital."

"Point?"

"And you're hurt."

"I feel a lot better and it's mostly my ankle…which they won't let me touch."

"No."

"Cas."

"Dean."

Dean huffed out a breath. "You're so mean to me, sitting there all sexy like and just….gah."

"You'll thank me when you're better."

"Doubt it."

Dean was so thrilled when he finally got to get out of the hospital. The only bad thing was that he had to use a wheelchair - both because it was lousy hospital policy and because of his ankle, which he had to stay off of for at least two to three weeks. He had no doubt that Sammy would definitely make sure he did just that, and Cas too. Castiel pushed his wheelchair for him as the cop led the way out of the hospital. Once they made it down to the car, Cas helped him into the back of the vehicle where they sat next to each other while the police officer folded up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk of the car.

Then they were finally off, pulling away from the hospital. Dean watched it disappear in the background, a grimace on his face. He hated that place. If he never ended up in that place again it would be too soon. The food there was awful and he just hated it all around. He shuddered at the thought of those rooms, the whiteness of it all, the scent of medicine and everything…

He yawned as they drove. The safe house was just outside of town in a small house. Sammy had been talking nonstop about it. There were only two rooms so he would be sharing with his little brother. Great. Right? He sighed heavily and leaned his head on Castiel's shoulder. He normally wouldn't do such a thing but he was tired, still a little drowsy from his medicine, the last dose he'd gotten from the hospital, the painkillers for his head, the burns, and his ankle. John or someone was supposed to get his prescription filled later today. The cops were supposed to get drive John wherever he needed to go. Sammy said the Impala was at the safe house. That was good. Dean would need it when he was able to drive again.

He wondered, briefly, how this safe house thing was going to work. He also knew that Castiel knew what was going on now, about how they were probably going to have to leave to go into protective custody. Castiel hadn't said anything about it to him, but surely he knew. They were going to a safe house - of course he did. But he hadn't said anything. That worried Dean a little, but he didn't want to talk about it right now. Maybe later, when things settled down a little.

Yeah, later. Then he would talk about it.

"Sleepy?" Castiel murmured, startling him out of his light doze. He blinked his eyes open slightly and peered at his boyfriend.

Cas's blue eyes were peering down at him.

Dean nodded, burying his head into Cas's shoulder a bit more. "Mmm…." he said in response.

"We'll be there soon," Castiel said. "I'll wake you when we get there." An arm came around him to keep him from falling over as they turned around a corner.

Yeah…Dean had the best boyfriend ever. He got to use him as a warm pillow.

The safe house really was small. A board had been placed over the steps so Dean could roll up them on his wheelchair and onto the small porch. It was only one-story tall and not very wide at all. Dean frowned as the front door opened to reveal a happy Sammy who lunged toward him. Quick arms tried to strangle him as Dean brought his own arms up and wrapped them around his brother in return. "Shouldn't you be, you know, following doctor's orders and resting and not moving much?" he asked with a teasing tone of voice as the stopped hugging.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Like you ever listen to doctors," he scoffed.

"Well, I have a feeling you're gonna make me and Cas has already made a point of making me." He sent a narrowed look Cas's way and Castiel just nodded, unashamed. He sighed and looked back at Sam. "So you have to listen to doctor's orders too. Where's Dad?"

"In the kitchen," Sam replied, beginning to push Dean into the house, taking over Cas's job. The cop was still in the car, just sitting there. Okay, awkward. Dean shook his head and was wheeled into the house.

He felt like such an invalid. Good thing this was only temporary. As soon as the two mother hens were out of sight, this stupid chair was gone. Of that much he was sure. There was no way he was staying in this thing for longer than he was forced to do so.

The inside of the house was furnished with small furniture. At the rate Sam was growing he wouldn't fit on it much longer, Dean was sure. But it wasn't like they would be staying here too long. The thought nearly made him sigh, but he held it in as he was pushed through the living room and into the kitchen. Castiel was walking next to the wheelchair - and if he thought about the wheelchair one more time he was going to stab his eyes out - his hand just brushing against Dean's. Sam was damn near snickering. Dean felt like smacking his little brother. Ah, to hell with it. He reached back and thumped his brother on the side.

"Dean? Sam? That you guys?" John asked from where he sat at the small, wooden kitchen table that only sat four people. In front of him sat an ashtray. Dean stared at it. John wasn't much of a smoker. He only smoke in stressful situations. He had done it after Mary's death but had stopped months later. That he was doing it again now made a pit of dread form in Dean's stomach.

"Uh, yeah, it's us," Dean said after clearing his throat. He stared a moment longer at the ashtray. His whole life his father had never smoked. He'd heard stories of John smoking but he'd never seen it until Mary had died in that fire. Then John had smoked. It had been hard at first - with his eyes and everything - but he'd gotten around that and worked his lighter and cigarettes and everything. It was easy if one knew what they were doing apparently. Now that he was doing it again… "Cas is here too."

"How are you feeling, Dean?"

"I'm okay," Dean replied. There was no smoke in the air or cigarette in his father's hand at the moment but the ashtray was out sitting on the table all the same. He glanced at Castiel and then at Sam, but if Sam noticed the significance, he didn't show it. "Are you?" he shot back at his father, unable to stop himself.

"I am," John replied. "You and Sam will have your own rooms. I have decided to sleep on the couch. Sam, show your brother to his room, please."

Sam shrugged behind him and back-wheeled him out of the kitchen. Cas followed after them as they left the kitchen and moved back through the living room to go through a small hallway. In the hallway, Sammy opened one of the doors and pushed Dean inside. "This is your room," Sammy said. "It's…the bigger of the two." He sounded like it wasn't his choice to give Dean this room.

"You can have it if you want," Dean sighed.

Sam shrugged. "Nah, it's okay…I don't need it."

Dean shrugged and looked around the room. There were two window right next to each other in it. They were locate on the far wall. No curtains were in it as of yet. Only a twin-sized bed was in the room so if Cas stayed over it would be kind of hard for them to sleep together unless they smashed together…but come to think of it he kind of liked that idea. He smirked. There was no closet in the room, just a medium-sized dresser that stood next to the door.

"Is the room okay?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, it's okay," Dean replied, glancing at Castiel.

Castiel smiled at him.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Lovebirds," he scoffed before squinting his eyes at Cas. "Can I trust my brother with you?"

"I think so, yeah."

"Alright, good. Or do I need to give you another brother lecture?"

Cas smirked. "No, I don't think that's necessary."

Sammy nodded. "Good. I'm hungry." He left the two of them alone in the room, shutting the door behind them.

Castiel shook his head and moved to sit on Dean's new bed.

"God, I hate this chair," Dean commented as he shifted in the wheelchair, grimacing.

"It's only temporary," Castiel said. "You have crutches you can use as well."

"Gee, thanks. That's so reassuring. I look like a dork either way." He sighed heavily. "My ankle feels fine."

"That's because you have painkillers running through you."

"Yeah, well…" He had no comeback for that. "Can't I hop?"

"What are you, the Easter Bunny?"

"Everyone loves my candy."

Cas rolled his eyes. "You're full of it."

"I taste like apple juice, I can't help it."

He sighed. "Do you hear half the stuff you say?"

"Not really…I tune myself out." Dean smiled. Then he bit down on his lower lip and shifted his gaze away slowly. "I…you know…Cas…this safe house…"

"I know, Dean. You…protective custody…" Castiel's voice went low and quiet, a soft whisper that Dean could barely hear as he, too, averted his gaze, his fingers curling around the sheets of Dean's bed.

"I'm…I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just…I didn't really know how, and…and I didn't want to worry if…we didn't have to leave," Dean tried to explain even though he was sure he sounded a lot like a moron, stammering his words, but he was so nervous.

"You should have told me," Cas said quietly. "I…would have listened. You should have told me, Dean. I thought…I thought we didn't keep secrets."

Ouch. That was an accusation if he'd ever heard one.

Dean turned his head away and swallowed thickly, bringing a hand up to scrub it across his face, feeling as though he'd just been slapped multiple times. "I'm sorry," he said pathetically. "I should have told you. I know I should have. I just…I didn't know what to say. And…I didn't wan to worry you if…if we didn't have to go. If nothing was wrong. I'm sorry."

Castiel took in a deep breath and released it slowly. For a moment nothing was spoken and Dean held his breath, waiting. Then finally, Cas did speak. "I guess I understand," he murmured. "But…you still should have told me, Dean. I would have wanted to know anyway, even if…even if it turned out that you didn't have to leave, you still should have told me. Okay?"

"Okay," Dean said back quickly.

"But…since you did it in my best interests, you're forgiven," Castiel said, a soft smile hidden in his voice.

Dean looked at him. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. On one condition."

"…What's that?"

"You tell me what I really did when I was drunk."

Yuh oh, walked right into that one, didn't ya, Dean? XD Well...there's my loopy chapter...what do ya think? Let me know, please, and review! Reviews are love :D

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~