{Word Count: 783}
Dean sat in the chair with his elbows propping up his head on his knees. It was going on eleven. He had called Ellen to tell her she'd have to pick up Sam today. Balthazar had taken Anna and Samandriel home an hour ago. Gabriel and Michael were talking about going for a food run since the hospital cafeteria was closed. Gabriel really just knew Dean needed some time alone and Michael wasn't about to argue with that. If it weren't for Dean, Cas would probably be in the morgue rather than a hospital bed. "We're gonna go grab some food. Do you want anything?" Gabriel asked before they left. Dean shook his head. "No," he replied hoarsely. He hadn't talked in hours. The two left, shutting the door behind them. Dean let out a sigh of relief. He grabbed Cas's sprained ace bandaged hand and stared at his bruised face. He felt an agonizing guilt.
"Cas, buddy, I don't know if you can hear me," Dean said to the unconscious boy. He felt kind of stupid but he needed to say something. "But I'm just gonna talk anyways. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I snuck you to that party, I'm sorry I got you in trouble, I'm sorry you punched that guy for me, I'm sorry I got you kicked out, I'm sorry I couldn't drive you to school like I did all those other times. I'm so sorry," his voice cracked on the last two words. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you, but I promise I won't let this happen again, alright? I'm so fucking sorry, Cas." Dean lowered his head so that his forehead was on Cas's hand. He held back the tears he knew wanted to spill. "Please, just wake up soon," he begged quietly. He sighed and sat back up. He grabbed the remote for the television and started to flip through the channels. He needed something to distract himself. As he was flipping he heard a female voice say "Castiel Novak," and flipped back immediately.
There was a woman standing in front of a hospital with a microphone. Not just any hospital, the hospital Dean was sitting in this very moment. "This hate crime has shook this small town right to the core. Witnesses say they saw Novak follow one of the suspects willingly to where the crime had taken place. Police suspect that the boy somehow tricked Novak into following him, but nothing will be confirmed until he wakes up in the hospital that is located directly behind me. Another boy involved is Novak's boyfriend, Dean Winchester, who had showed up right in the knick of time and defended him. Police say no charges are being filed against Winchester, who's father is currently being held in the state penitentiary along side Novak's brother, Lucifer Novak," the woman reported. Dean silently cursed the lady. Did she have to throw in the part about his father and Cas's brother? All the sudden the woman turned and Gabriel and Michael were on camera walking from the hospital. Cameras and reporters surrounded them. Dean was honestly surprised by how much attention this was getting.
"Castiel is going to be just fine," Gabriel told the reporters as he they tried to break free of the crowd. "Why aren't you with your brother right now?" One reporter questioned. "We're going to get food, if you must know. He's with Dean, I trust he's in safe hands," Michael snapped at the reporter and shoved them to the side so they could get to the parking lot. The woman appeared on the screen again away from the crowd. "Castiel Novak's brother, Gabriel Novak, has just confirmed that he will be making a healthy recovery, but you can be sure that this town's thoughts and prayers will be with the seventeen year old victim and his family. Bill and Rose, back to you." With that Dean changed the channel to some movie he didn't care about.
It had just been broadcasted nationally that Dean and Cas were together. It didn't bother Dean at all. He didn't care what everyone thought. All he really cared about was Sam, Cas, and the impala. He knew that those three things were all he needed to be happy. Sam seemed to have realized the day of the kiss in the lunchroom. He had told Dean to man up about his "crush" or stop leading Cas on because it was wrong. Honestly, Dean didn't know what he wanted in terms of his relationship with Cas. The one thing he did know he wanted, though, was for Cas to wake up already. He hated himself for letting this happen.