Sorry for the wait. I had some stuff, you know how it is.

Warning for something early on, but I wanted you to be prepared: Cas gets injured in this chapter. It happens off-screen, and he's okay overall, but he ends up in the hospital. Just so you know what's coming.

Dean was just getting off work when he got a text from Cas that was just a phone number and the words, "call asap, urgent."

It was confusing, to say the least, but urgent is urgent is urgent, so he dialed the number and waited for someone to pick up. When they did, the voice on the other end was familiar.

"Hello?"

"Gabe?"

"Dean, good." He sounded distressed.

"What's going on? Is Cas okay?"

"He's in the hospital."

Gabriel was in the waiting room when Dean got there.

"Don't panic. That looks like your panicking face."

"What happened?"

Gabe sighed and gestured for Dean to follow him. He talked as they walked. "He got mugged. I already canceled his cards, and he was only carrying twenty bucks, so that's not an issue, but they guy found out that he can't speak and beat him up. Cas couldn't exactly call for help.

Dean clenched his fists. "How bad is he?"

"Mostly cuts and bruises, but he's got a few fractured ribs, and his right arm is broken. The doctor say he can get out of here in a few days, which is what I wanted to talk to you about."

They stopped outside of a room that Dean figured must be Castiel's.

Gabriel kept talking, but lowered his voice. "He's gonna need someone to take care of him and make sure he takes his meds on time. He lived with me and my girlfriend, but we both work full time."

"And you wanna know if he can stay with me?"

"Well, yeah," he said. "He could hang out at the coffee shop while you're working. I just want to make sure he's got someone with him while he's healing."

"Can I talk to him first? Before I make a decision?" He was obviously going to say yes, but he wanted to make sure that Cas would be okay with it first.

Gabriel nodded. "Be patient with him. He's basically ambidextrous, but he's always been a bit slower, signing with his left hand." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder, back the way they came. "I'm gonna go get some coffee. You want anything?"

"No thanks, you go ahead," Dean said, and then entered the room.

Cas was sitting up in the hospital bed, bruises on his face and his right arm in a cast. He looked up when Dean walked in and waved with his good hand.

"Hey, Cas, are you okay?" Dean sat in the chair next to the bed.

Cas nodded and started signing, spelling out the signs that used two hands. I'll be honest I've been better.

"How long do they say you're gonna be out of commission?"

Anywhere from three to seven weeks. Maybe more for my arm.

"Well, hey, that's not so bad. And until then?"

Cas shrugged. I suppose I'll sit around at home mostly.

"Yeah, about that..." Dean said.

What?

"How would you feel about moving in with me?" At Castiel's shocked look, he added, "While you recover, I mean. Not that I would have an issue living with you more permanently, I just...shit."

Would you like to start over?

"Please." Cas nodded, so Dean took a deep breath. "Okay. Gabe and I agreed that it might be better for you to have someone around all the time, if that's okay with you."

That would be nice, Cas signed. I'll ask Gabriel to pack some of my things. Though knowing him he's probably done it already.

Dean laughed. "Probably."

One day I'll write a longer chapter. Today is not that day. Also, feel free to point out any glaring errors, sometimes I miss things.

We're getting close to the end. Just a heads up.