The sounds of a monitor striking out a constant tempo were the first to great him, the second was the pain. Slowly his eyes began to flutter shifting restlessly, working to open themselves to swallow up his surroundings and gather his bearings. Wherever he was he honestly didn't care, his chest ached as he shifted into consciousness and his breath drew in short gasps. Castiel tried to gather in as much oxygen as his lungs would hold, battling against it as each breath made his chest feel tighter and grow more irritated.
His voice carried out a strong rumble even over the crowd of socializing students. "Good morning class, today we are going to do paired work, now I know yo-" he broke off into a quiet laugh as his class irrupted into growing number of whispers and fist bumps.
"Yes class this does mean you get to work with a partner of your choice" he answered the question on the mind of every student with a raised hands, well at least they certainly took to his announcement with great interest.
Castiel quirked an eyebrow at his now distracted class, well if they were this excited to discuss their project, he was expecting some very intriguing presentations handed in.
"I know you are all excited but please do settle down and let me actually explain what you will be working on in your groups" castiel uttered to the class who were still in active conversation.
Some students had managed to right themselves in their seats and were waiting expectantly for him to continue further but he wouldn't.
Not just yet.
Clearing his throat castiel leaned against the edge of his desk and rolled up his shirt sleeves waiting for everyone to be silent before he continued. He really didn't want to have to spend a better part of the lesson re-explaining the project brief to his students.
After and active minute the class eventually settled down some, so castiel began to explain their group project they were to turn in at the end of the week.
Thirty minutes into the lesson was all it took; that's where it all went wrong.
The students were really stuck into their project, working together in an 'almost' calm manner to gather and summarise their overall plans for their work.
Castiel was crouched at the desk of two of his brightest students; Kevin Tran and Anna Milton. He was tirelessly trying to stop the constant bickering between the pair, when the shrill alarm rang out over the college campus.
The seconds that followed seemed to move even slower than before as the sudden intrusion had grabbed the attention of every person in the perimeter.
In an active flurry students were trying to catch a glimpse of flames. Wanting to find out whether this was just a routine fire drill or the real thing.
Castiel was fully alerted of his responsibility to his student's lives when he saw the thick impenetrable smoke creep in through the gap of his class room's door.
"Everyone out now!" he yelled.
The memory was vivid. It twisted and warped around him, pushing him into the darkest depths of his fear…his memory.
Breathing rapidly he cracked open his eyes, standing by his bedside was a nurse. She was a pretty blond, petite and wore a kind smile that stretched across her face.
"Welcome back to the land of the living Mr Novak, my name's jess and I'm a nurse here at Garrison Hospital. Im afraid you hit your head pretty hard during the event of the fire on the university's campus" she informed him as she took note of his medical records.
"Lucky for you though, a very handsome fireman came to your rescue." She grinned setting the documents aside.
He was rescued, saved by a mysterious and an apparently very handsome fireman and though he could not remember much of the event that occurred after his black out he had managed to remember something.
A colour.
Green.
"He's here you know" she announced, pulling him from his memory.
"Of course we haven't revealed any of your information. That's confidential; but he wanted to see you. Make sure you were ok."
"I can always tell him to go if you don't wish to see him Mr Novak" she added looking wistfully towards the door.
Meet him?
Yes, what harm could come from meeting the man who saved his life, he owes the man his thanks. His gratitude.
Plus he thought to himself, 'green' where did it feature on the man did it even exist of had he just imagined it in his knocked out state.
Nodding in agreement, Castiel watched as the nurse… Jess left his hospital room in search of the man.
There was no way he could ever thank the fireman enough for what he did, risking his life to save another.
Eventually the knock came, Castiel settled himself back against the hospital bed, trying not to fidget.
"Come in" he called out.
The door handle turned slowly, almost as if the man behind it was scared to reveal himself.
Watching intently castiel saw the man immerge and come into focus. He was…. He was
"Dean?"