Unbeta'ed and a bit on the short side.

CHAPTER 6

Late in the evening the next day, Dean's family, his parents, John and Mary and his older brother Samuel, arrived and were taken to his room. The doctor was still sitting with him and he updated Castiel and the family whenever there were news. His breathing had steadied and he was mumbling sometimes so the signs were good.

He was unconscious for four days then he woke up for a brief moment and went to sleep. Hannah and Dora felt terribly guilty because it had been their idea to break down the door in the first place and aunt Phillippa had a hard time convincing them they weren't to blame.

Among all the waiting, Castiel managed to talk to Harry. He had finally told his father the truth and he had been very disappointed but was happy that Harry was honest with him. That made Harry feel bad because he had been keeping the truth from uncle George for so long. He had made it out to seem that he hadn't started gambling until recently and was now in too much debt for him to handle. Uncle George had agreed to pay his debts but asked that Harry work for the money. Harry had to agree.

Castiel was relieved to hear that everything was now out in the open. Or as in the open as it could be. They had agreed to keep it from aunt Phillippa.

Dean had been in and out of consciousness and had slept a lot of the time. Almost two weeks after the accident he was given the okay by the doctor. His parents were relieved and from what Castiel could tell they used the time to talk things out.

Castiel didn't see Dean until almost three weeks after the accident. He walked into the room tentatively, not knowing what he would see. Dean was propped up against the pillows, looking pale and frail. Castiel went over and sat down on the chair by the bed.

"Cas," Dean said in a low voice.

"Hello Dean. How are you feeling?"

"Oh, you know. Like I've fallen off a building." He smiled at his attempt to be funny but Castiel could only muster a strained grimace.

"Sorry," Dean said.

"I'm just glad you'll be alright." After a pause he asked: "Have you talked to your parents about.. err.."

"My gambling problems? Yeah, we've talked things out. I guess the accident has made me realise how unfair I've been. And now that Harry is taking responsibility for his own debt I guess I should too."

Castiel finally smiled a genuine smile. "I'm very glad to hear that. I'm sure you will feel better about yourself."

Dean looked at him with surprise. "I feel fine about myself. I always have."

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you don't. I just meant that it's a great feeling when you take care of your own things instead of relying on others to get you out of trouble." Castiel smiled awkwardly.

Dean stared at his hands. "Yeah, I guess."

"Well, I should be going. I'm under strict orders not to tire you." Castiel stood up.

"Will you come back tomorrow?"

"Of course." Castiel gave him a reassuring smile. Dean suddenly looked like a small child who didn't want to be left alone.

Now that Dean was doing better, the heavy mood that had decended on the house liftet and the girls started to arrange games in the garden again.

The family could accept invitations again and four weeks after Dean's accident they were going to a ball at the oldest resident in the village. Mr. Joseph Cranmer turned 80 and he had arranged a big ball for all his peers. He had made his fortune in banking and now lived in a big house about a 30 minute carriage ride from the Brumley residence.

Hannah and Dora had been allowed to come since it was a special occasion and they had trouble going to sleep the night before.

When they arrived at the party there were already a lot of people. Mr. Cranmer and his wife were waiting to greet them inside the great hall and afterwards, the family made their way through the crowd while looking for people they knew.

Castiel soon spottet Miss Evelyn Johnston who he had danced with at the beginning of his holiday. He went and asked her to dance and they spent most of the night talking and dancing. When they were going home, Hannah asked Castiel if he was going to marry her. Castiel was sharing a carriage with the two girls and Harry.

Castiel laughed at the question. Even if he did want to marry her it wasn't something he wanted to discuss with the girls. "I have not thought about it," he said to Hannah.

"But she likes you," Dora said.

"I don't know that she does anything of the sort," Castiel said.

Harry couldn't help poking at him. "I'm sure she does like you. She hardly danced with any of the other young men," he said.

Castiel gave him what was supposed to be a stern look. "I'm not going to discuss this with you because there is nothing to it."

"But," Hannah said.

"No, were not talking about it," Castiel said and to his relief they dropped the subject.

When he was in bed he though about Evelyn. He did like her. She was a very agreeable young woman and if he had to spend his life with someone he was sure he would prefer her to any of the other young women he knew. Then he remembered Dean and the kiss he had given Castiel. Or forced on him. The memory made his stomach flutter. Dean's accident had made him realise that he actually liked him. There was something rogueish about his behaviour and Castiel was so well behaved himself that he felt attracted to it. He had heard stories of young girls who left their family to elope with young men with a questionable reputation.

He sighed. Maybe it was a good thing Dean was going home in a few weeks. His family wanted to bring him home as soon as he got well enough to travel.

The next day Castiel went to have his usual chat with Dean and found him sitting in a chair by the window.

"You're up," he said surprised, but pleased.

"Yes. The doctor says I don't have to stay in bed all the time now. I'm glad because it was getting tedious." Dean gave him a crooked smile.

"That's good. Maybe soon you can come outside." Castiel pulled a chair over and sat down next to him. They had a nice view of the garden and they sat in silence for a while, looking at the girls running around.

"My parents want me to come home with them when I'm better," Dean said.

"I know. That's good, isn't it?"

"Perhaps. I would still like to have spent a little more time here. With you."

Castiel caught his breath. He had a flurry of images going through his mind. Dean tried to take his hand but Castiel drew it back.

"Sorry. I just really like you," Dean said.

"Dean, I can't."

"Can't? So it's not that you don't want to?" His voice was full of hope.

Castiel took in a long breath while he thought of Evelyn. "I don't know what I want," he said, got up and left.

He went to his room and closed the door behind him. What was wrong with him? He had just made Dean believe there could be something between them. But there couldn't. Their lives were at opposite ends of the country and Castiel wasn't prepared to get involved in a scandal for the sake of a Summer fling.

He burried his face in his hands. The next time he saw Dean he would have to make it clear to him that nothing could happen between them.