All caught up on SoA. Getting real tired of that show's shit, y'all. Real tired. :|

Enjoy!

There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Cas? Cas, did you hear me?"

"Y-yeah," Cas said. "I – what do – Sam…" Cas stumbled with his words. He didn't know what to say or ask.

"I can send Jess to come get you."

"No, no. She needs to stay there," Cas said, not wanting to take Jess away from Sam. He knew Sam needed his wife if his big brother was hurt. "I'll get Charlie. Is he okay?"

"We haven't heard anything, yet."

"I'm on my way," Cas said, hanging up the phone.

Cas threw the covers back and pulled on some clothes. He took a deep breath and grabbed his keys. He could drive himself. He knocked on Charlie and Gilda's bedroom door, calling out to them to help wake them up. Charlie opened the door angrily. "What?"

"I have to go to the hospital. Dean's been hurt. I just wanted you two to know."

"Wait, what? Dean's been hurt?"

"Yeah. Look, I need to go. Just… do me a favor and call Naomi for me, okay? I don't know what's going to happen."

"Of course. Can you drive? Do you need me to drive you?"

"No, I'll be fine. Just call Naomi," Cas told her before hurrying out to his car. He drove like a bat out of hell on his way to the hospital. He hoped that by the time he got there, there would be good news waiting for him. When he walked in, he saw Mary and Haley at the vending machines. Mary looked up at him and tears came to her eyes. They walked towards one another. Mary wrapped him up in her arms.

"Have you heard anything?" Cas asked her.

"Not yet," she said softly as she pulled out of the hug. "We're not sure what happened. Daniel told us that he fell through a floor. A couple of the other guys went back in for him when they realized he didn't make it out with them."

Cas felt a pair of thin arms wrap around his waist. He looked down and found Haley attached to him. Cas picked her up and hugged her. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

She pressed her face against his neck and shook her head, not saying a word. Mary rubbed her back. "She's been crying since we got here. I tried to get her some peanut M&M's but they don't have any." Cas looked at Mary confused, unsure what was so special about that candy. "It's her and Dean's favorite candy."

Cas hugged her a little tighter. "It's going to be okay, Haley."

"Come on. Let's get back," Mary instructed. She didn't want to miss the doctor.

Cas followed Mary to the waiting room where the Winchester family was seated. Benny and Jo were there with them. Cas set Haley down as everyone greeted Cas with hugs and sad faces. Sam was the last to greet him, telling him, "We still haven't heard anything."

"What's taking so long?" Cas asked, worrying even more.

As if on cue, a short man in a long white coat came around the corner. "John and Mary Winchester?"

John and Mary perked up, getting out of their seats. "That's us," John told him, wrapping his arm around his wife.

"I'm Doctor Gabriel Grayson. I'm here to tell you that Dean's doing fine. He's still unconscious, but his vitals are strong. He's got some superficial wounds: cuts, scrapes, etcetera; and he broke his leg. He's also got some pretty bad burns on his lower back."

"How did he get burned?" John asked, confused how his son could be burned if he was wearing his suit.

"We figure the suit came up when he fell through the floor and that's how he landed. We're not sure of the logistics exactly, just that we had to surgically remove the shirt he was wearing. That's what's taken us so long and kept me from updating you on his status. The good news is he's fine and we expect him to wake up soon and make a complete recovery."

Cas was so relieved he had to sit down. He leaned forward and held his head in his hands. He'd almost lost him. Tears stung his eyes. He pushed the heels of his hands against them, willing the tears to go away. There was no reason to cry. He was fine. Dean was fine. He felt two small hands on his wrists. He looked up and found Haley standing in front him, eyes swollen and nose red. "He's really going to be okay?" she whispered.

He nodded. "Yeah," he answered softly. "He's going to be okay. He's a little broken, but we can fix him, huh?"

Haley nodded, crawling up onto his lap. Cas held her as she settled against him, falling asleep as everyone relaxed and started the waiting game for Dean to wake up. He was a little surprised when he heard a soft snore come from the small body in his arms. Jess smiled at him from across the room. "You're the closest thing she's got to him right now."

Cas held her a little closer, trying to blink back his tears. John, who was sitting beside Cas, patted his leg. "We were almost out of the woods," he said sardonically. "Should've known it wasn't going to be that easy…"

Mary rested her head on John's shoulder, grabbing his hand and holding it in her lap. "It could be a lot worse, John," she told him, trying to see the silver lining in the thunderstorm. It just made him scoff.

^O^

It was morning by the time Doctor Grayson finally came back to the waiting room. "Dean is still unconscious, but you can go see him if you'd like. I ask that you keep it to two per visit. The room is small and the nurses are still in and out of the room."

Mary sat up, looking at Cas. "You should go first."

"No, you and John – "

"Go ahead, Cas," John said.

"I'll go with you," Sam said.

"I want to go," Haley argued.

"Doctor Grayson said two at a time, sweetie," Sam tried to explain.

"That's fine," Doctor Grayson told them. "She's small enough."

Haley smiled at the kind doctor as Sam picked her up. He led Cas, Sam, and Haley to Dean's room. Once Cas saw Dean, he completely forgot Sam and Haley were even in the room. He walked over to him, pulling a chair up to the edge of the bed. He gave him a once over. He was laying on his side because of his back. He had a deep gash on his forehead and several minor cuts on his cheek, arms, and hands. The large bulky cast on his leg was sticking out from under the covers.

Cas took Dean's hand carefully into his. He didn't want to hurt him. He pressed kisses to the cuts before pressing Dean's hand against his face. Silent tears fell down Cas' face as he looked at Dean. "I dreamed you were dead. There was an explosion and you died and then Sam called and told me – he told me you were hurt and… Dean, please open your eyes," Cas commanded softly. "I need you to look at me, Dean."

"It's okay, Cas. He's okay. It was just a dream," Sam told him. "He's alive."

Cas nodded. Sam was right. Dean was alive and he was okay; a little busted up, but he was okay. Cas reached up and ran his hand down the side of Dean's face gently, being careful of the cuts. "I just need him to wake up."

"Shake him," Haley commanded Cas. "That's how I wake him up."

"It's not that easy, baby," Sam told her. "He's not sleeping."

"But his eyes are closed."

"He's unconscious. It's like sleeping only he's sleeping really hard. The only way Dean will wake up is if he does it on his own."

"But he needs to wake up now, Daddy," Haley said, tears spilling down her face. "Dean! Dean, wake up!" Sam held his daughter a little tighter as she cried onto his shoulder. "Daddy, make him wake up!"

"He will, baby. He'll wake up," he told her, trying to calm her down. "I'm going to get her out of here, Cas. Take your time."

"Come on, Dean," Cas coaxed him, trying to get him to wake up. "I know you need your rest. Just wake up long enough to tell me you're okay."

Dean's hand twitched against Cas' face. Cas held his breath as he saw his eyes flutter briefly. Dean sighed out Cas' name, but he was unconscious again before Cas could fully register what just happened. Cas pressed his lips to Dean's palm, willing him to wake up again, but it never happened and Doctor Grayson came with Mary and John.

"You don't have to leave, Cas."

"The limit…" Cas tried to explain, but Mary shook her head.

"Stay. He's going to want to see you first."

And Cas stayed. He took a seat behind Dean at the foot of his bed. His eyes stayed fixed on the burns that marred his back as Mary and John held one another while Mary cried. Cas stayed as Benny, Jo, Jess, and Sam took turns seeing him. Cas stayed after everyone left. And when Dean finally woke up, Cas was the first thing he saw, sitting in the seat beside his bed. He'd fallen asleep a couple of hours before Dean woke up. A nurse came in and covered him with a blanket.

Dean was in pain. He hurt everywhere and his back felt hot. He remembered clear as day what had happened. They were saving a family from an apartment above a furniture store that had caught fire. The family didn't know about the fire until it was too late to get out safely. Dean, Lee, and Roy had gone into the building to try to get them out the window. Lee and Roy were helping them as Dean went back through the apartment to make sure there wasn't anyone else. The family didn't speak English and none of the team spoke Spanish. Dean walked into a one of the kids' bedrooms and the floor collapsed. Dean fell through, but got stuck halfway. He tried screaming for help, but his head gear got in the way. He took it off so he could be heard, but he fell through. He cut his forehead and face as he did, the metal shelving below catching his fall.

Dean reached over and moved the blanket, grabbing Cas' hand and holding it against his face for a second, closing his eyes as he relished the touch. When Dean fell through that floor, the only thing he thought about was Cas. Before he passed out, he prayed he didn't die. He wasn't finished enjoying his life with Cas. He didn't want to be robbed of the future they had together. And now that his prayers were answered, he wasn't going to take a single second for granted.

The movement woke Cas up. He tried to pull his hand away from whatever was holding it, but when he realized it was Dean, he moved closer. "You're awake," Cas stated the obvious.

Dean nodded. "I am."

Cas kissed him. "Dean, I was so worried. I was so scared."

"It's okay, Cas," Dean told him. "I'm okay."

Cas sighed, frantically searching Dean's eyes, praying this wasn't a dream. "Are you? Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"I don't know. What's wrong with me?"

"You have a broken leg and burns on your back."

Dean sighed, shaking his head. "How bad?"

"Second degree mostly."

"Mostly? What's the rest?"

"Third degree," Cas told him.

"Shit," Dean sighed out.

"They aren't going to do any skin graphing. You'll just need to take the time to heal."

"How long do I have to stay here?"

"A couple of weeks at least. They said that once the majority of it is healed, they'll release you."

"And my leg?"

"A clean break. You should be back on it in about six or seven weeks, but you'll have a walking cast for the last couple of weeks."

"I guess that means sponge baths, huh?" Dean said, smirking at Cas, trying to make light of his injuries.

Cas smiled at him. "Whatever you need, Dean."

"Just you," Dean said, holding Cas' hand to his face. "I just need you."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Dean smiled softly as he closed his eyes. "You're going to love me even if I am disfigured?"

Cas chuckled. "You'll always be beautiful to me, Dean."

"Look who's being corny now."

"You've taught me well," Cas told him before kissing him again.

As soon as Cas pulled away from Dean, Dean's grip on his hand went limp and his breathing evened out. Cas pulled himself from Dean's bedside to go tell the rest of Dean's family that he'd woken up. They were thrilled and as soon as Cas was finished telling them, he went back to Dean's room. He didn't want to miss Dean waking up again.

^O^

It was a couple of weeks before Dean was finally released from the hospital. His room had been decorated in 'get well' cards from Cas' class, pictures they'd drawn him, and items they'd gotten him. Cas came by everyday with something new for Dean. Cas would stay with Dean during the evening hours until he fell asleep, but on Friday and Saturday night, Cas spent the night. During the day while Cas was at work, Mary would come by and keep her son company and bring him something better to eat than hospital food.

It was during his hospital stay one evening that Dean came to a realization.

Cas had just crawled in bed with Dean, careful not to jostle him too much. His back and leg were healing nicely, but Cas didn't want any setbacks. "I need to move out of Charlie and Gilda's. I walked in the house this afternoon and all I could here were moans. I can't keep walking in on that."

Dean chuckled, hugging Cas against him. It was Friday night, which meant Cas would be in his bed until Sunday when he had to head back home to get ready for work Monday morning. However, the joy of having Cas in his bed was quickly replaced with the realization of Cas' words. Cas was moving out of Charlie and Gilda's. He'd always knew Cas wasn't going to live there forever. Hell, he'd offered Cas his help in finding a house when they first met. But Dean didn't want to help Cas find a place to live. He knew where he wanted Cas to live: with him. However, he didn't want to ask Cas to move in with him laid up in his hospital bed. He wanted to go about it in a rather corny fashion as Cas seemed to enjoy his corniness.

^O^

For the next few weeks, Dean helped Cas find apartments. Cas waited until Dean was in a walking cast and school had been let out for the summer before he started really searching. After Cas realized Dean wasn't going to ask him to move in with him, Cas put in a valiant effort to find a place to live. He'd hoped that time and the idea of getting an apartment – something that he wouldn't live in forever – were enough clues for Dean to pick up on that Cas would rather move in with him, but Dean never asked.

"I found this really nice one close by," Dean told him. "Closer than Charlie and Gilda's house. So you won't be far from me," Dean said as he wrapped his arms around Cas. "They're having an open house – so to speak – if you want to go check it out."

Cas was a little dumbfounded. Ever since school had let out, he'd stayed with Dean. He'd pretty much lived here for the past week, hanging out while Dean was at work, taking care of him when he came home. All of his wounds from the fall were healed but his leg. He would be out of his walking cast by next week, but Cas enjoyed taking care of the big baby. Regardless, he'd pretty much moved in and Dean was still trying to find him a place to stay.

"Yeah, sure," Cas said, slightly pissed off.

Dean knew he was taking too long to ask Cas to move in, but he needed help and help wasn't available until today. As soon as they were in the car, Dean sent a text message to Sam, who was sitting with Benny and Ash in the moving truck down the street. "Let me see if I can pull up the directions on my phone. I don't exactly remember how to get there," Dean lied.

"Whatever."

Dean tried not to laugh. He didn't want to blow his cover, but Cas was pretty cute when he was pissed. Dean started giving Cas random directions, getting him far enough away from his house that when he got the text from Sam telling him they were done and he started giving Cas directions back, he wouldn't catch on.

Once they were on Dean's street, however, Cas frowned at the passenger. "You just led us back to your place?"

"What? That's not right," Dean tried to play off. "Shit. Look, go back home and let me get the directions off the computer. Something's wrong with this piece of shit phone."

Cas was upset and tired and he didn't feel like getting directions to some apartment that he wouldn't want to live in. It could be lined in gold with its own butler and he still would rather live with Dean. Cas helped Dean into the house; and by helped it meant he walked beside him so that if he fell Cas could catch him. Once in the house, Cas stopped in the living room while Dean made his way to the bedroom to get the directions. Cas turned around, about to pace as he waited for Dean, but the piano in the corner caught his eye.

That was Cas' piano.

The piano Cas had put in storage because he didn't have a place for it at Charlie and Gilda's house.

"Dean?"

"Fits pretty good there, doesn't it?" Dean asked from where he was leaning against the hall's threshold. Cas spun around, looking at the smirking man. He was speechless. Dean had toyed with him all this time. "You know what else would fit pretty good here?" Cas shook his head at Dean's question. "You," he said simply. "You really think I would let you live anywhere other than here?"

"I was hoping you'd come to your senses," Cas told him as Dean walked over to him.

"I was never not with my senses, Cas. I want you to move in. I want to go over to Charlie and Gilda's and I want to pack up your shit right now."

Cas smiled brightly. "I don't know… there was that one apartment that seemed promising."

Dean smacked Cas' ass. "I'm not kidding around anymore."

Cas crashed his lips against Dean's. He wasn't kidding around anymore, either.

I hope that made up for The Horrible Cliffhanger of Chapter 17. ;)

Thanks for all the reviews, lovelies! Only a couple of chapters left, unless you want to see them do something specific. Don't worry, you'll get the LARPing event soon. xD

Leave me a review if you'd like. Until next time!