The next day, Dean made his way to Castiel's room with a bag in hand. Castiel was asleep when he entered. He knocked on the door and announced himself. Castiel stirred, rubbing his eyes.

"Hey, how you feeling today?" Dean set the bag on the table beside the bed.

Castiel could smell something that made his stomach rumble loudly. "What is that?"

Dean smiled. "Your lunch." He sat in the chair next to the bed. "They said it was okay to bring you some real food. I can't imagine anything here is good."

"No," Castiel sat up slowly, arms shaking with the effort. "It smells so good."

"It should," Dean resisted the urge to hold Castiel up, "it's your favorite." Castiel tilted his head at Dean and picked up the bag. "It's from Harvelle's, a little bar and restaurant in town. A friend of ours owns it and she made that special for you."

"Thank you." Castiel took out the wrapped burger and basket of fries. He picked up a couple fries and chewed them thoughtfully. They were delicious.

"They took your IV out, huh?" Dean pointed to the small bruise on his hand.

"Yes." Castiel took a few more fries. "I'm mostly just working on getting strong enough to walk and grip and then I should be able to leave."

"Right, lying in bed for three months will make that difficult." Dean sat quietly as Castiel finished eating.

"How is the car?"

"Good. Just like new."

"That's good." Castiel dropped his trash into the paper bag. "It seemed really important to you to get that fixed."

"I grew up in that car. It means a lot to me."

"I figured. Since you left as soon as I woke up and rushed to your car." Castiel could feel Dean's look, but he kept his head facing down. "They told me that you sat in here with me every day, but then when I woke up, you wouldn't come back. I assumed it was for something important."

Dean felt hurt by the comment. Castiel was the most important person in his life. He was his best friend and he had fully planned to spend the rest of their lives together. But now Castiel thought he placed a car over him. He loved the Impala, but nothing compared to Castiel.

"Cas," Dean looked at his hands, unable to look Castiel in the eye, "we've been friends since grade school. Fifteen years ago, you lost your parents and were a permanent resident at our house. I know you better than anyone and yesterday you woke up and had no idea who I was. You can surely understand how that could've been hard for me."

Castiel nodded, picking absently at his cover. "I can imagine. It's probably just as hard as waking up and not knowing who you are or where and having all these people looking at you like you should remember something or worse with pity. Unlike you, I can't run from that. If I really mean as much to you as you say, why would you leave when I could use your help?"

"I didn't want to be one of those people making you feel like you should know something you can't. Do you want me here?"

Castiel shrugged. "You can do whatever you want, Dean. I don't know if I'll remember you or anything at all, but…" Castiel messed with his cover again.

"What?"

"I don't really want to be alone either. Everyone visits but just for a few minutes before going back to work. I assume you work too, but just sitting here will drive me crazy."

"I don't have to work actually. After two months of not coming to work when I was able to, was enough for them to let me go."

"You got fired?" Dean nodded. "I got you fired?"

"Well, not directly." Castiel frowned. "Don't worry. I hated that job anyway. I was just some office drone and I was losing my mind. I'll find a better one." Castiel still looked upset. "Who brought you that?" Dean tugged at the black cover that wasn't from the hospital.

"Your mom. She thought it would help me somehow."

The cover was Castiel's. It was always usually on their couch or bed. "Huh, she must've taken it from the house when I wasn't there."

Castiel nodded then furrowed his brows. "She said it was from my house. Why would you be in my house?" He looked at Dean. Dean looked like he was trying to decide if he wanted to lie or not. "Do we live together?"

Dean figured he would find out when he left anyway. "Yeah."

"Aren't we a little old to have a roommate?" Castiel smiled.

Dean shrugged. "Maybe."

Castiel felt bothered for some reason by Dean's reaction. "How long have we lived together?"

"Eight years."

"Wow. That's a long time."

"Yeah." Dean looked at his hands again. He wanted to tell Castiel why they lived together, how much he cared about him, and how close they had always been, but he didn't know if that was the best thing for him right now.

"Dean…" Castiel could see something bugging Dean but before he could ask, Carmen entered to check on him.

"How are you feeling, Castiel?" She smiled warmly at both of them.

"I'm good. No pain really, just weakness in my hands."

Carmen nodded and made a note. "That's normal. We're trying to get you strong again. Today, we were planning on walking you up and down the hall a ways if you feel up to it."

Castiel nodded. "I think I can do that."

"Dean," Carmen turned to him, "if you want to walk with Castiel, you can."

"Sure." He looked at Castiel. "If that's okay with you."

"Of course." Castiel pushed his cover off and swung his legs around the side of the bed. Carmen slid the small table away and Dean stood. Castiel tried to push himself up a couple times before sagging down and sighing.

"I can get the walker to help you stand if you want." Carmen held a hand behind Castiel to support him.

"No." Castiel insisted firmly. "I can do it." He took a deep breath and pushed up. His arms shook but he managed to stand, although a little wobbly.

Dean and Carmen both had a hand ready if he were to suddenly fall, but he steadied himself and started shuffling away from the bed. Dean followed him across the room and opened the door.

"You two go ahead and let me know how he does."

Dean turned to look at Carmen. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, go," she waved a hand, "he's in good hands."

Dean smiled to her and walked out with Castiel. The moved down the hall slowly. Castiel had a look of concentration with each step. Dean could see his legs shaking slightly. He wanted nothing more than to hold his arm to make sure he didn't fall. "This doesn't hurt does it?"

"No." Castiel's voice was a little more breathy than usual. "It just feels strange. My muscles give away easily so it's hard."

"That would be hard." They walked to the end of the hall and turned back the other way. When they were about halfway back, Castiel's knees bent suddenly and he reached out to grab Dean. Dean caught him and wrapped both arms around him. "You okay?" Dean pulled Castiel's arm around his shoulder and helped him steady his footing.

"Yeah, I don't know what happened." Castiel seemed annoyed at his knees betraying him that way. He kept his arm around Dean and let him support part of his weight the rest of the way to his room.

"What happened?" Carmen looked concerned as they entered the room arm in arm.

"His legs just gave out a little on the way back. He's okay." Dean didn't let him go until he was sitting on the bed again.

"Okay," Carmen patted Castiel's shoulder, "that's still a lot more walking than you've done yet so that's good. We'll go around again later." With a wave, she left them alone.

"Don't worry, Cas." Dean sat beside the bed again. "You'll be back to normal in no time."

"I hope so."

With a couple more days of physical therapy and good food, Castiel was able to walk confidently alone and was putting on weight. He was being discharged and Dean was waiting outside with the Impala.

Castiel smiled at Dean leaning against the car. "So, this is your car?"

"How do you know it's not yours?" Dean smiled.

"Because, it looks like something you would drive." Castiel looked at the car closely as he walked around it. "I know you better than myself now, and this seems like you, and it looks brand new."

Dean laughed. "Well, it practically is. We had to rebuild almost everything, but she's worth it."

Castiel nodded and got in the car. He started looking through his bag of belongings as Dean drove them home. He opened his wallet and looked at his driver's license. "My birthday is December 14, 1978."

Dean looked over briefly. "Yep, a little over a month before mine."

"Hmm," Castiel pulled a credit card and debit card out of the wallet before pulling out a worn picture. It was a little faded and yellow with age but it was a picture of two boys, arms around each other's shoulders and smiling wide for the camera. He recognized the fairer haired boy as Dean and the other one had to be him. They looked maybe twelve. "When was this taken?" He held the picture out for Dean to see.

"Oh God," Dean laughed, "that was a long time ago. We were thirteen, I think, and my mom made us take a picture. It was the last day of summer break and we were helping my dad finish our tree house." Dean smiled at the memory. They spent a lot of time in that tree house, especially after Castiel lived with them.

"It's a nice picture." Castiel slipped it back in the wallet and kept flipping through the rest of the contents. There were a couple ones and a twenty dollar bill and one more picture. This one wasn't as old, but they both still looked visibly younger than now. This one had obviously been taken by Dean given his arm's position. They were in a dark room, laughing into the camera and leaning close together. It seemed like an intimate picture for two guys.

"Did you find another one?" Dean kept his eyes on the road.

"Yeah." He flipped the picture over and saw a scribbled sentence. "Dean's 21st and our one year."

Dean looked over but jumped when he remembered he was driving and looked forward again. He didn't know Castiel kept pictures with him at all.

"What does that mean, one year?" Castiel looked at Dean in confusion.

Dean cleared his throat. "I took that on my birthday. You took me to a bar for my first legal drink." He hoped Castiel wouldn't ask any more.

"I assumed that much, but what about the other part? Our one year of what?" Castiel watched Dean expectantly. Dean seemed to not want to answer. Castiel put the picture in the wallet and set it on his lap. Over the past few days, Castiel was beginning to piece together what Dean told him and what he avoided and he knew he was hiding something.

"We should be there soon." Dean turned up the radio, hoping to end the conversation. Castiel leaned over and turned the music off. "Cas, I have this rule about the driver and music…"

"Dean," Castiel cut him off, "are we a couple?" He saw no need to tiptoe around the question. He assumed as much by Dean's and his family's behavior.

"What?" Dean laughed uncomfortably. "Did someone tell you that?"

"No, but I'm not an idiot." He set an unfaltering gaze at Dean, willing him to answer.

Dean swallowed. "Yes."

Castiel closed his eyes and dropped his head back against his seat. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, you don't know me anymore. For all I knew, you won't want to be with me like that again and I didn't want you to feel obligated to pretend because of my feelings." Dean turned them into the driveway and turned the car off.

"How long have we been together?"

"Ten years." Castiel looked out his window and shook his head. "And I know that I can't expect you to be the same person you were before and I would never pressure you about anything. I just…" he was rambling and he stopped himself before he made it worse.

"I'm sorry, Dean." He sounded like he was crying.

Dean put a hand on his shoulder. "Cas." He could see him wiping his eyes. "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything. No one can control things like this." He pulled his hand back and opened his door. "Let's go inside so you can settle in and relax." Castiel nodded.

"Surprise!" The room full of his family was definitely that. Dean wasn't sure what to feel as his parents, Sam, Jessica, Bobby, Ellen, and Jo greeted them with smiles and questions from every direction.

Introductions were made between Ellen and Jo and Castiel and they were ushered into the living room where they found plates of food courtesy of Ellen sitting out for them. Without much say from Dean or Castiel, they all ate and talked in the living room. Everyone was happy that Castiel was finally out of the hospital and were telling him stories and, in Dean's opinion, trying too hard. Dean loved his family, but at times they could be a bit much.

When Dean saw Castiel sneaking off to the kitchen, he knew he wasn't the only one getting overwhelmed. He gave Castiel a minute before following him into the room. Castiel was sitting on one of their stools at the counter and leaning on his hands. He slowly sat on the other stool and remained there quietly until Castiel spoke.

"Did you know about this?"

"No. I would've told them not to be anywhere near the house today, but they didn't ask me." Dean rubbed his forehead. He was tired from all the hospital business he had to go through today and could only imagine how much more Castiel was.

"I appreciate what they're trying to do, but I can't do this much longer, Dean."

"Do what?"

Castiel dropped his head, letting his hands circle the back of his neck. "Look at their faces when they look at me. It's like I said before, I see the hope in their eyes that I'll suddenly remember something about them or the pity when I don't. They put on happy faces, but I see their sadness for my situation and I can't take it." He rubbed his neck slowly and exhaled loudly. "But, I don't want to be rude either."

Dean nodded. "I feel the same way. I was really hoping to just chill out tonight and let you settle in." He stood up and knocked on the counter. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."

"What are you gonna do?" Dean just walked away.

Dean went back to the living room and got his family's attention. "Everyone, hey," he smiled when they all looked at him, "thank you for the surprise, but I think it's a good time to call it a night. Cas is tired and so am I and we just want to relax."

"You kicking us out, Dean?" Bobby asked with a mock offended face.

"No," he shook his head, "well, yeah I guess I kind of am."

"Did we upset him?" Mary put a hand over her heart, hoping she hadn't made anything worse.

"No, mom, he's just tired."

"Should we go talk to him?" Jessica was just as worried as Mary.

"No!" Dean covered his face with a hand. "Do you guys not understand? For the past three days, he's had people in his face and room constantly, asking him how he feels, what he remembers, poking him and making him walk in circles, and when he finally gets to come home everyone is here and doing it all again."

"Dean, we're doing this for you guys." Sam took a step closer to Dean. "We just wanted Cas to know that we all support him and want to help him."

"I know and he knows that. Please, just do it less aggressively. I love all of you but this isn't what he needs right now."

"Did something happen? He hasn't talked to you at all since you got here." Mary stood and took Dean's hand.

"Mom," he shook his head, "he hasn't had a chance. I mean, he figured out about us, but it hadn't even set in before you all bombarded him."

"Oh, Dean, I'm sorry. Did you want to talk to him tonight about all that?"

"That's not it," Dean pulled his hand back and stepped back a couple steps, "I'm just…could you all please leave? I'm sorry." They all got quiet and looked behind Dean. He turned and saw Castiel standing in the doorway.

"They don't have to leave, Dean. I don't want to be rude." He held up his hands in surrender.

"Cas…"

"It's okay. I'm fine." The smile he turned to him didn't reach his eyes and only Dean could see how un-fine he really was in that moment.

"If that's what you want, Cas." Dean watched him carefully. He looked at Dean and nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Sam caught the look between the two and saw Dean bolting.

"I thought I heard something making a funny noise on the drive home and I'm gonna talk the Impala out for another drive to make sure. I won't be long." He grabbed his keys and left before anyone could talk him out of it. If Castiel wanted to smile and pretend for his family, fine, but Dean wasn't going to do it anymore tonight.

Everyone stood in awkward silence as Dean pulled out of the driveway. Castiel shook his head. "He does that a lot doesn't he?"

"You have no idea." Sam took a drink of his beer and shook his head. His brother was an idiot.

He truly hadn't meant to be gone this long, but an hour after leaving, Dean pulled back into his spot. The house looked darker so everyone was probably gone. The door was unlocked and he walked in as Castiel came out of the guest room. He had changed into a pair of sweats and a gray t-shirt, bare feet padding across the wooden floor.

"Hi," he stopped on his way down the hall, "find the problem?" He asked already knowing there wasn't one.

"We're all good." He looked around the cleaned up living room. "When did they leave?"

"Not long after you." He walked over to him. "You could've stayed."

"I don't think you would've wanted that." He longed to move closer or for Castiel to. He always loved when Castiel wore such casual clothes and he just wanted to hold him close or curl up on the couch and watch TV.

"You don't know what I want." Castiel turned away and walked down the hall. "Oh," he stopped, "I assumed the dirty room was ours, but I can't find clothes that seem to fit or suit me."

"All your stuff is in the guest room. I moved it all a couple days ago. I thought it would be a lot easier for you in your own room."

Castiel nodded. "Oh, thanks." He stood, seemingly waiting for Dean to say something. When he didn't, he turned away again. "I'm just gonna take a shower and turn in then."

"Okay." He tossed his keys to the table and slipped off his jacket. Castiel had gone to his room for his pajamas and was on his way to the bathroom when Dean did finally move closer to him. "By the way," Castiel stopped, "I do know what you want." Castiel raised an eyebrow at him. "I know you wanted to leave as much as I did. I know that something is eating at you right now and that you want to ask me something, but I'll let you do that whenever you feel like it." He smiled. "Goodnight, Cas."

Castiel waited for Dean to open the bedroom door before speaking. "Is there something missing from the house?"

"Like what?" Dean looked at him.

Castiel shrugged. "I wouldn't remember." He looked around at the shelves in the living room. "It just seems like a few things aren't there, like pictures or something."

Dean shook his head. "I don't think anything is missing. Maybe mom swiped something when she left." He shrugged and retreated to his room before Castiel could ask anything else. He fell asleep as the sound of the shower stopped and he knew Castiel was going to bed.