This one is another tag to 11x3 but is technically set after "Baby"
29. Seizure
Cas seemed quiet, or quieter than usual, since he wasn't exactly much of a talker anyway, but Dean worried because he knew Cas was suffering from the trauma and the guilt of what he had done while under Rowena's attack dog spell. Not only had he beat Dean into the ground, but he'd run rabid cross-country and been forced to kill two angels. Now, Dean knew they'd given him no other choice, and they had tortured him—he and Sam had had to patch up Cas' wounds—and it had really all been the spell, but Cas always felt bad when he had to kill angels.
He didn't want to leave the angel alone, but Cas needed rest, and there was a hunt to do, so he and Sam had gone to take care of some 'ghoulpires' and gotten the crap beaten out of them before they made it back home to the bunker.
"Dammit," Dean muttered as he looked at Baby after parking her in the garage. She had gotten the crap beat out of her too. "It's gonna take me all week to fix her up again."
Sam huffed and settled a hand on Dean's shoulder, mostly to steady himself since his leg was screwed up. "We'll fix her, Dean, but let's get ourselves cleaned up first."
Dean nodded in weary agreement and let Sam lean on him as they made their way into the bunker.
"Hey, Cas, we're back," he called.
The angel appeared after a few seconds, and Dean almost did a double-take. He looked terrible. He had taken off his coat and shoes and tie, and his shirt with the rolled up sleeves looked like he had been sleeping in it for a week, except the dark circles under his eyes told that he hadn't gotten any rest.
"Hey," he said, then his eyes widened in shock as he took in the state of the two Winchesters. "You look terrible."
"Yeah, right back at you," Dean couldn't help but say. "Cas, we told you to rest, you look like you've pulled three all-nighters and got thrown down a mountain."
The angel looked weary, but didn't protest. "I'm still recovering."
Yeah, no kidding. He eased Sam into a chair and bent to inspect his injured leg better as Cas hovered.
"I may be able to heal you still," he offered.
"Cas, no, you need to reserve your strength," Sam protested. "Like you said, you're still recovering."
"But you're badly injured," Cas protested. "That wound on your leg is deep, Sam; and Dean, you have cracked ribs, concussion…I'm surprised you were able to drive home."
"Cas, really, we're fine. We've had worse," Dean tried to say.
But Cas was already reaching out for them, pressing two fingers to each of their foreheads and closing his eyes as he concentrated. But instead of the familiar warmth of healing, there was nothing but a static feeling, and all of a sudden, Cas let out a strangled sound, and started shaking, jerking away in surprise.
"Cas?" Dean demanded, then surged forward as the angel collapsed on the ground. "Cas!"
Cas' body shook uncontrollably, his eyes rolled back in his head as his flailing limbs clattered against the floor.
"He's having a seizure!" Sam cried. He and Dean both were crouched beside him, Dean hurriedly dragging Cas' upper body against him and forcing the angel's arms against his chest as Sam leaned heavily on his legs.
"What the hell is this?" Dean demanded as he felt Cas shudder uncontrollably against him, his body still trying to jerk out of Dean's grip. "We broke the spell, he shouldn't be doing this again!"
Blood was dripping from the corner of Cas' mouth and Dean hoped it was from a bitten tongue. Sam hurriedly yanked his belt off with one hand and Dean helped him force it between Cas' teeth so he wouldn't do himself any more harm.
It seemed like forever that they held him there on the floor, waiting out the seizure and feeling helpless as they watched their friend suffer. But finally Cas stopped shuddering and went limp with only a few twitches. Dean propped Cas up with one arm and tentatively patted his face.
"Cas? Hey man, come on, wake up." He slipped the belt from Cas' now slack mouth and saw Cas' eyes flutter. He groaned and his heal lolled against Dean's shoulder before he fully opened his eyes. He seemed somewhat confused and reached up a shaky hand to wipe blood from his mouth.
"Dean?" he murmured. "Sam? What—what happened?"
"You had a seizure or something," Sam said, concern clear on his face.
"Oh," Cas said softly.
Dean raised his eyebrows. "Oh? That's it?"
Cas looked aside and attempted to straighten up, and Dean reluctantly helped him sit, a hand propping him up. "I—I already had one earlier."
Sam's eyes flew open and Dean gaped at the angel. "Seriously? How many have you had?"
"Just the two." Cas shook his head. "I don't think it's anything dangerous, just…the spell, it attacked my grace. It's taking a while for it to recharge and it's spasming."
"Then why the hell did you try to heal us?" Dean demanded.
Cas looked sheepish. "I didn't know that would happen."
"Still, Cas you would have only made yourself weaker," Sam said, more softly than Dean. "You need to take care of yourself too."
The angel ducked his head, clasping his hands in his lap, but he nodded. "I know. I'm sorry I'm so weak. I—I'm not much good to you right now."
Dean and Sam shared a look. Dean bit his lip and sighed, before turning back to Cas and making sure the angel was looking at him.
"Cas, man, listen to me. We don't care that you need to take some time off, we just want you to get well, okay? And I expect you to rest up until you feel stronger, and your grace starts to recharge—and no lying." He grunted as he shifted on the hard floor and his beaten body twinged. "I mean, we're all going to need some R&R for the next couple days."
Cas sighed in agreement. "Okay."
"And this time, you're actually going to rest," Dean told him as he somehow managed to get himself to his feet and reached down for Sam and then Cas. The three of them steadied each other as they moved toward the dormitory wing. "Now let's get you into a bed so you don't crack your skull if you have another seizure. And no more trying to use your grace until you're feeling better."
Cas huffed, but didn't protest. He was exhausted and Dean deposited him into his bed, watching as Cas curled on his side, clutching the pillow under his head. Dean went to turn the light off, hoping the angel would sleep or recharge or whatever, but Cas stopped him.
"Dean…leave it on," he said softly and Dean caught his eyes, so akin to Sam when he was a kid and still scared of the dark that Dean halted.
"Sure, Cas," he said. "Just…let us know if you need anything."
The angel nodded and Dean left the door open, just in case Cas had another seizure or a nightmare. They were all pretty messed up, but even though they needed to find out what to do with the Darkness, Dean knew it was also important they take a few days to recover.
Besides, after everything they had gone through, he thought they were entitled.