AN: Thanks Mummabro, Innocence2652, and Master's daughter for the the reviews. Innocence was my 50th reviewer. There should be a prize or something. I'm so glad that last chapter didn't kill the story for you all.
The bed was warm and so was the hand on his bare chest. He lay there languidly, breathing in the comfort of the moment. The morning sun trickling in through the blinds. He looked over to the other pillow at the golden hair and sleeping features just inches from him. It had been a long time since he had felt so comfortable. It was something that he almost forgot. He reached up a hand to cover the one on his chest, careful not to disturb his sleep.
He breathed in and out the earthy scent of the body next to his. It reminded him of coffee. Maybe everything Cas cared about was just a few degrees of separation from his favorite beverage. He stared at the face finally willing it to wake up. He moved just a little so that he was on his side. The hand slid off of his chest in a dead thump. Cas moved closer to the face and noticed that there was no movement. His eyes fell on the chest and saw just how still it was. Then he looked to the place where the white scar was on his chest and saw the blood that began forming there. It was pumping out now. Faster, and faster it flowed from him.
The redness of it pooling and then pouring down onto the white sheets. Cas threw himself off of the bed then and looked down at the man. His face looked like Dean, but this could not be Dean. Who could have done this? He grabbed a pillow and pressed it to the wound. There was no sound in the room. The noise in his ears was a low wind like one would hear in a shell. He could feel the hammering of his heart as he pressed the pillow down with more force.
The blood was seeping past though. How could there be so much blood?
Dean's eyes opened then. "Don't worry, Cas. It wasn't fatal."
"God, don't die. Just stay with me. I'm going to save you." Cas looked around the room for his phone, but he was afraid to let go of the pillow. As he panned back he saw a man standing in the doorway. His eyes held a hint of gold from the light that streamed in from the windows. He looked like the man from the bar but not really. Only this time he was not talking with Dean, he was leaning against the door frame, clutching a gun.
Then something odd happened. His body shuddered and his face became softer. It became A with all of his menace. Then he shuddered again and was Salvatore. Then he shuddered a final time and was Crowley. And it was then that he advanced on Cas and raised his weapon. Then out of his mouth trickled the words, "I thought that he looked familiar." Cas noticed then that the gun was not aimed at him, but just over his shoulder. He turned and saw Dean's eyes wide open now.
"It's not really lying, Cas." Dean whispered. His eyes were pleading for understanding.
Then Crowley's voice broke through again, "Yeah, sure, and sometimes when you really want something, you lie. That's just what humans do. Frankly though, I have had enough of your lying." Then he unloaded his weapon into Dean.
The crashing sound of the shots jolted Cas out of his sleep. His dark room was hot. He felt the suffocating weight of his comforter wrapped around him. He kicked it off and was marginally relieved as cooler air rushed over his sweat soaked body. He reached his arms out to his sides and gripped the sheets as his body shook a little. He hadn't had a nightmare like this in some time, not since Charles' accident.
He decided to get up then and stretch out his legs. He walked out into the living room. His phone was sitting on the charger, on his counter. The little blue light was flashing in the dark. He turned it on and saw the message icon.
I miss you.
Why can't you be awake right now?
Cas looked at the timestamp on each and saw that they had been sent just an hour ago. It was 3:00am now.
I'm awake. I miss you too.
He waited and felt each breath make its trek through his lungs. He knew that it had been a dream, but the mind craves reassurance.
I can't sleep. Wish you were here.
I don't even know where you live.
That's weird, huh? I'll show you when you come to Sam's on Labor Day weekend.
Why not this weekend?
It won't be convenient. We'll be at Bobby's.
I thought that you all lived close to each other.
Bobby is the farthest out.
Cas wondered if there was more to this. Is he trying to create distance? I wonder if he regrets this. He was trying to keep it together. It's not a big deal. You've only known him for a little over a week. Almost two weeks, but really who is keeping track here?
Are you okay?
Cas did not know how to answer. He was not okay. He was a big old ball of confusion and emotions. He was not sure how to compartmentalize all of this. It was chaos and confusion and Dean.
Not really.
What's wrong.
I had a stupid nightmare and now I can't sleep.
The phone rang in his hand and he answered it. "Hello, Dean."
"I just thought that calling might be more convenient."
"We'll have to keep it short. I have to try to get a few more hours in."
"Me too. What was your nightmare about?" Dean paused as Cas thought about his response.
"I don't know how to share it without it sounding odd or maybe creepy," Cas said.
"Was it a sex dream?"
"What, no. How would that be creepy? Wait, don't answer. I've seen Gabe's porn, yeech."
"Me too now. You have creepy friends. Just saying." Dean chuckled a little. "So, not a sex dream then? What was it?"
"You were in my bed."
"Well now, that sounds like…" But before Dean could finish, Cas interrupted him.
"You were shot. I was trying to stop the blood. There was so much blood."
"I didn't realize how much seeing my little battle scars would scare you. I assure you that I am not dead yet." Dean thankfully gave Cas his thoughts with only a little humor in his tone.
"The scariest part was that it was Crowley that did it, or maybe not. It was hard to tell. Now it is getting all muddled." Cas felt a yawn coming on and his faced stretched out to welcome it.
"Sounds like someone is sleepy. Too bad it isn't contagious."
"You aren't going to sleep yet?" Cas made his way to his bedroom again.
"Nah, I got a few hours in."
"Could I ask you a weird left field question?"
"Sure, should I be nervous?" Dean sounded nervous.
"I don't think so. Um, Gabe showed me this video."
"Oh, God. Don't tell me you want to do that . I don't think that either of us is that flexible."
"Uh, what are you talking about?"
"Uh, I don't know, Uh, what are you talking about?"
"Clearly, not the same thing. He showed me a video of the night that we met. You were in the background and a man was talking to you. He was talking into your ear and you gave him something."
"Really?"
"Yes, also, not really the response I was expecting." Cas waited for more information.
"We have a lot to talk about this weekend, but not on the phone."
"So, I have to wait?"
"Yes." Dean was all business now.
"Should I be nervous?"
"No, I should be." Dean did not elaborate. Instead he said, "I always manage to screw things up. Looks like I screwed things up before they even began."
"What are you talking about?"
"Just let me tell you when I see you this weekend."
"Okay." Cas let out a sigh and added, "I wish you were here."
"Me too, Cas." He paused then said, "Goodnight, Cas."
"Goodnight, Dean." Don't leave me yet. Then he could hear the emptiness of the phone line as Dean hung up.
Review, Fav., Follow. The next chapter will be a shorty containing Sam, Cas, M, and a new character. 'Till then.