All Ravenna remembered from the accident was storming out. She awakened, tired and sore, in a hospital bed. A soft guitar riff was being played from close by. Without opening her eyes, she tried to sing weakly.

"I-If I die young, bury me in satin. Lay me down o-on a bed of roses…"

Footsteps approached quickly before she drifted off again. She could faintly hear a male voice calling her name, but she was so tired… On the outside, Castiel was talking to Lysander on the phone.

"Hey! Dude, she just sang."

"What?"

"Ravenna. I was practicing my guitar a bit and she started to sing along. I think she's starting to wake up," Cass said energetically.

"What were you playing?"

"The beginning riff of If I Die Young."

"It may have been a message," he teased.

"Don't even think that way, dude."

While they traded words, a nurse snuck in to change Ravenna's IV. She released a startled cry and Castiel dropped his phone, turning to look. Rave had her wrist in a death grip, looking absolutely terrified.

"Ravenna! Its okay, you're in the hospital. Please let her go."

She obeyed slowly, looking unsure as she did so. Castiel grinned and hugged her gently, careful not to bump anything. Her left arm was in a sling, so her good one wrapped around him. They hugged for a moment longer before she looked down at her body.

"Can you please fill me in?"

"You had a severe concussion, five broken ribs, a broken arm, and several lacerations."

"How long was I out?"

"Two weeks."

"Have you been here the entire time?"

"I've left twice to take a shower and change clothes. Then I realized that I can shower here and have one of the guys bring me clothes. Your little buddy has been keeping me company."

"Ken? Where did he go?"

The door opened just after she said that. Ken came in looking like hell with his arms full of cookies. His hair was a bit messy and he was wearing his glasses. He dropped them at the sight of Ravenna sitting up. She stared cynically at him.

"I have a lot of explaining to do."

"I'd say. After this little rodent told me what had happened, I smacked him," Castiel smirked.

"Start talking, now."

"About a week before prom, Amber stopped outside the library. She showed me a picture she had taken of you in your underwear at the dress shop. If I didn't ditch you at prom, she would've shown the whole school!"

She gave him a blank look, blinking twice before looking at Castiel.

"I know, right?"

"What?"Ken asked softly.

"You must be stupid to think that I care if she shows that picture to the school. Hell! I wear less when I do my annual Catch Me If You Can, Security greased jog around the football field! You are such a jerk."

"It was for more selfish reasons. I realized that after seeing you dancing with him."

"Of course it was! Because you didn't want to be seen with the freak."

"No! Would you just listen? I didn't want anyone else to see you like that. I wanted to be the only one. Look, Ravenna, I'm sorry for hurting you. I don't deserve you as a girlfriend, yes, but you've been my best friend since we were little. And I don't want to lose that."

His face was so full of sincerity and kindness, that, for once, he looked like his old self. Tears pricked at her eyes as she grabbed him in a one-armed hug. He hugged back gingerly. Castiel cleared his throat and stood up.

"I should get going…"

"No! Stay! I want to talk to you guys some more."

A loud knock sounded at the door and Link came in with his band, giving Cass enough time to escape. Ravenna watched him in confusion, and then tried to enjoy her brother's company. It was fun, visiting with them, but the thought of him still gnawed at her. Why did he look so distant? What was on his mind?

He didn't return that night or the day after or the next day after that. Castiel was trying to think of a way to confess to her, when his phone rang. It was Lysander.

"Um, Cass?"

"Yeah?"

"How long has it been since you last saw Ravenna?" he sounded a bit distraught.

"About three days, why?"

"She's freaking out."

"What is she doing? Beating up the nurses again? Trying to run around?"

"No, worse, she shut down. Rave won't eat or say anything to anyone."

Now he was worried. She always had something to say, no matter what. Ravenna was a chatterbox and she loved to eat. She only shut down when she was extremely angry or depressed. Castiel was struck by the thought that he may have caused this.

"Do you know why?"

"No. After her brother left the other day, she asked Ken where you went. He didn't know and she said that she had nothing else to say then. I guess she was serious."

Huffing in frustration, he grabbed his keys. She really was a difficult person when she wanted to be. Her longest hunger strike had only been a day and a half though. And that was when Ken went MIA… A sudden realization hit and he ran out. Getting in his car, he sped to the hospital. The nurses knew who he was, so there was no need for signing in.

When Castiel got to the room, she was just staring at the ceiling. Lysander was looking distressed in one chair and Ken was looking depressed in the other. They all turned when he entered the room. Ravenna grinned and waved.

"Hi!"

The two males in the chairs jolted, looking at her in surprise.

"Rave, what were you doing?"

"Waiting," she replied almost childishly.

"I meant, why weren't you eating or speaking."

"I was waiting for you. The food here is bland and McDonalds doesn't deliver. These two wouldn't bring me it, so I was waiting for you."

"You didn't ask for it!"Ken snapped.

"I know you wouldn't sneak it in for me. But Castiel breaks rule constantly."

They all looked at her in exasperation, knowing what she was really thinking. She really was waiting for him to return because she missed him. The food was just an excuse. Chuckling, he took their orders and went out again. Even injured she was beautiful and funny and stubborn. It was what he loved so much about her.

Now if only he could figure out how to tell her, life would be perfect.