Dean was worried. He lay in a hospital bed, covered only by the thin, open backed gown he was provided and a white bed sheet. They'd given him x-rays, started blood tests, checked for damage to his internal organs and did a lot of whispering. A LOT of whispering. They'd been there for more than two hours now.
Yeah – they. Dean became a complete wreck again when Vala mentioned taking off to check in with Bobby. Dean didn't want to be left alone. They fought about it once the room was empty. When the doctor had taken off to consult another doctor.
"What's your deal? I can't even leave the room to make a phone call. You're a grown man Winchester. Suck it up."
Dean was beginning to shake the closer Vala got to the door. His eyes welled up. She stopped walking when he tried to speak, his voice cracking under the stress.
"Please. Please Vala. Don't leave. Please."
Begging. Vala was a sucker for begging. That's why she was stuck dragging Aislin around.
"Don't grovel. It's so unbecoming."
She walked back to his bedside and sat, sending a text to her sister about the whining brat she was babysitting and asking how Sam was doing. She sent it before looking back to Dean.
He was still shaking, his body wracked with sobs. Whatever it was that had happened before they rescued the Winchester boys must have been horrible.
As before Vala felt bad for being so hard on him. She'd known about his time in hell, the deal he made for his brother. She could relate to him in more ways than she cared to think about.
Vala tucked the phone in her pocket as her heart tore at her. She grabbed hold of Dean's hand as he tried to hide his face from her. She spoke in a calm, understated manner, almost a lull, as he Dean sighed.
"Hey, hey. No matter how bad, it's all going to be alright. I promise I won't – would you look at me?"
Vala took hold of his chin and guided his gaze to meet hers. Their eyes locked and Vala saw something in him she hadn't before.
She wasn't looking at a sad Dean Winchester. She was staring into the eyes of a frightened boy. So scared it marked his soul. She reacted, reeling in her fear as it coursed through her. Vala wiped a tear from his face with her thumb, resting her palm on his cheek. Dean closed his eyes and cried a little more. Vala continued, calming him with the sweet sing-song voice she rarely used.
"I promise Dean Winchester I will not leave you. I will not leave you. I'll sit by your side at this hospital every step of the way. Hey... hey."
He opened his eyes and met hers again, keeping his tears at bay, knowing what she was going to ask.
"If you want to talk, about what's bothering you, I'm right here."
Dean didn't say a word. Vala wiped another tear from his wet face and began to release her grip on his hand.
Human contact, real human contact, was few and far between for Dean. He found he was actually beginning to like having Vala around, when she was being snarky. He reflexively squeezed her hand when she tried to let go.
Understanding him better than he knew, she kept hold on his hand while taking her seat in the chair next to him. The two of them sat in silence, holding onto each other. Waiting for the doctor to return.