Dean is jolted out of a deep sleep at the loud, incessant knocking on his front door downstairs. Before his brain could register what the rest of his body was doing, Dean was tying his robe around him while his feet carried him down the stairs where he tore open the front door without a second thought.
The shadowed outline of someone standing in the dimly lit doorway woke up the rest of Dean's brain, instantly recognizing his next door neighbor. His usually neat suit wrinkled and disheveled, the tie pulled loose around his neck and despite the poor lightning of his porch, Dean swore he could see faint bruises.
"Jesus Castiel, come in..." Dean stuttered pulling him inside, closing and locking the door behind him, moving to wrap a supportive arm around Castiel's waist as he ushered him through the entryway and into his kitchen, hitting the light switch on the way to the island set in the middle of the room, carefully sitting Castiel onto the nearest chair.
"What the hell happened to you?" Dean questioned as he set about looking Castiel over, assessing his injuries. He had a couple bruises on his face and some, thankfully, superficial cuts on his hands and knuckles.
Castiel shrugged meekly, visibly shaking now that Dean could see him under better lighting in the kitchen. He seemed unable to speak or perhaps was afraid to, what on earth could he not say to Dean? They'd been neighbors for close to four years now since he had moved into the Campbell's old house.
"Cas... You know you can tell me anything," Dean spoke softly using his nickname, looking down into impossibly blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Dean hated seeing him like this, he was so used to the downright annoyingly cheerful Castiel.
"I... I was leaving Chuck's bar w-with Charlie, before I could hail a cab... These guys came out of nowhere," Castiel whispered almost too quietly for Dean to hear him, looking up into Dean's bright green eyes. Dean felt his stomach drop like someone had thrown a brick down it.
"They did this to you?" Dean's voice raised with anger, his hands twitching at his sides, eager to strike something. His breathing became shallow puffs, coming out of his nose.
Castiel's eyes widened with fear, or concern, Dean wasn't sure which. "Don't, Dean... Please..." he pleaded, hands reaching out to take hold onto Dean's robe. Dean instinctively clasped his hands protectively over Castiel's.
"Do they know your neighbor is a freakin' cop?" Dean snapped, suddenly wanting to storm out into the night in only his pajamas, robe and armed with his personal handgun.
"I don't think it would have stopped them, considering the slurs they called me, I think I got off easy..." Castiel muffled his voice burying his face into the soft fabric of Dean's robe, wiping his eyes on it.
Dean's body went completely still at Castiel's words, a heat surging through his whole being as if he'd just swallowed fire. Castiel noticed because he turned his face to look up at Dean.
"Those disgusting sons of bitches... I'm so sorry, Cas," Dean offered, wrapping his arms around his waist, stopping when Castiel winced in pain, sucking in a shuddering breath. He must have other injuries Dean was unaware of.
Without asking, Dean gingerly pulled Castiel's suit jacket off his shoulders setting it onto the island counter top, returning to undo the buttons on the white dress shirt. Castiel flinched when Dean peeled it off him as gently as possible.
Dean gasped when his eyes caught sight of the forming bruises across Castiel sides, a rather large one beneath the left side of his ribcage. Other smaller bruises on his stomach and chest, the bastards really did a number on him. Dean felt his blood boiling with rage.
"I'm taking you to the hospital, now," Dean helped Castiel redress as carefully as possible, doing his best not to further hurt him. Castiel whimpered when Dean's fingers brushed over the bruise under his ribs, Dean uttered a "sorry" as he helped him to his feet.
Not bothering to take the time to dress himself, Dean snatched up his car keys by the front door and led Castiel down the porch steps and down the path to his driveway. With a lot of effort and one too many 'sorry's, Dean managed to help Castiel into the passenger seat of his Impala.
-_-
They arrived at the nearest emergency room, it was thirty minutes away from Dean's house and they had gotten there in twenty thanks to Dean's driving. Dean ran inside, getting a nurse and a wheelchair to meet Castiel in the car. With the nurse's help, they got Castiel into the wheelchair with little fuss. Dean promised to meet him inside after he parked his car.
Dean sprinted inside the ER lobby, thanking a nurse who told him which room they'd set Castiel up in. He had to force himself from running through the busy halls, fearing he might bump into a nurse, doctor or patient when he found himself standing outside the room Castiel was in.
"Hey... Sorry it took me a minute to get back here, parking was a bitch," Dean apologized as he came to stand next to Castiel propped up in the hospital bed, his shirt and jacket having been replaced with a hideous hospital gown thst had been left open in the front.
"The nurse said she would be back in a few minutes," Castiel explained when he caught Dean staring at him, a look of anger and concern evident on his face. Dean gave him a half smile in response.
"I can get her back a lot quicker if you need me to, all I gotta do is play the cop card," Dean offered with a nod of his head towards the door. Castiel shook his head, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"That won't be necessary, but thank you, Dean..." Castiel replied. Just then the door opened as a nurse and doctor Dean assumed walked into the small room, Dean squeezed his large frame into the far right corner behind Castiel to make space for them.
"I'm Dr. Fitzgerald, please tell me what brings you in here tonight Mr. Novak," the rather young looking doctor greeted warmly, rubbing his hands together as he smiled brightly up at Castiel. Dean placed a comforting hand on Castiel's shoulder when he didn't immediately answer the doctor.
"I was... assaulted tonight on my way home," Castiel stared down at a spot on the bed between his feet, suddenly feeling nervous despite having Dean with him. He didn't want to be here, and he certainly didn't want to explain to strangers what happened to him.
"My neighbor was beaten outside a bar, he miraculous got away and managed to get to my house... I checked him for injuries and when I saw the bruises, brought him here," Dean explained sensing Castiel's reluctancy to speak. Castiel was grateful for the help.
"Well, we will do what we can and, provided your injuries aren't serious, we should be able to get you home in a few hours," the doctor's warm smile never faltered. He moved to the side of the bed and went about examining Castiel's body.
-_-
It was well into the early morning hours by the time Castiel had been released from the hospital, pending a follow up visit with his regular doctor in a few days. Dean was grateful Castiel's bruising was only surface level and he didn't have any internal bleeding.
With a nurse's help, he got Castiel into the passenger seat of his car and they drove away from the hospital in silence. Dean occasionally glanced at Castiel, silently cursing the assholes that hurt him every time a streetlight illuminated the bruises on his gorgeous face.
"Hey, Dean?" Castiel's voice brought Dean out of his thoughts, looking over at him as they passed through a green light. "Yeah, Cas?" Dean responded quietly, eyes back on the road.
"Can I spend the night at your place? After everything tonight, I kinda don't want to be alone..." the crack in Castiel's voice made Dean's chest ache, and all he wanted to do in that moment was hug him.
"Of course, you can have my bed and I'll set up a cot," Dean answered without a second thought, giving Castiel a reassuring smile. If Castiel didn't want to be alone, Dean would keep him company.
"I don't want to put you out... You've already been a huge help tonight," Castiel squeaked, rubbing the back of neck nervously. He couldn't ask Dean to give up his bed in his own home. Dean had done more than enough already.
"It's no problem, I would be offended if you thought that," Dean responded with a gentle hand on Castiel's shoulder, he felt Castiel accept the comforting gesture, leaning into it.
Moments later, they were pulling into the driveway and Dean turned off the engine before getting out and stepping around to Castiel's side, opening the door and offering a hand as Castiel stepped out.
With a steady hand on his lower back, Castiel was ushered up the porch steps and back inside Dean's house. They made their way up the stairs and turned right down the hallway that led into Dean's bedroom, the early morning light filtering in through the blinds.