It was just past three in the morning when Dean was thrust back into consciousness. He didn't remember falling asleep. He found his mind reeling, and his limbs moved accordingly, completely disoriented. He felt a presence against his left, and he scrambled sideways, reacting before taking in all the information. A quick feel under the pillow and it was clear his weapon was gone. Next best thing, he threw his fist with as much force as he could muster before jumping to his feet to gain the upper hand.

His punch was met with a muffled grunt of pain, and the lamp at the bedside table was flicked on. Dean's racing thoughts began to finally catch up with his surroundings. Bare walls, empty desk… this wasn't his room. This was Cas' room. And the bloodied face blinking up at him was… "Cas." He breathed, moving forward and grimacing. "Shit… sorry."

Cas held up one hand, his other coming to touch his nose expectantly. Dean paused with Cas before the angel rolled his eyes slightly, remembering that his angelic healing didn't work. He dropped his hand.

Dean's racing heart was starting to slow, and with it came the guilt. He fumbled for a moment before grabbing a cloth from the infirmary kit, and handing it to Cas who promptly pressed it to his bleeding nose. He shakily sat back down on the corner of the bed. "Let me see…"

Cas pulled the cloth away from his face, allowing Dean to move forward for a look. He hissed when Dean gently touched his nose, checking for injuries.

"Crap, Cas… I think it's broken."

Cas resumed his attempt at stemming the blood. "I believe you are correct."

"I'm sorry… I was just…"

"Dreaming. I know how sleep is for you." Cas replied, seeming somewhat nonchalant about his current injury.

Dean pulled a face. "So you keep saying."

Cas bowed his head slightly. "You used to pray to me… in your sleep sometimes." He spared a glance at the hunter's confused look. "I would come, unknowing of what you needed me for. I'd find you locked inside your dream, often with Alistair using whatever fear was at the forefront of your mind against you."

"Alright-" Dean interjected, his voice low in a warning he wasn't even aware he was giving.

"I'd help when I could… an angel can put a person into deep enough sleep that they cannot dream." Cas gave a half smile. "I'm afraid I cannot do that anymore."

"Yeah, let's worry about you right now, buddy." Dean insisted, trying to get the current conversation away from him.

Castiel tentatively pulled the cloth from his face once more. "I am alright Dean. The bleeding is stopping."

Dean looked closely at Cas in the half light. "It's going to leave one hell of a bruise." He half apologized. He felt like shit for this. "And it's not going to feel good for a while."

"I've endured far worse." Castiel tried to assure him. "I forgive you."

Dean rolled his eyes, but it was in self defense of his warring inner monologue. He stood, stalling, needing to think, choosing to stretch silently. He finally settled on, "How are you feeling… you know… otherwise?"

Cas took a moment, seeming to consider his body, and his feelings. He took a moment to wet the cloth in his hand with a water bottle before beginning to wipe at and remove the remaining blood from his face. After another minute he seemed to have taken full inventory of his feelings. "Better." He replied simply.

Dean was unsatisfied by the single word he got in response, especially given the build up. "Better?" he pushed.

Cas tossed the rag aside, and Dean frowned, seeing the bruising along the bridge of the nose and in the corner of his eye already beginning to darken. "Yes, better. My head feels clearer… I no longer feel abnormally cold nor hot. I believe my fever is gone. The pain in my shoulder is gone as well. "

Yeah, just a new pain in your face. "You should try to get more sleep." Dean tried, shakily.

"I do not believe I am tired anymore." Cas replied. He gave a slight smile, inclining his head a notch. "I found that wake-up... bracing."

Dean let out a small laugh in spite of himself. "Yeah well, fine." He let a little of the tension out of his shoulders. "I need coffee then." He started towards the kitchen, feeling a mix of guilt and relief that Cas was following.

Dean didn't let himself think again until he was across the table from Cas, and they both had a mug of coffee in their hands. "I don't even remember falling asleep." He admitted, feeling a little less defensive about it with time passed.

"You fell asleep towards the end of the film… I know sleep is somewhat rare for you, so I did not want to interrupt. I must have fallen asleep shortly after."

"Yeah… Let's not make a habit of that." Dean muttered.

Cas didn't comment. Instead he seemed to settle in, letting the warmth of the coffee help him wake up fully.

Dean finished his own cup, feeling a little uncomfortable with the growing silence. He crossed the room, pouring himself another mug. After a moment's hesitation he added a splash of whiskey to that, turning and freezing under Cas' gaze.

"Isn't it a little early for that?"

"Shut up." Dean rolled his eyes, coming back to sit again. He needed it after that wake-up. His head was still trying to catch up with the rapid shift in emotions. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yes Dean." Cas replied, his tone firm and leaving no room for interpretation. "I am fine."

Both of them looked up, hearing the heavy main door open and then thud, shut, and two pairs of feet echoing down the metal staircase. They waited, listening to one of the pairs of footsteps to come closer. "Hey, it's just us." Sam's voice came from the hallway, approaching the kitchen.

Dean looked at his watch. "Thought you weren't due back until tomorrow… and what the hell are you doing getting in, not even five in the morning…"

Sam appeared in the doorway, coming in. "We went to the first day but-" Sam cut himself off, looking over Cas' appearance. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Dean punched me when we woke up." Cas said, matter of fact.

Sam quirked his eyebrows. His younger brother drive kicked in. He smirked. "Aw, Cas don't you know that cuddling with Dean is dangerous?"

Dean choked on the coffee he was drinking, sending it sputtering back in his face and over the counter. "That's not-" He didn't manage to finish the thought, and settled on glaring at Sam.

Cas meanwhile, merely nodded. "I know that now." He said simply.

Sam laughed, going and grabbing himself a cup of coffee while Dean tried to pick his dignity up off the floor. He came to sit next to Dean at the table. "Seriously though, you broke his nose?"

Dean rolled his eyes, wiping up the coffee with a couple paper towels. "Fell asleep watching a movie. Didn't expect anyone near me when I woke up." He grumbled defensively.

Sam shook his head. "That why both of you are up so early?"

"Yeah. Now how come you're here so soon, and at this hour?" Dean asked, trying to put the conversation back on the rails.

"Day one was less than exciting." Sam shrugged. "Half the stuff they talked about wasn't even true."

"Nerd." Dean rolled his eyes.

Sam shook his head. "Kevin was pretty burnt on human interaction after a day, figured we'd head back. Drove in shifts to avoid motels on the way here." He shrugged. "Anything exciting happen while I was gone?"

"Cas almost died, but nothing we couldn't take care of." The elder hunter shrugged.

"Oh…" Sam said slowly, looking back at the former angel. "Good?"

Castiel nodded. "I am on the mend." He confirmed. He stood, depositing his empty coffee mug in the sink. "I require a shower and a change of clothing." He announced before walking from the kitchen in the direction of his room.

Sam watched him leave, turning back to find Dean rolling his eyes again. "So he almost died?"

"Yeah, the idiot thought he had a cold, and ignored the raging infection in his shoulder." Dean leaned back against the wall as Sam stood and moved across the table, taking the spot Cas vacated. "Came out to ask for cold medicine and passed out on the floor."

"He actually doing better?"

Dean nodded. "As far as I can tell. The shoulder is healing. Fever aside, it actually wasn't that bad. Other than his nose, he seems to be more or less good."

"I still can't believe you decked him."

Dean shook his head. "He should be glad we weren't in my room. I might've shot the bastard."

"Maybe that's a sign you shouldn't be sleeping with a gun under your pillow."

"Shut up."

Sam grinned. "Yeah. Well. I'm glad Cas is battered, not dead." He took another long drink from his coffee. "Kevin and I will do our best to make sure you two stay alive from now on now that we're back."