Chapter Thirty-Three

Dean drove Cas to school the next morning, but he wasn't allowed in the building until the start of his next exam, which wouldn't be for another two hours. He watched Cas walk inside, then found himself at a loss. He was grateful he wouldn't have to listen to the gossiping, or feel the eyes on him, but he wasn't used to spending so much time alone. He ended up driving around town, listening to music until it was time for his exam.

He was barely noticed as he slipped into the building for the exam, but he heard the whispers following him as he left again. He tried his best to keep studying at home, but the silence in the house was oppressive. Dean was relieved when he could finally leave to pick up Cas.

Cas climbed into the Impala, patting Dean's knee and smiling warmly.

'I have some news,' Cas said as they pulled away.

'Oh yeah?'

Cas hesitated. 'Three more people came forward about Rhonda,' he said.

Dean's hand slipped on the wheel and he swerved slightly. 'Three?'

'You inspired them,' Cas said softly. 'None of them had any proof either, but it was enough for them to justify her immediate expulsion.'

'Wait - wait a minute. Expelled? She - she's gone?'

'She's gone,' Cas confirmed. 'You never have to see her again.'

Dean said nothing, stunned.

'You inspired me too.' Cas squeezed Dean's knee. 'I went to the principal about that time in the locker room.'

Dean glanced at him. 'Really? You did?'

Cas nodded. 'It was… uncomfortable… but I'm glad I did it.'

'I'm proud of you,' Dean said.

'The best part is, she'll likely have to repeat senior year. From what I hear, she was banking on some of her exams to graduate, which she will no longer be allowed to attend.'

'How do you know all this?'

Cas looked sheepish. 'I hear things. People talk around me.'

Dean gave a mock gasp. 'I didn't realise you were such a gossip,' he teased.

'I'm not!' Cas said innocently. 'But if someone wants to talk to me, I'll gladly listen.'

Dean smiled, his heart light in his chest. 'I can't believe she's gone.'

Once they were home, Dean stopped in the driveway and kissed Cas.

'You're feeling better?' Cas said, looking pleased.

'I am now,' he grinned. 'You're beautiful, you know that?'

Cas dazzled him with a smile. 'Come on, I'm hungry.'

They went inside and Mary met them with an excited smile. 'Okay, flights are booked. Now we just have to make sure you've got everything you need.'

Cas nodded. 'I'll pack my kit after dinner.'

'Flights?' Dean asked, biting his lip.

'You didn't think we were driving to Seattle, did you?' Mary said.

'I guess not,' said Dean.

'Are you afraid of flying?' Cas asked.

'No!'

Cas smiled. 'Don't worry, I'll hold your hand.'

Dean rolled his eyes, and Cas kissed his cheek.

Another day of silence, and walking in and out of the school campus for his exams, before they were finally packing their bags. They would be flying out to Seattle for the national track meet, and staying for the weekend.

Dean reluctantly left the Impala in the garage and followed the others into the cab to the airport. The rest of the track team met them there, along with several cheerleaders who had volunteered to come with them.

Mary, Sam and John all quickly settled into their seats once they boarded, but Dean fidgeted anxiously. As promised, Cas held his hand the entire time, and attempted to hold back his amusement. By the time they landed, Dean was pale and sweaty, and had to sit down on the floor before they could get a cab to their hotel.

Dean splashed water over himself in the lobby bathroom, and they all went to dinner together, before they finally went up to their rooms.

Cas and Dean went into theirs and found two queen beds. Dean laughed when he saw them.

'Can you tell Mom booked the room?' He said, grabbing Cas around the waist. 'I guess she thought separate beds would stop us.' Dean pressed kisses up Cas's neck.

'She knows we have those at home, right?' Cas murmured, but Dean couldn't answer past Cas's tongue darting between his lips.

Heat grew between them, but Cas suddenly stopped and pulled away.

'I can't,' he said breathlessly. 'I'm not supposed to before the races.'

Dean puffed out a breath. 'Yeah, I guess we'll need a way to celebrate when you win.'

Cas smiled, and changed into his pajamas in the bathroom, so he wouldn't leave Dean too frustrated at being able to look but not touch.

They were up early in the morning, and Cas gulped down some breakfast as fast as he could, so they would make it to the race track in time for warm ups.

Dean snagged everyone seats in the front row, where they could see Cas clearly. Cas waved when he saw them, and Dean was more than happy to watch Cas jogging on the spot and stretching.

Once the bleachers were filled, all the teams gathered in their own spots on the field, and waited for the races to begin, all of them hopping up and down or swinging their arms to keep warm.

The relays went first, then the long distance runs. Unlike their breeze through the central states, Cas's team struggled against stiff competition. They clawed their way to fourth place, until it was time for Cas's first race, the one hundred meters sprint.

Cas lined up at the start, his focus purely on the track ahead of him.

Dean cheered, along with Mary, Sam and John.

The whistle blew, and Cas flew off the block. He was overtaken briefly by two of the other racers, but he pushed past them. It looked as though he might win, but half way down the track, he let out a cry and tumbled to the ground. A gasp rippled through the crowd and Dean leapt to his feet.

Cas got up again, his face snow white, and tried to keep going, but his left foot couldn't seem to move at all, and he fell to his knees again. A medic ran across the field, and the rest of the team with the coach, hurried over to him. He pushed them away, still determined to at least finish the race. The captain of the team hooked Cas's arm around his shoulders and helped him cross the finish line, to appreciate applause from the audience. Cas then finally allowed himself to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

Dean, Mary, Sam and John, all pushed through the crowd, hurrying down the stairs and going the same way Cas had been taken.

They found him being examined by an onsite paramedic in the back of an ambulance, just outside the grounds. Dean climbed up in it and Cas grabbed his hand, trembling in pain.

'What happened?' Dean asked.

The paramedic, feeling the back of Cas's leg, looked up at him.

Mary too squeezed herself into the back of the ambulance.

'We're gonna need to get to the hospital,' the paramedic said calmly. 'Feels like he's snapped his achilles back here.'

'Oh, honey,' Mary said.

Cas couldn't speak, his jaw clamped shut while his leg was stabilised.

'I'll stay with him,' Dean said to Mary. 'Why don't you guys meet us there?'

'Okay, we'll be right behind you,' said Mary.

Once Cas's leg was immobilised, he was given some medication for the pain, and the ambulance took off.

'You're okay,' Dean said reassuringly.

The painkillers seemed to be working, and Cas's grip on Dean's hand loosened slightly.

He was examined again and admitted to the hospital. Dean stayed by his side the whole time, and they all waited for the doctor to come around.

'Okay, Castiel Novak?' said the doctor, pulling back the curtain.

'That's him,' Dean said, when Cas still couldn't speak.

'So, the bad news is, we've got a fully ruptured achilles tendon,' he said. 'The good news is, it's a clean break so it'll be simple enough to put back together. I'm afraid you will need surgery though.'

'Surgery?' Mary gasped.

Cas looked frightened, but the doctor caught the expression.

'It's a very simple procedure,' he said. 'It'll take thirty minutes to an hour tops. Then we can put a cast on it and start the healing process?'

'Oh, we have to get back to Kansas, can he fly with a cast?' Mary asked.

The doctor frowned. 'No, but we can put a boot on it for now. I would recommend you get it cast as soon as you can though.'

Mary nodded.

'Anyone have any questions?'

Cas took a deep breath and finally spoke. 'Will I be able to run again?'

'Yes, you will. Although, I have to warn you, you may not get all the way back to your top performance,' the doctor told him. 'It may take a while, but with some physiotherapy, you should get back most of your speed.'

'Thank you.'

The doctor then left them alone to talk.

'How are you doing?' Dean asked.

Cas grimaced. 'It hurts,' he said, his voice wavering. 'But I'm okay. I wasn't planning on going pro anyway.'

'You could still compete at college,' Sam said optimistically.

Cas shook his head. 'I doubt I'll have time. It's okay, really.'

Soon after, Cas was taken for surgery. When he came back, he was still asleep, and his leg had been wrapped tightly and securely with bandages and a stiff boot.

'It went okay?' John asked the doctor.

'Like I said, totally routine,' he smiled. 'We'll keep him for a few hours to make sure there are no reactions to the anesthesia, and to size some crutches for him, but you're free to go after that.'

Dean pulled his chair close to Cas's bed, gently brushing the hair from his face as he came around.

'Dean,' he said groggily.

'Hey,' Dean smiled.

'Did we win?'

'What?'

'The races,' Cas croaked. 'Did we win?'

Dean looked over at Sam, who was looking it up.

Sam grimaced and shook his head.

Dean sighed. 'No, Cas, we didn't win.'

'The team came fifth,' Sam told him.

Cas's eyes filled with tears. 'I wanted to win.'

'I know you did,' Dean said softly. 'But you know what? Fifth in the whole country? That's still pretty damn awesome.'

'Are you hungry, sweetie?' Mary asked.

Cas shook his head miserably.

'Are you sure?' said John. 'I saw an ice cream stand outside.'

Cas glanced at him, then gave a tiny smile. 'Okay, maybe I could eat some ice cream.'

John and Sam went downstairs and soon returned with ice cream for everyone. They all did their best to keep Cas's spirits up, but he was still quiet and somber when they returned to their hotel.

'Maybe you should talk to the team,' Dean suggested, as they got ready for bed.

Cas, who was sitting on his bed, suddenly burst into tears.

'Hey, what's wrong?' Dean said, hurrying to Cas's side.

'They're going to hate me now,' he said.

'What? Why?'

It took Cas a moment to answer as he struggled to catch his breath. 'I didn't win.'

Dean put an arm around Cas. 'Do you really think they only liked you because you could run fast?'

Cas bit his lip.

'Cas, that's not true,' Dean said gently. 'They like you because you're sweet, and kind, and you always do your best.'

Cas rested his head against Dean's shoulder.

'It'll all be okay,' Dean said softly. 'Come on, let's get you into bed.'

Dean stacked some pillows on the bed to prop Cas's leg up, then tucked him under the blankets.

'Goodnight,' Cas murmured.

''Night.'

Dean climbed into bed, but instead of going to sleep, he pulled out his phone and tracked down the captain of the track team.

Dean

Hey, sorry you didn't get the top spot

Aaron

Are you kidding, we got to go to Seattle that's good enough for me

How's Cas?

Dean

Ripped his achilles

Aaron

Ouch

Dean

Listen he's got it in his head that you guys won't like him anymore since he didn't win

Aaron

You're kidding?

I'll take care of it

Dean

Thanks man

Aaron

No problem

I got a plan

Make sure he's at school a little early on Monday

Dean smiled and put his phone away. He looked over at Cas, who had already fallen asleep, completely drained by the day's events. It took Dean a little longer to relax and nod off, worried as he was about Cas, but he managed it eventually. He wished Cas was beside him, but he sank into the soft mattress thinking about how Cas felt in his arms.

Welcome back! Thanks to EmilyAnnMcGarrett-Winchester for the review. See you again next time :)