POV: Dean
July 18, 2003
As much as we both tried to deny it, Castiel was sick. What started as a few sneezes quickly escalated into a summer cold. My guess was his trip in the rain on Tuesday had caused it. He was still with me for the moment but felt after the weekend he would be fine to go home. I wasn’t so sure about that but I couldn’t - and wouldn’t - force him to stay.
Honestly, it was weird that I really enjoyed having him here, even if he was blowing his nose every three minutes. I’d gotten medication for him yesterday and had been shoving it down his throat with chicken noodle soup. I was hoping he would feel better over the weekend at least.
I was quiet when I got up and got ready for work. I gently kissed his forehead and it felt warmer than it had last night, but the medication needed time. I headed down to the office making sure my phone was with me, in case he called or texted. I was in the office today unfortunately; it was my least liked place. But, also one I had to be in.
I spent most of the morning holed up in my office doing payroll and completing some invoices. I also ordered some things we needed to stock up on. I handed out checks at eleven and then went up to check on Cas. He wasn’t in the bed but had moved to the sofa. He was asleep so I didn’t wake him up. I did lay my hand on his forehead and he didn’t feel as warm as he had this morning. I heated up some leftovers and was almost done when he moved and looked at me.
“Is it after five?”
“No, it’s around noon. I came up to check on you and get lunch. Do you feel any better?”
He shrugged. “I turned my phone off.”
“Why?”
“He wouldn’t stop calling.”
The calls were from Robert and he’d upped his game since Tuesday, calling all hours of the night and day. It was more than once he’d missed an important call from his publisher because he had the volume off. He’d also missed Charlie who eventually called me and came over Wednesday. She was the one who verified it was Robert. We tried to block the number but he just used another one.
“Do you want me to take it with me? I’ll leave mine with you.”
He blinked and I smiled. “Yes, Castiel. I trust you with my phone. I mean, all you’ll see are the numerous photos of your ass I have and well, I think there’s a few of you asleep too. If your editor or publisher calls I’ll answer and bring it right up.”
“You’d do that?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Mine is on the counter. You don’t have to leave yours.”
“I do, so I can reach you or you can reach me. Do you need anything before I head down? You did eat this morning right?”
“I heated up soup but I feel like another can may be good.”
I smiled and heated up another can of soup for him, sofa-side service and I sat with him while he ate. Once he was back snuggled into blankets I headed back to the office, taking his phone with me.
“Dean?” Meg asked.
“What’s up?” I asked.
I wasn’t even in my office yet.
“Mr. Todd is on line one. He wanted to ask about a potential upgrade. Not sure what type he wouldn’t say.”
“Okay, any other messages?”
“Mrs. Clemans called about scheduling her next oil change, I went ahead and looked and scheduled. If you can’t that day, just let her know. Otherwise we’ve had a few oil changes and Kirk is working on that big job you gave him. Part came in this morning.”
“Good deal. Any classics I have coming up?”
She seemed to check something on the desk. “Two for certain, both just tune ups and they’re scheduled for next week.”
“Okay. Thanks Meg.”
He nodded. “How is Castiel feeling?”
“Little better, he’s still got a slight fever though.”
“Glad he’s doing somewhat better.”
I headed on into the office and took line one. He just wanted to upgrade his radio system in the car and wanted to know if I could, that was something I couldn’t do but I referred him to Sasha because they had someone who could. I made sure Mrs. Clemans scheduled appointment was fine and then went back to invoices and paperwork. I tried not to be too far behind but sometimes I really did need to simply do this versus oil changes, engine repairs, or other mechanical upgrades.
I laid Cas’s phone where I could see it and sure enough about one it rang, but it was Charlie’s picture that came up. I answered.
“Hey Charlie.”
“Dean? Why are you answering Cas’s phone?”
“He’s got my phone because Robert keeps calling him. He’ll turn the volume down but he missed a call from the publisher the other day. So, I traded so he could sleep and get better.”
“I was actually calling to see how he was.”
“He’s feeling a little better, still stuffy and I know his fever is still up. If you want to talk to him, call my phone. He should answer.”
I heard a brief shuffle. “If he’s most likely sleeping I will just wait, when you get back tonight have him call me. But um…did Robert really leave bruises on him again?”
“Yeah, one has completely faded but his arm is still kinda bruised. He’s okay though. You knew him back then, right?”
“I did. I met him a few years before he met that asshole.”
I leaned back. “What was he like before Robert?”
“That’s a strange question Dean.”
“He told me about him, what he did. How he hurt him. He’s never struck me as a weak man or someone who couldn’t handle bullshit like that. But he was scared when he showed up Tuesday. It sounds like Robert is a very bad man for him to be that way after a confrontation.”
“He was always shy but Robert did a number on him, Dean. Self-confidence is probably the worst part that man did. I think at times he takes the villains in his books and imagines they’re him.”
I chuckled. “It’s possible. So, should I be worried about Robert for real or is this some phase?”
The other end was quiet for a few moments. “If he’s calling and has already left bruises, yes be worried. Cas stood up to him for the first time at that reunion. He could be mad about that. His latest ex-wife has also filed a lot of custody papers and child support.”
“Gotcha. Alright, I’ll have him call you.”
“Thanks.”
I hung up and finished the last of my invoices. I also had a few that were late so I printed reminders and got them ready to mail. The next time his phone rang the number was the only thing that came up. I should ignore it and let it ring, but at the same time maybe Robert needed to know that I wasn’t a push over and neither was Cas. So I picked it up.
“Hello?”
The other end was quiet as it usually was.
“Hello Robert, I know that it’s you on the other end of the phone. We’ve already done a reverse look up on the number and your name is on it.”
“You aren’t Cassie.”
“No, I’m not. I’m his boyfriend Dean.”
He snorted. “How much does he pay you?”
“He doesn’t pay me anything because I am not some escort like you think. I want to be with him, to know him inside and out, to be there when assholes like you try to hurt him.”
“Good luck on the inside part, apparently he doesn’t even like sex.”
I giggled. “Just because you didn’t know what to do doesn’t mean I don’t.”
The line was very quiet and that was a nerve that I had struck.
“He told me about you and how you hit him, how you put him down, how you told him you weren’t gay. You aren’t striking me as straight when you keep calling. When you tell him to leave me so he can do what? Come back to you? Robert make no mistakes about this, even if Castiel and I break up, I will never allow him to go back to you. Stop calling him, leave him alone.”
I hung up and laid the phone back down. It was true, even if we didn’t work I wouldn’t ever give up knowing him and I would never allow him to be with Robert again. He deserved so much more and so much better. We were keeping up with the number of times he called per day, more ammo for the police if we needed to take further actions.
I was contemplating heading back up to him when Sammy appeared at the door.
“Look at you, doing paperwork.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’d rather be getting dirty in the garage.”
“I know. Cas better?”
“Getting there. He’s going back home Sunday though.”
I really wanted him to stay. Not just because he was safer here, but because I enjoyed him being there when I got up and during the day.
“I know that look; you had it with Lisa and with Danelle…”
“This isn’t like that Sammy.”
“Really? You have the love struck look Dean. I know it anywhere.”
I gave him another eye roll. “We haven’t been together that long.”
“Two months, but you were with Lisa three before you said she was the one and Danelle was just two months. By six you two were living together.”
“Yeah and ten months later I caught her in bed with another man who wasn’t me.”
He moved and sat down across from me, leaned on the desk. “Are you afraid of that happening with Cas?”
I leaned back. Sammy knew how much catching her had hurt. I’d been ready to propose and everything and then it just blew up.
“I think we both have that fear but for different reasons. I do fear that one day he won’t want me, he’ll find someone better. I mean come on Sam; my long-terms have been women. Cas is definitely not that. What if I fuck it up? I also have Robert to deal with.”
“You were a good boyfriend to them Dean, you’ve been a great one to Cas so far. You guys plan dates, you spend the weekends together already. He’s been here all week. How do you feel when he’s not here? I think you two are perfect for one another.”
“It sucks when he’s not. But we did move fast.”
He laughed. “Maybe but not all relationships start at the speed of a snail. If you really feel that way, maybe sit with him and talk. Maybe he feels the same way. But he definitely has feelings for you of some kind. I can’t say that either of you are ready for the L word yet, but I think you both are on the way.”
I raised a brow. I wasn’t sure I agreed with that statement but maybe, just maybe I was.
“What about Robert? We reported the incident at the parking lot and he’s still calling. It’s why I have Cas’s phone and he has mine.”
He raised a brow. “I wondered why you didn’t answer my text.”
“He probably didn’t hear it. Was there a reason you came by or just dropped by because I’m awesome like that?”
“Well, I did have a reason to come by. We talked about doing the annual trip the first week of August. I know it’s usually just you and I, but I’d really like to invite Castiel along this time. It seems like I haven’t spent any real time with him or with the two of you. I think that would be a really good time for us all to get to know each other better. And since we only take one phone for emergency calls and this year it’s me, it’ll help with the Robert thing. If his publisher needs a contact him, they can call me.”
I’d almost forgotten about the trip! Fuck! How could I forget that?! He wanted Cas to go?
“I’m not sure he’ll go, but we can ask him.”
“Of course. Any idea what state we’re going to?”
I nodded. “Colorado is the next in line.”
“Then let’s plan that and I’ll make sure to have things ready. Think we should ask him today?”
“We can head up and see how he feels. Hey, maybe Chinese for dinner?”
“Deal. How about I go get it and you can finish up here. By the time I get back should be good.”
I gave him a thumbs up. I wrote out mine and Cas’s order because I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to remember it. I then quickly finished up and saved everything. I let Meg know I was out for the day and that if she needed anything to call me and then I headed up. Cas was sitting up when I came in.
“Sunshine?”
“There is such a thing as laying too much.”
I chuckled. “Yes, there is. Sam is bringing Chinese back and Charlie said to call her when you woke up.”
I handed his phone back and he called her while we waited, it was a fairly short conversation. When I sat down beside him it was like a gravitational pull that his head landed on my shoulder.
“I assume you still feel bad?”
“I have a fever for sure but feel a little better.”
“I put hot and sour soup on his list, if you can handle that it will help.”
“Lifesaver. Do you think I have time for a shower before he gets here?”
“Probably not, but if you want to go ahead. He’ll wait.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
While he headed to the bathroom I got him a change of clothes and underwear with…tigers on them? Well, that was unexpected. I took them to the bathroom and even held them up.
“Tigers?”
He just smiled at me and didn’t say anything, just got in the shower. Couldn’t say I minded that view at all. But I returned to the main room before I had issues. I went ahead and got drinks and set out silverware just in case. Sam showed up before he came out but we got things unboxed and separated before he came out.
“Hey Sam.”
“Hey Cas, you look like you’re feeling better.”
He gestured toward the bathroom. “Shower, that’s all. I do feel okay though.”
We sat down and ate first, the soup looked really hot but he ate it anyway. I just hoped it didn’t make him sicker or upset his stomach. Once we were all too full to really move, I cleared the plates and stuff while they went to the living room. I then sat down with them.
“Soup staying down?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, it was good but warm.”
“It’ll help though. So, I came over for a reason and I’d like to ask you something Cas. I’ve already asked Dean.”
He glanced at me nervously before going back to Sam on the bean bag chair.
“Yes?”
“Dean and I have been on annual trips since he was old enough to take me out of state without Mom and Dad.”
“Which was seventeen by the way.” I quipped.
“Yeah, we didn’t go very far back then but as the years have passed we’ve ventured on out. Last year we did Texas and I think Colorado is this year.”
“Yep, it is.” I said.
Cas was looking unsure already though, I wasn’t sure why.
“Okay. That sounds like a nice trip and something special for you two.”
“Generally, but…I would like to invite you this year. Dean is okay with it and I am too. I just, you and I won’t get to spend a lot of time together because I’ll be back in school soon and we haven’t gotten to hang out much the last few months. We usually only take one phone but we both know that you may have to take yours because of the publisher and your job.”
He blinked, clearly startled. “Y…you want me to go?”
“Yes. We do. I brought it up because as I said, I want to spend time with you. I know when I graduate we will get to, but I’d like to do it beforehand.”
He looked at me. “You’re okay with this? It sounds like this is a special trip for the two of you.”
“I’m okay with it. I couldn’t ask to spend a week in the woods with anyone better. My brother and my boyfriend; I think it’ll be good for us all.”
“And again, phone-wise we know you may not be able to leave it.” Sam said.
“You take at least one?”
“We alternate, this year I’m taking mine and Dean leaves his. Honestly, we take at least one in case there’s an emergency or something happens to
Baby. I don’t think we’ve ever really needed to use the phone have we?”
“No. I check Baby before we leave and we’re not reckless.”
“When is this trip happening?”
Sam smiled. “The second to the tenth of August, then I leave that Wednesday to go back to school.”
He was considering it for sure but I think the puppy dog eyes Sam gave him were just too irresistible. He pointed to Sam.
“That’s not fair! But, yes I’ll go.”
Sam smiled. “Great! I would hug you but no offense; I don’t want whatever you have.”
“No problem. I’ll just give it to Dean.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been taking the same meds to prevent that.”
Sam laughed and after another thirty minutes he headed home. That was his primary objective to come by and I was glad Cas was going with us. I really hoped he left his phone here.
“Sam did say if you needed to give his number as a contact you could.”
He shook his head. “I’ll just tell the two that would call I’ll be out of town. By then they should have everything ready and it’ll just be actually releasing the book, which has a September release date.”
“Ah, Yeah I’ve already pre-ordered it.”
“You can read it before you get it.”
“I won’t ruin the surprise of this one. I’m curious as to what Jared and Jensen get into. But you’re looking quite tired there Sunshine.”
“I thought the shower would wake me up, think it did the opposite.”
“Probably, let me get my shower and we’ll head on to bed.”
By the time I got showered and dressed for bed he was already in bed, so I just got to crawl into the covers and get settled.
“Dean?”
“Yes?”
“Are you really alright with me going? It seemed like this was something you and Sam do as brothers. I don’t want to be a burden or interrupt your relationship with him.”
I lightly kissed his forehead, pleased that it wasn’t near as warm as earlier.
“I’m alright with it. He actually brought it up about going and I agreed. It’ll give us all some quality time. We both knew one day we might bring along someone else. He has a point, he does want to know you and this is the best way. The drive, the quietness and you two can hike and talk if you want. He usually tries to hike something while there.”
He settled in beside me. “I think it’s a good idea as well.”
As the quietness grew around us I wondered if Castiel would become a permanent fixture to these yearly trips, because I wouldn’t mind it.