The End of All Things

Chapter Eight: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

James didn't stop calling or texting. Gabe didn't stop calling or texting. Balthazar didn't stop calling or texting. At this point, Dean was expecting his angel's dead mother to rise from the grave and eat his brains out. He would have deserved it, he would have welcomed it.

It had been three school days and the weekend - so five days - since Dean had seen Cas. Dean couldn't go to school those first three days. The first morning, he was hung-over and his dad called the school to let them know he wouldn't be coming that day. The next two days, Dean was physically sick every time he thought of seeing Cas. Literally. He would have to rush to the bathroom before he started spewing his guts all over the place. Aside from the mornings when he'd stumble into the bathroom to throw up at the thought of school, he could barely move, the pain was that unbearable.

On Saturday, he managed to drag his sorry ass out of bed, but only after he'd convinced himself that beer would help. And it would, but only a very little bit. Such a small bit, that it probably wasn't even worth mentioning, but at that point, he would take anything he could get. As he tripped and stumbled down the steps, he heard Sam on the couch, talking on the phone.

"You know as much as I do, Gabe....yeah, I know....I'm sorry....oh! Dean's up! I gotta go...yeah, I'll talk to you later....you too....bye." Sam hung up the phone and followed Dean into the kitchen.

"Hey, man, how ya feeling?" he asked. Dean let out a low, humming noise to acknowledge the question, but didn't otherwise respond. He wrenched the fridge open and grabbed a beer from inside. Sam frowned at that, but decided not to say anything.

"That was Gabe on the phone...," he coaxed, trying to get him to say something. Dean grunted, walking over to the counter on the other side of Sam and taking a drink.

"He says Ca-" Dean slammed his drink down on the counter so hard, some of the beer sloshed out and Sam jumped in surprise.

"Don't say his name, Sam.....just...," he took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. "Just don't...Call him angel. That's what I do," he whispered, the venom having melted away into pain. Sam blinked and then nodded.

"Uh, okay....Gabe says angel isn't doing too good..." Dean sighed and leaned against the counter with both hands, hanging his head and closing his eyes again. His whole body trembled and it scared Sam; he'd never seen his brother so broken before. But, he understood. He'd be just as bad if he lost Jess.

"Dammit," Dean muttered and Sam saw a tear splash onto the counter. "How bad?" he asked weakly.

"His dad found him in the park that night, shivering and crying. He was kinda out of it, but he kept mumbling your name. James thought he might have hypothermia, so he took him to the hospital to check him out. He was fine, though, don't worry. He just...well, he's still in bed. He made his dad take away anything sharp, said he didn't trust himself." Dean shook his head and cursed again before lifting his head up again and using one hand to scrub away the tears, the other hand still planted firmly on the counter. Dean's legs weren't as reliable as they used to be.

"Dean, can I....can I asked what happened?" Sam murmured softly. Dean sighed and picked up his beer, heading for the living room. Sam followed in confusion and watched Dean plop down onto the sofa. Sam did the same and stared at him expectantly. Dean kept his gaze locked on the view out their window.

"The team cornered me in the locker room. They told me the football team was following...my angel and were ready to jump him if I didn't do what they said. They wanted me to stay on the team, but break up with him....so I did."

"Why not report the threat?!" Sam demanded.

"I can't risk what they'd do to angel in retaliation if they got into trouble. Not only the team, but really anyone at the school. If they get in trouble and we have to forfeit the championship, they'll blame me and most likely hurt me through angel." Sam sighed and shook his head.