The Story of US

Chapter 31

Dean said nothing as they made it to the car. He opened the door for Castiel and was in and on the road faster than normal. Dean had pulled Castiel next to him on the bench seat before they took off, not wanting any space between them. When they reached the apartment Dean shut off the car and sat there. Castiel had pushed past his panic attack but he still had a lingering sense of fear and Dean's behavior was making it worse.

"Castiel before we go in and talk to everyone I need to talk to you. " Dean said quietly. He had turned towards Castiel and was holding his hands between his own.

"What is it Dean? What happened back there? What did he say to you?" The questions poured out of Castiel, surprising himself. Deans face went tense and you could see his jaw grinding, the anger that he had let loose before was barely reigned in under the surface.

" He told me...that son of a bitch told me that he was the one who took you on Christmas eve. He told me that he let all his buddies take shots but that it was primarily him and that redheaded bitch Rowena." Dean growled between his teeth.

Castiel sat back, his brain was swimming and it was just getting worse. HE couldn't remember anything about what happened to him so there was no telling if what Crowley said was true or not, but Dean seemed to believe it. I mean sure, the thought that it was someone that he had known and who could have just callously done that to him made him mad, but he'd had almost six months to get used to it just being blank. Also, he couldn't see what it would matter if it was true, he couldn't verify it so it was Deans word against Crowleys and right now, Dean looked like the bad guy. Ohh, he was so mad at his stupid broken head!

"Dean, babe, lets go inside. I know this is upsetting and we can talk about it more out of the car and with everyone. I can't remember anything, still, and this is gonna take more time to process than I am wanting to spend in the car." Castiel told his very visibly upset boyfriend. Dean looked taken back but got out of the car, letting Castiel slide out the drivers side before shutting the door. The short distance to the apartment didn't keep Dean from holding Castiel close to him on the walk there. They seem to be the last to make it in, as there was a bustle of activity going on when they opened the door.

Everyone stopped the moment Dean walked in and the apartment grew quiet. Seeing no way to delay further Dean spilled what Crowley had said to him during the fight, then just kept talking.

" After he said that and I looked over at you" Dean said looking hard at Castiel, " I just lost it, I couldn't see straight and all I could think about was hitting him until he couldn't laugh anymore. I know I shouldn't have, but it was like,...like something snapped inside of me. After everything there was something I could do about what had happened to you. I could kill that smarmy little shit. I don't feel bad about what I did to him and I would do it again. I am sorry if I scared you. That was not my intention, I just..." Dean trailed off, letting his head drop down and looking at the floor. Castiel could see the tear roll down his nose and fall to the hardwood.

The romantic in Castiel wanted to see this as a good thing, but the logical side of him just couldn't. I mean, how did they even know that Crowley was telling the truth? What if he was lying just to get a rise out of Dean and get him in trouble? I mean lets face it, Dean could get into a lot of trouble for the beating he just handed out, and sure, everyone saw Crowley say something to Dean before he snapped but no one could hear what it was. As Castiel was mulling this over Meg said what he had going through his mind.

" I mean, I get it, I do...but he was trying to get under your skin and you and Castiel are no secret. He knew where to go after you at and he won. No matter what did or didn't happen he got the best of you and now, now what?" She told him.

Dean just looked defeated. He knew that he shouldn't have done what he did but it happened. He loved his friends but they were right, he could get into a lot of trouble over this, but that wasn't the biggest thing that was bothering him.

" It's my fault. What happened to you is my fault." Dean said and then got up and walked into his room shutting the door behind him.