Until We Meet Again, My Angel

Chapter 19: As I Lay Dying

   Dean heard Cas take a sharp breath as his eyes landed on the glass. It was about four inches wide and half an inch thick. It must have gotten lodged there when the windshield shattered, Dean thought. "Oh no," Cas whispered, "No, no, no." Dean made to ask what the big deal was, but his mouth had flooded with blood; the dark red liquid was now pouring out of the corners of his mouth. Gazing up at Castiel, Dean realized that the Angelic paramedic was tugging at his own hair, new tears spilling down his cheeks.

   Castiel forced himself to meet Dean's gaze- he looked terified. Dean never looked terrified. Dean, the fearless warrior, was afraid. Oh my God, Cas realized with a sudden shock, he's crying. Determined, Cas scolded himself, No. I can do this. I'll be strong- for Dean. Exhaling, the Angel put a firm hand on his boyfriend's shoulder, matching the scar perfectly. He'd put that scar there. Castiel had saved Dean before, and he'd save him again.
"Dean, pay attention," he shook Dean, forcing his eyes open, and continued, pronouncing each word clearly and carefully, "I have to pull this glass out, or your lungs will continue to fill with blood until you drown." When Dean's eyes refocused, understanding, Cas nodded and asked, "Ready?"
   Cas pulled hard, ripping the glass free from Dean's skin. Tossing it aside, the Angel turned back to his boyfriend and confirmed, "It's out. Are you still with me?" Dean's eyelids fluttered, struggling to remain conscious. Castiel swore- he'd taken too long. Without a second thought, he placed two fingers on Dean's forehead and closed his eyes, ignoring the blood pouring from the wound he'd just opened. There was a flash of light as Castiel willed for Dean to be okay. When he reopened his eyes, Dean's clothes were completely clean, his wounds were all closed, and his scratches had healed. Smiling with relief, Cas looked up at Dean's face- and gasped.
   Dean wasn't smiling back at him. Instead, his eyes were wide and scared, and his breaths were quick and shallow. He was struggling to breathe. Castiel panicked, grabbing Dean by the shoulders as warm red blood poured over his lips and down his face.
"Dean, can you still hear me?!"
   Dean gave a hurried nod.
"Okay, does it hurt? Oh, of course it hurts, you're choking on your own blood! Okay, it's alright, the blood is red, we have time."
   Dean coughed, splattering blood on himself and in Cas. Cas sighed and wiped the spots off of his face, examining the blood- it had turned black.
"Oh my God, Dean, no." The Angel grabbed Dean's face with both his hands, crying, "Dean, baby, no! Please, I love you, you can't do this! You can't leave me, you can't do this to me!"
   Dean's eyes rolled back into his head, and his head sagged to the side, his whole body going limp.
   Castiel yelled, begging, "Dean, please, please, stay with me! Dean, PLEASE! This was never supposed to happen! This isn't happening!"
   Cas screamed. All the windows shattered, the bulb in the light post exploded, and there was a blinding light inside the car as Cas let loose his Angel Song. When he had nothing left in him, the Angel let go of Dean, falling against the passenger seat. He held his face in his hands, sobbing.
"What am I going to do?" He wondered aloud, "What am I going to tell Sam?"
   Suddenly, Castiel felt a warmth on his shoulder, and lifted his head to find the source of the heat. His eyes rose and found Dean's. Dean's hand was on Cas' shoulder, and he was smiling, tears rolling down his face.
"Tell him you saved me," Dean said, pulling Cas into a tight embrace. Cas sobbed, leaning into Dean's arms and saying,"Thank God, oh my God, I love you so much. I'm sorry, Dean, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Dean pulled away to look into Cas' eyes, "I love you so much Castiel." And in a second, Dean was kissing him. Castiel kissed back happily, tasting blood and tears. Against the Angel's lips, Dean whispered, "I'll never leave you again."