A Child of the Lord

Chapter 2

"Mmuph," Castiel groans.

Dean pats Castiel's back gently. "Shh,"

Dean was carrying the precious cargo while entering the motel's room. Sam was trailing along with all of their bags, and he was having some trouble. He almost trips as he tries to keep the door open while walking through it and not having a free arm.

Dean pulls back the covers on one of the beds and slowly lays Castiel on the bed. He unhooks Castiel's little hand from his shirt. He pulls off the light-up shoes Sam insisted they get him. He pulls the covers back up. Castiel turns on to his side and curls into himself. Dean stood there for a moment, just staring with his arms crossed.

Sam let's all the bags fall on to the floor with a huff of a breath. "Thanks, Dean. You're so helpful."

Dean looks over to Sam. "Huh?"

"Never mind," Sam walks to the second bed in the room and falls on to it. "I'm going to sleep. I can't take it."

Dean chuckles as he watches his baby brother lazily kick off his shoes. Sam was out in a matter of minutes. Dean turns the tiny lamp off and exits the room.

^^^^^

Dean sat on the ground outside of the motel's room. He had a 6-pack of beer beside him, two of them already empty. Dean stares straight ahead, letting his worry lines run free as he thought.

He thought about Castiel and how with every passing hour he is starting to act like an actual kid. Sure, there are a few tell-signs of Castiel in the body, but he is acting different. He doesn't want to worry about it. He wants to believe that it's just a side effect of whatever, but something is telling him different. Maybe he has been listening to Sammy too much.

Dean shakes his head and takes another sip from the bottle in his hand.

Out of nowhere, a whimper can be heard. Dean leans up and makes his ears go in to full alert mode. The noise sounded like crying to him. When that thought ran through his mind, he stood up quickly and entered the room, leaving behind the bottles he had tipped over.

Dean went to the bed that occupied Castiel. He bends down. With the help of the light coming from the window, he could see the little form in the bed was shaking. Dean puts his hand on the little body.

"Cas, buddy,"

Castiel woke with gasp. He laid there in silence, and then he starts crying. "Dean?"

"Yeah, I'm right here." Dean says in the quietest voice he could muster up.

He rubs his hand over Castiel's head. Castiel grabs Dean's hand and holds it.

"Dean, I'm scared." His voice was so small.

"What are you scared of, buddy?"

"Shadows, the dark," Castiel's voice shakes as he talks.

Put a gun under your pillow, and you'll be fine.

Dean shakes his father's advice out of his head.

Dean rubs his finger over Castiel's hand that is holding on to him so tightly. "You know, Sam and me are right here. There's nothing that's gonna get you."

Castiel sniffles. "But you weren't in here, which made me more scared."

Dean sighs. "I was just right outside the door. How about you go back to sleep? You'll need your energy tomorrow."

"Will you stay in here?" Castiel asks.

"Yeah, I just gotta do something. Okay?"

"Okay,"