Restless

Chapter 1

Dean blinked awake at one thirty in the morning to a ringing phone. Cas sat up and covered his ears sleepily, but Dean was instantly alert. What if its Sam? What if it's Bobby? What if it's Mom?

"Hello?"

"Hi, uh, is this Dean?"

"Yeah, who is this? Is something wrong?" Dean asked quickly.

"No! No, sorry. You sound like I woke you up, did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, actually. Again, who is this?" Dean asked. Cas looked towards him from his bed, now more alert.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't even think about the time difference. My name's Michael, I got your phone number from Gabriel- Novak? You know him, right?"  Michael asked. Dean sighed.

"Yeah, I know him. Figures. Listen, uh, Michael-"

"Michael?!" Cas yelled. Dean jumped and almost dropped the phone.

"Uh, hang on." Dean murmered, taking the phone from his ear.

"Hey, Cas? Hey, good or bad? Is something wrong?" Dean asked quickly. Cas had buried his face in his pillows and wouldn't move. Dean got up and went to the side of Cas' bed, where he had decided to sleep earlier that night, instead of with Dean.

"Cas, sit up sweetheart, talk to me." Dean said quietly.

Cas slowly sat up. He made a high pitched whine, and grinned a little. Dean breathed in relief as soon as he did. Not bad then.

"I like Michael. Will he come back now?" Cas asked. Dean chuckled and held the phone to his ear again.

"Michael, I think we have a mutual friend." Dean grinned. He heard laughter on the other end and felt another bit of tension ease away.

"I think we do. Mind if I talk to him?"  Michael asked.

Just like that Dean was on guard again. Like hell was he gonna let some ex, or some doctor, or any other number of things this person could be, talk to his Cas. He had just barely gotten him back in routine after the incident at work, he didn't need something else bad.

"Listen, all due respect, I can't do that. I need to know what your connection is-"

"He's my brother."  Michael interrupted. Deans brain flew out through his ears. He had no comeback whatsoever.

"Gabriel told me you'd be protective. I mean, he actually said 'giant worry-wart dickhead boyfriend', or something like that, but whatever."  Michael chuckled.

"I- yeah. Sorry." Dean stammered.

"So, can I talk to him?"

Dean looked over. Cas was leaning towards the phone, trying to listen in. He did look pretty excited.

"Yeah, alright. Just, be..."

"I know."  Michael said gently. Dean, satisfied, pushed the speaker button and put the phone on the bed by Cas' leg.

"I- hi! Mike!" Cas said. He started to bounce up and down a little, and Dean smiled.

"Hey! There's my favorite little brother! Man, I'm so sorry I haven't called you." Michael said.

"Where? Ok?" Cas said. Dean squinted in confusion at Cas, but he wasn't looking up. Instead, he was focused on the phone, staring at it and wringing his hands together, waiting for an answer.

"I uh... I'm coming back now. We we're stationed in Baghdad, and I got a little hurt. I need some therapy, so I'm coming to stay with Gabriel."  Michael said. His voice was strained, like he was upset, and Cas knew immediately.