The Endings - Sequel To The Vacation

Dean And Cas - Part Two

*One week after Cas left Dean*

"Cas?"

Cas lifted his head to look at Gabriel, who was standing in the doorway, his face full of worry.

"Yes?" He replied tiredly, letting his head fall back onto his folded hands as he stared up at the ceiling again.

"When was the last time you ate?" Gabe asked, walking over and sitting on the bed next to him.

"I'm not hungry" Cas replied automatically, not paying much attention to the conversation.

"It's been days. I know you're hurting but you left Dean because it was the best thing you could do for yourself, and now you need to take care of yourself."

Gabe put a hand on Cas's shoulder and he sighed, sitting up.

"It was the best thing I could do, I'm sure of it. But it hurts Gabe, why does it hurt so bad?" He whimpered and Gabe wrapped his older brother in a tight hug.

"It hurts because despite everything Deans done, you still love him. Honestly part of you will probably always love him, but eventually you will be able to move on with your life. You'll have too, because we need you to be functioning again. I need you to be my brother again."

Gabes voice broke at the end and Cas hesitantly wrapped his arms around his shaking brother. "I am sorry Gabe, and I'll try, I really will. I just need time."

"You can have as much time as you need, just.... Don't take too long okay? And you can stay here as long as you need, Sam and I don't mind" Gabe promised.

"Thank you Gabe, it means a lot"

...............

*Two weeks after Cas left Dean*

"Hey, Samuel, who's singing this song?"

Sam looked up from cooking dinner and glanced over at a grinned Castiel suspiciously.

"Heat of the moment, it's sung by Asia" He said slowly and Cas's grin grew.

"Oh, ok. I thought it might have been a recording of you singing since it really fills the house with your Mooseic"

"Really Cas?" Sam sent him one of the famoose Sam Winchester 'Bitch Please' looks.

"Really truly" Cas laughed and Gabe joined in, having overheard the conversation from the other room.

"Welp, I have an essay for one of my classes due tomorrow that I haven't started yet, sooooo - Yeah"

Cas seemed to be pretty much back to his usual annoying self, but neither Gabe or Sam missed how his grin dropped the second he thought that they couldn't see him anymore.

............

*Three weeks after Cas left Dean*

"Hey Cas, Sam and I are going shopping. We will be back in a few hours" Gabe called and Cas yelled back an "Okay, see you!" without looking away from his laptop.

"Dadadbee, shalaladeee! Trilelelelelelalaaa! Dumdumbumbaa, shayheylalalela! Hey diddle dee dum shala le loo."

Cas sung loudly and completely, definitely on key as soon as he heard Sabriels car pull out of the driveway.

He was scrolling down a list of houses for sale in the local-ish area, he would settle for renting for now if he had to -but he would rather buy a place and get it over with.

Sam and Gabriel insisted that he could stay here for as long as he liked, they even once suggested he could live here for good but he declined.

He tried to give them plenty of space but he knew they sometimes probably just wanted a few hours to themselves.

Besides, he needs to move on with his life - like he promised Gabe he would.

At first he half expected Dean to come over and demand he came back. Cas both longed for and dreaded it, and he honestly wasn't sure what he would do if Dean did show up.

Now he has pretty much given up hope, besides, it was nice to not have to spend all day worrying about how drunk Dean would be when, or rather, if he got home.

There was a knock on the door and Cas looked up, frowning.

He didn't think anyone was expecting anyone, maybe Sam or Gabe ordered something online and it was being delivered?

Whoever it was knocked again and Cas shoved his laptop away, standing up and padding over to the front door.

"Wassup?" He asked as he began opening it, and then froze when he saw who was standing there.

Ironically, it was Dean, doing exactly what Cas had just finished thinking he wouldn't do.

Standing outside his door, shifting from one foot to the other awkwardly.

"Hey Cas"

Dean's voice was dry and scratchy, but Cas still had to concentrate on ignoring how much it still sounded like honey to his ears.

"What do you want Dean?" Cas had mean for his voice to come out cold and flat, but he just sounded tired. At least he couldn't smell any alcohol, and Dean sounded sober.

"Can we talk? Please, hear me out Cas"

It was his pleading tone that got to Cas, Dean never begged.

"Fine, come in" Cas sighed, moving aside for him and ignoring his feverish mutters of gratitude.

The last thing Cas thought Dean followed him further into the house was What have I done to myself?