The Newest

8 - The End of Running

Castiel

It happened fast, but Cas could see the moment where fear and anger enveloped Dean's eyes as he was dragged out.

More incoherent yelling happened, and Castiel was thrust to the ground with force, making him let out a pain filled scream. It just so happened that they threw him on the ground where he was hurt the most, and it was terrifying to see their eyes light up at the new discovery. "Leave me alone," Castiel whimpered, trying to act alone and defenseless.

One stepped out in front of the armed others, and he said in perfect English, making Castiel widen his eyes. "Where are the others?" Cas stayed silent before the man grew even angrier, sending his foot out to kick his rib cage, making him let out a curling scream of pain. He fell to the ground from his knees, breathing shallow and eyes stinging with un-shed tears.

"Where are the others!"

Cas grimaced and looked up, shouting back. "They're dead! You fucking killed them, you killed all my friends!" The man looked at him in surprise, most likely the leader. "You aren't alone, who's Dean?" Cas' face paled, and he sucked in a shaky breath. "He survived for awhile," His eyes burned with ferocity, lip curling, "but his injuries were too extensive from the explosion. He died while we were on the run." Cas' head was suddenly shoved down, venomous words going out of the leaders mouth in a different language. He was most likely telling him that scum don't look leaders in the eyes.

Scum. So that's what he's come to.

Should he have consulted Dean that his plan for when they were caught was to be taken first and lie his ass off to save Dean? Maybe. Would Castiel regret telling him? No. Cas knew he was doing the right thing, even if it was heart breaking to do. "Take him to the truck," Castiel looked up in surprise. He wasn't dying, why weren't they killing him. The Leader said a few more things in his native tongue before Castiel was blind folded and roughly hoisted up, making him whimper and shake slightly.

A sudden sorrow filled him, but he shook it off. Some part was dreaming Dean would appear and try to save him, but that was preposterous. Why would he want Dean to risk his life if he just risked his to save his? It was stupid, and he was just glad that Dean could get the chance to go home.

Even if he was sad to separate from him.

Dean

Dean waited for the perfect moment to save Cas, but when the time came, he found he couldn't physically get up. He had endured the heart breaking screams of pain from Cas and couldn't do anything about it.

Because he was a fucking coward and wimp.

His own cowardice caused him to lose the one good person in his life so far, and hell if he wasn't going to make up for it.

"They're dead! You fucking killed the, you killed all my friends!"

Dean bit his lip, listening to them dragging his friend off to God knows where. Get the hell up, get the hell up and save him! Dean screamed and shouted at himself, trying to get up. But the pain hurt too much and the numbness had yet to set in. You're not fucking disabled, use your arms and see which way they're going! Dean grunted and used his strength, the lion strength he had reserved. His eyes peeked above the bushes, and he saw them retreating to the opposite direction he and Cas had run from.

It took a while, but the pain subsided slightly and he pushed through, weakly stumbling up and out of the bush, momentarily disoriented. "Shit," Dean swayed before taking a step forward, "Hang in there, Cas."

Dean was barely hanging on himself, and he found out that he was so thirsty that he had to take a detour from the route and find some water. Though, he did gain a sense of navigation and tracking from remembering how to get back to places and what direction they went. Like he said before, hell if he wasn't going to save Castiel like he did for him.

He had no idea how long he had been walking again, but all Dean knew was that he was tolerating the pain and pushing it off, barely even remembering it was there anymore. All he cared about was rescuing Cas and going home: hand in hand with the one person he found himself attached to.

Dean's whole life, he hadn't been emotionally attached to anyone, not in a romantic way. It was just one night stands and hangovers and regret. But Castiel...Dean didn't want that with Cas. Yes, he was his friend, hell even his best friend, but he felt something stronger, something he had shoved down for years.

Maybe it was time to admit that this wasn't just all because Dean cared for Cas as a friend.

Dean sighed and suddenly collapsed, his legs sore from walking for consecutive days. He groaned, leaning against the tree behind him and closing his eyes. And he stayed like that for more than he would've liked, but it was fine. Dean finally opened his eyes again, seeing it went from the high time of day to the middle of the night. He cursed, getting back up with the help of the tree.

It shouldn't be too long, now. Cas has to be wherever they took him, and he couldn't be too far behind. Dean could only hope that Castiel was fine and alright, even if it was an impossible wish. "If you believe," Dean spoke aloud to himself, squinting. The memory of what the line was fuzzy, and he tried to remember. "It'll be okay." Dean took in a deep breath, biting his lip.

Somehow, his eyes began to burn and he found himself covering his eyes as his shoulders shook with his sobs. Everything was going away, the only thing he had left was his life.

Dean sunk back to the ground, trying to lessen his cries. He was alone, utterly alone and hurt.

And he may have screwed up and let his Cas die.