Take Out The Gunman

12

Castiel stood in the living room entryway for a moment, eyes on the youth across the room. Sam was sitting on the bench by the window, his arms wrapped around his knees.

The boy looked lost.

"Would you care to join me for a walk?"

Sam started slightly at Castiel's question, glancing over at him. "Sorry," the other shot him a sheepish smile, "Didn't hear you come in. Yeah, a walk would be nice."

They were strolling down the sidewalk two blocks from Cas's home when Sam asked suddenly,

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did."

The other laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, and Cas shot him a smile,

"You're welcome to ask me anything you want, Sam."

"Dean mentioned you got shot a couple months ago. Did – did you recover from that? Or are you? Like, mentally? I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't ask that--"

"You're fine. It's an acceptable question," Castiel assured. He fell quiet for a moment, pondering the question. Finally he said simply,

"No. I haven't fully recovered from it yet. Physically or mentally. I still have nightmares about it, and what would have happened to Dean if I hadn't been there."

Realization crossed Sam's features and he asked softly, "Did you get shot protecting him?"

The older man nodded. He glanced at Sam and gave him a slight smile before saying, "If you could call it that. I saw the suspect step out of his hiding place and raise his gun at Dean's back, and I tried to intervene."

They walked a bit further without speaking, both thinking. After several minutes Sam asked quietly, "Do you think that's something you can completely recover from? Getting hurt like that? Or – or being locked up like I was?"

"I think we can both recover completely," Cas answered sincerely, "It will take time and quite possibly a good therapist-" Sam smiled at that comment, "-but yes, I think we'll both recover fully. You may still have nightmares five years down the road, but eventually they'll lose most of their power over you."

Sam nodded; the look on his face was one of pleased surprise as Cas added, "You have Dean to look out for you, and you have me. You'll get through this."

"Thanks, Cas."

"You're welcome."

"I'm sorry you were shot."

"I'm sorry you were locked away by a psychopath."

The following morning, Dean unlocked the front door with the key Cas had given him two years prior and entered his best friend's house. He closed the door behind him softly and moved through the house.

"Cas? Sammy?"

The detective halted in the hallway as Sam appeared suddenly in the kitchen doorway. "Sam," he breathed, almost a sigh of relief, upon seeing the younger man.

"Dean!"

Sam moved into the hall and in his direction, a grin breaking out on his face. He halted suddenly in front of the detective. Dean grinned and opened his arms, and the younger man rushed into them.

"Hey, kiddo," he murmured into the other's hair as he embraced him and Sam's arms slipped around his waist. He raised his eyes and spotted Cas in the kitchen doorway, watching them with a small smile on his face.

"It's good to see you," Sam shot him a shy smile, "I was – I was kinda worried about you. I'm glad you're back." The younger man bit his bottom lip before adding, voice almost a whisper, "I missed you."

Dean tried to play it cool and pretend his heart didn't just do its own personal little jig.
"How could you not?" he teased with a genuine smile, tugging at Sam's hair, "You were stuck here with Cas for three days. Uh, sorry about the neighbors back home. They can get a little .. enthusiastic."

He grinned again as Sam gave a surprised laugh, face coloring slightly as he realized to what Dean was referring.

Dean tugged at the other's longish hair as he admitted, "Might have missed you a little, too. Wanted to call but we got caught up trying to catch the douche bag we were after." He didn't miss the blush that traced Sam's cheeks when he admitted to missing him. It was rather endearing. 

Dean and Cas were in the kitchen later that evening, drinking coffee at the kitchen island and watching Sam wander the garden through the large, plate-glass windows. The blinds were raised, allowing sunlight to pour into the room.

"He loves those gardens," Dean commented, eyes on the youth outside, "Can't blame him though, your gardener is awesome."

"Kevin does have a way with plants," Cas agreed. He placed his mug on the counter as he turned his eyes to Dean, "So. What happened?"

Dean was silent for a moment, his eyes following the young man out in the garden. He spoke finally, eyes shifting to his best friend,

"The guy we were after, Marcus Ellis, he got someone else before we got him. We were so fucking close. Got there right as he did it, had to put a bullet in him." The man shook his head, "The kid he knifed died on the way to the hospital. Kid about Sam's age. Looked a lot like him, too. It –" Dean rubbed a hand over his face, "Well, you know."

Castiel nodded in understanding: he did, indeed, know.

The two sat in silence for several heartbeats before Dean spoke again, words slightly rushed,

"What am I going to do when he wants to leave, Cas? I can't – I – "

The man shook his head, running a hand through his hair in agitation,

"I knew it was a bad idea to get attached but it happened so fast. I don't know why, but – hell." Dean dropped his head into his hands and let out a frustrated huff.

"He's your soulmate."

"What?" the Detective raised his head at Cas's words, and his best friend repeated,

"He's your soulmate. That's why you grew so attached to him so quickly."

"Still on about soulmates, huh? Thought you were my soulmate," Dean joked, shooting the other man a slight grin.

Cas chuckled and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger,

"I am, but in a different manner. Our love for one another is different than your love for him."

"My love for –" Dean scoffed and shook his head, "I don't – He's 17, Cas! I don't love him. I just want to look out for him."

It was Cas's turn to scoff as the man retorted, "Yeah, whatever, Dean. You keep telling yourself that."

"I'm not like John Winchester. I wouldn't take advantage of an underage kid, and one who has been through what he's been through, at that!"

"I know," his best friend shot him a smile, eyes crinkling at the corners, "That's why you'll wait until he's ready."

"You - you're crazy, Cas."

"Doesn't mean I'm not right."