Constellations

Sanctuary

Dean was waiting for Cas back at his dorm room when it happened. Cas never had a roommate and Dean was getting tired of always having to drive back to the motel. Castiel started asking about Dean's dorm and wouldn't take the excuse, "It's a mess; you wouldn't like it anyway" any longer. So, Dean made up the lie that his roommate dropped out of Stanford, refused to pay the rent, and that Dean was unable to come up with the rest. They started living together and saved a lot of money. For example, they realized how to save money on water by showering together (simple solution really).

Dean was lying on the couch watching TV when Castiel ran into the room panting and locked the door behind him, his hands shaking, and face bloody. His chest was rising and falling rapidly; he looked dazed and scared, but Dean didn't see any of this.

"Hey babe," Dean said from the couch. "How was your class?"

Castiel didn't seem to hear him, taking off his jacket and tie, his eyes passing over everything in the room except Dean.

Dean looked up from the TV. "Did you hear-"

It was then that Dean saw Castiel's face, got off the couch, and ran over to him. 

"Cas, are you okay?" he asked putting his hand on Castiel's cheek. Cas flinched away in an instant and looked away from Dean. 

"I don't- I don't know," he said.

"Babe, you're bleeding."

Cas touched his nose and saw it was bleeding, but he didn't seem to process it and started pacing back and forth in the kitchen. 

"Cas what the hell is going on?"

"I- I"

Castiel started opening drawers and cabinets while running his fingers through his hair. 

"Why are you covered in blood? Cas, look at me!"

It didn't seem like Castiel could hear him, as he opened the refrigerator just to close it a moment later. Dean walked over to him, took his hands, and tried to stop them from shaking, but it was no use. 

Cas pulled his hands free and started to move again, but Dean stopped him. Cas pounded on Dean's chest, but Dean took Cas into his arms tightly so he could not move. They dropped to the floor and Cas fell against Dean's chest and started gently sobbing. 

"Shhh everything's okay now. You're safe, Cas, you're okay."

About a half an hour passed of Dean washing Castiel's face gently with a towel and Cas looking straight ahead, before Cas was ready to speak. 

"I was at the bar."

"Cas-"

"I had finished my class and headed towards Louis' Pub and across from me was this guy. I had never seen him before, but he just kept staring at me. He said something. He said, 'You're an angel."'

Dean caught his breathe. Castiel misinterpreted this and tried to reassure him.

"Dean, of course I told him I was taken. He got angry, started talking in a different language, and got up from his chair. I told him to calm down and he saw my face and his eyes widened and he started calling out my name. He knew my name, I don't- I don't know how. I ran out of the bar, which- which was stupid, I should have stayed inside, but the car was just out front and I thought-" Castiel's voice caught and he started shaking again. 

Dean was breathing heavily, knowing where this was going.

"What happened Cas?" he said slowly, his fists strewn together so tightly, his knuckles were white. 

"I ran to the car, but he was faster, and he got me from behind. I started screaming, but his hands were around my neck and I couldn't quite get the words out. He took me into a back alley. I started kicking at him, punching him, but he was crazy. He kept saying that it was- it was my fault, that it was my fault the angels fell. I- I didn't know what he was talking about Dean, and I told him to take my money and whatever I had, but he didn't want that. He started punching me and-" Cas held his hand to his stomach, and Dean realized he was bleeding. 

"Oh God, Cas. Here-" Dean was starting to get off the floor to get supplies, but Cas pulled at him to go back down. 

"Don't. It can wait until after I'm done. If I don't say this now, I never will."

Dean slowly slided back down to Castiel's side and Cas grabbed for Dean's hand like it was air. 

"I don't remember how, but I managed to get away. I looked around for a store or something, but there was nothing around me. I hid behind a dumpster and called the police, but the man- he grabbed at my hair and got me off my feet. He kept asking for information... He kept repeating, 'Metatron.' I tried to tell him he had the wrong guy, but he really just wanted to hurt me. The police came and the man dropped me to the floor. A cop came out of the car and started talking to the guy; he smiled and started coming after me! There was a bat next to me and I swung it at him, and then at the other guy. I got into my car and didn't look back."

Cas was staring quietly ahead, tears slowly staining his cheeks.

"They found you," Dean whispered in shock, so quietly Castiel could not hear him. 

"Baby," Dean whispered louder, stroking Castiel's hair and wiping tears with his thumb. "I'm so sorry. You're safe now. I promise no one is going to hurt you, I promise, I promise."