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Castiel frowned at his phone before answering the call. “Hello, Sam.”
“Cas?” Sam sounded alarmed. “Thank fuck! Where are you? We need you. Dean—”
“What’s with Dean?” Castiel’s body stiffened and his Grace tingled. Something was wrong.
Sam swallowed. “We ran into this witch, and he— Cas his fever is rising and I can’t stop it.”
“I’m coming.”
“Thanks.” Sam sighed, relieved. “We’re back in the Bunker. I’ll try to get a hold of Rowena. Any idea when you’ll be here?”
Castiel blinked. Sam’s words barely reached him through his haze. “Give me four hours.”
“Shit!” Sam exhaled sharply. “Okay. But, please, hurry.”
Nodding, Castiel ended the call and turned around, ignoring the police officer he had just been talking to when his phone rang, and left the crime scene without giving it another thought.
In the next hours, he disregarded every rule of safe driving he had learned, even though he tried not to put other road users in danger. If he had, he would have reached the Bunker faster, but he knew Dean would be upset if others had been harmed for his good.
Which meant Castiel drove as fast as he could without harming others, always hoping he wasn’t too late. Sam had sounded deeply worried and with each passing minute, Dean’s condition might become worse.
Castiel had never exceeded the speed limit before, but now, he made the 280 miles from Valentine, Nebraska to the Bunker in three hours and two minutes.
Sam jumped up when Castiel walked into Dean’s room. “Thank fuck, you made it.”
Wordlessly, Castiel rushed to Dean’s side. Dean’s skin glistened with sweat as he was burning up. Carefully, Castiel lifted the wet cloth from his forehead and brushed a strand of hair away.
His friend stirred and looked at him with glassy eyes. A little smile covered his face as he recognised him. “Hey, Cas.”
“Hello, Dean.” Castiel took Dean’s hand in his and pressed it, focusing his Grace on it to heal his friend.
“Cas? What’s going on?” Sam cried out as nothing happened, and Castiel’s heart sank. He felt Dean’s body welcoming his Grace, but there was some barrier preventing his Grace from healing him fully.
For a moment, Dean’s eyes cleared and his temperature went down, but the effects were minimal.
“It’s not working,” Castiel said, and Sam cursed.
“Damn it! Can you— Just, keep an eye on him, I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Castiel nodded while Sam left, already typing on his phone.
“Cas?” Dean asked, sounding so feeble.
Unable to stop himself, Castiel ran his fingers through Dean’s hair. “Yes, Dean, I’m here. What is it?”
“Stay.”
“Of course, Dean. I’ll stay with you as long as you need me.”
“No!” Dean protested, almost sitting up. “Stay… with me.” His eyes focused on Castiel, and Castiel felt them pierce right through his body and into his Grace. “Stay.”
A shiver ran through his entire being and Castiel nodded, smiling. Something had shifted between them. Reaching out, he cupped Dean’s face and carefully pulled his friend into his arms. Dean followed eagerly, given his current state, and pressed his face against Castiel’s chest.
“Don’t go,” he whispered and Castiel hummed in confirmation.
“I won’t,” he promised as he felt the tension in Dean’s body slacken. “I won’t leave you,” he repeated, brushing calming circles on Dean’s back.
Humming contently, Dean pressed closer and nuzzled his neck. “I can’t lose you. I can’t. Please, don’t leave me. Don’t leave me,” he mumbled.
At first, it sounded like a mantra, but slowly, its intensity grew and Dean’s entire body started to shiver vigorously. His fever spiked and Castiel feared his friend might burn up from the inside.
“Dean,” Castiel urged. “Dean! I’m here. I’m not leaving you.”
Dean shook his head. “No!”
“Shh,” Castiel tried to calm him. “I’m here. I’ll stay.”
Yet, nothing worked. Dean’s state became worse and worse. Panic started to rise inside Castiel as he was forced to watch him helplessly.
“I’ll never leave you,” Castiel promised once again. “I love you too much.” As a last resort, he pressed his lips on Dean’s head, and Dean stilled.
Slowly, Dean looked up. “For real?”
Castiel’s panic subsided and he smiled, relieved. “Yes, Dean, for real.”
Dean’s eyes widened. Their dazed shine vanished, and a broad smile covered his face as Castiel leaned down.
“Cas!” Sam all but shouted as he stormed into the room. “Rowena’s on her way, but she thinks it could be some kind of love spell. No idea how we can get rid of it, but— Oh!”
Silence filled the room as Castiel and Dean turned around to face him. Sam gaped at them, open-mouthed, before staggering backwards.
“I’m— I’m sorry. I—” he stammered.
“Chill, Sammy. No need to get your panties in a twist. It was a true love spell, not some fuck-or-die trickery.” Dean wiggled his brows, despite his still weakened physical condition.
“No, thanks.” Sam shuddered exaggeratedly. “Fuck you! Now I have to get rid of that image.”
“I wouldn’t mind that one either,” Castiel chimed in, matter-of-factly, and both brothers sputtered.
Dean was the first one to recover. “You serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious, Dean. Why shouldn’t I be? I told you I lo—” Castiel was stopped when Dean crashed his lips on his.
The human still smiled as he pulled back. “Awesome!”
Sam cleared his throat. “Uh, I’m happy you have recovered, but I better go.”
“Sammy, wait,” Dean stopped him, smiling at his brother. “Thanks, dude.”
Sam nodded. “You’d have done the same for me. Besides, you should thank Cas.” He grinned before leaving quickly, closing the door behind him.
Dean trailed his fingers over Castiel’s face and Castiel closed his eyes. “Thank you, angel.”
Tears pricked Castiel’s eyes as he pulled his friend into his arms. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t get rid of me that fast. Promise. Uh, did you mean it? The, uh— You really wouldn’t mind a fuck-or-die situation?”
Castiel chuckled. “No, Dean. I wouldn’t mind,” he confirmed, brushing a strand of hair from Dean’s now cooled-down forehead, only to add, “Except for the die part. I’d hate that one. I prefer for you to be able to consent.”
“Damn, I love you,” Dean blurted out, and Castiel stilled.
“You do?” he asked hopefully.
“Dude!” Dean rolled his eyes. “I get you were a bit distracted with me dying and all, but duh? What don’t you get about true love spell? Of course, it’s mutual, sunshine.”
Castiel felt the smile on his face reaching the farthest parts of his Grace as happiness seized him. The lights flickered when his human body became too small to contain it, threatening to spill over.
“Careful, angel,” Dean warned. “I can’t do this if you smite me.” Grinning, he pulled Castiel towards him and kissed him in a way that made Castiel’s wings tingle all over. Dean’s tongue swept over his lips, and Castiel opened up, letting himself be consumed by the sensations.
When Dean eventually pulled back, panting for air, he radiated, a different kind of fever burning inside him.
“Awesome! Just promise me, I don’t have to wait for another damn witch to get you to fuck me.”
Castiel stared at him. “Did you—”
Dean laughed. “Hell, no. I had no fucking idea what she was doing to me. Not that I mind the outcome, though.” His whole being radiated with a happiness that mirrored Castiel’s own.
Leaning forward, Castiel whispered into Dean’s ear, “I promise,” before pushing his human back on the bed while a fever burned through him.
After all, he had a promise to keep.