Fallen

Chapter Thirty-One

     "Why the hell not?" I say, anger bubbling up in my chest.

     "Don't be mad," Dean tries. "It's Zeke. He said that pretty much every angel alive is looking for Cas, and we can't risk them finding him here and exposing Zeke. Sam isn't strong enough for him to leave yet, Cel."

     "Well what about Dad?" I defend. "Dean, he was homeless when we found him! He was starving! We can't just throw him back out on the street again!"

     "Cas is a big boy, he can handle himself! He's been good up to this point!" Our voices gradually rise.

     "Has he? Has he really?" I'm starting to get irritated. "Have you forgotten where he was when we found him?"

     "Cel-"

     "Let me refresh your memory," I interrupt. "He trusted a woman he didn't know because she offered him food and a place to stay. Then wouldn't it figure that she was a reaper who was among the thousands of angels with him at the top of their hit list."

     Dean tries again. "I know, Cel, but-"

     "She killed him, Dean," I argue. "He was hungry and alone and probably terrified when she found him, and she killed him."

     "But he came back, didn't he?!" He finally snaps. "If Zeke leaves, my brother won't come back! Sam will be gone. And God knows no other angel will help us." He manages to calm himself down again. "If Cas stays, Zeke will leave, and we can't afford to lose Sam right now. I can't afford to lose Sam ever."

     I just stare at him for a moment. I can't believe he's doing this to Cas. After all Cas has helped him through. Dean would be dead if it weren't for him. I finally settle on a solution.

     "Fine," I say. "Then I'm going with him." I brush past him and head towards my room.

     "Oh come on, Cel, don't be like that," Dean says, following me.

     "Why are you following me? Don't you have a best friend to kick to the curb?" I don't break stride.

     "Wow, really?" Dean says. "You're really going to be a teenager about this?"

     I stop. Did he really just say that to me? I slowly turn around and glare at him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

     He rolls his eyes. "It means you need to grow the hell up and think about this like an adult."

     My eyebrows shoot up in shock. I don't even respond before I turn back around and start walking again.

     "Crap," Dean mumbles, "Cel, I didn't mean that." He places his hand on my shoulder, but I yank it away from his grasp before he can stop me or turn me around to face him. "Come on, you know I didn't mean it," he repeats.

     I ignore him. I keep walking and don't stop until I get to my room. Dean tries to follow me in, but I slam the door in his face and lock it. I'm unable to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks as I shove my belongings into my large bag. Dean knocks on the door in between his apologies.

     With my packed bag slung over my shoulder, I fling the door open, bringing Dean to a silent halt. He sees the tears staining my cheeks and immediately cups my face in both his hands. This only makes more tears fall.

     He lowers his voice as his thumbs glide back and forth on my cheeks. "Please listen to me, baby," he pleads. He's only ever called me that once before. When he did, he was genuinely concerned for me.

     There's a long silence between us. I just stare into his forest-colored eyes. The color calms me down. Green has always had a calming effect on me. I've never really realized it, but I have quite a fondness of green. I guess that would make it my favorite color, right?

     Dean's voice pulls me out of the trance his eyes put me in. "I need you here too, Sweetheart," he says. "I can't handle this angel crap alone."

     I shake my head. "I can't leave Cas to handle this by himself. I can't. Not with so many feathered bastards looking for him." He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Dean, I need to do this. If Cas can't stay here, then I have to go with him. I need to protect him and make sure he has enough to eat and that he sleeps and everything. Just until he gets his grace back. Or until Sam is healed. Whichever comes first."

     He sighs. It's quiet for a moment until he nods. "Okay. Please be safe," he says, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

     I nod. "I will be. We'll stay close. If I ever need you, I'll come by."

     He leans forward and kisses my forehead. When he pulls away, I lift myself onto my toes and kiss his lips. I lower myself again and Dean finds my hand to kiss my knuckles.

     "How am I supposed to explain this to Sam?" He suddenly says.

     My smile drops. I hadn't thought of that. God, this whole thing is exhausting. We stay quiet for what feels like five minutes before I finally come up with something.

     "Tell him I took Cas on a trip," I suggest. "Ya know, to bond or whatever. I mean that's kinda what it'll end up being anyway, right?"

     Dean smiles. "You always have the best ideas." He kisses me again before pulling me into a tight embrace. "Come back to me, okay?"

     I nod. "I'll always come back to you."