And now we have the typical patching up and the comfort to see to ^_^ Thanks to everyone who has read this fic, and also to my guest reviewer, Kathy!

I have a couple one shots I'll he posting next, so next Monday keep an eye out for an "On the Head of a Pin" AU one-shot

Chapter Six

Despite the fact that Cas had healed his injuries, Dean's body still ached. He was weak from hunger and blood loss, and looking at Cas lying there with a hole ripped in his gut made him want to throw up.

"We gotta get him out of here," Dean said, using the bed to stagger to his feet before reaching down to grab one of Cas' arms. Sam grabbed his other and together they eased the angel carefully up.

Cas let out a pained grunt from between his teeth as if trying to bite it back, pressing a hand against the wound in his stomach as if to hold himself together.

"We can go back to the motel," Sam said as they took most of Cas' weight.

It wasn't easy getting Cas out of there. He could barely keep his own feet and Dean wasn't much better so the stairs were a disaster waiting to happen. Sam didn't look like he was doing too well either if he was being honest. They made quite the team.

They stepped past all the beheaded vampires and Dean gave them a satisfied look. His only regret was that he hadn't gotten to do it himself.

"Angels…" Cas murmured as they stepped out the door before hissing in pain.

"What about them?" Sam asked. "Are they coming again?"

"Will be…" Cas grunted. "Soon. Gotta…" He sagged, head dropping to his chest as Sam and Dean shifted frantically to support his now dead weight.

"What does he mean, angels?" Dean demanded.

"Naomi's been after him this whole time, that's why he ran," Sam told him. "We had a run in with them yesterday."

Dean shook his head. "Idiot. He would have been safer with us."

Sam huffed a humorless laugh. "Maybe next time you'll take that advice yourself."

Dean bit his lip, but the bite in his brother's voice was obviously concealing the pain. "Touché," he muttered.

They hauled Cas the rest of the way to the Impala and laid him in the backseat. Sam rummaged through the trunk and grabbed the first aid kit.

Cas was stirring by the time Dean got back in. "Have to…have to get back to…bunker," Cas gritted out, letting out an involuntary cry as Sam peeled his shirt open and pressed a wad of gauze against the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Cas you're hurt bad, we can't drive all the way back with you like this," Sam protested.

Cas reached up and gripped his wrist. "I'll survive the trip, but we need to keep going or we will not survive Naomi. I can't…I can't defend you in this condition."

Sam glanced over at Dean, and Dean swallowed hard. A twenty-hour drive wasn't what he wanted to do right after having been a captive of vamps for a week but…

"Alright, we'll do it."

"Okay, but I'm driving," Sam insisted, carefully closing the back door.

"Sammy…"

"Dean, you look terrible, and you need to eat and drink before you pass out," Sam insisted, then more quietly. "I'm fine. Promise."

Dean pressed his lips into a thin line. He didn't like it, but Sam was right. At this point they didn't really have another choice and Sam, as bad off as he was, was in the best condition out of the three of them. "Okay, but you let me know if you need me to spell you."

Sam nodded. "Fine. But let's not waste any more time about it."

They drove. Dean felt a little better after eating a couple protein bars and drinking water. He was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep. He kept glancing in the back at Cas who seemed to be unconscious again, and Sam, who was hiding it well, but Dean could tell he was in pain and suffering from the Trials still. He still had a fever flush against his cheeks and he had dark circles under his eyes, giving them a hollowed-out look.

"I'm sorry this happened, Sam," Dean said after a while.

Sam glanced over at him with a shrug. "I'm just glad we found you."

"Me too," Dean said softly. "I'm glad you called Cas in though."

"Yeah, I don't think I would have made it without him," Sam said with an honesty that made Dean feel nauseous. He never should have gone on that hunt, should have passed it off to someone else. He'd made Sam leave the safety of the bunker when he was feeling like crap, and caused Cas to get caught by the angels. It was a miracle any of them had gotten out alive at all, but Cas was doing his best to change that statistic.

Dean dozed a little bit, aching body pressed against the window of his baby, lulled by her rumbling engine, but at the halfway point, he called it. Sam was looking more and more exhausted, slumping in the seat, his left elbow propped on the window, holding his chin up.

"Okay, pull over and let me drive," Dean insisted.

The fact that Sam didn't argue, made Dean realize just how bad off he was. They pulled into a gas station and Dean got out, filling up, and running to the restroom to change quickly, realizing that he was still in just Sam's jacket and his filthy jeans.

When he got back out, Sam was checking on Cas who was still asleep. Dean glanced over Sam's shoulder and his gut twisted when he saw that Cas' wound didn't seem to be healing at all, which was worrying.

"Come on, let's get him back."

Dean climbed behind the wheel and Sam slumped into the passenger seat. They weren't even a mile down the road, before Sam was completely asleep. Dean felt worry gnaw at his insides. Cas should recover once they got him back to the bunker. He could rest in safety, not worrying about that bitch Naomi and her lackeys, but Sam…Sam wasn't going to get better until he finished the Trials and even then, well, Dean didn't know what would happen. He didn't know if Sam would miraculously recover or if he would just continue to get worse until…

Dean shook his head. He didn't want to think about it. He was safe now, on his way home, and he would be there for his brother again, taking care of him despite the eye rolls and bitch faces.

And he would be there for Cas too. Dean didn't want to admit it, but he felt a crushing guilt about how he'd treated the angel. Not only had be failed to get Cas out of Purgatory, but he'd left him to be taken to Heaven and made into Naomi's puppet. And when Cas came back and Dean had noticed something off about him, he still hadn't pressed enough. And then he'd been pissed at him for leaving but really, why should he have been? He hadn't bothered to help before, so why would Cas think he would help him after the fact?

Now though, Cas needed them. He was cut off from Heaven, a fugitive. The angels may be after him but it wasn't like they hadn't been in tight spots before. Cas might worry he was putting them in danger, but they were always in danger. If he'd learned anything from the hunt he had just gone on, it was that sticking together and having each other's backs was always the better option. Besides, with the bunker, now they had a place they could truly feel safe. It's wasn't like just hiding out in hunter safe houses and obscure motels. Even Naomi and her lackeys wouldn't be able to find them there.

He was exhausted by the time he pulled up in front of the bunker. He reached over and nudged Sam's shoulder. His brother groaned and shifted wearily, peeling himself away from the window.

"Whatisit?" he murmured.

"We're back," Dean told him. "Need you to wake up a little so you can help me get Cas inside."

Sam glanced around, looking slightly lost, and Dean was glad they were back. He hauled himself out of the car and opened the back door, reaching out to squeeze Cas' shoulder.

"Hey, Cas, buddy, we're back now."

The angel stirred and his eyes blinked open. He started to sit up but collapsed almost instantly with a groan. Dean patted his shoulder. "Easy, we'll help you up."

He offered Cas his hands and the angel took them and allowed Dean to pull him upright and slide him out of the car. Cas bit back sounds of discomfort and nearly collapsed once Dean got him on his feet. Dean shoved his shoulder under Cas' arm and braced him with an arm around his back.

"Okay, okay," he murmured, starting toward the bunker's entrance.

Sam had woken himself up enough to help and came to steady Cas' other side, producing the key to the bunker from his pocket.

It wasn't easy, but they got Cas inside and down the stairs, pulling him into one of the bedrooms. Cas cried out as they lowered him as gently as possible onto the bed and he lay there panting.

"Okay, Sammy, go grab our med kit," Dean said and Sam nodded, heading off to get what they needed.

Cas shifted, opening his eyes. "I'll—I'll be fine once the bullet's out. Can't—can't heal with it in."

Dean's jaw clenched and he patted Cas' shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, man, we'll have it out in no time. Sammy and I are kind of experts."

"I can imagine," Cas said with some wry humor, looking Dean up and down with heavy scrutiny. "How are you?"

Dean's eyebrows shot up. "How am I? Dude, I'm not the one who got a rock ripped out of my gut—and on that topic, what the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I didn't want to chance Naomi taking control of my mind again," Cas said seriously. "Touching the Tablet was the only way I knew for certain she couldn't…" He trailed off, biting his lip and looking away.

"Then if you knew you were safe, why did you run?"

Cas shook his head. "They were after me, I didn't want to bring that trouble to you. Not with Sam sick and you worrying about him. You didn't need another burden."

Dean sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Cas, man, I worried about you too, you know. Your trouble is our trouble."

"You don't want my trouble."

"I don't want my trouble either, doesn't mean we're not gonna deal with it together. We're family. Remember when I told you you were like a brother to me?"

Cas looked away. "Yes, and then I betrayed you. After you asked me not to go ahead with my desperate plans to fight Raphael."

"Yeah, well, Sam's done some things I've wanted to punch him in the face for too, and I still love him. He's still my brother. Nothing is ever gonna change that."

Cas' eyes looked up to meet his, and the small flicker of hope there nearly tore a hole in Dean's heart. That was a hope he hadn't seen in, well, a long friggen' time. Not since Purgatory anyway, and not for a long time before that either.

"Fact is, you came for me when I really needed a hand, and you looked after Sammy when I couldn't, even though you had Naomi on your tail the whole time. I just want a chance to return the favor." He backtracked a little. "And not because I think I owe you, or you owe us, but because that's what family does."

"Family," Cas said softly as if testing the word.

"Family," Dean replied firmly.

Cas exhaled deeply and winced as he shifted on the bed to try and find a more comfortable position. "Well, I'll… need help getting the Tablet back from Crowley now. Though I think we may need a couple days of recuperation before that."

Dean chuckled dryly. "Agreed."

He helped Cas out of his coat and shirt and was just tucking the bloody clothes aside as Sam came in with a tray loaded with first aid supplies.

"I found some stuff in the infirmary that I thought we might need," he said.

Dean nodded and set the tray on the bedside table. "Alright, my hand's steadier, so…you just hold onto him."

Sam swallowed hard but nodded, going around the bed to sit next to Cas and put a hand on his shoulder in preparation.

Cas watched as Dean prepped the items he would need, wetting a cloth in alcohol first. "Okay, this isn't gonna feel good, but angel or not, may as well not tempt the bacteria." He pressed it to the wound and Cas' back arched off the bed as a cry was pulled from his throat. Sam pressed him back and Dean cleaned the area of the bullet wound of excess blood so he could better see what he was doing. It looked awful since Crowley had torn the flesh further yanking the Tablet out.

Dean turned back to the table, and grabbed a pair of forceps giving them a swipe with the alcohol as well. He glanced over and met Sam's eye and the younger man nodded, shifting so that he was putting his full weight on Cas.

Dean gripped Cas' thigh with one hand to help hold him still and prepared to go in for the bullet. "Sorry in advance, man."

He put the forceps in and felt Cas' body flinch. The angel groaned, tensing, his hands fisting in the sheets. Dean felt around with the forceps and knew when he had hit the bullet because he felt metal on metal and also Cas cried out in agony.

"Okay, okay, I got it, we're almost done." He gripped the bullet and carefully pulled it out.

Cas screamed, his head tossing against the pillow as Sam practically threw himself on top of the angel to hold him down. Dean pulled the bullet from the wound as a spark of blue grace flared in the bullet hole.

Dean tossed the bullet and forceps onto the tray, and grabbed a swatch of gauze to clean the area, pressing down to stop the bleeding.

"There we go, we're almost done."

Cas lay limp, breathing heavily, looking wrung out. Sam had grabbed another cloth and was wiping the sweat from his forehead. Dean washed his hands and then threaded a needle. He quickly finished the sutures, tying them off efficiently, then taping fresh gauze over the wound.

"There we go, all done."

Cas blinked up at them with pain-dulled eyes. "I—I should heal with rest."

"Take all the time you need," Dean told him, squeezing his shoulder gently. Sam got off the bed and pulled a blanket from the foot of it, pulling it up to drape over Cas and tucking it around his shoulders as Dean picked up the tray.

Cas looked around, seeming slightly wary, and Dean went over to the chair he had set Cas' clothes on, retrieving his angel blade. He put it on the bedside table.

"Just in case," he said. "But you're safe here. If anything comes through that door it's gonna have to fight me first. Just rest, Cas. Focus on getting better."

Cas seemed to relax into the mattress, his eyes drooping. "Thank you," he said.

"Anytime," Dean murmured, the words heavier than they should have been, and left a lamp on the desk lit before he and Sam slipped out of the room, leaving the door ajar so they could hear if Cas needed anything.

Sam turned to Dean, reaching for the tray. "Here, I'll take care of this. I'm sure you want a shower."

Dean didn't even protest. He went to his room to grab clean clothes and hurried to the shower.

He cranked the water up hot and scrubbed himself roughly. All the blood and filth had left him when Cas had used his healing mojo, but he still felt that place on him; the vampires' hands as they pressed close and sank their fangs into him, dragging their tongues along his skin to get every last drop of blood. He shuddered, forcing himself to breathe deeply. He was home now. The bloodsuckers were dead. He didn't have to worry about that anymore.

He turned off the water, toweling dry and dressing before he went back out.

He smelled something cooking, or rather burning, and went to the kitchen, seeing Sam at the stove.

"The hell?" Dean asked.

Sam made a face. "Well, I was trying to make bacon and eggs…"

Dean shooed him over to the table and finished up, barely saving the bacon. The eggs were already beyond hope, but he was too hungry to care. He put the food on two plates and set one in front of Sam.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, Dean watching his brother out of the corner of his eye, seeing him pick at his food. Worry knotted his stomach, knowing that Sammy still wasn't doing too well. Sam beat him to the question though.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Dean shrugged. "Tired. Sore. Nothing a solid eight hours can't fix. Cas did most of the work and after eating and getting rehydrated I feel pretty good." He narrowed his eyes then. "What about you?"

Sam sighed and put his fork back on his half-eaten plate of food, pushing it away. "I'm not getting better, Dean. And I won't until the Trials are over."

Dean pressed his lips into a thin line and stood up, grabbing both their plates and taking them over to the sink before he turned around and leaned against the counter. "I know that. But Sammy, you gotta let me take care of you, man. Hell, it's the only thing I can do."

Sam got up too and shoved his hands in his pockets as he leaned against the wall. "I know. And…I may need it more than I let on."

Dean raised an eyebrow, studying his brother.

"When you disappeared…" Sam wet his lips, shifting slightly before he looked up and Dean saw his eyes were wet. "When I thought I may have lost you, I think I realized just how much I couldn't do this alone. So, don't…don't go off like that again."

Dean felt Sam's pain and he stepped forward, the leftover fear and stepped toward him. "I won't, I promise. C'mere." He reached out and Sam shuffled forward a step, allowing Dean to pull him into a firm hug, scrunching down to rest his head on Dean's shoulder. Dean held his brother tightly, feeling the low fever burning under his skin and the too-prominent bones from Sam's poor appetite and he vowed they would finish this thing as soon as possible.

Sam pulled back and swiped at his eyes as Dean clapped him on the shoulder.

"Come on, we'll have a lot of work to do but right now it's time to rest."

Sam nodded in agreement and he and Dean traveled back to the dormitory wing. Dean looked in on Cas and saw the angel sleeping deeply, unconsciousness, and hopefully his grace, working to smooth out some of the lines of pain in his face.

Sam stopped before he retired to his room and glanced back at Dean. "Hey. G'night, Jerk."

Dean's mouth turned up at one corner and he nodded. "G'night, Bitch."

They went to their rooms and dropped onto their beds in sheer exhaustion. Dean clutched his pillow under his head and closed his eyes. They really did have a hell of a lot of crap that they needed to figure out, but tonight? Tonight they slept.