"Pull over."

"Cas, don't."

"Pull. Over."

Dean obliged, and stopped the Impala on the side of the road. Cas got out and walked away from the car. Dean got out and jogged to catch up with him. He grabbed Cas's arm and turned him around so that they were face to face.

"Cas. I understand this is hard for you. I get it. You're new at emotions, and you have a lot of them. But you are not allowed to say things like that. Ever."Dean snapped,eyes never leaving Cas's face, who's own eyes were fixed away from Dean.

"You know it's true. I'm useless. There is no point in–."

"Shut up! Dammit Cas!" Dean suddenly shouted, cutting him off. "Just because you became a human does not mean you can just give up on me! That's not how life works!"

Cas finally looked at him. "I'll just get in the way. I'm too weak to help."

Dean heaved a sigh, and closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them, he tipped Cas's chin up and forced him to meet his eyes. Dean dropped his hand to Cas's shoulder.

"That doesn't fucking matter, Cas. I don't care if you can help or not. I don't care. That's not what this is about. This is about you not giving up on me. Cas, I need you, and that will never change. I...I love you, Cas."

Cas blinked. "What?"

"I said I love you. Dumbass." Dean added. He was unafraid to repeat what he said, but despite this he blushed slightly.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"All I've ever done is hurt you."

"That's where you're wrong. For starters, you pulled me out of Hell. I would still be there if not for you. And there are countless other times where I would be dead right now if you hadn't saved my ass. Hell, you rebelled against Heaven for me and Sam. You saved Lisa and Ben. You've done so much for me, just because you could." Dean paused, and then crossed his arms, almost as if he was hugging himself.

"I can't live without you, Cas. I don't know why, and I don't care." He continued, "But I can't."

Cas's face had resembled that of a hurt puppy while Dean was talking, and now his vision blurred. Thankfully Cas now knew what was happening; the first time he'd cried it had scared him.

"Dean." He said, and his voice cracked, "I'm not good for you."

"That's bullshit." Dean immediately shot back, his own eyes glistening with withheld tears. Cas shook his head.

"It's not. All I've ever done is caused you suffering! Dean, I can't watch myself hurt you anymore. I can't see you in pain. Pain that I am responsible for." Cas argued, desperate that Dean would understand.

"Good, then stick around."

Cas stared at Dean in pure confusion. "I don't understand."

"I'm not letting you leave, Cas. If you don't want to hurt me, stay. Because if you leave..." Dean paused to draw a shaky breath, "It would hurt more than anything."

Cas continued to stare, baffled. Dean sighed. He closed the distance between himself and Cas, and wrapped his arms around Cas, hugging him tightly. Cas hesitated, but then hugged him back just as tightly.

"Dean, I'm sorry."

"I forgive you. Just do not ever threaten to kill yourself again. Are we clear?"

Cas grunted in agreement, and the suddenly his grip on Dean tightened and he buried his face into Dean's shoulder.

"Cas?"

"I'm sorry." Cas said, choking back tears. Dean rested his head against Cas's, and held him closer.

"I love you." Dean repeated himself.

"I love you." Cas replied. They stayed in each others arms for a few more minutes, and then they went back to the Impala once Cas had stopped "leaking", as he called it.

-end-