Epilogue, Live As If
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If someone had asked him later, Dean wouldn't have ever been able to tell you what the hell he and Sam talked about that afternoon. There was a sort of vague outline of events - talking about their parents, Sam being eager for any detail Dean could remember. Exchange of life stories, horror stories. Girls they had loved, girls who had never loved them. He sort of remembered about the way Sam lit up whenever he talked about Jo and Mary, and he kind of wondered if he looked the same way when he was talking about Castiel.
Gabe rejoined them, told them Cas was out of surgery, that he hadn't woken up yet. Again, the details were vague in Dean's brain - Gabriel talking about his life being a book agent for one of the most paranoid little hobbit writer in the world, something about Jo and Sam both being really big fans of the hobbit writer ... eh. It was talking about life - real life - and Dean kind of had the feeling he had been hit with so many frigging shocks, surprises and miracles that his brain just couldn't take anymore. Three in one day was quite fucking enough.
Or at least, so he thought.
It was well on three in the morning when Dr. Garrison reappeared at their little circle in the waiting room, his smile broad in a way that just made Dean feel fucking good about the world. He leaned back against his chair, shoulder brushing against Sam's, looking up at the doctor hopefully, "Well Doc, what's the prognosis?"
"He's going to make a full, and uncomplicated recovery. We got to it, just in time." Dr. Garrison said, and Dean could have kissed him for that. He might have offered him a blowjob afterwards for the next words out of his mouth. "He's awake, and he wants to see you, Dean. He asked for you, very specifically."
Gabe joked from his spot right across from Dean, relief clear in his tone and cheery gaze. "Oh, I see how it is. Hey Dean, when you see my little brother, tell him just because you taught him complicated hand signals to spell out your name -- "
"You want a hand signal?" Dean flipped him the bird, smirking. "There's your hand signal."
Dr. Garrison was looking from Dean to Gabe with a puzzled look, speaking a little carefully, "I don't see why he would - there wasn't any damage to his vocal cords from the fever. He did sound a little rough, but I'm assuming he just has a normally low voice -- did I say something wrong?"
For a moment, it took Dean a moment to organize his thoughts enough to speak words that made sense outside of his own brain. "He - he spoke. He actually asked for me, by name, with his own voice?"
He couldn't blame Dr. Garrison for looking at him like he was a complete loon, but Dean sincerely hoped he overlooked that shit and just gave him a goddamned answer. The doctor finally spoke, a little more suspicious than before. "Ye-es. Now what - "
"What room?" Dean said sharply, already moving for the stairs, not looking to see if anyone was following him or not.
"He's in room 2074 -- I really want to know what's going on, here..." Dr. Garrison's voice faded away as Dean pushed open the door to the stairs and took them two at a time. He really, seriously tried not to run all the way there, but it was a fast walk down the hall to Castiel's room. He pushed open the door, breath harsh in the back of his throat, as his gaze fell on the dark haired man lying in the hospital bed, looking out the window with a faraway look in his eyes. He wet his lips, and said, almost fearfully, "Cas?"
The change was instantaneous - Castiel turned his head, his expression becoming softly warm and attentive as he looked back at Dean. Then, almost bashfully, his lips curved up into a small smile, he spoke in a quiet, gravely voice that reminded Dean of cold nights and rough sex, of whiskey with a touch of smooth bourbon, and all he said were two little words.
"Hello, Dean."
Dean felt his control slipping away from him, as his face burst into a brilliant smile and his entire fucking body lit up like someone set off a firecracker in his chest and well ... well.
Seriously, what else could he do at that moment, but close the space between them, and kiss Castiel - his Crazy Sexy Sneaky Roof Guy, all his, right back against the mattress, until they were both breathless, hard and hungry? Until Castiel growled at him him to lock the door in that voice? Really, did he have any kind of choice?
So that was exactly what he did.
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FINIS