#failed hunt

*****

Dean almost trips on his way to the table in the library, and attempts to blink the tiredness from his eyes. Sam, Jack, and Castiel are already there, checking their duffel bags, in preparation for their next case. 

Jody had called for back up about twenty minutes ago, for a case involving missing children, and a lot of frightened parents, but no damn clues to even begin with. The eighth child had disappeared from the community, and things were getting desperate. It was all hands-on deck, for this one. 

Dean wanted so badly to sit down, but knew if he did that he’d be out like a light. And he wasn’t going to sit out on this case (Looking up at Jack, stuffing an extra package into his bag)...not if he could help it. He makes for light conversation, to keep himself awake.

“Hey Jack, what’s that you’ve got there?” Jack beams at Dean and takes the package out again. It’s a small square-shaped package, and Jack hold onto it proudly.

“It’s for Claire! I’m giving her my Rubik’s cube. I was watching America’s Got Talent, and I wanted to show her...Dean?”

“HermmWhat?” Dean does his best to focus on Jack (Don’t close your eyes, or you’ll be down for the count). “Hmm?” Jack looks concerned.

“Are you alright? You look tired.” Sam and Castiel stop what they’re doing and look over towards Dean, as well. He tries to put on a brave face, opens up his mouth to say he’s fine, but finds himself yawning and stretching.

Dean hears Sam mutter something and Jack asking another question (maybe?). It takes him a moment or so to realize that his eyes are closed. When he opens them again, Cas is standing right in front of him. Dean rolls his eyes.

“Ah Man, not ‘the look’. I’m fine, so move out of my way. Jody said...” Castiel puts out a hand to stop Dean from heading towards the stairs. 

“Dean, I’m putting you to bed.” Dean smirks and wiggles his eyebrows. 

“Well, now I’m definitely awake.” Castiel is unmoved. 

“Sam and I think you should sit this one out. You haven’t slept in days...”

On a recent hunt, a bunch of kids got trapped in an abandoned building, near the bunker, by a pack of demons. Sam and Dean had tracked the demons to the building, getting there in time to save all but one of the kids. He had to sacrifice himself to save his sister....because Dean had let two of the demons overpower him, and he’d dropped his angel blade. 

When Dean couldn’t get to the kids in time, the brother had taken charge, to try and distract the demon from hurting anyone else. He’d lunged at it, weaponless, beating at it with his small fists. It gave his sister time to burrow into a pile of old furniture, where she could still see what was going on, without being in harm’s way.

Dean had watched helplessly, as another demon smashed the brother’s head against the wall, spilling blood all over place. His sister’s screams were all that Dean could think about, now. Sam had arrived just then, and both he and Dean were able to take out every last demon in the place. But neither had gone home that night, feeling like heroes. 

Dean had taken to downing coffee and pep pills, to keep himself awake, and when he wasn’t drinking the bunker out of every bottle of booze he could find. It was getting to be rough going, so Castiel was putting his foot down. He places a hand on Dean’s shoulder, with authority.

“Bed. Now!” Dean sighs and tries to come up with an argument, that would make Castiel understand. He had to be in on this case. It wasn’t a question. He had to make it up to that kid. To his sister...

“Cas, please? I want to be there. Jody...”

“You’re going to sleep. I’ll put food on your desk, in case you get hungry.”

“If you do that, you’ll be late.” Cas was leading Dean down the hall and towards his bedroom, though Dean wasn’t aware of it. He was barely keeping his eyes open, at this point. Hardly putting up a fight.

“Those kids...”

“We’ll do our best. I promise you that. But please don’t dwell on this case. Go to sleep. I’m not powerful enough to give you a dreamless sleep, and I’m sorry. But your body needs rest.” Dean was miserable, but at the same time almost cried tears of joy at the sight of his own bed. He’d been trying to keep himself up by watching horror movies and playing video games in the man cave, and had been avoiding his own room. 

“Cas, please.”

“I’m sorry, Dean. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. And I’ll bring you food and drink, so you don’t have to go all the way to the kitchen, if you wake up and are hungry.”

“You’ll be late. The kids...”

“Sam and Jack are already on their way. Jody has called in Donna and Bobby on the case. I may even be unnecessary, once I get there. There’s a such thing as too many dishes in the microwave.”

“You mean ‘Too many chefs in the kitchen.’ Cas...” 

Castiel sighs, as he lays Dean in bed. Dean is too weak and depressed to fight back. Castiel arranges a sort of snack tray for Dean and lays it on his desk. He adds a couple of bottles of water (ignoring Dean’s plea for alcohol) and turns to leave, when Dean calls out to him.

“Cas.” 

“Dean, I have to go. Sam...”

“Stay with me. Lay next to me, and I’ll stay and try to catch some shut eye. You can grab a book or something. Just...stay.” Dean’s voice breaks and tears start to fall down his face. Castiel takes out his phone and texts Sam, Jack, and Jody. Apologizing for stepping away from the case. 

He then goes over to the bed, removes his coat, and lays down next to Dean. Dean immediately curls himself into Castiel, wrapping his arms around Castiel’s waist, and falls asleep. 

They’re still in bed together, when Sam and Jack return the next day.