Chapter Text
"You faggot!" A fist rains down blows. Just when he thinks the hits will stop, they get faster and harder. The assailant takes a swig of his beer. "My son cannot be a fag." The fist raises again, preparing for another hit.
"No, no, no." Dean mumbles as he tosses and turns. Cas wakes up immediately, as if he can sense when Dean is distressed. He quickly sits up and turns to Dean. He is glistening with sweat. Cas starts shaking him.
"Dean! Wake up! Dean, it's just a dream! Dean!" Cas says frantically, trying to save his boyfriend from one of his horrific nightmares. Dean continues mumbling. Cas shakes him harder.
"NO!" Dean shouts and bolts upright. He is shaking and his brilliant green eyes are filled with tears. His blonde hair is drenched with sweat. The expression on Dean's face is sheer terror. He quickly looks around the small apartments bedroom, when he sees Cas the tears overflow and start streaming down his face. Cas opens his arms and Dean collapses into them.
"Dean, it was only a dream. You're safe now, he can no longer hurt you. John's dead." Cas says as he strokes Dean's hair. His whole body is wracking with sobs.
"I'm so sorry, Cas. So sorry. I don't deserve you." Dean manages to get out between heaves. "You are too nice to me. I'm broken."
This causes Cas to tear up. "Shhhh, it's okay, it's okay." Cas whispers softly and pats his back. Soon Dean ceases crying and falls asleep. Cas lays down carefully with Dean sleeping on his chest. "If only you saw yourself as you really are." Cas says as he runs his fingers through Dean's hair. He eventually dozes off as well.
Dean has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, from his time in the military and from his abusive father. He and Cas often have nights like this. Where Dean has a night terror, and wakes him up and calms him down. Some nights are worse than others, tonight was one of the better ones. They are the worst when Cas isn't there to help. So, they never spend a night apart.
Cas wakes up to the smell of breakfast and the sound of Dean singing along to Guns N' Roses 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Cas slowly sits up and yawns. He pulls the comforter off of his legs and slowly swings them over the edge of the bed. He stands up, stretches, and finds an old t-shirt so he isn't walking around in his boxers, as much as Dean would like that. Cas trudges out of their room, down the hallway, and into the kitchen where he is greeted by Dean with coffee.
"Morning sweetie," Dean catches him by the waist and pulls him is for a kiss. He lets go and gives him a coffee. "Here you go, sorry about last night. I hope you're not too tired, because we're meeting Sam and Gabe at the Fallen Angel for dinner and drinks tonight." Dean says as he flips pancakes.
"Why are they here? They would have to fly in all the way from Vancouver." Cas asks as he sits down at the breakfast bar. Their kitchen is the best that you can get on the salary of a mechanic and a journalist, but Dean loved it.
"They're here for my absent mother's sudden reconnection by birthday party. Yay," Dean hands Cas a plate piled with pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Cas takes it and starts eating.
"Oh, yeah, that. Have you decided a cover for me? Friend? Roommate?" Cas says as he shovels eggs in his mouth.
Dean stops and looks at Cas, "Lover?"