Chapter 15: I Would Give You My Heart, But Would You Settle

                                    

                                          
Chapter 15: I Would Give You My Heart, But Would You Settle
                          
Castiel woke up the next day in serious pain. He felt like he was being burnt at the stake, but the fire was set inside his body and melted his organs. He had managed  to sleep through a good portion of the morning, so he woke up to two smiling faces next to his bed.
                          
"Good morning," Anna smiled.
                          
Castiel looked around the room, noticing something was missing, "Where's Dean?"
                          
"He'll be here later, he wanted to get you something," Anna rubbed Castiel's arm.
                          
"We brought you some breakfast!" Gabe tried to changed the subject.
                          
"Oh!" Anna pulled away only to retrieve something from her bag.
                          
"You didn't have to--" Castiel started.
                          
"Come on, have you seen the hospital food, of course we had to!" Anna laughed, turning back to give Cas the breakfast they had prepared for him.
                          
"Well, thank you two," Castiel smiled as he retrieved the food and set it on the bedside table.
                          
The doctor stepped in and called Gabe and Anna out into the hallway. With them gone, Castiel takes the time to check his phone, but for some reason he doesn't see a text from Dean at all today. He searches his phone again, still no notifications. The three of them stepped back in, Anna and Gabe looked a mix of happy and depressed.
                          
"It turns out we have a liver for you." the doctor announced proudly.
                          
"Wow, that was fast," Castiel placed his phone on the table and looked up at the doctor.
                          
"Yes, well," the doctor placed his hand nervously on the back of his neck, "something came up, and someone offered their liver for donation."
                          
"Great, when's the operation?" Castiel smiled.
                          
"Whenever you're ready, Mr. Novak," the doctor informed.
                          
"Okay, just let me send someone something," Castiel happily picked up his phone.
                          
To: Dean
                          
Dean, they found me a liver! I'm going to be fine! Please get here soon! :D I'll be going into surgery now, but I'll text back you when I can.
                          
Castiel tapped send and told the doctor he was ready.
                          
"Very well then, take these," the doctor handed him a couple of pills that would put him into sleep while they operated.
                          
He popped them in his mouth and swallowed the water that Gabriel had handed him. He laid down, closed his eyes, waiting for them to take affect.
                          
Anna kissed his forehead, "We love you, Cassie."
                          
~~~
                          
When Castiel woke up, Anna, Gabe, and the doctor were all standing over him.
                          
"He seems fine. The surgery went smoothly," the doctor made notes on his paperwork, "I'll leave you to tell him."
                          
Castiel cocked his head as the doctor left the room, "Tell me what?"
                          
Anna's gaze dropped to the floor, "About this," she pointed to his fresh surgical scar.
                          
"My liver?" Castiel grew curious.
                          
Anna and Gabe both nodded. They hoped he had pieced it together, but when it was obvious he hadn't, they had to hint more.
                          
"Someone donated it to you on their death bed," Gabriel spoke.
                          
"Well, why would they do that for someone that they don't know?" Castiel cocked his head.
                          
"That's the thing, Cas," Anna went on, "he did know you."
                          
Castiel felt his heart drop. He didn't want to hear the next part, he knew who it was. Gabe and Anna picked up on his changes and knew nothing else needed to be explained on the mystery man's identity.
                          
"He was on his way to see you," Gabe tuned in, "He was rammed down by a car, he begged them to give you his liver when he knew he wouldn't make it. It was his last wish."
                          
Castiel felt tears pour form his eyes, "Do they know who it was that hit him?"
                          
Gabriel looked to Anna, hoping that he didn't have to be the bearer of all the bad news. Thankfully, she took over, "They believed it to be a red honda civic. They traced the liscence plate, and it came back to a," Anna paused, "Lucifer Novak."
                          
Castiel couldn't believe it. He didn't know what to feel. He was supposed to die, then his lover was killed by his brother, and he was now carrying the liver of his precious Dean Winchester. He just wanted to walk straight over to the window and just walk out of it.
                          
"They have him arrested and he is being pushed for murder charges," Gabe explained.
                          
Castiel just nodded. He couldn't talk, there was a huge knot in the back of his throat, keeping him from vomiting any words. The only one he wanted to talk to right now was gone, and he couldn't grasp the idea of the situation.
                          
"The doctor gave us this," Anna held a small black box, "It was on him at the time, they figured it was for you."
                          
Cas opened it to reveal a beautiful silver ring, he was going to propose.
                          
"It came with this note," Anna handed him a letter.
                          
Castiel opened it gently, and read it again and again.
                          
Dear Cas,
                          
Look, I love you. This whole thing, I wish we could have met earlier, so I could have known you longer. You said to give you 10 more days worth living, and I figured, why not spend it married? I know, it's stupid, but a guy can dream, right? Anyway, hopefully the doctor will let you leave the hospital so we can go everywhere together. I want to take you on a trip, and I know it's cliche and taboo, but we can stop in Las Vegas and tie the knot. If not, that's okay, I understand. Just know, no matter what your answer is, I still love you and I'll be with you always, even until your last breath.
                          
Will you marry me?
                          
Tears stained the paper as Castiel read over the question over and over again. 
                          
"Yes," he hoarsely whispered as he slipped the ring onto his finger.
                          
He picked up the note again.
                          
I'll be with you always.
                          
Castiel shed a tear as he moved his fingers to the surgical scar on his torso.
                          
... until your last breath.