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The room was quiet, except for the soft sounds of breathing and the occasional rustle of sheets as Dean shifted beside Cas in their bed. Cas, as he often did, lay with his head on Dean’s chest, listening to the soft thrum of his Omega's heartbeat. There was something about the steady rhythm that soothed him, anchored him in a world that sometimes felt too chaotic. His hand rested gently on Dean’s abdomen, feeling the rise and fall of his mate’s breath.
Tonight, though, things were different. Dean’s heart was beating faster than usual, fluttering in his chest like a bird trapped in a cage. It had started when Cas had kissed Dean’s neck, nuzzling into the soft skin there, breathing in his scent. Dean had responded in kind, arching into the touch, his heartbeat quickening with excitement.
But suddenly, Dean tensed, his breathing turning shallow as he froze under Cas’s touch.
“Dean?” Cas asked, his brow furrowing as he pulled back slightly to look into Dean’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
Dean's eyes were wide, distant, as if he wasn’t really in the room anymore. His chest heaved, and his heart pounded against Cas’s ear, far too fast. The sound of it, thundering and erratic, sent a spike of fear through Cas’s veins.
“Dean, baby, breathe. Please, breathe with me.” Cas sat up, gently cupping Dean’s face with both hands, his voice steady but urgent. “Your heart is racing. It’s too fast, Dean. I need you to calm down. Please, baby.”
Dean gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his fingers clutching at the sheets as if trying to ground himself. But it wasn’t working—his mind was somewhere else, trapped in a past that Cas couldn’t reach.
Cas’s own heart raced with panic, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn’t lose Dean. Not like this.
"Dean, look at me," Cas said softly, but firmly, his thumb brushing over Dean’s cheek. "You’re safe. You’re with me. No one can hurt you. Just breathe with me, okay? Slow, deep breaths."
Dean’s chest heaved again, his breaths coming in short, sharp gasps as if he couldn’t get enough air. Cas knew it was a panic attack—he’d seen it before, especially when Dean had first opened up about his past abusive relationship. The adrenaline, the fear, it was all too much for Dean’s heart to handle, and now his heart was racing dangerously fast, pushing into tachycardia.
Cas quickly reached for his stethoscope on the nightstand and placed it against Dean’s chest, his own hands shaking slightly. The sound of Dean’s heart, pounding out of control, filled his ears. It was erratic, rapid—far too rapid.
“Dean, your heart’s racing because of panic. You need to breathe, baby. Please, breathe with me.” Cas’s voice cracked with worry as he moved closer, pressing his forehead against Dean’s. “I’m right here. You’re safe. Breathe.”
He placed his hand over Dean’s chest, feeling the rapid, uneven thumping under his palm. He began rubbing gentle circles over Dean’s sternum, trying to ease the tension in his body, trying to remind him that he wasn’t alone.
"Slow breaths," Cas whispered, his lips brushing against Dean’s hair. "In and out, baby. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got you."
But Dean’s heart wasn’t slowing down. His body trembled as if it couldn’t handle the stress anymore. Cas watched helplessly as the love of his life seemed to be slipping away, lost in the throes of panic and fear.
Tears pricked Cas’s eyes, but he refused to let them fall. Not now. He had to be strong for Dean.
“Dean,” Cas said, his voice firm but full of love. “I need you to come back to me. Please, baby. You can do this. Breathe with me, okay? In for four, out for four. I’ll count with you. One... two... three... four...”
Dean’s eyes fluttered, and he made a soft sound in the back of his throat, as if trying to follow Cas’s lead but unable to break free from the grip of panic.
Cas moved closer, holding Dean’s face in his hands as he pressed soft kisses to his forehead. “I’m right here. I love you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You’re safe.”
Gradually, painfully, Dean’s breathing began to slow. His heart, though still rapid, was no longer pounding out of control. He was coming back. Cas could see it in the way Dean’s eyes began to focus again, in the way his body stopped trembling so violently.
Cas let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and leaned forward to press a tender kiss to Dean’s lips. “You did it, baby. I’m so proud of you.”
Dean’s breaths were still labored, but they were steady now. He blinked slowly, as if waking from a bad dream, and looked up at Cas with glassy eyes. “Cas?”
Cas smiled softly, brushing a tear from Dean’s cheek. “Yeah, it’s me. You’re okay now.”
Dean swallowed, his voice shaky as he whispered, “I was so scared..."
Cas’s heart broke at the fear in Dean’s voice. He pulled Dean into his arms, holding him close, pressing his cheek against Dean’s hair. “I know, baby. But you’re not going anywhere,” Cas promised. “I’ve got you. I’m never letting go.”
Cas refused to leave Dean’s side that night. He stayed in bed with his Omega, running his hands through Dean’s hair, pressing gentle kisses to his forehead, his cheeks, his lips. Every touch, every whisper was meant to reassure Dean that he was safe, that Cas was there, that everything was going to be okay.
As Dean’s heartbeat finally slowed to a normal rhythm, Cas pressed his head back to Dean’s chest, listening to the familiar sound that had always brought him comfort. It was steady again, the frantic thudding replaced by a soft, rhythmic beat.
Cas sighed in relief, but the weight of the fear still lingered in his chest. He’d come so close to losing Dean tonight—closer than he ever wanted to be again.
“I’m going to take care of you,” Cas whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m going to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Dean was too exhausted to respond, but he reached for Cas’s hand, intertwining their fingers as he drifted off into a much-needed sleep.
Cas’s protectiveness only grew. He wouldn’t let Dean out of his sight for long, constantly checking his heart rate, his pulse, his breathing. Dean, for his part, didn’t seem to mind the extra attention—he understood where Cas’s worry came from. He knew how close they’d come to something far worse that night.
Cas made sure Dean took his anti-anxiety meds, that he got enough rest, that he avoided any stressful situations. He even started scheduling more check-ups at his clinic, just to monitor Dean’s vitals, even if it was just for peace of mind.
Dean often teased Cas about his overprotectiveness, but the love in his voice was undeniable. “You’re stuck with me, big cutie Alpha,” Dean would say with a soft smile as Cas wrapped an arm around him. “You don’t need to worry so much.”
Cas would only tighten his hold, pressing a kiss to the top of Dean’s head. “I’m always going to worry about you, my Omega."
Dean’s panic attacks became less frequent with Cas’s unwavering support. Whenever he felt the familiar dread creeping in, he knew Cas was there, ready to hold him, to listen to his heart, to remind him that he was safe.
Cas never stopped checking Dean’s heartbeat, though. It had become their nightly routine—Cas would rest his head on Dean’s chest, listening to the steady thrum of life, finding comfort in the sound.
“I love you,” Cas would whisper against Dean’s skin.
“I love you too,” Dean would reply, his hand resting over Cas’s as they drifted off to sleep.
And in those quiet moments, with the soft beating of Dean’s heart in his ears, Cas knew that everything would be okay. As long as he could hear that sound, the heartbeat of his Omega, he could breathe easily.