Castiel was packing his bag. He couldn't stay in the bunker-he was drawing too much attention to the Winchesters by being there. He was like a beacon to the other angels; the ones who wanted his skin for a rug. Cas figured he'd have to stay on the move, never in one place too long, stay in big cities and towns where it was easy to lose a follower...but flared up his newly acquired anxiety, he remembered, and shoved in the bag the small bottle of anti-anxiety meds that Kevin had slipped him one evening, as well as some anti-depressants, just in case. There was a knock on the door, just a tap, then it opened and Dean burst through.

'Hey man, Sam said you said something about leaving?' Dean surveyed the room they'd put together for Cas and took note of the new mess, and the backpack on the bed, 'Dude…you can't leave, you only just got back here!'

'I have to Dean, I'm sorry,' Cas replied, not looking away from folding a pair of jeans, 'I have to keep you two safe, and the only way I can do that is by not being here.'

'Cas…You can't…You won't be safe out there…' Dean's voice was starting to become desperate

'And you won't be safe if I am here,' Cas finally turned to face Dean, 'I am sorry,' He picked up the backpack, and looked at Dean, then slightly awkwardly pulled him in for a hug, as he had learned was customary between human friends. He felt Dean's arms tighten around his shoulders, and after a moment, let go, 'Goodbye Dean,' He said, before walking out of the door.

'Cas!' Dean called after him, 'Castiel!' Cas stopped at the sound of his full name-Dean never used it, ever, 'Don't go Cas, please' Dean begged. Cas didn't move. 'I've said it before Cas, I..we need you, Sam and me, we need you…I need you, you can't leave us, and I need you to see that.'

'Dean…' Cas turned his head ever so slightly towards the man pleading with him not to leave him, 'I can't help you any more, not now, my powers are gone, and I'm nothing more than a baby in a trenchcoat,' He turned and kept walking, hiding the anguished expressions he had not yet learned to control.

'Cas, what..?' Sam walked around the corner, almost bumping into Castiel, and looking confusedly at the two of them, both looking upset and hurt, one walking away while the other watched helplessly, 'Cas, don't leave, please' He said, and left the two alone. Cas turned around to face Dean again.

'I…I can't stay Dean! I can't keep you safe, I can't protect you and the angels are all after me,' tears were running down his face by now.

'We've had worse than angels hunting us Cas, believe me, please-we can handle it. And don't hold me accountable for something I said what, three years ago? That was stupid, and I was pissed at the situation then anyway, it wasn't you I don't think you're useless, with or without your powers. You're one of us now, and we gotta stick together.' Dean barely managed to keep his voice from cracking throughout this. He knew that if Cas walked out the door, he'd never see him again.

'I…I need you too Dean,' Cas choked out, 'I don't want to leave, but I can't see you hurt, you or Sam, or Kevin or anyone, I need you, but I can't get you hurt.'

Dean pulled Cas into a tight embrace, and murmered against his shoulder, 'We can take care of ourselves. I…I love you man, I love you.'

Cas smiled through his tears, 'I love you too Dean. I won't go, not unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I will stay with you'

Dean pulled back from the hug slightly, 'You mean that? Promise me Castiel'

'I promise'

Dean crushed his lips to Cas', just as Sam came back into the hallway, wanting to know what had happened, 'Finally guys, it's only been like 5 friggin' years!' they broke the kiss and laughed to see Sam's gleeful expression, while still clinging to each other.