DISCLAIMER: THE SHOW, THE CHARACTERS, THE ACTORS, THE STAFF AND STUFF DO NOT BELONG TO ME. I'M NOT THE GENIUS WHO THOUGHT OF THIS.

QUICK AN: This'll be quick. This story is kind of my version of Season 7 because when this idea hit me (and it hit me hard), I was just somewhere on episode 4, I guess? And now I started from the first episode because of some complications. First of all, Bobby's house is still intact and secondly, Cas will appear shortly in this story; not after 17 episodes. Another thing is that this is NOT A SLASH, as I've said in the summary, so those who didn't like reading slash fics are safe. Just plain old friendship and family stuff and there's a twist somewhere here. :) Also, I will be introducing my own character so please, don't freak out and I'm pretty sure I won't be putting much romance here (if I would, that is) because I want to focus on family relationships and friendships. :)

I guess that's all. Please don't forget to review. :)

Love y'all! *blows a kiss to you guys* (I have been doing this for a while now so don't be shocked)


Warrior

Welcome Back…

===3

It has been almost a month since Castiel walked into the water reservoir and unleashed the Leviathans. Both the brothers and Bobby still feel terrible of losing an ally; a friend. But among the three men, it was Dean who felt the worst. Castiel was his best friend; a brother through soul. He was just as important as Sam and Bobby were. As important as John was when he was still alive; as important as Lisa and Ben. It nearly killed him when he found out that the angel was working with Crowley. He wished he could take it all back and make Castiel realize that they'll always be there for him. He will always be there for him. He will make the angel believe that they could defeat Raphael even without the souls from Purgatory.

Castiel's death—no, disappearance was the word in his head because the angel couldn't be dead—was the final blow that made him want to just give everything up. It was hard enough knowing he lost his best friend to a demon but it was harder to accept the fact that the angel was taken away from him by death, fate, the circumstances, whatever it was that took his best friend away from him and will (might) never come back.

But even with the longing Dean felt for losing the angel, he can't help feeling mad at him as well. He was, after all, the one who broke Sam's wall. He did betray them and lied straight to their faces. He trusted a demon and not his friends. It still annoyed Dean how Castiel could believe that they could save the world from the devil and not believe that they could help him saving it a second time, especially now that they at least had some parts of heaven on their side. He still couldn't find it in his heart to truly forgive the angel.

Tonight, as he lie wide awake in bed in another crappy motel room he and his brother rented for the night, his thoughts wandered back to the angel. He missed those piercing blue eyes that had nothing to do with the vessel itself. He knew those were Castiel's eyes, not Jimmy's. He missed the comfort of the angel standing near him, consuming his personal space, because through that, he knew Castiel will always be there for him. He missed the tilt of his head and the narrow of his eyes when he couldn't understand something. He missed the angel's gruff voice when he speaks. He missed how Castiel suddenly appears in a flutter of unseen wings because it brought him comfort to know that the angel was willing to be there when they call. He missed hearing the greeting of the angel's voicemail.

Speaking of phones, he was pulled away from his thoughts by the sound of his phone vibrating against the bedside table. He swiftly took it from the bedside table and looked at the caller ID and saw Bobby's name. He sighed lightly, wondering what the older hunter would want to talk about in the late hour. He got out of bed and quietly padded out of the main room and went to the bathroom so his brother could keep on sleeping.

"Hey Bobby." He muttered as he shut the door behind him.

"Get ya'r asses here, now." He said urgently on the other end of the line, making Dean's eyebrows rise in surprise and confusion. When his brain processed the urgency in the older hunter's voice, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Why? What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"Just get here as soon as you can and I'll tell you, ya idjit." Bobby grumbled and hung up.

Dean stared at his phone long after Bobby hung up; his eyebrows creasing together in confusion and worry. It was normal Bobby-speak but the tone of his voice possessed an urgency that worried him. Whatever Bobby needed to tell them might surely be very important; or else he wouldn't call at almost past twelve and demand their presence.

After he snapped out of his almost trance, he walked out of the bathroom, grabbed a pair of jeans and his leather jacket before he went to his brother to wake him up.

"Dean, what's wrong?" Sam asked with a small frown, eyes squinted slightly because he just woke up as he tried to rub the sleep off of his eyes and yawned widely.

"Bobby called." The older Winchester replied, as if it was enough explanation, as he packed his stuff.

"And?" Sam started when his brother didn't elaborate, now propping himself up on his elbows.

"He just said we need to go to his house. Pronto." Dean replied without further explanation. Sam sighed softly and got out of bed. He pulled on his jeans as well and a jacket then started packing.

When they were done packing, the two boys left the motel and started their journey to Bobby's house. It was a three hour drive and Dean simply let his brother sleep. He knew Sam needed it, with all the hell he has been seeing. The younger Winchester hardly slept in the past few days. Tonight was the first time he actually slept for at least four hours.

As the older Winchester drove, his thoughts wandered back to the angel who has once been his best friend. His mind wandered back to how much he missed the angel and how much he hated him at the same time. He looked back to their time together before the Leviathans were released, then further back to the time before Lucifer was released. The subtle advices the angel gave him and the hidden support from him. He looked back to the time of the Apocalypse, when God revived Castiel to assist them with killing the devil. How Castiel made him laugh without really trying. How Castiel understood him perfectly without saying a single word. Then his mind went back to the time Castiel was full angel once more; the war between Castiel and Raphael. The angel seemed so distant during those times, as if he wasn't the same angel who stood by his side and sacrificed everything; for him. It felt like the angel has lost the ability to feel. He wasn't Cas, he was who he was before Dean came along; he was Castiel, Angel of the Lord and not Dean's best friend.

Then he remembered the times when he thought he was in love with the angel which made him chuckle humorlessly. He doesn't feel anything unusual around the angel; except when he was hurt. He pondered hard on it but it really was plain friendship. No, it was plain brotherhood. Cas was another Sam in his life, another baby brother that he'd be willing to take care of even if the angel was undeniably a whole lot older than he was. Cas was someone he'd willingly sacrifice his life for. Cas was a child that needed his guidance and support and he knew that and was willing to give it to him, if he'd ask. That was why it hurt; he was the older brother Cas was supposed to confide with. He was supposed to be the big brother who fixed things for him. Perhaps it was with himself that he was really mad at and not the angel and was simply directing that anger to the angel. Perhaps he was actually mad at himself for not being able to fix things for Castiel—no, for Cas—because that was supposed to be his job.

The drive to Bobby's house was actually a blur. It felt like they just left the motel and were suddenly parked by the older hunter's house. He gently shook his brother awake after he turned the car off. Sam blinked slowly and tried to register the surroundings as Dean got out of the car then took his duffel bag from the backseat. Sam got out as well and took his own duffel bag. When they got to the door to call the older hunter, the door suddenly opened to reveal a tired, bewildered and relieved Bobby. The two brothers shared wary glances but went inside the house, nonetheless. Bobby led them to the living room and gestured for the brothers to sit. He stood in front of the Winchesters then crossed his arms across his chest as he looked from one brother to another. He was a little guarded and that worried the two boys.

"Before anything else, I want you two to relax because what I'm about to show you will be a huge surprise and I don't know how you two will take it; especially you, Dean." He directed the last three words to the oldest Winchester with a hint of sadness in his eyes. Dean still thought that Bobby wasn't making any sense and was about to voice it out when the older hunter continued. "I'm pretty sure Sam'll do fine… in a way because I did." He finished with an eye roll and let his arms drop to his sides.

The two brothers looked at each other for a short while. They simultaneously looked back at Bobby and Sam asked the question they've been meaning to ask. "Bobby, you're not making any sense. What's going on?" he asked in a worried voice with a small frown.

Bobby sighed and looked away. When he looked back at the brothers, his eyes looked a little hesitant, he said, "Just don't freak out, okay?" at the Winchesters' nod, he continued, "Follow me." He tilted his head to one side and left the living room with the brothers in tow. It was then clear to the two boys that Bobby was taking them to the panic room. When they were only a few more meters away from the room, Bobby turned around to face them and said once more, "Don't freak out or throw a fit or whatever, alright? Just relax."

Dean rolled his eyes at the older man's millionth reminder. "Yes Bobby. We won't freak out, okay?" Bobby nodded at that but was still a little hesitant when he turned his back to the boys once more and walked towards the panic room.

When the door opened, Dean suddenly understood the reason for Bobby's consistent warning about not panicking. His mouth fell open and so did Sam's. Dean stood there slightly dumbstruck and then croaked out in a quiet voice, "Cas?"