I Will Carry You Through It All
Chapter One
Little 12 year old Sam Winchester stomped down the stairs and burst into the kitchen, he had one of his famous 'bitch faces' spread across his features and his Dad could only assume that his older brother was the cause of this.
"Dean has been going through my stuff again, tell him to stop Dad!" Sam complained, pushing back a strand of his floppy hair.
John chuckled and ruffled his youngest son's hair, making his way out of the kitchen. Sam followed closely behind, complaining down his father's ear.
"Sam, give it a rest would ya boy, you're giving me a headache." John said with a loud sigh and rubbing his forehead.
"Hey Sammy…"
Dean started calling out as he bounded happily down the stairs.
"…Who is, Amelia?"
Sam's jaw dropped and he blushed furiously, even more so when Dean laughed at him.
"DEAN! Have you been going through my blog?"
"Wellll…maybe." Dean said with a smirk.
"Daaaaaaaaaaad!" Sam whined, spinning on his heels to complain to John.
John held his hands up in surrender and sighed heavily.
"Ok…enough is enough boys. Dean quit going through your brother's things and Sam, stop complaining. I haven't got time for this."
John pushed past his boys and rushed upstairs to get ready.
Being a single dad was hard at times, but John Winchester loved his boys more than anything. He had lost his wife Mary in a house fire when Dean was 4 years old and Sam was just a baby.
The years had been rough but now Dean was a more than capable, incredibly loyal albeit occasionally troublesome 16 year old boy and he would do anything for his dad and Sammy. John had recently found a new love in his life, Sophie and they had been dating for a few months now, Dean was happy for his dad but it was hard for him to imagine somebody replacing his mom. Although he never expressed his worries for fear of making his Dad unhappy again, besides Sam was a big fan of Sophie and Dean had to admit she was a lovely lady.
John came back down the stairs, ready for his date. He stood in front of the hallway mirror adjusting his hair and turning to face his boys.
"Well, how do I look?" He asked, arms spread out to the side and a grin on his face.
"You look awesome Dad." Sam chirped up with a smile.
"Yeah it's fine but come on you guys have been on a lot of dates now, so if she doesn't like you by now…" Dean shrugged, shooting his Dad a half smile.
John took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yeah I guess you're right."
Right on queue the doorbell of the Winchester household rang loudly and Sam took the opportunity to dart away and answered the door to Sophie.
"Hey Sam, how are you?" Sophie greeted him with a big smile and Sam stepped aside to let her in.
"Good thanks, Dad's ready. Come on in" Sam said politely, returning the smile and letting her in.
John made his way to the front door with Dean in tow.
"Hey Sophie" Dean greeted with a small wave.
"Hi Dean…"
She smiled in Dean's direction before casting a glance at John and taking hold of his hand.
"Ready?"
John nodded and let her lead him back towards the door.
"Any problems Dean, you call me straight away got it? Take care of Sammy and don't wind each other up too much. I won't be back too late."
Dean laughed and waved his Dad off, throwing an arm around Sam's shoulders.
"Dad relax, go have fun. We will be fine."
Sam nodded in agreement and they said their goodbyes to the couple.
O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
The next morning, John was whistling away happily making breakfast while Sam and Dean watched on in amusement.
"Good date then?" Dean asked with a smirk.
"Yeah it was a good night, I really like her you know boys." John said with a fond smile, serving up their pancakes and taking a seat at the table with his sons.
"We know Dad" Sam answered with a grin and digging into his food.
"Actually I've been meaning to talk to you both about something…"
John cleared his throat and set down his fork before continuing.
"…Sophie and I have been talking, things are going really well between the two of us and after some discussion, I've decided it would be a good idea for you to meet her son and get to know him."
Dean froze with his fork midway to his mouth and placed it down carefully. Nerves settled in the pit of his stomach, he had been waiting for this moment to come and it proved just how serious his Dad was about Sophie and her son too. Dean wasn't sure how to feel.
"Oh my God, that would be awesome! I can't wait to meet him." Sam cried out in excitement, practically bouncing in his seat. He was always good with people, made friends easily and the complete opposite to Dean, who preferred to have 'acquaintances' as opposed to good friends. Dean just loved his own company too much.
"Wow, so things are pretty serious then?" Dean asked with a gulp.
"Yes they are Dean and I really want you both to get along with Castiel…"
Dean snorted a laugh at the unusual name and Sam rolled his eyes.
"…He's a good kid, a little quiet but I'm sure you will get along fine and I am really putting my trust in both of you to be welcoming and polite. Sophie and Castiel are coming for dinner tomorrow night, so best behaviour, got it?"
"Got it, I can't wait to meet him" Sam grinned happily and continued eating his pancakes.
"Yes sir." Dean said with a nod and a small smile.
"Good, now eat your pancakes."
O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
The next 24 hours passed way too quickly for Dean's liking and now the brothers were sat patiently waiting for the arrival of Sophie and her son, while their Dad was cooking in the kitchen.
"Dean, Sam…they're here." John called into the living room.
Immediately Sam stood up and raced out towards the door, Dean pushed himself up feeling less enthusiastic and followed in his little brother's footsteps.
As he reached the door, John was closing the door behind Sophie and her son. Dean took a moment to get a look at this kid.
Castiel was a year younger than Dean, he was slim and around the same height as Dean. The eldest Winchester brother edged forward while John was introducing Sam to Castiel, his gaze still resting on the new kid.
He had dark brown, almost black hair that stuck up messily but it kind of worked for him, Castiel had very defined features, plump chapped lips, a strong jaw and the brightest blue eyes Dean had ever witnessed. The tan trench coat that Castiel wore did nothing for the kid, Dean noted it was way too big for him and couldn't help but feel slightly amused.
"And this is my oldest son Dean…"
John said, motioning him forward and towards Castiel. Finally the younger boys' eyes met with Dean's and he couldn't help but notice that Castiel looked down right terrified. His eyes were wide, like a deer caught in the headlights and he didn't even crack a smile, just nodded politely in Dean's direction.
"Dean, this is Sophie's boy Castiel."
"Nice to meet ya Castiel" Dean said with a cocky smile.
"Hello Dean"
Castiel shuffled nervously, but his eyes remained glued to Dean's and the Winchester couldn't help the shiver running down his spine at the sound of Castiel's voice. He couldn't help but think it was way too deep and gravelly for a 15 year old boy; obviously the kid was maturing fast.
"Alright well now the introductions are done with, why don't you boys show Castiel to the living room and we will call you when dinner's ready." John said, pushing at Dean slightly and pulling on Sophie's elbow, leading her towards the kitchen with a smile.
Dean grunted slightly, the smile disappearing from his face and by the time he had turned around, Sam was already eagerly leading Castiel into the living room chatting away happily about his hobbies.
He followed them both into the room, noticing Castiel was now shaking off his trench coat and Dean let out a sigh of relief that the kid was wearing relatively normal clothing underneath, which consisted of jeans and a t-shirt, not the baggy old suit that Dean was kind of expecting.
Castiel sat down stiffly on the couch and nodded slowly, trying to digest everything Sam was saying to him. Dean had been on the receiving end of Sam's ramblings way too often to know how the kid feels and he couldn't help the amused smirk that formed on his face as he sat down next to his younger brother.
"So Castiel…weird name."
Dean said sharply, cutting Sam off mid-sentence. Sam turned to gape at Dean, wearing bitch face 101.
"DEAN, don't be so rude. I'm sorry about my brother…"
"It's fine" Castiel said quietly, his eyes fixed on his own hands that were currently joined tightly in his lap.
Sam glared at his older brother and Dean shrugged it off, he stood up abruptly and headed out of the living room, leaving Sam with Castiel.
"Sorry, he's not that great with people." Sam muttered, embarrassed for his brothers rudeness.
"Don't worry Sam, I'm not offended." Cas stated firmly, even letting a small smile grace his lips to put the younger brother at ease.
Sam grinned widely in return and continued to ramble to Castiel about everything and anything he could think of.
O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O
Dean came downstairs 20 minutes later to find Castiel sat alone in the living room and Sam nowhere in sight.
"Dammit" He muttered under his breath, before sighing heavily and entering the room.
"Where did Sammy go?"
Castiel looked up, almost startled that Dean had spoken to him at all.
"I believe he is in the kitchen, fetching a beverage."
Dean snorted in amusement and threw himself messily onto the couch next to Castiel, his legs spread wide and his arms stretching out along the back of the seat, the younger boy stayed perched stiffly on the edge of the couch with his hands joined.
"You speak funny, like all proper and stuff. Come on man, you can't seriously talk like that. Your Mom doesn't speak in that way." Dean asked with a raised eyebrow, trying to figure out if Castiel was putting on a charade and there was actually a relatively normal 15 year old boy beneath the surface.
Castiel ducked his head and wrung his hands together nervously.
"I suppose, I must have picked it up from my father. He was very well spoken."
"Right and where is he now?" Dean asked, without much thinking.
"He's dead"
Dean immediately felt his stomach drop and his heart clench in both guilt and sympathy.
"Oh man, I'm sorry…I didn't know. I didn't mean to…"
Castiel whipped his head up to look at Dean and he shook his head quickly.
"No, It's ok…really, you weren't to know." Castiel re-assured with a tiny smile tugging the corners of his lips, it was barely there but it made Dean feel a little better.
"My Mom died when I was 4, it was a long time ago but it still feels like yesterday…I know that's stupid…" Dean stated, a small lump forming in his throat. He shook his head slightly, wondering why he was telling this to a complete stranger; Dean Winchester didn't show his feeling at the best of times, not even to his family.
A hand suddenly landed on Dean's knee and his breath hitched, he stiffened at the contact from the boy he barely knew. Dean's shocked eyes met with Castiel's blue ones which now appeared stern and almost fierce.
"It's not stupid Dean, no matter how long ago it was, it doesn't mean it's any less painful."
Dean relaxed almost immediately and let out a long drawn out breath, that he didn't even realise he was holding onto.
"Thanks Castiel" Dean said with a smile.
The boy nodded and removed his hand, before returning to his previous position.
"It's the name of an angel."
Dean frowned in confusion.
"What is?"
"My name, Castiel. I am named after the angel of Thursday."
"Oh, let me guess…you were born on a Thursday?" Dean said with a laugh.
Castiel let a small smile appear for the first time in Dean's presence and he nodded.
"Yes I was, good guess"
Dean laughed and leant forward on the couch matching Castiel's position, hands joined in front of him.
"I kinda like it; the name's growing on me. It suits you." Dean said with a small genuine smile.
Castiel blushed slightly and ducked his head, mumbling something that resembled a 'thank you'.
Dean couldn't help but think that it wasn't just the name of the boy sat next to him that was starting to grow on him.
This kid wasn't so bad after all.