1990 – AA Meeting

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"My Name is Castiel and... I'm an alcoholic"

"Hi, Castiel!" Answered the group in unison, Castiel smiled shy, he looked small standing inside that circle of people he barely knew.

"It's been two weeks that I don't drink" Continued him proudly, all of them smiled with satisfaction, it wasn't easy to admit a problem, and it was harder to overcome it. "I used to drink every day… It all began with that day in April, it was 1975, my best friend returned to town… A war hero…"

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1975 – End of April

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I was in my office, it doesn't look like now, but back then I was a young and enthusiastic doctor; I had a huge sense of humor and a bit of an ego, but none of this protected me from what was coming.

Dean, returned to town, I must say I always liked him… We, Sam his little brother, Dean and me used to play games at his father's house. I remember how they were a happy family, if I could go back in time I would do things differently, that's for sure.

He headed straight to my office, I barely recognized him; he was bigger, his muscles were stronger and his eyes… There was something off about it, but his smile were just the same

"Cas!" He shouted hugging me, he was stronger indeed, and he lifted me up like I was so much lighter than I was. I smiled confused then I recognized him when he putted me down.

"D-Dean!"

"Yeah, are you a doctor now?" He asked me sitting on my chair, he was in uniform, marine uniform, and his heavy bag was on the floor

"Yes, I just graduated… I didn't hear you were coming"

"My mail must have been lost on the way, but I sent you a letter"

"Don't your parents know you are here?"

"No, I came straight to see you"

"Why?" I asked confused, last time we talked we didn't exactly part friends

"I'm glad you sent me letters, Cas" Continued he with a smile, I almost forgot that I sent him a letter weekly, Sam made me promise to send it while he was studying in England, he wanted to become the best writer in the history, such a childish promise.

"I-it's was nothing, it's was a way to say sorry because of our last fight"

"I know, last time I saw you, you were just an intern at the central hospital"

"True, but it's been two years Dean… I can't believe it's finally over"

"Neither do I, Cas" Said Dean troubled, looking at the window, like if someone was there, I didn't realize, but he quickly snapped out of it with a smile, I should've know that by that; If only I was wiser.

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1990 – AA Meeting

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"Castiel, right?" Asked a man sat close to me, Gabriel, he was sort of the youngster in our group, always dressed in white for some weirdo reason.

"Y-yes?"

"How would you know back then? Was in that time that they found out about the 'soldier's heart syndrome'?"

"Yes, you are right… Even if we knew I was too young to help him" I breathe out relieved, this AA group in my town was something to relay on, I was glad I did seek them, I nodded and continued.

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1975 – End of April

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"You know why I joined the army in the first place, Cas" Continued Dean with a smile "I needed to run away from my father's grasp"

"Dean that is why we fought… Remember what I told you?"

"Yeah, army is not the answer… But Sammy would go if I didn't, you know that kid is smart; my father would never allow him to go; I was the fittest"

"You were eighteen years old, Dean!" I shouted, Dean smiled shy, I bet he thought it was amazing how he still got in my nerves after all this time.

"I know, dumb kid going to the army; No girlfriend; No family support only your letters to keep me going..." Dean smiled and I saw a dim light in his eyes, whatever happened abroad broke him in pieces and now I could see it. "How is my old man?"

"He is drinking again, you mother doesn't come around anymore to check up on him..." I said, Dean knew that already, in my letters I used to send him pictures of the town and of his dad. John was found of me, Mary wasn't around much, her family (The Campbell's) kept looking after her; she was an amazing person, but always lost in her own world, most of sensible souls are like that; After Sam's birth she became obsessed with the spiritual world and lost herself in it.

"Are you checking on him, Cas?"

"You know I'm a doctor, Dean, even if he wasn't your dad I would check up on him" I replied sorting out some papers in my file cabinet, I was looking for John's file.

"Cas, Sam told me a year ago that he asked you to write to me" Said Dean with a sympathetic smile; I must have made a surprised face because he laughed at me

"S-so?"

"He told me that he sent you a letter sometime after that, so that you could stop to writing letters to me, because he was sending me letters instead..."

"Oh" I said, I knew Sam sent that letter to me, but I wouldn't stop sending letters to Dean. I was too worried to stop.

"Why did you keep sending me letters?" Asked Dean with a smile, I didn't know if he was curious or just puzzled

"I would miss our talks" I replied surprising myself, John was so good to me when I was a child; I just wanted to help somehow.

"I'm glad you didn't… Sammy, is doing great at the university, he is even writing a book!" Continued Dean excited, I smiled embarrassed, but then I laughed… "Why are you laughing?"

"You are afraid of seeing your old man again, Dean?"

"I-I'm not!" Stammered Dean, I laughed again he just came from war and was afraid of his dad

"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked him, like I used to in high school when Dean got in trouble

"Just like the old times, hun?" Said Dean resting his hand on my shoulder

"Yeah, I'm closing now. If you don't mind hanging around a bit, I have paperwork to do"

"I don't mind" Continued Dean smiling, Maybe that was my first mistake.