Author's note: This is my first fanfic. Just how one idea of how I thought season 9 could have gone, kind of AU, set right after "I'm No Angel." Pretty much just wanted Castiel to stick around, and it spring-boarded from there. Initially it will re-cover some of the same ground as the show, but pretty soon I hope to get it in real AU territory. For instance, more on the angel war, more with Abaddon, more with Crowley? Thinking of rating it M for language and maybe some adult themes later-but sorry guys, no Destiel (or at least no more than the show actually has). Also Meg may be making her way back into the story. How? WAIT AND SEE!

de·bunk: 1. expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).

"Castiel cannot stay here. He will bring the angels down on all of us."

The times when Ezekiel took over were still hard for Dean to adjust to. Ever since he'd tricked Sam into letting the angel possess him, Dean had been grappling with his conscience. It wouldn't have been so bad if Ezekiel had remained more of a silent partner in the "let's-save-Sam" project. And to be fair, it wasn't like Zeke was driving the Sam-mobile most of the time. It was still disconcerting as hell when the transition took place. He was used to his brother slouching a little, probably a learned habit so as not to let his big frame intimidate people. When Zeke was walking around in his little brother, he used all the inches, practically towering over Dean. It was more than that, though. The small animations of his brother's face, the personality coming through that Dean had spent their lives subconsciously learning; it was all gone. Zeke had his brother's face, but there was nothing of Sam in it.

Dean had rationalized this all so far on the basis that the angel could somehow heal his brother after the trials, but it was times like these that the reality prickled at him: he'd let his brother get possessed. By an angel, and a well-meaning one from what he could tell—but he'd had too much to do with angels to really be soothed by that little detail anymore. He'd just hoped to whatever was still listening up there that Zeke was one of the good guys.

But here he was, coming out uninvited, and saying Cas had to go?

"No, no, he's got the Enochian tattoo, he's warded," Dean argued, wondering where this was coming from.

"He was warded when April found him," Zeke said flatly. "And she killed him."

That was hard to argue with. "Yes… and you brought him back. And I thank you for that. But this is Cas, okay? Who vouched for you when I didn't know you from Jack."

Ezekiel was peering over his shoulder into the room where Cas had gone. It wasn't that he didn't show emotions, Dean thought. They just seemed… blunted somehow. Like most angels, especially the ones who seemed more out of touch with the world. It was creepy seeing Sam like that. Disorienting to see those alien expressions on such a familiar face. Damn kid got possessed too often.

When Ezekiel didn't respond, Dean exploded, "The bunker is safe!"

Ezekiel focused back on Dean, stepping into his personal space. "Bartholomew is amassing a force," he said, biting off his words. "We cannot stand an incursion. Castiel is in danger. And if he is here, I am in danger."

"Wait, you're in danger? From who, the angels?" This was the first Dean had heard about that little tidbit. He remembered that Zeke had fought with his brother in the parking garage, but it hadn't seemed personal. Hell, Dean was used to these winged dicks trying to gank one another.

And there was that shifty look, again, Zeke blowing out his breath in a quiet huff. Avoiding eye contact.

"If he stays," Ezekiel said, sounding almost regretful, "I'm afraid I will have no choice but to leave."

"Well, no, you can't do that," Dean said, fighting a flutter of panic. "Sam's not well enough. I mean if you leave his body—"

"I know," Ezekiel stated. "I'm sorry."

Dean tried to think past his fear. The situation wasn't ideal, but at least it had been holding steady. And Zeke had said Sam was healing. Dean had no proof; he didn't even have proof that Sam hadn't been mojo'd up by now. I mean how long does it take to fix a freaking vessel? He'd been going by faith so far, so shouldn't he go a little further? I mean, Cas was his friend, probably his best friend, but didn't Sammy come first? Didn't Sam always come first?

But now… This was something else altogether. This had the feeling of an ultimatum. Do as the angel says or the hunter gets it. I mean who the hell did this guy think he was, holding Sam hostage like this? A sour feeling rolled through Dean's gut, quieting the fear as Dean started to get a little pissed. He didn't like people jerking his chain, especially not where Sam was concerned. Maybe Ezekiel's heart was in the right place, but this wasn't the way to go about it.

"April was a fluke," Dean found himself trying to reason. "Look if the angels, the reapers, if anybody could just track Cas down, they would've done it by now. They wouldn't have had to try and follow us to find him."

"I know this is difficult for you. But you must choose."

"No, no, I get it. I do, okay. Just… We can't just throw him out, man. What would I tell Sam? Or Cas?"

"You will have to think of something," Zeke said, unmoved.

"If we kick him out, now, he could die! …Again. I mean you're his friend, aren't you? Or whatever passes for friends with you guys. That's why you brought him back, isn't it?"

There was a furrow between Sam's brows, a disquieted expression. "Castiel cannot be allowed to die right now," he finally agreed. Dean didn't much like how that had been phrased, but he was glad they were getting on the same page. Again, that quiet huff of breath as Zeke frowned, not meeting Dean's eyes. "What do you propose?"

"Just let him stay a little while," Dean rushed, hating that he had to plead like this. "Let him get his feet under him. Learn a few more skills about living out there."

"Castiel is not helpless."

"But he's not used to being human. Look, you saw him. First pretty face that came along, poor guy ended up a shish kabob. Just give him a little time to adjust. You know, so he doesn't immediately die again."

Well, at least now Ezekiel was actually wearing one of Sam's usual expressions: the patented Sam Winchester bitch-face. "Just until he adjusts," he conceded, looking like the words had been dragged out of him. "And then he will have to leave. You have until then to come up with your excuses."

Dean still wasn't sure why Zeke was being such a pain in the ass about this, but for the moment he was a little too relieved to care. His family was going to be able to stay together, and that was what really mattered.

Or should matter. He didn't like much of anything about that conversation. Not the way Zeke had just taken over Sam's body when there was no immediate danger. Not the threats to effectively kill his brother. Or the shady looks he was giving Cas, or the little bomb he'd dropped about the other angels being a danger to him. Dean had the feeling he had let himself get in way over his head without even realizing it. I mean, leave it to a Winchester to make a hasty deal that came back to bite him in the ass. And if it was just him that had to deal with the fallout, maybe he could've stomached that, but not if Sam was left hanging in the middle like this. He should probably have thought this through a little more. Those paper-sun saviors are never quite as good as they seem. There's always a catch, and there's always a price, and that little crack in the veneer over Ezekiel had finally cast some sunshine on the little seed of doubt in Dean's mind. No, no matter what happened in this next little while, Dean was going to have to keep his eyes open when it came to that guy. And a little research probably couldn't hurt.

For now, though, he had to go have a talk with Cas. It was one thing to stave off Ezekiel's demands, but it had been a temporary fix at best. He'd need to prepare Cas for what was coming so the poor guy didn't get blindsided again. He'd had a rough couple of weeks from what Dean could tell, starting with getting his grace ripped out of him. From Anna's account, he didn't expect that had been a barrelful of laughs. Since then he'd been living amongst the homeless and apparently shacking up with murderous, torturing reaper chicks. And, well, look how that had turned out. One more big betrayal might just do him in, permanently.

"Cas, uh, can we talk?" Dean started, coming to the table where Castiel was just finishing eating.

"Of course," Cas said, actually drawing out the chair next to himself. "Dean, you know I always appreciate our talks. And our time together."

Could this little bastard be any more sincere? Jesus it was lucky Dean had managed to talk Ezekiel down. The world would've eaten him alive.

Dean chose not to take the chair, instead sitting down on the table as he cleared his throat and tried to think how to word this in the best possible way. "Uh, listen, buddy, um… You can't stay…"

Oh that look. If Castiel were a puppy, that would be the look he'd give right after Dean had kicked him with a well-aimed, steel-toed boot. Just the uncomprehending sadness and betrayal.

"…forever!" Dean yelped, trying to give a convincing smile. "You can't stay forever, man!"

"I… don't understand," Cas said, still looking a little hurt, but it was back down to manageable levels again.

"Well, I mean… We're not the most fun to be around. You probably got stuff you wanted to do. A whole world to see out there. You don't want to stay holed up with us forever, do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, ya can't," Dean said, getting a little gruffer. "C'mon, man, this isn't much of a life. Sam and I are stuck with it, but that doesn't mean you are. Hey, come on. It'll be okay, don't gimme that look. Sam and I will be here. We'll still give you some life lessons. Help you get on your feet. And when you're ready… Seriously, Cas, you don't want to fall into thinking Sam and I are role models for a healthy life. I mean all kidding aside, I think you could do better as a human."

Castiel was smiling again, faintly, giving Dean a fond look. "You're selling yourself short. You and your brother have many good qualities. You're determined, intelligent, you protect the weak. You have a great deal of affection for one another." Cas considered a moment and added, "I could probably do without the dangerous codependency. Or the self-loathing. And you do seem to both fall into addictions fairly readily, but…"

"Okay, okay. Look, I'm just saying: there's a lot more to life than you could probably find here. I wouldn't… want you to miss out on that."

He hadn't quite known what he was going to say when he'd started this conversation. He'd planned on coming up with some vague excuse at the least, or a promise to explain later if nothing else. But now he realized that it wasn't just an excuse. Cas was like a brother to him, and he didn't really want to see him go. At the same time, Dean still wanted something better for him. It was too late for Sam or him. Probably had always been too late. He'd made a go of it with Lisa, and God knows Sammy had tried to break away. And even if things hadn't worked out, at least they'd both had their chances to try. It was with a desperate kind of fierceness that he began to have a hope that his whole family wouldn't be cursed like them. That maybe Cas could go out there and live something like a happy life. Maybe not a completely normal, apple pie life, but at least something that could break the cycle. It wouldn't be fair to him to spend his whole human life in this mess. There were things Sam and Dean just couldn't offer him in terms of the human experience, and he deserved to find out what those things could be.

"So it's for my own good?" Cas said, seeming a little amused. But he accepted this, at least, nodding slightly. "I think I understand. As you might nudge a fledgling out of the nest so it can learn to fly."

"Exactly," Dean said, still a little overwhelmed with emotion and trying not to show it. He clapped Cas on the shoulder as he stood. "It'll be fine! We'll get you set up in no time. Get you a gun, some fake ID's, credit cards, teach you to drive and cook and make a budget. Someone's going to have to give you the sex talk. And hey, while you're here, we can finally have that slumber party and braid Sam's hair."

Thoughts? I have a little more written I wanted to polish, if anyone had an interest in where this story's going.