Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

I'm back from a long break caused by exams and personal issues. Haven't got back around to continuing with my last Fic yet but shouldn't be too soon now.

This will be a 2 or 3 chapter Fic, almost finished the 2nd chapter so it should be up within a few days. Basically I wrote this as a way to help myself recover from the last 5 minutes of Supernatural 9x03 - spoilers up to then. The following chapters will be a bit longer. Contains Destiel. Please review and enjoy.

[] [] []

Dean grabbed some of his old clothes, some money, food and water and helped Cas to pack his bag. It was a physical pain to watch Cas leave while there was an army of fallen angels after his head, but he had to look after Sammy, that was his one job.

"Don't be a stranger," Dean said as he handed Cas his new phone. "You call anytime... especially if you need help" Cas took the phone and looked up at Dean, his face must have given away how bad he felt because the next minute Cas smiled at him warmly.

"It's alright, Dean. I'll be fine," he reassured. "You have a right to be worried about putting you're brother in danger, after everything he's been through with the trials." That had been the reason Dean gave Cas for why he couldn't stay.

"You're still my family, Cas. Always remember that." Cas nodded, picked up his bag and just like that, he left. Dean's stomach dropped, he felt horrible. It was like watching Sam leave for Stanford. But Dean had been the one to push Cas away and, on top of that, Cas was being hunted, so it was 100 times worse. His eyes stung as he remembered his best friend, dead in that chair. He shook his head and forced himself to think of anything else.

The moment that Ezekiel had provided an ultimatum sprang to mind. He had tried not to think of it over the last day, because the second that he had said that either Cas left or he left, there had been a moment when he was going to let Cas stay and hope for the best. Them few seconds had scared him, he had been willing to take his chances on Sam's life. He'd be lying to himself if he said that that hadn't helped him to make his decision. He could have told Cas the truth and work on a compromise... something that would keep Cas in his life. But, he wasn't supposed to even consider choosing anyone over Sam, it was his job to protect his little brother and if anyone made him feel differently, then he had to stay away from them. He was going to see Cas again, of course he would, he was family and Dean would die for his family. But, he refused to let himself get any closer.

[] [] []

Castiel had told Sam that he was the one to decide to leave. That he wanted to stay, but couldn't bring himself to bring danger to their bunker/home. Sam had fought tooth and nail against the decision, however, in the end he couldn't change his mind. Not that Sam ever assumed that he'd be able to, but he thought that Dean would have. But Dean didn't even try and that confused Sam more than anything ever would.

Cas was their family, Dean said so himself, and nothing meant more to either of them then family did, yet he was letting Cas leave to face an army of fallen angels by himself. And that just didn't sit right with Sam. There wasn't much he wanted more in that moment then to have been closer with Cas, because maybe then he would've been able to talk him out of leaving.

He tried to talk to Dean about it but got nothing more than a couple of 'he's a big boy, he can make his own decisions.' And that just made Sam angrier, so after Cas left, he confronted Dean. That obviously gained him nothing more than an argument and a headache at Dean's petulance. A few hours later Sam went to find Dean to apologise.

He walked towards his brother's room to find the door open and no-one inside "Great" he muttered sarcastically to himself as he carried on walking to his room. He stopped when he saw the light on in one of their many spare rooms, then he realised it was the same one Cas had used last night. Sam leaned against the door, straining to hear a voice, but there was no sound. He sighed and opened the door.

Dean was standing in the middle of the room, staring at nothing in particular as Sam entered.

"Dean?"

"What?" Dean asked without moving, he just kept staring.

"What are you doing in here?" Dean looked like he was getting ready to argue again when he let out a breath and slumped his shoulders, he still didn't turn to look at Sam though.

"I... of course I wanted him to stay" he finally spat out "he's family Sammy"

"Then why didn't you-" Sam started but Dean cut him off.

"I didn't stop him because it was a choice between Cas or your safety" Dean finally turned to look at him, there was a distinct tiredness about his movements "look... Do I feel like shit for abandoning Cas? Yeah, of course I do. But I'm not about to change my mind... So can we drop the 'chick flick' moment?" Sam just nodded, it was odd to see his brother so drained, he didn't want to fight him. Dean slapped him on the shoulder as he walked past "night Sammy"

"Night Dean"