A/N: Can also be found on ArchiveOfOurOwn if you want to read more tags/spoilers.

I have so many ideas, but I like to start a story off slow and just kind of build it up from the ground. Please bare with me. Remember, this story went AU to the Supernatural fandom before the series started... like a few years before Sam went off to college.

Originally, I was going to start this off as Established Dean/Cas, but then, I couldn't resist adding how they got there. Don't worry. Won't drag that out for long. I'm trying to get to the Dean's family with Cas meeting John and Sam part of the story as soon as I can.

Usual disclaimer here. Don't own.

Dean sighed warily as he heard two doors slam at the same time. The front door slammed behind their father, and the bedroom door slammed behind Sam. They always clashed so much. Dean was getting tired of this, but they were family. He wouldn't leave them for the world.

He got up to look in the fridge.

'Might as well start making dinner after all,' Dean thought absently to himself as he started to rifle throught he meager contents.

There was only about two cups of milk left in the gallon and some mozerella cheese. The cereal had been finished off this morning.

Dean frowned as he closed it and walked over to the drawer where their dad always left some change for food.

There was only $12. He'd have to do his best with it. Too bad their father left before noticing the fridge's contents. He barely stayed long enough to check in before he and Sam started spitting angry words at each other.

Sam was 17 though. He was halfway through his junior year, and he was already looking at college applications. Dean knew. He had spotted them a couple weeks ago in his brother's backpack. He hadn't said anything.

Dean was conflicted on that matter. He wanted the best for his brother. The very best. College would be a great next step for Sam, but family had to stick together right? Dad was opposed to either of them leaving the hunting life. Hell, Dean couldn't imagine leaving that life.

Dean had already given up school. Dean had been too busy the last month of what should've been his senior year joining his dad on a hunt to graduate. He didn't bother making it up, and he had simply taken his GED the next year. It had taken him a couple months to put enough money together to afford to take the test, but he had done it. He wasn't sure why he had bothered. After all, no hunter in their right mind would ever ask to see his high school diploma or something equivalent before letting him in on a hunt. Any other qualification he needed he could fake. Dean just felt he needed to, so he did.

Sam was another story though. His brother was clearly not ready to just stop at high school. He wanted to go to college and learn a profession. Hell, his brother wanted anything else but hunting. His brother would probably be content with just staying in one spot for longer than three months. Dean wanted that for him too.

Their dad wasn't going to allow it. Dean already knew that, but Dean also knew he wanted Sam out of this life. It was dangerous, and his brother just didn't have his heart in it. This whole life was their dad's revenge mission anyway. Dean didn't mind sticking to it because he had no one he wished to stick around for besides his dad and Sam. Also, Dean couldn't see himself living any other life. The hunt for the supernatural? He thrived on that. He knew he did.

Yes, Dean was going to help his brother get out, but he was going to stick around to back his father up even if it meant losing Sammy. At least, he'd be sure that he had left Sammy in a better place, and he will. He'll leave him at one of those Ivy League schools. He'll make sure to leave him armed and with emergency contact info. He'll leave him as much cash as he can before he backs off. Sam wanted to grow up after all, and he wanted to strike out on his own. Dean was going to have to step back and let him.

As Dean pondered all this, he walked the few blocks between the hotel and the nearest grocery store. He was about to walk in when he ran into another guy with messy hair and bright blue eyes.

The other guy was wearing glasses, and he had been reading a book while he walked quickly. It's no wonder he didn't see him. He looked surprised at being interrupted as he looked up.

"Sorry," Dean said quickly before he went around him into the store.

The other guy didn't reply.

Dean looked back to see him staring wide-eye after him. Dean ducked his head back forward even as he felt himself flush a little and a tingle run down his spine.

'Oh, please stop looking at me,' Dean thought desperately to himself as he grabbed a basket and headed quickly towards the bread aisle. He might as well grab some things to make some sandwiches back at the motel and call it a day.

As Dean headed towards the vegetables section to grab Samantha some "healthy shit" to add to her sandwiches, he noticed the blue-eye guy standing in front of a stand of apples looking absolutely confused.

Dean couldn't help it. He really couldn't. For some reason, he felt the inexplicable urge to approach. He wasn't even what he was going to say.

"I hear those Granny Smith apples are pretty good." Dean winced internally. God, he was so lame.

The other guy's voice was pretty gravelly and deep as he said, "I don't really eat apples. Gabriel just told me to grab ten that looked sort of red but not too red. I'm not really sure what he meant."

Dean looked at the stand of apples. He wasn't sure what this Gabriel dude meant either.

"I say you just grab any," Dean finally went with.

The other guy's lips twitched a bit upwards as he responded, "I suppose that sounds adequete."

'Adequete?' Dean thought skeptically to himself.

Apparently Dean was standing too close to the other guy. Something he quickly realized when the other guy abruptly turned to face him without scooting backwards to make up for the turn. Their faces were less than a feet apart. Dean could see some light specks in the bright blue of the other guy's eyes.

Dean shook himself and tried to return to the here and now. He took a step back quickly as he said, "Woah, dude. Personal space."

The other guy tilted his head to the side in confusion. Surely, he knew what he meant, right?

Dean felt a little awkward as they just stared at each other after that. He was wondering whether he should've said something. As soon as he realized he probably should have, he now couldn't think of what to say now that he's let so much time go by as he just stares at the other guy's eyes.

He cleared his throat and stuck his hand out between them.

"My name's Dean," he gruffly said. Introductions are good right? Why was he even bothering again? Even as he thought this, Dean still waited patiently for the other guy's reaction.

The guy blinked down at the hand in confusion before he hesitantly raised his own and placed it on Dean's.

"Castiel," the other guy said. He left his hand in Dean's.

Dean definitely flushed this time as they stood there a little longer, still shaking hands. He should let go. Yeah, letting go.

"I should go," Dean mumbled as he started to look for his exit. Why had he dragged this out? Oh, god. He was usually a lot smoother than this. Dean tried not to think about why he felt the need to be smooth about any of this. It was just a guy he had just met at the nearest grocery store to the hotel he was currently staying in.

Dean felt himself deflate a little as it finally hit him. Staying in a hotel. Right. Only temporarily. He couldn't pursue this.

"Bye," Dean barely got out as he made his way towards the nearest line.

Castiel let him go.

A/N: Let me know what you think. Please!