A/N: Hi, I'm finally getting around to uploading this fic. I've spent ages writing it... I'd say the whole story was about 4 months of writing. Idk it took a very long time. The plot of the story did change quite a bit as I wrote and new ideas came to mind, so if anything in the earlier chapters doesn't make much sense that's probably why. Also just kinda ignore that John in alive, he just is... there's no explanation and he doesn't have that much of a role so yeah... Well this story does have destiel! So yay... Also some characters might be a bit OOC but eh... Yeah I really don't know how to explain this story... Kinda AU, kinda not... it's hard to explain. I'm gonna shut up now...

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural :(

Chapter 1

Dean has always been strange, that's just Dean. But lately that strangeness had manifested in a new way. This manifestation caused Dean to have dreams where he was a hunter who hunted monsters with his brother and angel. Sam knew of this and it made him very uncomfortable. He'd watch as everyday Dean seemed to slip further and further into his little world he'd invented for himself. The world Sam had dubbed 'Dean's world.'

Dean was in a bad mood, when Sam asked him about it Dean just told him that he'd had a bad day and didn't want to talk about it. Of course that just made Sam worry more. He knew what a bad day for Dean meant. It meant that Dean would retreat into his own little world.

Sam hated it when Dean did that, it meant that he couldn't talk to his older brother. Also each time Dean retreated into his little world he would stay in it longer and longer. Sam wondered if one day Dean would retreat into his little world and never emerge. The thought of that kept Sam awake at night, he couldn't bear to lose Dean.

Sam had never told their dad what was going on with Dean. Dean had made him promise not to. But as Dean seemed to distance himself further and further from the waking world Sam found himself with no other choice. He'd have to tell their dad, at least then Dean could be treated. He could be cured. No more 'Dean's world'.

Dean was still in his world when John got home. John took one look at Dean and knew that something was up.

"Sam, what's wrong with Dean?"

"It's a little hard to explain."

"Can you try?"

Sam nodded, proceeding to tell John what was going on with Dean. He knew that Dean would hate him for it but John had to know. They had to find some way to help Dean, even if it meant his brother hating his guts.

After Sam had told him, John seemed concerned. Neither of them knew how to help Dean through. The only solution either one of them managed to come up with was to send Dean to a mental hospital. That is how Dean found himself in the white room talking to a psychiatrist.

"I'm not insane. Please just listen to me!"

"I'm sorry Dean."

"No you're not. You can tell me you're doing this for my own good but I won't buy it."

For two days now Dean had been in the mental hospital. He refused to talk to any of the staff or socialise with anyone for that matter. Dean had shut himself into his little world.

Dean liked his world because it was his and no one else's. In his world he wasn't just some kid who'd lost his mother. In his world he was a hero. He saved lives. He had his brother and he had an angel on his shoulder. Dean mattered to his world.

That day through something changed. A guy with messy black hair in a trench coat stumbled into Dean's room snapping Dean out of his world. The man scrambled to try and barricade the door. Once he'd managed to block the door he noticed Dean.

"Oh sorry."

Dean stared dumbstruck at the man. He had blood on his coat and was looking at Dean like he was going to stab him. Dean took a step closer to him and asked "Who are you?"

"Castiel."

But... how is that possible? Castiel was one of the people who only existed in Dean's world. He was a character inside Dean's head. How can he be a living breathing person? Dean realised that the guy standing in front of him looked alot like the Castiel that he'd imagined in his world.

Dean paled and began breathing very heavily. Castiel stepped towards him and hovered over him uncertainly.

"Are you okay? Do I need to go get someone?"

"You're- you're Castiel?" Dean wheezed.

"Yes. You need to calm down!"

Dean's breathing got heavier and he became close to hyperventilating. Castiel grabbed his hands and held them still.

"Look at me! You need to calm down or you're going to pass out. Focus on my voice, Take a deep breath." Castiel said trying in vain to calm Dean down.

"But- but..."

"What is it? What's wrong?" Castiel asked sensing that something was almost certainly wrong with Dean. "Do I need to get someone?" Castiel asked again.

"No!" Dean shouted frantically. "I'm fine!"

"You're clearly not. You need to calm down."

Dean stared blankly at Castiel. "Cas?" He whispered in a small voice that Castiel wouldn't of heard if he hadn't been standing so close.

"Yes?" Castiel said ignoring the nickname.

"Are you real?"

Castiel tilted his head at the statement. Of course he was real, why wouldn't he be?

"What do you mean?" Castiel asked trying to make sense of Dean's words.

"Are you real?" Dean repeated.

"Yes, I'm real? Why wouldn't I be?"

Dean ignored the question. Castiel grew more worried as he watched as Dean appeared to grow more and more panicked.

"You need to calm down! Just take a deep breath."

Dean tried to do as Cas instructed, he really did. But Dean was too worked up. Cas was beginning to see how bad Dean was panicking and was trying to decide if he should get someone or not. Dean's breathing grew faster and faster.

"Cas." Dean said. After the word had been uttered Dean collapsed to the ground his vision going dark. The last thing he saw before all went dark was the look of panic on Castiel's face as he tried to make sense of what was going on. Dean succumbed the darkness ignoring Cas's attempts at waking him.