AN: Wow I've been lazy. Here's chapter 2, sorry it took so long.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural

Dean seemed distracted as he joined his friends at their lunch table, not responding to their greetings. Gabriel, Jo, and Charlie were clustered together at the end of the table gossiping and didn't notice the slight, but Castiel, Benny, and Ash could tell that there was something off about their friend.

Castiel grew particularly concerned when Dean started picking at his lunch rather than eating with his usual enthusiasm. He wanted to ask about it, but he wasn't sure how to do so without further upsetting Dean, or raising questions as to why he was paying such close attention to the Senior.

He decided to take his cues from Benny and Ash, Dean's two best friends, and both kept silent.

"Hey, Dean, is it this weekend or next that your dad's back in town?" Jo asked, typing something into her phone as she spoke, causing her to miss the way Dean tensed at her question. "My mom wants to know 'cause she was going through some of my dad's old stuff and found some stuff she wanted to ask him about."

She looked up from her phone for an answer, and her face fell at Dean's expression. Castiel had no idea how to label it except perhaps a strange mix of fury, heartbreak, and resignation.

"He can't make it," Dean ground out through grit teeth after a silence that stretched for a little too long. With that, he stood to his feet and stormed out of the lunch hall, leaving his bag and jacket behind.

Castiel stood too, casting a quick glance around the table to be sure that none of the others were going to stop him or tell him that it wasn't his place. Benny just smirked at him and gestured in the direction of the parking lot, where Dean was sure to be.

He found Dean leaning against his car, looking pained. His eyes were closed, and he made no indication that he was aware of Castiel's presence, but the dark haired teen was sure that he knew he was there.

"I don't think he's coming home," Dean said, finally opening his eyes. Castiel politely ignored the way his voice had caught a little when he spoke. Instead, he attempted to formulate an appropriate response. After all, what could he really say to that that would sound sincere? He didn't know anything about the situation.

Dean continued to talk without a response though.

"Last time he was home his drinking was getting worse," Dean said, voice shaking just enough to be noticed. "Before he left again Bobby told him to straighten out while he was gone or he wasn't welcome anymore, which is fair, since it's Bobby's house, but I don't know why he thought it'd work." He laughed humourlessly, leaning back against his car again. "So, I'm pretty sure he's not coming back, and I'm pissed 'cause the least he could do is come out and say it."

Castiel reached out and placed his hand on Dean's shoulder, freezing when he realised what he had done. Had he overstepped his bounds? Dean wasn't the type to allow intrusions into his personal space. Of course, he really wasn't the type to speak about feelings or fears.

Dean just patted his hand gratefully, unaware of Castiel's internal freak out.

"Sammy doesn't know yet, and I know for sure Dad won't be the one to tell him, and it's gonna break the kid's heart." Castiel was suddenly very glad that Sam's class was on a field trip, because he knew that there was no way that the younger Winchester wouldn't stop until he knew what was wrong with his brother.

The air filled with a silence that Castiel didn't want to call uncomfortable, but it felt like Dean was waiting for something.

"You know, this is the part where the friend - that would be you, Cas - offers a hug, and then we both pretend it didn't happen," Dean informed him, smirking slightly.

Castiel floundered for a moment before realising something. "I didn't realise that you see us as friends," he confessed, blushing a little. "Most people just see me as Gabriel's younger brother."

Dean shrugged, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Why can't you be both? So, friends?"

The idea of being Dean's friend was very attractive to Castiel; for starters, Dean never called him 'Cassie', unlike his older brothers. He was also very protective of his friends, and would do just about anything for them, from what Castiel could gather.

"Yes, friends," Castiel confirmed, smiling.