A/N: So I discovered something about myself, and that is that it's physically painful for me to have something unfinished on here. So I'm going to put the last part up...umm...tomorrow, hopefully. So I hope someone will look out for that then. Anyway, enjoy this part. It's kind of short.

The walls and windows of 'Haven' were not particularly thick, and Dean could hear the argument within from the street. He chanced a glance through one of the windows and saw a man looming over Cas, clearly angry, if his raised voice and hand gestures were anything to go by.

Dean managed to make quite a noise as he opened the door, but neither the man, nor Castiel, acknowledged his entrance. The argument didn't seem to be much of an argument, rather, Cas looked to be standing there taking abuse, while the other man shouted at him. Dean wanted to march over, tap the guy on the shoulder, and as the guy turned, punch him in the face.

But Cas spoke up before he had taken a few steps. "I'm sorry that's how you feel, sir. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do for you myself. I am not in charge of book pricing."

Dean was stunned. This guy was up in Cas' face, in the middle of a tirade that looked as if it had been going for a while, and yet Castiel didn't seem the least perturbed, nothing in his face giving off any emotion.

"Yeah, well, I'd like to speak to the idiot who is."

Things moved faster than Dean could process. One minute, Castiel was calmly taking abuse from a customer, the next he had lashed forward, one hard reaching out to grab the guys arm and swing it forcefully so it was pushed painfully behind the man's back.

"Do not insult my brother." Castiel hissed in the man's ear, and gave him a sharp push. He then continued louder "I'm sorry, sir. If you do not leave quietly, I will be forced to escort you out." and gave another push in the direction of the door.

They were almost at the exit, the man's face twisted in pain, when Cas seemed to notice he had an audience. "Hello, Dean. Could you please open the door?"

Dean gulped, only slightly more turned on than he was scared, and pushed past Castiel and the man to open the door. Castiel gave one last shove and the man was pushed out of the shop, tripping over Dean's foot as he left.

Dean looked over at Castiel. He looked distinctly satisfied. Dean swallowed harder.

-000-

"If it's not too personal, can I ask why you're going to pay your own way through university?"

Dean had taken up a seat on the 'business' side of the counter, no longer feeling as if he had to lean over it to talk to Cas to keep things from being weird, but after the question, Cas' stare made him shift uncomfortably, as if he were weighing up the pros and cons of Dean's friendship.

Dean was about to excuse himself and leave when Cas answered. "After I brought Balthazar home in freshman year, my father didn't want anything to do with me. I've been paying my own way since then. Luckily, my brother Gabriel was kind enough to give me a place to stay and a job, seeing as he was also cast out."

Castiel's expression did not change as he spoke, as if he were telling the story of someone else, but Dean understood why Cas was so affected by the most simple acts of kindness. He was, however, unsure of how to continue the conversation. Heart to hearts were not his strong suit.

"That's rough. Why'd he do it?"

Cas sighed. "My father is very conservative. He believes that homosexuality is a most grievous sin."

Dean gave a nervous chuckle. He wanted to ask more questions, but things were too near to 'chick flick' territory. So instead, settled with "Religious nut. Got it."

Castiel's eyes hardened, and Dean hadn't realised that they had made him think of bright summer days (and wasn't that the atmosphere of the moment rubbing off on him) until all he saw from them was ice and distance.

"Please, Dean. While there were some undertones, my fathers beliefs have nothing to do with religion as I understand it."

Dean back-peddled as fast as he could "Oh crap. I'm so sorry Cas." but he could see Cas moving away from him, his eyes flicking to the computer screen. Dean couldn't lose Cas like this. He was his only real friend, no strings attached. And wasn't that a shock, realising that his friendship with Cas had nothing to do with the strings he hoped to pull. He genuinely liked the guy. Which was why the next thing out of his mouth was "My dad. Well. He was okay with the whole bi thing. But that's probably because he was too drunk to understand what I was saying to him."

Cas didn't say anything, but his gaze returned to Dean's face. He didn't push, but his eyes softened, and Dean blamed it on the relief that Cas wasn't mad at him, that he wasn't going to tell him to leave, when he continued talking.

"My mum died when I was four. House fire. Me, Sam and dad, we got out, but dad was never the same. Went completely off the rails. I've practically been raising Sammy since he was six months old. It's not really right, you know, but I'd do anything for that kid."

Cas reached out and wrapped his hand around Dean's shoulder. Dean's first instinct was to shrug him off, but it was comforting, to have the kind of support Cas offered with a simple touch. He blinked hard a couple of times. He didn't talk about his family. He didn't tell anyone about his problems at home, and he certainly didn't cry about them. But he needed to tell someone. And why not Cas, who didn't judge, only listened, and seemed to want to offer consolation, but wasn't exactly sure how.

"I am very sorry, Dean. It must be difficult. To have a mothers love, only for it to be snatched away so long. I never knew my own mother. She died during childbirth, and I was adopted almost straight away."

They sat together in silence. Dean could feel the warmth of Castiel's hand seeping through his jacket and knew he would continue to feel it for days, but he still didn't try to shrug it off. Instead, Cas slipped it slowly down Dean's arm, before giving one more squeeze and returning it to his lap.

"So. Gabriel. Any other siblings?"

Cas winced. Dean had thought asking about siblings would break the mood, but in retrospect, he knew he should have realised talking about siblings was still talking about family.

"Yes. I have ten brothers and sisters, though only one biological. Jimmy is my identical twin."

"Well, that's gotta mean something, right?"

"Not really. Adopted families do not have the obligations of blood. They must choose to love each other." Dean didn't like the way this conversation was heading. Not for the first time, he wondered why he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "Gabriel and Inias are the only ones who will talk to me now, but Jimmy's anger is what is worst."

For the first time, Dean could see real pain in Castiel's eyes, and he reached out unconsciously to echo Cas' gesture. Cas relaxed into the touch. "I never knew my real father, but a part of me is convinced that if I ever found him, he'd put everything right. You probably think that's stupid."

Dean could only grip tighter. He felt his fingers begin to cramp, but he couldn't let go. "No, I don't think it's stupid, Cas. Naive, sure, but not stupid."

-000-

The night air was freezing, but despite his short sleeve and the fact he hadn't even thought to put on shoes, Dean didn't spare it a second thought. His voice was horse and his dad was passed out in the Impala, and Sam was gone, had fought with John and then ran out of the apartment.

Dean's fingers were shaking as he dialled his phone, more from the panic than the weather.

It was nearly midnight, but Cas picked up on the third ring. "Hello Dean."

Dean struggled to talk through the lump in his throat. "Cas. Need your help. Sam."

"Dean? Where are you?"

Dean managed to choke out his address. Castiel's response was immediate. "I'll be right there."

When Cas arrived ten minutes later, Dean was still standing, motionless, on the sidewalk. He jumped into the passenger seat of the car, and wordlessly, Cas handed him his trench coat. The coat didn't fit Dean, even though it was slightly too big for Cas, but he slipped it on anyway. Cas' arrival brought with it an awareness of the cold his flimsy shirt didn't keep out.

"Which way did Sam go?" Dean blinked a couple of times before Cas' question really sunk in.

"I don't know, man. He could've gone anywhere. I was too busy trying to calm dad down."

Cas looked like he wanted to reach for Dean, but seemed to think better of it. "Don't worry, Dean. We'll find him."

Sam hadn't gone far. They found him leaning against the wall of a service station. Dean was out of the car before Cas had even put it in park and running over to Sam, dragging him into a tight hug. "Sammy." Sam hugged back.

Suddenly, Dean pulled away, holding Sam at arms length. "What the hell do you think you were doing, Sam?" he asked. "Don't you ever do that again. How do you think I feel?" He was working himself into a shout. "How could you be so stupid? You're supposed the be the smart one!"

Cas had made his own way towards the brothers, walking slowly to afford them some private time, but now he appeared at Dean's shoulder. He could see the fear in Sam's eyes. "I think you're being a little harsh, Dean."

Dean spun quickly, face tight, so he was standing almost chest to chest with Cas. "Don't tell me how to treat my family." He hissed. "Don't act like you know what's going on. My family is everything to me. Yours left you."

Dean felt his back hit the brick wall painfully, Castiel's fists bunched in his shirt and their faces inches apart. For once, Dean didn't want to kiss him. He wanted to fight and struggle and run, because Castiel's face was expressionless, but Dean knew there was no way he could free himself from the other mans grip. Castiel was kind of terrifying, and Dean realised he'd never actually seen the man angry.

"I'm going to let that go, because you're scared and angry" he said, and his voice sounded perfectly calm "but don't you ever say that to me again."

Dean gulped audibly, and nodded. Instantly, Castiel's arms dropped, and he took a step back, turning to Sam, who had watched the exchange silently through wide eyes. "Come on. Get in the car. I'll drop you both somewhere." and he turned stiffly and walked away. Sam followed quickly, but Dean took a few short, shallow breaths before pushing himself off the wall.

The Harvells had known John and Mary Winchester before the fire, and Ellen and Jo were as much family to Sam and Dean as their own father. The fact that Ellen also owned the local hotel was just an added bonus. Cas pulled up out front of the 'Roadhouse' but didn't turn off the ignition. Sam was out as soon as the car came to a stop, the tension building between Cas and Dean too much to handle, but Dean didn't move.

Castiel didn't turn to look at Dean, stiff, back ramrod straight and hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, and Dean couldn't bring himself to draw his attention, only staring at him from the passenger seat. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how he could take back what he said. Cas had said it was fine, but he hadn't even glanced at Dean the whole drive after the service station, and now he was sitting in his idling car, staring straight ahead and waiting for Dean to leave.

Dean took a deep breath. "Stay, Cas."

Castiel seemed to deflate, nodding silently and switching off the car. He was out the door and halfway to the 'Roadhouse' before Dean even managed to unbuckle himself.

He found Cas and Sam sitting at a corner table, with Jo leaning against the third chair. She seemed to be trying to engage in conversation, but neither were giving her more than monosyllabic answers. Her face lit up when she saw Dean walking over. Sam often insisted Jo had a crush on Dean, but Dean thought that was ridiculous. Jo was like a little sister to him, and if she flirted, that was all part of her 'friendly waitress' persona.

"Hey Dean" she chirped, her voice far too happy for the dreary atmosphere around her. "Long time no see. You haven't been here in a while."

Dean shrugged. "Figured I should probably pass one year of school, why not make it the last one?"

Jo laughed. "I'll get you some food." and she walked away. Dean flopped down in the seat she was no longer leaning against. Neither he, Sam or Cas said a word to each other.

Jo returned five minutes later carrying a large bowl of fries she put in the centre of the table. "On the house." she said, and Dean almost felt like wincing, her voice breaking the silence.

Her hand lingered on Dean's shoulder, where Cas had gripped him almost a week ago now. He had the strangest urge to shake her off, but instead, he smiled up at her. "Thanks, Jo." Jo's face took on a slight pink tinge, and she walked away much faster than she'd come over.

Dean reached over the table and grabbed a fry. The atmosphere between the three of them was strained, as if they all wanted to run in different directions, but they were sticking together through some sort of obligation. Dean was glad about that. He didn't want to go home for a while. As if he was taking his cues from Dean, Cas took his own fry.

The entire bowl took an hour and a half to finish, Sam, Dean and Cas only taking one at a time, as if more than that would break the fragile silence between them and start up something worse than just simple fighting. After the bowl was finished, though, Dean turned to Sam.

"Sammy, could you go wait in the car. Me and Cas'll meet you out there in a minute."

Sam practically sprinted out of the 'Roadhouse,' and Dean turned his attention to Castiel. Cas wasn't looking at him, and Dean was surprised how much he missed the staring. It was a little creepy, but actually, he liked the way that Cas looked at him, like he was important, like he could do anything. Now, Dean couldn't make him meet his eyes.

He sighed. "Look, Cas. I'm really sorry about what I said. Like you said, I was scared and angry but I still shouldn't have taken it out on you. All you were trying to do was help."

Cas still didn't look at Dean, addressing his hands instead. "It's okay, Dean. It was the truth." Dean felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. Cas wasn't bothered by Dean lashing out at him, probably hadn't even really realised that's what he'd done. The fact was, Castiel's family had abandoned him, and Dean had exploited something Cas had told him in confidence. It wasn't how Dean had yelled at him, but that what he had said had hit far too close to the mark.

"That doesn't make it any better, man."

Castiel nodded and stood. "We'd better get to the car. Sam will be waiting for us."

Dean watched him walking towards the door. He didn't know what to do, or how he could fix this. Cas was his friend, and he couldn't just let him walk out of his life. He jumped up.

"Wait, Cas" he called, and Castiel stopped before his hand touched the doorknob. Dean jogged over, coming to stop right next to him. He reached out and grabbed Castiel's arm, spinning the other man to face him before pulling him into a tight, one-armed hug.

Cas went stiff for a moment, all his muscles preparing to flee, but he didn't leave. Dean only continued to hold him in place, and suddenly, all at once, Cas seemed to sag under some invisible weight, wrapping both his arms around Dean's chest and pressing his face into his shoulder. The hug was becoming far more intimate than Dean was comfortable giving in the privacy of his own home, let alone in the middle of a hotel, admittedly one mostly empty, but he couldn't bring himself to pull away. Maybe this was something they both needed, he thought, before bringing his other arm up to settle around Cas' shoulders. They stood there for a few more seconds, before Dean bent his head to whisper in Cas' ear. "Thanks Castiel." He pretended he didn't notice how Cas shuddered.

Cas dropped Dean and Sam off at their apartment twenty minutes later. John had obviously woken from his stupor, because he was no longer passed out in the Impala, and the lights outside their room were on. Dean was the last through the door, and Cas waited until it had closed and the lights were switched off, casting everything but his car into shadow before he drove away