Author's Note: I apologize for the strong language in this chapter.

Dean stood outside the prison gates, squinting in the bright sunlight. It was hot, and Dean could feel sweat starting to drip down his back. A nice breeze kicked up and he gave a thankful sigh, ignoring the fact that it caked sand to his face. He peered up and down the road leaning to the prison, frowning. He was starting to wonder if Ellen and Jo had gotten the day wrong, when he heard footsteps behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and frowned to see Nathan wandering out, holding a small bag of his things. He came to stop next to Dean and blinked, looking confused."Where's your ride, man?" He asked softly. Dean shrugged a little, leaning against the fence. It was either wait or walk. Nathan was supposed to walk, and Dean would have joined him, but the heat was already baring down on him in a suffocating haze.

Just when he was about to give up, a familiar roar reached his ears. He grinned, looking down the road. A sleek black shape was speeding towards them. The Impala. His baby. He felt his heart swell and the grin on his face almost hurt. Nathan looked at him, then at the car as it stopped in front of them.

"Your ride, I presume."

"Nope. My baby."

Dean started towards the car, his eyes running up and down it like he was appreciating a beautiful woman. He barely paid any mind as the driver's door opened and shut.

"Hello, Dean."

Dean's stomach lurched and he turned to see Castiel standing on the other side of the car, leaning against it with his arms folded across the roof. He was smiling at Dean, a blank little curious thing. Dean's eyes were starting to sting and he convinced himself it was the sand blowing around. Castiel tipped his head, and in one swift flick of his wrist he threw the keys to Dean.

"She's missed you."

Dean blinked a little and looked at the keys he held in his hands, taking in the chipped Zeppelin key chain and smiling. He closed his palm, not caring that the key dug into his flesh uncomfortably. He looked back at Cas to find the angel staring at him with a staggering intensity. Dean felt a grin come back to his face and he walked around the front of the car and pulled Castiel into a tight hug. The shorter man let out a little grunt of surprise and laughed softly, returning the hug easily and patting him on the back.

"We've missed you Dean." He mumbled, setting his forehead against Dean's chest. Dean gave him a squeeze.

"Ditto, Cas."

Dean knew the moment when their embrace crossed the threshold from friendly into intimate. Normally, he would have pulled away, awkward and feeling insecure about his sexuality, but for some reason, all he did was hold Castiel tighter. He had missed the angel, his angel, more than he realized. He glanced down, appraising him.

The shorter man wasn't wearing his normal trench coat and Sunday suit- instead he donned fading blue jeans and a shirt that looked suspiciously familiar. He arched a brow, noting that the angel was wearing one of his shirts. For some reason, it gave him a peculiar warm feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something about Castiel in his clothing made Dean want to ravish him right then and there.

Someone clearing their throat broke Dean out of his mental ravaging of Castiel's kissable lips, a good thing, if the growing pool of heat in his stomach was any hint. Dean glanced over his shoulder to see Nathan staring at him, a weird sort of anger in his eyes.

Dean licked his lips, carefully releasing Cas and stepping back. Right. That situation.

He wanted to leave his arm around Cas, but he knew he couldn't. He stood with his hands hanging awkwardly at his sides as Castiel looked to Nathan. He started to smile, his polite, excited 'I'm meeting new people' puppy smile, and then stopped. Dean could see the gears working in his head as Cas looked from Nathan's eyes, to Dean. Dean felt his neck heat up and he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably as Castiel's eyes locked onto a fading hickey on Dean's throat.

Castiel was silent, and Nathan must have sensed something, because he strode over, taking Dean's arm and holding it close, smiling in a poisonously sweet way and offering a hand.

"Nathan Pierce. I'm Dean's...friend."

Castiel's eyes, narrow and demanding answers, sought out Dean's. Dean felt a peculiar and disgusting squirm of guilt in his gut, and he found himself in a very, very difficult position.

He was honestly more worried about hurting Castiel- the man had been his friend longer, and Dean would go to the ends of the earth for him. But honestly, Dean felt he owed Nathan something besides pity.

While they had never really discussed a relationship, per say, continued sex usually warranted Dean putting his lovers on that level. And Dean wasn't cruel, he wouldn't toss Nathan aside now that he didn't 'need' him any longer.

So he swallowed and put on the best smile he could and shrugged a little.

"Nathan, this is Castiel. Cas, meet Nathan." He introduced. Castiel's eyes hardened and Dean winced internally. He hated when Cas looked at him with that hard, witheringly disappointed look.

Dean watched as Castiel turned to Nathan, presumably to greet him, the ever polite angel, and smiled sweetly.

However, the words that fell out of his mouth shocked Dean to his core.

"Always nice to meet the newest whore." And with that, Castiel reached out and snatched the keys from Dean's hand. "I'm presuming said whore needs a ride into town?" He stalked over to the driver's side and slid in, slamming the door. Dean winced at the noise, torn over whether it was the implication of Castiel's reaction or the harsh treatment of his baby that bothered him more, and glanced at Nathan. His eyes were slits and dark with anger. He looked at Dean for some sort of explanation.

"What the hell, man?" He hissed, using his grip on Dean's arm to turn them away from the car. Dean frowned and glanced over his shoulder. Castiel was currently scowling and distracting himself with adjusting the mirrors.

He sighed and glanced at Nathan

"I have no idea, dude. I'm really sorry, he's usually as sweet as a puppy."

"Some puppy." Nathan growled, before releasing Dean and crossing his arms, staring in Cas's direction. "I want to kick his ass."

Dean stared at him, feeling a tide of protectiveness surge through his body.

"Nathan, stop. Castiel is one of my best friends." He snapped, causing Nathan's eyes to fall on him. The smaller man let out a frustrated grunt and opened his mouth to speak.

"Damn it. Get in the car, lovebirds!" Castiel interrupted with a shout. Nathan shut his mouth and glanced at him.

"Fine. For now." He hissed, before walking over and climbing in the back seat. Dean sighed, climbing into the front seat and settling back. Castiel started the car and tore off, heading towards town.

The ride was silent, and for that, Dean was thankful. Although the silence was thick and awkward, Dean was just happy that Nathan and Castiel weren't shouting at each other or passing insults back and forth. Dean couldn't help but gaze as Cas while he drove, each movement confident and smooth as he shifted gears and used the clutch.

Not only was he impressed- the last time he saw Cas drive, he'd stalled the Impala repeatedly until Dean took away the keys- but he found himself liking it. It was simply erotic. Cas was driving his car.

Dean swallowed and looked out the window, shutting his eyes. Why the hell was he focusing so much on Castiel? He was uncomfortably reminded of the fact that the only way he could climax with Nathan was by focusing on the similarities between the two men, by pretending Nathan was Cas.

Dean shifted uncomfortably, and completely missed the hateful glare that the two men in the car shared.

It seemed like the twenty minute ride took hours, but finally he felt the Impala slowing down and pulling into a parking lot. Dean opened his eyes as Castiel turned off the car, and looked around. They were parked in a lot outside a cozy looking restaurant.

Dean shot Cas a confused look and the angel met his eyes with a blank stare.

"Sam." He explained, undoing his seat belt. "Plus we thought you'd like something other than prison food." He added in a murmur, glancing at him, then over his shoulder at Nathan. "Bring your boyfriend in with you." He said stiffly, before slipping out of the car and walking towards the restaurant. Dean took a deep breath, his stomach turning from anticipating a delicious bacon burger, to twisting sickly at the word boyfriend. He heard Nathan exit the car and watched as he leaned on the door, peering in the open window.

"I think he's jealous..." He said suddenly. Dean's eyes snapped up, blinking rapidly.

"What? Why would you say that?" He breathed in confusion. Nathan gave him a tight smile.

"Oh please, Dean. He wants to fuck your brains out. The only reason he hates me is because I get to." He explained, lighting a cigarette and taking a few quick drags as Dean stared at the door Castiel had disappeared through, his heart pounding against his chest. He was trying to figure out why he had butterflies throwing a rave in his stomach when Nathan tossed aside his cigarette and pulled his door open with a rough touch that ticked Dean off a little.

"C'mon man, I'm starving and I know you are too." He urged, grinning at Dean. Dean met his eyes and blinked, smiling faintly.

"Right."

—

As soon as Dean walked into the restaurant, he was enveloped in a bear hug and lifted straight off his feet. Sam hugged him tightly across the chest and set him back down, but not releasing him.

Dean choked out a laugh.

"Sam...Sammy! Let me go, I can't breathe!" He gasped, somewhere in the background he heard Castiel chuckle and Sam sheepishly let him go, giving a grin that made his face go full out dimples.

"Sorry Dean, I just...missed you." He mumbled, looking embarrassed as he stood there, limbs seeming too big and awkward. Dean grinned, feeling his heart swell in that sweet way again, and he saw a glimpse of his little Sammy. He clasped a hand onto Sam's bicep and met his eyes.

"I always knew you had ovaries, Samantha." He said with a smirk. Sam's smile widened to an impossible point and he shook his head.

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

Sam looked at him for a moment, eyes bright, then tugged him into another hug, squeezing him tightly. Dean laughed and pat his back, before pulling away. Sam beamed at him for a minute, before spotting Nathan. Dean could tell that Sam had heard about him, but unlike Cas, Sam offered a friendly smile and his hand.

"You must be Nathan. I'm Sam, Dean's brother." He greeted. Nathan shook his hand, his eyes open enough and warm, but he shot a gaze at Dean

"Your little brother?" He asked incredulously, causing Dean to burst into laughter. Sam gave a chuckle, but Castiel was silent. He just looked at the situation in an utterly bored manner.

Sam gave a bashful shrug,

"What can I say? I was just blessed in areas Dean wasn't." He explained with a cheeky smirk as he took a step back. Dean scowled at him.

"You wish."

Sam merely looked at him in amusement and hooked an arm around Cas's shoulders. Dean felt his head tip at the peculiar gesture, but wrote it off. The two had clearly grown closer in his absence. He was glad they'd had each other.

A pretty waitress with a name tag that said Brenda wandered over, batting her eyelashes at the group of attractive men. None of them responded. She gave a little pout and fiddled with her menus

"A table for four?" She asked softly, causing Sam to glance her way.

"Yes, thank you." He muttered, she smiled

"This way."

Brenda slipped by Sam and started towards the back of the restaurant. Sam led Cas that way, and Dean could have swore the angel was leaning into him. He shook his head and discarded the thought. It was preposterous.

The waitress got them situated in a nice table, Sam and Cas on one side, and the two cons on the other side. She distributed the menus and trotted away. Dean jumped at his glass of water, too thirsty for this emotionally charged stuff.

Nathan looked at the menu for a moment, his eyes interested, before he looked up and smiled blankly at Castiel and his brother.

"So how long have you two been together?"

Dean choked on his water, dribbling it down his front in a remarkably slobbery manner. He coughed violently, setting the glass down. All eyes were on him in concern, but he waved a hand and shook his head, looking at Nathan as he cleared his throat.

"Nathan, they're not-"

"About oh..." Sam paused and glanced at Cas, who arched a brow faintly and smirked.

"Ten, Sam." He supplied. Sam blushed and shot him an apologetic smile, glancing at Nathan

"Ten months."

Dean felt his jaw hit the floor as Sam wrapped his arm around Castiel's shoulders and pressed a kiss into the messy dark hair.

Jealousy burned angrily in his stomach as he stared at them with wide eyes. Sam looked at his brother and gave a sheepish smile.

"I wanted to tell you in person." He explained, his eyes soft. Dean made a choked noise and gave his best attempt at a smile, managing a grimace at best.

His best friend and his little brother? Cas and Sam? Sammy and...his angel?

Dean swallowed hard, looking between the two men he'd willingly die for, feeling a horrible mixture of jealousy and betrayal. After a moment, his eyes fell to his lap and he swallowed again.

"s'cuse me." He muttered, before standing and shimmying past Nathan. He needed out. Away. Away from that sickeningly cute smile Sam was giving Cas, and the way Cas was looking at his brother. He needed to breathe, suddenly the restaurant's air was as thick as molasses.

He stumbled his way to the door and out to the Impala, falling forward and taking long, gasping breaths. When he was finally convinced he wouldn't suffocate, he groaned and slammed his head onto the roof of the car.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

He didn't even know WHY he was stupid! His stomach clenched and unclenched uncomfortably and a hand fell onto his shoulder.

Dean swung around, panicking a little. Out of the three people at the table, he certainly wasn't expecting Nathan to be the one that followed him out. He was looking up at Dean with concern in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Dean?" He asked softly, peering at him. "You can't possibly be upset that your brother is gay." Dean narrowed his eyes at the clear 'because you like cock so much' at the end of that sentence. Nathan shifted a little and sighed, leaning against the car next to him.

"It's not about him being gay. Fuck, as long as Sam was happy, I wouldn't care if he were fucking a horse." He snapped, looking at the ground with angry eyes.

So what was the problem? Dean didn't think it was surprise- Sam never had a whole lot of interest in women after what happened to Jessica. And he certainly seemed to be happy with Cas- not only that, Dean knew the angel would take care of his little brother with an almost suffocating loyalty.

He swallowed, shaking his head and putting his face in his hands.

"So the way I see it, you're jealous." Nathan said suddenly, a hardness to his voice. Dean blinked and looked at him.

"What?"

Nathan sighed in frustration and turned to him, looking irritated.

"You're jealous of your brother." He clarified, raising a dark brow in a look that clearly said 'get it now, stupid?'

Dean stared at him, his head pounding. This little fucker was making no sense.

"Why the HELL would I be jealous of Sam?" He snapped, looking at Nathan like he was an absolute idiot. The expression wasn't lost on the smaller man, but he obviously didn't seem to care. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one and taking his sweet time to do so. Dean growled at him and he rolled his eyes.

"You want Castiel, Dean. You're jealous of Sam because you want Castiel."

Dean stared at him, a sinking feeling in his gut. Was it that obvious? Dean caught that thought and shook his head to clear it. He did NOT want Castiel. Castiel was his best friend and he WASN'T gay. Whereas Dean's original reaction was to laugh and lie lie lie, it quickly morphed into a violent rage. He narrowed his eyes on Nathan, his gaze withering. Nathan stared at him, seeming confused.

"I. Am. Not. Gay." Dean growled, his fists clenching. Nathan's stare just continued, and then he blinked and began to laugh uproariously, slapping his thighs as he descended into hysterics.

"Not gay." He choked, laughter bubbling from his lips. "Oh god, that's precious."

Dean snarled and easily grabbed Nathan by his shirt and slammed him against the Impala, his vision turning red.

"I am not a faggot." He hissed viciously. Nathan stared down at him, and began to laugh again. Dean blinked and something snapped, he gave Nathan a rough shake and slammed him against the car again. "Stop laughing, you little asshole!"

Nathan just laughed harder, tears leaking from his eyes.

"Dean. You've had my COCK IN YOUR MOUTH." Nathan shouted incredulously. Dean stared down at him and his grasp tightened until his knuckles were white. Nathan's laughter seemed to be done for now, and he looked up at Dean with serious eyes. "Honestly, Winchester. How can you fuck a guy daily for almost a week straight and then claim you're not gay? It's ridiculous."

Dean swallowed hard, and found he couldn't answer that question. Not in the least. He felt himself drop Nathan, who leaned comfortably against the car as if Dean hadn't intimidated him at all. He peered up at him with clear, concerned blue.

"You OK?"

"I'm...not gay." Dean choked, putting a hand over his eyes, feeling sick. Nathan made a soft, sympathetic noise.

"Dude...you kinda are." He disagreed gently, setting a soft hand on his arm. Dean looked at him, letting his hand fall to his side. Nathan gave him a tiny smile. "Trust me. You're at least bi, man. No one can do what we did and claim to be straight."

Dean swallowed hard and looked at the ground, confused and feeling isolated. Nathan shook his head and scoffed.

"Come here, you fucking idiot." He snapped, before pulling Dean into a hug. He was stiff for a moment, before he shut his eyes and fell into the human contact. Nathan held him, hand rubbing his lower back for a moment, then he pulled back just enough to peer up at him. "You OK?"

Dean didn't trust himself to speak, so he just swallowed the lump in his throat and shook his head. Nathan sighed and leaned up, kissing him softly. It didn't feel right at all. This level of intimacy wasn't something he wanted with Nathan. But instead of pulling away, he went with it, morphing it into something impersonal and rough, shoving Nathan against the car and kissing him hungrily.

Neither man saw Castiel standing at the door of the restaurant, a defeated look on his face.