AN: THANK YOU ALL! ENJOY!
Thursday rolled around again, Dean would be lying if he said he hadn't been thinking about that Novak kid for most of the week. He had no clue way, but figured the guy was just a mystery that he wanted to get to the bottom of. That's what he liked doing anyway; helping people was kind of his thing after all. Sam and him where still working out their own shit over John's death, neither of them really talked about it; but they were dealing with it in their own ways.
Dean was glad when Pastor Jim left with the couple other kids that weren't 'special projects' or whatever Cas was considered. The kid looked like shit though; his school uniform was a mess; his tie askew, what looked like blood on the lapel of his wrinkled white shirt and what seems like a bruise forming around his eye. He couldn't help noticing the tattoo on his forearm, just noticeable since his sleeves where rolled up; it looked like a sort of rosary or something and where those scars...
"What the hell happened to you?" Dean asked bluntly, sitting on one of the desks across from the dark haired guy.
"You should see the other guy," Cas sniffs.
"Did it happen at school?"
"Mostly," he crossed his arms, looking out the window.
"I heard some rumors about you," Dean starts.
"They're all true," Castiel replies flatly.
"I'm sure you'd like people to think that…but somehow I doubt you have the word reject tattooed on your side and killed a goat for Satan."
Without a word, Cas shifted lifting up his white shirt revealing the words 'Rejiciunt Caelis' going down his side along with some bruising and what Dean was sure was a piercing on his just visible nipple. He tried not to stare, but ok it was kind of a turn on for him.
"All that means reject?" Dean questions, pretending to be confused about the words and not distracted by how hot or injured the kid was.
"No, its part of it," Cas lowers his shirt carefully, "It's in latin…and I never killed a goat."
"See not all the rumors are true," he smiles.
"Not that I wouldn't," he smirks with fake bravado.
"This act of yours isn't fooling anyone," Dean informs him getting tired of this crap.
"It has worked so far."
"Well I'm not your mom and I'm not one of your dumb class mates," he angrily crosses his arm challenging the boy, "There's people here who actually give a crap about you, so I suggest you get your head out of your ass and take notice."
"Or what?" Cas looks at him icily, "In case you haven't noticed, it's just me."
"What about your mom?"
"She has other concerns," he cryptically replies.
"Speaking of family…are those rumors true?"
Castiel glares up at him, knowing exactly what Dean means; but refusing to answer.
"You know the ones about your dear 'father'," he quotes, "I get that's pretty fucked up, man, but that doesn't mean you have to treat yourself like an object that you abuse at will."
"I'm not the one you should be telling that to!" He stands up clearly irate, his fists clenching, "It's my life and I can do whatever or whoever," he punctuates knowingly, "I fucking want… Maybe it'll speed up the process."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean looks at him, the anger slipping to concern.
"Nothing…" Castiel lies, grabbing his stuff, "I'm out of here… You are nothing like me Dean!" He throws back, storming from the room.
Well that could have gone better, Dean thought to himself. He knew that Castiel was trying to scare him off, but everything Dean heard tonight just made him more worried about Cas. This was clearly something more than just teenage rebellion.
"How's it coming?" Pastor Jim asked from the door way, his face sympathetic.
"The kid is spiraling," Dean huffs, "Is there nothing you can tell me about him?"
"I wish I knew," he replies sincerely, "Ana, his mother, is a lovely women," Pastor starts, "Castiel used to be such a sweet child… very quiet and unassuming, fiercely loyal…"
"But?" Dean interjected knowing something was coming.
"He turned 14 and something switched," Jim sighs, "He's worse then you where," he chuckles sardonically.
"I've noticed," he nods in agreement.
"He's so spiteful and angry, but no one knows why and it's not like he talks to anyone. I suppose the rumors don't help either… I pray you can help him, Dean," He pats his shoulder reassuringly.
"Me too," Dean picks at his fingers, not looking up.
"Oh, that reminds me," Pastor Jim switches gears, "The fall social is this Sunday, you think you could chaperone?" he asks hopefully, "I know it's short notice and all, but one of the teachers is ill."
He thinks it over for a moment, but figured Sam would be going anyway, "Sure," Dean nods, "I'm off this weekend anyway."
"Wonderful, you are a great help, Dean," he smiles at him heading from the room, "Have good-night."
"You too," he follows the man out of the class room to head back home.
On the ride back to the apartment, Dean idly wondered if Castiel would actually attend a school function and what kind of trouble there would be if he did. In a way he was glad he agreed to it, he could kind of spend time with Sammy as well as keep an eye on the damaged teen that was presently eating away at his brain.
He hoped he was strong enough to keep on the right path with Castiel, in the back of Dean's mind he knew he wanted him. It was wrong and inappropriate, but it was there all the same. The guy had found away under his skin like no one else had, but Dean was stronger than that, or so he told himself. The bigger picture was what was important here, and he knew he'd do what it took to get the kid there.
:)REVIEW(: please and thank you