Summary: Dean's been rushed to the hospital and reveals some things to Castiel that he didn't intend to. Castiel is getting deeper to the root of the problem and hopes that he can relieve Dean of some of the stress.

A/N: Comment and let me know how you guys are liking the story so far and what you hope/expect to see in the next chapter!

It was actually around 6 o'clock AM when Dean woke up which was too early for Dean's tastes. He didn't usually get up until around noon on the weekends. He was enjoying the scenery though since it kept his mind off of other things. The sky looked muddy and dim, dangerous even. It made the hospital room seem darker than it actually was. He watched the clouds rush past the building as the room remained in silence. They were puffy and dark, a storm was obviously near.

The troubled teen rested there in the hospital bed, eyes dead and heart torn. He was lost and it clearly showed. His father was abusive, his mother had no clue, and both parents consider him an outcast in comparison to Sam. He was the trouble child after all, always in some kind of trouble in their eyes. His social life was pointless because he didn't have any meaningful relationships. Yeah there was Jo and Garth but they had no clue what was really going on with him. He had no one to confide in so his anger and pain built up and he had to release it somehow. To make matters worse, Dean was developing a bad drinking problem and Gordon was trying to get him into drugs.

His life was in shambles and somehow out of all the people he knew, this one particular guy that he just met understood him. This one random guy broke down his barriers and saw him suffering in silence. He found himself smiling because the new kid was becoming something constant in his life. Castiel didn't leave him or hurt him but he still wanted him to stay away as precaution. There was always a possibility that Castiel would turn out to be like the others.

Dean knew he should talk to someone about his anxieties and problems but he couldn't bring himself to do it. They would label him and that scared him more than he liked to admit. Dean was convinced that the overdose was an accident but deep down he knew he meant for it to happen. He wondered what would have been the outcome if Castiel didn't show up. Would he really have died?

At the point he was at now, he didn't care about keeping the facade going about being okay. He gave up with hiding once he took those pills. That part of his life was out in the open now. With a dry laugh he finally spoke to Castiel who had been there since he regained consciousness. His voice was calm and soft to the ear. "You can't save me so why don't you leave me the fuck alone. Play savior with someone else because sometimes it's okay to let go. I tried to end it for a reason…" Dean was not having a great start to his Sunday.

"Is that what you think I'm doing, what you think should happen? Just letting go and hoping everything will turn out alright. I'm sorry Dean but when I pulled over on the road and helped you the first time I became involved and made a dedication to you. I'm not walking out now because things are grim and dark. I'm sticking with you and you'll have to deal with that." He glanced at those bright green eyes and added on to his statement. "And I found you for a reason, Dean."

Dean glanced away. Wow, he was not expecting him to say that. "Concerned little fucker..." He grumbled under his breath, not arguing with Castiel. For once in his life someone gave a damn about him enough to scold him. That had never happened before, not even with his brother Sam.

"I'm going to get you better and you will make it through this. Understood? I'm not going anywhere, Dean." He said softly, fixing Dean's pillow. He wasn't always so stern but this was a special occasion. It was good for Dean. He needed it.

There was a light knock on the door and both of the boys turned their attention to it. "Mr. Winchester, we need a contact number to reach your parents." The nurse asked. Before Dean could answer Castiel stood and spoke for him.

"That won't be necessary. I've contacted his parental unit and they have given me permission to stay with him until he's released. He'll be coming home with me. I took care of the paperwork last night when we arrived."

"Very well. Sorry to have disturbed you two."

Dean stared at him for a moment because this type of affection was new to him. Having someone looking out for him felt...nice. "Thank you." The last thing he needed was his father finding out about the attempt. John would go nuts.

Castiel sat down on the edge of the bed besides Dean and smiled. When he was unresponsive and the medical team brought him back in the ambulance, he heard the things that he muttered. The comments were mostly about father issues so he connected the dots and pieced together that Dean didn't need to be around his family for the time being. So he would bring him home once Dean was released. "I won't tell your parents about this if that's what you want." He didn't know Dean's parents but there was obviously a reason why he didn't hear about them. Regardless, he would tell his own parents since Dean would be there until further notice. He wanted to make sure Dean had more than just one person.

Dean appreciated what the guy was doing but his mind was conditioned, it had been for years. So he assumed Castiel being like this wouldn't last for long. So he'd make the best of it while it lasted. "Castiel?"

The young man looked down at Dean to answer but before he could speak his lips were locked with Dean's.

Dean had sat up with one hand kneading Castiel's thigh while his free arm draped over and around his shoulders. "You know, you're annoying for barging into my life like this and fucking screwing with my head. I was semi-fine until you started asking questions. Why are you even doing this? You don't know me; I don't deserve your time. I'm a waste of your energy." He pulled Castiel closer and laughed dryly. What was he doing? He felt so lost and Castiel was opening up doors that he didn't particularly want to open. He didn't know how to handle this so he did the next best thing; he kissed him again.

He ghosted his hand up his classmate's thigh and deepened the kiss. Dean pulled Castiel further onto the bed to where he was almost in his lap. "Can't you just understand I've accepted being damaged?" He closed his eyes and rested his head on Castiel's shoulder, his tears starting to stain the teen's shirt.

Castiel didn't push away Dean's advances because he knew what was happening. He just brought his arms up to Dean's shoulders and hugged him. "I upset you. Don't I?" He asked softly.

Dean laughed again, quietly nodded. "You piss me off. How in the hell can you just come from out of nowhere and invade my life like this. It… fucking hurts." He nearly choked out the last part.

Castiel managed to get Dean to open up and admit some of the feelings he was having. It would be good for him because holding it in obviously wasn't helping him. He pulled away some and pushed hair from the others teen's face. "How does that feel? How does it feel to say it out loud?"

He grabbed at his chest and ignored the question. It was still painful and as each second that passed he regretted dropping his facade. He didn't like talking about it.

He broke their contact completely and took Dean's hand. "I'll go ask the nurse the earliest we can get you out of here. I'm sure this setting isn't helping you one bit." He stood from the bed and Dean shot a hand out and grabbed his wrist. Castiel glanced back at him with concern. "Yes?"

"You're comin' back, right?" He asked, trying to keep his voice from fading out.

Castiel smiled. "Of course, just relax."

He was worried he had just run the teen away with his actions. It wasn't clear if that's what Dean really wanted or if it was a test. Either way, he wanted Castiel to stay.

Castiel's parents arrived shortly after he left Dean's rooms. They spoke to the doctor and received the details of Dean's situation. Soon, they signed the release papers and got the boy to the car.

The car ride back home was long and quiet, well to Dean it was at least. No one was talking and the tension could be cut with a knife. They didn't question Dean because Castiel made them promise not to. That wouldn't help him. When they pulled up to the house, Dean glanced across the street at his house and tried not to relive the night before. Some of the anxiety exited him when he felt Castiel's hand over his own. He tore his gaze from the window and looked at him. He parted his lips to speak but nothing came out.

"Alright, we're here. Castiel, why don't you take Dean up to your room, we'll get the guest room set up for him."

"Yes, mother." He unbuckled his seat belt exited the car but only seconds later opened Dean's door. He helped him out and took his hand. "I'm going to watch over you."

That was pretty much the last thing Dean remembered Castiel saying.

Two month later-

Dean stood in the hallway in front of his locker tossing a few books in there so he could head home. When he felt a hand on his shoulder he sighed. "Gordon I already told you a thousand times, I'm not going out with you guys tonight, I'm-" He turned around and locked eyed on Castiel. "Cas, hey." He smiled. "You ready to head out?" Since the incident he and Castiel had been spending a lot of time together. They even started driving each other to school. Today was Dean's day so they took the impala.

"Yes." He backed up some since he was standing only inches away from the other. Surprisingly, Dean was used to it now and didn't mind really.

"Here." He tossed his keys to him and closed his locker. "You're driving." With a grin he tossed the strap of his bag over his shoulder and patted Castiel on the back. He didn't let just anyone drive his car so that meant something. "Let's go, feathers."

Castiel sighed at the nickname. "Dean, when will you forget about that?"

"Mmm maybe when I'm old and gray, that's a possibility." A few weeks ago they were at Castiel's house working on a project and somehow Castiel managed to make a bag of feather explode. Long story short, Castiel looked like a giant bird.

The boys headed out to the impala, discussing their homework for tomorrow. "My father is having a gathering for a project for his job. I'm supposed to find a friend to stay with for the night."

Dean blurted out an answer before even thinking it over. "Considerate it done, you'll stay with me." He hadn't even considered the fact that he managed to keep his father and Castiel from meeting.

"Are you sure?" He questioned. He didn't want to cause any problems.

"Yeah." It would be fine right? Castiel had been really good to him. Dean was finally in a good place. It wasn't perfect and he still had ways to go but Castiel had brought him a long way. "Positive. It'll be nice to have you around the house." Sliding into the passenger's seat he glanced out the window. "Come on, grandpa, before I'm 50." He teased.

Castiel rolled his eyes and slid behind the wheel after tossing his backpack into Dean's lap. "Don't rush the elderly. "

Dean laughed and shook his head. He noticed that Castiel had loosened up as the time went by. His actions and speech changed when they were together. They joked around a lot with each other even though Dean had to explain most of it to him. Still, he enjoyed Castiel's company.

Castiel parked in the driveway and turned the engine off. They sat in the car for the longest before Dean started laughing.

"Why are you laughing? I don't understand."

"You're going to be spending the night with me."

"Okay?"

Dean took off his seatbelt and reached over to Castiel and pulled him close. "Don't you remember that last time this happened?"

Castiel flushed and shook his head. "No."

"Exactly. I've been trying to keep this from happening."

Castiel assumed it was because of what happened at the hospital two months ago since they were so close at the moment. So he didn't consider it being another reason. "It's okay."

"You don't get it." He had Castiel over plenty of times but his father was usually gone and he made sure they never crossed paths. This time he would be spending the night. "Don't worry about it." He released Castiel's shirt and got out of the car. "Go get your clothes and shit and come back. We need to get started on this homework."

Castiel nodded. "Alright." He exited the car as well and tossed the keys back to Dean. "I'll be back soon."

Dean walked through the door and was greeted by Sam. "What's up, short stuff?"

Sam smiled and ran over to Dean. "You're back, finally! Guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm headed to Canada in 10 minutes!"

"Canada? Mind if I ask why?"

"The chemistry competition week is there. My class is going."

"Gotcha, that's cool."

He was happy that he was going but he wasn't feeling okay about Dean staying home with their father. It worried him. "Are you going to be okay?"

Dean placed his hand on Sam's shoulder and smiled. "Sam, I'm great. You focus on your dorkathon. Okay?"

"Chemistry!" He laughed.

"Whatever, you just stay focused. I'll even call you just so you know I'm good. Deal?"

"Deal." He held up his fist to Dean.

Dean smirked because they hadn't done that in a while. He bumped their first together and they both made low explosion noises. "Where's mom?"

"Upstairs."

He nodded and headed up there.

After explaining to her about why Castiel needed to stay with them she agreed and had no problem with it. He knew it'd be better if he asked her because she could talk John into anything and no trouble would be started. He learned that the hard way.

When the doorbell rang Sam made it to the door before Dean did. The younger Winchester greeted him and let him in. "You're Castiel right?" He inquired.

"Yes, and you're Sam I assume." He smiled and extended his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Really?"

"Yes, Dean talks about you all the time—"

"Don't tell him that. His ego is already big enough." He teased, grabbing Castiel's wrist and dragging him upstairs.

Sam just blinked. "It was nice meeting you!" He shouted as Dean dragged Castiel away.

"Likewise!"

Dean closed the bedroom door once up there and sighed. "I just saved you from about 20 minutes of a periodic table breakdown."

"Chemistry is fascinating."

"Of course you'd think that." He smirked and flopped down on his bed. "So, what do you want to work on first?" Dean asked.

"You." He answered.