Don't tell

Cas stood in the alley that he only ran away from a few hours ago. He spent the entire morning worrying that the cops would pound down the door and take him away at any second.

He knew what he was doing was wrong. But there was no one that was going to help victims like himself. He had to be the one to protect them. He had to.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself when he couldn't find his missing bracelet anywhere. For all he knows, it could be in the cops possession already. He groaned loudly then started to walk back home.

And then there was Dean. Dean was there last night. He must've saw him. Of course, it was dark outside at the time but he couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling that Dean knew. That he could see right through him.

He walked slowly up the steps to the frat house and sighed. What was he going to do now? Wait until the cops showed up at his door and took him away? It sure looked that way right about now. He pushed the front door open then quietly closed it. If he was lucky, everyone would still be passed out.

"Well well well. Rough night?," Gabe immediately questioned him.

Cas ran his hand through his hair and forced back an eye roll. "No. Why would you say that?," he replied sarcastically as he pulled his jacket off of his shoulders.

Gabe had his arms crossed across his chest as he leaned against the wall. He was shirtless and looked as if he had been up all night. He walked across the living room while stepping over the multiple boys still sleeping. He rolled a pledge off of the couch with ease then took his spot.

The pledge continued to snore loudly even after he hit the hard floor. Cas frowned then sat down on the arm of the couch with his balled-up jacket still in his arms.

"So, where ya been?," Gabe asked him suspiciously. He picked up a beer can off of the floor and popped it open loudly before taking a sip.

Cas shrugged casually. "I needed some air so I went for a walk," he answered him. Well, it wasn't really a lie. He did go on a walk.

Gabe pursed his lips but nodded. He wanted to say something. He could tell.

"What is it, Gabe? I know you. You want to say something that you're afraid I'm not going to like. Just lay it on me," he said as he stared at his best friend.

Gabe sighed. "Dammit, Cas. What's been up with you this week? You're not yourself. You're not participating in any Hell Week events or making your pledges do anything embarrassing. You used to love this week," he admitted.

"Yeah. Used to. Don't you get that this is not all that's happening on this campus? There's stuff out there that's bigger than you or me. But, sure. Let's focus on bullshit like drinking or making an underclassman wear a dress," Cas snapped as he stood up quickly.

Gabe's jaw dropped slightly before he recollected himself. "Fine, Cas. But don't expect me to keep covering for you when Raphael asks me where you are."

Cas walked to the staircase and stopped at the bottom. "Just stay out of it," he said softly in defeat before walking up the stairs slowly. He heard Gabe throw his beer can across the room. He shook his head to himself until he arrived at his door.

He looked down at the floor as he pushed his bedroom door open and sauntered in. He tossed his jacket on his bed before kicking off his shoes. He looked up and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Dean sitting casually at his desk.

Cas clutched his chest and waited for his heartrate to slow back down. Dean raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "You know, for someone who beats people up at night, I expected you to be a little more suspecting," he commented.

Cas backed up into his wall slowly as Deans words registered with him. He quickly erased all the emotion from his face. "I- I have no idea what you're talking about. I went to bed early last night," he fibbed.

"I never said it was last night," Dean replied just as quick. He was caught.

"What are you getting at?," Cas asked as he folded his arms across his chest. He couldn't give up just like that. He had to stick his ground or else this was over before it ever began.

Dean frowned briefly as he reached into his pants pocket. He then pulled out his familiar fraternity bracelet and held it out in the palm of his hand.

Cas quickly placed his hands behind his back and shrugged. He wanted to run across the room and snatch it out of Deans hand but he also wanted to kiss him for not turning it into the police. Shit. Where was that coming from?

"Look familiar?," Dean asked him as he held it up higher.

Cas shook his head. "Uh, no. It's probably one of the brothers' bracelets. They're always losing everything but if you give it to me I'll make sure it goes back to them."

Dean glowered at him. "Who else has the initials C.N? Seems a little farfetched," he challenged him.

Cas looked down nervously at the bracelet still in Deans unwavering hand. His initials shined intimidatingly under his lamps light. He swallowed down all his emotions and thought of the first name that he could. "Casey Negan. That guy is the worst. So, like I said, if you just give it to me, I will make sure he gets it," he lied.

Dean wrapped his hand around the bracelet the tucked it back into his pocket. He looked almost hurt as he thought over his next words. "Why are you lying to me, Cas? I know what you are. I know what you do."

"No, you don't, Dean. You don't know anything about me," Cas shot back. His chest was bubbling up in anger and now all he wanted to do was research his next victim.

"You're hurt. Something or someone came along and hurt you so now you feel the need to hurt others. Am I wrong?," he asked genuinely as he took a step closer.

Cas held out his hand to stop him from coming any closer. "Don't," he said as his voice cracked.

Dean stopped in his tracks as his frown deepened. "Fine, Cas. I'll leave," he replied after a few seconds of looking Cas over.

Cas said nothing as Dean walked around him and opened the door. He stepped out into the hall and began to walk away.

Cas quickly stepped over to the door and walked into the hallway. "Dean, wait!," he called out to him.

Deans hand rested on the banister to the stairs as he looked back in Cas' direction.

Cas bit his lip before sighing. "Look, just please don't- don't tell anyone," he said desperately.

Dean looked down at the floor as he reached back into his pocket. He tossed the bracelet over to Cas.

Cas caught it swiftly while frowning. He wanted to say something. Anything to Dean. He wanted to explain himself but he knew he couldn't. He just wouldn't understand.

Dean waited for him to speak and shook his head when his hopes never came. "Don't worry. I won't," he replied honestly before turning his back on him once again and walking down the stairs.

Cas opened his hand and looked down at the bracelet that suddenly felt so small in his hand. He should be happy. Having this back in his possession only meant that he was safe again. But now Deans gone.

He closed his fist again before slipping back into his room. He shut the door then tossed his bracelet onto his bedside table. He didn't need that falling off again and causing more trouble for himself.

He then tossed himself onto his messy bed and stared up at the ceiling. What the fuck was he going to do?

XXX

"Okay guys, your five-page essay is due next Thursday. Try to have some fun with it and please get it on time," Cas' professor droned on from the front of the room. Cas rolled his eyes and looked down at his blank notebook paper.

"I know it's your last year of college before the real world and it's going to hit you guys hard so enjoy your last year but remember to do your work. You may leave now," his professor dismissed them.

Cas quickly shoved his empty notebook into his back pack then threw it over his shoulder. Everyone rushed past him with relief to be let go from the dreaded class. Cas kept his head down as he walked behind everyone and past his professor.

"Castiel? May I speak with you for a moment?," his professor pulled him aside before he could protest any further.

"Actually, I have somewhere I really need to be right now so," he replied halfheartedly in an attempt to brush him off.

His professors hand shot down onto the desk, causing his arm to block Cas' path. Cas looked down before forcing his face into a tight smile and looking back up. "Yes?," he said in a false friendly tone.

"I hate to put this so bluntly, but you're failing, Castiel. And your parent's money isn't going to help you this time," he said without hesitation.

Cas nodded along. He knew already. Of course, he knew. He stopped doing his work months ago, and was barely getting by only because his parents were alumni and donating very large sums of money to the school.

"Now, I need to see improvement in you or else I have no choice but to drop you from this class which will ultimately flunk you out of University. I don't want to do that so please don't make me. All you have is one more year to go and you've come so far. Please, be smart about what you're doing," his professor pleaded with him.

Cas nodded again and stared at the other man blankly. His words felt like they were going in one ear and swiftly out of the other. Everything has been a blur since that night so nothing matters anymore. Nothing except for revenge.

"Can I go now?," he asked in monotone.

His professor pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed heavily. He waved his hand at the open door. Cas walked past him hastily ad let go of the breath he had been unaware he was holding the entire time he was in there.

He leaned himself against the cool wall in the hallway and sighed. Everything was just going from bad to worse for him now. He looked up at the television that was mounted above him. It usually only displayed school announcements or showed the local news but this was something else.

He took a step closer to get a better look at the screen and felt his heart drop. "Local football legend, Benny Lafitte, has been acquitted on all counts of rape. He was accused earlier this year by multiple college women. The apparent evidence did not hold up in court today and Lafitte is now free of all slander and charges," the anchorman announced as a photo of Benny appeared over his shoulder.

The screen flashed to a scene in front of the local courthouse. Benny held his head high as cameras flashed in front of his face and microphones were shoved at him. "Benny! What can you tell us about the accusations made against you? And how do you feel now that you've won and the charges have been dropped?," a reporter asked him with excitement to be the first one to interview him.

Benny stopped walking and looked over into the camera. "Those bitches in there got what was coming to them. You don't mess with Benny Lafitte. They wanted it and they wanted me. All they wanted now was a little attention," he said with pride. His face was beaming in an ear-splitting grin.

Cas felt his body shake slightly as an unsettling chill shot through his spine and his blood run cold. The camera slowly zoomed in on three girls walking out of the courthouse together. Their heads were down low as their hands covered their faces. He watched in disgust as reporters swarmed them to no doubt question them and accuse them of lying but he knew the truth.

After all, Benny was there that night. He's best friends with Balthazar and he's the one that locked him in the room with him. The camera slowly panned back to Benny's smiling face. He knew he won.

"I'm coming for you."