Sorry this chapter is so short. I was going to wait and post a longer one later, but then I figured I'd go ahead and post this so you guys wouldn't have to wait so long, haha. Anyway, sorry for the cliffhanger ;) This story has taken a different direction. It was going to be all happy/lovey-dovey/comfort and everything like that, but now I've decided to take a darker route. When I first started writing this, I was in a never-ending good mood...at least it seemed that way. Now I'm back to my usual mood and I need some angst ;) lol so bad things are going to start happening as the story progresses and it will carry Dean and Cas through their strange, evolving relationship and everything, and I hope it will help make the characters better, in my opinion anyway. Don't think it's going to be all bad stuff and no humor from now on - that's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying a few darker elements will be thrown in ;) kay? Kay. Instead of this story being mainly about how Castiel evolves and how Dean seems to save him from himself, it's going to be about how they both seem to save each other, which I think is better. lol Anyway, enjoy!

Onward!

Chapter Seven

"Wha' d'ya mean?" Dean slurred as he blinked stupidly at Castiel, leaning against a wall as thought for balance. Castiel frowned at him and stepped forward slightly.

"You're drunk."

"S' wha' if I am?" Dean questioned, still slurring greatly, staggering a little when he started to move away from the wall. To help him, Castiel moved forward even more and grabbed his arm as though to steady him and keep him from stumbling toward the ground.

"I'm taking you home."

"Lemme 'lone," Dean said, pushing him away with a soft growl, looking somewhat dizzy.

"Come on." Castiel kept a hold of his arm and tugged him forward, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as though to guide him and keep him on his feet at the same time. He had to ignore the warm feeling it brought him, or at least he tried to, but that was getting harder and harder to do these days. Dean tried to pull away from him and he sighed. "Would you stop? You're hammered."

And so they continued performing their skit. Having Dean close like that was definitely a bonus, a happy moment in Castiel's day, and he did enjoy the fact that the two got to touch so much during the skit. Even though Dean didn't feel the same - because, really, why would he? - it was still a wonderful feeling. Castiel felt like he belonged, like he actually had friends, and Dean was great to him.

Life seemed to be going well.

"Congrats, guys," Anna said as the two of them got off the stage. "I'm going to be picking a few of the skits to perform next month at the theater, and I think you guys might get picked."

"No," Dean said, eyes wide. "No, no, no. I don't even want to act, damn you!"

"Was it really that bad?" Anna asked with a smile.

"That's besides the point," Dean grumbled, crossing his arms. Rock music echoed around them and for a moment, Castiel was startled, confused as to where it was coming from, but then Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. It was red in color, with flames licking the sides. Castiel had the impression Dean had done the flames himself, seeing as how he hadn't seen a phone with flames on it before. He liked Dean's phone. Too bad he didn't have a cell phone of his own, though… "Sammy?" Dean asked, his brow furrowing in confused. Hurried rumblings came from the other side of the phone and Dean's eyes went wide. He turned away from him and Anna and ran his fingers through his short hair. "Shit. Listen, go to your friend's house, okay? Now."

Why did Dean sound so urgent? What was wrong? Concern flared in Castiel's chest but he kept his words back, frowning. Anna shook her head and gently touched Dean's shoulder before she walked away, leaving Castiel to wonder if she knew what was going on. If so, why didn't she say anything? He wanted to know what was happening.

"I'll pick you up there later," Dean promised, his back still turned to Castiel. "I'll deal with him. Aren't I always? See ya." He hung up and slid the phone back into his pocket before he heaved a large sigh, shaking his head as though muttering to himself. Then he turned and faced Castiel. "Look, I have to go…I can take you home now or you can call someone, I guess, but I really have to go. I'm sorry." He blinked at him with apologetic green eyes.

Castiel frowned. "Is everything okay, Dean?" he asked, concerned at the wild look in Dean's eyes.

Dean nodded, his expression blanking somewhat, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "Yeah. Yeah, everything's fine. So?"

"Um…I can call someone…if you want."

"I can take you, it's no problem," Dean said, "it just has to be now. Is that okay or do you want to stay here until the end and have someone come get you?"

"I'll go with you," Castiel said. He was worried about how Dean was behaving at the moment, as to why he was acting this way. He didn't believe everything was 'okay', as Dean had told him. He knew it wasn't. Something was wrong but he just couldn't place it.

Dean nodded once and then started walking out of room 124, leaving Castiel to follow after him silently. Dean's shoulders were tensed, hunched up as though he were trying to keep something to himself. His eyes were narrowed and wild, which certainly did not make for a good mix. He wasn't sure if Dean was worried and anxious about something or if he was angry, looking for a fight. He had never seen either expression on his face before, and it worried him that it was happening now.

What had Sam called about? What was going on?

The two climbed into the Impala. Dean didn't even turn the radio on, just peeled out of the parking lot. "Seatbelt," Castiel reminded him worriedly, frowning at him from the passenger seat. Dean grumbled something silently and then snapped the belt across him, his grip tight on the steering wheel, turning his knuckles the color of snow. "Dean…what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Cas. It's…Everything's fine," Dean told him, but Castiel knew he was lying. His voice was too flat, too…not Dean. It was different from the exuberance it normally held, the cheerful nature…what was going on? It was only serving to worry him further.

"…Are you sure?" Castiel asked worriedly.

"Yeah." Short, simple, stern.

Dean obviously didn't want to talk about it. But Castiel was worried that if he didn't talk about it, something would happen. Maybe it would eat him up inside if he kept it in, and Castiel wanted to help him. Dean had certainly helped him, probably more than either of them realized. Before Dean, Castiel had been shy, quiet…and he certainly hadn't felt like he belonged. He hadn't thought it possible to feel like this…until Dean came along. Castiel felt like he owed it to him to at least try and help, even if there was nothing he could do. Besides, seeing Dean like this wasn't right.

"Dean…"

"Drop it, Cas," Dean said, his voice not harsh but without emotion. Then he paused. "Sorry. I just…don't want to talk about it. Okay?"

"…Okay," Castiel said slowly, his frown deepening. He wasn't upset that Dean had gotten snippy with him - no, he was worried. Dean behaving this way was…completely and utterly wrong. He settled back in his seat, casting puzzled, worried glanced toward Dean every few minutes as the silence dragged on.

It lasted until Dean arrived at Castiel's house. Castiel opened his door and looked back at Dean.

"Are you…sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Cas," Dean said, offering him a weak version of his usual charismatic smile. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay. If you're sure…" Castiel shook his head and climbed out of the car.

Dean sped off and Castiel watched him go.

Sure, maybe it was none of his business…but he felt like he needed to make it his business, if this kept up. This was strange, confusing, and completely unlike Dean.

Something was wrong.

Dean wasn't at school the next day.

Castiel kept looking up each time someone entered first period. Dean sometimes came in late, so maybe he would today, right? Dean was rarely ever absent - he'd only ever been absent once since Castiel had been here, and that was so he could look after Sam, who had been sick. That was before Castiel had met the younger Winchester, though. Then, Castiel hadn't had this twisting, uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

So why did he today?

Dean wasn't at school.

Something was wrong.

He could feel it twisting violently in his gut but he didn't know what to do or how to make it stop.

Thanks for reading! I'm not sure when the next chapter will be posted. I have recently (today) gotten the urge to start a story I thought of a few weeks ago called I'm Not Crazy, and it's an original fiction so it won't be on this site. But anyway, if I don't post for a few days, it's because of that and because I have the PSAT test on Wednesday and a Psych 101 test on Wednesday as well. I also have writing club tomorrow so that will take away from some of my freetime. So the update might not be for a few days, depending on when I feel the urge and how powerful it is. Then again, I might update quickly since I'm doing a little more dark stuff, eh? But anyway. I want this story to progress as slowly as it has been simply because I think it's a fairly good pace for what I want to do. I'm going to stop talking now 'cause this is getting long and I didn't intend for it to be. Anywho, thanks again for reading and thank you all so much for the reviews! Please continue to do so!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~