Dean hated asking for help, but he knew Sammy wasn't as alright as he claimed to be. Really, neither of them were, but Sam got the bad side of John. Dean wasn't really to talk to an adult, so he went to the only two people both Winchesters had really talked to. Gabriel and Castiel Novak.
"No shit, something's wrong with Sam." Gabriel said.
"I do not think that is helping." Cas replied.
"Look, I'm worried about him, you know? I mean, the last time he acted like this..." Dean trailed off. "I just don't want to see him sink any further."
"We'll do what we can." Gabriel gave Dean a small smile.
"And how are you dealing, Dean?" Cas asked.
The question shocked Dean, and he fumbled with his answer for a minute. "I'm dealing." It wasn't the whole truth, but he wasn't lying. Besides, Sam was better and more important than Dean anyway, so it didn't really matter.
Cas frowned at him before Dean walked away from the Novaks.
Castiel hadn't said much since his father had visited him. Only his brother knew what happened, but it was easy to tell that something wasn't quite right, which was why Sam asked if he and his brother wanted to go to see a movie with him and Dean. Another reason Sam asked was because he had made these plans with Dean before they fought, and Sam didn't want to be alone with him. Cas agreed, and that Friday, they went to the movies.
Somehow Cas ended up next to Dean, and he didn't know how to feel about that. Gabriel was on his other side, and then Sam. It was some stupid horror movie, and he found himself mentally picking it apart and it's many mistakes.
It was just Gabriel's type of movie, however, and he knew it was bad but didn't really care. He found himself glancing at Sam throughout the movie, and was happy to see the younger boy was enjoying himself. He knew Cas liked to analyze, so he assumed his brother was having a decent time, and Dean just smirked the whole time.
They decided to stop for ice cream after the movie, and to Dean this seemed kinda like a double date, but apparently he was the only one who thought so. Still, his eyes narrowed at Gabriel when he sat next to Sam.
Cas noted that his brother was back to being his weird self, cracking jokes that turned Cas and Sam's cheeks red. Dean seemed unfazed.
The four of them had a great time, and talked about everything but their families. The only bad thing that happened was that Dean dropped his cone, but he just bought another one, and Sam teased him about it. They were at the ice cream place for about an hour when the bell jingled and someone very unwelcome walked through the doors.
James Novak, flanked by Lucifer, Michael, and Balthazar.
Sam and Dean could see the sudden shift in Castiel and Gabriel, and moved closer to their friends. Dean considered calling Bobby, but decided against it. They didn't need him. Right?
"Father." Cas' voice shook. "I was under the impression that you were done with Gabriel and I."
Balthazar stepped forward, giving Dean a look of disgust before focusing on his brother. "We are willing to reconsider. Perhaps if we got you away from Gabriel..."
"Hey!" Gabriel protested.
"...We are hoping that this phase will pass."
"It's not a phase." Cas said softly. Sam and Dean were getting angry on behalf of the Novaks they didn't want to strangle. "I'm gay, and it's not changing."
Gabriel searched the Winchester's face, happy when he didn't find horror or disgust there. He turned back to Balthazar. "I think you should leave now."
This time it was Lucifer who stepped forward. "Castiel-"
"I think you should leave." Cas said it this time, and Lucifer's face grew sad.
Finally, the eldest Novak raised his voice. "I will not-"
"I think they want you to leave." Dean's voice was low and contained a warning no one within earshot missed. He stood, and Sam did the same. They easily towered over the Novaks. After a second, Gabriel joined them, and so did Cas. James, Balthazar, Michael, and Lucifer backed off, and with one final glare at the Winchesters, left the ice cream store.
Cas and Gabriel plopped back into their seats the second their families were gone, but Sam and Dean remained standing for a few seconds before taking their seats as well.
"What was that about?" Sam asked.
He didn't even know, and he still stood up for us, Gabriel thought with a rush of gratitude. "Our family is very religious. They believe a man should only be with a woman and a woman should only be with a man. I'm bisexual and Cas is gay, so..."
"Why the fuck does it matter if you're into men?" Dean asked, looking at Castiel.
"It's a sin."
"No it's not." Dean's firm voice left no room for argument.
"See? Dean-o agrees with me." Gabriel smiled.
"Did you just call me Dean-o?"
"Maybe."
"Please don't."
Sam smirked, and the tension at the table lessened after that.
