He and Sam had been walking home after a long day at school. Sam was ten and he was fourteen. The younger Winchester was playing with an old ball he'd found. When he had kicked it too far ahead of him, he chased after it, disappearing around the corner. Dean didn't rush knowing Sammy would come back around that corner, smiling widely any second. When he didn't, Dean ran. As he barreled around the corner, his throat clenched in fear at the sight he saw.

There was a man who looked about thirty holding Sammy down. The terrified little boy was struggling and whimpering around a cloth shoved in his mouth. The man was trying to shove the squirming boy's pants down, obviously trying to rape him.

With a scream of rage and fear Dean launched himself at the man and began throwing punches like their father had taught him. He pinned the man to the ground, sitting on his chest as he hit him. As tears streamed down his face he punched the man till he was unconscious and beyond. He only stopped at Sammy's terrified begging.

Growling, Dean walked away with Sammy, leaving the man's face an unrecognizable bloody pulp. The older Winchester's hand was dripping with the rapist's blood as well as his own, having ripped open his knuckles, as he held Sammy's hand.

The older Dean gasped, snapping out of the flashback to find he was in tears. Both he and Sam had never mentioned that day again and had, in fact, blocked it out of their memories. Dean had failed to protect Sam and had never forgiven himself. He began to cry in earnest, not even noticing Castiel until he was hugging him.

"Dean? What's wrong?"

Dean spoke as if from a great distance. "I-I failed him...Sammy."

"No, I'm sure you didn't. Shhh." Castiel rubbed in circles on Dean's back.

"N-no! H-he was almost raped! At ten! He was only a little b-boy!"

Castiel paled and tightened his hug. "Is that why you're so protective of me? Someone told me how Wilson and those guys harass you."

Dean nodded numbly. "I...just remembered it. He was only ten..."

"Shhh. He's okay." Castiel's heart clenched as he turned away, coughing. He had been hoping that there might have been a different reason, such as Dean holding feelings for him. He could not help it: he was falling for the taller man.