OH MY GOD I'M ALIVE. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO GET OUT. HARDEST CHAPTER TO WRITE EVER. I HATED IT AND AM GLAD IT'S OVER.

"Care to explain your new fashion statement?" Michael asked as he walked outside.

I stood beside Dean's car, filling the fuel tank just enough to get me to the nearest gas station. I looked at the bandages wrapped around my hands and looked back at him, "Last night I almost got raped," I muttered, not being able to look him.

It was silent for a while, causing me to look up in time to see Michael head inside, "Mike?" I called out to him. I nervously pulled the red jug out of the fuel tank and set it on the ground before hurrying inside. I turned into the kitchen in time to see Michael grabbing Gabriel by the collar of his shirt, a trickle of blood running from the shorter boy's nose.

"Michael!" I called out and ran over to pull him off, "Let go of him!" I demanded, as I pulled his fist off of Gabriel's collar and stood between my two brothers.

"Castiel, move," Michael demanded, his eyes going dark.

"No."

"Castiel, it's fine," Gabriel said quietly from behind me, "I deserve it."

"No! No one deserves anything, okay? I handled it and it's over. It's done."

"I swear the moment I see that son of a bitch I'm gonna-"

"Make him angrier and more determined," I said through gritted teeth before he could finish his sentence, "I said I handled it. You guys doing anything is only gonna make it worse. I-I'm fine," I stuttered. But I wasn't. I was scared to death thinking of the possibility of seeing Alastair tomorrow.

I watched my older brother's jaw clench as he stared at me for a moment more before walking away. I heard him go up the stairs then slam the door to his room. I turned around to look at my other brother, inspecting his nose and noticing his eye beginning to swell also before telling him to sit as I got him some ice. I handed the bag to him while I wiped the blood off his face.

"Don't," he said grabbing my wrist, "You don't need to."

"Shut up," I told him, slapping his hand away, "You didn't technically force me to do it. You didn't threaten me or anything. You just asked and I said okay. It's not your fault you're an idiot, got that?" I asked, dabbing at the area below his nose, "tilt your head back."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm not unscathed," I say waving my hand above his eyes to show him my bandages "but I'll live."

"How'd you get those?"

"I'm an uncoordinated mess, who, when in panic, doesn't know how to run on flat surfaces,"I shrugged as I threw the napkin away and leaned against the counter, "same goes for my feet. I threw my shoes off so it would be easier to run faster."

"You're such an idiot," he shakes his head.

"I get it from you."

There was a moment of silence before Gabriel spoke again, "Mom used to do this for me," he said, gesturing to the ice bag, "exact same way. She'd fill it up halfway then wrap it in a paper towel then I'd stand close by, making sure I didn't take it off and sneak away to go play some more," he smiled at the memory then looked at his younger sister, "you know, you don't have to take her place. We're big boys Castiel. We're men!" he said flexing his bicep.

"I'm not trying to take her place," I said defensively as I played with the necklace that dangled below the hollow of my neck.

He shrugged, "I get that but you always give out this serious mom vibe. That party we went to last week, that was your first in how long? A year, two?"

"Why don't you give Michael some of this crap too? You think I act like mom? He tries to take dad's place all the time. He lives in dad's shadow and now that dad's gone he's taking his place."

"Well someone needed to take charge of three crying kids."

"And someone did. You know, our older brother Inias? The one that's barely around so he can take care of four teenagers even though he's barely out of college."

Gabriel was quiet as he realized he had forgotten his oldest brother. I crossed my arm and held onto my shoulder as I avoided making eye contact. "I'm gonna go. Get some gas for the car," I announced before turning around.

"You're right," he said quietly, putting the bag down, "Michael does act like dad. And you do act like mom. But it's not always a bad thing. I just . . . it's just you're turning into one of those kids who have to grow up really fast and barely live their lives. Michael at least plays sports and goes out to parties and stuff."

"I'm fine doing what I'm doing. I have friends, I'm happy."

"Are you?" Gabriel asked solemnly.

"Yes," I said holding my arms before turning around and leaving.

I'm fine.

"Gross," I grimaced walking by Gabriel as he continued squirting chocolate syrup over strawberry syrup on top of a stack of pancakes.

"As if it's any different from you making Pop Tarts."

"Excuse you. Pop Tarts are actually good," I crossed my arms after starting the toaster.

The sound of air started coming out of the bottle and Gabriel sighed, "Not even enough to put in my milk. Why don't they make bigger versions of these?" he said looking at the now empty bottle of chocolate syrup.

I raised my eyebrow at him, "They do, your holding it."

He shook his head, "36 ounces is not enough."

I rolled my eyes and turned around to put my now warm Pop Tarts on a plate. I sat down across from Gabe and bit onto the edge of one.

Michael came rushing into the kitchen as he grabbed a glass. He stood at the table and began pouring, "gotta hurry up and get to school for a football meeting," he said chugging down the milk. He walked behind me and I held out my other Pop Tart, "Thanks," he said, patting my head before hurrying to the door.

I stood up from my own seat putting my plate in the sink, "Can you give me a ride today?" Gabriel asked through a mouthful of pancake.

"I'm picking Dean and his little brother up in Dean's car and then I'm gonna ride home with them."

He shrugged, "So?"

"How're you gonna get home?"

"Who said I was coming home?" he raised his brow suggestively, taking a bite into his pancakes.

"Gross," I repeated as I thought about the last time Kali and Gabriel were in a car together. I looked at the time, "Let's go then," I suggested, rising from my seat and outing my plate in the sink. He scarfed down the rest of his "breakfast" and followed me out to the Impala.

"Backseat," I told him when I saw him reach for the passenger side door.

"But-"

"No. Backseat."

He made a face before getting sliding into the spot behind me. I drove to Dean's house to see the two Winchester boys waiting outside. Once I pulled in, I moved to the passenger, allowing Dean his regular spot in the driver's seat.

"Hey, Baby," he said, stroking the wheel of the car. Out of context, one might think he was actually speaking to me. They would be totally and utterly wrong.

"Cas?" Gabriel asked raising a brow. I shrugged as Sam got in the spot behind me and I noticed Gabriel staring at him. Gabe caught my eye and I shot him a look before he clenched his jaw and stared out the window.

"Hi, Castiel," Sam smiled as he buckled his seatbelt.

"Hello, Sam," I smiled at the younger Winchester. I looked over at Dean, "at least someone says hello to me."

He gave me an apologetic look before pulling out of the driveway and made our way to school.

Please don't kill me for making his so short. I just wanted to get it out because I was making you guys wait so long. Rest assured, I'll try to get a start on Chapter 10 and will get it out as soon as I can muster it up.