It was 4.30pm when Castiel arrived at the garage. He walked inside and greeted Bobby before going to Dean. He just stood there, watching Dean concentrating on the car he was fixing.

After a few minutes, Dean looked up because he needed something and noticed Castiel standing. "Hey there, have you been waiting for a long time?" he asked, smiling.

"Nah," Castiel replied. "But I wouldn't mind, you know I like to see you work."

"But that's not what came here for today," Dean stated. He sighed. "I have a few more things to do so if you don't mind to get a chair and we can talk while I work."

Castiel agreed, and got inside to get a chair. He greeted Sam, who was happy to see him.

"I missed you, Castiel," he said. Castiel smiled.

"I'm sorry, Sam, I can't come by as much as I used to. I miss you too." Sam smiled and said it was okay, and went on doing his homework.

"So..." Dean started. "What would you wanna know?"

Castiel thought about it. He just wanted to know what was going on between him and his dad, why he had to take care of Sam, why he had those bruises... But he was afraid to ask. Maybe Dean didn't even want to talk about it. Maybe he would be mad. Maybe he would... No, Dean wouldn't break it up. They weren't even official boyfriends since none of them had ever asked it, but they did everything a couple did.

"I want to know what's going on in your life," Castiel decided. "And if you don't wanna talk about it, that's okay, just tell me what you want to. I just don't believe you keep walking into doors, keep falling on tables, and all the times I've seen you work here, you have never hurt yourself that badly, what is happening?"

Dean sighed once more, and started talking. He kept working to not show the pain on his face, but Castiel still saw it. It hurt him.

"My dad... Is the reason we move on to another town every time. I have been with you for a while now, and I almost forgot we are not gonna stay here forever, although I want to. I will have to say goodbye to you soon, and move on.

He works, yes, but spends the money on drinks. He goes to the bar every fucking day, and comes home drunk. I stay up to make sure he goes to bed safely, and to protect Sammy if anything happens. He has been behaving well past weeks, until like a week ago. He came home, and got mad at me. He..." Dean struggled, and Castiel knew what would come.

"He hits me; he hurts me, and blames me for everything. But I can't do anything against him. If I'm not there, he will hurt Sammy and I can't let that happen. Sammy doesn't deserve this life. I can't go to the police or anything, because they will take me and Sammy away from him. We will be placed in some house for kids like us, but I can't let that happen either. Sam has to have a home, he needs someone he can trust, and I'm the only person who can do that.

It goes okay, as long as John is in a good mood. But he's been worse and worse past days. He comes home at 3am; he throws his anger on me, blames me, and then goes to bed. I have to clean up his mess before I can go to bed. I don't sleep much, but I have to do it this way." Dean paused.

"Once I have the right age and enough money, I will get away. I will get Sammy and the Impala, and go away, away from my dad, away from anyone who dares to go after us. But I have to wait. So for now, this is the only thing I can do.

It was silent for a few minutes, and Castiel thought about what Dean had told him. How could John do this to his kids? How could he? Dean had warned him.

There is no use in getting to know me because I will probably be leaving in a few weeks again;Dean had said when he introduced himself. But he and Castiel had become friends, and even more than friends. Why did Dean do that when he knew he would be leaving again? Did he want to... hurt Castiel?

"Dean... Why did you do this," Castiel gestured between him and Dean "when you knew you would be leaving again?"

Dean froze. He waited a moment before looking at Castiel, right into the blue eyes. "Because," he said, "because once you said you didn't expect me to befriend you, I felt a sadness. Not because of the denial, but for you. No pity though, I don't to pity. But I know once someone tells people they don't expect them to be friend, they have gone through... things.

And I know it, because I did it too. I don't befriend anyone because I don't want to say goodbye any more. I don't want to hurt people by letting them to get to know me, and saying goodbye a few weeks later.

And I don't know what your reason was, but you were a good guy, Cas. You just did what you had to do, showing me around, and let me do what I wanted to do. And for the first time in 2 years, I wanted to know you. Really know. And that's why I befriended you."

As the days went by, Dean appeared at school less and less. He worked at the garage for almost 5 days a week, and the only time he and Castiel saw each other is when Castiel came by at the garage, but it wasn't as much as they wanted. The times Dean was at school, he always got asked why he didn't go to school every day and why his dad never answered the phone. At one point, Dean got so sick of the questions; he didn't go to school at all and got a fulltime job at the garage.

Sam was at Bobby's most of the time too, but not because Dean had to work. It was safe for Sam, this way he wouldn't get hurt by John. John always had cared more for Sam, but once he was drunk, he didn't know what he did. Every day, Dean went home after work, made dinner, and once their dad went out again, Dean brought Sam to Bobby. Sam had a room for his own now, and Bobby was more of a father to him than John ever had been.

Meanwhile Dean got beaten up almost every night by his dad. He knew this couldn't go on for long, but he didn't show anything. He didn't want Sam, Castiel or Bobby worried about him. It surprised Dean that John had behaved well for so long, this was the longest time they had ever been in one town. He sighed as he thought about Bobby and Castiel. He had to say goodbye soon, and get back on the road with Sammy and John.

The moments Castiel could come by at the garage were always the best. Castiel would just sit there, doing his homework, or look at how Dean worked. They talked, about Charlie, about school, about the stupid teachers.

Dean told Castiel stories from the past, about how he and Sam had done all kinds of stupid things, just to entertain themselves when John wasn't home. The one subject they avoided was John. Dean didn't talk about him, and Castiel knew what he wanted to know, so he didn't ask any more questions.

It worried Castiel however. Every day, Dean seemed to have fresh bruises, and sometimes his face screwed up when Castiel touched him. Dean tried to hide his pain well, but both Castiel and Bobby saw it. Sometimes Dean would just sit on the roof of a car, doing nothing, staring at the air, pain in his eyes. But when he heard someone, he always jumped up and got back to work like nothing happened.

One day, Dean and Castiel talked about the future. Castiel didn't yet know what he was going to do, but Dean had it all planned out.

"I am gonna do the same as I have been doing for a few years. I am gonna work, I'm gonna take care of Sammy, make sure he is safe, gets to school, and gets to have the life he deserves. I use some of the money I get for food and stuff, but whatever is left, I put somewhere secret where John can't find it.

Once I have enough money, I will take Sammy; I will take the Impala and leave. I will get another job, and do the best I can to get Sammy to school. He wants to be a lawyer, and I will make sure he gets there. I will get him the money and all the stuff he needs. Sam deserves this, and my only goal in life is to make sure Sammy gets where he wants to go.

I am already hurt enough, I know I don't have a future. But that doesn't mean Sam can't have one. As long as Sam is under my protection I will make sure he doesn't get to have the life I have. He won't be able to handle this, and he shouldn't be either."

"But neither do you," Castiel said softly.

"I know." Dean sighed. "But it's too late for me, not for Sammy. The only thing I want is to protect Sammy and that's what I will do." Castiel knew Dean would do anything for his little brother.

"Hey Dean," he said. "If I get a job too, and keep the money safe... Can I..."

"Can you what? You can ask me anything, you know that." Dean saw Castiel struggle with his words.

"Can I go with you and Sam? I know we only know each other for a short time, but Dean I really care about you and together we can help Sam more, and I... I just don't want you to leave."

Dean swallowed. He knew what Castiel meant. "Of course you can. Once I have enough money to get away, you will come with us. And... Thanks. For helping me so much. Not only with what you just said, but the way you care about me, no one has ever done that before. It really means a lot."

After that, he hugged Castiel and they exchanged a few kisses before Dean put on a Metallica CD and got back to work while Castiel did his homework. He smiled. Dean, who "didn't do chick-flick moments", had done pretty much chick-flick moments since him and Castiel were together.

And in that moment, both of them doing their own thing, and not thinking about leaving or anything, in that moment, they were happy.