I do not own any of Supernatural.

Thanks so much to Anon, Serie11, debraelq, r2metoo, thenobelunicorn, plonkeydonkey, Jessie, Pyro42x, CorprallFrond, Prongs Smitch, blackappleboyd, and the six guests for reviewing and for all of your support. It helped me so much.

John sat on the porch glaring out at the darkness, waiting on the headlights that would signal his oldest son's return. He lifted the beer bottle to his lips but suddenly it was ripped away and smashed onto the ground.

"What the hell?" he demanded, standing up and whirling around.

Bobby stood there glaring at him.

"You wanna end up alone or dead? Cause that's where you're headed!" he growled.

"Piss off, Bobby." John grumbled, turning away.

The other man yanked him back and glowered into his eyes despite the fact that John was taller.

"I wish that I could. I really do. But you got two boys that you are screwing to hell with every word that comes out of your mouth and every drink of alcohol you take. I happen to care about those boys so I got to do something about it. So I'm finally stepping in." he fired back.

John scoffed, staggering back as Bobby shook his head at him.

"You aren't their father." John snapped, shooting him a vicious look.

"You ain't much of a daddy either. They have to have someone to lean on."

John looked shocked as well as angry. Bobby sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"But if you want to change that, you're gonna have to work for it. You're gonna come back here and stay at my house. You're gonna stop drinking and work at my garage every day when Dean isn't there. I'm gonna keep all the money you earn until there's enough to get you in a rehab program."

John stared up at him, speechless with surprise at his words.

"Or you can keep going the way you're going and you can get the hell out of here before you do any more damage."

Bobby backed towards the door, unaware that Sam was on the other side listening to every word.

"It's your choice." He said, pushing it open to walk inside as Sam darted away.

Castiel took a deep breath of the cool night air as he faced the water.

"I was not aware that you felt anything for me." he admitted, looking down at Dean's hand that was sitting on his knee.

He could feel the warmth of his hand through the thin suit pants.

"I didn't think I was being all that sneaky about it." Dean replied, squeezing his knee lightly.

Castiel glanced over at him, pressing his lips together as he studied him.

"I am not all that observant when it comes to that sort of thing. Unless someone comes out and informs me that they are interested, I will not figure it out on my own."

Dean let out a chuckle.

"That's very… you." he acknowledged.

Castiel considered him for a moment, lifting his chin and letting out a sigh.

"When I thought my feelings were unrequited, I was more content." He informed him.

Dean frowned with confusion and a hint of hurt, wondering what the hell happened to make him say that.

"You're not happy?"

Castiel bit his lip and looked at the water.

"I am but… I do not wish to get you into trouble. That is a very real possibility considering that you are not as uninterested in me as I previously imagined that you were. It was easier before you kissed me back." he explained.

Dean stared at him.

"It wasn't easier for me. You've been in my head and driving me insane." He told Cas.

Castiel looked over at him.

"Whether I kiss you back or not, I'll still be thinking about you." Dean said, shrugging.

The younger male sighed again and stood up.

"You've been working at the high school for much longer than I've been your student. As much as I would like to ignore it, your position comes with certain expectations that would be defied by any relationship between us that is not friendship. It would be unwise to engage any further despite the fact that I do want to kiss you again."

Dean shook his head, standing up as well and stepping towards him.

"You always have to be so logical, don't you?" he said, reaching out to touch his wrist.

Castiel looked up at him as his thumb stroked the skin there.

"Someone must be." he whispered, regretting the words as he said them. "You are led by your heart, by your feelings. I have noticed that in the past few months of knowing you. It would be difficult for you to separate yourself from that so I must be the one to do it. For both of our sakes, I do not think that it would be wise."

Dean pulled him closer, for the moment not even caring that this was his student and that he was younger than him.

"So we go back to the way it was? Teacher and student? Acquaintances?" he asked, looking down into the dark-haired teenager's big blue eyes.

"I do believe that would be wise." He agreed, itching to close the gap between them but refusing to do so.

Dean nodded, leaning down closer to him.

"One more time, then." He murmured.

Castiel let out a soft sigh and leaned up, allowing their lips to meet softly as Dean's hand entwined in his.

His jacket was slung over his arm as he walked up to the house. Castiel didn't hear anything as he opened the door and stepped inside. When he turned around from locking it, he saw his mother standing in the entryway.

"I'm sorry." She said, looking truly regretful. "I should have said something. I should have told Zachariah to be quiet. I just… we've always let him rant and rave. I thought that it didn't bother any of you. You never acted like it did. I was certain that you were able to block it out like your father and I."

Rebecca stepped forward as she said all of this.

"It's nothing for you to apologize about, Mother. I recognize that you have to keep a good relationship with him. He's dad's brother." he shrugged.

She shook her head, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

"Your our son. That's more important." she said, her voice breaking as her eyes shone with tears. "We made him leave."

Castiel's eyes widened with surprise.

"Well, your father did. He told Zachariah that he was not welcome back into our house until he was able to keep his mouth shut about anything that wasn't his business. He didn't take to that too kindly. He started saying that you should be sent to live with him so that he could get you back on the right track. Lucifer and Michael stepped in at that point and told him that if he didn't leave that he would find himself being forcibly thrown out of the door."

The corners of his mouth turned up and she nodded, expecting that reaction out of him.

"Usually I would be opposed to any of you treating your elders in such a way but… he's deserved it for quit a while." she said, leaning in to hug him. "I'm sorry that we didn't stand up to him a long time ago. I am so proud of you for doing what we couldn't."

Castiel nodded, surprised by everything that happened that evening.

"Where did you go?" Rebecca asked, pulling him into the empty kitchen to make him a plate of food.

"To the park by the river." He said simply, sitting at the island and watching as she bustled around.

"Hey." Chuck walked up and ruffled his hair. "Sorry about earlier kiddo."

"It's all right, Dad. I'm fine." He shrugged, smiling up at him.

He nodded, sitting next to him.

"Your siblings are pretty worried about you. Once you eat you should probably go tell them you're all right." he said.

Castiel nodded, digging into the food as soon as his mother set it in front of him. Rebecca watched him, tilting her head to the side with a calculating look. He froze, staring at her questioningly.

"Everything all right, Mom?" he asked, concerned.

"Yes it's fine. I just… did something else happen tonight, Castiel?" she asked.

He shook his head, shrugging.

"No." he lied.

"Hmm…" she said, giving him one last look before moving to clean up the kitchen.

Chuck rose to help her and, once their backs turned, Castiel let out the breath he'd been holding and rubbed his forehead with his free hand.

"Well after hearing your story, I can't decide which one of us had a more dramatic Thanksgiving dinner." Jo claimed as they walked towards the garage.

Castiel's heart was fluttering in his chest but he tried to ignore it. It was their first day back from break and the first time he would see Dean since the night in the park. He'd remained in the library during his free period to prolong it as long as possible.

"What happened with yours?" he questioned, pretending not to know so that she wouldn't know that he saw Dean that night.

He didn't like having to keep it to himself but there was no way that he was going to risk Dean getting in trouble for anything.

"John, Dean's dad… he made a bit of a scene. Dean walked out like you did." she informed him.

Castiel nodded.

"I hope that he's all right now." He said as they walked into the room with Meg trailing close behind him.

"I can cheer him up if he's not." She said in a sultry voice, walking past with a sway to her hips as she winked at Castiel. "You too, Clarence."

Jo made a disgusted noise but Castiel wasn't paying attention. His eyes were drawn to Dean leaning against his desk. His eyes scanned the students and rested on Castiel, a flash of something going through him.

"Come on." Jo sighed, putting her hand on his arm and steering him away. "You're torturing yourself."

His shoulders slumped slightly as he walked to his car and leaned against the frame.

"I'm not torturing myself." He denied.

She looked at him doubtfully, interrupted from saying anything else by Dean's voice informing the class of what they were doing that day. They were learning out to change out a car battery. Castiel's mind flashed back to that night and he smiled slightly as he bent over the car, his eyes immediately falling on the place where the battery belonged. After several minutes of lecture, they were finally let go to insert their battery. He knew that Dean was probably walking around the garage helping people out. When he felt a presence next to him and smelled his distinctive scent, he inhaled deeply and tried not to react too much.

"How's it going, Cas?" Dean questioned, leaning over the hood as well.

"I'm doing fine… I think." He said, frowning down at the engine as he tried to remember where the cables connected.

Dean reached out and grasped his hand. Goosebumps erupted on his skin and he shivered at the touch, something that didn't escape the mechanic's notice. He gave him instructions in a low tone as he told him which cables went where. Dean watched closely as Castiel connected them with careful precision.

"You didn't come during your free period." The older man murmured quietly so that only Castiel could hear him.

"I was not sure if it would be appropriate… or even if I would be welcomed." He admitted just as softly.

Dean let out a sigh, his hand flitting over Castiel's again.

"You're always welcome." He said as he turned away, his breath ghosting over Castiel's neck and making him shiver again as Dean passed by him to see how Jo was doing.

Throughout the lesson, Castiel felt Dean's eyes on him every once in a while. He was the first to finish the car battery so he was sitting there reading ahead in the book. He willed himself not to return the gaze, staring resolutely at the words in front of him. Finally, his will broke and he looked up to see Dean looking into Meg's engine with her. The young woman was doing everything in her power to keep his attention but he was barely paying her any mind. His eyes were staring straight at Castiel. The younger man flushed and looked down, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from lifting.

Moments later, he felt a very different set of eyes on him. He looked up again and was shocked to see an openly hostile look in Meg's eyes instead of the flirty look she usually had. Castiel blanched and looked down again, a cold chill running down his spine that was immediately chased away when he felt Dean's eyes on him once more.

As the rest of the class packed up, Castiel remained behind. Jo didn't even blink, waving at him before walking out with everyone else. He ignored the glare that Meg sent him once again, watching as Dean picked up his own tools that he'd brought out to help. When the mechanic was done and they were alone, he straightened up and turned around. Genuine surprise flashed across Dean's face as Castiel pushed off of where he was leaning on his car.

"This was a difficult class to get through." He admitted, closing the door and turning around.

His hand flicked the lock and Dean heard it, squinting his eyes slightly at the sound.

"I bet you're wishing that you'd dropped my class instead of art." The older male quipped, smirking at him.

Castiel shook his head, fumbling with the hem of his t-shirt.

"I would never wish that." he corrected him.

Dean sighed and moved towards him slightly.

"I'm sorry if I distracted you. I just really couldn't stop looking."

"That night kept running through your mind?" Castiel questioned.

Dean nodded slowly, looking like a child who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Mine as well." he sighed, biting his lip as he looked down at his hands. "I can't seem to let go of it as easily as I thought I would be able to. You aren't easy to shrug off."

Dean let out a short chuckle and Castiel looked up at him with confusion.

"Sorry it's just… that's not the general consensus of everyone else who's met me. In fact, a lot of people in my life have an easy time of moving on from me." he sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Castiel frowned, not liking that idea.

"Then those people are idiots." He said before he knew it.

Dean looked at him with surprise once more.

"You know what?" he said, looking partly conflicted but also like he decided something.

Castiel tilted his head to the side.

"What?" he questioned.

The older male let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head.

"Screw it." he said, charging forward.

Castiel's eyes widened and suddenly they were kissing. He immediately relaxed and responded, pressing back and sliding his hands into Dean's short hair. They stumbled backwards until his back was against the wall, their bodies pressed together. Dean's hands went to his hips, sliding into the belt loops of his low-slung jeans as he nibbled on his lower lip. Castiel sighed, repeating Dean's sentiment in his head. At the moment, it didn't matter. This felt good and right. Screw it, he wanted to kiss his teacher and he didn't care about the appropriateness of the situation.

They were sitting on the floor of the garage. Castiel was leaning into him and playing with one of his hands.

"My dad is staying with Bobby again. He's working for him to save up money for rehab."

Castiel moved his head and looked into his eyes.

"That's good?" he questioned.

Dean shrugged.

"We'll see how it goes, I guess."

He nodded and entwined their fingers.

"I hope that it works out for you and your brother. You deserve something good to happen." Castiel said, squeezing his hand gently.

Dean stared back at him.

"Something good already has happened." He said, reaching out to stroke his thumb over his lower lip.

Castiel sighed and smiled slightly, leaning in to kiss him softly. Dean caught him before he could draw away and green eyes stared into blue.

"Are we really doing this?" he asked.

Castiel hesitated, considering the words in his head.

"I don't really know how to stop." He admitted.

Dean thought about that and sighed.

"I don't know how either." He agreed.

Cas took a deep breath and lifted his free hand, sliding it into his hair.

"Then I suppose the decision is made for us."

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