"Somebody fucking did it!" Dean stormed into Lawrence precinct, smoke practically flooding from him. "They did it before, they did it again, and now someone's died! We need to get on this!"

"Woah, woah, Dean, wait. What're you talking about? Who's died?" Charlie stood to meet him.

"It's arson, Charlie. That's my second apartment that's been burned to the ground, and now, Jess is dead. Sam's under observation at the hospital, and Cas fucking blames himself. Someone's targeting me, I know it."

While he was speaking, the other officers gained gradually horrified expressions.

"Jessica…is…she's dead?" Benny spoke. Dean had told them all about his brother and Sam's girlfriend in the past, hell, he even had a photo of both of them together on his desk.

"Yeah. Someone killed her, I know it."

Bobby appeared at his office door, about to yell. Something gave him pause, and when Dean explained, Bobby scowled. "You're right, Dean. Second place in as many months? That's awful suspicious. Who would be targetin' you, boy?"

"I…I don't know. But we're detectives! We can work this out. We have to!"

Bobby nodded, "File it an open case and get on it then!" He disappeared into his office once again.

"Dean…If you need a place to stay, you could move back in with me." Charlie offered lowly. "I mean, whoever did this didn't do a thing to you while you were on my couch…"

Dean shook his head. "Someone's dead, Charlie. Things have changed."

"C'mon, Dean, please." Something in Charlie's voice changed that made Dean pause and look at her.

"Fine. One night, then I'm staying in a motel."

"Yeah, 'cause there's less people there." Charlie quipped. Dean gave her a Look. "…Sorry."

The day was an irritating one. Dean had no real evidence, apart from situational, and had no idea where to start. He flipped through some of his older cases, anything to do with arson. Nothing. The only thing to do with fire was a domestic violence report he'd dealt with a few years ago, where one of them had burnt the other with a lighter.

He questioned some perps they had in holding, in a brief hope that one of them knew anything. He was wrong.

"I need to take a walk," he grunted to Kevin, and without waiting for a reply, stormed out.

He didn't walk that far; his trip was over when he reached the side of the precinct. Sheltered by a slimy alleyway, he began to let out his frustrations on the walls.

"Dean."

The voice made him jump, but he identified it instantly, not even bothering to turn away from the wall he was kicking. "Bobby."

"Boy, what good's this gonna do ya? Throwin' a tantrum at a pile o' bricks isn't gonna catch whoever did this. You ain't had time to get ta grips wi' what's goin' on. Go see ya brother, or Castiel. They need ya, boy, and bein' here ain't helpin' no-one. I'll put one a' the others on the case for now, but you need to go."

Dean stilled. "Thanks, Bobby." He wanted to argue, but he knew the older Chief well enough to know that wasn't going to help. He trudged past him, stewing silently, and slept all day.

"Hey, Sammy." Dean whispered. It was the day after the fire. Dean had spent the night on Charlie's couch, and was now at the hospital. Sam was awake, physically, but he wasn't…he wasn't alive. Dean had seen people give up, and it looked like this. They were both devastated. "Listen, man, I'm sorry. Truly. I…If I'd known, I'd…"

"You'd what, Dean? How could you have known what was going to happen? I don't blame you. But you'd better find whoever did this, or I will."

Sam was right, of course. Their dad had taught them terrible things when they were kids, and, if the know-how was still in there, Sam could kill whoever did this. No weapon required.

"I'm tryin' man. But I got no leads. Any evidence went up in the fire."

Sam glared at him. "Dean, you keep saying you're the best detective in Lawrence. Prove it."

Dean's blood ran cold. "…Yeah. OK. When…when're they gonna let you out?"

"Soon. It's just precaution."

Dean stood. "OK, man. I've gotta go, but you get well soon, 'Kay?"

Sam just nodded passively, and Dean had to leave. He didn't have any plans, but he couldn't face seeing Sam like that. He knew he was weak. He knew Sam needed him. But he couldn't do it. Not right now. I'm sorry, Sammy.

Castiel was low. Lower than he had been in a while. The only reason he got up that morning was because Meg needed food. After that, he just sat in his pyjamas and stared at the ceiling, finding shapes in the patterned paint. Sound seemed like too much, the only light he let in was the dim shine through his curtains. He was all too aware of his own breathing. Meg had left some time ago.

Someone knocked at his door, and it was only a great amount of internal screaming at himself that he was able to get up.

"Dean. I…I didn't expect you." Any other day, he might have cared what state Dean saw him in. But right now, he couldn't find it in himself. Still, he stood to the side, letting the other man into his home.

"Hey…Cas…You OK?" Dean looked concerned, and Castiel suddenly felt guilty.

Castiel grunted. "'m fine. Just…" he trailed off.

Dean nodded. "Yeah, me too. Listen, I wanted to ask you something." Cas flicked the kettle on, raising an eyebrow in question Dean nodded. "Coffee, please."

"What did you need?"

"I…uh…Look, I wanted to thank you. For savin' my ass, again."

"I didn't pull you out. Gabriel did. I helped Sam."

"…Well, thank you for savin' his ass."

"I did a piss-poor job of it, Dean. He's in hospital, remember? How is he, by the way? I'd visit, but I don't think he wants to see me."

"Cas, you saved his life. Of course he wants to see you."

"I couldn't save Jessica, though."

Dean sighed. "Cas, that's not your fault. You did all you could, man. Without you, I'd be dead. Or, Sam would be. If you wanna fucking blame anyone, it should be the person who did it."

Cas just grunted again, handing Dean his drink. Dean noted that he didn't make one for himself. "Uh, Cas…It's nearly 3, man, have you eaten or drunk anything today? Or yesterday?"

Castiel made a noncommittal sound that was an answer in itself.

"'Kay, babe, you're gonna have a shower, get changed, and we're goin' for food."

Cas had gone red, and it took Dean a moment to notice why. He'd used a pet name, and though it wasn't something he usually did, it just…fit.

Castiel stood, avoiding eye contact, and shuffled towards the bathroom, mumbling something about Netflix, if Dean wanted.

Fifteen minutes later, the lock on the door rustled. Dean looked up reflexively from the Stranger Things episode on Cas' laptop, and oh, Jesus. Cas emerged, looking sheepish in his own skin and not a lot else. Dark blue jeans clung to his waist, and he held a towel around his chest. His broad shoulders were bare, and how was Dean supposed to breathe again?

Cas all but scurried to his room, appearing in a few seconds in a well-worn grey shirt. "Sorry. OK. Where do you want to go?"

By the time they'd chosen a place, and then what they were going to have, it was almost 4. They settled on a pizza place, and although they didn't quite feel like laughing, Dean was glad that Castiel was eating.

"Cas…do you…do you do that a lot?" When the question was met with a confused head tilt and squint, Dean elaborated. "Shut yourself up and not eat or anything."

Cas frowned. "Oh. Not in a while. Sorry. I guess I just…I just freaked out a little bit."

"Why? I mean, it wasn't because you blame yourself, right? Because, Cas, I've already said…."

"No, it…It was something else." Cas looked vacant for a moment, before cracking a small smile. "But thank you. For making me go out. I needed it."

"Anytime. That's what boyfriends are for, right?" He smiled.

For a moment, forgetting everything else, life looked good.

At 6, the two of them meandered over to Charlie's. Now Dean was staying there, and he and Castiel were officially dating, he thought it best that the two actually met. Charlie opened the door for them, grinning a grin that was partially forced.

"So, you're Castiel, huh? Y'know, you look taller in your uniform." She handed them their own remotes while a familiar tune buzzed from the TV.

"Mariokart? Really?" Dean rolled his eyes.

"Say what you want Dean, but it Cas is as good as you say, I need to see."

Castiel smiled. "OK, but I warn you, Dean cheats."

Castiel was good. But Charlie was better. Dean lost every. Single. Race.

Dean swore loudly, then collapsed onto the couch.

"Aww, Dean, c'mon!" Charlie wined.

Castiel took the more effective approach, leaning over the arm rest of the couch and planting a kiss to the back of Dean's head. "Sorry, Dean. Maybe next time."

"No, you guys all cheat. I don't know how, but you do."

Charlie giggled. "No, Dean, you just suck."

Castile stood. "It was lovely to meet you, Charlie, but I have to go. My cat needs me."

Charlie scoffed. "Sure, Cas, you just take defeat better than Dean does. See ya soon, yeah?"

Castiel nodded, and kissed Dean again. "See you both later."

"Hang on, Cas, I'll drive you back to yours." Dean stood again, grabbing his keys.

The drive to Cas's was nothing, compared to what happened when they got there. Castiel invited Dean inside. The evening spiralled. Dean didn't go back to Charlie's that night.

Dean reached for Cas' shirt through a particularly heated make-out session, but Cas' hands stilled him. "No. Not my shirt."

And, hey, if Cas was willing for one thing, but not another, Dean wasn't going to argue.

The morning arrive d much too soon. Dean awoke to the sounds of the shower, a mug of coffee on the tiny table next to him, and a grin on his face a mile wide. He could get used to this.

He found his phone in his jeans, switching it on.

7 missed calls.

9 messages.

Charles McSquarles:

00:23- Dean. Someone's in the apartment.

00:23- Dean, answer me. They're looking around. There's more than one of them. I think they have guns.

00:23- Dean help me I don't know what to do

00:24- I got out the fire escape. I'm at the dept. Call me!

01:01- DEAN!

01:02- DEAN R U OK?

Ash:

01:01- Charlie's mine. Wtf, dude u ok?

01:02- dude, Ik u can handle urself, but plz.

Bobby:

01:15- Boy, youd better pick up ur phone.

Dean didn't even bother listening to the calls. He threw himself out of bed, pulling on his clothes quicker than he ever had, almost bumping into Cas in the hall.

"Cas, Charlie's apartment's been broken into I think she's OK, but I gotta to the precinct."

Castiel looked shocked. "I'm coming too. Unless there's an emergency, I don't have to be at the fire department until later."

Dean nodded, grabbing the Impala's keys. The two rushed to the precinct in record time.

"Boy! Where the HELL have you been!" Bobby snarled at him when they arrived. "Charlie is shaken, Ash and Benny are checkin' out the place.

"I'm sorry, Bobby. I…uh, I stayed at Cas' last night, and—"

"You think I care, boy? Get in there!"

Dean and Castiel rushed in, meeting Charlie at her desk.

"Charlie, I'm so sorry, I should have called."

"Damn right you should've! I could've died, Winchester!"

Cas took over, always a calming influence. "Charlie, it's my fault. I'm sorry."

Ash and Benny ran in, discussing heatedly. "Guys, look at this." Benny pressed a button on his tablet, and the printer whirred into action. In a few seconds, a picture of what was Charlie's apartment came into view. "Look. If it was any regular B&E, stuff would be missing, yeah? But they didn't take anything. They trashed stuff, and painted this on the wall, then buggered off."

The phrase, scrawled across the wall read: "PIG LEAVE HIM ALONE" in red all-caps. Next to the words was a logo, a weird jagged line in a circle, surrounded by triangles, 'N's, and swirls.

"Have any of you guys seen that before?"

Dean shook his head, then glanced at Charlie, who repeated the action. He heard a soft bump behind him, and span. Cas' eyes were wide, his breathing shallow and uneven. He was staring at nothing, skin sallow and grey. "Cas? Babe?"

This seemed to shake Cas out of his shocked stillness, and he made a choked noise and turned away, storming to the bathroom.

Benny made to follow him, fire in his eyes, but Dean stolled him. "I'll go."

Cas was a statue. His hands held the sink with such force that Dean was worried the porcelain might break.

"Cas?"

"I…I thought I'd never see him again. I…He was in jail. He wasn't going to come back."

"Who…? Cas, who are you talking about?" Dean approached him, careful not to touch him.

"A-Alistair. He…he's an ex of mine." Cas looked ashamed. "He…liked fires."

"OK…and…oh. Oh." The domestic disturbance case. One of them had lit the other on fire with a lighter. He'd gone to jail for that, and a few other calls. Dean had been the one to send him there.

"He…he…" Cas turned to Dean, taking a breath. "Promise me, Dean Winchester, that you won't see me any differently after this. Leave me all you want, but I don't want your pity." He hissed. Dean could only nod.

Cas pulled his shirt up, exposing his stomach. On it, scored into the flesh, was the same symbol Dean had seen painted on the walls.

"That's why you didn't want your shirt off…" Dean said rather unnecessarily, his brain piecing things together.

"I used to be religious. Alistair ripped that away from me. That symbol is supposed to banish angels. He thought it funny." Castiel dropped his shirt, dropping his gaze. "He thought a lot of things funny."

"Cas…I'm sorry…"