Hi everyone. Thank you once again for the support you've shown in this story. I know a few of you were expecting some bad news twist at the end, but I just thought I'd show that I can be nice. I am looking forward to sharing the next few chapters as they're very important ones.

I'm not going to update next week. I'm away on vacation from tomorrow for the week, so there will be a bit of a gap. I'll try to get the next chapter up on the Monday when I return, though. Here's the next chapter, though.

Chapter 10

"I'll let you know if he's keeping something from you about his recovery," Jo smiled as the two hugged at the school, "I know he'll try to pretend that everything is great."

"Thanks, Jo." Castiel hugged her back, glancing over her shoulder at Benny and Speedy who were making their way over to him. As much as Castiel wanted to, he didn't miss a shared look between Benny and Jo. Had something happened when Jo had picked him up a couple of days ago? Pushing that from his mind, he quickly kissed her on the cheek to say goodbye and turned back to his friends.

"So, how is he?" Speedy asked, as he pulled Castiel away from the car. They ignored the looks from some of the students crowding around and whispering. He'd certainly missed something while he was gone.

"Awake, on the mend," he answered the question, grinning like a Cheshire cat. As much as there was something niggling him about his last conversation with Dean in the hospital, he was certainly happy that he had his boyfriend back. Even if they didn't stay together, Dean was alive and that was the most important thing, "Memory's a bit hazy from spring break, but he's alive and awake and that's all that I care about right now."

"Jo said that he remembers you." Benny smiled, making Castiel narrow his blue eyes at his friend.

"How would you know?"

"Those two have been texting each other like crazy." Speedy laughed, filling in the blanks. It turned out that the two had switched numbers so Jo could let Benny know Castiel had reached the hospital okay and that he wasn't drinking himself into an early grave. The texting had continued from there and within just two days there was something building between them.

As they walked through the dorms, there was more whispering. Castiel couldn't ignore it anymore, and had to find out what was going on. Turning to his friends, he saw the nervous, uncertain looks they were throwing each other. The question of who was going to tell him was quickly raised.

"There's a rumor." Benny sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Castiel couldn't help but roll his eyes. Of course there was a rumor; when wasn't there in this place?

"What's it about this time? Me I'm guessing."

"You and Dean," Benny explained, "The school had an assembly yesterday to say that he was awake and people started talking. They noticed you weren't around and some people saw the state you were in when we got you to Jo's car."

"So, they think Dean and I…" Castiel didn't need to finish the sentence. He just nodded his head, and understood why they all jumped to those conclusions. It made sense, and it was the truth. Castiel had rushed to Dean's side in a drunken state, believing that his boyfriend was going to die; that he was going to have to say goodbye.

Castiel would love to just tell them that it was all true; that he and Dean were together and were in love. But one thing Castiel wasn't going to do was out Dean. They hadn't discussed what they would do about the gossip at school or about the football team. While Dean wasn't going back to school now, Castiel didn't want the news spreading. He might return next year, and he didn't want to ruin Dean's chances of getting back on the team—if he would even be able to play football.

Sighing, Castiel realized that he was going to have to have a conversation with Dean about this.

"We're tried to curb them, said you were visiting your brother but…" Speedy sighed, and Castiel could see the nervousness in his dark eyes, "It's difficult to stop a rumor."

"Especially when it's true, brother." Benny added, and all Castiel could do was nod his head. It would be difficult to stop this rumor.

Later that night, Castiel was packing away some of his belongings. In two weeks he would be leaving this school for good. He had his acceptance from Stanford—finally—and had even accepted that acceptance. Everything was falling into place for his schooling, now if only it could elsewhere in his life.

The whole day had been spent trying to ignore the whispers about him and Dean. He really had wanted to just tell them that it was all true and see the looks on their faces, but he wouldn't do that to Dean. It was up to Dean to come out. Even though he'd told his old high school friends, he didn't really remember doing it. He didn't remembering the confidence he'd had and the after-effects. For Dean it was a story of someone else's life.

That was why Castiel was now in his own room, packing up the things he wouldn't need anymore. It would make it easier come the day that he would leave the school grounds for the final time. Not that he knew how he was going to get home yet. Jo had offered to come pick him up, but Castiel couldn't impose on her. He knew that John and Mary would be coming in a few days to pack down Dean's room, so Castiel figured he could ask them if they wouldn't mind taking some of his stuff. He'd be left with a couple of bags to take on the train home, then.

Picking up a photo, Castiel sighed with a soft smile. It had been one that Castiel had convinced Dean to take when they were suspended. Everything was so much easier then—at least, looking back it seemed it. Really, it was one of the hardest times for both of them. Dean was constantly back and forth on his feelings; trying to accept who he was. Castiel had wanted him to come out, but had just learned that football was more than just a game to him; it was Dean's future.

The photo had been taken while at Castiel's place, a selfie while they sat watching a movie. Dean had his tongue sticking out to the side, pretending to lick Castiel's face, while he tried to squirm away.

Their relationship had really built since then. They'd opened up more and shared more about their pasts. Castiel would soon learn that there was more to Dean Winchester than he ever let on, but he was learning something at least.

That happiness didn't last for too long, though. The pregnancy had really shook Dean to the core. Castiel knew now that Dean was just trying to protect him from having to make a difficult decision, but it had still hurt. The way Dean had pushed him out and pretended like he meant nothing to him had almost killed him.

"Hey Dean, can we talk?" Castiel asked in the school corridor, as they passed each other. Dean was leaning against a wall, talking with Cain and Uriel when Castiel interrupted them on his own. It was intimidating, but he really needed to talk to his boyfriend; well, ex-boyfriend now.

Dean had disappeared from school grounds for a day, only to come back more closed off than ever. It was like something had happened at home, and Castiel was sure it had. Everything had happened after that phone call from Jo, meaning something had happened at home. He just wanted to find out what it was, and let Dean know that he was here.

"What do you want, fag?" Uriel asked, laughing as Castiel nervously shifted his weight. He ignored the football player and focused on Dean. While he was laughing at Uriel's comment, there was a look in his eyes that told Castiel that he wasn't quite happy and didn't really find it funny.

"Dean, please?" Castiel asked.

"Look man, go back to your friends," Dean shook his head, "I'm with mine."

"Dean was only your fwiend because he was your roommate," Cain laughed, glancing across at Uriel who was also laughing, but Castiel tried to ignore him, "Not like he's going to be that much longer. He'll be where he belongs and won't have to keep one eye open."

Castiel frowned at that—not the comment about keeping one eye open but about no longer being his roommates. He knew he was wearing his emotions on his face, but he didn't care right now. Dean was hurting him, "You're switching rooms?"

"Later on, yeah," Dean nodded, "It's about time, really."

The bell rang, indicating that they had class to get to. Uriel pulled Dean away from the wall and to their next class. All Castiel could do was stand in the corridor, watching his ex-boyfriend walk away. Dean did glance back, but Castiel couldn't tell what he was thinking. One thing Dean was good at was his poker face.

"Hey man, how'd it go?" Speedy asked, placing his hand on Castiel's shoulder. Castiel just shook his head and walked away from his own friends, a burning sensation in his eyes as tears threatened to fall. He would not allow anyone to see that he was crying over Dean Winchester switching rooms; crying over the fact that he was losing his boyfriend for reasons he didn't understand.

Castiel wiped a tear away. That was a difficult time for Castiel. He thought he'd lost the love of his life. He never knew that the last six weeks could happen. Fearing that Dean had broken up with him was nothing compared to the fear that he was going to die.

A knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts, "Yeah?"

Turning around, Castiel saw Benny standing at the door with his laptop in his hand, "So, I figured you were hiding from everyone and thought you might like some company hiding. I've got the latest Fast and the Furious on my laptop. I know you don't really care about the movies because of the lack of storyline, but I figured you might want to just have something to take your mind off the crap going on in your life."

Castiel smiled with a nod. As much as he hated the movie franchise, it would be good to just chill out and not think about anything.

Benny got the laptop set up on a chair at the end of the bed, so they could both watch it in comfort without balancing the laptop on their knees. While the movie played, Castiel couldn't help but think back over his time with Dean. That picture had brought back so many memories back—good and bad. He couldn't believe all of this had happened in the space of nine months.

"Hey, do you remember the time that Dean kissed you in front of me?" Benny asked, with a laugh while they watched a car chase scene.

"God, he threw me for a loop then," Castiel laughed, "I wasn't expecting that at all."

"You stink, brother." Benny shook his head, scrunching his nose up. Dean had just walked in covered in mud and a lot of other crap, drenched right through. Castiel just looked at him with raised eyebrows, trying to figure out what the hell had gone on. When Dean had explained it was crap from the lake, Castiel realized that it was a birthday prank. One good thing about his own friends was that they didn't do stuff like that when it was someone's birthday, but it seemed like the football players' way of life.

"You should become a detective," Dean pointed out with raised eyebrows, before looking at Cas, "Look, I might not be back until headcount once I'm changed. I'll see you later, okay."

Castiel nodded his head and started walking back to his bed to hang out with Benny. Dean grabbed his hand with his own wet one, catching Castiel's attention again. He frowned, trying to figure out what Dean was going to do. It wasn't usual for him to show any sort of affection in front of others. Before Castiel could pull away from Dean, he saw his boyfriend glance over at Benny and then back at Castiel. Suddenly, he was pulled into a kiss. Nothing else mattered right now. Dean Winchester was kissing him in front of someone else. After everything they'd talked about and everything that Castiel wanted, they were finally moving forward in their relationship. He knew that this was a big step for Dean, and all Castiel could do was return the kiss.

Dean pulled away, a small smile forming on his face before he looked over at Benny, "Not a word, Benny." With that, Dean picked up a towel and walked out of the room. Castiel just stood there like a statue, while Benny rushed out of the room after Dean. He placed a hand to his lips, his mind going a mile a minute. He'd actually kissed him in front of someone else and he wasn't even drunk.

"You know, I went out to threaten him after that," Benny laughed, "I never realized just how into you he was."

Castiel smiled as he slowly nodded his head, "Yeah, neither was I before that moment. I was falling fast and hard for him, but I had no idea what was going on in his head. I still don't really know, but I know more."

"He'll be okay, Cas," Benny nudged his friend before crossing his arms over his chest, "You'll get back home and he'll be outta the hospital and acting like the accident never happened."

"That's the problem," Castiel sighed, "The accident did happen and it could be screwing up his chance of college. I just really wish I went with him that night or managed to convince him not to go driving. He coulda…he coulda been killed…"

"Everything will work out." Benny couldn't really say anything else, but it didn't soothe Castiel at all. All he could think of was what they would do in two week's time when Castiel graduated and Dean didn't. What would they do in a few months when Castiel went to college and Dean was stuck in high school still? It was all that drunk driver's fault.

I know this seemed more of a filler, but it was important to get a few more flashbacks for Castiel. I hope that delves more into him that many wanted in the last story. Please R&R and I'll be back with more as soon as possible.