Chapter 10: Ohana

Sam had attempted to keep his mind worry free. He really had, but by the time Cas had been four days absent his concern grew stronger. He'd asked the teacher already, who hadn't been able to give him any concentrate information. At least, nothing past that he hadn't been labeled truant, which meant his father was aware of his absence. It really didn't help much. A small part of Sam was worried that Cas got sick himself. Maybe it was something awfully contagious. The other part of him was heart broken at how badly it must mean his aunt is doing. He tried to push away the worry by working extra hard on their project. It was a little harder to do without Cas, but he figured at the pace he was going his friend wouldn't be too far behind the classwork. Sam found himself wishing Cas owned a cellphone.

Still he brooded and started to find that even food had started to get a funky taste. Most of his lunch period was spent with the people around him trying to feed him. Ruby was getting frustrated with him and Jess just settled with silent, sad eyes and concern. They all knew what it was about of course. Sam hadn't directly mentioned anything past Cas' sick aunt, but if the boy was just hiding in the library Sam wouldn't be acting like this.

The suspicion was confirmed when three strangers approached their table. Ruby and Jess had never seen them before but by the way Sam sat a little straighter they guessed he had. They were Cas' library buddies, and probably more than that, Sam assumed. Probably shared a few classes. Friends. Rachel wasn't the nicest person. He'd decided that early on in the three times he'd tried to join Cas in the library. He'd ventured to label her an elitist and Cas had given him a 'be nice' look. It wasn't very often Cas chastised him so he'd kept quiet. Then there was Inias; quiet but enthusiastic from what he could tell. They hadn't talked much. The third person that approached them he'd only seen once. A little snide British boy, transferred in freshman year. Something about his mother marrying an American.

Sam figured it had to be about Cas. He'd rarely seen them venture out of the library, especially during lunch time, and Rachel looked like she wanted to burn the entire area down. It wasn't a social call. He felt hopeful for a few seconds. They were almost done with the semester and they'd never interacted with each other much. Maybe, just maybe, Cas was back and had been a little busy and found them in the library, told them where he usually sat, and sent envoys to let him know what was going on. Reminded them of who Sam was to make sure they could find him.

"Sam Winchester," Rachel said coolly.

"Rachel, right?" Sam replied trying to be friendly. She only scowled further.

"Be nice," Inias said with a hand on her forearm. "We're sorry to bother you. I'm just glad we managed to figure out where you usually sit from Cas' descriptions-"

"Descriptions?" Sam asked. So was Cas here or not?

"Yes, he talks about you quite often," Inias said with a kind smile, while Balthazar and Rachel snorted. "Forgive them," he said to Sam in response to their behavior. "They're a little rattled. We haven't heard from Castiel in a few days now and since you are his best friend we were hoping you would be able to tell us something."

Sam's spirit dampened, "Not really. His aunt's sick in the hospital or something. I was hoping you guys would have more info."

There was a pause in conversation before Balthazar put both of his hands on his hip and frowned, confused. "Aunt? Anna Milton? The one who lives a state over?"

This was news to Sam and he couldn't help but feel a little jealous that he didn't know that about his best friend. But he was Cas' best friend, Sam reminded himself. At least according to the small group. Besides, it wasn't like he'd ever asked details about the family. "I don't know, I don't think so. His dad dropped by our house."

The three shared a look of disappointment. This was not the news they had hoped for either. "Well, when he returns, if you could let him know we'll be... waiting, I guess. And if you happen to talk to him before, give him our well wishes for his aunt," Inias said with a smile as he steered his two friends away from the table.

"I don't think the blonde likes your very much," Ruby commented after having watched the exchange silently.

Sam turned back towards the table and shrugged, "Which one?"

Ruby scoffed, "The girl."

"I don't know. I've only met her like twice."

"You've probably only met her on bad days," Jess supplied, "it's hard to find someone who doesn't like you."

Sam blushed a little at the compliment and Jess continued. "You should feel a little comforted tho'! If the aunt they're talking about is a state over, well, it would probably take a while to get there and back if she's so sick she can't travel."

"Yeah," Sam said, not entirely convinced but enjoying the way the comment lifted his spirits. "You know what... that actually makes total sense. Always so clever."

He missed the way Ruby pouted as he watched Jess turn a little red.

Ruby wasn't the only one pouting.

Meg had been prowling around the school trying to find Cas once she'd realized he hadn't shown up at any of the regular paths he took during the day. She told herself she wasn't a stalker, just determined. She'd get him eventually. Meg had watched from the back corner, read from Sam's facial expression that Cas still wasn't back, before turning around and sneaking her way down the hallway to the quiet theater hall. That was where she ran into Roy. Probably waiting on his equally dumb older brother.

"Meg," he greeted cheerfully. She just grimaced at him and shoved him aside as he tried to crowd closer into her.

"What's wron-" he tried again and this time Meg whirled around and slammed him against the wall.

"Can it sweet cheeks, before I put your head through this wall," she snapped at him.

"Hey what- Meg, lay the fuck off him."

She snapped her head around to see Dirk finally walking out of the black box*, zipping up his pants. No doubt there was some young, pretty blond still scrambling to find her clothes in the dark in the room. "You won't lay a god damn hand on him. Now back, off."

Meg smirked and pulled back, sauntering her way over to the older brother. "Or what, big guy?" She didn't stop until they were touching chest to chest. "I think you're forgetting who you're talking to." As she spoke, she had to give the older boy a bit of credit, at least he didn't flinch back too much. "Good try though, sweetheart," she purred and ran a hand down the side of his face before patting him on the chest. "I'll rip you to shreds if you threaten me again."

Dirk just swallowed and shared a quick glance with his younger brother, who looked more confused than shaken. "What's got you in a bitch fit today?" he said instead of trying to find an eloquent response.

She frowned at him and took in a frustrated breath. "Have you seen our favorite angel around?"

Dirk seemed confused for a little before realizing who she was talking about. "Nope," he said with a bright, proud smile, once he realized they were talking about Castiel. "Not in awhile. Maybe he learned his lesson and switched schools or something."

Meg's expression darkened and her hand twitched to swing out at him. "Your parents should've used better condoms," she said with a hiss, "this is NOT good. Do you understand? Not. Good. We weren't done with him yet!"

"But I thought getting him out of the picture was the point," Roy said meekly from behind her.

Meg sent a glare towards the younger kid. She didn't like him. Too eager to please. "I'd feel cheap using the same insult twice. I'm giving you one warning, and one warning only. You see him, you lay off him. And you let. Me. Know. And we go from there." She gave each of them a resounding smack across the back of the head before storming back out of the hallway. She would just have to double her efforts. The point had never been been to loose sigh of her favorite toy. The point was to make him break him down so that Meg was the only option he had left, the only savior. Not this. You couldn't control a ghost.

Friday came and went and the Winchesters are a few more days closer to Mary coming home, and Sam was now a week's worth worried about where Cas could be. Despite Jess' clear cut logic, Sam ended up messing up his laptop as he stared out of his window at the leaves turning color in the front yard, the sky dark. He knew he was reading too much into the weather but the ominous feeling made his mind mind cloud over and before he knew it he'd spilled his cup of hot chocolate on his keyboard.

"Damn it!" he cursed out as he hastily flipped the laptop over so that most of it dripped out immediately. He turned his laptop off and wiped across the keys with cleaning wipes. Sam poked through all the cracks in an attempt to save his laptop. Out of all the things to spill... He finally spread it out on a few towels, keyboard down so that the towel would catch the drip. He had just been in the middle of typing out his biology assignment too.

Luckily for him, he had already sent it to himself online as a precaution and could just use another computer. He didn't even bother knocking on Dean's door. He'd left an hour or so ago to go out with Ash and Chuck to the local diner for some burgers. Then probably to Ash's. Or the Roadhouse to meet up with Jo. He sat down at his brother's computer chair and swiveled the mouse to get the screen back to life.

Sam's eyes widened into saucers as a very graphic image of two women, entwined with each other, legs spread out across the screen. Panicking a little he tried to 'x' out of it too quickly and ended up hitting the video where it sprang back to life. His cheeks flushed as he tried to concentrate on properly finding the 'x' button again. He struggled to find the mute too so instead he pushed in Dean's headphones. It seemed like a faster way to shut off the sound. He was surprised to find it didn't bother him as much as he'd thought. Not that and he'd never seen a naked woman before, or something like that. Or that it hadn't crossed his mind. Or wasn't aware that this type of stuff went on but he'd never had a direct run like this with porn. It had just never really interested him, and with his brother's near obsession it was a miracle he hadn't been more exposed to it.

So as he sat there staring at the moving images he told himself that he was just curious as to what the hell the fascination was. He looked around guiltily and noted the mark where his brother had left it. 'Idiot' he thought to himself. Even he knew how to delete browser history and close windows. He slipped on his brother's headphones and felt his cheeks grow hotter with the audio. Thankfully, he'd left the volume low and heard the slam of the front door and Dean's voice. Hastily he slid the video back to the spot it was at and popped out the headphones, pausing the video. He thanked the school administration gods for making computers a mandatory freshman class as he pulled open the control tab and set the screen saver to switch on within a minute of inactivity. Sam lingered nervously in his brother's room as he listened to Dean stomp around downstairs and in the kitchen. He breathed a huge sigh of relief as Dean's screen saver sprung to life at the same time the steps started creaking. He attempted to calm himself down and make his way out of the room. To his luck he ran into Dean just as he made it to the top of the stairs.

"You need something?" his brother asked confused and slightly irritated.

"N-no. I just spilled something on my laptop," he said keeping himself diligently turned away from Dean and back to his room. "But you weren't home yet, so. Never mind. I can do it later."

He heard his brother make a questioning, humming noise before he closed the door with as little suspicion as he could muster. Which wasn't very much at all by judging by the looks his brother gave him the rest of the day. He curled up into bed and still felt a little odd and decided to try his laptop again. It turned on and the keys didn't even seem to be that sticky. Sam glanced at his door. It had a lock on it, but he'd never bothered to use it before. He knew Dean started using his when he started masturbating and he wasn't going to give his older brother the satisfaction of teasing him about the locked door. Besides, he wasn't going to do anything, just look.

The glow of the computer screen in the otherwise dark room made him feel even sketchier as he typed in the website name he'd seen on his brother's computer. Several image stills for videos popped up on his screen and he swallowed a little nervously. Sam dug out his own headphones and plugged them in. He clicked on a random video and immediately brought his mouse to click on the 'x' in the corner.

After about an hour or so Sam wasn't anymore sure of his sexuality. He'd found that he didn't much enjoy gay porn, male or female. And was undecided about the rest of what he had ventured into. He did, however, know that his hormones were definitely doing their thing as he tried to go to sleep with a boner. Sure, he figured he could've fixed the issue himself but he'd only done it once or twice, and after watching some of the things he had he wasn't sure he could do it without feeling skeevy.

He fell asleep, angry with himself.

Their mother arrived on the following Monday. He'd spent the entire day nearly skipping through the entire school while waiting for the end of the day. Dean already had the car started and was strapped in the driver's seat when Sam ran out of the school. He practically threw the door open and slammed it shut. Dean didn't even gripe about Sam being careful with his baby. Sam had barely managed to get his seat belt fastened before Dean reversed and peeled out of the parking lot. Their mother had arrived around 10am that morning and had promised to make lunch for them if she had the energy. And she always had the energy when it came to her family.

Sam had taken a leap out of the Impala before Dean had even managed to turn the car off, and judging by the harsh slamming sound, Dean was right behind him. They made it to the door at the same time. Sam struggled with his key while Dean opted for banging on the door. They heard soft, bright laughter from the other side of the door. "Hold on, hold on!" the voice said just as bright.

The door opened and the two boys flung themselves at her. "Mom!"

Mary laughed and brought her arms up so that she could bring them around her two boys. It was harder to do than she remembered. "I need to stop staying away for so long!" she laughed as she gave them both a tight squeeze. She pulled back just a little so that she could really look at them. Sam had grown about 3-4 inches since the last time she'd seen him, and Dean. Dean was turning into a handsome, young man.

As the boys pulled her back in for another hug, John entered the hallway with a small smile. Mary turned around to look at him. "You didn't warn me they'd grown this much!"

"They still look like kids to me," John said with a laugh.

"Hey!" both of the boys shot at each other before racing past their father into the kitchen.

Mary chuckled as John came to giver her a small hug and kiss. "I think they missed me," she teased, "Who'd have thought?"

John gave her a lopsided smile and a kiss on the forehead to that, "We all missed you." Mary started to walk down the hallway when he grabbed her hand. "I mean that. I know the last few conversations we've had-" Mary walked back to him and placer a finger to his mouth, her eyes glowing with understanding.

"I know," she said softly, making sure her voice didn't carry. They tried to hide their fights the best they could from their kids. "It's hard. I get it. But I'm home, so let's just forget it." She kissed him. "Okay?"

He smiled into her lips and gave her nose a small peck, "Okay."

Sam and Dean were already hauling the dishes of food to the dinning table and eagerly setting up all the plates.

"They never work this hard for my food," John grumbled, fighting a smile.

"When you learn how to make a decent pie, we'll talk," Dean shot back as he sat himself down with a fork and knife in each hand, waiting for the rest of the family to sit down. As much as he wanted to just dig in, when his mother was around they were a little more polite about their table manners.

They ate slowly, enjoying each others company. It had been months since their mother had last been home. They talked about the basics. Dean's college search, although he was opting to stay local so it wasn't much of a search. How Sam's grade's were coming along. Dean's job at the garage and finally how Sam was situating being so young at the high school.

"I'm sorry I had to miss your first day, honey," Mary said as she and John had themselves a small glass of red wine.

"It's okay!" Sam said waving an open hand in front of him. "Really. I'm doing great. I've got this new best friend too, Cas." Dean's hand twitched a little under the table at the mention of the boy. He still quite hadn't sorted out everything as far as the younger kid went. And Sam's smile dipped a little as their happy family reunion was interrupted by the reminder that his best friend had been absent that week.

"Oh yeah, Cas. You mentioned him a few times," Mary started, "but I sense some hesitation here."

Sam looked at both his brother and his dad, "Well.. he's been absent from school for a week now. Just kinda worried."

Mary frowned, "Oh well. I hope he's all right. He sounds like such a sweet boy, I'd love to meet him."

John put his hand on top of Mar's. "I don't think it's anything serious. I spoke to his father about a week ago. Lucifer's," Mary raised an eyebrow at the name, "sister is sick so they're taking care of her I think. It was a little confusing."

"Oh, well then," she said as she stood up to put up some of the dishes, patting Sam on the shoulder as she passed. "A week is a little serious sounding but I'm sure everything will turn out for the best."

Sam nodded and then had to add," I heard from one of his friends that his aunt lives out of state. So..."

"There ya go, worried for nothing Samantha's," Dean said as he stood up to clear away his own plate. He'd never admit to anyone that he'd been getting a little worried too, and the new information eased some of it.

"Dean, you know your brother hates it when you call him that," Mary chided from the kitchen. Sam smirked at his brother and Dean just stuck his tongue out at him.

"Yup, just two little kids," John muttered with a laugh, finishing his wine.

Despite the reassurances by his family and the constant logic trying to hammer its way into his brain by, the time Wednesday rolled around and Cas had now been absent from school a week and a half, his gut was clenching uncomfortably. He figured that if something super serious would've happened Cas' father would've notified them. They were best friends after all. Then again maybe he just wouldn't think to. Sam's worry crept into so much of his mind that one morning he decided that he was going to have to find one person that he's sure would know. Even if he's a little scared to go up and talk to him. He spent the entire drive to school shifting uncomfortably in his seat and sweating a little from nerves. He wouldn't even know where to start looking for him, or how to start the conversation.

"Someone put itching powder in your boxers?" Dean asked as they pulled up to their parking spot.

Sam tried to move out the door quickly but Dean reached out his hand and yanked his brother back into the car. "What?" Sam asked sullen.

"Nothing man. And usually I wouldn't give two shits about what's crawled up your ass but you don't look okay," Dean said with a raised eyebrow, "more constipated than usual."

Sam sighed and pouted, trying to get out of the car again but was held back by Dean's grip on his jacket. He wasn't going to win this one.

"I'm going to talk to Uriel."

Dean let go and sat up a little straight, angry and confused. "What the hell? What do you need to talk to that dick for?"

"Look, it's been almost two weeks. I think I've seen him around at least a few times so-"

"Sammy, no." Dean said sternly. Though now that Sam mentioned it, it was a little odd that they hadn't seen a bit of Cas but had managed to catch Uriel at least twice in homeroom. He sighed and leaned his head back against the headrest. "I'll go."

Sam's eyes widened and if it hadn't been such a serious situation, Dean would've laughed at him. "Look. You're not the only who who gives a crap about the nerdy little dude," he began and quickly followed with, "and I'll be damned if I let you anywhere near that fucker on your own. He could be on anything."

And just as the words had left his mouth, Dean wanted to take them back. Sam launched across the seat to hug him, "You're the best."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," he said pushing Sam off of him, "now shut up."

Dean kinda had a feeling that he wouldn't find Uriel in homeroom and he was right. He figured he'd at least give looking around the rest of the school on his lunch break a try before giving up. He had promised Sammy.

Dean finally pinned Uriel down. He was standing outside with a group of his buddies, across the fence in some broken down excuse for a backyard with a storage shed. He shook his head and cursed under his breath. Honestly, why did the jackasses even bother being near campus if they weren't even going to be going to classes? But for now, that worked in his favor.

He watched and hunched his shoulders a little tighter into himself as the group slowly took notice of his approach. Dean moved around the metal gate and slipped through the broken door and marched into the open yard. He held his head up and walked straight towards Cas' brother. The other boy started to open his mouth, probably to shoot off something sarcastic, but Dean doesn't give him the chance.

"Where's Cas?"

Uriel looked confused for a second. Clearly not what he had been expecting. Then he put his cigarette back to his lips and took a long drag, sending an obnoxious cloud into Dean's face. To Dean's credit, he didn't cough or flinch. Uriel frowned and dug through his pocket, popping a white pill dry. "Don't know. Don't care."

Dean feels aggravation crawl up his spine. He really did not like this kid. "What the hell do you mean?"

Uriel sighed and rolled his eyes, his small group of friends chuckle a little. "It means, you simpleton, that I don't. Give. A. Fuck. Figured the great Winchester was smarter than that."

"What the hell is wrong with you? That's your kid brother. Are you so fucked off your ass you don't even notice he's been absent for almost two weeks now!?" Dean barked back. Yeah, some of it was because he legitimately cared about Cas. But a good chunk of the anger exploded from how lightly Uriel takes his older brother role. Dean took his job very seriously, it was practically all he was. And then there was this douchefuck. Dean decided he held no warm feelings for anyone in Cas' family. He only prayed that whoever the sick aunt was strayed away from the flock.

Uriel frowned a little, "Now that's quite the tone there. He's probably at home with dad." He spat out the last word with as much hatred as he could muster, while his body relaxed into a nearly boneless state from the codine he'd popped.

"Probably?" Dean asked, spreading his arms open, struggling not to punch the kid.

"Yeah. Probably," Uriel spat back, "I left months ago. Haven't been living there since. So yes, Dean Winchester. PROBABLY. Now kindly, fuck off."

Dean shook his head and turned around to stomp off but then shook his head again and squared his shoulders, turning around. "You know what. No!" And Dean realized he was a little louder than he needed to be. But screw it. "Fuck that. You're his god damn older brother. You're supposed to always know where that kid is. I've got friends who drink and smoke and fuck all, but not a damn one of them comes even close to being as miserable excuse for human being. All I see is a waste of space that can't even be coherent enough to protect his little brother from taking nose dives down the stairs and being shoved into fucking lockers every day." He took a huge breath. Dean found himself a little pleased that Uriel seemed to be paying attention now, at least if the wide eyes had anything to do with it. "There is something fucked in you, man," Dean finished shaking his head. "But you know what, fuck it right?" He turned around and started walking off.

Before he could make it to the gate he heard Uriel shout at him. "Why the hell d you care anyway Winchester-" the rest of what Cas' older brother yelled at him was lost in the wind as he made his way back to school. Dean was thankful for the cold fall weather on his way in. It simmered down his anger. He had to give Uriel credit though.

Why did he care? And he decided, as he brooded through the rest of his day, that it was because he trusted the kid with his little brother. Because Cas was well on his way to becoming an honorary part of the family. Because he actually had a huge soft spot for the dorky little goof.

Dean was still seething though by the time Sam climbs into the car that afternoon.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked concerned, immediately scared that something bad's happened to Cas.

"Nothing like that," Dean assured his little brother before Sam's imagination could run off. He gave a brief, expletive filled synopsis of his encounter with Uriel. "That guy is a damn piece of work," he grumbled as he put on his seat belt, "Doesn't know jack shit and apparently moved out."

While Dean spent the rest of the car ride grumbling to himself, Sam found himself horribly saddened all of a sudden. It wasn't that he found it odd that Cas never mentioned that his brother moved out, it seemed important and of course he would've loved to have been clued in on that. It was because Cas didn't have a brother to rely on. Sam glanced at his own brother and allowed himself a small, bitter sweet smile. Yeah they fought but he really couldn't have gotten luckier. And then there was Cas, shitty brother. No mom. Strict, weirdo dad.

"Hey-" Sam's head snapped up towards Dean, "I'm sure he's all right. Kid's stronger than he looks. Probably caught a bug or something from his aunt if she's sick. He'll be back in no time and then we can have him over and mom will smother the shit out of him."

"Yeah," Sam agreed but the smile he gave Dean faded quickly as the turned back to the window, watching the rain start pouring.

At least they were almost home.

* Black Box; A black box theater (or experimental theater) consists of a simple, somewhat unadorned performance space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor. It is a relatively recent innovation in theatre.[1]