"So can you fly?" Sam questioned following his brother down the street. It had been a week since the attack and in that time both of the brother's had recovered. John had ordered them to take a time out from hunting so the trio had packed up their things and made their way to Singer's Salvage Yard to spend a week with their 'adopted' Uncle Bobby. Of course John had not stayed, he had chosen to take the nearest poltergeist hunt whether this was because he could not spend any down time or he thought that his boys needed to spend some time together it was not clear. Or it might have been the fact that five years ago Bobby had chased John out of his home with a shotgun because he had kept Dean's secret identity from him. The eldest Winchester could hold a grudge.

"For the last time no," Dean sighed rubbing a hand against the back of his neck in despair. It had been the same for the last week, constant questions and weird looks like Sam was still trying to work him out. He preferred it better when his brother thought he was a werewolf. "No I don't have wings, no I can't play the harp and no I can't sit on clouds!" he declared speeding up his pace hoping to lose the youngster to no avail. Sam's long legs easily kept up with him to Dean's constant annoyance.

"Can you…"

"I swear to God Sammy," Dean growled stopping his movements and turning to face his brother. "If the next question is as stupid as the others then I owe you a serious beat down," he warned noting the mischievous glint enter the younger hunter's eyes. "What?" he exasperated holding his hands out to the side.

"Do you have to wear nappies like those angel's on TV?" Sam asked immediately taking off running down the path to Bobby's house knowing what Dean's reaction would have been.

"OH YOU'RE SO DEAD!" Dean yelled laughing as he sprinted after his brother. He chased him all the way down the path and towards the front porch of the house. Sam was easily ahead of him but a smirk crossed Dean's lips. He held his hand out beside him and all of a sudden Sam was yanked backwards into the nearest mud puddle. The teenager spluttered desperately trying to spit out the muddied water that had escaped down his throat through his surprised open mouth. "I warned you," Dean laughed winking at his brother as he stepped over him which was his own mistake.

"You jerk!" Sam yelled reaching forward to grab hold of Dean's leg. He yanked at his knee making it bend also sending the elder teenager head first into the puddle. Sam laughed rolling out of the way of a stray flying fist.

"LITTLE BITCH!" Dean yelled moving so that he was now sitting in the puddle rather than lying in it. He looked down at his now ruined pair of jeans and his black jacket was now dripping with mud. "Now you really are dead!" he warned reaching forward and grabbing hold of Sam's long hair. He twisted a strand around his finger and forced his brother's head into the puddle once more.

Sam spluttered, his arms flew to the side wildly trying to force Dean's hands off of him. His muttered something but his words were muffled by the water.

"What was that Sammy?" Dean asked bringing the younger teenagers head out of the water. "Did I hear Dean is awesome and a much better hunter than me and I will never ask him stupid questions again?" he added with a laugh on his lips.

Sam was staring up at him with wide eyes and his lips were pulled into a pout doing his best puppy dog impression. "I said don't poo your nappy as I'm not changing it," the younger teenager laughed enjoying goading Dean. It had been a while since they had been able to act like this, like the brothers and teenagers they were meant to be.

"Nope wrong answer," Dean declared shoving Sam's face into the mud once more. "You know what you have to do…"

Sam mumbled something once more which led to Dean lifting his head out of the mud. "Alright Jerk I give," he muttered pushing Dean's hand away from him. "I will not ask your stupid angel related question again happy?"

Dean pursed his lips. "What about the other stuff?" he asked the smile seeming to be permanently etched on his face.

"Your ego does not need to be inflated more," Sam declared standing up to which Dean followed suit.

"Dude I can't help it if I am naturally this awesome and good looking," Dean replied blowing a kiss towards Sam who swotted him on the arm for it. Leading to Dean hitting him back until both brother's ended up wrestling in the mud, unaware that the front door had now opened.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Bobby shouted watching as the two boys broke apart, both laughing like they had never laughed before. He had to stifle the urge to smile upon seeing the sight of them dripping with mud. "You are not tracking that into here!"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Yeah don't want to get the dirt on top of the dirt."

"Ya can clean my house then with ya damned smart mouth," Bobby replied watching Dean's mouth clamp shut as he seemed to just about to say a smart remake. "You too Sam."

"What?" Sam exclaimed shoving Dean away from him who was laughing. "He started it!"

"Did not."

"Did."

"Did not."

"Did so."

"Nope."

"Dean."

"Sam."

"DEAN!"

"ENOUGH!" Bobby shouted shaking his head, he was sure they were about to start a full out mud fight war with each other. "Ya both are idjits," he declared hoping to end the argument. "Now go clean up then you can start with the house."

"Ok," Dean replied a smug look crossing over his face and Bobby knew what that meant through the years he has had of dealing with the Winchesters.

"By hand Dean, no angel crap."

"Oh man," Dean pouted to which Sam laughed. The brothers started shoving each other as they entered the house leaving Bobby staring after them fondly. He had never seen them so close to one another like this, there was no secrets and no lies between them.

He turned around to walk back into the house only to have a handful of mud thrown into his face. He growled as he heard laughter and the sound of running footsteps coming from inside. He shook his head and wiped away the dirt, this was going to be a long week.

"Idjits."

"So," Sam started to say throwing his growing frame down into the sofa next to his brother. He looked at Dean out of the corner of his eye smirking at the annoyed and worn out expression on the elder teenager's face. It had taken the two of them half the day just to get Bobby's living room and study to a semi organised manor, the elder hunter could be a right slob if he wanted to be. "Tonight's a full moon huh?" he questioned slowly watching as Dean's attention turned away from the TV towards him.

"No Sam."

"But you don't know what I was going to say?" Sam snapped back the teenager inside of him needing to rebel. "Unless you have mind reading powers…" he added his eyes narrowing towards his brother. You are a jerk he whispered in his head pausing to see Dean's reaction. The elder teenager continued to stare at him like he had grown another head or had suddenly started speaking Latin.

Dean sighed reaching for the remote he turned the TV set off clearly coming to the conclusion that he was not about to get a moment's peace. "Just no Sam." He declared pushing himself to his feet he grabbed his leather jacket that he had discarded against the back of his chair and attempted to leave the room only for Sam to match his every movement. "Can't I get one moment on my own?" he growled his hand coming to rest against the frame of the front door.

"Please Dean," Sam said shooting his best puppy dog expression he could muster. He knew that in the past his brother had never been strong enough to resist.

"I don't want you there," Dean replied folding his arms against his chest. "Just stay with Bobby."

"I don't want to!" Sam shouted not caring that the elder hunter would have been able to hear him from where he was working in his library.

"You don't need to see this," Dean shot back his irritation at his younger brother growing with every moment that passed.

"I want to," Sam bit back. "I want to understand…"

Dean rolled his eyes, his shoulders sagged in defeat and he rubbed a weary hand across his face. "I'm not a performing freak," he growled defensively.

"That's not what I mean. This is the first full moon I can remember that we have not had any lies in the family. I want to be involved in this part of your life…you're my brother Dean, I meant it when I said that has never or will never change," Sam explained feeling the anger wash out of him. He stepped closer to Dean who had an unreadable expression on his face. "Don't say I'm not involved because I am now. Don't you think it's time you stop hiding away and show us just what you can do?"

"He's right son," Bobby's voice called from the doorway beside him stood the figure of a tall imposing man, one the two boys had not been expecting to see for at least another week.

"We are all behind you Dean," John Winchester added smiling at the shocked expression both of his sons were wearing. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world," he added answering their unspoken question.

Dean's eyes flickered from his father, to Bobby and then finally to Sam. He could feel a small smile tug at his lips as much as he wanted to be annoyed he found that he couldn't. For the first time in his life he felt like his whole family was there to support him, like he actually belonged. Shaking his head he moved away from the door and yanked it open. He raised his brow at the three men's confused and almost sad looks before smirking and cocking his head out of the door. "Come on then," he teased walking out into the night with the other three people tailing him. This was going to be interesting.

Castiel stood underneath the lamp amidst the wreckage of the old cars waiting to either be scrapped or sold for parts. His trench coat flowed around him in the breeze and his piercing blue eyes remained stoic, watching the four emerging figures. He could feel the confusion and tension radiating off of his pupil along with a new sense of power.

He could see a white aura surrounding the young angel, something that had never been there before. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed that the same light seem to have spread towards Sam Winchester as well. Between the pair there seemed to be a tether, like their souls had been bonded together.

Trying to supress his shock the angel straightened up his back pretending to feign his emotionless state he had come to adopt. But what Dean did not know was that his years on Earth following the boy had caused his usual cold and bland attitude to soften. He had grown fond of the middle Winchester and he knew that he would have no problem keeping his promise to Lalaliah. He could protect the boy with his life and it was clear that the three people behind him would do exactly the same.

He had been watching Dean the night he had managed to do the impossible and fight off Kushiel, he had been there when he had brought his brother back from the dead using nothing but his instincts. The boy had no idea what he was capable of and to be honest neither did the angel, which thought intrigued and terrified Castiel all at the same time. When he came into full maturity at the age of twenty one then he would truly be a force to be reckoned with, if heaven and hell came a knocking again then this time they would not simply be exorcised or sent back to where they came from. Castiel knew that Dean could become the hero the world had been wanting if he was not corrupted.

Pushing his thoughts to the side the angel focused all his attention on remaining neutral. He had a job to do and he was going to fulfil it, he was meant to be a guardian not a friend. A role he had to keep reminding himself of.

Dean drew in a deep breath as he came to a stop in front of Castiel. Behind him his family stayed a few paces back which he was grateful of. There was one thing them knowing about him but another when they saw what he could do. "Cass," he greeted noting that his mentor's attention was not on him but his companions. "You don't mind do you?" he asked feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.

"They know," Castiel said ignoring Dean's comment. His blue eyes focused on Sam's, his gaze was unwavering and to be honest was slightly freaking Dean out. He could never tell just what was going through the angel's mind. "It should not have taken that," he added pointing towards Sam before turning his attention back towards Dean. "That was a dangerous move you pulled there Dean."

"Where were you then?!" John Winchester growled attempting to step forward only for Bobby to hold him back. "You are meant to protect my boys so where on God's Earth were you?"

Castiel cocked his head his eyes never leaving Dean's which unnerved the teenager. He didn't know who to be scared for most, Castiel or his father? "Yes I was on God's Earth," he replied his eyes frowning seeming to scan Dean like he was looking for something. "There is no other kind of Earth."

Dean heard his father growl in frustration and allowed himself to smirk. At least now other people knew what it was like dealing with the angel.

"Why didn't you help us?" Sam asked interrupting whatever insult John was about to throw towards the angel.

Castiel's attention left Dean and turned to look at the youngest Winchester. His eyes narrowed and his lips were set into a thin line. Dean could sense that the angel was fighting an internal battle about what he wanted to say. It was like he was holding something back and that was the first time Dean had seen any form of human behaviour in the angel. "I am hunted by heaven, if I had revealed myself then I would have been captured and tried as a traitor." He gave Sam one last look before turning his attention back towards Dean.

"What would have happened to you?" Bobby asked breaking through the now awkward silence.

"I would have been fired."

"Is that all?" John scoffed. "You would have lost your job, well excuse me but my sons could have lost their lives…Sam did!"

Castiel's eyes flashed brightly and an inner rage seemed to settle over the angel. He held his hand out and John's mouth was soon snapped shout. The elder hunter desperately clawed at his lips trying to prise them open to no avail. Beside him Bobby and Sam stood still both seeming to be afraid to make a move or a single sound. "A firing is as literal as it sounds," Castiel explained his voice taking on a dark tone. "I would have been stripped of my wings and grace and cast out of heaven. How then would I have been able to help your 'boys'" he added flicking his hand so that John's mouth was freed once more though he chose to remain silent of his own accord this time.

"Cass," Dean tried to defuse the situation however a stern glare soon had his mouth clamping shut.

"What you did was impossible. Word has spread throughout heaven and there is a higher bounty on your head. If heaven knows then hell does too…"

"I don't know how I did it," Dean protested not liking the lecture he was getting. He wouldn't have brought his family out here if he knew he was just going to get told of. "It just happened."

Castiel's eyes narrowed even more, his normal friendly blue was now almost pitch black. Gone was the careless not understanding angel and in its place was the avenging solider of the Lord. "It can't just happen again!" his voice boomed out in the atmosphere. "Until you come into full maturity then I will not teach you anymore."

"But?"

"No Dean Winchester. Your powers are a beacon to all those who know what to look for. Kushiel will fight his way back and he will kill you and all those you hold dear. Until you reach your true powers you cannot even think of engaging him in combat. To keep you safe I will void our contact to the bare minimum."

"So you are just going to leave me like this," Dean yelled holding his hands out to his side.

"Yes." Castiel moved towards Dean and placed a hand on the teenager's chest. A bright light glowed out of the palm of his hand and instantly flew straight into the young hunter's chest.

Dean grunted in pain. His eyes widened as his knees gave out beneath him. His whole chest was on fire, it was like something was carving its way through his ribs trying to stab at his heart. He could feel his father and brother's arms wrap around his shoulders trying to support his body weight. The pain flared for a few more moments before it disappeared leaving him panting for breath. "What the hell was that?" he asked through gritted teeth allowing himself to be pulled to his feet by his family. He wrapped his right hand around his chest waiting for the insistent throbbing to desist.

"I carved Enochian vigils into your ribs," Castiel explained nonchalantly.

"Yeah thanks for that," Dean grumbled pushing the worried hands of his family away. "Couldn't have done it any other way?" he asked straightening up to his full height.

"That will protect you from any angels who can follow your power. It will hide you from their sight and shield you until you can reach full maturity."

"Protect my family," Dean interrupted. "You can do it to me then do it to them."

"Dean," Castiel started to say but stopped noticing the stubborn Winchester side taking over. "Fine."

Castiel done the same to John, Bobby and then Sam making sure that they were each guarded as well. "I warn you Dean, I will not be there to clean up your mess so for the next five years you are on your own," with those words the angel clicked his fingers and he vanished in a blink of an eye.

"Now what?" Sam asked rubbing at his chest knowing that the meeting went down the way none of them was expecting.

Dean stood there staring where the angel had vanished not really believing what had just happened. He thought that he would feel better about himself now knowing that his secret was out and that he had managed to do what was considered impossible but all he felt was guilt. He had put his family into the radar and it something happened to anyone of them then he knew he would not be able to forgive himself.

"Now," John's voice broke through Dean's thoughts bringing the teenager back into focus. "We do what we do best."

"Saving people," Dean replied shooting a smile towards his family. "Hunting things, the family business…"

TBC (Thank you all so much for the amazing responses for the last chapter, I am so pleased to hear from each and every one of you. You make my day and I am really enjoying writing this story so I hope you all will continue reading and enjoying the ride with me. The Sam/Dean will kick in when the boys are older as I know some of you can't wait. As always let me know what you think and reviews make me write quicker! See you all in Chapter Twelve!)