I'm sorry for the late update, but personal life got in the way.

And S9E1 ahgbnkfjad I haven't watched it yet but omg

PS: a small edit from the "break-up" scene of the last chapter.

(without the spaces)

art /Higher- Education- Chapter -13 –Secret -Out-4061 08619 ?ga _ submit_ new = 10 %25 3A1 381 300 78 2

Chapter 14: Dean Winchester to the rescue

"Here," Dean passed a beer to Sam, who was sitting on the couch and was looking at the same spot on the table for the last thirty minutes at Bobby's.

When Sam had called, Dean immediately went after him and brought him here. They didn't exchange a single word on their way home, didn't say anything as Sam greeted Bobby and gave him a hug. He then went and took a shower, after that his head was a bit clearer than before, but now sitting in the old living room that he adored so much, his headache was coming back, he was feeling rusty and he felt exhausted.

"Thanks," he said after Dean passed him the beer. Dean nodded and sat beside him. They were alone in the living room.

Cas slipped out of the room as soon as Dean got back and he was in his bedroom, and Bobby was in the garage fixing a friend's car. It was warm inside, but Sam suddenly felt cold. He lifted his legs up on the couch and curled in on himself. Dean took a swing from his beer and looked down. He cleared his throat.

"So uh… do you wanna talk about it?" he asked slowly. He was never good at talking about feelings. It was a big start for him to open up a bit to Cas.

"Talk about what?" asked Sam and looked at Dean; Dean was staring at him and Sam shifted in a more comfortable position. A moment of silence passed between them.

"Why are you here Sam?" asked Dean. "I mean, it's great that you're here, we'll spend the New Year's together, but…" Dean gestured helplessly between them.

Sam cleared his throat and then looked up at the ceiling, his throat suddenly felt too tight. "He lied to me." He whispered finally. Dean didn't say anything; he just sat there and looked down at his bottle of beer. Sam let out a bitter laugh. "He… I'd take him cheating on me a lot more lightly than this."

"So… he didn't cheat on you?"

"No," Sam answered and sniffled. "How did I miss that? I mean, he was alright. He was fine. He didn't… he looked alright to me." Sam broke off and took a shuddering breath.

"What happened, Sammy?" asked Dean gently. He hated seeing Sam like this. He never liked seeing Sam in tears. He knew that Sam didn't realize that he was crying and it broke his heart.

"H-he is dying, Dean." Sam stuttered.

A broken cry left his lips and he covered his face with his hands. Dean placed his beer on the table and then moved closer to Sam. He gently placed his hand over Sam's arm and squeezed it. Sam started to cry in earnest, still hiding his face from Dean, his whole body was shaking.

Dean didn't know what to do. He was shocked to his core. This shouldn't be right. This shouldn't happen to his Sammy. And he was so bad at comforting people, especially when they were crying.

He grabbed his phone from the table and dialed Cas' number quickly. He was sure Cas would be able to be more of a comfort for Sam than him. He didn't need to wait long for Cas to answer.

"Is everything alright?" Was his first line as he answered; his voice was full of concern.

"Uh no, not really," Dean whispered. "I need you to come down here real quick. Sammy's having a breakdown and I have no idea how to deal with this."

"Why? What happened?" Dean could hear him shuffling around the room, probably getting his pants on.

"I have no idea. The only thing that he said before breaking down was that-" Dean choked as he realized that he couldn't say it. It was unbelievable. "Just come down, please."

"Yeah." There was a click and the line went dead. Seconds later Cas bounded down the stairs and walked into the living room finding Dean leaning against Bobby's desk and Sam curled up on the couch, shaking with his cries.

Cas frowned but walked towards where Sam was. He sat down at the edge of the table and placed his hand over Sam's shoulder. "Sam?" He whispered softly. Sam tensed and then slowly turned around.

"Cas?" his voice was scratchy.

"Tell me what happened…" Cas requested, his voice barely a whisper.

"He is dying Cas. H-he didn't tell me that he was…and I-I didn't notice. I didn't know. You've gotta understand that I didn't know." Sam looked at Cas with desperation.

Cas swallowed. "I know Sam, I do know it and I'm so sorry." Cas was shocked but he didn't show it to Sam, because right now Sam needed someone who was strong to hold him up. "Oh, Sam." He whispered in sympathy as Sam started to cry again.

His eyes were red-rimmed, bloodshot, and he looked extremely exhausted. He was tired, so tired.

"I want to sleep. I want to forget. Please tell me it's not happening. Please tell me he is alright. Please Cas." Sam gripped Cas' arm so tight that Cas almost winced, but he held Sam's arm just as tightly.

"Go to sleep Sam. I'll be here when you wake up."

It had been hours since Sam finally fell asleep.

Dean was standing to the side, constantly rubbing at his eyes, Bobby came in awhile ago and Cas told him what happened to Sam. He silently regarded Sam's posture on the couch, shook his head and then went into his office, shutting the door behind him. Bobby was the kind of a man who didn't ask questions, he'd like to know what happened to his boys, and then he'd wait for them to come to him and talk to him about it, he wouldn't pry or interfere about their lives unless he'd find it necessary. That's what the boys loved about him, amongst the other things.

Cas was sitting on the floor, back resting against the couch, reading his history book. He promised Sam that he was going to be there when he woke up, and he was planning on doing exactly that. He wanted to help Sam as much as he could, because he never really had a friend in his life that cared about him as much as he did. Cas always felt like he could trust Sam with all his existence. Sam had that power around him.

And he could see what Lucifer found in him.

"What do you think Nichols has?" It was Dean who broke the silence first. Cas looked up from his book and sighed; Dean was tensed up, he was leaning against the desk and his knuckles were gripping the edge of it really tight.

"You need to relax, Dean." Cas whispered.

"I am relaxed." Dean hissed back.

Cas licked his lips and looked down at his hands. "I don't know what's Nichols got, but I'm not going to force Sam tell me what it is. He will tell us in his own time, Dean."

Dean sighed and looked down at his feet. "I just want to help Sam." He mumbled under his breath and Cas smiled.

"I know you do. But you've got to give him time. He will open up. Eventually." Dean nodded and Cas held out his hand. "Come here."

Dean walked the small distance between them in two strides and held Cas' hand in his. Cas squeezed his hand and tugged him down. Dean rolled his eyes but flopped down next to him with a grunt. Cas lent back against him, before kissing his cheek. Dean draped his arm over his shoulder and kissed his temple. Cas sighed and opened his book back and continued to read. Dean would occasionally look down at the book, leave a small kiss at the top of Cas' head and then look at Sam's troubled expression as he slept.

He was concerned for him. He hadn't seen Sam like this for years and he had no idea what to do.

He was even seriously considering going and talking to Nichols himself, he wanted to know what happened between them. He knew if he asked Sam another question about their relationship he was going to break down again.

"Whatever you are thinking of doing right now I hundred percent agree with you and I hope you see it through," Cas whispered as he flipped another page of his book.

Dean frowned and looked at Cas' profile, "huh?"

Cas turned around and looked at Dean, "What? Do it."

"What are you talking about? I wasn't thinking anything."

"Really Dean?" asked Cas and looked pointedly at Dean, who blinked and then looked down, shaking his head.

"Jesus, Cas," Dean huffed out a laugh and looked at Cas. "I like you."

Cas' breath hitched and he looked at Dean for a second and then laughed. "I like you, too, Dean."

"Good." Dean leaned in and kissed Cas' lips chastely. Cas sighed and leaned in closer. Dean pulled back, disconnecting their lips with a wet sound; he pecked on his lips softly and then kissed his nose and then his closed eyes. Cas smiled softly as Dean peppered his face with small kisses.

He liked him.

A warm heat spread out throughout his body as the realization settled in. He pulled back and stared at Dean; this was the guy that he had been avoiding for 2 years since he started at their university, they bickered, they hated each other, violent and hurtful words had been said, but looking at the man that was sitting so close to him made Cas realize that it was an act, just an act to keep him safe from unwanted people, from people who would hurt them. But looking at him now, looking at his true self… Cas' heart started to beat faster and he took a deep breath.

"Are you going to do it now?"

"Do what now?"

"Whatever you were thinking."

"Oh! That. Just to make it clear with you, know that it's creepy when you do that," said Dean. Cas only smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Go get them tiger."

Dean snorted as he stood up and fixed his clothes. "Yeah, yeah." He muttered as he walked out of the room and then came back seconds later, walked towards Cas, bent down, kissed him deeply and then walked out of the room leaving a dazed looking Cas behind.

"Idiot," Cas whispered affectionately after him.

Dean drove through the streets aimlessly. He realized that he had no idea where Nichols lived. He pulled aside from the road and took his phone out. He scrolled down his contacts and then called the person he was absolutely sure would give him the information he needed.

"What?"

"Hey there Charlie," said Dean cheerfully.

"Hey Dean, I didn't recognize your number. What's up?"

"I need a favor. You free?"

"Free as a bird."

Dean chuckled. "Good. Now I want information, an address, to be more specific, of a person. And you know that this will be kept in between us, right?"

Dean could practically hear Charlie rolling her eyes. "Of course, Dean. Forgot with whom you're talking to?"

"No, no." said Dean. He took a steadying breath. "I want you to tell me where Professor Nichols lives."

"Woah! What? Dean, I know you hate the guy, but you don't need to go there and kill him."

"Charlie, no! I'm not gonna do anything to the guy. It's a personal thing. I gotta find out some answers from him. Can you find me the address or not?"

There was a beat of silence and then Dean heard her tapping away on the keyboard he sighed and leaned back against his seat.

"Why do you want it anyway?" asked Charlie.

"You wouldn't believe if I told you why."

"Try me."

Dean debated for a minute. He knew it wasn't his place to say it, knew if even a slight word leaked out Sam was going to be expelled and Nichols was going to lose his job. But this was Charlie. She was secretive and she was a friend. He could trust her.

"If you tell anyone about this I swear I'll-"

"Yeah yeah you'll burn my Xbox and PS and my whole LotR merchandise. We've been through this. Now spill."

"Sammy is seeing Nichols," there was a slight pause from Charlie, but then her typing continued. "And they had this… big fight, or whatever, and Sam's really distressed right now. He didn't tell me what happened, because he had been a crying mess. But I want to know so I can help him. I can't… I can't see him like this, Charlie. He is all I have and seeing him like this breaks me."

"Why won't you back off and wait for them to figure it out themselves?"

"Because I know that Sam likes the guy, and vise versa," answered Dean without a second thought. "And seeing Sam like this makes me… itchy to find out what actually happened. I don't want him to shed a single tear for anyone. Ever."

"If you say so, I still think it's a bad idea and that you should wait."

"I know, but I can't. I need to do something. You know me."

"Gandalf help me, I do." Charlie sighed and then said. "Damn this guy is too secretive, but I managed to get his address. Do you have a pen?"

"Yeah," Dean said but didn't move a muscle as he listened to Charlie as she gave him the address. "Thanks Charlie, I owe you one."

"Yeah, yeah, be careful!"

"I always am." Dean hung up and started the car again.

It took him few minutes to get to Nichols house. It was pretty late but there was a light coming from the windows that Dean assumed was the living room. Dean parked the Impala in front of the house and cut off the engine. Now that he was here he had no idea what was he going to say. It was already passed midnight, well into the night, but Dean being Dean, walked out of the car and strode confidently towards the front door. He knocked three times and waited a minute to hear footsteps coming from inside. They weren't steady and Dean stilled himself as the door swung open and Dean did a double take.

"P-professor?" asked Dean uncertainly. Was it really? He was unrecognizable; his hair was a mess, he had bags under his eyes, he looked gaunt and pale.

"Yeah?" his voice was gruffer than usual. He squinted at Dean and then his eyes widened almost comically. "Oh."

"Do you mind if I come in?" asked Dean. "It's a bit chilly outside and I came to talk to you about Sam."

"I… yeah, of course. Come in," Nichols moved aside and opened the door wider.

Dean nodded as he stepped through the door and looked around him. He was kind of impressed; it looked like a lovely home that was surprisingly warm. He mentally shook his head at his own thoughts. Nichols stumbled into the living room and shut the TV down. He sat down on the couch and rubbed a hand over his face. Dean awkwardly stood in the middle and looked around himself.

"Come sit down Winchester, have a drink," Nichols said and poured him and Dean a good amount of whiskey.

Dean slowly walked towards the couch and sat down. Nichols held out the glass full of whiskey to Dean and Dean took it. Nichols didn't wait for him as he took a large gulp from his own glass and smacked his lips as he swallowed. Dean took a tentative slip, not that he never drunk whiskey, but he was being cautious.

After few minutes of silence Dean watched as Nichols poured himself another glass. Dean frowned but didn't question.

"What are you doing here Winchester?" Nichols asked.

"I'm sure that we both know why I am here, professor."

Nichols looked down at his feet and rubbed his eyes again. "Yeah, I guess."

Dean waited patiently as Nichols gathered his thoughts together. He ran a hand over his hair and sighed. He took another sip from his glass and looked at the table. "How much do you know?"

"I know that you're uh…"

"Dying, yes," he laughed bitterly.

"I've never seen Sam like that. He is so distressed that it's making me… uncomfortable. I want to know what's happening. He said it would've been better if you cheated on him. It would've made this a lot easier for him." Dean sighed. "I have no idea what's happening with you or what made Sam feel like the way he is feeling, but I have to know because I hate seeing him like that and you don't look better yourself. In all honesty you look like shit."

Nichols smiled miserably, but didn't comment on it. "I have stomach cancer. Third stage. As you already know it's fatal and I'm going to die soon." Dean's blood ran cold and he got pale. "When I saw Sam, for the first time, I was… enchanted by him. He was tall, manly, had a brilliant smile, but at the same time he looked like a kid who was filled with sunshine and rainbow. He was adorable. But you already know that, because you're his brother." Dean smiled. "I knew that I was dying. I knew that being or trying to be in a relationship with someone was an extremely bad idea, but I couldn't help myself. Sam was perfect in every way, and I wanted to spend the last few months of my life with a person who would care and like me. Not even love. No. Just someone who would like me enough to give a damn about it."

"What about your family?"

"My parents have been dead for a long time. I only have one brother, Michael, but he and I don't get along well, because of many reasons. He doesn't know about my…condition, nor do I want him to know about it. I'm so sorry that I dragged Sam into my life; I didn't want to upset him or anything. It just… happened. And I'm sorry that Sam is going through it right now, but I'm glad that he left, because he won't have to stick around now and watch me die. I wouldn't want anyone to be at my side when I die."

"You don't even know Sammy, do you?" Dean said with a smile. At Nichols confused look, Dean said. "He'll stick around as long as he will be able to. Even if you kick him out, he is gonna come back as soon as he can. You don't even know how committed he gets to something that he likes. So, no, you lucky bastard. He is gonna come back and you're going to accept him back no matter what."

Nichols looked at him with open shock; his mouth was hanging open and his breathing was ragged. "He will come back?"

"Yes," said Dean with conviction. "He is and you better be nice to him, or you're gonna have me to answer to. Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good."

They sat in silence and Dean felt a lot better. He felt like he did the right thing. He wanted Sam to be happy, and if it meant that he was going to let this douche back into his brother's life, then so be it.

He would have to talk to Sam too, he knew that it'd take a lot longer time to persuade him, but he was willing to go through with it. And he was sure Nichols would be there to help him through the process, because after all, this whole thing was for him and his happiness. Even if it wasn't going to last long.

Dean wanted his brother to be happy.

"Thank you," Nichols voice was a soft whisper. Dean looked as his head lolled to the side and his eyes dropped low.

"Yeah," Dean whispered back.

After a minute he was asleep too.