"I'm sorry," Sam said when they got back to the FBI cell with the padded walls. "I wasn't going to hurt you, Dean. I was just wound up because Crowley was there, and I could still smell his blood... It was stupid of us to go. We should have done what you told us."

"It was my fault too," Sweets admitted. "We wanted to help."

"Don't let me get started on you," Dean growled at him. "What happened to fixing Sam? That was your job, not trying to destroy spirits on your own! You were in way over your head, and you could have been killed. Christ, we should never have involved you."

Sweets hated to admit it, but it made him feel kind of warm inside to know that Dean cared if he died. He suspected that Dean felt that way about everyone, though. Probably a genetic predisposition towards altruism, combined with parental reinforcement of taking responsibility for others.

"Angela and Hodgins found something," he said, handing the paper Angela had given him to Dean.

"So really all we have to do is stop Sammy accepting Lucy's friendship bracelet?" Dean asked.

"We must also permanently destroy the spirit, or it will continue to kill children," Castiel reminded him, "and prevent the creators of this plan to raise Lucifer trying again. Also, Dr Sweets must heal your soul."

No pressure then.

"Well, do your thing," said Dean, gesturing to his brother. "And by the way, I don't think this 'airing your grievances' business is working."

"I think that Sam's main problems are interpersonal," Sweets began.

Dean interrupted: "Are you saying I'm the problem?"

"No, but I think it will help everyone if Sam's interpersonal relationships were improved."

"You must let him help, Dean." Castiel stared at his friend.

"You too," Sweets told him.

Castiel looked annoyed. "I would be of more use eliminating the spirit while you fix the Winchesters. I do not require your services."

Oh, he so did. Man, this was weird.

"Come on, Cas. Don't leave me here all alone," Dean said, dragging his friend over to sit on the bed beside him. He looked like he was holding in a laugh as Cas sat stiffly on the edge.

Cas didn't protest anymore after Dean asked him to stay. Interesting. Maybe Sam was onto something with this whole crush thing.

"So, let's get started," Sweets said, clapping his hands together. He felt at something of a disadvantage. The room had no chairs, and his clients were sitting on the bed, looking down at him as he sat on the floor. He thought about calling on his authority as the professional in the situation, and making them move to the floor, but he was pretty sure he would lose the fight.

"Let's start with Cas," Dean said, clapping the angel on the shoulder. Cas looked profoundly uncomfortable. Also, like he wanted to smite Sweets. Badly.

"Yeah, let's start with Cas," Sam agreed.

OK, Winchesters agreeing on something. They were starting with Cas.

"I am an Angel of the Lord. Angels do not need psychotherapy."

"You keep telling yourself that, Cas."

Dean and Cas were doing that thing that Booth and Bones (sorry, Dr Brennan) did, where they talked to each other and ignored everyone else in the room. Were they always like this? No wonder Sam felt left out.

What do you ask an angel of the Lord who has a very strange attachment to a human?

"What would you like to discuss, Castiel?"

"Can we talk about how he's stalking my brother?" Sam suggested.

"It's not stalking if he likes it, Sam."

Dean had a coughing fit and went pink.

"Oh my God," said Sam.

"What makes you think Castiel's behaviour towards Dean is unhealthy?" Sweets asked Sam.

The distraction from Sam's problems and failings seemed to be working. Sam's eyes had gone back to normal, and his veins had stopped throbbing. His tension was easing. Maybe that was all he needed, to remember that he wasn't the only one with problems. Then again, maybe it was just that he didn't want to drink the blood of anyone in the room.

"He watches Dean sleep."

"He just wants to stop my nightmares, Sam."

Well, that probably wasn't helping Castiel's case with Sam. Although, Sweets had to admit, whatever Cas had done to make him sleep the night before had been awesome. It was probably just normal angel behaviour.

"Dean does not sleep more than three hours a night when I am not there. A lack of sleep can severely impair cognitive function and motor coordination in humans. Allowing Dean a peaceful sleep was beneficial to our cause."

Sam snorted. Sweets wasn't sure he accepted the explanation either, but kudos for quick thinking.

"He also stands way too close to Dean. And appears in the bathroom."

"He just didn't get personal space, Sam," Dean defended his angel, "we had a talk about it."

Sweets noticed the talk didn't seem to have worked. Castiel looked even more uncomfortable than before.

"Anyway, it's different between a guy and his angel."

Sam's eyes bugged out. Sweets thought it was probably time to change the subject.

"OK, why don't we come back to that...? Now, Dean – let's talk about those nightmares that Castiel stops. Three hours of sleep a night is not enough. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause severe mental health problems, not to mention the physical ones."

"It's fine, I'm used to it."

"Irritability. Poor judgement. Reduced frontal lobe functioning. Anxiety. Depression. Delusions. Paranoia. Hallucinations. All of those can result from a lack of sleep, not to mention a failure of cell regeneration and decreased immune response to infection. Sleep deprivation can even lead to death. The nightmares are a serious problem, Dean," Sweets lectured.

Dean smirked derisively. "Death? They'll just bring me back. Although it might be nice to see Tessa again. She's always good for a chat."

Oh no. This was not good. He didn't think Dean would actually do anything, not while he had to keep his brother from going evil. Not while he had a world to save. But Sweets wasn't sure that Dean would fight for survival if he got sick.

"They might not bring you back next time," Cas told Dean. He said it like a comfort to Dean. Like he didn't think it would be a bad thing if Dean died.

Sam was glaring at Castiel. "You just want him in heaven where he can be with you all the time."

"I want him to be at peace, Sam."

Sweets willed his cell phone to ring and interrupt them. Surely Booth and Brennan would want to check in after they finished whatever they had gone to do after Dean and Cas had left. It didn't ring.

"Who's Tessa?" Sweets asked. Old girlfriend, maybe?

"She's a reaper. Surprisingly cool, actually."

Holy crap, reapers were real. And Dean was on first name terms with one. Sweets really didn't know what to say to that.

"Back to the nightmares – they seem painful. I think it will help if you talk about them.

Dean was silent.

Sweets' phone rang.