Hello my dears. I would like to thank masterjediratgrl31, The Magnus Bane, CaptainAckles, linusfan13, Tie-Dyed Broadway and rainystv for all the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.

So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

Castiel walked through the door of the apartment he shared with Gabriel with a sigh and a heavy heart. It wasn't even 24 hours since he saw Dean, it was more like, and at that thought he quickly looked down at his watch and did a calculation, 11 hours and 23 minutes. So why did he feel like he did? Was it because he knew he wouldn't see Dean for another 48 hours, give or take? And if it was why did he feel like that? I mean he liked Dean of course, but, it was just like. He barely knew the guy, well okay, that wasn't strictly true, they had talked a lot on their dates and he had learnt much about the other man, but they had only known each other for a few days, a week, it wasn't like he could have so quickly formed strong feelings for the man, was it? There was also the fact that he had decided that he was going to take this one slow, he had rushed into a relationship with Michael, throwing himself in head first with that man and look where that got him. So no, there could not be any strong feelings in their relationship so far. But that did not tell him why he felt so miserable about the thought of not seeing Dean for another two days.

Gabriel heard his brother return and as such with a smile on his face he skipped into the hallway to greet him and see how his 'sleepover' with Dean went.

"Hello Cassie, so is this just a fleeting stop before you head back over to Dean-o's or what?" He asked in his usual sunny, probing voice, while smirking at his little bro.

"No I won't be see him tonight." Castiel replied not really paying much attention to the conversation with Gabriel. He was still too busy trying to work out what was going on with him and Dean.

"Why not?" Gabriel asked, a frown showing in his eyes as he studied his brother closer. And looking he realised that Cassie was not a happy bunny. Something had happened. But what Gabriel had no idea. He just hoped it wasn't something serious.

"Because that is what we agreed." Castiel answer with a sigh at Gabriel's stupid question. Why did he think? Not that he was really paying 100 % attention.

"Right. So how did last night go?" Gabriel asked crossing his arms to stop him grabbing his brother and shaking him to make him tell him everything that happened so he could fix it.

"I do not wish to talk about it Gabriel." Castiel growled defensively, turning from his brother intending to head off to his room.

Gabriel stood there and his eyes widened when he heard the tone of his brothers voice. That was a tone he had heard so many times before but not for a long time. It was the tone from the beginning of Castiel and Michael, before the bastard had made Cassie choose between him and his family, not that there had been much 'choice' about it. But that tone, it was one that brought all of what he had allowed to happen to Castiel to his mind. And he was not going to stand by and let anything happen to him, not now, not ever again. He had learnt from his mistakes of the past and he would watch out for his little brother, no matter what. As such he shot out his arm and grabbed his brothers, spinning him round so he was forced to look him in the eyes.

"Castiel." Gabriel growled in a voice which held so much raw emotion that his brothers.

And Castiel's eyes widened, his brother was forcing him to turn and look into his eyes, eyes which were burning with something rarely seen in Gabriel. It was raw, powerful, fury. It was something Castiel did not like seeing in Gabriel. It frightened him. That his funny light-hearted brother could look like that.

"When are you next seeing Dean?" Gabriel asked in a low controlled voice, he had seen the fleeting look of fear in his brother's eyes and he did not want to scare Cassie. He had been through too much in his life already, he did not need anything more. As such Gabriel tried to rein himself in, to control the guilt fuelled emotions which were coursing through him.

"What does it matter to you Gabriel? You are not my keeper. I will see who I want, when I want. Please leave me alone." Castiel replied straightening his spine. He refused to be cowed by anyone, not any more. His brother did not have any power over him.

And Gabriel looking in his eyes saw pain and confusion there as Castiel answered, and he noticed Castiel's lack of actual answer. What the hell had Dean done to his brother?

After a beat Castiel ripped his arm out of Gabriel's grasp and stormed off to his room, leaving Gabriel standing there trying to control his breathing and to stop him from putting his fist through something. He would prefer not to make a hole in his wall. If he was to punch anything then it was going to be the smug face of one detective Dean Winchester. Because no one hurt his little brother and got away with it. Not anymore. He would not allow that to happen.

Castiel made his way into his room and shut the door, pushing the conversation he had just had with Gabriel from his mind with ease, the assbutt that Gabriel was didn't even really register in his mind at present. With that he went back to trying to work out just what he was feeling, and what really was going on between him and Dean. It confused him. He knew that when he was with Dean he was happy and safe. He knew the man would never hurt him, nor it seems would he ever try to control him. He was the very anti-Michael as it were. The two men could not be more different, which was a definite plus point in Castiel's mind.

But now he had a chance to take a step back. To actually look at it all in a detached, clinical fashion, he could see that the feelings he was having for Dean were very strange, and certainly too fast. He needed to work out where he was willing to go on the road now, they had already travelled further than he had planned, so he needed a new plan. A new line he would not cross.

It was just, he had no idea what that line was. The idea of Dean made his chest ache, and clouded his mind. How was he supposed to think properly when his mind kept conjuring up images of Dean every five seconds to distract him? It was highly annoying and something he was definitely going to have to take his remaining time until he saw Dean once more to try and work through. He needed to work this out. He had told Dean he did not know who he truly was and that had not been a lie. And while yes, when he was with Dean he did feel as if he was finding who Castiel Novak was deep inside, he wasn't sure if that person was real, or if he was dependant on Dean presence in his life. And he would not let another man make him into what they wanted, not again. No this time, this time, he promised, he was going to do things his way. He just… he needed to find what way his way was.

The next morning Castiel got up and he still hadn't come up with any thoughts that explained things to his own personal satisfaction, nor had he found any solutions, as such he was still in his quiet and reflective mood when he went to get breakfast. Though he had completely forgotten about his conversation with his brother by then. He had too much on his mind right now to let Gabriel have any part of it. Which in retrospect, may not have been the best idea, but we'll come to that one later.

Gabriel stood in the kitchen, watching every move Castiel made with the keen vision of a hawk realised that whatever Dean had done was rather major. Cassie was no better than he was when he got home last night. He still seemed listless and puzzled, there was also shadows under his eyes which made Gabriel believe that Castiel hadn't slept much the previous night, not that he had either…

But, and it was a big but, Gabriel knew his brother would never tell him what was on his mind. He didn't really do that, the only way he ever got answers from Cassie was with persistence and force, and he really wasn't feeling very patient today. But, and here was the idea that made a cold and sinister sneer appear on his face. A look that while was not a normal one for him, he managed to pull off with panache. Cassie was not the only one who knew what was going on between him and Dean. It took two to tango after all. As such once he waved his brother off to work, Gabriel went and got dressed. He had a police precinct to visit. It was time for Dean Winchester to learn just who he was messing with. And time for him to find out just what the hell was going on.