Summary: AU. Dean and Castiel are teenage lovers but both come face to face with a fair few problems because of their sexuality. PLEASE REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters.

Pairing: Dean/Castiel.

Keep Me Strong

Chapter Twenty Five: A Quiet Night In

Jessica's parents had gone out of town for a weekend, so Sam went to stay with her, leaving Dean and Castiel to spend a weekend alone. Although on Saturday, Gabriel and the others over the road got a visit from Michael, which ended unpleasantly meaning that Castiel went over to provide some comfort for the Novak siblings. Michael had managed to reduce Gabriel to tears, which rarely happened. Gabriel didn't cry. Since their mother had died and their father had just left, Gabriel had taken care of Castiel all by himself. He was the one sent to work down here in South Dakota, and Castiel wanted to go with him.

"Shhh…" Castiel said softly as he hugged Gabriel to his body, "It's done with."

"Sorry, Cassie." Gabriel whispered, "Sorry for crying."

"No, it's okay. Don't be sorry for it, Gabriel." Castiel replied, pulling back from the hug and drying Gabriel's tears, "You've put up with so much over the years, including the problems my relationship with Dean has caused."

"You're not to blame for anything, do you understand?" Gabriel said, cupping Castiel's face, "Your relationship with Dean hasn't caused any problems. People unwilling to accept you are the ones who caused the problems."

Castiel nodded and Gabriel kissed his forehead.

"Love you, Gabriel." Castiel said, smiling softly at his brother.

"Love you too, Castiel." Gabriel said with a nod, "Now go enjoy your weekend with Dean. We'll be fine."

Castiel hugged Gabriel one more time and left to go back to Dean.

"Is everything okay?" Dean asked as Castiel entered the house.

"Yeah, just Michael being a dick…what else changes, huh?" Castiel replied with a weak smile.

Dean knew to leave it at that.

"Right, I got us a few movies ready and KFC…so…" Dean began, "Quiet night in?"

Castiel smiled gratefully and nodded.

"If you wanna get showered, I can put the stuff in the oven to keep it warm." Dean said softly.

"Thank you for everything." Castiel whispered, kissing Dean lovingly before taking a shower.

Castiel appeared downstairs in a t-shirt and sweatpants, like Dean was as the older Winchester served the still hot KFC with cola and a beer each.

"Thank God, Lucifer remembered." Castiel breathed as he saw the beer.

"Just wait until we're twenty-one," Dean laughed, "We can get it ourselves."

Castiel chuckled and got his KFC.

"Get yourself comfortable, Babe. I'll see to the lights and stuff." Dean said softly, kissing Castiel before putting his meal on the coffee table and moving round to turn the lights out.

He'd been around the whole house and closed the drapes, locked the front and back doors and turned out the upstairs lights, then turned out the kitchen light and living room light before lighting a couple of candles and putting the first movie on.

"You got The Shining?" Castiel breathed, "I've wanted this movie for years!"

"Yeah, anything for you, Baby." Dean whispered, kissing Castiel's cheek before they both curled up on the sofa, enjoying their dinner.

"Here's Johnny!"

Castiel gripped onto Dean tighter as Jack Nicholson taunted his wife through the bathroom door. Dean held onto Castiel and rubbed his arm reassuringly. This was how they spent one of their first dates as a couple, curled up on the sofa watching a scary movie. The movie had freaked Castiel out a lot, but Dean comforted him and made him feel better (after making out with him for about two hours).

As the movie came to an end, Dean turned it off and looked down at Castiel.

"Wow…" He breathed, "That was so creepy."

Dean grinned and then Castiel yawned.

"I'm tired," He laughed, "Thanks for the amazing night."

"Anytime, Honey." Dean replied, kissing Castiel's head.

"I'm gonna head up." Castiel said softly, getting up and kissing Dean's head, "Night, baby. I love you."

"Night, Cas…" Dean said, a little confused, "I love you too."

Castiel wasn't in the mood tonight, which was rare. Dean noticed there was something a little different about him. After clearing up the food containers and the beer bottles, Dean headed upstairs and got ready for bed before slipping under the sheets, clad in only boxers. He slid behind Castiel and started kissing his shoulders and neck.

"Not tonight, Baby." Castiel whispered, shuddering slightly when Dean touched him.

"Not even a little kissy time?" Dean asked.

Castiel never said no to that.

"No…I'm sorry…I just…"

The tone of Castiel's voice panicked Dean and he put the light on.

"Alright, what's happened?" Dean asked, squinting in the sudden bright light.

"Nothing." Castiel lied, "I-I'm fine."

Stuttering. One of the many signs of lying.

"Castiel Novak, you look me in the eye and tell me you're fine." Dean demanded, seeing Castiel roll over.

"Dean, I…"

Castiel couldn't continue. The kid was a really bad liar, which wasn't at all a bad thing. Dean hated liars.

"What's happened, Castiel?" Dean asked, sitting up and pulling Castiel with him.

The youngest Novak looked down and fidgeted with his fingers, pulling them and entwining them like he used to when they were little.

"I ran into Lilith today…" Castiel said in an almost-whisper, "She just…she kinda…"

"She what?" Dean asked, "Did she have a go at you because of Alastair?"

Castiel nodded.

"More than that…" he whispered, pulling his shirt off.

Bruises. Cuts. Scratches. Even a damn cigarette burn.

Dean growled and studied the marks that covered Castiel's torso.

"Don't tell anyone…"

"What?" Dean asked, looking at Castiel like the boy had gone berserk, "How can I keep this to myself?"

"You have to…please, Dean…" Castiel begged, grabbing onto Dean's arm.

"Cas…what else did she do to you? How come you're so scared to tell someone?" Dean asked, knowing in his bones that there was something deeper going here and Castiel just wasn't letting on.

"Because...I just don't want all that crap bringing up again…" Castiel whispered, tears filling his eyes, "It hurt too much last time…especially when Alastair…"

He trailed off at the end and closed his eyes, letting the tears fall freely from them before curling up on himself.

Yeah, times had been ridiculously hard when people found out about Dean and Castiel, all the problems caused by a small group of people who just couldn't take the fact that two people of the same gender were together.

"Please…"

That one word had so much emotion in it that Dean hurt inside. Pain shot through his very soul and before he could control it he nodded, understanding why Castiel wanted to keep it quiet. Castiel looked relieved and kissed Dean's lips.

"Thank you."

Dean smiled weakly and nodded, his breath hitching when Castiel kissed him again.

"Can we just kiss and hold each other tonight?"

"Sure, Baby."

Yes! Kissing was back on the table!

If Lilith, Ruby or Meg or anyone hurt his Castiel again, so help him, Dean Winchester would hunt them down and kick their sorry asses into dust.

-TBC-