CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Sam sat in the lobby of the local police station a nervous wreck. Everything that morning had started so well. He'd woken up in bed with his best friend, the man he loved, feeling peaceful and ready to face the world, come what may. At least that was what he'd thought, then…bam, the world decided to test that.

He didn't have a single doubt in his mind that Gabriel was innocent. Sure he wouldn't put it past him to send out prank letters, but everything he'd heard about these letters told the would-be lawyer that they weren't pranks, they were vicious, hateful things out to cause as much pain as possible…and that wasn't Gabriel. - Besides the people who'd received the letters over the last few moments didn't fit Gabe's MO.

Gabriel Pratt was a guy would like to dish out punishments to those who were about official means. You know, the high school jock who took all the pleasure in the world making the smaller kids bow to his will. The cheerleaders who thought they were the prettiest in the school to the point of scorning anything different. The teacher who gave an entire class F's just because he felt like it. These were Gabriel's targets, he was about dishing out a little just deserts. The students and teachers who'd been getting the letters didn't fit that… well, not all of them at least. Most of them were the people that Gabriel stood up for. So Gabriel's guilt was not even in question to Sam. - Of course now he just had to find a way to prove it to

Everyone else.

Sam was sat tapping his sneaker covered foot on the grey tiles when the sheriff walked over to him.

"Sam." She sighed. "It is Sam right?"

His gaze shot up swiftly followed by his body, right out of his seat. A look of hope plastered on his face. "Is it over? Can he come home now? – You know he didn't do it right?"

Sheriff Mills shook her head. "'fraid he's stuck here for the foreseeable future."

"But he'd innocent. He didn't do it. I swear he didn't." Sam pleased.

"Evidence says differently."

Sam dropped like a thousand ton load onto the wooden bench. "I don't know where that all came from, but it's not Gabriel's."

"Your faith in your friend is admirable, but…"

"Boyfriend!" Sam snapped.

Sheriff Mill's brow creased. "Pardon?"

"He's not just my friend, he my boyfriend." Sam's throat tightened around the words.

The sheriff smiled sympathetically at him. "I'm sorry, Sam. – But unless someone comes forward to claim responsibility, or some new evidence comes to light way more damning that that box of supplies, Gabriel Pratt isn't going anywhere but to prison."

SUPERNATURAL – FREE WILL HOUSE

Balthazar marched into Dean Winchesters room like he owned the place. He wanted to know what had happened in his few hours of absence. Castiel had always planned on leaving, but that had been because of his unrequited feelings for his roommate. If Chuck was right, those feelings weren't so unrequited, so there was no need for his friend to leave. – So why had he?

That tight feeling grew in the pit of his stomach. It was exactly how he'd felt when he'd learnt Castiel had gone missing that night five years ago. It was the feeling he'd had when he'd heard that he'd gotten hammered and had seen leaving the party with some strange guy. He should have listen to his instincts that night, if he had then maybe his only real friend from school wouldn't have ended up in the trouble he had. – Balthazar blamed himself for that everyday.

Well, this time he was going to listen to his instinct, he wasn't making that mistake again. If Castiel had left Dean, the guy anyone with eyes could see he was completely smitten with, after actually getting him, then something had happened.

"So what happened?" He demanded from the threshold.

Dean's head snapped around to meet Balthazar with a empty pain gaze, his eyes slightly red rimmed. "You tell me? – He's your friend. – Is this his usual routine, get straight guys to got all homo and then split."

Balthazar glared at the man, He could hear the hurt beneath the anger, but the way he was painting Castiel got him fired up. "Listen here jerk, Castiel isn't like that. He's never been like that. He doesn't just go around sleeping with every Tom, Dick or Harry."

Dean glared disbelieving.

"What the hell happened?"

"Happened? I'll tell you what fucking happened… he turned me in to a freaking fag then split."

Balthazar clenched his jaw as he stepped into the room and right up to Dean. Meeting the man, toe to toe. "Believe me buddy, you can't make someone do what's not in their nature…" he said dangously low. "…you've been dancing around eachother for weeks, we've all seen it. Whatever happened between the pair of you was always going to happen. – That or you'd end up killing each other. – So don't act like Castiel forced you into anything. That guys been a saint these past few weeks. It's not easy sharing a room with a guy who hates what you are, especially when your head over heels for him…." Balthazar's long finger poked Dean roughly in the cheast, though he'd rather take a swing but something told him Castiel wouldn't be too pleased with his friend for messing up Dean pretty-boy features. "…so get the fuck off his back."

Dean swallowed. He hadn't really believed what he'd said. Not deep down. He just couldn't picture Cas as the love-um and leave-um type. But he had to feel something and for Dean, anger or hate was always better than admitting that he was heartbroken. "So why'd he leave?" he asked defeated, falling back onto the end of the bed. He hadn't left it except for when the cops had arrived to search the place. He just sat there staring at the records wishing Cas would come back.

Balthazar stared down at him. "What happened?" he repeated.

Dean shrugged. "I – I don't know. We were fine…" he glanced embarrassingly up at the blond Englishman. "…really fine, then Cas got a text and said he had to go out. He said he wouldn't be long. I went out for breakfast with Sam and when I came back some of his clothes were gone and he'd left this." Dean held up the scrap of paper with a single word printed on it. "Sorry… that's all the fucking nerd said… Sorry." The anger was back.

Balthazar stared down at the paper confused but at the same time understanding. There had been something going on here, he didn't know. He'd Castiel's jump, nervous behaviour down to his crush but this…this screamed one thing to Balthazar… Castiel was running, again. – He always ran and hid. Though usually it was from bad stuff, things he didn't want to face. Like when the whole school had found out about his crush, or when his sister had come to town, or after the events of that night. Running away was Castiel's go-to response when he was scared or ashamed. – Which lead Balthazar to wonder, what was he running from now.

"Have you tried his cell?"

"Huh, now why didn't I think of that." Dean snapped sarcastically. "…It's off."

Balthazar worried at his lips, this whole situation was making him very, very nervous. His mind was already coming up with worst case scenarios. Where there any bridges or train tracks nearby? Lord he hoped not. He could feel himself shaking.

"Anna? – Have you tried Anna?"

Another 'I'm-not-an-idiot' glare to Balthazar it was another stupid question. "And?"

"She's not picking up either."

"Maybe their together?"

Neither one honestly believed that, not after all the animosity over the last month.

"Well, we can't just wait here for him to return. Something could have happened." Balthazar slammed his jaw closed and kicked himself mentally when he saw the sudden panic on Dean's face. He clearly hadn't thought that, going for the obvious reasons first…abandonment. Did this guy have issues or what.

"Calm down… Listen, this is what going to happen. I'm going to head over to his father's place…"

"I'm coming!" Dean demanded.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Dean. – We don't know why he ran, you might spook him."

"Spook him!" Dean shouted. "He's not a fucking horse."

"No, but he ran for a reason and I'd lay money on it having something to do with you…"

"Me! – I didn't do anything…."

"I didn't say you did, but Castiel hasn't been with anyone in…. well as far as I know, a very long time. He's probably…. Freaking out. – Everyone has their issues."

Dean ran his hand down his face. He didn't like leaving his for want of a better word, relationship, in the hands of a dick that'd made his brother's life a misery for the past few weeks. But he had to admit, Balthazar knew Cas better than he did, and Cas trust him. "Fine. – But you call me the moment you've found him." he ordered.

Balthazar scoffed slightly. "Sure thing." Then he swung around on his heels and marched to the door, trying to figure where he'd look if the de 'angelus family home didn't pan out.

Reaching the threshold he paused and turned back to Dean. "Oh, one more thing… I don't believe for one second Gabriel's wrote those letters." Seeing the confusion on Dean's face he shook his head. "Here's an idea Dean, while I find your boyfriend, why don't you go help for brother in save his."

Guilt flooded Dean's face. He'd been so caught up in his own ruined relationship that he'd completely ignored his brothers. He had to be the worst brother in the world right now. As Balthazar vanished from the doorway, Dean grabbed his leather jacket. He'd go to the station to support Sam and maybe see about filing a missing persons report.

A/N: Thanks for all the reads, reviews and Faves. Sorry if I haven't responded to your wonderful feedback. I've been a little preoccupide. But let me say now that I love to hear from you all, it helps be stay focused on the story. So thanks everyone. I will try to reply in future. :D