Chapter Twenty Six
Gabriel slowly opened the door to Castiel's bedroom in the Winchester house.
"Knock, Knock…it's just me Cas, can I come in" Gabriel asked hesitantly.
He took the silent response as a yes and continued into the room, to find his little brother sitting on his bed with knees drawn up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them.
Gabriel was quick to note the cut on Cas' lip; he looked so fragile and pale.
"Jeeez Cas, you look terrible…"
Castiel raised his head to look at his brother and frowned.
"Wow…thanks Gabe; you make a guy feel so much better"
"Sorry bro…"
Gabriel gave an apologetic half smile and sat next to Cas.
"…How are you doin?"
Castiel huffed slightly at the question and rolled his eyes.
"How do you think…our Uncle won't accept me for who I am and chooses religion above family, he then tries to 'punish' me for my sins by beating on me and my boyfriend and oh to top it all off, I'm now having to take a week off school to sort out this assault case against my own family member…I'm doing swell."
"Wow dude…you are clearly spending wayyy too much time with Dean Winchester…no need for sarcasm Cas, it doesn't suit you" Gabriel said, his eyes wide and mildly offended at Castiel's abrupt answer.
"I'm…I'm sorry…it's just been a really bad week." Cas sighed, calming down slightly and shrugging. Gabe patted him gently on the shoulder as a sign of comfort and sighed heavily.
"Well you're not gonna like this…but I'm about to make your week a whole lot worse…not out of choice obviously, but thought you should know…"
"Know what exactly?" Cas asked, now fearing the worst possible scenario.
"…just remember you still got me ok…and Anna, we are on your side…"
"What do you mean?"
"…Well Anna told me that Uncle Jimmy and a few other family members are taking Uncle Zach's side in this whole assault case…they believe he did what he did….for good reason"
Castiel's heart dropped, as if one family member wasn't bad enough, now they were all turning on him?
"How could they…I mean….I thought…" Cas stuttered out, not being able to find the right words to express how heartbroken he feels.
"Hey come on now Cas…you still have me and Anna, we are on your side…you know how religious our family is, some of them are almost as bad as Zachariah and some are worse than him…but we don't see them too often, so don't worry ok? You have us…and you have Dean…and the Winchester's…just hold onto that"
Gabriel reached out and placed an arm around his brother's shoulders and trying his best to comfort him. Cas couldn't help further tears spilling down his face and if he had the strength to speak right now, he wouldn't even know what to say.
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Dean sat alone in the school cafeteria, picking at his food. He wasn't hungry at all, he just wanted to be at home with Cas right now, comforting him as best he could and not in school by himself, not being able to concentrate in class or do something as simple as eating his lunch.
This week had been a tough one so far, Dean didn't realise how much he would miss Cas at school, even though he sees him every morning, evening and night…and yet the days were difficult.
He did he best to dodge all of the other student's at the school, especially the ones who still thought it funny to throw snide comments in his direction. Dean did the most dignified thing and ignored every comment and whisper that was clearly about him.
This lonely Wednesday lunch time in the school cafeteria was about to change dramatically.
"I hear he abused him…yeah that totally makes sense…"
Dean perked up, hearing nearby whispers coming from the jock & cheerleaders table.
"Oh my god, no way? Do you think so?"
"Yeah totally…I mean come on why do you think Castiel is off school?"
"Wow you're so right…I heard his Uncle hit him…but it would make sense the whole abuse story…no wonder Castiel has turned out such a freak."
"Always knew there was something weird and incest like about that family…"
Dean sat at his table hearing every last snigger, laugh and nonsense piece of gossip about his Cas and for the first time that week, he lost it.
"YOU DON'T KNOW A FUCKING THING ABOUT IT, SO WHY DON'T YOU SHUT THE HELL UP"
Dean yelled, jumping up out of his chair and sending it flying backwards, he was now stalking over to the gossiping group of students. He could ignore hate comments, gay comments and all the rest alike, but one thing he wouldn't tolerate was gossip about Castiel, especially about the current situation.
"STOP TWISTING THE TRUTH, YOU KNOW FUCK ALL" he continued to yell and the whole cafeteria had been stunned into silence and all focus was on Dean.
"We're just saying what we have heard…" a brave student spoke up, earning him a death glare from Dean, who promptly grabbed the boy by his jacket and pulled him up out of his chair.
"Well don't fucking say a word…do you base your lives on idle gossip? You people are sad, pathetic low lives with nothing better to talk about." Dean said, now lowering his voice. So low in fact he was practically growling. The boy look terrified as Dean's anger took hold.
Dean pushed the boy away, glancing round the room to see everyone looking directly at him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT?" he yelled out and his anger won out.
Dean kicked some empty chairs and grabbed hold of the table throwing it across the cafeteria, causing a few students to run.
"WHY CAN'T YOU ALL JUST LEAVE US THE HELL ALONE"
He continued throwing tables and chairs across the room, before pushing some students who got in his way.
"Winchester has finally lost the plot"
The familiarity of Gordon's voice behind him, took over Dean like a firestorm and he swung around, grabbing the boy by the t-shirt.
"Don't test me Gordon…you know what will happen." Dean growled
"Take your best shot"
Principal Henricksen was quick to respond, pushing his way into the cafeteria and pulling the boys apart.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, DEAN LET GO OF HIM…"
Henricksen stood between Dean and Gordon, giving Dean a look that could kill.
"My office Winchester…NOW"
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"You have to understand where I am coming from Dean. I like you…I truly believe you a good kid…"
Dean had sat in the Principal's office for about 10 minutes, listening to Henricksen ramble on like a counsellor.
"…I do not know what is going on with you and Castiel, I don't listen to school gossip. But it is clear you feel for him, care for him and badly want to protect him…and I get that, it's a noble thing to do…but I'm sure if he cares for you too, that he would not want you getting into trouble…especially on his behalf."
Letting out a defeated sigh, Dean nodded his head in understanding…
*Damn, why does he have to be so right?*
"I know…I just can't control myself sometimes, I'm really sorry."
"Maybe you should see someone…about your anger issues?"
Dean's head shot up at the suggestion and he frowned, shaking his head violently.
"No no no…I'm fine, I don't have 'issues'…really I don't, even though it's probably hard to believe right now…but I swear I don't need counselling of any sort."
"OK…I can't force you to talk to anyone…but I still have to punish you for your actions Dean, for damage to school property and threatening students…" Henricksen sighed, shaking his head.
"…Detention for a month. I don't want to suspend you Dean…but if we end up here for a third time, I'm afraid I'll have no choice."
Dean looked shocked, as crappy as detention was; he was expecting a worse punishment.
"I understand…it won't happen again, I swear this time." Dean said with a nod, half smiling in thanks to the principal and headed out of the office.
He left the office feeling relieved, he was expecting a suspension and all he could think about was how disappointed Cas would be.
Dean hadn't gotten far down the corridor when a voice stopped him.
"Winchester, a word in my office please"
"Coach Campbell…Is there a problem?" Dean asked, spinning round and suddenly feeling incredibly concerned.
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The moment Castiel heard the front door close; he was up on his feet and going to greet Dean. As soon as he saw the sad, defeated look on Dean's face, Cas' heart dropped…he knew something was up.
"Dean…what happened, are you alright?"
"Ummm…not really, I have had the worst possible day."
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Castiel sighed heavily as he finished hearing about Dean's day from hell.
"You really do need to control yourself…you can't flip every time someone gossips about me…good job you got off lightly."
"Well…not exactly, that isn't the worst part…" Dean said, hanging his head in shame and staring at his joined hands like they were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.
"What…"
"Coach Campbell pulled me aside and told me…he told me I have been removed from the swim team…indefinitely."
Castiel's eyes went wide, being on that team meant everything to Dean and immediately Cas was up out of his seat, acting as the comforter for once. He wrapped his arms tightly around Dean, giving him a firm kiss on top of his head.
"I'm so sorry Dean…what did he say?"
"He basically said that the team dynamics were failing because of tension between me and the others…and he couldn't have that affecting the tournament, so it would be best to remove me to prevent further 'incident'" Dean sighed, shaking his head and gripping onto Cas tightly.
Cas sighed along with Dean, feeling both sad and slightly disappointed all at once.
"You need to go and speak to your parent's Dean…"
Dean pulled back from Cas and frowned.
"They're gonna kill me! Ah man…I can't…maybe if I just don't say anything…"
"Go and speak to them…the sooner the better." Cas said, half smiling in comfort and giving Dean a final kiss on the head.
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Sam walked into the kitchen not too long after he saw his mom and dad emerge. He had seen the looks of disappointment on their faces and he knew why, as Cas told Sam everything.
The sight that met Sam as he walked in was a very exhausted and upset looking Dean, who had his head in his hands and sat rigidly at the kitchen table.
"Dean…"
Sam walked over, taking a seat next to his brother and placing a hand on his back.
"Cas told me what happened…I'm sorry…how did mom and dad take it?"
Dean looked over to Sam, tears present in his eyes – he hated disappointing his parents.
"Not good…they're 'disappointed' in me. I'd sooner they yell, scream and shout…but I guess I should know better than anyone, that gets you nowhere."
Sam patted Dean on the back and gave him a sad smile.
"I get it…you were protecting Cas…ok not the BEST way to go about it, but I'm not disappointed…I'm proud of you for standing up to them."
Dean met his brother's eyes and he felt moved, how did his younger brother always know the right thing to say.
"Thanks Sammy…I appreciate that and for what its worth, I'm proud of you too…just don't turn out like me, continue being your own nerdy little self and you will be fine." Dean said, managing a small laugh at the end.
"Hey…I'm trying to have a moment here…"
"You know I don't do chick flick moments…you know me better than that."
Sam smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, I do."
Leaning forward, Sam gave his brother a tight hug and pulled back smiling at Dean. The older Winchester was taken back by the hug, but appreciated it none the less and returned the smile in which Sam gave him in that moment.
They had a silent, mutual understanding of each other and Dean watched as Sam left the kitchen.
Castiel appeared in the doorway of the kitchen after Sam had left. Dean looked up, now smiling tight lipped and looking deep in thought.
"Everything OK?" Cas asked quietly.
Dean got up and headed over to his boyfriend, taking Cas' hands into his own and smiling at him.
"You know what…I think it will be."