Adam finds himself sitting on the floor with his back against the wall and his head between his hands. Only a few feet away from him, he can see today's issue of the local paper strewn on the carpet. A hesitant glance has him involuntarily reading the headline on the page. Businessman Left At The Altar. He shudders when he notices the large picture underneath is clearly him in his suit running with Michael as Benny was holding Zachariah back. The Young Groom Now Renegade. The other title is even worse than the large bold letters above it. If only ground opened under him and swallowed him whole now…

Dean saw the news. If he who never picks up anything with words to read on it saw that, everyone else must have too. Trying to swallow the knot in his throat, Adam thinks of his friends and professors at college. Sam, Crowley, everyone else from the agency, the doctors he was trading emails with for internship… Everyone. The whole city knows Adam's face by now. They all know Zachariah's leasing company. They all know Adam is the young man who- Hell, people will think Adam was a fortune hunter. They will think he had this secret boyfriend. They will think this even could be a ploy to spread mud on Zachariah's name. This will be on the internet too. Even- Even TV. How will Adam go to school now? How is he supposed to find a job? Who will rent him a flat? How will he deal with the loads of questions? How will he deal with whatever Zachariah will do in anger? How will he deal with whatever bullshit Dean will pull?

It will all happen, won't it?

Dean won't stop here with what he did just now. Sam will try to reach out to him too. Everyone he knows will be talking about him, calling him, texting him, asking him things… They will all be on Adam. And- And he can't. He just can't do it. Even right now, he is falling apart, crying on his own. Michael is still trying to throw Dean out. Dean is still shouting. Adam lowers his head further and covers his ears. He lets the sobs shake him.

When it's over, when the noise ceases, Adam pulls his knees to his chest and hides his face on them with his arms wrapped around himself. A minute passes in silence. Then Adam hears Michael plopping down next to him with a huff. "Adam-" Michael stops to sigh again. "-it's okay. It's going to be okay. I- I am here. You just focus on letting it all out. I will be right here with you. I will talk to you. Right now, you need this. Afterwards, we will stand up together and think about what we are going to do to fix everything. It will be alright."

True to his promise, Michael keeps quiet chatter up as Adam cries with his sobs getting weaker and weaker each passing minute. In the end, his tears are dry and he is no longer shaking. But he feels as if he has been beaten by three men. His eyes are burning, his head is pounding and his limbs are heavy with his muscles aching all over. Quietly, Michael stands up then returns with a glass of water half a minute later. Adam drinks slowly, holding the large glass with both hands. Without saying anything, Michael picks the newspaper up and disposes of it quickly. Adam watches his movements and tries to keep his breaths even to avoid another fit of tears. The thoughts of what happened makes him gradually realize exactly how desperate he is now. His mind doesn't even work to start looking for something to do. He can only think of one thing.

Benny.

As soon as Adam says Benny's name with his hoarse, shaking voice, Benny assures him through the call that he is on his way. Barely half an hour goes by before there's strong knocks on the door and Adam is being hugged to a strong chest. He hugs back letting Benny comfortingly rub his back in circles and press his lips on his hairline. They stand just like that for two minutes. When they do break apart, Adam's eyes meet Michael's who had been watching them from the kitchen door. Michael nods at Benny in greeting before they all go to the living room to sit and talk.

"Dean was here, Benny. He was- He knows everything. That- It's on the paper. Dean came here shouting and blaming Michael and asking questions. I- I feel like shit." Adam says as soon as he sits next to Benny on the sofa and Michael takes place on the armchair in the corner. Without saying anything, Benny pulls him to let Adam rest his head on his shoulder.

"I saw the news too. Don't worry, Adam. This will pass. It will fade soon. You just try to stay to yourself for now. Don't answer phone calls or texts. Don't go to school. You could stay at my place too. It's bigger than here. We could get you settled in that guest bedroom. You could just rest for a while. Don't worry about anything at all. It will all be okay."

Michael sighs to himself as he loads the dishes in the dishwashers. It was the first excuse he could come up with to run away from the living room and give Adam and Benny some time to talk privately. He needs the space to collect his own thoughts anyway. After this morning and the sudden uninvited guest they had… How could he forget Dean still had a key? Why didn't he change the lock the first thing that day? If he had, this wouldn't have happened.

Of course. Of course Sam and Dean saw the paper. Of course Dean looked at the picture, saw his ex kidnapping his brother, who he didn't even know was getting married, from his own wedding then looked a little more carefully to see the other groom's wrinkled face and balding head. Thus, the Winchester heroism in him awakened even for the half brother he must have hated enough to keep secret from his fiancé for all those years. This kid was about to marry a man older than their father just to be led away by his oldest brother's ex-fiancé who shouldn't have even known about him in the first place. And that could mean one thing. Michael was so angry at what Dean did that he wanted revenge, somehow learned about Adam's existence and went after him because well, Sam was like a brother to him too and he could never try to date him even to make Dean suffer. So Dean, the star of the show, had to come barging in here early in the morning, search all the rooms to see his little brother sleeping on the same bed with his ex then having confirmed his theory, save Adam from the second predator he fell into the grasp of. He would take Adam home, ask all sorts of questions about Zachariah and Michael, shout, break things, give the kid the family speech then do absolutely nothing other than to pick fights while Sam dealt with their brother's trauma. At the end of the day, he would have been noble going as far as caring for Adam like that.

Why is Michael even surprised? This is exactly the Winchester logic he knows. The one which made Dean out to be right and noble and heroic for going behind Michael's back with his real love to spare him from further trauma and causing regressions in his process dealing with his phobia. Dean was right because he had only wanted to protect Michael back then. Now too, today Dean was right because he was here to save his brother.

What absolute bullshit. As if he wasn't one of the reasons why Adam was in that situation. As if he has any right to come here still. As if he has any right to meddle with their lives. As if Adam wanted his help. As if Michael would actually do something like that. As if they never knew each other. As if they never loved each other. As if what they had until a few months ago wasn't ever real.

But then again, maybe it wasn't.

Why else would Dean turn to Castiel the second he had the chance? Why else would he do something so atrocious to Michael if he loved him even a little at one point?

Still, it's so hard to believe now. Michael remembers the childhood they spent playing together. He remembers all the evenings the two of them cooked together for their brothers. He remembers their first date. He remembers their college years when they would go everywhere, do everything together. How happy they were all that time. How much they wanted to be with each other. How they dreamt of their future hand in hand. How they were each other's family since they were young enough to be learning to count still. Were all of those no more than lies?

He doesn't want to think so. Then he remembers Dean this morning. How he had the face to come to his house. How he had the audacity to blame him for hurting his brother. As if he actually loves Adam. As if Michael could knowingly and willingly hurt Adam.

And Adam- Well, he could be better for certain. Still, Michael tries to think he could also be worse and be thankful. He really needs to be thankful for Benny once again coming to the rescue. It's obvious how much he and Adam value each other. Even a blind man would see how Benny gets on a new level of tender with Adam and how Adam bathes in the attention like a kitten. They know each other well. They love each other. As what, of that Michael isn't sure. He remembers everything Benny did to find him and get Adam back. He remembers that picture of Adam he saw on Benny's phone set as the wallpaper. He remembers Adam rising from the carpet with a hand on the wall to steady himself and immediately fishing out his phone to call Benny. He remembers the strong knocks that would break down the door if they didn't open it a minute more. He remembers that hug he saw. Watching that-

Watching Benny holding Adam tightly with a discreet kiss on the forehead, no doubt kept that way because of Michael's own presence there, made him feel- He felt loss. Raw, bitter loss right where his heart beats in his chest. And only with excruciating efforts within was he able to hold himself together at that moment. He remembered his life. The one he had more than four years ago. He was happy back then. He was out of college. He was planning his future with his family. He had his friends. He had Dean. He had his brothers. All his brothers. Lucifer was still alive back then. Dean was still in love with Michael back then. The two of them were holding each other just like that scene in front of Michael back then. He was- He still could touch people back then. He wasn't afraid of the warmth of the hand of somebody he loved. Back then, he had everything. He was the happiest man on earth. There were people to embrace him tightly and kiss his forehead if he ever had a bad day. Yet… Michael lost all of that.

Now, as he stands with his hands braced on the counter, alone as always, he feels this tightness in his abdomen with something akin to fear. What is he afraid of? What scares him? He can't be sure. He used to have something to terrify him. He had a goal. He had dreams. He had someone he wanted to be with again. He was afraid of not being on time. He was afraid of not healing. That happened anyway. Michael was late indeed. He lost Dean. Now he doesn't have a reason to rush anything. He will get over his phobia, give himself time, go at his own pace. He has nothing to be afraid of.

However, he thinks of Adam, the only friend he made while fighting his condition. He takes a deep breath, tries to picture how Adam must look now with his head on Benny's shoulder and Benny's arm around his waist as the older man whispers comforting words to him. He thinks and feels a pang at his heart. He still doesn't find what scares him. Only, he realizes how much he wants Adam to be better.

Adam is young, so young with dreams and hopes of his own. This young man suffered so much yet he was still trying. He was battling this universe to keep his head above water. He was trying to survive. And he got so many wounds. He got trashed around, beaten, hit and hurt so bad. He doesn't deserve that. Not at all. Suddenly, Michael thinks of the first few days he spent with Adam. He remembers the huge grin that would light up his whole face, the smile that would reach his light blue eyes… He remembers Adam's cheerful voice talking to him, relaxing him, almost singing to him. He remembers how their friendship started. He feels a new wave of guilt for the only fight the two of them ever had and he understands how much he wants Adam to make it out of this. He wants Adam to be happy. He will do whatever's necessary for that. He will stand next to Adam with all his choices. He knows he can trust Benny too. The other man is closer to Adam anyway. Michael will do all that's in his hands to help those two.

Adam leaves with Benny. Staying there is more logical right now. No one he knows will think to look for him there except for Crowley maybe who doesn't even really know exactly how close Adam is to the man. There is a room he can have all to himself. There is his stuff in that house, clothes and toiletries, even food he put in Benny's pantry for his frequent stays. Also Benny's presence always helps with all of his problems. He will do as Benny says, take a while to himself and rest. He will forget this terrible feeling eating at him. He will think about everything with a clear head a few days later.

Michael wishes him luck, tells him to call if he needs anything and Adam nods gratefully. This man did more than someone else would ever do for a stranger. Technically, Benny did more than a friend would do too. Well, Adam will have to repay both his friends after things settle down for him a little.

After Adam and Benny leave, Michael immediately calls for a locksmith. He gets the new keys in half an hour and throws the old ones away. After that is done, he tidies the bedroom. As he changes the sheets, he remembers the night before. It was the first time he ever slept with someone that close since the accident. Even Dean wasn't allowed on the same bed with Michael after his phobia surfaced. Right now, he is baffled at how easily he drifted. How Adam's soft breaths lulled him to sleep… Even he can't believe it now. And there is this alien… sadness in him as he gets the dishes and looks at the mug Adam used.

Why is he like this? Is it even possible to get used to someone's presence after a few hours spent together? He should think of this as a sleepover with a friend. As what is was. And Benny was right. Adam will be better off there. He must have things to make him comfortable at Benny's. The two men are good for each other too. Michael can't even caress Adam's hair or hug him like Benny did if Adam needs that. He should be able to actually but without adrenaline in his veins and with the heavy thoughts, he doesn't know if he can. So this is better. Michael will go to therapies and get help for himself too. Benny will look after Adam well. Michael will be there if they so need.

As he goes around the flat aimlessly and trying to invent something to occupy him, the doorbell rings. Even though he wasn't expecting anyone, he still rushes to the door. The first thought he has is that it might be Adam. Maybe Benny brought him to spend the evening together. Maybe he wanted to-

When he sees the face of the man he wants to see the least, Michael almost shuts the door. Dean is faster with a foot placed on the threshold to prevent the door. Michael doesn't comprehend anything the other man does. Not after what Dean says.

"I know how you met Adam."

In Dean's hand, Michael sees an old business card.

Juliet&Angels.