Author's Note: Well, with Dean trying to help Chuck get through his recovery…what happens when it's found out that there's more behind Gabriel's decision to end his relationship with Chuck then what Gabriel let on?

Other: And, a continuing thank you to my beta for this story, vrskaandrea - any remaining errors are solely my own.

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Prom

'Dean, why did Chuck head to YOUR room?' Cas asked curiously.

Dean stood in front of Cas, holding both his own luggage but also Chuck's. 'Because, he refuses to stay in his room?' Dean asked frustrated. 'I don't fucking know!' He snapped. 'Did I mention that I'm going to kill your brother? I am going to chop him up into little tiny pieces and toss them into a wood chipper!' He added.

Cas' eyes went wide. 'What did Gabriel do this time?' He asked surprised.

'You know, if he hadn't wanted to be with Chuck…fine. I don't like being involved in other peoples personal lives, anyways. But, to tell ME that not only was his mark FAKE but that despite 'loving' Chuck that their relationship was over? Chuck isn't even going to UNDERSTAND that, right now! How the fuck can I explain that to him when I'm still not sure I understand it?' Dean asked frustrated, only stopping when his vision was beginning to blur. 'God, I want Benny.' He thought to himself.

Cas tilted his head in confusion. 'That doesn't make sense.' He said uncertainly.

'No, it doesn't, but it happened.' Dean explained simply.

'I'm sorry, Dean…but I don't understand.' Cas said confused. 'Gabriel had talked to me and Sam, he was planning to talk to you, he'd asked Benny for advice for God's sake!' He continued. 'I know Gabriel…I grew up around the little bastard. He wouldn't have done ALL THAT if he wasn't planning to follow through!' He added frustrated.

Dean rolled his eyes. 'This is obviously a Novak trait…just spit it out, Cas!' He said annoyed.

Cas fisted his right hand into the front of Dean's shirt, tugging him closer. 'He was going to fucking propose, Dean!' He whispered.

Dean lowered his head. 'What am I missing? Because, you're right…Gabriel's NOT a long-term commitment type of guy, which is why the length of his relationship with Chuck surprised me…and THAT isn't something he'd joke about…not THAT way.' He admitted.

'I think there's more going on here then what we know.' Cas whispered before taking a couple steps back.

'Yeah.' Dean said hesitantly. 'Do me a favor.' He said, suddenly getting an idea.

'What?' Cas asked curiously.

'Find out what you can about Kali.' Dean said carefully.

'Kali?' Cas asked confused. 'Gabriel's fuck buddy?' He added. Okay, so maybe Dean had referred to her a few to many times that way in front of Cas.

'Yeah, THAT Kali.' Dean admitted.

'Why?' Cas asked curiously.

'Because, she was with Gabriel…but looking at things from a different perspective…I thought she'd suggested us go into his trailer so that we didn't draw attention - cause a scene - BUT if Gabriel really hadn't PLANNED on breaking up with Chuck…quite the opposite, in fact…then you can look at that differently and it would still be a matter of not drawing attention, but the reasoning be different.' Dean explained, HOPING Cas was getting his point.

'You mean like…she's trying to avoid getting attention drawn to herself.' Cas said carefully. 'You think she has something on him?' He asked curiously. Dean knew that Cas had went into the right field when he'd become a cop because there were connections he could CORRECTLY draw from some of the VAGUEST things! So, his conclusion didn't surprise Dean, and it had been his own thought, but he hadn't known how to communicate it without sounding like a complete idiot.

'Exactly.' Dean said immediately.

'Okay, I'll do what I can and see if I can get Sam's help. Let's just keep this between the three of us, right now…and you worry about Chuck's recovery, he doesn't need the added stress, right now.' Cas pointed out.

'Agreed.' Dean suddenly trying to figure out just where he was going to be sleeping since Chuck was in his room.

xXxXx

'So, what do you suggest?' Dean sent as a message to Benny after sending a picture of a sleeping Chuck in his bed.

It took a couple minutes before Benny responded back. 'Call your agent, he's driving ME up the fucking wall, cher! Explain you need time off to help Chuck with his recovery. And, then go to bed. Despite what you told me Gabriel said, I really don't think Chuck's in love with you. I'm really not worried, cher.'

'Alright, Benny. And, let Ben know I love him.' Dean sent back.

Dean then called his agent and after explaining an extremely edited version - including him seemingly DEFENDING Gabriel's absence - they agreed that it would be best to talk to the executives and tell them that Dean and Chuck would be unavailable for the rest of the year - which really wasn't THAT long considering it was October already, anyways. And, it would depend on Chuck's progress at that point as to whether or not either would be available at THAT point, Chuck as the whatever his behind-the-scenes 'role' was for the series - and continuing writer of the books - and Dean as one of the two main stars. Essentially, that would cause the show to be suspended but Dean agreed that once Chuck could understand him again that he'd talk to him about posting something, letting people know what had been going on since there were a select few who knew he'd had a stroke at that point and that HOPEFULLY, it would explain things better.

Dean wasn't surprised that as soon as he laid down that Chuck snuggled up close. 'Uh huh, asleep my ass!' He whispered with a smirk. Gabriel better have a damn good reason for abandoning Chuck, at the point he did…or Dean would send him through the wood chipper in already meat cubed sized pieces!

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Dean eyes snapped open when he felt somebody BIG AND HEAVY dropping onto his chest, stomach, and groin. 'What the fuck?' He shouted at the retreating figure before looking briefly at the figure snuggling back up to him. It wasn't that Chuck was particularly heavy, he was actually fairly small for a guy, but it still hurt to have someone that weighed…140+ pounds DROPPED on you.

Dean got up out of bed, leaving a confused Chuck, and followed the other figure - most likely Sam. Grabbing the figure - it was dark AND Dean wasn't quite awake - by his left elbow and spinning him around, Dean couldn't help but be surprised when the figure - Cas - shoved him back against his bedroom door, his forearm to Dean's throat. 'What the fuck, Cas?' Dean asked surprised. 'Why did you drop Chuck ON me? What the hell were you even doing in my room?' He snapped.

'Look, I don't like being WATCHED when I'm…trying to work my partner open.' Cas gritted out.

'And, what exactly does THAT have to do with you -' Dean began before his eyes went wide. 'What the hell was Chuck even doing in your and Sam's room?' Dean asked surprised.

'WATCHING US, Dean!' Cas snapped.

Dean finally took notice of what Cas was wearing…or not wearing, he was just in his bee print boxers. 'I - I'll deal with it.' Dean hesitantly said. He wasn't sure what else TO say.

Cas took a step back, turned, and walked back towards his and Sam's room. Dean put his right hand on his throat and rubbed slightly, he figured either Cas was frustrated for being interrupted or - 'Hey, Cas!' Dean hollered before Cas stepped back into his and Sam's room.

Cas looked back at Dean. 'What?' He asked curiously.

'You used to pull the same shit with me when we were teenagers or don't you remember you had a thing for watching me jerk off?' Dean asked with a smirk, and dark or not, he would about bet Cas had a nice red tint to his cheeks…as he promptly slammed the door to the bedroom. 'Good talk.' Dean whispered with a chuckle. He had no honest idea why he was suddenly finding what Chuck did to be absolutely hilarious, but he'd worry about that once he got more sleep.

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'Dean!' Dean shot up in bed at the holler, shout, or yell of his name…he really hoped it wasn't another damn dream! He always HATED those dreams!

Noticing the severe lack of Chuck in his bed - and wasn't THAT an interesting thought considering he was stone cold sober, Dean thought about just burying himself back under the cover and pretending he hadn't heard anything, but he didn't want Cas getting TO mad at Chuck…at least, not with Benny not being there. And somehow, he just had the feeling that the mention of his name probably wasn't a GOOD sign considering the lack of Chuck.

Deciding that he hated his life and was going to live in the bayou, Dean climbed out of bed, walked out of his room, and eventually made it into the kitchen. Three things were immediately noticeable, Sam was backed up next to the sink his left sleeve rolled up to his elbow and he was holding his left forearm with his right hand and there was part of his left forearm and right hand that were bloody so it was very possible that he'd gotten cut, Cas' eyes were red and he had his right hand around Chuck's throat, and the smaller man was about a foot off the ground and had his hands around Cas' right wrist, trying to kick out.

'Cas, dammit, let him go! I startled him and we BOTH know he's not right in the head, right now!' Sam ordered. Okay, that explains what happened to Sam AND why Cas is pissed.

'Put him down, Cas!' Dean snapped.

Cas' eyes snapped to Dean. 'I'm DONE letting people hurt Sam!' He said angrily, showing his fangs.

'Fuck!' Dean thought to himself.

Sam came up behind Cas and wrapped his arms around his chest. 'Let him go!' He said angrily. 'Castiel!' He added.

Realizing how Sam's arms wrapped around Cas' chest and looped around his right arm, Dean realized what Sam was trying to do, trying to FORCE the matter of getting Cas to let Chuck go…but physically, if Cas didn't want to stop…he wouldn't. Suddenly remembering what Benny had told him about a vampires strength, Dean knew Chuck was in a worse spot then what Sam probably realized, because IF Cas REALLY wanted to, he could snap Chuck's neck.

Dean wrapped his right arm around Chuck's chest and his left around his waist. 'Let him go, Cas!' Dean ordered.

Sam was trying to think of something that would get Cas to let go or at least, serve as a distraction so Dean could get Chuck away from Cas, but then it FINALLY dawned on him, his forearm was still bleeding, and Cas was a vampire…maybe not the best idea considering Cas had drunk from him the night before after Cas had dumped Chuck back into Dean's bed, but it should still work. Sam readjusted his right forearm so it was right in front of Cas' mouth before pressing his forearm back against Cas' lips.

Dean took notice almost as soon as Sam pressed his forearm against Cas' mouth that Cas' grip on Chuck was loosening, because he was holding more of Chuck's weight which meant he was allowing Chuck to slid to put his feet back on the floor.

As soon as Dean noticed that Cas had sunk his teeth into Sam's arm, he just backed out of the kitchen, not letting go of Chuck until they were out of sight. Dean released his grip on Chuck to spin him around so they were face-to-face - or as close as Chuck and Dean could get while both were standing up straight. 'What the hell, Chuck?' He whispered frustrated.

Dean wasn't surprised when the response he got was Chuck simply searching for SOMETHING with his eyes. 'Look, I'm not going to choke you for it…but I agree with Cas, I'm not going to let Sam get hurt, not again.' He whispered, his frustration growing.

Dean watched as Chuck opened his mouth before closing it again, but he could also see the regret on Chuck's face. 'You're sorry?' Dean asked carefully.

Chuck didn't respond beyond lowering his head.

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Author's Note: 1) Well, this was about a third of what I intended from the author's note at the start of this chapter. 2) Prom is also the last song from Louden Swain's first album…so, we're moving onto their second album with the following chapter.

Reviews/Comments/Constructive Criticism welcome!

Flames will be used to roast marshmallows and then promptly deleted!