Gabriel glanced up at Sam, whiskey eyes sad and angry, "Out of all places, why a mental hospital? That's like the worst. It'll stress him out so much."

Sam shook his head, "The doctors agreed with Dean that it's what's best for him."

Gabriel slammed his fist on the table, "HOW WOULD THEY KNOW!? I- I- I… He's- He's…." Gabriel swallowed tears, " He's my brother. I raised him…. Now… he doesn't have me." He shifted in his seat, tapping his fingers nervously on the table.

Sam took a moment before responding to his room mate, "It's been so long though, since the accident, and nothing's changed. I think we need to try everything we can until we get Castiel back."

Gabe's eyes had zoned out, and were now staring at the green table they were sitting at in the Eat and Greet dinner. He still spoke though, "It's not the right way. It's not going to work, Sam. It'll kill him."

"You don't know that."

Gabe glared at him again, "You think I don't know my own BROTHER!?" Gabe stood up and slapped his hands down on the table.

Sam rivaled his pose, yet his tone was softer, "I know you know him, Gabe. I know Dean better than anyone, but that doesn't change the fact that we're running out of options," Sam sat down again, Gabe following, "We have to try everything. You've seen Dean, he can't get through the day with Cas just sitting and praying for a miracle."

"This isn't about Dean, Sam," Gabriel sighed and tilted his head toward the ceiling, his body still shaking slightly from yelling, " I just wish this never happened."

Sam took a moment before answering, "Well as a wise man once said, 'So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

It was a comfortable silence for a bit after that, as it seemed Gabriel was pondering Sam's words. However, he still answered with the most Gabriel response, "Tolkien Nerd."

Sam nodded a bit with a grin.

At least Gabe was smiling

"Nevermind him," the nurse calmly said to the other patients, "he doesn't speak." Everyone around her just nodded, some staring at Castiel with pity, others humor, and some were too dark to tell. He had missed the question, and was much more involved in how many stitches were in his coat. It was a topic that took a lot of mathematical thinking, something far more interesting than the 'happy places' of the other patients.

Like usual, the group skipped him, an occurrence that had become so normal now, sometimes even he forgot that he existed. Word on the street of H.A.O.M was that he had an abusive gay husband, but he kept him for the the money. Of course the snickers and rumours had to be about money, wasn't everything these days? You can't love someone just to love. Of course there was the whole gay thing, but that's a whole different issue. What Cas was primarily worried about today though was Amara, obviously. Luckily she wasn't in this group right now, and in just 10 minutes he would get to see Dean, but it was utterly terrifying. Any moment she could be watching, waiting to attack him, abuse him, or kill him. Worse though, she could attack other people. Innocent people just trying to recover. He wouldn't even put it past her to bomb the place. Those who can kill a soul can kill a body too.

It was almost time to see Dean now, so Castiel closed his eyes and just waited. There was nothing left to do but wait.

Dean groggily picked up the ringing phone. A young man with a cheery voice was on the other end, "Hello, is this Castiel Winchester?"

"Who is this?" Dean asked slightly alarmed.

"We are just doing a study on the minds of people who have been human trafficked. If you'd like to sign up-"

Dean hung up. Out of everything why did he have to bring up that? Today was happy, he was seeing Cas. Dean forced a smile. Today was happy, happy because of Cas.

Dean parked, making sure he had the cookies he had baked for Cas. They were Cas' favorite, snickerdoodle. Dean made sure they had extra cinnamon, enough where Cas could race Dean in a water chugging competition after. Cas always called himself the fastest water chugger in the world, and Dean let him have is imaginary fame.

The building loomed as Dean walked in, checking off the name 'Winchester.' It still made his stomach flutter when he realized Winchester was Cas' last name too. Some things were just too magical to ever truly believe.

He clicked the pen a few times more than necessary before placing it back down on the desk. When he turned around, he saw the room was just as it was a week ago, now slowly filling in with doctors and patients.

Blue sweatshirt

Denim button down

White t-shirt

Red t-shirt

Purple Windbreaker

Trenchcoat.

Cas looked tired. Much more tired than Dean had ever seen him. Even when he worked the night shift, he never looked as mentally thin as this. His trenchcoat did not have any more stains, although the old ones looked more pronounced and noticeable, as if Cas were trying to remember where they came from. Dean had almost no doubt when he believed Cas knew every stain. He used to recite them while they ate, pointing and giggling, filling the air with"remember"s. It was scary to think that he might not remember, as Dean always said Cas would be his memory when he grew old. Who would be there to remember?

Castiel didn't notice Dean at first, his eyes locked on the same chair he had sat in a week ago. The layers of leather and plaid must have caught his attention though, because out of nowhere his head shot up. Caribbean irides met Dean's, and for a brief moment, he saw his husband again. It was joy in Cas' eyes. Joy.

If it was 3 years ago, Dean would have sprinted up and pulled Cas to his chest, smiling in the crook of his neck and grasping the coat. For right now, he waited for Cas to approach him. The steps were quicker than Dean would have expected, but with enough dragging to make it seem like forever. Maybe it was.

Eventually, the two lovers were standing face to face. Dean's eyes pleading to Cas' shocked yet dull ones. Dean could almost smell the fear and utter silence that trembled through Castiel, yet so many words threatened to spill from his ears. Some truths are meant to be hidden. The moment was elongated by the stillness of everyone watching. They were both hanging by their fingernails on a cliff made of fears not supposed to be spoken.

But then

Amara.

She wore her most beautiful black dress, the one with the birds made of lace. Her hair looked almost as 'product filled' as Sam's. She wore a smile, yet it was the kind of smile that gave you that gut feeling of something isn't right. A lot of things were not right about Amara.

Amara clasped her hands together in joy, "Dean, my how it's been a long time," her exclamation was almost painfully fake, but she hugged Dean tightly before he could respond. Amara had always been fond of Dean. Even if they were on paper related, she didn't give it much thought. It almost sickened the Winchester sometimes, when her hand got a bit too close to his chest, or her language crossed the line of family and friends. Even though Dean was bisexual, many who knew him knew he could only love a woman in a very rare case, and Amara was certainly not one of those cases. However, before Dean and Castiel were together, she had tried to be in a relationship with him, even at one point threatening him if he didn't kiss her. Despite that, Dean never pressed charges, and she still loved him the same, although Dean's eyes always darted around the room when he was with her.

Amara held on much longer than needed. Dean struggled to lift his head above her shoulder, looking for Cas. Cas was now staring at him, whole body fixated on him. He almost seemed to be slightly trembling, especially when Amara kept shifting closer and closer to Dean.

Realizing Cas' concern, and wanting to breathe himself, Dean pushed Amara off of him, although made sure it wasn't suspicious and still seemed friendly. Amara stared, rage (but not a hint of confusion) in her eyes, before she walked off into the rest of the crowd.

Both men were finally able to breathe once the tension she brought faded. Although Dean had no idea that Amara was Cas' culprit, he suspected something had happened between the two of them. It was the way that they looked at each other, or really, the lack of it. How they moved when the other was near. Something wasn't right. This is Cas time now, Dean found himself reminding, Castiel.

Dean steadily lifted his hand up, watching Cas' eyes. They were not any smaller now. Dean was okay. Closer to his husband's face, Dean's hand soon cuped Castiel's cheek. For a moment, he flinched, but soon Dean felt the full force of Cas' head resting on Dean's hand. His skin was rough with small hairs and pores, but it was the greatest thing Dean had ever felt. It was smooth, almost like an elvis song. I can dig Elvis, Dean chuckled to himself.

"Hiya, Cas," Dean whispered, his lips struggling to part, "how's your week been?"

Almost as if responding, Cas brought his hand to Dean's shoulder, now leaning almost half of himself on his husband. The week had been tough.

"Oh, I know. It's been hard, Cas. It's been hard without you at home. I forgot how loud the creaks are when you wake up at 2 am for a sandwich," and magically, Dean's chuckle was met by a small smile from his best friend. It barely made a dent in his cheeks, but the unmistakable white tooth were present for a moment, and that was good enough, "I hope you like my letter. I'm sorry it was so sappy," Dean told his husband, "If you want there can be more." Cas sighed heavily, the silent words ever so present in that breath, I would like that.

Breaking the moment, a doctor at the front of the room spoke, "Excuse me, everyone. We will now start family updates. Please stay with whoever is a client here until it is your turn."

Sound erupted again, voices and laughter and the sound of moving fabric. Dean looked over at Cas, "I want a good report card, Winchester. Anything less than an A and you won't get lunch for a week."

Wow, it sure was great to see Cas smile.