I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update! I knew what I wanted to happen next, it was just a matter of sitting down and writing it, haha. But here it is! Finally! I really am sorry for the wait...hopefully it won't take so long next time, haha. Yes, Gabriel is introduced in this chapter and Michael is mentioned. Except, I made Gabriel a year younger than Castiel, mostly so it would fit better into the story, lol. Anyway, thank you all so much for your wonderful, inspiring reviews! Please continue to leave them, they keep me going!

Haha this song is awesome...it's What are You Looking for by Sick Puppies. ;) it's in my head lol.

Yeah...I'm really tired right now...so if there are mistakes, I apologize! Influence of sleeping pills and all that...school tomorrow...ugh. Hate school...haha and the mentioning of the sewage problem...the middle school in my town recently got out due to a sewage problem but the high school was still in 'cause they are separate sewage things or whatever, lol. I was so mad! I was like "why can't we get out too?" sigh.

Onward!

Chapter Seven

The next weekend, Dean woke to a grumpy Sammy stomping through the halls. For a brief moment, he tried to ignore it and get back to sleep, but Sam just kept doing it, right in front of his door, and he had to know that Dean could hear him, that he was awake. Groaning to himself, Dean rolled out of bed and moved toward his door, combing his fingers through his unruly dark blonde hair. He pried his door open slowly and peered at Sam, who was still pacing. "Okay, I'll bite," he sighed, causing Sam to stop and look at him. "What?"

"Where would you like me to start?" Sam shook his head like the annoying teenager he was and Dean scrubbed a hand over his face. "Dad went to talk to the police."

"What?" This was news to Dean. His eyebrows rose in question. "What do you mean? Why?"

"I don't know." Sam shrugged. "He didn't tell me, just said it was something about Uncle J-" Sam broke himself off and glared at the ground. Dean knew that Justin's betrayal had stung savagely at Sammy, as the kid had really looked up to him. Hell, Dean had too. It had been hard enough on Sammy when Justin had been put in jail for trying to kill Dean - twice - and killing their mother in that fire, but now that he was dead, too? Murdered, no less? It was really taking its toll on his little brother.

Dean rested his hands warmly on Sam's shoulders and tugged his little - and growing - brother close to him, hugging him. It wasn't often he did this, rarely felt the urge to really do so, but he could bend every once in a while. Sam buried his face in his shoulder and for the first time in what felt like years, he took notice of the dampness of Sammy's face as it began to coat his shirt as well. Sam was crying, his shoulders beginning to tremble, and Dean kept his arms wrapped tightly around his little brother as though daring for harm to rear its ugly head, because he wasn't going to let anything more happen or disturb his brother.

"It's okay, Sammy," Dean whispered softly, running his fingers through the back of Sam's hair. "Everything's okay."

"How?" Sam whispered back shakily, taking a precarious breath. "Everything's so messed up…Why is this happening?"

"I don't know," Dean answered honestly, because he really didn't. He didn't know why any of this had had to happen, or why this was still happening, why Justin had been murdered. As if the guy hadn't taken enough away from this family…

Dean shoved his anger down. It wasn't right to hate a dead guy, but Dean felt the urge just the same, which made him really feel like an increasingly horrible person. Dean closed his eyes, resting his chin on the top of his brother's head as Sammy leaned into him like the clingy five-year-old he'd once been.

"It's okay, Sammy," Dean uttered again, the mantra from after Mary had died. "Everything will be okay. Promise."

And if there was one thing he was good at, it was keeping his promises. He kept his arms wrapped around his brother like a safety blanket as he maneuvered the two of them into his room and sat them comfortably on his bed. He wondered, briefly, how their father had gotten to the police station, but probably either an officer had come to get him or he'd called someone to take him. He could have woken Dean, though. Dean would have taken him, even though he certainly hated the police.

"They say it was murder, Dean," Sam murmured, pulling back as he rubbed at his eyes. "Someone killed him. Someone managed to get into jail and kill him. What if…" His brows furrowed worriedly, his lower lip trembling somewhat. "What if they come after us, too?"

"Why would they?" Dean asked, frowning, even though he had to admit that the thought had definitely crossed his own mind more than once. It just wasn't right for his little brother to think that way, to be this fearful. "We aren't connected with him in any way but blood. We didn't do anything wrong, Sammy."

He was adamant about that. Sure, he'd gotten Justin locked away…but it had been his uncle's own doing that had ultimately led to his downfall. And Dean certainly wasn't going to hold much sympathy for the guy that had killed his mother and had tried to kill him on more than one occasion.

Sam nodded slowly and then paused. "But what if?"

"Don't be so negative," Dean chided lightly, nudging his brother with his shoulder. "Everything's going to be okay, you'll see. I promise."

Sam nodded again, tears still gleaming in his dark eyes. They were red and somewhat puffy from his crying, and Dean's shirt had a damp patch on it, but he didn't mind. He would gladly hold his crying brother, as it was his duty as an elder brother to calm his brother's fears and help him when and if he could.

And that was what he did.

It was what he did best, being a brother.

Castiel lay in his room, thinking. Dean's birthday was nearly there and they still didn't have enough money. He was sure they were going to have to put things off for a while, until they had enough money to get a decent place and they could afford everything. He didn't like that they had to put things off but he knew it would most likely be necessary. Hopefully, though, they would get enough money soon enough and then they could be together all the time and Castiel would always wake up to Dean's amazingly wonderful warmth, a sensation that could only be classified as Dean.

A faint smile ghosted across his face at the thought, the memory of the feel of Dean's body against his. He thought back, for some reason, on the first time the two of them had ever been together in a sexual way, how nervous he'd been and how gentle Dean had been with him, letting him pick the pace. Dean had been wanting to get into it for a while but had been patient with Castiel, for which he was grateful. Still, though, the first time with Dean in such a way had been completely wonderful and it still sent tendrils of want and pleasure racing through him at the mere thought of it.

He shoved the thoughts away for the time being, though, as a car pulled up outside. It wasn't Dean's - no, Castiel knew the distinct sound of the Impala and her fine engine, the engine Dean liked to tune up himself when he could. Dean was a great mechanic, after all, which was partially how he'd gotten his mechanic job in the first place, even if he'd been a little young for the mechanic shop's tastes. John had done a little talking, though, and then Dean had been in and he'd gotten a job that he actually liked and was pretty damn good at. At the time, Castiel had been happy for him…but he'd also been a little dismayed because, unfortunately, it had definitely cut into their time together.

And Castiel loved being with Dean. He loved the feel of Dean against him, the warmth of his lips, the rumble of his voice…everything. He loved everything, and maybe that sounded rather corny, but it was true.

He could hear people talking downstairs. The people must have been here for his parents, then, which made him sigh. His parents were still fighting, more and more all the time, but they'd been relatively getting along lately…but maybe that was just because they'd learned to keep their voices lower when they argued because they'd taken notice of the bags under Castiel's eyes from his many sleepless nights. Maybe Jimmy had said something - Castiel didn't know.

He wanted to call Dean, but it was still early and Dean had worked last night. He'd probably be sleeping in, since it was Saturday.

There was a knock at his door. He stood to answer it when the knob twisted and the door opened. "Cassie!" an enthusiastic voice cheered, and he found himself enveloped in a massive bear hug, his arms held hostage at his sides.

"Gabe?" Castiel murmured when he was released. Gabriel Ramsey was his cousin, a year younger than him. It had been a while since Castiel had seen his cousin, since he lived halfway across the United States - what had it been? Years? He wasn't too sure but it felt like it. Gabriel was a short guy, a few inches shorter than Castiel, with longish, shaggy brown hair not unlike Sam's, his brown eyes watching Castiel with amusement.

"Haven't changed much, have you, Cassie?" Gabriel asked, chuckling. "How have things been? What's it been, two years?"

"Probably," Castiel told him. "I'm pretty good - what are you doing here?"

It wasn't like Gabriel would just randomly come up for a visit, after all.

"Is Michael here?" Castiel asked.

Michael was Gabriel's older brother, who was two years older than Gabriel and a year older than Castiel. The four of them - him, Jimmy, Michael, and Gabriel - had grown up together and he'd been stuck as a middle child, along with Jimmy. It certainly hadn't been that fun, being the middle child, but being with his cousins had been rather enjoyable. There was always someone to hang with, after all.

"Yeah, can't go anywhere without Mikey," Gabriel said, chuckling. "He, Mom, and Dad are downstairs. Your mom said you were up here." He shrugged.

"…What are you guys doing here?"

"Well, my school had a sewage problem so we're out for a few weeks. Awesome, huh? And since Mikey graduated already, he's free. So we decided to come for a visit and visit the new town. How do you like it here so far?"

"It's fine," Castiel said.

"I hear you've got yourself a boyfriend." Gabriel winked at him.

Castiel narrowed his eyes. He was going to have to seriously kill Jimmy.

"Relax," Gabriel said, smirking. "I'm not going to tell anyone. So who is? Huh? Details! But wait, I need sustenance." He whipped out a candy bar quicker than a gunman could pull a rifle. Castiel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, because Gabriel always came prepared. He always had candy on hand yet he never seemed to gain any weight with his freakishly high metabolism.

"What do you…want to know?" he asked, shifting a little uncomfortably. It felt weird to be talking about Dean to his cousin, but it was obvious Gabriel wasn't going to let the matter drop. He never did once he got started on something, as Castiel had found out the hard way while growing up.

"Name?"

"Dean."

"Just Dean?"

"Dean Winchester." Castiel scowled. Gabriel was so nosy, but then, he always had been, even as a little kid.

"Cool, like the gun," Gabriel said, smirking as he chewed at his candy bar. It was making Castiel hungry, watching him eat the delicious chocolate. "He in your grade?"

"Yeah, he's a senior too."

"How long have you two been together?"

Castiel paused and listened to make sure his parents weren't coming by. He was sure they already knew - Jimmy had a big mouth - but just in case, he didn't want to let them know until the right moment. He would officially let them know one day, when he and Dean moved in together. "A little over a year," he told his cousin.

Gabriel's grin grew wider, if that were possible. He looked like a manic version of the Cheshire Cat. "Done the deed yet, Cassie?"

A blush tore violently across Castiel's face and he quickly looked away.

"Really?" Gabriel laughed. "Aw, little Cassie's growing up!"

"I'm older than you," Castiel said. "And besides…what does it matter if we have or not?"

"But you have," Gabriel said, smirking. "It's written all over you face. Was it good?"

"I'm not going to bother answering that."

"Ah, so it was, then. Cool. Can't wait to meet him!"

"What?" Castiel blinked at him stupidly.

"Well, I am going to meet him, aren't I?"

"…How long are you guys staying?" Castiel asked.

"I don't know. Few weeks, maybe? Until they decide to clean up the school." Gabriel chuckled loudly, his candy bar now gone. "You should call him and have him come over. I need to interrogate him."

Castiel frowned. "Now it's the cousin-lecture?"

"But of course, Cassie," Gabriel said, grinning.

"Stop calling me that." Castiel scowled heavily at him.

"But you know you love it."

"Liar."

Gabriel shrugged. "So when am I gonna meet him? Do your parents know?"

"I, um…I don't know," Castiel told him honestly. "I haven't told them, but…"

"They might know?"

Castiel nodded slowly.

"Well…I won't tell them, just in case. When's he coming over?"

"Um…maybe tomorrow. After Drama Club."

If Castiel could convince him to come meet his cousins, that was.

"Drama Club?"

"Yeah…"

"Do you like it?" Gabriel asked, producing yet another candy bar. He tore into it immediately, not even bothering to ask if Castiel wanted any.

"It's pretty fun."

"Dean in it?"

"Yeah…it's where I met him, actually." Memories of his first day played through his head, of how Dean had crashed into him while trying to escape a scene where Ruby had to slap him. He mentally chuckled at the thought.

"Cool." Gabriel grinned. "Happy for you, Cassie."

"Stop calling me that."

"Okay…Cassie."

Now he was starting to sound like Dean.

He thought the two of them would probably get along.

Which would mean double, hyper trouble for Castiel. Joy.

So...good, bad? lol I tried to make Gabriel's character somewhat like the Gabriel in the show and yet also of my own creation...? If that makes sense? lol anyway. Thank you for reading and please continue to review! I will try to have the next chapter up sooner! Thanks again!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~