Sorry it's taken me so long to update! I was just too lazy to write it, haha. I still don't think this chapter's that great...I'm very tired at the moment, and so...yeah, lol. But anywho, I know where I want to take this story, it's just a matter of writing it down and getting there, lol. Thank you all so much for reading and for your lovely reviews! I hope you will continue to leave them! They are what make me want to update :D

Thanks again!

Onward!

Chapter Eight

Dean's hands flitted across his chest slowly, a seductive twist of his lips causing Castiel to feel hot all over as he swallowed thickly, immediately following after his boyfriend as Dean walked away, toward Castiel's bedroom. Dean pulled his shirt off to reveal his finely toned chest and arms, the brilliant tan hinting at his time spent in the sun. The tan even lasted through the winter, which Castiel found amusing and intriguing at times. As their mouths met in a light touch, Castiel let his hand trail-

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Castiel's eyes shot open as he quickly sat up in his bed, his heart racing wildly as he swallowed, glaring at his loud alarm clock for interrupting such a wonderful dream. He combed his fingers through his hair and scrubbed his hand across his face as he struggled to gather his thoughts. What the hell had he just been dreaming? He hadn't had a dream like that in a while now, he had to admit. He wasn't sure what it meant but he figured it had something to do with the fact that he and Dean rarely got to get together anymore, what with the jobs and their families and everything. It was grating on his nerves.

He didn't like being deprived of his Dean-time for any reason, after all.

Sighing, he got out of bed and shut off his alarm clock, wishing he could have slept in for just a little longer so he could finish the dream. It seemed to have been going in a pleasing direction, after all. Grumbling to himself, he dressed and combed his hair before he went downstairs to eat some breakfast. He always set his alarm clock so he would wake early and have time to relax and eat before Jimmy took them to school. Jimmy wouldn't be up for another twenty minutes yet, after all, unless he decided to shower before they went to school.

He had just entered the living room when there was a knock on the door. Soldier jumped up from the couch, where he'd been sleeping, and ran toward the door, happily wagging his tail as he whined slightly, clearly liking whoever it was that was there. Castiel frowned because why would anyone be here so early? He shrugged to himself and strode toward the door, slowly prying it open. Then a wide grin spread across his face as he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Dean's.

Dean grinned and kissed back in kind, sliding his arms around him. "It's always nice to be greeted like this," he commented with a chuckle, causing Castiel to roll his eyes as he stepped back to give Dean some room.

"What are you doing here so early?" Castiel asked, a little confused, but he had to admit that he was happy to see him.

Dean shrugged. "Sammy didn't wanna be stuck at the house…" He bit down on his lower lip and then shook his head. "He's been in a bit of a funk, I guess, and I just thought I'd take him out for breakfast or something before school. And since I was already out…" He smirked at Castiel. "I thought I'd come and get you too, since I know you get up early anyway."

It was nice that Dean knew him so well. Castiel grinned. "Sure, I'll grab my jacket. Hold on." He grabbed onto Soldier's collar and began leading his dog toward the kitchen, where he quickly poured him some food and then grabbed his jacket from where it was hanging on one of the chairs around the kitchen table. He swiftly left the room and returned to Dean, who was standing in the doorway. "I'm ready," he announced with a smile.

Dean nodded. "C'mon, before Sammy changes the music or something."

Sam was always complaining at Dean's music, even though Castiel knew he liked it anyway. He nodded and followed after Dean, climbing into the passenger seat of the car while Sam relocated to the back, fastening his seat belt. Castiel did the same as Dean revved the engine and pulled away from the curb.

"Morning, Sam," Castiel greeted.

Sam nodded. "Morning," he said back, sounding tired. Dean had said he'd been in a funk, after all. Plus he was a teenager…and was apparently going through a phase, as Dean kept saying.

"Where to?" Castiel asked.

Dean shrugged as he stopped at a red light. "Doesn't matter to me," he told them. "Name the place and I'll drive there."

Sam just shrugged in the back seat, looking sullen as he kept his gaze locked downward, away from prying eyes. Castiel frowned and then shook his head at Dean. "I don't care," he told him. "Wherever is fine with me."

Dean sighed and nodded, turning up the music a little as they drove through town.

They wound up stopping at the local café they frequented. They got their usual table and sat there quietly as they ordered. Dean looked out the window and into the darkness, since it was too early for the sun to be up. That was one of the reasons why Castiel hated getting up for school, especially during the winter. The sun was never up then.

Plus it was cold. He didn't much care for the cold or the snow.

"So," Dean started casually, obviously not caring for the silence that was surrounding them at the moment, "what's new?"

Castiel shrugged slowly. "My cousins came for a visit…"

"Really?" Dean's eyes shifted toward him, giving him his full attention.

"Yeah…I don't know how long they're staying, but…" He paused momentarily. "Gabe, my cousin…he wants to meet you, if that's okay."

"Uh, sure," Dean said awkwardly, shifting a little uneasily. "When?"

"Um…today after Drama Club?" he asked.

Dean sighed. "I'm not going to be able to go to Drama Club today," he said apologetically. "Sammy's got something going on at school and I promised I'd be there." He smiled fondly at his little brother as he lightly rested his hand on his shoulder, causing Sam to look up at him thankfully.

Castiel nodded slowly. "That's fine." He knew family was important to Dean, especially Sam's school functions and everything. "Another time, then."

"Sure," Dean said, "I'd be happy to the meet your cousin."

"I'm sure you two will get along nicely."

"What's he like?"

"Gabe is…friendly, I guess you could say. And he always has chocolate stashed somewhere on his person."

Dean chuckled faintly. "Sounds like my kind of guy. Maybe we can get together this weekend or later in the week or something," he suggested.

Castiel nodded again. "Sure, that sounds fine."

He was a little disappointed that he wouldn't get to see Dean outside of school for a little while, but it wasn't like there was much he could do about it. He would take what he could.

Gabriel would just have to meet Dean later.

Dean cheered loudly as Sam nailed the final question at his academic meeting, bringing his school and his team to victory. His little brother was so smart! He simmered with pride as he watched one of the judges hand his baby brother a medal. Sam grinned wider than he had in a while now, which made Dean happy. Sammy deserved a little happiness, after all.

He moved through the crowd and approached his brother as Sammy got off the stage, thrumming with excitement, that wide smile plastered firmly on his face. Dean wrapped his arms around his little brother and murmured, "Congrats, man. You did a good job."

Sam beamed at Dean's words. "Thanks!" he said happily. Dean chuckled and released Sam, ruffling his little brother's hair as he did so. Sam scowled at him and pulled away, fixing said hair. "Jerk," he said lightly.

"Bitch," Dean returned with a smile. It was good that some things could still be normal even though what was happening around them, what with Justin being murdered and the worries that went with it.

He slung an arm around Sam's shoulders as he began leading his brother out of the crowded area. Their father rarely ever came to any of these events, mostly because he couldn't see and since that fire, he'd mostly been closed off. He didn't like going out unless necessary and he especially didn't like being in rooms full of people, crowded and everything. Dean could understand it, but still. Sam was only going to be a kid for so long, and John really should come and see him, or at least that was what he thought.

"Go out for a victory dinner?" Dean asked, smiling at his brother as they climbed into the Impala.

Sam nodded and opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the ringing of Dean's cell phone.

Dean sighed and looked at his brother apologetically as he pulled the phone free from his pocket, brining it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Dean."

Dean frowned. "Dad? What's wrong?"

"You need to come home immediately. Drop Sam off at his friend's - we have a lot to talk about. It's important."

"What? Dad, what's going on? What do you mean?" Dean asked worriedly, shifting his gaze toward Sam, who was frowning at him in return. His father was really beginning to make him nervous. There was just something off about John's voice, something he couldn't quite place, and he didn't like it, not one bit.

"It's about your uncle," John told him seriously, his tone grim which only made Dean worry all the more.

"What do you mean? What about him?" he asked quickly, wanting and needing an answer as his heart started to race in his chest.

"We'll talk when you get Here. Drop Sam off first and then come straight home."

John hung up on him and Dean slowly pocketed his phone, frowning.

"What's going on?" Sam asked. "Is everything okay?"

"I honestly don't know, Sammy," Dean replied honestly as he swallowed thickly. "But I don't like it. At all."

Dean entered the house slowly, wondering what was waiting for him. He'd dropped Sam off at his friend's house and had taken his time in driving home, wondering what was going on and why John had sounded as he had. What did he want to talk about that Sammy couldn't be there to hear? It didn't quite make sense but it put a bad taste in Dean's mouth and left him with a tight knot in his stomach.

"Dad?" he called as he entered the living room and found John on the couch, looking solemn as he held his hands together in his lap as he sat hunched forward. He turned his head up as Dean entered the room. "What's wrong?"

John sighed tiredly and Dean sat down next to him.

"What's going on? What about Justin?"

John bit down on his lower lip. Dean knew all of this was hard on him as well. Justin had been his brother, after all. He himself couldn't imagine if it had been Sammy to do those horrible things and then get killed while he was in jail. The thought sent a shiver coursing through his body.

"Dad?" Dean murmured with a frown. "Talk to me…what's going on?"

"I have some bad news."

"Bad news?" Dean repeated. "Like what?"

"The police are afraid that whoever killed Justin…" John bit down on his lower lip and sighed heavily. "They're afraid that they may come after us. They received a letter two days ago that they think may have come from the killer or someone close to them. They don't know who it is or why, but…The bottom line is, they think they may come after us. They are willing to bring us into protective services but that would requiring leaving everything behind here and moving."

Dean stared at him. What his father was suggesting was crazy! There was no way he was moving or leaving everything behind! Cas was here…his life was here. He didn't want to go anywhere. "Dad…"

"I told them I didn't think that would be such a good idea," John said, cutting him off, "but they're being rather persistent. They have agreed to see how things go for the time being, and if they're wrong and the killer…doesn't take an interest in us, then everything's fine. But…if…They might make us move."

Dean bit down hard on his lower lip. He was right - he didn't like this at all.

"So just…be ready, okay? If they make us move for our safety, there's not really much I can do about it, Dean. And you can't do anything either. I know you love it here and your life is here, but…there are some things we have to accept because we can't change them."

Dean knew, on some level, that his father was right. And maybe moving would be what was best for their safety, for Sammy's safety, but…Dean wasn't so sure he could do it. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to move and leave Cas. Cas. He couldn't do that. He loved Castiel, after all, like he had never loved anyone else before in his life.

And he couldn't leave that behind.

He prayed it didn't come to that, because he wasn't so sure what he would do if it did.

"So prepare yourself," John cautioned. "Because you never know…And if we stay, Dean…you may be putting Castiel in danger…I just want you to think about that."

Dean swallowed thickly. He knew John was right and he in no way wanted to ever put Castiel in any kind of danger, but to just leave…? Even if it was for the safety of his friends and people he was close to, he wasn't so sure he could do it…

But what if he didn't have a choice?

Sorry if it's rushed...I just really wanted to get this chapter written since it's been so long, haha...and I'm really tired...heh...anywho, thanks for reading and please continue to review!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~