A Few Months Later – December

"You want me and Sammy to do what?" Dean stared at his Dad in disbelief he actually had to pinch his leg to make sure he was not dreaming. "I want you and Sammy to come with me on my next business trip, I thought it might be fun." Dean could barely hold back his excitement; the man who was his Dad before his Mom had died was back. He remembered his Dad tucking him into his bed telling him stories of going on the road as Father and Son. Teaching Dean the tricks of the trade and when Sammy was old enough teach him too. "Son, what do you think? We could go when you and Sammy are on your Winter break so you'll be back in time for the new School year."

"Yeah! Let's do it, it'll be good to get out of Lawrence for a-" he stopped in mid-sentence when he realised. Cas… no I can't leave him. The last couple months had been hard on Castiel, after discovering Lisa was the one who had made him disappear and also finding out she had told nearly everyone in the entire school, about his Mother and Family she had found on the Internet. Dean had been almost suspended for starting fights with people who had taunted Cas, not to mention his ass had been thrown in Detention and there was even talk of Anger Management Sessions. Which of course had pissed him off to no end.

It was his Dad's prompt return and for once in years listening to Dean's side of the story, Dean vented out all the shit and anger as his Dad listened intently calm and collected. "I'm just trying to protect someone I care about, he hasn't done anything wrong." John reached over patting his Oldest Son's arm, his eyes full of understanding. "It might be because you've never acted out like that in the past. So this Castiel, he's special to you right?" Dean had nodded while smiling a little sadly. "Yeah he is, he's been through so much crap and just wants a normal life."

For once in a long time Dean felt the bond that he thought was gone strengthen as he left his house and headed towards Cas'. He found Gabriel sitting on the porch a cup of coffee beside him. "Hey Gabe." The Older Novak smiled tiredly as Dean sat beside him. "How is he?" Gabriel repressed a yawn while rubbing his eyes. "He's sleeping finally thank God, four days as he's finally passed out from exhaustion." Dean sighed in relief with Gabriel, the stress of school and people constantly digging for more information about the Novak background had taken a negative impact of Cas' resulting on him not sleeping for days at a time. It was the first time he had arrived to hear Cas was finally catching some shut eye. "It's a start right? What have the doctors said?" Gabriel snorted in disgust. "That it's a phase and he'll snap out of it and if it does get worst he might need to 'talk to someone'." He made another sound of disgust while throwing his coffee into the nearby bush. "Do they honestly think bringing even more people to talk about the past is going to help? My God, it's unbelievable."

It had been Dean's persistence to exhaust all option of how to help, and with that persistent determination he had talked Gabriel into getting Castiel seen by a doctor. As they moved from outside into the kitchen, Dean set about making Gabriel a fresh cup of coffee. "Even though they say it's a phase, they offered to prescribe some medication to help him sleep. You know my Dad might be an unholy bastard but he was right about the Health Care System." Dean placed the fresh coffee in front of Gabriel as he sat down. "I suppose seeing my Mom get pumped full of drugs didn't really help, but now it's always 'someone's ill let's give them a pill.' Never really solves the problem just masks it and the last thing I want is too see my Brother hooked on some pills for the rest of his life."

They sat talking about unimportant subjects until movement could be heard on the floor above. "He's probably heard us talking, why don't you go up and see him?" as Dean stood up Gabriel caught him by the wrist. "If you want to spend the night you're welcome too, I think Cas needs the comfort of not being alone."

Castiel heard voices as he slipped in and out of the sleep stages; he wanted to open his eyes yet it seemed impossible as his brain cried out for more sleep both his conscious and subconscious battled each other one wanted sleep as the other feared of what happen if he did. Would he hear the whispers and feel the eyes endless stares of people? Relive the past and hear the cruel words of Michael and Raphael or his Father? He rolled on to his back staring at the ceiling as the door opened and out of instinct he knew who it was. Dean moved towards the bed pulling off his jacket and shoes before sliding between the sheets, he moved Cas so he could wrap one of his arms around him keeping him close to his body. "I missed you at school today." Dean said softly as Cas burrowed his head into Dean's side. "It's calmed down a lot as well." He felt Dean stroke his bare arm while the other rubbed his back. "Chuck misses you." Cas kept his eyes closed as he hand found bare flesh, he wanted to memorise the feeling of Dean's skin, the feeling of the muscles, the warmth and scent all those individual things made Dean Winchester who he was. "And I miss Chuck." His voice was quiet and muffled against Dean's side yet his hand slid across the skin of his stomach and ribs. "I find your skin and warmth soothing." He heard Dean's heart pick up as his fingers traced each rib. "Cas I need to tell you something."

He shifted Cas into a sitting position so they could see each other. Dean ran his fingers through Castiel's unkempt hair. "My Dad asked me and Sammy to go on a business trip with him." Castiel looked slightly confused. "Which means if I agree to go, I'll be away for a couple weeks." Cas' brow furrowed. "Your Father is making amends?" he lay back down his back to Dean his eyes closed trying to concentrate on the idea of sleeping a little more. "Yeah I guess so," Dean placed his hand on Cas' hip as he leaned over. "I don't know whether I should go yet though." When Cas did not reply he carried on. "I don't want to leave you right now."

Dean rolled Cas back on to his back to find his eyes open but dull. "Dean your relationship with your Father is important as well. You never know when the opportunity will arise again." Dean could not help but lean down pressing a kiss on Cas' lips which only took a moment before getting a response. "If you don't want me to go I won't."

"If you want to go, then go. I do not want to be the reason you missed an opportunity of reconciling with your Father."

A/N: I've sort of done a time skip so I can get ready for the next plot lines ... Oooh who's excited because I cannot wait to start to write the batch of chapters!
Oh yeah and I've made the decision to go to 'Asylum 7' I'm seriously excited!