Every Friday plays out roughly the same. Cas will attend tutoring with Dean, they'll discuss various aspects of their lives between topics and Cas will leave school with not only a better understanding of Math but also a better understanding of Dean. He'll arrive home to his father, sometimes his father will beat him sometimes he won't. The nights are always the same though, his father will creep into his room, usually drunk but occasionally sober which makes it just that much worse. And when his father leaves Cas will curl up into a ball and cry himself to sleep. Or he use to, he doesn't cry so often anymore; these days he normally stares into space, feeling empty.

Dean will usually notice something's wrong come Monday morning, but doesn't pester Cas about it. Something Cas is eternally grateful for. Samandriel has long since caught on to the routine and gives Cas his space.

By Tuesday Cas has usually fallen back into routine and managed to separate his school life from his home life. Usually.

This time Cas is struggling. He's stuck in a rut he can't seem to get out off. This time his feelings have caught up to him, the empty feeling has been replaced by so many emotions he can't identify them all.

Cas goes through out the day feeling as though he is pushing against his low mood but he's not quite strong enough to lift it. Dean seems to sense this and approaches Cas during Math.

Cas doesn't bother to look up when he feels Dean come to stand beside his desk. He feels Dean's hand clasp his shoulder like usual before it starts rubbing down his back soothingly. Then Dean walks away.

Cas stares after Dean with a bemused expression on his face. He eventually tears his eyes away from Dean and back to his work.

When the bell rings Cas leaves the classroom in a daze, ignoring Dean's concerned eyes.

Cas only manages half a page of work during English. Luckily the teacher doesn't check their books this lesson, he'll have to complete the work for homework before his next English lesson though.

He makes his way from the English department to the cafeteria, taking his usual seat and searching for Samandriel among the long line stemming from the serving area. There's at least 20 people in front of Samandriel so Cas will be waiting for him a while.

Cas is observing the other tables when a plate is placed in front of him and Dean seats himself beside him. Cas eyes the burger suspiciously before turning a questioning gaze on Dean.

"You like burgers, right?" He says before taking a bite out of his own burger.

"Yes..." Cas answers hesitantly.

Dean's eyes sparkle with amusement as Cas continues eye the burger "You gonna eat it then?"

Cas glances at Dean before looking back down at the burger. He's unsure of Dean's intentions but taking into account that Dean has been nothing but good to him, he deems the burger safe to eat.

Dean watches Cas take a small bite out of the burger, his face lighting up before he takes another much larger bite. He's so focused on the burger that it's not until he's finished that he notices Dean watching him with a soft expression.

"Thank you, Dean" Cas says sincerely.

"No problem" Dean says just as Samandriel slumps down in his seat across from them.

"I am so hungry" Samandriel groans before stuffing a forkful of paster in his mouth. He frowns at the burger Castiel is holding for a moment before appearing to shrug it off and slide his extra pudding cup over anyway.

"The queue was long, huh?" Dean grins taking a bite out of what's left of his burger.

"You could say that" another forkful of pasta "you were lucky to get to the front" Samandriel continues around his mouthful.

Dean's grin widens "Ah the perks of being a teacher"

Samandriel flicks a piece of pasta at him "Hey!" Dean glares at the offending piece of pasta before turning his eyes back to Samandriel.

Samandriel offers an innocent smile as Castiel attempts to conceal his laughter. Dean turns his glare on Cas "What you laughing at?" This causes Cas to laugh harder. Dean smiles at the sight, it's probably the happiest Dean's seen Cas all day.

Dean can't help himself he reaches for Cas' hand under the table and squeezes his thumb. Cas smiles up at Dean, traces of mirth still evident in his features.

There's a sharp in take of breath before they hear Samandriel whine "Nooo" and turn to see him standing, brushing off what looks like half a plate of paster from his jeans.

Dean laughs outright. Cas covers a chuckles behind his hand.

"How'd you manage that?" Dean asks through his laughter.

Samandriel stares down at his plate in defeat "I knocked my plate" he mumbles.

Dean just laughs harder.

Through out the rest of the week Dean, Cas and Samandriel sit together. Sam joins them a few times, berating Dean and giving him as good as he gets in concern to teasing. Garth also sits with them a couple of times, he's not all that bad despite being inhumanly cheerful all the time.

During Friday's tutoring lesson, Cas is just finishing a problem while Dean rambles about his experience of taking Sam fishing for the first time; when the shrill of Cas' ringtone meets their ears.

Cas' stomach sinks, there's not many people who would ring Cas at this time of the day and he can take a pretty good guess at who it is. Checking the caller ID confirms Cas' suspicions, his father.

Cas excuses himself and takes the call outside.

"Father?"

"Castiel, where the hell are you?!" He sounds angry and more than a little drunk.

"I have tutoring this evening, remember?" Cas attempts to keep his frustration out of his voice.

"Get your ass back home" his father snaps.

"Father-" Castiel attempts to protest only to be cut off.

"Now Castiel!" With that the line cuts off.

Cas sighs and takes a few grounding breaths before he walks back into the classroom.

Dean glances up at Cas' return. Cas picks his bag up from beside the desk and starts packing away his things "I have to go home"

Dean looks concerned "Everythin' alright?"

"Yes" Cas says before he can stop himself "I just- I have to go" Cas shoulders his bag and heads to the door.

"Wait, Cas." Dean calls

Cas turns to look at Dean. "Yes?"

Dean appears to be contemplating something before he settles with "I'll see ya Monday, yeah?"

Cas nods curtly "I'll see you Monday, Dean" The defeated tone of his words sounding in the air long after he's gone.