Sorry about the minor wait there guys! I was writing and REWRITING this chapter, but eh, this is how it turned out. I AM trying to work everyone in. Lucifer is coming destieleyesex so don't worry.

Michael Cohen was one hell of a man. He loved rules and kept everything by a plan. When his plan didn't work out? He obsessed, changed, and worked until it did, and his life plan included a domestic partnership with one Dean Winchester.

Michael headed down the halls of Sioux Falls High School in search of his dream partner. They'd graduated together once long ago, and even though Dean wouldn't admit to being friends with Michael, let alone something more, Michael knew somewhere deep down? There was feeling there. Dean had called him for help about something important. What was more important than your life partner.

Stepping in to the now empty classroom, Michael took a seat atop a desk on the front row, "Hey handsome, what can I do you for?"

Dean stiffened. He'd called Michael out of going about his "Castiel Problem" the wrong way. He'd known of Michael's crush, thus giving him the chance to use the now psychologist as leverage in the situation. Loosening the top buttons on his button down, he sighed "Hey. Uh, thanks for coming."

Michael grinned, "No problem, sunshine! What can I do for you?"

Gulping down air as if were going to be taken away from him, Dean fidgeted. "If I told you one of my students was severely traumatized, and I wanted to help him, what would you say?"

Michael's confidence dropped a bit, furrowing his brow at the question. Dean wanting to help a student? There had to be something more going on. "I'd say, you need to be more specific on the characteristics and situation. I'd also say it isn't like you unless the child has managed to wrap you around his finger, which I don't find likely, because it's only the third day of school. What exactly happened to make you want to help this boy?"

Dean shivered a little "He was bashed on his sexuality, Mike. He needs help, but it looks like he cut himself off from people. He needs this. What should I do?"

Michael sighed, "Well, Dean-o, it won't be easy if he's cut himself off from people. You'll have to first gain his trust. Most cases of bashing require therapy afterward, or the victim communicates with a family member or not at all. From what it sounds like, from your oh so descriptive briefing you gave me? He will easily confuse your emotion and cause. He's probably going to push you away to protect himself. Just be careful."

Dean smiled. "How can I make this up to you?"

"Dinner and a movie?"

"Mike we can't ruin a friendship like that."

"It was worth a shot, big boy."

Castiel sat at the dinner table in the Harvelle home with a stoic expression on his face. He didn't want to be at their house anymore than he wanted to clog across the Golden Gate Bridge, but Gabriel and Anna had business to attend to in Ohio. Needless to say, Cas was stuck there, and it was starting to bother him. Jo was a friend, but he could only handle her in small doses.

"The Winchester boys'll be joining us for dinner gang. Can you two clear off the table? Cas, Jo will show you to your room for the next two weeks." Ellen offered the teens a smile.

Fear flashed across the teen's face as he followed Jo to his room. His heart beat rapidly in his chest as the look of disgust on Dean's face was drawn to memory. Then another image of his English teacher showed itself in his mind. When Cas had looked up from his book earlier, Dean was watching him. The man's expression was nothing short of pity. Why did he pity Cas? He didn't know did he?

As dinner rolled around, Castiel declined joining them to eat, claiming his stomach hurt. He'd been finishing up a week's worth of Biology homework when a knock came from the door. Growing nervous, he slipped off the bed, padding to the door quietly, before tugging it open. "Y-Yes?" he mumbled gently.

Dean stood outside of Castiel's door, his hands picking nervously at lent. The soft sound of a voice caused his eyes to shoot up. Blue hues collided with green instantly. "Hey, can we talk?" he offered a smile of genuine.

Cas stepped aside hesitantly to let the man in. Something was wrong, and the smaller male wasn't exactly sure he wanted to find out. With Dean inside, he closed the door quickly, his eyes glued to nothing in particular outside of the window, "What is it?"

"Well, um, for starters. I know."

Cas felt his face pale. His mouth fell open before he snapped it shut. He knew. Castiel wasn't even sure how that was possible. All of his limbs began to tremble as he remembered the last time a man used the words 'I know' in a setting like this.

Inias walked upstairs into his son's room, not bothering to knock, and closing it soundly behind himself. "Castiel Xander Novak, do you have something you want to tell me?" he bit out at his son. A look of hate and disgust plastered Inias' features.

Cas didn't know what he wanted to hear, shrugging lightly, blue eyes looked brokenly at his father, "I, no sir. I don't have anything to tell you." Cas let his head hang.

Inias growled warningly at his youngest, throwing his backpack at him. "Pack yourself a few things. It's time we go on a trip." He turned on his heel to sit at the boy's desk before he added, "and Castiel? I know."

Cas did as he was told, packing an overnight bag and returning to his father, his head hung down. "I've packed."

Inias gripped his son's shoulder. "This is what's good for you. If this doesn't fix you? You won't have the right to call me your father. You will no longer have a family."

With that, Inias took his son out in the early hours of a cool March morning. Inias shoved his son into a black Suburban, yanking the bag away from him.

Castiel didn't see his father for three months after that evening.

"I don't know what you're talking about Mr. Winchester." The informality lost all hope. Informalities were for people who could possibly be trusted. Dean couldn't be.

Dean furrowed his brow before realizing why Cas called him 'Mr. Winchester'. He wasn't about to correct the boy. "I read a file that was passed to me by my brother. I don't want to hurt you Cas. I want to help you."

"Don't want to hurt me? You read something I never wanted anyone to read. That caused pain. You've already hurt me. Why would you do that?" Castiel's blue eyes reddened as he fought back tears.

Dean felt his heart wrench, "Because Cas, you need help. I know for a fact they would've sent you to therapy. You'd be able to handle being touched in the slightest way, but you can't. You never look a man in the eye, and for some reason? I want to help you."

"What if you can't? Like you said, they sent me to therapy, Dean, and the professionals couldn't help me." Cas put the bed between the two of them, not wanting to be anywhere near Dean.

"I would like to believe I can, Cas. You need to come out of your shell. I see a lot of myself in you, and maybe that'll help. I'm not a professional. I don't trust a professional for anything, but I do have life experience. If you'd just give me the chance, benefit of the doubt, and trust I don't want to hurt you? I'd like to try. For you."

Cas chewed his lip. No one ever offered to help him. Looking down at his now sweaty palms, the tears beat out his control and slowly poured down his face. Part of Castiel wanted to kick the man out, a large part. The rest of him, the mere twenty percent wanted to give him the chance. Castiel was so very tired of fighting. He was tired of bearing the burden and the scars felt like they came alive every time someone touched him. With a meek nod, he sniffled loudly, looking Dean in the eye. "I'm afraid."

Dean felt like he'd been stabbed in the chest looking at the emotion through those eyes, raw, unhidden fear and pain clear as day. Dean crossed the room slowly, not wanting to frighten him. With his hands up, he stopped just arms length away from the teen. "It's okay. I've got you." He whispered hoarsely, trying to fight his own tear off. Reaching out, he pulled Cas into a hug, wishing to take the pain away from him. "Shh. The worst is over, Cas. Don't cry." He mumbled against the mop of black hair under his lips as his thoughts continued the plea "Please, please, don't cry."

At first, dread washed over him as strong arms wrapped around him. Cas thrashed, trying to get free of the embrace. Soon, the thrashing turned to pulling, trying to bury himself deeper in the arms that belonged to Dean, wishing he could believe his words. Wishing that maybe he could be saved. Sobbing silently, Castiel turned his face into Dean's chest, bitter shudders ripping through his lithe frame. He was tired of fighting. He still didn't trust Dean. He couldn't bring himself to, but he promised to try. If this man was willing to attempt to help him, he'd try to trust him.

The sobbing continued for what felt like hours. Dean held his jaw clenched, rubbing small circles into Castiel's back. He hadn't expected this reaction. Sighing as Cas' breathing changed, Dean scooped the small teen up, laying him down on the bed and closing his books. As he headed for the door he cast one more glance at Castiel. The boy had curled up into the fetal position, hugging a pillow to him as if it could safe him from himself. Dean sighed shakily, turning off the bedroom light and stepping out, pulling the door shut behind him.

"Is he okay?" Sam asked, meeting his brother in the hallway. He'd been worried about how long Dean had been away.

"Yeah, sleeping. I'll talk to Ellen and Jo about that problem later. Just let him sleep."

"Why's your shirt wet?"

Dean looked down at his shirt. It was saturated with tears. "Just let him sleep."

Dean and Sam left the Harvelle home that night, Dean allowing Sam to drive. Sam was even more worried about his brother than he was earlier. "Dean?"

"Just, let's go home Sammy." Dean needed to be home. He needed a drink. Above all, he needed to help Castiel.

A/N: Lucifer is missing! So, I'm actually looking for ways to work him in. I am VERY sorry I hurt Cas, but it's just what my muse asked of me.

Thank you for all the encouragement be it PMs or Reviews. I really appreciate it. I hope you've enjoyed the story this far!