"You're alive."

Gabriel grinned at Cas. "Sure am, little bro. And don't you worry. Daddy Dearest's got a plan to fix all this."

Taking a step forwards, Dean fixed Gabriel with a glare. "Oh yeah? Seems to me like Daddy Dearest is still running."

Gabriel shrugged. "I don't know where He is at the moment. But He's given me a job to do, and He's got jobs for you two."

Dean shook with fury. "No. No, we're not gonna be your little lapdogs, running around because you tell us to. No."

"Look," Gabriel sighed. "I'm just passing on the message. You don't just stop being the Righteous Man because the apocalypse never happened. You're still God's champion. You've got to help us in this."

"I don't have to do anything." Dean argued. "What the hell can I do?"

"Dean."

Dean turned to see Cas frowning slightly.

"Dean, I want to help."

Holding back a sigh, Dean turned to Gabriel. "I'll think about it."

When the archangel had disappeared in a rustle of feathers that made Cas cringe, Dean turned to face his friend.

"Cas, we're talking about God, here. The bastard just up and left you all, and now He wants your help and won't even give you a damn explanation! Why the hell are you agreeing to this?"

"Because He's my Father, Dean! He created me!"

Dean felt his mouth drop open. Even after all this, Cas still believed that he didn't have a choice? "Cas, you don't owe that son of a bitch anything! You've bled for him enough, don't you think?"

Cas gave Dean an exasperated look. "I owe him everything, Dean, how can you not see that?"

Throwing his hands in the air, Dean started to pace back and forth in front of Cas. "You gotta be kidding me, Cas! What do I have to do to make you understand?"

"You can't, Dean." Cas sighed. "There's nothing to understand." He took an orange pill bottle from his pocket and unscrewed the lid.

Dean felt his heart stop. He swiped the bottle from Cas' hand onto the floor. "What the hell, Cas?!"

Cas looked up at him, confused. "They're sleeping pills, Dean. Kevin gave them to me, to help me."

Dean's breath was coming in short, sharp gasps and his hands were shaking. Images of a dishevelled Cas that laughed and called him 'baby' and popped pills like there was no tomorrow were flashing past his eyes. Dean couldn't have that, he wouldn't.

"Cas, listen to me, you don't need them. Don't ever take pills! Please."

"Why, Dean? Kevin said they would help."

Dean shook his head. "Not for you. Never for you. I don't care how fucked up you get. Do not take anything."

Cas furrowed his eyebrows and shrugged. "Why does it bother you so much? When have you cared how 'fucked up I get'? I recall you saying that you didn't care if I was broken."

"Cas, you know that's different!"

"Is it though?"

Blowing out a shaky breath, Dean stopped pacing and stood in front if Cas. "Fuck, Cas…I just…" Dean stopped, and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't want you to change, man!"

"What do you mean?" Cas asked.

"Remember back in '09 when I went to 2014? Well, you were there, but you weren't you. You were all high and loose-moraled, and not...you."

Cas was staring at Dean in shock. "I was what?"

"Cas, I can't wake up one morning and see you sitting there and know that you've become that. I can't do that. Don't ask me to do that, because I won't."

Rolling his eyes, Cas headed back towards to bunker. "Stop trying to take care of everyone, Dean."

"Dammit, Cas, I am not going to sit back and watch you break!"

"Then don't look!" Cas shot back over his shoulder.

Dean knew Cas was hurting, but the fact that he wasn't even willing to try just pissed him off.

"So what, you're not even going to make an effort?"

"Why do you care so much? I'm not your brother, Dean. Sometimes I don't even think I'm your friend. So why do you care?"

Throwing caution to the wind, Dean stormed after Cas and whirled him around. He pressed a hot, angry kiss to Cas' mouth and pulled away quickly.

"How dense are you, Cas. Why the fuck do you think I care so much?"

Cas was frozen in shock, his mouth opening and closing. "Dean…I…."

He ran into the bunker, leaving Dean standing there, staring at the sky.

"Well, that went well." He sighed.

A.N. - Writing in bold is credited to CelticRose1, thanks for your help sweetie! Oppopde XD