Disclaimer: Supernatural is not owned by me. This is a work of fiction and no money is being made for my having written this piece.

Sorry about the delay. I've been dealing with some finale feels and finally got around to editing this morning. Enjoy and please let me know whether you're enjoying the story or not.

"I'm sorry, but you need to repeat to me what you just said."

Dean sighed and looked to the ceiling for guidance. "Again?"

"Yes, again." Castiel leaned slightly forwards from his seat on Dean's bed and waited.

"There are...people out there who hunt monsters."

Castiel felt the goosebumps crawling up his arms. "People are just out there hunting us. Hunting me?"

"Look," Dean said, putting his hands up and trying to calm the freaked out guy, "like we said, you stick with us and we're already one step ahead of the really bad guys."

"That doesn't exactly make me feel any better."

"That's why Sammy and I are going to train you up. Make sure that you can defend yourself. Y'know, outside of the other way you can...defend..."

Castiel turned his head so that he was looking down at the floor as he wiped his nose.

"Cas," Dean said, putting a hand on his shoulder, "It's going to be okay."

"How can you really even say that?" Castiel asked. "I'm a...I'm a monster, Dean. The purpose of my species is to kill people, draining them of their life, their blood, to fulfill some sort of sick need. My body literally craves it."

"You're new, Cas. You need to learn how to dial it back fifteen notches so that you can function without that thirst. We had to learn it the hard way, remember?"

"We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We were out, celebrating, when I flirted with the wrong chick who brought me back to her place which ended up being some kind of boarded up factory. I went along with it. Honestly, I thought she was a little kinky.

"She brings me inside and, man, this was the one time I wasn't packing. My dad would be so pissed at me for being so short sighted. I go along with it, right up until the part when this man shows up. He was tall. Wearing a suit. He thanked the girl for bringing me and there wasn't anything I could do. I had nothing, not even a knife. I tried fighting him off - he laughed and fed me from his wrist.

"After that, I blacked out and the next thing I knew, I was making my way back to the motel room. Sam was already back in the room, fast asleep on his bed and -"

"I can take it from here, Dean."

Dean nodded to him and Sam continued.

"I was asleep. Just barely I heard the door to our room slam open and Dean just collapsed. I tried reviving him and then this - this guy walks in the room and says that Dean is his now. I made a move to go to my duffle when the guy catapults himself across the room to block me. Y'know, all catlike and gracefully. Next thing I know, he's got me on the ground and...Well, the rest kind of goes without saying. He let us into his nest. He guided us and we - we were his children. We had a Father again in a way. Family even. And then one day we just woke up..."

Castiel knew Dean was right and, hell, he probably would be able to help him learn to defend himself.

"So where do we start?"

Dean smiled and Cas waited for the other shoe to drop.

"You have a shooting range in your basement?"

Dean shrugged and said nonchalantly, "We had a weekend off. Okay, your earplugs in place?"

"What?"

"Very funny," Dean said, rolling his eyes and turning Castiel bodily until he was facing the target.

"Take your best shot and we'll talk about it in a second."

Castiel gave Dean the side-eye before sniffling the air, aiming and firing. Both men stared at the bullet hole, just outside of the third ring of the target.

"Not bad," Dean said, impressed.

"I suppose that I should inform you that I have done something similar to shooting in the past."

"You have?"

"Do you remember a video game called 'Duck Hunt?'"

Dean groaned and Castiel couldn't help but smile.

"You're insane, Cas."

"I've been told. Shall we try it again?"

Dean let Castiel have the extra guestroom just a few doors down from his own room.

"So, not ready yet to run off screaming?" Dean asked from the door.

"No. When the alternative is being on the streets, it's nice to have friendly people nearby."

"Well, if you can't sleep, we've got a closet full of -"

"Board games, I know."

"That was, um, Sam's idea."

"Uh-huh," Cas said, clearly not believing him.

"It was. Well anyway we've got another one that's all full of books."

Frowning, Castiel looked away. "I didn't find that one."

"Well, it's right next to Sammy's room so try to be a little discrete - he's a light sleeper."

"Very well. Thank you, Dean."

"Good night, Cas."

"Good night."

Dean shut the door on his way out and Castiel laid back on the blue comforter, his legs dangling off the edge. He closed his eyes and thought back as he drifted off.

The bus was late tonight. He checked his watch and for the first time in two years, the 9:30 was fifteen minutes late. Out of the corner of his eye, Castiel saw someone standing under the streetlamp not moving with their arms crossed. They were probably waiting for their dealer or something.

Crouching in on himself, Castiel turned and suddenly there was a girl sitting on the bench next to him who wasn't there a second before. He jumped but hoped she didn't see.

"Did I frighten you?" she asked, voice a little breathy.

"No. Nope."

The girl licked her lips and smiled coyly at him, batting her eyelashes.

"Okay, maybe a little."

The girl chuckled and slid herself so she was sitting closer to him, her leg touching his. Goosebumps erupted over his body. He could feel the coldness of her skin leaking into his body from the simple touch. He wasn't surprised though, seeing how little she was wearing - form-fitting bustier, short, leather skirt, fish-net stockings, thigh-high boots and piercings and tattoos all over her body. It was a sharp contrast to Castiel's attire - button down white shirt, dress pants, black shoes and an overcoat.

"Going to meet friends?" Castiel asked.

"Yeah," the girl said, "or something like that."

Castiel watched her bite her lip, her body fidgeting so much that she looked about ready to bolt.

"You okay?"

"Fine. I'm fine."

Then Castiel heard something that sounded suspiciously like a snarl and turned to her to see what was wrong. From out of her gums, a second set of teeth descended. They were sharp and monstrous. She screeched at him this time and Castiel, frightened beyond words, jumped up and ran. He got as far as the end of the block when someone stood in his way.

"Hello, boy," a large male in a suit with a bald head and long, curved fingernails said with gladness.

Castiel gasped and moved to run but the man grabbed him by the neck and held him in place. He slowly let go of him but, strangely, Castiel found himself still unable to move.

"I apologize about the state of my little, feral child. She was just a little hungry."

The man licked his lips and Castiel shut his eyes, fearing what was going to happen next.

"You are a very handsome man, you know. Beautiful. There is something almost...angelic about you."

Castiel sensed that the man had leaned in closer to him, his breath cool on his face. Slowly, Castiel opened his eyes and the man smiled at him, first without showing a hint of his teeth. Then, the second set, just like the girl's, descended into place and he bit into the side of Castiel's neck. He forced Castiel down onto the wet street, taking his fill and then stopping. Blearily, Castiel opened his eyes and the man was forcing something into his mouth.

"Find me when you are ready, child."

Castiel could've sworn he heard something after that and then felt someone touch him gently on the forehead.

"Castiel...is that really you?" a phantom voice whispered. "Castiel..."