Dean was laying naked with Castiel in his queen sized bed in is room at home. They had been echanging the dominant role for a couple hours before they had fallen asleep. Dean was wrapped in Cas' arms and uncomfortably hot. They were both sweating and sticking to one another. Dean slowly kicked off his portion of the cover, which was surprisingly small. Cas was definitely a blanket hog. Dean tried to move out of Cas' hold. Cas frowned in his sleep.

Out of nowhere a sudden wave of sadness washed over Dean. He felt his stomach tighten and he gritted his teeth. He had to blink away the stupid tears in his eyes. He had to stop this. He was a grown ass man. Bobby was gone and crying about it was not going to bring him back. He'd probably tell him to dry it up. That he had more important things to worry about, like Sam. Dean thought about his garage. What was he gonna do about it. He knew how to work on cars, but he didn't want to do that for the rest of his life. There was the studio above the shop. Maybe he could turn that into his paint station.

"Dean?" Cas' eyes were still closed, but he wasn't asleep.

"Yeah?"

"You're talking to yourself." Cas opened his eyes just a little.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. I need to get some air." Dean attempted to move but Cas stopped him.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He opened his eyes all the way and sat up onto his elbows above him.

"I was just thinking. I'm fine." Dean looked away from those stark blue eyes.

"Dean. I want to tell you something. I don't know... if I can really explain it, but I want to try. I want you to understand why I want to help." Cas sat back, with his back against the wall. He was sitting as straight as possible, like he had a pole strapped to his back. He looked uncomfortable, but determined.

Dean sat up and looked at him warily, "Cas, you don't have to-"

"My father beat me." That shut Dean up, "He was training me. Molding me into the perfect son. He hated me, but he loved me too. He loved me enough to want me to be good, but he hated the fact that I couldn't change." Cas was staring up at the ceiling, looking like he was 15 years in the past. Dean didn't know what to say. John had never beaten him to the extent Cas' father had. The only time he'd been struck was when he lost track of Sammy for an hour.

"Cas.." Dean's voicce broke for him. He pictured a young dark haired boy looking at his father with so much hurt in his eyes, and not understading why. It made him want to kill Cas' father.

"When Gabriel left, I had no one on my side. I have other brothers, but they were his favorites. They looked down on me. They still do." Cas looked straight into Dean's eyes, "I had never known what a family looked like, or more still felt like, until I met you and your family. I know my pain over Bobby's death is nothing compared to yours, but I mourn him too. If only for your sake. He was your real father, in your heart and he loved you. I'm so sorry that you've lost that." Cas moved and wiped the tears that fell from Dean's lashes, and he held his face in his hands, "I was alone until I left. Gabriel found me later, but it was too late. My father had done his damage. Meeting you is the only thing that has allowed me to move on from the emotional road block he put in place." Cas kissed Dean's forehead, "I will never let you feel alone. I will not abandon you."

Dean had no words, just his feelings. He was so choked up all he could do was stare at the beautiful angel in front of him. He felt so helpless, yet he felt like as long as Cas was here, they'd get through anything.

The next day Cas had to leave for work. Dean and Sam were walking over to Bobby's shop. They had a lot of work to do in the top floor before Dean could work comfortably. Sam was excited to help his older brother. He'd jumped on the opportunity as soon as it had risen.

"So, when you get set up, I thought maybe I could come up here and watch you paint." Sam was looking at the ground and no really making eye contact with Dean.

"Any particular reason? I mean it's not the most exciting thing to watch."

"Well... maybe I could, I dunno... maybe I could get a few tips. Yuknow, like you teach me a few things." Sam had thouroughly blushed and Dean was trying hard not to laugh.

"Well, yeah, but I'd like to know the reason, you're willing to waste time listening to me trash an explination about painting."

Sam just looked at his brother, knowing he was going to make him say it, "It's for Jessica. I want to paint something for her. She loves your paintings... I dunno, I thought maybe.. I want to make her something. Painting seemed like the best option." Sam looked away and muttered.

"Oooooh, look at this, Sam Winchester, a regular cowboy Cassanova. Well, Sammy, I will most definitely help you paint." Sam's eyes lit up, he didn't even give the joke any attention. That made Dean stop and truly assess the situation. He didn't say anything, because he was sure it'd come back up again today. They finally got there and they stared at the empty shop floor. Dean shoulder bumped his brother, "Let's go, we got a lot of work to do if we aree gonna turn you into Picasso." Sam laughed and trudged up the stairs with Dean.

"I've only been here twenty minutes and there's already a case on my desk." Cas complained to Gabriel, who was standing in his office."

"I mean yeah. That's what happens when you're good at your job. If there's one thing Dad accomplished, it was making you tenacious." Gabe was peeking out the blinds on the window when Castiel knocked his coffee cup off his desk while jumping out of his seat. Gabe turned and looked at his brother questioningly. He looked outraged and in disblief.

"You've got to be dicking with me." Was all he said as he cotinued to look through the case file in his hands. He looked up with rage in his eyes, "Gabriel." That's all he got out before he started shaking.

"Whoa, Bro, what's doing?" Gabe went to the front of the desk and picked up the now empty cup.

"They want me to defend a murderer."

"So? You've done that before. What's the big deal?"

"The man he murdered was Bobby Singer. He murdered Dean's..." He couldn't continue, he didn't have to. Gabe knew how dire the situation was now. Cas was not going to be able to even look at this guy.

"Ok, listen, just go to your boss. Tell them you refuse this case." Cas knew Gabriel was just trying to be reasonable, but his tone annoyed him. How could he be so calm? Gabriel had said he liked Dean. Cas tore out of his office and into his superior's.

"Chuck, I have a problem." Chuck, the senior excutive looked up from his glasses and put his pen down.

"What is the matter Castiel?"

"I cannot work this case." He let the case file drop onto his desk. Chuck could see how physcially shaken Cas was and was confused.

"Why? This isn't any different than the last murder case that you handled."

"The man was murdered was close to me. He was my partner's father. I cannot and will not defend this man."

"Castiel, this is your job. You are a defense attorney. This case was assigned to you. You have to work this case."

Castiel seethed, "I will not. How can you expect me to defend a man I'd like to see strapped to a chair and electricuted?"

"You will work this case or I will suspend you and diliberate with the chairs as to what to do with you. Now please exit my office. I'm sure you have other business to attend to." He picked up his pen again and resumed writing. Cas walked out of the office and back down to his own. He knew wht he was supposed to do, but could he really make a case for this guy who had torn apart a family? His family? He knew that he wasn't really apart of the family, but it was the only family he'd ever call his, aside from Gabriel.

"Hey, whoa. What happened?" Gabe walked up to his little brother, who was having a hard time keeping himself together.

"Either I work the case or he suspends me." Cas was so torn. He needed to talk to Dean.