Dean cussed up a blue streak, when he bumped his head on the hood of an old Ford.
His phone rang, and that never happened for a good reason.
Rubbing his head and still muttering darkly under his breath, he went to pick it up.
"Dean-o?" came a familiar voice, but Dean had never heard it this anxious before.
"Gabe? Buddy, what's wrong?"

Gabe took a deep breath, seemingly to calm him down.
"Dean.. it's Castiël."
Red flags instantly started waving in Dean's mind. Gabe never used Cas' full name, unless it was bad. Than much he had learned from Cas already.
"What happened? Is Cas ok?" Dean rattled the sentences off like a Tommy gun.
"I don't know, but he left before the end of the day, and... when I called him, he was playing that horribly depressing song he only plays when shit has happened. I'm still stuck here. Got a goddamn meeting with Crowley."

Despite the worry speeding through him like a NASCAR racer, Dean couldn't help but ask.
"Face to face? Really?"
Gabriel scoffed and Dean could picture his pal's face perfectly. Scrunged up nose, curled up lip...
"No, you knucklehead. Video conference, but I need an office background, don't I? Backlighting, no way he sees my face. You check on Castiël, ok?"
Dean agreed and shoved his phone in his pocket.
"Bobby. Gotta make a quick call, then I'll finish the Ford." he called.
Bobby waved a hand, but didn't say anything.

Cas picked up on the fifth ring.
"Dean? Is everything allright?"
Dean could hear it in his voice. Cas was not ok.
"I'm ok, Cas. Just wanted to say I'll be home soon. Almost done here. Shall I take care of dinner?"
Cas sighed and in the background Dean could hear soft guitar music.
"If you please could. I fear I might burn things today."
That was his cue. Dean sighed inaudibaly.
"Did something happen, angel? You do sound tired..."

Cas didn't answer, and Dean could hear a heavy riff tear from the stereo.
"Cas?"
A soft sound, like Cas tried to speak, but then didn't.
"Ok then. I will see you soon. Burgers sound ok? I'll make them myself."
Now it sounded like a sob, causing Dean to internally curse the crap Ford to Hell and back.
He wanted to be home now to hug Cas and make sure he was ok.

Still Cas didn't answer, and the music got just that tad louder, making Dean sure Cas was crying and he had turned the sound up to hide it.
"Cas... I'm leaving right now, ok. I'm done here."
A faint "ok" could barely be heard and Dean bit back a curse as he disconnected.
Fuck the Ford. It could wait. His angel was in trouble.
"Bobby! I'm off. Crap piece of Ford got transmission problems, and I got word that I should check on Cas."
Bobby tipped his cap back and looked at Dean.
"Well? Why are ye still hanging around? Git!"
God, Dean loved the old coot!

He gunned the Impala as much as he dared, going steadily over the speedlimit.
He left her on the driveway, engine clicking softly from being run hot in such a short drive.
"I'm sorry, Baby. I'll take you on a long drive Saturday. Cas needs me."
He all but ran inside, hurridly shoving his shoes in the closet and hanging his jacket up sloppilly.
"Hey, angel. I'm home..." he said, like his heart wasn't trying to make a bid for freedom through his chest.
Cas was curled up on the sofa, hugging a cushion and hiding his face. It reminded Dean of how Cas had hidden under the stairs in highschool.
His hair was in worse disarray than ever, and he didn't even look up. The stereo was still playing the same music. It seemed Cas had it on repeat.
"Interesting music. Bit melancholy. Who is it?" Dean ventured, skirting on the safe side of conversation.

Finally looking up, Cas answered with a quiet voice.
"Demons and Wizards. It's from their debutalbum. I... I usually listen to it to make me aware that there is evil unmentionable out there... To make me feel better..."
Taking in the red rimmed eyes, the blotchy cheeks and the strained voice, Dean drew a conclusion.
"Not working today, Honeybee?"
Squeezing his eyes shut, Cas shook his head miserably.
Sitting down next to him, Dean cupped Cas' cheek lovingly.

"Tell me, angel. Maybe I can help."
Cas looked up at him, and Dean wanted to punch something, hard. Those blue eyes were the same that had caught him so many years back, under those stairs. Filled with untold misery.
"I can't, Dean... she'll..."
Rage spiked, when Dean heard the rough voice shatter like fragile glass.
He drew another conclusion.
"Lisa. What did that bitch do?"
Cas made a dispairing noise and hid in the cushion again, but Dean wasn't having it.
"Cas, she has no rights here. Never had, never will have. Angel, please... I hate seeing you like this."

Cas peered over the cushion, looking at Dean's eyes. Apparently he saw something, because he drew a shuddering breath and finally sat up straighter.
"Lisa came to me after the midday coffeebreak. She cornered me, and hissed at me to keep my filthy, faggot hands off her boyfriend."
Bile rose in Dean's throat at the slur.
"Damnit... I'm sorry, babe... but... how did she know?" he wondered.
Cas smiled wryly, no humour in sight.
"She said Lilith saw me ogling you, while you were helping Ash out. I never saw Lilith there, but I did have my eyes on you most of the time... I guess Lilith drew her own conclusions."

Dean sighed, not able to fathom the way those women's minds worked.
"Nothing happened there... I was too scared of my own feelings, so I got drunk. And you just patiently helped me home."
Smirking, Dean recalled what happened once they got home.
"Besides, angel... I'm not hers anymore. She has no say in my life whatsoever."
He brought his lips next to Cas' ear, breath ghosting over it.
"To be brutally honest, Castiël Novak... I'm more yours than I ever was hers."

Cas gasped, eyes wide as he looked into Dean's.
"W... what?"
Dean kissed him on the lips, sweet, loving, tender.
"I said I'm more yours than I ever was hers. You got under my skin and in my very soul, Cas. I love you with a fire that makes what I thought I felt for her look like a dying ember."
A deep blush crept up Cas' cheeks.
"I love you too, Dean."
Satisfied, Dean kissed him again and got up.
"Good. Hamburgers?" he asked with a smile.
Cas smiled back and nodded eagerly.

While Dean was waiting for the burgers to be done, he texted Gabe, saying he got Cas calmed down and all was ok.
Within seconds, his phone rang.
"Dean... Can he hear you? If so, just stick to the 'Uhuh' and the 'Nuh-uh'." Gabe commanded.
Dean flipped the burgers.
"Uhuh." he said, glancing at Cas, who was setting the table.
"So, how about I meet you at your work tomorrow. You can tell me everything."
Dean licked his lips. Gabe sounded like he meant business.
"Uhuh." he intoned again, trying to not look like he was doing something skeevy.
"Great! 10 am sharp, bucko! And bring me something sweet. I'm guessing I will need it."

Cas was looking at him, head tilted and brow furrowed.
"Ok. See ya, Gabe." Dean said like nothing was wrong.
Cas' frown deepened.
"Dean, I do hope you will not partake in Gabriel's foolish pranks. One day these will get him in deep trouble."
Taking the burgers off the grill, Dean smiled at Cas.
"I promise I will not do that knowingly." he vowed, hand on his heart.
Cas nodded, then kissed him.
"Good. Now, let's eat!"