Chapter Four

It wasn't till after they ate there were any problems. Castiel asked to speak to Dean alone, and while Sam said he'd take the kids over to the bookstore for more coloring books, Castiel and Dean walked towards the Motel, since it wasn't far at all.

"I'm going to quit my job Dean. I should...probably stay around for this...for them…" Castiel said, after they got into the door.

"Cas, don't do that. We don't even know if we'll be taking care of them any longer then till tomorrow. I mean, why quit if you wanted to have a normal life?"

"I didn't…" Castiel huffed, and finally decided to tell Dean the truth. "I didn't want to leave the bunker Dean." He watched as Dean stopped, and looked to him.

"Then why did you?" He growled out, anger showing in his stance as he marched over to Cas to yell in the ex-angel's face. "Why did you leave if you didn't want to?!"

"I'm of no use to you!" Castiel's voice began to raise, his own anger coming through. That's one thing he hated about being human, was all the emotions. Hurt, Anger, Sadness...he hated it all. "I'm human now Dean, I can't help you, I can't help anyone! Hell I'm not even sure if I can help those children but I'm willing to try!"

"And you're saying I'm not?! We don't know what's going on with those kids, and for all we know it's nothing and they'll be put into protective custody tomorrow."

"Do you really want that for them? I'm not stupid Dean, and neither are you! They won't be cared for, or loved if anyone finds out they're different."

"What do you want me to do then Cas? Bring them along? Hell I can't even keep those I care about safe what makes you think I can keep two kids safe?!"

"Because you don't have to do it alone!" Castiel finally got fed up and grabbed the front of Dean's jacket, and pushed him against the wall. "I'll be there...Sam will be there, and Kevin Tran...please…." his voice became soft, and he lowered his head. "Don't push them away like you pushed me." Dean tensed, and let Castiel's words sink in. The fight from the bunker flashed in his head. The yelling from Castiel when he felt useless because he was human, and weak. The words Dean used against him, how he told him he couldn't take care of himself, how he would be of no use to him...everything.

"I didn't…" He already knew that was a lie.

"You did. I know you may not have meant to but you did. And it hurt...and that's why I couldn't stay. It hurt...too much." Dean watched as all the different emotions played on Castiel's face. Love, hurt, anger, sadness, regret...they all showed and Castiel started to pull away. Dean remembered how nice last night felt, and it hurt to think of that not happening again. How after all of this was over he'd go back to the bunker with Sam and Castiel...would become Steve, employee at Gas-n-Sip. He pulled the-no his- ex-angel into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry I'm so stupid...I didn't see...and I didn't mean to….I...I won't push you away anymore...and...we'll figure out what to do about the kids. Just don't…" His eyes closed as he felt Castiel's arms wrap around him. He felt warm. This must be the warmth he was talking about last night. Dean pulled back a bit, and looked Castiel in the eye. The former angel blinked eyes misty with unshed tears as he searched Dean's face for what he was thinking. Dean didn't expect himself to lean and capture the shorter man's lips with his own. The said shorter man tensed in surprise, before returning the kiss. He cupped Dean's face as Dean let his hands wander further down. The kiss was messy, yet sweet. Dean moaned a bit as he felt Castiel's hands go through his hair, pulling him closer. Dean pulled back slightly, resting their foreheads together.

"I forgive you." Castiel muttered softly, smiling a bit.

The door began to unlatch and Dean and Castiel pulled away from each other, both flustered as Sam and the kids came in. Castiel didn't turn to them, instead just rushed to the bathroom and closed the door. Dean rubbed his face as he looked to his brother, who had a knowing grin on his face.

"Don't even say it Sammy." Is all he growled out, before sighing. "I need to talk to you. Outside."

"Are you insane?!" Sam protested after Dean told him what his plan was. "You can't just bring two kids to the bunker!"

"Why not? They're no different than we were, just….without parents. We can't let them go into foster care...Think of the first time Clara mentions something odd, or Alex loses his temper. We don't even know what they are really, so I don't really trust having them out in the world right now."

"And you trust them in the bunker? With our lifestyle?!"

"Well...Cas is human so he could stay with them...and Kevin's always there…"

"...you're serious…" Sam blinked, watching the way Dean shifted. "...Alright. Let's do this." He shrugged and sighed. Dean grinned at his brother, and they went inside to tell the others. Castiel was out of the bathroom, and was looking at the books Clara and Alex got. When he saw Dean, he smiled a bit, and Dean gave him a smile back. Things would be ok, he thought. How wrong he was.

Before they left town Cas asked if he could go into the Gas-in-Sip to let his manager know personally what was going on. Dean figured that would be ok, gives them a chance to get the kids snack foods for the trip to the Bunker. While Cas was busy explaining why he had to leave, Alex walked around the store to find something he would like. Clara was still at Cas's side, and smiled shyly at Nora while Cas spoke. Dean was looking through the magazines, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed something. There was someone in the store, watching Alex. Dean's protectiveness overwhelmed him as he watched the man in the suit, before he noticed he had a weird gun...and an angel blade.

Dean dropped the magazine and instantly called for Alex. Alex turned, and was grabbed by the fallen angel. Dean yelled, pulling out his gun, but the angel used Alex as a shield. Castiel picked Clara up, and Dean motioned for him to go outside with Sam.

"It's just you and me buddy. Let the kid go." Dean said, watching him.

"I can't do that." The angel said, before tilting his head to the side, as if listening. It was then Dean realized he had a Bluetooth headset, and he was listening to instructions.

Alex's fear showed on his face. The angel shifted, and suddenly Alex cried out when he felt something go into his back. Dean instantly fired, hitting him in the head. As soon as the guy dropped Dean went and picked Alex up, looking to see what hurt him. The weird gun actually had a syringe in it, and whatever was in said syringe was now inside Alex. Dean carefully pulled it out, and helped him outside, gun aiming at anything that moved. Sam was knocked out, and Castiel and Clara were nowhere to be found. Dean went to Sam, and nudged him.

"Dammit Sam wake up!" Sam groaned, while Dean held Alex close. Alex was hyperventilating, and clutching him close. "Cas and Clara are gone!" Sam got up, and looked at Alex.

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, they injected him with something!" Dean was starting to get frantic. "Come on Alex talk to me." Alex whimpered, and buried his face in Dean's chest.

"It hurts...and burns…" Dean reached down and felt the boy's head, and was startled to find him burning up. Dean looked to Sam, who seemed to understand what his older brother needed. They got into the car; Sam driving this time, and Dean held Alex in the back seat and began to check him as Sam left the Gas in Sip.

"What hurts buddy, you need to tell me." Dean tried to remain calm, but the shaking child in his arms started to scare him. Alex reached behind him and started to pull at his shirt. Dean helped him pull up his shirt and his breath caught when he sees the two bruising lumps that are on the boys back. The way they're starting to grow and shift, Dean knows exactly what they are. "Shit Sammy, the guys trying to turn them into Angels!" At that moment, his phone began to vibrate. It was his personal cell, and he only knew of three people who had his number. Sam, Kevin, and Castiel. Sure enough, when he pulled it out it saw it had Castiel's name on it. He opened it quickly to answer. "Cas?!"

"I'm afraid Castiel is a bit tied up at the moment." A deeper voice came through. Dean tensed up, and looked to Sam, who was watching him through the rear view mirror.

"Alright listen you son of a-"

"No you listen, Dean Winchester. I'm not interested in your formal guardian angel. I want the boy." Dean looked to Alex, who was starting to sweat due to his fever. "My men tell me he got injected….so I'm sure you have your hands full."

"Just what the fuck did you do to him?" Dean tried to keep his voice from shaking, but he was already afraid of the truth.

"I'm turning into God's Warrior...just like I did with all the others...now. I propose a trade. The boy, for your angel...sorry...former angel."

"And the girl?!"

"She stays with me. Quite the screamer she is. I will text you the coordinates shortly. And Dean? Don't do anything stupid. Castiel is, mortal I'm afraid...easier to kill." The man whispered the last part before hanging up. Dean let the phone drop, and clutched Alex close.

"Dean?" Sam stopped the car and looked back.

"Some...dick...Angel I think...he has Cas and Clara...He wants to trade Cas for Alex." Sam's eyes narrowed.

"And Clara?" Dean shook his head. Alex whimpered, and both Dean and Sam swore they heard bones breaking. Dean pulled the boys shirt back up and saw the lumps were now twice the size they were before, and he could make out the bones for the wings through the stretched skin. "Dean we gotta get him-"

"What, to a hospital?! No." Dean was firm about that. He heard his phone vibrate once, and looked to see the gps location of where the asshole wanted to meet. Alex cried out, as the wings started to shift. "Dammit Sammy get us somewhere where he can rest!" Sam nodded, and quickly drove to the nearest hotel. As soon as Sam had the keys to their new room, Dean grabbed them and pulled Alex out of the car, the boy in too much pain to move. He got inside and rushed to the bathroom. "Get the first aid kit!" He yelled to Sam as he pulled Alex's shirt off, and sat him in the tub. Alex started to sob now, as the tips of the wings started to break the skin.

"Dean, he's gonna bite his tongue!" Sam said behind him after grabbing the first aid kit. Dean quickly motioned Sam to hand him some bandage, and wrapped it around his thumb.

"Here! Alex here bite onto this!" Alex did as told, his scream muffled as he bit down hard into Dean's thumb. The wings started pulling out more, and the crunching and squishing noise they made as the bones fully formed and the blood ran down Alex's back was something Dean would never forget. Finally, the wings stretched out full, and Dean had to half pull Alex into his lap to let the wings stretch out. Finally, Alex let go of Dean's thumb, sobbing still as his wings twitched in pain. Through the blood Dean would make out some grey feathers.

"D-Dean?" Alex finally rasped, looking up at the man who held him.

"It's ok, I got you." Dean gave him a weak smile, and brushed back some of the sweat and tears he had on his face. Alex gave a weak smile back, and rested his head on Dean's shoulder.

"W-We gotta get Clara back." Alex tried to move, but the wings threw him off balance.

"And we will...I promise. Let's...Let's get you cleaned up, and I'll help you out with those wings ok? Hey Sammy?" He looked back, but Sam already had a new pair of clothes just for Alex from the car. "You are the best." He chuckled. Sam went to go find out where the location that Castiel and Clara would be, while Dean ran the shower, and helped Alex clean off his feathers. When finished and helping him dry them, he ran his fingers through them, realizing they were a nice steely grey. Alex shuddered and his wings twitched a bit. "Sorry." Dean spoke softly. Alex looked in the mirror to look at his wings.

"It's ok...just...weird." He looked back to Dean, an unfamiliar emotion on his face. Dean tilted his head in confusion. "I wish...I wish you were my dad Dean...you..." Alex's face flushed a bit, and he looked down.

"Alex…" Dean smiled, knowing that feeling whenever Bobby would take him out to throw a ball around instead of shooting. "Once this is over...we can see what happens ok?" Alex looked up, surprised at what Dean said. "I can't just leave you to foster care...I...I just can't. You're a special kid. And not just cause of your badass wings." He chuckled. "I want to take care of you, and Clara...I...I want you, Clara, Castiel and I...to be a family." Alex felt tears form in his eyes again, as he listened to the older man who not only saved his life, but comforted him when he needed it.

"I...I would like that...and I think Clara would like that too." He couldn't help but cry a bit, as his wings curled up around him, still twitching every once in a while. Dean kneeled down and led him into a hug, and smiled as he felt the wings open up and wrap around him too.

"Hey now...no time for crying ok buddy? We gotta get your sister back...and Cas…" Alex nodded, rubbing his eyes and hiccupping a bit before he looked up to Dean. "Now, I need to get some holes in your shirt so your wings can have some comfort, so why don't you come out with me and we'll get going ok?" Dean reached up and cupped the boy's face. "We will get her, Alex. I promise."

"I know. I trust you." Alex smiled and leaned into the touch, his blue eyes reminding Dean of another heavenly being that was now grounded to earth.