New chapter for you all! Hope you like it! It's just fillery and light due to the heavier content in the next few chapters, but regardless! Enjoy yourselves!

The next day Rosie approached Dean at his locker, looking a little shy. Dean greeted her with more enthusiasm than he usually would – on a high from the previous afternoon. He was just as astounded and excited as Michael about Cas hugging him. What it meant... Cas was actually... he was moving past his fears. True, he hadn't touched anybody besides Dean yet but he'd never hugged anybody in his life and he'd picked Dean! Dean tried to ignore the way his mind lingered on how well Cas fit into his arms and focus on the miracle that was his progress.

"So... Friday?" Rosie said. Dean frowned at her and she sighed dejectedly. "You forgot."

"Friday..." Dean snapped his fingers as he remembered. "You wanted to go out. I'm free if you still are."

Rosie's deep blue eyes lit up in a way that reminded Dean of Cas – a thought he pushed firmly away, this was about getting this girl into bed again so he could remember it this time, and also possibly having a good time. Rosie was kind of cool after all, not anything like Bela or Lisa, Dean remembered vaguely enjoying talking to her. The date might be great even without sex.

"Of course!" she said brightly. "How about you pick me up at seven?"

Dean raised an eyebrow. "You think you're the one in charge here?"

"I'm not the one who forgot your name. You are going to go along with whatever I want or you're not getting your memory jogged about last Friday," Rosie grinned with a wink. "Friday, seven. I live next door to Bela."

Dean nodded as Rosie leant towards him. "Better plan something fantastic, Mr Winchester." She pecked him on the cheek then and walked off. Dean watched her go, eyes drifting down to her ass clad in skinny jeans.

"Whoa..." he breathed.

Dean had promised Bobby he and Sam would have dinner with him that night so he planned to just drop Cas, Gabriel and Anna at their house and head over there to help Bobby finish up for the day before they started cooking. Cas was disappointed when Dean informed him they wouldn't be joining his family for dinner and his sad eyes made Dean feel guilty enough to go inside for a little while.

"Dean, I have a request," Michael announced. Dean looked up from the piano keys to the oldest Novak questioningly. "Would you come with Castiel and I to his appointment in Kansas City?"

Dean frowned. "Why?"

"You know none of my other siblings enjoy going," Michael said quietly. Castiel flinched beside Dean and he automatically reached over and squeezed his hand before gesturing to Michael so they could leave and talk away from Cas. Dean didn't want his feelings hurt. When they were out of earshot Michael added, "and I don't like taking Lucifer."

"Yeah, Gabriel told me. He also said you don't like going alone."

"This is true. But there are ulterior motives belonging to Dr Albert... and also myself," Michael admitted. Dean sighed.

"Lay it on me."

"Dr Albert wants to meet you," Michael explained.

"What? Why?"

"Why do you think? The progress Castiel has made since becoming your friend... it's incredible Dean. Dr Albert was interested when I told him about Castiel touching you but not enough to meet you – he used to touch our hands sometimes so we both presumed it was him healing from the trauma our mother inflicted on him that made him withdraw further. However, he called last night to confirm the appointment for this week and I told him what had happened. Castiel has never hugged anybody as you know so this is an amazing development. Dr Albert wants to meet you to psychoanalyse you as well as observe Castiel with you."

"Cool, I get that, he's interested in his case," Dean nodded. "Your motives?"

Michael looked guilty and lowered his voice further, just in case Castiel was attempting to listen in. They both doubted it but Michael wanted to be sure. "I'm hoping your presence will stop him behaving as he usually does. Dr Albert can't even be in the same room as Castiel without upsetting him."

"Why?" Dean frowned. He didn't like the sound of this doctor. What if he'd hurt Cas?

"Castiel hates doctors, Dean. All of them. Dr Albert is very well respected in his field and he's a good man, I assure you. Castiel just doesn't liked doctors..." Michael shrugged helplessly. "Will you come with me? Please?"

"He really wants to meet me?"

Michael nodded so Dean nodded back. "Sure, I'll go."

Michael grinned. "Thank you."

Sam chose that moment to join them. "Dean, we should go now or we'll be late. You said you wanted to help Bobby close up."

"Right, Sammy, let me say goodbye to Cas and we'll head off then." Dean returned to Cas who looked up at him expectantly. "Sorry, buddy, it's time for me to leave. But I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Castiel sighed sadly and lifted a hand to Dean who took it and squeezed gently. Castiel tugged until Dean leant close enough so he could put his arms around him. Dean chuckled at the pushy demand for a hug.

"Funny, I thought yesterday might be a one off," Dean chuckled, the same weird tightness constricting his breathing and he gave Cas a gentle squeeze. The unnamed emotion was practically suffocating him and he wasn't sure how to deal with it so he quickly let go and squeezed both of Cas's hands as he removed them from his body. "See you later, Cas."

Cas watched him go sadly and Dean tried not to feel guilty. Sam smiled at him teasingly as he started the car.

"What?" Dean asked. "He looks like a kicked puppy when he's sad."

"I think he has a crush on you," Sam responded and Dean slammed his foot on the brake. Sam swore and glanced back to make sure nobody had been behind them. "Was that necessary?"

"What are you on?" Dean demanded. "You don't just make pronouncements like that when I'm driving! And where did you even get that idea?"

"I don't know maybe the fact that he likes you better than his own family, he's basically your cuddle bunny and he was totally jealous of that girl," Sam ticked off. "Do I need to keep going?"

Dean shook his head slowly, driving more carefully now. "Sam, Cas is just... I'm his first friend and he feels a little differently than we do. You're confusing friendly affection with something else."

Sam looked sceptical.

"Besides, I'd rather talk about your crush on Gabe."

Sam's face turned bright red and he turned to stare out the window. Dean laughed, his objective achieved and continued to rib Sam all the way to Bobby's, enjoying the different expressions and colours his face took on.

Bobby was waiting for them when Dean pulled up.

"You took your time, ya idjits!" he said gruffly but the effect was ruined when Sam bounded in for a bear hug that Bobby happily bestowed on him.

"Dean was guilt-tripped by Cas into sticking around for a little while," Sam explained.

"That's the autistic boy belonging to that new family?" Bobby questioned. "Saw 'im with his brothers at the grocery store. Met their mother too. Piece o' work that woman."

"You think?" Dean scowled. Sam frowned, confused. He hadn't been let in on the story of what happened with Cas and his mother. Bobby also looked confused so Dean just motioned his head towards the shop. "Need help closing?"

Bobby nodded and sent Sam inside to start dinner.

"What was that about Mrs Novak?" Bobby asked.

Dean chewed his lip. "This is private, Bobby."

"Who am I gonna tell, boy?" Bobby grouched.

"You tell Ellen everything. You two gossip like teenage girls. Don't tell me you didn't already know about Cas because she told you," Dean replied. Bobby smiled and tilted his head in acquiescence.

"You got me. But don't worry, if it's private then I'm not going to say a word."

"She tried to drown Cas in the bath five years ago," Dean said quickly, wincing. Every time he thought about it he had this terrible image in his head of a ten year old Castiel, terrified as the woman who is supposed to love and nurture him not only betrayed him by touching him beyond his limits but then forced him into... Dean shook his head. It made him want to throw up so he cast it from his mind as best he could and looked for Bobby's reaction.

"Her own son?" he said, shocked.

"Yup." Dean shuddered. "She couldn't deal with him anymore. But it's okay. His brothers and sister take care of him really well and they love him."

"From what I hear from your little brother, so do you." Bobby's eyes were warm. "I also hear you've been filling out college applications on the request of that family."

Dean flushed.

"I gotta meet those boys. Anyone who finally convinced you to give college a shot deserves me to sit down for a beer and thank 'em personally." Bobby had a look of pride on his face. "'bout time someone convinced you yer better than your old man thinks."

Dean sighed at the mention of John and Bobby grimaced. They worked closing up the shop in silence until it came to balancing the register. Dean counted out the money while Bobby filled in the end-of-day program and finally spoke.

"When's he getting here?"

"Sunday night," Dean replied. "Said he's staying for two weeks this time."

"So, he'll be here until the hangover wears off and then he'll be off on his next job." Bobby shook his head, annoyed. "Doesn't that man realise that one day he won't have a family to come home to?"

Dean shrugged one shoulder, just wishing they could drop it. He didn't want to think about what would await him on Monday and Bobby always got angry when he tried to defend John.

"Besides, Bobby," Dean said. "Lucifer has practically adopted us, we're not going to go hungry or anything with Dad gone."

"Well, good. Now come on, let's go help Sam with the grub."

When Friday rolled around Dean hadn't even thought once about his conflicting promises until Rosie met him in the parking lot to remind him.

"Shit," Dean groaned. She actually looked annoyed. "I agreed I'd go to Cas's appointment." He looked over his shoulder to where he could see Michael's car pulling up to let out his three siblings. "His psychologist wants to meet me. Can we reschedule? Tomorrow? I promise I will make it up to you big time."

Rosie folded her arms. "I'm starting to think you don't actually want to go."

"Are you kidding? Of course, I do!" Dean took her wrist and pulled her closer, smiling charmingly. "I will take you anywhere you want, on me, we can do whatever you want. This time I won't reschedule, I won't forget and I especially won't forget your name."

Rosie looked over Dean's shoulder and gently tugged her hand away, smiling at him with a little more warmth.

"I really like you Dean," she said softly. "So I'm gonna say yes. I'm not just in this to sleep with you again, though, okay? I actually... like I said, I like you."

Dean blinked and nodded. "Sure. Not just sex. Got it."

Rosie smiled and walked off, leaving Dean wondering what he'd just agreed to. He didn't do girlfriends.

Another hand took his then and he glanced around, smiling to see that it was Cas.

"Hey there, how's my best buddy?" he asked. Cas smiled at Dean even as Gabriel protested Cas being granted the position of best friend. Dean just stuck his tongue out at him.

"It's okay Gabe, I'm sure you can be Sammy's best friend," Dean said. There was a spluttered protest of embarrassment from Sam who tried to divert Dean's teasing, obviously unaware Gabriel already knew about his crush and wanting to keep it from him.

Anna just rolled her eyes at the boys and shepherded them into the school. Cas was a little withdrawn since it was Friday but Dean really hoped he could make that better too.

Since Dean read to Cas the entire drive to Kansas City he seemed to forget where they were going and why until Michael parking next to the very familiar building. Castiel immediately drew into himself and started shaking his head.

"Hey, hey, come here," Dean said softly. Castiel glanced at him and Dean opened his arms. "Come here, Cas."

Castiel took off his seat belt and hesitated before inching across the seat until Dean could wrap his arms around him. Michael turned from the driver's seat to watch.

"Now, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds then let it out," Dean requested. Castiel obeyed and Dean smiled. "Good. Feel better?"

Cas nodded reluctantly.

"I'm right here, okay? I'm with you this time. I promised you once I'd never let anything hurt you and I meant it. So, this time, you've got nothing to be afraid of because I'm going to be right there. I'll even hold your hand the entire time if you want."

Dean smiled when Cas nodded and gripped Dean's shirt in his hands, snuggling deeper into his arms. This kid was turning into a cuddle bug. That made three times in one week. Michael looked completely gobsmacked.

"When he makes steps he makes them in leaps and bounds," the eldest Novak marvelled with a head shake.

Cas started to squirm and Dean released him immediately. He looked apologetically up at Dean as he put distance between them and Michael sighed as if believed he'd spoken too soon. Dean just smiled warmly at Cas.

"It's okay, buddy," he assured him. "You're allowed to set the boundaries. Short hugs are good."

Cas smiled slightly before getting out of the car and Michael and Dean followed suit.

"I bet it's worse because you're here, right?" Michael questioned. Cas looked embarrassed and Michael felt guilty. Dean squeezed his shoulder as they walked into the building. Michael went to the reception desk while Dean and Cas took seats.

Cas turned to Dean and held out Harry Potter for him to take.

"I didn't even see you grab that," Dean smiled. "Okay, we'll keep going." He returned to reading quietly so he didn't disturb anyone and when Michael joined them he looked so relieved. It was the calmest Castiel had ever been in this waiting room even if he was twitching and twisting his fingers together anxiously. He also flinched every time a new patient was called, terrified he would be next. Every time this happened, Dean reached over without pausing in the story to squeeze Castiel's hand, a gentle reminder he was not alone. Michael thought he might just love Dean Winchester a little.

When Castiel's name was called, he tried to resist getting up from the chair but a whispered promise from Dean that Michael couldn't hear made him reluctantly stand. He grabbed Dean's arm as they walked into the office past Dr Albert.

"Michael," he greeted warmly. "Castiel. And you must be the famous Dean."

Dean smiled distractedly at the psychologist before returning his attention to Cas.

"Okay buddy, right here, you need to loosen your hold though, my fingers are tingling," he said gently. Dr Albert watched them closely as they all took seats.

Dean glanced around the office once he was sure Cas wasn't going to freak out. He was tearing up, his eyes glassy but he wasn't panicking or crying so he took it as a good sign. The office was warm and welcoming and there was no giant desk separating Dr Albert from his patients. They were seated in comfortable armchairs by a bookshelf filled with all manner of books – scientific ones, novels, geography, tourist magazine, children's books – there were also bean bags and some sets of lego.

The psychologist waited until Dean had finished looking and turned to him before he started.

"Dean, I'm Dr Albert, Castiel's specialist," he introduced himself. He was a middle aged man with greying black hair and very warm hazel eyes. Dean didn't find anything threatening about him so he relaxed a little. "I've been in charge of his case for the last six years, before that I was a consultant at the centre his mother brought him too."

Michael looked down at the mention of his mother and Dr Albert grimaced.

"So... you know a lot about him?" Dean questioned.

"Well... what he lets me know. He's not very open." Dr Albert smiled and looked at Castiel seated between his brother and Dean. "Not like he is with you. Castiel, what's that you've got?"

Castiel was holding the book to his chest almost like a security blanket. He ignored Dr Albert's question. The psychologist didn't seem fazed and Michael answered a second later anyway. It was clear to Dean this was how most appointments went.

"It's the fifth Harry Potter book. Dean's been reading them out loud to him," Michael explained. Dr Albert raised his eyebrows.

"Castiel is quite capable of reading on his own," he said, not condescendingly but with a question beneath it.

"He likes Dean's voice, I think," Michael said softly. "And it's... just something they do together."

Dr Albert turned to Dean now without speaking.

"I started one afternoon after some kids pushed him around," Dean explained. "We've just kept doing it. It's a trade-off. He plays me music, anything I want him to play for me, and I read this to him."

"Fiction is a marvellous tool we use with autistic children," the doctor said fondly. "It teaches them a little bit more about how people act and react. I find often that for those who lack affective empathy, it helps them to gain a little."

"What?" Dean frowned.

"Ah, sorry. There are two kinds of empathy, Dean. Cognitive and affective. Cognitive empathy is the ability to acknowledge that other people have feelings and they might be different to your own and affective empathy is the ability to understand and even feel another person's feelings. Many people with autism have quite strong cognitive empathy even if they lack affective empathy in average levels."

"Cas is plenty empathic," Dean defended.

"Only cognitively." Dr Albert smiled. "I would however be interested in retesting his empathy levels once he has heard the entire series and spent more time with you. His progress now is phenomenal. He is touching you... he is relatively calm. He has never been calm in this room."

Dean fought back the proud smile that wanted to light his features. Dr Albert turned to Michael and began his routine questions that Dean tuned out. He looked down at Cas who blinked up at him when he sensed Dean's gaze.

"Hey, do you wanna do me a favour?" Dean asked. Cas nodded. "Next time the doc asks you something, you wanna answer him? I think he'd get a kick out of it. He might even fall off his chair."

Dr Albert was watching Dean whispering to Castiel out of the corner of his eye as Michael spoke. Dean knew he was analysing them but he didn't care. He kind of liked the guy. For a shrink he wasn't so bad he guessed.

"So, Castiel," Dr Albert said when he was finished with Michael. "Your behaviour with Dean is something I haven't seen in you before. Dean's special to you isn't he?"

Dean didn't know whether it was his request or the topic choice from Dr Albert but Cas actually met the psychologist's eyes and nodded briefly, looking at Dean and then back at his own lap. Dr Albert's eyes softened.

"Is he safe Castiel? Is Dean like your music?"

Castiel nodded again, this time without looking up and his cheeks flushed pink for a reason Dean couldn't tell. Dr Albert nodded and made a few notes on his notebook under those from Michael's discussion with him. He chewed his lip for a moment and looked at Dean who was obviously confused by his question choice.

"Castiel has placed you in a position akin to playing the piano," Dr Albert explained. "When he plays the piano, it created a special shell around him, an escape from things that might be confusing, painful or frightening to him. The music helps him escape from that and regain control over his thoughts and his feelings and maybe make sense of anything that has been bothering him. You are just like that, you're-"

"His safe place," Dean finished. He flushed when an eyebrow was raised in his direction and Michael suppressed a smile of amusement. "I did some reading."

The doctor's eyes glittered. "I see."

The rest of the appointment continued with other routine tests and questions. Castiel clung to Dean's side when Dr Albert stood but the man assured Castiel they wouldn't do any reflex tests today. He wanted to do a linguistic test. Michael explained to Dean that they liked to test Castiel's vocabulary and understanding of syntax, morphology and phonology. Dean learnt that Cas actually chose not to speak and if he ever did then he would be able to have one hell of an intelligent conversation. Dean didn't even know some of the words Cas was writing down existed.

Then, just for fun apparently, Dr Albert set down a worksheet with some physics problems that Castiel solved before Dean even had a chance to work out what half of it meant. It was clear how much enjoyment Cas got out of the numbers and diagrams. Dean would have to remember that. Sam liked physics too. Dean would get them to geek out about it together one day, that would be interesting to watch.

Then the appointment was over and Michael was actually smiling as he paid and they left the building.

"Home now?" Dean wondered.

Castiel shook his head as they got in the car.

Michael grinned back at him. "We always go out for burgers and milkshakes after, don't we?"

Castiel nodded and smiled at Dean.

"There's this diner he absolutely loves. I think he has a crush on the Friday night waitress."

Castiel folded his arms and actually gave Michael a look that Dean knew was universal for 'don't put your own problems on me'. Dean laughed and grinned cheekily at Michael.

"What's her name?" he teased. Michael flushed. "Come on, tell me."

"Sierra," he sighed. "She's studying history at college part time. She's always there on Fridays when we go in. She dotes on Castiel."

Dean teased Michael for a little while but it occurred to him that perhaps this girl's kindness towards Castiel was what endeared her to Michael and it made him really consider how much he gave up for his little brother. Nothing was more important to him than Cas. Dude really needed a someone to sit him down and tell him that he's done an amazing job and to stop beating himself up.

Sure enough a beautifully brunette skipped up to their table with a bubbly greeting to Michael and Cas practically as soon as they'd sat. Michael introduced Dean and Sierra's eyes widened.

"I was told about you," she beamed. Dean felt embarrassed and looked down at the menu in front of him. Castiel was sitting between Dean and the window and looked much more content than he had back in the psychologist's office.

Sierra took their orders and Michael asked Dean what he thought of the doctor. They were just discussing his manner of speaking to Castiel when Sierra brought their food.

"Damn that was quick," Dean grinned.

"Anything for my two favourite men," Sierra explained with a wink towards Michael. The man pretended not to notice as he took his food from her.

"Thank you," he said and she smiled, chirped 'enjoy' and waltzed off. Dean decided not to comment and dipped one of his fries into his milkshake as he thought back on the session. Cas watched Dean's action curiously.

"Hey, why don't you like him, Cas?" Dean wondered. "He seemed cool to me."

Castiel lifted one shoulder embarrassedly and sipped his shake. Dean looked at Michael who also shrugged.

"He doesn't like any doctors. Although... he didn't mind Dr Albert at one point."

"Really?"

"Castiel may not like him now but Dr Albert has done a lot for him. He's the whole reason Castiel knows how to play the piano," Michael said with a soft smile, observing Castiel mimicking Dean and dipping one of his fries into his milkshake. Dean and Michael both laughed at expression of awe as he chewed it.

"Really?" Dean asked, looking back at Michael.

"Yes. He minored in music in college. Anyway, his PhD thesis was on musical therapy for autistic children. His partner told him to go ahead, it was worth a try since Castiel had no true outlet for his feelings. Up until then when everything became too much he curled into the foetal position and rocked. It was... troubling to me and truly upsetting for Gabriel and Anna. So, Dr Albert took him to music room of the medical centre, sat him down and explained the piano and sheet music to him. After twenty minutes Castiel was playing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody with very little help from the man."

Dean grinned. "That's... amazing."

"He has always been a fast learner. The next day, Lucifer and I used all our savings to buy him a piano and a box full of sheet music. He just... fell into it. Now there's hardly anything he loves more than creating music. It's worth anything to me as long as it helps him. It does help, Castiel, doesn't it?"

Castiel looked up and smiled at Michael. He leant over the table and Dean thought he was looking to grab the salt but instead he brushed his fingers shyly over Michael's hand. Michael froze, a small gasp escaping him. Castiel's big blue eyes flicked up to Michael's face and his tough lingered several more moments before he withdrew, eyes back on his meal.

Michael was breathing slowly through his nose, clearly trying to contain his reaction for Castiel's sake. Dean could hear him muttering 'don't make it a big deal' repeatedly. But regardless of how he was reacting now, Dean knew that Cas knew how special that was for his brother. It was Cas's way of acknowledging everything Michael did for him, that he knew and was grateful. Michael knew that too but mostly he was just amazed and so relieved. That Castiel could touch him again meant he hadn't failed, he hadn't somehow scarred him further with his clumsy attempt at parenting from the age of 18.

It might mean he'd actually done a good job.