A.N.- Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. They inspire me and encourage me to write more, as I have felt overwhelmed sometimes by this fic.

Warnings: This chapter has themes of religious debate and mental illness (paranoid schizophrenia) in it!

The morning went along nicely. Dean and Cas began to sort out Dean's C.V., working out what he could say when employers asked him why he'd been out of work so long. Cas didn't think dean should lie but found entertaining ways of putting a positive spin on a negative matter. Dean had teased him a little, saying that Cas should be an expert on that as Christians always tried to justify the nasty parts of the bible with that same technique. Cas got kind of moody and quiet though, so Dean put a stop to it.

"We do a lot of good Dean," Cas had insisted, before adding a little haughtily, "I don't see any atheist charities about, do you?"

Dean laughed, unable to get angry with Dean when he was feeling so good (and without any alcohol for almost three days now!) "Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't exist," he answered, "besides, there are a lot of charities out there that are secular. They just don't advertise the fact. And thinking about it," a slightly snide smirk appeared, "shouldn't that be the way of the church? You aren't supposed to brag about all the good things you do. By putting your religions name on everything and telling everyone and putting others down, how are you unlike the Pharisees that Jesus didn't like, the ones who pray loudly on street corners about their wonderful acts of worship and charity?"

"It's not us bragging," said Cas slowly, "it's just saying who we are and why we are doing what we do. However, yes, I see your point. You're pretty familiar with the bible though, by the sounds of things."

Dean nodded, "I went to church when I was younger on the odd occasion, and I went to a Christian school. My family weren't very religious, but we celebrated all the holidays and in school we learnt only about the Christian faith. It was only in Junior High school that I began to learn about the Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and so on."

"Hm, you should have been taught other religions a little earlier."

Dean shrugged, "perhaps, but it's not that important. I made my decision when I was about twelve. I've never looked back."

"You made such an important decision so young?"

"Yes."

"But," Cas frowned, "you were only a child, isn't that a big step?"

Dean shrugged, "babies get baptised in Catholicism. What chance did they get to choose their religion? And when did you chose to be a Christian?"

"I was raised in it as well," said Cas slowly, thinking back to childhood days, "I never really got to any age and chose the religion. It's always been a part of me. I've always believed. I liked going to church as a child. I found it comforting. Some of my best childhood memories are the family saying a prayer before having a great evening meal, or when we would go away for special church based activities. All of my friends came from church."

"Are you still friends with them now?"

"No," Cas became stiff and awkward again, "but not because of any religious reasons. We just drifted apart."

"Well you couldn't have been that close then," Dean sneered a little, probably not realising how mean he sounded.

Cas knew that it was to undermine the importance of his faith and the links he made with people within it, but the truth was that all his old friends had fought hard to stay in contact with him. He had list them because of Lilith, not God. However, he couldn't tell Dean this, so he allowed Dean to believe whatever he wanted.

Then, finally, later in the morning customers began to arrive in the shop. Dean helped out, tidying up behind them and even using the cash register at one point.

He even got to know a few regulars. One man came in, looking around furtively as if someone had planted a bomb somewhere amongst the clothes aisles.

"Hi Chuck" called Cas jovially.

Dean watched the man jump slightly, staring at Cas in a manner that disconcerted Dean. 'I don't like this guy,' he thought nervously.

Suddenly the man broke out into a broad, slightly yellow-toothed grin, "why hello there Castiel!" he called, suddenly cheerful.

Then he winced and started looking around again, "I'm... I'm a bit worried. I need a disguise."

"Why?"

"Because They are after me again. I wish they'd leave me alone!"

Realisation hit Dean as kindness glowed in Cas's eyes. He walked over to Chuck and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Have you been taking your medication?"Cas asked gently.

The man brushed his hands over his face before saying a sad, "no...no I haven't. I can't trust the doctors. Anna isn't in and I need her! She's the only one I can trust."

Cas frowned. "Well, alright, let me give the hospital a call and I'll try and find out what's going on."

Chuck nodded furtively.

Dean watched as Cas dialled a number. As he did Chuck watched him as closely. Then he seemed to notice Dean starring. He glanced at Dean who suddenly looked away and felt stupid for doing so. Why couldn't he be like Cas, stay calm and open minded? All he saw when he looked at Chuck was a nutcase and therefore a potential threat.

Feeling judgemental he chastised himself, before deciding to go up to Chuck.

"H-hey man," he began awkwardly. "So, um, you're safe here ok? Don't wig out on us."

Chuck smiled ruefully, "I won't. But they are after me. If I have to run I will, I wouldn't want some innocents getting hurt because I know too much."

Ok, the guy was crazy but Dean admired the fact that, fantasy world or not, Chuck was brave and decent.

"Thanks," He genuinely smiled, feeling something of a link between them, "I appreciate that."

"Hello," Cas's gruff voice called out suddenly, someone had answered the phone. "Hi, my name is Castiel Novak. I have Chuck Shurley with me. He says Doctor Milton hasn't been in so he cannot take his medication." He listened for a while, before moving the handset from his face and saying to Chuck, "they say she was on a short holiday but is back today."

Chuck looked doubtful, "they say that," he complained, "but I'm not sure. And it was no holiday, they got rid of her because she was nice to us."

"How about I take you up?" he asked, "Dean can watch the shop, right Dean?"

"Uh...yeah...?"

Cas beamed and Dean had never felt so happy to do free work.

Chuck seemed happier too. "yes," he said, starting to pace up and down, his hands moving about and gesturing in incoherent excitement, "p-please, you take me...if there's no Anna, we get the hell out of there!"

"Deal," Cas turned back to the phone and relayed the message that he would personally take Chuck down to find Anna.

"I'll have to get public transport down," Cas confided in Dean quietly as Chuck waited by the front of the shop, peering anxiously out of the window. "I'll tell you more about Chuck later, but not now, he's too wired up and will think we're saying bad things about him."

Dean nodded, glancing up at the frightened man. Cas smiled at Dean's apprehension, "don't worry, he isn't dangerous, just frightened. I'll be gone about an hour. Thank you for watching the shop for me."

"Hey, no problem," Dean put his hand on Cas's shoulder and squeezed softly, "anything to help."

A.N.- I think mental illness is something that is easily mocked, especially delusions or paranoia, because the fears or delusions can seem so ridiculous and far-fetched. However, the truth is, I have a lot of respect for people suffering who keep going. I cannot imagine the terror of believing that people are after you, or that there is a conspiracy, that people want to hurt you. The idea of voices frightening you and people never believing what you say is the stuff of nightmares for me. So yeah, I have a lot of respect for people who have mental illness but keep it together and keep trying to get better. That's really heroic in my mind.

Please leave a review, I love reading them and they help inspire me to write more.