Cas began texting Adam every day, and late into the night. Dean gave up on sleeping in the guest room, and slept with Cas every night. If he was disturbed by the light of Cas's phone or his occasional giggle he never mentioned, too afraid of being sent away, back to the cold and dark of the other room. At first, Dean ignored the fact that Cas was often texting the other man, even during school hours. He still did his work, and generally heard when Dean talked to him, so Dean was okay. After a while, though, the sight of the phone always in Cas's hands, the way his face lit up when he got a reply from Adam began to grate on Dean until he could ignore it no more.

"That your boyfriend?" he asked late on night as he climbed onto the bed, ready for sleep. Cas hastily put his phone on the blanket, blushing.

"He's not my boyfriend, Dean." Cas spoke in his usual quiet manner as he playfully shoved Dean's bare shoulder- Dean really preferred sleeping shirtless and Cas promised he didn't mind. Dean didn't know what made the words fly from his mouth when he said,

"But you like him, don't you?"

"He is a good friend, yes." Dean ignored the knife slowly working it's way into his stomach and forced a grin.

"Come on, Cas. You know that's not what I meant. You like him." When Cas hesitated, Dean pressed on. "Come on, man. I'm your best friend. This is what I'm here for." Very slowly, the blue-eyed author nodded.

"Yes, I believe I might have a crush on Adam Milligan." He blushed crimson and stared intently at the blanket. Dean gave a wild grin and let his brain-and heart- take a backseat as he was filled with a manic energy, shoving the knife hilt-deep into his abdomen.

"You should ask him out."

"What?" the other boy squawked. "Absolutely not, Dean Winchester!" Dean gave a bright laugh.

"I'll do it!" he snatched Cas's phone from where it lay on the ned.

"Dean, no!"

"Aww, come on. Don't be a spoilsport!" He held the phone out of Cas's reach and scrambled away, typing furiously. He hit send just as Cas took it back.

2:47 'Do you want to go on a date with me? ;)'

"Dean." Cas's voice shook with a quiet rage. "You've ruined everything." Dean brain was suddenly taking back control, and he lost his wild energy, slumping in on himself.

"Cas, I..." he was interrupted by the beeping of Cas's phone- he had a message. Slowly, so slowly it hurt, Cas brought the phone to where he could see it. He was silent for a long time and Dean began to worry. "Cas, I'm sorry, I-"

"He said yes, Dean he said yes!" Cas was practically yelling by the time he finished. He threw himself in Dean's arms. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Dean patted his friend on the back and managed a smile.

"I'm glad." he excused himself to the bathroom. 'Why did I do that? More importantly, why do I care so much?'

The weekend came.

"Dean, I don't know how to act on a date. What do I wear? What do I say? I'm gonna cancel. I'm sick, do I feel sick to you?" Dean gently pulled his hand from where it had been forced onto Cas's forehead and sighed, placing both his hands on the author's shoulders.

"Cas." he smiled as blue eyes reluctantly met his own. "You'll be fine. He already likes you. You don't need to worry about impressing him anyway. Besides, even if you hadn't already met, you're amazing." Dean spun the other boy until he faced the mirror, ignoring the knife still lodged deep as it began to twist in his stomach. "Look at yourself, Cas. You look great. You've got this, okay?" Cas still looked unsure.

"Dean, you're my best friend. You're required to tell me that." Dean chuckled, enveloping the smaller boy in a hug from behind, placing his chin on his shoulder.

"You look hot, Cas." Dean opened his mouth to say more, but the doorbell interrupted him. He sighed quietly and gave Cas a final squeeze. "You'll blow him away." he promised softly as he let go. "Get 'em, tiger." Cas nodded shakily and left to answer the door. A few minutes later he was gone, and Dean was alone, suddenly understanding what Cas meant when he said the house was too empty. Fearing further introspection, Dean grabbed his keys and went to visit his mom and Sammy- he still hadn't spokwn a word to his dad.

When he got to the family house, the first thing his mom did was invite him into the kitchen. Sam watched him go with wide eyes. Mary began working busily on a pastry while her eldest son inhaled deeply- the smell of his mother's cooking always calmed him down.

"What's the matter, baby?" she asked, knowing better than to look at him. Dean hopped up on a empty counter.

"Nothing." The lie was made easier by the fact that he wasn't completely sure what the truth was. Mary was silent for a moment, giving him a chance to change his answer. When he didn't, she changed tactics.

"Okay. How's everything been?" Dean smiled.

"Good. Cas helped me get an 'A' on a paper, and I just might pass math with his help." Mary laughed.

"Good for you. What's he up to tonight." All of the Winchesters- including John at first- had become quite fond of Castiel during the time he spent at their house.

"Oh, he's... he's on a date." Mary's eyebrows lifted at her son's tone.

"Good for him. Cute boy like that..." Dean snorted.

"The guy is way too old for him." Mary smiled to herself- her boy was as transparent as they came sometimes.

"That's a shame. Wouldn't want anything to happen to him. He's so sweet... innocent." Dean glowered at the floor.

"Mary?" John's voice rang through the house.

"He's home early." Dean mocked bitterly. "Bye mom. I'll stop by sometime next week. Mary looked over at him, but Dean was already striding from the room. His dad was in the living room with an uncomfortable looking Sam. "Hey, Sammy, I'm gonna hit the road. I'll see you at school on Monday, okay?" Dean offered his little brother a fake smile. When Sam smiled back, Dean turned to go.

"I don't want you coming back here, boy." Dean froze at his father's voice. It was cold, calculated, and very angry. "You walk out that dorr and you don't come back. Not to see my family, not to grab a bite to eat, nothing. You walk out that door you stay gone." Dean didn't move for a long time. Finally he turned to face John.

"I'm leaving. But I'll be back whenever I damn well please. You can't keep me away from mom and Sammy, and you'd be stupid to try it, old man." John very slowly stood up.

"Dean." John's face softened and Dean felt hope. "Son. I don't want to fight with you. Leave that Novak boy alone and come home. Come be normal again."

A/N Wow, thank you guys so much for all of your awesome reviews last time. Special shout-out to Soaha who caught on that the 'Robert' that got fired from the paint station was Bobby.

Anyway thanks again, I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story!

Em