Title: "Because Sam Winchester is My Friend"

Prompt: Written for hells_bells on livejournal: "Supernatural, Sam+Castiel, it's not profound but it is a bond."

It's selfish for an angel to claim two charges. The rules are more like guidelines, but in Heaven, even the guidelines are adhered to.

It is unimportant that the armies of heaven are not numberless, and that they've sustained great losses in this war. It does not matter if sometimes it seems as if the human population is expanding beyond number as the centuries pass.

Castiel has already marked Dean Winchester as his charge. He had been granted the great honor of saving the Righteous Man from Hell, and Castiel took all of his assignments with the same grave sincerity.

He is fond of his charge.

However, Dean Winchester occasionally inspires the angel to a sharp desire for violence and/or alcohol. There is a profound bond there, and Castiel counts Dean Winchester among both his dearest friends and as honorary family. However, there are moments when Castiel just wants the rebellious mortal to stay where Castiel puts him.

Sam Winchester can also be annoying, but Castiel was not lying when he told Anna that the younger Winchester was a friend. This friendship was by Castiel's own choice, an exercise of newly discovered freewill. Castiel valued Sam Winchester. He did not risk hell and/or heaven on earth to keep the youngest Winchester in one piece on a whim of Dean's.

Technically, he owes Sam nothing. Sam is not his charge. Sam is an abomination. Sam has done great evil with the best of intentions-poetic license aside-and is just one mortal among thousands.

But Sam cared for him when Castiel was injured and weary. The human did not have to. Castiel was not his guardian angel. But he did. Sam learned from past mistakes, and still sacrificed himself to save the world.

It is selfish and heavily frowned-upon for an angel to claim two charges.

Castiel is a devious sneaky angel who has been working his way around the rules for millennium. Just ask Gabriel.

He liberates Sam from the pit, but does not mark him. He listens to every prayer, but does not respond. The angels know, but their hands are tied. What the humans do not know will not hurt them. Castiel takes no credit.

Let Sam and Dean stew. Let Bobby suspect in silence.

It's not profound, but it is a bond.