He couldn't say just how long they sat there in silence. Maybe it was a few minutes, or maybe it was half an hour. The screaming kids and made up freshmen had long since left with the lunch crowd. Sam weighed his options:

To either tell Dean to be straight with him, or admit his brother needed professional help.

Dean broke the silence at last, "Look man, I know what you're thinking right now. But I said it wasn't easy to talk about, or listen to."

"I shouldn't have pushed you, it's fine, whatever."

"Do me a favour and don't think about it so much."

Sam waited and then shut his laptop, leaving a wad of notes on the table and standing up.

"You leaving already?" Dean asked.

"Yeah I've gotta get these papers to my friends now," Sam patted his backpack. "I'll just catch up with you and Mom at home in a few hours, alright?"

"Sure," Dean counted the bills.

"And we can talk about what I've got on Castiel then," Sam said, heading to the door.

The bell clanged loudly and the door shut with a whoosh from the air conditioner.

There were only a few more people still at Biggersons and the worn out staff was moving slowly behind the grills and vendors.

Dean drained his coffee and leaned back, glancing out the window. There goes Gigantor, he thought, as his brother crossed the street to the bus stop and waited for the 575. At least he was still willing to play hacker - that was gesture enough that he didn't think Dean was a complete psychopath.

"I thought that was pretty brave," A cool voice said to him.

He jumped a little as he turned to find Jo had replaced Sam in front of him.

"I miss coffee," she smiled sadly.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed, trying to avoid eye contact. The last thing he needed was to be seen talking to himself over an empty tray at a fast food joint. There was enough locker-room talk going on about him.

"You're worrying about what Sam's thinking now, aren't you?" Jo asked, tilting her head to one side.

"Nothing I can do about it now."

"You shouldn't you know. He'd stand on his head and swallow Gasoline right now if he thought it would cheer you up a bit."

"Kid's way in over his head."

"You're in over yours, Dean," Jo reminded him. "But don't try and tell me this isn't a weight off your chest."

Dean sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes nodded slightly, "Yeah, yeah it is. Had to be done. I just don't know how long he's going to take before finding me a padded cell."

"I have some news that might interest you."

"I'm listening," he said to his coffee cup, pretending to find something interesting in the dregs as a waiter drifted by.

"Sam told you Castiel lives up in Highpointe Apartments, didn't he?"

"Yeah, he got it off school records."

"Impressive," Jo nodded, "but inaccurate."

"Sam's always inaccurate."

Jo smiled, "I can see how he was misled. Sure, the records probably say Highpointe, but Castiel No Last Name is sqautting in a small room over the Walmart near school."

Dean tried to hide his surprise by swilling the dregs in his coffee cup, "How do you know?"

"Remember that one time I worked at Walmart during summer break?"

"Yeah, evening shifts."

"Well, I lost a pair of earrings during inventory. It must still be there. I'm starting to realize I can go places with points of attachment. That's how I get around without following you all the time. Anyway, I was at the Walmart this afternoon - and guess who'd set up shop upstairs near the vents?"

"He isn't living with family?"

"From what I can tell, he doesn't have any. It was pretty messed up, Dean. He had a single bed and a sink and whatever other space there was in the room was covered in maps and books and photographs. If you ask me, this guy's into some pretty dark stuff. Like the things in those mags my mom used to have in the bar."

"What, like Devil worship?" Dean snorted, "You've gotta be kidding me, Jo. The guy's a thorough bred catholic. I bet he prays on his knees every night."

"Judging from what I saw there today, I sure hope he does, D-"."

Dean glanced up and found Jo had disappeared. He looked around wildly a moment and the cashier shot him an odd look. Scraping his chair back he swung his pack over his shoulder and cleared his throat, muttering a quick thanks to the guy at the door and sauntered out into the street. He was absolutely certain Jo's little vanishing act was something to worry about. It was like she was being whisked away by something every time she talked to him. Something, or someone, didn't want Jo around Dean any more. He shook his head and crossed the street - maybe he was over thinking it. All the say, he thought he would visit the factory before heading home.

To Parakeet: I'm so happy you reviewed again :D Multiple times! Haha! Here's another update for ya!