A/N: Okay, so I've got a genuine plot, as in chapter to chapter, plot planned out and it's got me really excited and I wonder if any of you guys can guess what I'm going to do. I hope you like this and I hope you stick around to watch this plot unfold with me!

Dean waited. Going to school felt so obsolete after everything and yet he here was. A week had gone by and still no Cas. No angel. Where the hell was he? God, he wanted to not care. He wanted so badly not to give a damn but he did and that stung more than anything. He was worried out of his mind about what was going on. He was still angry, betrayed, confused, scared, but all of it was unimportant when he couldn't see Castiel standing, safe, in front of him. Friends or not.

They'd tried everything. Despite everything, Dean had roped in everyone for the man hunt, refusing to answer any of their questions as to what had happened. They'd searched the whole school every day, they'd called, texted, Jo had even gone over to his house after vigorous nagging from Dean but no one would answer the door. Every time Dean went on his way to work at the library he always considered stopping by. He never did. He was getting desperate by now and soon it was going to get to be too much. Sam was much the same.

Sam, being the more sensible of the two Winchester brothers, had been very open with Dean about how he felt for Gabriel, even though he hadn't strictly had the conversation with him himself. He'd begged Dean to let him do something but knew as well as Dean that there was nothing they could do. The thing that was most sensible was just to stay away. Continue their lives as if the Novak's had never been involved in them.

XXXXXXX

After nearly a whole week of just being locked in their house, Michael telling them that their Uncle wished to give them a chance to prepare themselves before his arrival, at last the morning arrived.

Gabriel had come to his room and told him to get up, a solemn look gracing his features and it made Castiel's stomach turn. Their Uncle had arrived. He'd got ready in a rush and joined the rest of his siblings, bar Michael, downstairs. Raphael, Uriel and Lucifer were all stood in a line in the living room, posture perfect, staring straight ahead like soldiers. They'd spent more time with their Uncle Zachariah in the past and apparently knew how to please him, however Gabriel and Anna looked more apprehensive and both worried for their youngest brother.

Zachariah Milton was a particularly cruel person. He was an angel but his grace had a sickly presence as he entered the room, it seemed to ooze out of him, as if wishing to taint the other angels in the room. It made Castiel's stomach churn grotesquely.

He was a slightly portly, bald fellow with cold eyes and a predatory smile. His whole demeanour repelled those around him but the Novak's stood strong.

"Nephews, and niece," He added to Anna who didn't respond, only her jaw tightened slightly.

"You all know why I'm here. Discipline. It's not something that you can simply learn or be born with it is something that must be beaten into your very grain." His voice was detached and malicious and the temperature of the room dropped slightly.

"Where is Michael?" Anna asked quietly and Castiel's heart clenched as Zachariah's eagle like eyes eyed her unpleasantly and he approached her.

"Dear, dear. A prime example. Such a pretty girl," Zachariah thread his fingers through strands of her hair as he spoke and Anna stiffened but stood her ground.

"Such a shame you don't understand that you speak when spoken to." He snapped, gripping her hair and using it to propel her to the ground harshly. She cried out but refused to cry, simply glared at him defiantly.

"Hey, leave her alone!" Castiel said angrily, going to help his sister to her feet.

"No, Castiel," She warned desperately but it was too late and he was struck across the face, flinging him across the room and slamming into a wall.

"Hey, stop it, they didn't do anything wrong!" Gabriel snapped, furious that none of his other brothers made a move to intervene, too obedient. Zachariah sighed and kicked him roughly in the gut, drawing a pained cry from Gabriel as he sank to the floor, clutching his abdomen.

"Well, I can see you three are the root of the problem. No respect for authority. No self control." He reiterated himself as he spoke, twisting his wrist, causing the three of them burning pains in their grace, causing them to writhe in pain, their grace blistering in protest, but there was no escape until Zachariah relented at last and sent them away with a promise that every day he'd review their progress and they'd be rewarded or punished whenever he saw fit." And with that he disappeared.

At that moment it was clear they were a split family, the elder boys stalked away from their fallen siblings and the other three knew they'd lost them to their mind warping Uncle.

The instant it was clear that no one else was around, seeing as Zachariah took to flying off for hours, sometimes days on end but would lock the house and forbid them to go out whilst he did so, Anna climbed to her feet and whisked her brothers into her arms.

"Anna, where is Michael?" Castiel asked worriedly, ignoring the stabbing pain coming from his back and the left side of his face as the two boys pulled back.

"We gotta' tell him about this, there's no way he'd let him do this." Gabriel said hurriedly, thinking it out to himself. Anna sighed sadly, but then steeled herself and looked to them sternly.

"I don't know where Michael is and I know he didn't want this but I have a feeling he had little choice in the matter."

"Will he be okay?" Castiel's eyes widened and Anna promptly ignored this question.

"Listen to me, both of you, you mustn't rile your Uncle. I need you to be obedient, no matter what methods he uses to try and provoke you. He will do anything to try to get you to lose control but I need you to stay strong and silent. Keep your will strong but keep your sense, I can't have you two getting hurt. Leave Zachariah to me, I can keep him distracted." She said with an uncharacteristic darkness in her voice and both boys made noises of disagreement but she hushed them.

"Enough both of you. You're not children, this is reality and I need to protect you and that's the end of it. Don't worry, he won't break me, I'm ridiculously stubborn," She said with a small smile and the boys were both pained to have to let their sister get hurt.

"He's going to hurt you, isn't he?" Castiel gulped and Gabriel shot a sad look at him before looking back to see his sister's reaction. She looked to the ground for a split second before throwing on another smile, but her eyes had a fire in them that gave both boys hope.

"I'm a big girl, I can handle it. Just concentrate on keeping under your Uncle's radar. I'm going to try and get you back in school or at least back in the world and you need to be very careful about what you say and who you talk to from now on, alright?" Both boys nodded and she pulled them close again, taking a deep breath.

"You're both going to be just fine. Now, your Uncle won't be back until tomorrow afternoon and I believe he's taken our other brothers with him until about 5pm tomorrow, I suggest you use this time productively.." She trailed off pointedly and they nodded.

All doors and windows on the ground floor were locked and their Uncle knew that it was too high to jump from the second floor and so hadn't bothered locking those. Gabriel looked to Castiel and they both knew it was time to take advantage of Castiel's tree top window.

XXXXXXX

Sam sat in calculus feeling extremely ill. His head was spinning, his stomach was folding in on itself, threatening to spew over at any moment, his hands were shaking and his vision was blurry as he attempted to focus on the equations in his text book. It was made worse by the fact that Amy was sat next to him, probing him, asking him every two seconds if he was alright and asking everyone how he looked, relaying to him that the general consensus of the class was that he looked awful, which, naturally, did wonders to make him feel better.

He knew she was only worried but he just wanted to go to sleep, to get a break from his body's assault. It also wasn't exactly ideal that he wished Gabriel was there to make a joke to distract him or something. No, that definitely didn't help. Dean might be stubborn enough not to let himself admit that he needed Cas but Sam was different.

Eventually even the teacher couldn't ignore his overall unwell appearance and gave him a note which he took to the nurse. The school nurse wasn't one of those happy-to-help, rosy-cheeked women with lollypops and stories of her grandchildren. No, she was an ill-tempered, angry woman who despised the school and everyone in it. He name was Edith and she seemed to enjoy making children suffer and was the human personification of a bull.

She would've liked to send him back to his lesson but with a note from his teacher and the fact he was about to puke on her carpet she told him he was free to go home. She didn't bother ringing parents and, not wanting to give Dean an excuse to skip out on school, Sam forced himself to walk home rather than get a lift. A courageous decision considering his condition.

When he did get home he felt even more terrible and would've just gone to bed but, like he always did when he was ill, he was craving some of his Mother's recipe soup that Dean would always make for him. He wasn't exactly sure on how to make it and simply got out a paper sachet packet and blindly threw the contents into the pan, leaving the sachet dangerously close to the hob as he sparked it up and walked away to let it cook.

Slumping down on the sofa his head drooped immediately as he fought to keep his consciousness, but with his fever it was remarkable he'd even made it this far and he fell into a heavy sleep instantly.

XXXXXXX

"I hate everything about this." Castiel said yet again and Gabriel sighed as they walked, relieved to be free even just for a couple of days.

"I know, me too, but we're gonna' get out of this and in the mean time, I don't know about you, I'd kinda' like to stop by to see those Winchesters of ours." Gabriel said, encouraging a change of topic from their violent uncle.

"Dean is not mine." Castiel corrected with agitation and Gabriel smirked.

"Who said I was specifically talking about you and Dean, Cassy?" Gabriel said all too innocently with an eyebrow raised and Castiel squawked for a couple of seconds before huffing and admitting defeat.

"It doesn't make any difference, Gabriel. Dean hates me. For lying. For what I am. He said he'd kill me if he ever saw me again," He throat constricted and his voice waned under pressure and the smirk slipped away from Gabriel's face at his brother's distress.

"He was just freaked out, he'd never do that really, he cares about you, you know that," Gabriel reasoned and Castiel turned distraught eyes onto his brother.

"Do I? He's never said so."

"Did you?" Gabriel countered and again Castiel was stumped.

"Just stop over thinking it, you know as well as I do that we'll both go nuts if we don't sort this out. Just wait outside and let me go in first and see what happens, okay?" Castiel nodded in restrained agreement, he felt incredibly uncomfortable.

As they went to round the corner to the Winchester house a thought struck Castiel.

"Gabriel, what time is it? Will they even be back from school?"

"Uh.." Was all Gabriel managed before his eyes widened and his breath was taken from him. Flames were rippling out of two of the Winchester's windows, smoke clouding the surrounding area, thick and pulsing as it polluted their lungs and clung to their wings like a disease. Gabriel, more in tune with Sam's scent, caught it before Castiel did.

"Shit, Sam's in there!" He cried.

"Gabriel, I'll put out the fire, you get Sam out!" Castiel rushed, panicking as his eyes watered from the smoke. Gabriel nodded and they both disappeared, reappearing inside the flaming household.

Gabriel shouted Sam's name, searching upstairs in a mad panic before finding him unconscious on the sofa. Lifting him quickly to his feet, he flew the limp body away from the building and to a hospital.

Castiel had no such easy task. The flames were quickly engulfing the rest of the house and his grace was doing little to tame the raging inferno with his thoughts in such a panic. He suddenly felt a presence, much akin to Michael's, flood his grace, calming him and allowing him to think clearly.

He began to douse methodically and efficiently as he went from room to room. Fire was a natural repellent of an angel's grace as they had been burnt on pyres for hundreds of years and it was a reflex to shy away but Castiel was determined. After being endlessly singed and getting a large stinging burn down his forearm and a fiery graze on the side of his face, he finally put out the flames and sank to the ground, exhausted.

XXXXXXX

Dean sat restlessly in his math class, uneasy without his best friend sitting beside him. One of the ladies who worked in the school reception came in with a yellow slip, the kind that were given to students to tell them that they had a dentist appointment or their parents had given a reminder to pick their siblings up from school or something alike.

However, this lady looked flustered and distressed and glanced directly at Dean before handing the note to Mr Masters, sparing another sympathetic glance to Dean and leaving. Jo, Bella and Ash turned in their seats shooting him confused looks to which he shrugged in response. Mr Masters even looked slightly alarmed as he called Dean to the front and handed him the note.

He began to read it but as he read his senses seemed to dull in shock and he barely took any of it in, just enough to get the general idea.

Fire. Brother. Hospital.

He was flying out of the room in seconds. Not hearing anything other than his own heartbeat as he felt for his keys in his pocket and was climbing into the Impala within a minute and a half. Starting the car, his head was buzzing with questions. Was Sammy okay? How had the fire started? Why was he even at home? How'd he gotten home?

Was he okay?

He reached the hospital in just under twenty five minutes and tore down the corridors before asking a woman at reception. He got the room number and before she could object he was off again, breath ragged as he searched for the room. He found it quickly enough but a doctor stood in his way, a stern look on his face as he peered down at Dean who glared up at him.

"Young man, shouldn't you be in school?" He inquired suspiciously.

"My brother's in there. He was in a fire, I need to see if he's okay," Dean rushed out, trying to push past but being stopped again.

"You must be the older brother then. Yes, the other boy told us you'd be here."

"What other boy?"

"The one who got him here. Didn't say his name come to think of it, just told us to expect you." The doctor said thoughtfully and Dean growled, agitated at the room's human blockade.

"I need to get in there!" He snapped.

"Unfortunately no one can go in there just now, have you got a parent or guardian we could call?" He asked, his voice professional and his tone a narrative from the textbook of medical school.

"No, he's away on business." Dean said just as easily, falling into his routine.

"Right, well, is there any way we could get in contact with someone, another family member perhaps?"

"No, there's no one else. Let me see my brother!" Dean was getting aggressive now and he knew it could land him in trouble but his head was racing with terrible images of his brother and guilt coursed through him.

You had one job, Dean.

"I'm sorry, you can't go in. Your brother is heavily sedated and we're running some tests to see if he needs surgery,"

"Surgery?" Dean choked and the doctor nodded.

"Yes, it's unlikely but the tests are a necessary precaution, you understand. The smoke pollution damaged his lungs a little so he's on a ventilator for the time being and has a few minor burns and superficial wounds. Overall he's a little battered but if the next few tests come back clean then he should just need a while to recover. It's a waiting game at present."

Dean tried to force himself to breathe but was having trouble. His head hurt and it felt wrong to be talking about Sam like this.

"So when can I see him?" Dean croaked, calmer now but still scared.

"Soon, tomorrow most likely if he's conscious." Those words rang in Dean's head. If he's conscious. If he wakes up. If he doesn't die. Again, he attempted to calm down. There was nothing in the doctor's demeanour that had suggested Sam was on the brink or anything, he just needed time. Don't enlarge this, Dean. He's going to be alright.

"In the mean time, assuming you're staying," Dean nodded furiously.

"Well, the waiting room is just down the hall, there's a café on the second floor, if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask." Dean nodded again in appreciation and the doctor gifted him with one more strictly professional smile before walking away to continue his work.

Sitting in that waiting room, Dean had never felt more alone. The hallways were barren and there wasn't even the excuse of irritating waiting room music, just an unnerving silence. Why was he the only one who had to suffer? He regretted the thought immediately as it entered his head. Sam was the one who'd suffered here, not him. And what did he want, other tragedies. No.

He felt more than lonely, he felt deserted. His Mother was dead. John was God knows where. He had no other family. Sam was in a hospital bed and he wasn't even allowed to see him. His friends weren't here. The only person who he knew would've been here for him he'd pushed away.

And all at once Dean was conflicted. He argued internally.

Cas would be here. He'd do something, he'd make it better.

He's an angel.

You know that's not an issue.

He's a killer?

You know that's not true.

He lied to me.

There it is.

Hours passed as he paced up and down, over and over, it eventually grew dark and his legs were tired. He refused to eat or drink anything, it wasn't important. It must've been about midnight when he saw a figure pop it's head out of Sam's room and he was instantly at the door, faced with an uncomfortable looking Gabriel.

"Dean, I, uh-"

"Is he okay?" Dean interrupted. Gabriel paused for a second, confused at Dean's brush off to his being there at all but went with it gratefully.

"He's… Not really, I've tried to help him but I don't really know what I'm doing. He's a bit of a mess," He spoke quietly and Dean's heart clenched not only at the last words but Gabriel's tone and expression as he did. He looked as heartbroken as Dean felt.

"You can," Dean cleared his throat.

"You can, like, go invisible and stuff, right?"

"..Yeah…" Gabriel answered warily.

"Stay with him." Dean said in a small voice. Gabriel regarded Dean with fascination and a new found respect and nodded once before disappearing. Dean instantly felt better knowing Sam had someone who clearly cared about him with him. He only wished he had the same.

Okay, Winchester. Enough is enough. If Sam can do it so can you. Stow your crap and call him, you need to forget all of this; you don't want to be like your Dad. The blunt voice of reason in the back of his head came into focus and he knew he had to forgive Cas. Or try to.

He pulled out his phone and dialled Cas' number, after a painfully long ringing time his answer phone message played and the dial tone beeped in his ear, prompting him to leave a message, but suddenly Cas not picking up wasn't such a blessing because now he had nothing to go off.

"Uh, Cas, it's uh, it's me, Dean." He shook himself and bit on his lip, drawing in a shaky breath through the dimly lit hall.

"I, er, I need you, man. It's Sam, I mean, Gabe's with him but I, I can't-" His voice left him and he fought with himself, desperately trying not to punch a wall.

"Please, I get you have every reason to hate me but, uh, if there's any chance you could, shit, I don't know , I just… I'm s-" The message cut off and he cursed under his breath.

Abandoning his chair his pacing he sank into an uncomfortable waiting chair in the long hallway and allowed his head to droop, his eyes relenting at last and he fell asleep, his last thoughts of Sam alone in a fire and an apology to harsh blue eyes.

A/N: I know this took a while to get out but I originally wrote this as one chapter but I changed my mind because I didn't want to rush it but this is all going towards the bigger plot line that's coming up. What did you think? What do you want to happen? What should definitely under no circumstances happen? What did you think of Zachariah? Where's Michael? Feedback is amazing and thank you to everyone who's reviewed and favourited and followed, you people are charming and wonderful. Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading! Belle.