A/N: John Winchester is an awful father. And I had to write this for some reason. Not sure why. Anyway, enjoy.

'Cas? Hey Cas?' Dean's voice echoed inside the angel's head. 'Cas, can you hear me? I need some help. It's my dad, he's… Cas please come and help me.'

Something was wrong. Really wrong. It was painfully obvious. Castiel was in the middle of a meeting with the rest of his garrison, but he couldn't leave Dean to suffer.

'I am afraid I shall have to go,' he said, interrupting Balthazar mid-speech.

'What's going on?' Inias asked.

'I have some important business to tend to, which means we must cut this short.'

And with that, he flew down to Earth, securing Dean's position so he knew where to land. He was once more in the body he had used in his previous visits to Earth, not wanting to be unfamiliar to the Winchester boys.

'Dean?' he called out, having transported to a room which was, at first glance, abandoned.

'Cas? Is that you?' the voice that called out was shaky, and appeared to be coming from underneath the bed.

The angel walked over and peered underneath the metal frame. There were Sam and Dean, curled up together defensively. 'Dean? Is everything alright?'

'Yeah, Cas. It's fine now.'

Castiel tilted his head. 'Why are you under the bed? Come out from there, it must be cramped.'

'We've been in worse,' Dean admitted as he eased Sam out before him from under the bed.

'What happened?' Castiel asked.

'Dad, he… he got drunk,' Dean began explaining quietly as he got out from beneath the metal frame and wrapped his arms around his little brother in a comforting hug. 'He got really angry because I'd left Sam alone to get food, said I was wrong to do that to Sammy, and then he-' he stopped short, obviously not wanting to talk about it. His eyes were filling rapidly with tears and Cas frowned.

'Dean, did your father hurt you or Sam?' Cas asked gently, moving slowly closer to the Winchesters as though afraid of frightening them.

'No,' came the small reply. 'I managed to get Sam out of the way, and he just shouted at me.'

Castiel had the vaguest sense of apprehension; surely the older Winchester brother wouldn't be in such a state were his words true. He dropped the subject though, and wrapped his arms gently around the two boys.

'If your dad ever treats you or your brother badly, you have to pray straight to me,' he insisted.

Dean nodded in understanding. 'I will, Cas. I promise. Sammy, that goes to you too.'

Sam nodded too. 'Dad's gonna be back soon, isn't he?'

'Yeah,' sighed Dean.

'Is he still gonna be angry?'

'I dunno, Sam. We'll see.'

Cas placed his hands on their foreheads gently and told them to keep still. He felt the power flow through him as he left protective sigils in Enochian on the boys' ribs, where they wouldn't be seen. 'You should be safe from your dada now.'

'Thanks, Cas,' Dean smiled weakly, still holding onto Sam like a lifeline.

'You're welcome, both of you.' Cas stood up again reluctantly. 'I have to return to Heaven. I'll come and check on you whenever it's possible,' he promised.

'Okay,' frowned the two Winchesters.

Cass looked at them sadly once more before flying back up to the sky. He regretted leaving them alone, but what else could he do? He'd interfered with fate enough where the Winchesters were concerned already, and if it got too out of hand, then his brothers would surely smite him. And he couldn't let that happen. Someone had to watch over the two Winchester boys.

A/N: So yeah. On hiatus until my exams are over on the 20th June, because I have no time to do anything other than schoolwork anymore.

Sorry it's so late, I only recently got the new laptop charger I needed.