Free Angel: Preferably to Broken Home

by DracoPendragon

Somehow, John got himself stuck babysitting a toddler angel in the middle of a job. As if he didn't have enough work. But, he supposes it'll be extra protection for Dean and Sam, so he decided to keep the little thing around. Then Cas has to leave but promises to always come when Dean calls. But this isn't a story, this is life, and life doesn't always have happy endings.

22. Chapter 22

Castiel flew back to Heaven, burying himself in work to distract him from thinking about how good it was when Dean kissed him. He kept an eye on the Winchesters, but nothing much happened. Dean taught Sam about hunting while John ganked the monsters his son was learning about. Dean joined in on a werewolf hunt once, and Castiel got concerned, but Dean and his father handled the situation well.

He watched as Dean lost all the food money in a poker game, and was caught stealing. He would have gone to help, but it felt awkward, so he stayed until Dean called him.

Dean didn't call for him.

Instead, the Winchester went to a boy's home and was given a chance at a normal life. Castiel watched as he went to school, made new friends, and joined the wrestling team.

Castiel knew that John knew where Dean was, but the eldest Winchester did nothing about it. Dean knew it too, but looking at him, Castiel thought he didn't mind.

Cas watched as Dean talked to a young girl his age on the couch at the boy's home. How he talked about not wanting to go into the family business, and wanted to be a mechanic; thoughts he had never shared with Cas even though they were best friends. He watched as the girl, Robin, leant in and kissed Dean. With the action comes a stab of physical pain in Castiel's heart, and he fought back the tears building in his eyes.

Dean promised Robin he'd never leave her, and Castiel couldn't bear it anymore. The aching in his heart was immense and he felt as though he'd fallen from grace, even though he was still in Heaven. He wanted to fly down and kiss Dean, tell the human that he belonged to Castiel and Castiel only, but he couldn't do that, because she made him happy and that was what Cas wanted more than anything; Dean's happiness.

And then John came for Dean, the night of the dance that Cas knew he'd been anticipating, looking forward to. Castiel had been so envious of Robin, who got to kiss Dean as she liked, got to hold him and dance with him. He couldn't explain it even if he wanted to, he just hated how guilty it made him feel.

Sonny, the owner of the boy's home, told Dean he could say no, but Cas knew that Dean would give everything up for Sam. Sam was with John in the impala, and Dean looked at him and crumbled. He left the home with his dad and little brother, and Cas wondered how he could be so selfless. He then wondered if Dean would ever do the same for him. Pushing the thought from his mind, he continued working on answering the prayers of others, trying not to let thoughts of Dean Winchester consume him whole.