Disclaimer: I don't own SPN.

So while browsing for 'hunter Jess' fics (because that's a weakness of mine), I found one that looked promising but had unreasonable Dean bashing. I KNOW he's an asshole but he would NOT hit Sam to THAT extent (sure, he'd throw a punch or two but NOT LIKE THAT) and if he learned that Sam was dead, he would NOT just brush it off and say that Sam deserved it for standing up to him! HIS CODEPENDENCY IS HIS MAIN TRAIT AND THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE ENTIRE 11 SEASONS!

Gah. Sorry. Bashing really affects me. I feel physically sick. So I decided that we all needed some Dean love and, with help from masterjediratgrl31, I've put this together! So go check out her fic, 'A First Time for Everything' because it is AWESOME! Oh and there will be a smut accompanying this in BCD!

Thanks to mollienaturerocks, RangerHorseTug, Guest and masterjediratgrl31 for your reviews :)

175. Worth

Dean knew that he should look away from the screen. It was just nonsense written by someone who didn't even know him! Why'd he even decide to go browsing through Supernatural forums anyway? But, among all of the 'Dean fangirls' and shining words about him, was that one person who had seen him for the truly shit person he was and decided to tell everybody about it.

'They're right,' he thought heavily, eyes fixed on the glowing screen. 'I'm an asshole. I don't deserve Sam or Cas or anyone!'

As he read the words that were leaping out at him, every bit of self-worth progress that he'd made over the past few years with Cas vanished. A complete stranger knew him! How could he –

"Dean?"

Dean hastily tried to shut the laptop screen but Cas was faster. His angel pushed the screen back up and read the words, his face darkening with every line.

"And do you believe this?" Cas' voice could have shattered glass. Dean winced.

"No!" he said quickly. Cas gave him a sceptical look. "Maybe. What? They're right! I'm an asshole, Cas! I don't deserve anyone and if you had any sense, you'd turn and run! How – how can you want me? I'm broken. I'm no one. Just a whole bunch of daddy issues and ugly personality rolled into shiny packaging."

Cas took a step back. The furious look on his face began to scare Dean.

"Stand up!" Cas barked. Dean recoiled. "STAND UP!"

Dean gulped and hastened to obey. Cas grabbed him by the arm, his fingernails digging into Dean's skin, and he yanked Dean out of the room.

"Sam!"

Sam blinked and looked up from his book when he heard Cas' furious shout. The brother-in-law was storming into the library, hauling a terrified-looking Dean behind him.

"What's up, Cas? Did Dean screw up again?"

"See?" Dean mumbled. "I'm a screw-up. Even Sam thinks so."

Cas rounded on Dean, eyes glittering furiously.

"What? No! I don't think that!" Sam said quickly. "What the hell happened?"

"Dean is willing to let a complete stranger's opinion of him dictate how he feels about himself," Cas said in a voice trembling with fury. "Tell him, Sam! Tell Dean just how you feel about him!"

Sam blinked. He'd thought that Dean was finally past all that low self-esteem crap!

"Uh, he can be a bit of a jerk at times," he finally said carefully. "But he wouldn't be Dean if he wasn't a jerk. He's the best big brother I could ever ask for and he's funny, protective, loyal…I could go on but I'd probably embarrass him. But seriously, I couldn't ask for a better brother. We've been through a lot of crap but he's amazing."

Dean's cheeks were tinged pink.

"Thank you, Sam. Come on, Dean!"

Charlie looked up from her laptop when she heard footsteps.

"Hey, guys!" she chirped as Dean and Cas entered. Her face fell when she saw the look of pure fury on Cas' face and Dean's slightly flushed one. "What's up?"

"Dean read a fan's negative opinion of him and now he believes that he is worthless," Cas spat. "Tell him, Charlie! How do you really feel about him?"

"Seriously, Dean?" Charlie said. "Haters gonna hate! Don't listen to what they say! You're like my big brother! You're hilarious and awesome and protective and you're a hero, Dean! I love you! How could you ever think that you're worthless? Do you know how much it'd kill all of us if you were gone?"

Overcome with feels, she jumped up and threw her arms around Dean. The man stiffened but she just clung to him tighter, trying to pour every little bit of love and warmth and affection that she felt for him into it. When she pulled away, she stood on her tip-toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"You're amazing just the way you are, Dean," she whispered. "And I wouldn't change you for anything."

Now Dean's cheeks were a dark red colour.

"Is Rose here?" Cas said.

"Nah, I think she left a little while ago. But she'd say the same thing, Dean!"

"Yes, she would. Thank you, Charlie."

As soon as their bedroom door closed, Castiel grabbed Dean by the front of the shirt.

"You see?" he hissed, pulling Dean in for a rough, furious kiss. "You are loved, Dean. You are the most amazing, wonderful, caring, loyal and beautiful person that I know and I could never love anybody more than I love you! Words cannot express just how deeply I love you!"

Dean looked away, his face flushed dark. Castiel's face softened and he raised a hand to caress his husband's cheek.

"Let me show you just how loved you are, Dean. Let me love you."

He gently pushed Dean down onto the bed and crawled on top of him, pressing a sweet, sensual kiss to his lips. Castiel's first instinct was to go hard and fast, to express all of his fury at Dean's lack of self-worth, but he knew that Dean needed something else. Dean needed slow, sweet, loving. He needed to see just how much of a beautiful person he was and Castiel was going to show him!