Disclaimer: I don't own SPN.

***HUGE SPOILERS FOR 11x06 AND 11x10 IN THIS PROMPT***

After watching that episode and seeing them abuse Cas for only Chuck knows what time…I'm dead inside. He's depressed and needs help but NOBODY EVEN CARES and I'm actually crying and just…I just want to slap the writers. They're absolutely fucking up (pardon my French) everyone's characters this season – Sam dumb enough to believe the visions of him being tortured are from God, Dean obsessed with his new bitch, etc. – and I can't take it anymore. If this chapter seems rather bland, it's because I am down and crying and feeling betrayed because this show is meant to make me feel better – it's supposed to be the highlight of my week – but it's just slapping me in the face. We need the old writers back because I feel like the new ones don't give a single crap about us.

Thanks to Siriusly loving densi, CaptainAckles, mollienaturerocks, mikaykaykay07, Avalin Rose Ellyot, masterjediratgrl31 and RangerHorseTug for your reviews :)

206. Useless

"You're expendable," the angel said matter-of-factly. "That's why they sent you out here, right?"

Castiel frowned.

"We're expendable. We're the grunts. That's why they send us out to do all the dirty work. But hey, there's a kind of nobility in that, right?"

The angel walked off. Castiel remained rooted to the spot, until his surroundings shifted and he was suddenly being shoved to the ground by a brunette woman in a black dress.

"You're worthless, Castiel," she sneered. "Weak. Expendable. You're not even worth the effort."

Castiel sagged in her grip. Did this strange woman have a point? Before he could say anything, the world around him changed again. This time, it was Metatron who was laughing at him. Castiel clenched his fists.

"You are broken, Castiel!" Metatron said delightedly. "It sucks, doesn't it? To be useless and manipulated by everyone…especially your friends. Nobody cares!"

His face melded into Dean's.

"Nobody cares that you're broken, Cas!"

Then Castiel was looking at himself.

"You weak fool. How could you fall for Dean? Don't you know that he only cares for you as a tool? Since when does he care about you when you have nothing to offer? You should know that Sam is the only person he truly loves. Nobody loves you, Castiel!"

"Cas!"

Castiel's eyes flew open. Dean was leaning over him, a look of concern on his face.

"You okay, man? You were mumbling and moving around."

"Nobody cares that you're broken, Cas!"

"I'm – fine," Castiel said after a moment. Dean frowned.

"Something's up. Talk to me, angel."

"Nothing's up," Castiel snapped. "I'm fine."

He slid out of bed and headed for the kitchen before Dean could push him to talk. Sam was already there with a cup of coffee, his face looking a little better than last night. Though he had sworn off hunting since the birth of Mary, Lewis and Henry, Sam had agreed to accompany them only because the hunt was too close to Lebanon – about twenty minutes away – and therefore his family for his comfort. Rose hadn't been happy but Cas knew that she recognised that the best thing for Sam to do for his family was take out the threat before it got too close.

"Morning, Cas," Sam yawned, wincing and touching a large cut on his face. Castiel nodded and went to get himself a cup of coffee, sitting down a few seats away from Sam. When Dean entered only a few moments later, he immediately moved towards Sam.

"You okay? Delicate little face doesn't hurt too much?" he smirked. Sam gave him a bitchface. Castiel, meanwhile, watched with a sinking heart. This had happened last night; Dean had stuck by Sam during the whole hunt, only acknowledging Castiel to instruct him on what to do. Castiel knew that Sam was his brother and this was perfectly normal but between that, Dean spending more time with Zoey and Robbie, and now this dream, Castiel found himself growing gradually number. Was it true? Did Dean really see him as expendable? He had children and nephews and a niece; did he really need Castiel?

"You okay, Cas?" Dean's voice snapped Castiel out of his thoughts. "You've been off all morning."

"I'm fine," Castiel mumbled.

"I'm serious, Cas."

"I'm fine! Why can't you just leave me alone?"

Dean narrowed his eyes.

"'Scuse us, Sam."

He grabbed Castiel by the upper arm and dragged him out of the kitchen, Castiel struggling. But Dean's strength was superior and he was able to pull Castiel into the nearby hallway – not the one that led to their sleeping son and daughter's room, thankfully – and whirled him around.

"What is up with you?" Dean hissed. "You're pissed and down about something but I don't know what!"

Castiel opened his mouth to make an angry retort. But what came out was totally different.

"Do you think I'm expendable?"

Dean stared at him.

"Why the hell would you think that, Cas?"

"Because you don't have any need for me," Cas mumbled bitterly. "You have a family now. You have two children and two nephews and a niece to care for. Now you don't have to use me for family. You can spend all of your time with your children and brother now."

To his horror, Castiel felt his eyes begin to sting. Dean was staring at him with an open mouth and then he suddenly grabbed Castiel by the shoulders and shook him.

"How the hell can you think that, Cas? What the hell brought that on?"

"You have been spending more time with Zoey and Robbie. And I'm not jealous – I really am not, because they deserve all of the love you can give them – but you barely want to spend time with me. And last night, on the hunt, you hardly spoke to me. Normally, I wouldn't care but then I had a dream last night. An angel and a strange woman and Metatron and you…and me. They all told me the same thing: that I was broken and useless and expendable and you had no use for me anymore."

Dean groaned loudly.

"You idiot!" he snapped. Castiel felt a shard of ice pierce his heart. "How the hell could you even think that I'd think that about you? You're – you're my frigging angel, Cas! You see this?" He yanked Castiel's hand up, showing his golden wedding band. "You see that?" He pointed at the locket he had given Castiel. "Do you think that you'd have those if I didn't care about you? Dammit, Cas!"

Cas looked down, shame bubbling in his stomach when a few tears began to slip down his cheeks. The next moment, his face was full of Dean's robe as his human drew him in for a tight hug. Closing his eyes, Castiel buried his face in Dean's robe and struggled to hold back his sobs so that he didn't look like a complete fool in front of Dean.

"Dammit, I didn't even realise we haven't done anything together for ages. I was just so…I dunno, happy at finally having kids to take care of. I didn't think I'd have less time for you, Cas. And last night, I was just happy to have Sam back, even if we hardly ever hunt anymore 'cause of Zoey and Robbie. He hasn't been on a hunt with us in ages, y'know? Felt like the old days. I'm sorry, Cas."

"Don't be," Cas said, his voice muffled. "I'm just being silly. I know that you do love me, Dean."

Dean pulled back and frowned at Castiel.

"Right. That's it. Gimme a minute."

He returned to the kitchen. Castiel could hear the sound of Zoey and Robbie's voices, which fell silent as Dean said something. Then he heard cheering and two sets of footsteps pounding towards the other hallway.

"There," Dean said when he returned. "Sam's gonna take Zoey and Robbie for the day. They were over the moon when I told them they could see their cousins. You know how much they adore them."

Castiel favoured Dean with a soft smile as he listened to Sam, Zoey and Robbie leaving in the background. He let out a surprised exhale when Dean bent down and scooped him up, lifting him in a way that he hadn't carried him in ages.

"What – what are you doing, Dean?"

Dean grinned at him.

"Showing you how much I do need you, Cas. We're going back to bed for the whole day and you're gonna let me show you how much I love you and how crappy your dream was. You capiche?"

Castiel smiled and leaned in to kiss Dean.

"I capiche."