Chapter 10: Meltdown

Dean eyed the broad-shouldered omega warily, making sure that Benny stayed between him and this newcomer on the way to the breakfast buffet. He recognized the only omega of the Demon Hunters in town, apparently a cousin of the tall leader, and he seemed nice enough. Dean caught a hint of his scent all over Benny, the flowery aroma melding with the alpha's heavier musk in the beginning of a scent bond. "Benny, do you like him? You smell like him."

The burly alpha cleared his throat, somewhat glad that he could have this conversation with the young omega while Gadreel was waiting for his omelet. The Demon Hunters no longer bothered to hide their presence since Gabe climbed the balcony into Sam's room, so Ketch and Kevin were arguing over something in the corner as Rufus handed a very blurry-eyed Tamiel her morning coffee while her mate nodded gratefully. "Uh, yeah, he came to see me last night. He's been having a bit of trouble being around Gabe in heat. It happens in unrelated omegas."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, Alfie said that I can't go in that room for the same reason. He thinks that it will throw me into an early heat."

"I think you'll be alright after your own cycle is back to normal."

"Yeah, Cas said that he found a doctor for me, an omega specialist, and she should be able to tell me when my next heat might hit." Dean was worried about going to the doctor, since all of his visits thus far had been pretty traumatic experiences, but as long as Cas was there it would be alright. He knew that Benny could scent his distress, but the alpha didn't say anything.

Breakfast was a quiet affair, Dean powering through his omelet and bacon while keeping one eye on Gadreel the whole time. The older omega watched his cousin, but he knew better than to speak first, giving the boy space to work through his trepidation. Finally, after Mick had joined Ketch on the other side of the room and Ephraim had led his mate up to their room for a nap before their shift that afternoon, Dean looked up and met Gadreel's pale blue eyes. "Are you going to mate Benny?"

Gadreel chuckled and sipped his coffee. "I don't know, Dean. That's not something we talked about yet. To be honest, I just needed some relief from the stress of being around another omega in heat. It's easier for siblings or close relatives who match their cycles, since they all pretty much stay away from each other, but I don't have any omega family. Living alone in a gang of mostly alphas, I've always had an irregular heat cycle. Benny helped a lot last night. I wouldn't be averse to meeting with him again."

Dean nodded, reaching up to run his fingers across his collar. "Mine has always been irregular, too. I . . . I didn't have much help for mine. My . . . alpha didn't much care how I felt."

Benny clapped a hand on Dean's shoulder, smiling warmly at the boy. "Dean, Cas wouldn't treat you like that. That doctor he's going to take you to will have some idea when your next heat is coming, and Cas will make sure you have a partner to help you through it."

"If you say so," Dean grumbled.

"What do you mean, brother?"

"Benny, what if I want to ask him to help me? I don't think he would say yes, and I don't think I would want some other alpha."

Benny frowned and patted Dean on the back, hoping that he was offering some sort of comfort to the boy. "If you asked him, if you need him, Cas would never leave you to suffer."

"Ok." He hoped that Benny was right.

Gabe woke up the morning after his heat ended feeling more refreshed than he had expected. Sam, exhausted from their midnight knotting, snoozed on the other side of the bed, the blankets twisted around his rangy form. Gabe smiled and reached over to run his fingers through Sam's tangled brown hair, wondering how beautiful this man would be when he finally grew into his frame. Now that his heat was over, Gabe's arousal was slower to build, but he still wanted to get one more romp in with his alpha before he inevitably had to return to his brother. Gabe knew that Cas understood that he planned to keep Sam, but he would still want his older brother to return to their pack for a few days before setting up a meeting between both families. He would want to know that the omega was clear-headed and completely free of his heat instincts.

Sam groaned softly and leaned into the gentle caress, his nose twitching at the arousal he scented in the air. His alpha would be telling him that the omega was no longer in heat, just exhibiting his normal level of horny. "Do you never rest?"

Gabe chuckled and stretched under the covers, the blanket around his waist tenting as his arousal grew. "You're such a tasty snack, Sammykins; I can't help myself."

"You ever have an alpha come back for a second heat?"

Gabe grinned and rolled over, tucking himself against Sam's side as the alpha rolled onto his back, intentionally pressing his growing erection against his partner's hip. "Nah, they can't handle me. Besides, you're the first one I want a second heat with."

Sam smiled and leaned forward to kiss Gabe's forehead, running his hand down the omega's back. "I wouldn't mind you being around for my next real rut, either."

Gabe smiled and nipped Sam's shoulder in a pale imitation of a mating bite. It was enough to make the alpha's eyes flare red. "One more go, Sam, then we'll have to separate for a while."

"Why?"

"Cas is going to want me to be completely free of your thrall before I invite you over to meet the family. He thinks I get attached to people too easily and he will want to know that I really, truly want you before he will consider letting you into our lives. He's very protective."

"I approve of the protective thing," Sam began, "but I don't want to not see you for weeks while he makes up his mind. I don't know if I can survive that long."

"It won't be weeks," Gabe assured the alpha, smiling as the hand that had been gently caressing his back started to dip lower, grabbing at his ass possessively. "I'll be able to see you in the same kind of supervised settings as before, but we won't be able to do this until we have baby bro's blessing. We could probably both use a break. Don't want you to get tired of me."

"Never," Sam promised, rolling over and trapping Gabe between his arms. Gabe's arousal spiked at the move, responding to the evidence that his big male alpha was ready to go again. "I will never get tired of you, Gabe."

"Once more, then," the omega whispered, leaning up to claim Sam's lips in a bruising kiss.

Cas tilted his head curiously at the scene that met him when he returned to his suite after lunch, pulling off his long trench coat and hanging it on the hook near the door. He only wore it when he had important meetings with clients and lawyers, though he much preferred his leather jacket. The keys to his truck were in one of the pockets so he wouldn't forget them in the morning when they headed off to sign the paperwork for the house. Benny met him at the door with a finger on his lips, nodding toward the room and warning his boss to keep quiet. Gadreel, apparently taking some time off from watching Gabe and Sam, was curled up in the oversized recliner, one arm tucked under his head as he took a nap. There was some nature documentary on the television, but even Dean, stretched out on the couch, wasn't watching it anymore. The freckled omega had crashed, lightly snoring with his arms wrapped around one of the cushions, belly-down with a blanket tangled around his legs.

"Neither one of them have been sleeping very well all week," Benny murmured. "Gad helped Dean study for his test for a while, then they helped me fix up that issue with Ketch's bike until they wore themselves out."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Dean's actually pretty mechanically inclined; you should teach him to work on that car you bought him. I could try to find a mechanic around here who might take him on part time once he has his G.E.D."

"I want him to have the chance to go to college, Benny."

"Sure, Chief, I understand that. I just think that a part-time job, maybe just on weekends and breaks, would be good for his self-confidence. He really lit up when he realized how much he understood about the inner workings of that bike, all covered in grease. He had fun."

Cas eyed the boy critically. "You cleaned the grease off him, right?"

"Please, the boy was in the shower the second we were back in the room. He always wants to look his best for his alpha."

"Benny, I'm not his alpha," Cas whispered sadly. "I know the boy is devoted to me, but I don't think it's for the right reasons."

"He loves you, Chief."

"He may think that he does, but he really hasn't been free of Azazel's influence long enough to understand how he feels."

"That's a load of bullshit right there," Benny drawled, tugging on his ever-present cap. "You've known him as long as he's known you. How do you feel about him?"

Cas stared at the sleeping omega for a long moment before sighing and offering something that might be construed as an answer. "What am I going to do?"

"Tell him, Chief. Then fuck him into next Tuesday because the sexual tension in here is quickly becoming unbearable."

Cas grinned and clapped his friend on the shoulder, heading over to the couch and running his fingers through Dean's hair. The omega purred as his eyes opened, smiling up at his alpha as he leaned into the brief caress. "Are you ready for your doctor's appointment, Dean?"

"Yeah." He stretched and slid off the couch, running his fingers through his hair in an effort to straighten it. "Did you meet Gadreel yet? He helped me study a bit this morning."

"We met briefly," Cas replied, nodding at the older omega who was growling something rude at Benny as the Cajun tried to rouse him. "I heard that you helped Benny with Ketch's bike, too. Did you enjoy that?"

"Yeah! I'd like to learn more about that mechanical stuff, if I can."

"The retired leader of the Demon Hunters runs a garage in Sioux Falls," Gadreel offered, eyes flicking up to Castiel before continuing. "Once we've had time for some proper introductions between the gangs, I'm sure he'd be willing to show you a thing or two, when you have time around your school schedule."

"That sounds like a great idea," Cas replied, handing Dean his leather jacket. After driving his truck around all morning, he was in the mood to hop on his bike. "Dean and Charlie looked at a couple of colleges earlier this week, but he hasn't had a chance to narrow down a potential major just yet. If he has an aptitude for mechanical work, that might be a good place to start."

Gadreel nodded. "I'll reach out to him after I check on the lovebirds next door."

Cas chuckled and turned toward the door, placing a hand on Dean's lower back to guide him into the hallway. Cas knew that the omega liked to spend time alone with him, so he hoped that he could keep the boy calm during this visit to a doctor's office. He had looked over Dean's papers, and it looked like he wasn't up to date on any of his vaccines, and of course he hadn't had an examination of his reproductive system other than the cursory checks during his abortions.

The trip to the doctor's office on the other side of town was quiet, with Dean's arms wrapped tightly around Cas's waist. It was the first time the two of them had been alone since Dean joined the gang, and he was clearly happy for the chance to spend time with his alpha. Cas parked his bike and hopped off, helping Dean down and taking both of their helmets as he led the boy into the doctor's office and found him a seat in the corner. As soon as he was sure Dean was content with the pile of car magazines on the table, Cas headed for the front counter and smiled at the woman seated behind the computer.

"Hi, I'm here to check in Dean Winchester." Cas had used the boy's real last name on his paperwork, hoping that a return to his birth name would help erase the time he spent under Azazel's influence.

The woman, a striking redhead with a nametag that read Anael, smiled warmly at the biker. "Sure, let me check here. I have him scheduled with Dr. Moseley. Are you Castiel Novak?"

"Yes."

"Ok, it looks like you filled out all of the paperwork online as his guardian. I'm guessing you're his alpha, but you didn't list any familial relationship."

"Uh, no, we aren't mated. He, uh, was a bought omega, and his owner gave him to me. I have been caring for him for the last few weeks."

"Ah." Anael nodded as she typed something in Dean's file, her perfectly-manicured nails flying across the keyboard. "I want to assure you that we do get former bought omegas in here from time to time and Dr. Moseley is an expert at helping them both physically and psychologically. A nurse will be out for you in a few minutes."

"Thank you, Anael."

Cas returned to Dean, leaning over the omega's shoulder to see what the boy was reading. "My dad had a car that looked like this," Dean murmured, running his fingers over the image of a black car, one that Cas didn't have the classic car knowledge to identify. "This one is the wrong year, but it looks almost identical. Dad had a black '67 Chevy Impala that we kinda lived in after Mom died. We would ride in it for long trips between hotels when Dad would get a new gig, and me and Sam would play in the back with our army men and that toy airplane that he had. He was teaching me about fixing it up . . . before." Before his scent started to come in and it became apparent that Dean was going to be an omega. Cas understood that, and the pain behind that memory, so he focused on the happier part of the boy's story.

"Sam, huh? Is that your brother's name?"

Dean grinned. "Yeah, little Sammy. He was four years younger than me, so I helped raise him a bit. He didn't like being cooped up in the car, but I could always cheer him up. I was so happy when his scent started to come in all alpha-musky instead of omega-sweet."

"Because your dad wouldn't treat him the way he treated you?"

"Yeah," Dean whispered, fingers still tracing the lines of the car in his magazine. "You know, Sammy deserves better. I hope his teen years were better than mine."

Cas was opening his mouth to answer when the door beside the front counter opened and a slender young woman in green scrubs stepped out. "Dean Winchester?"

Dean shot to his feet, dropping his magazine on the table before heading toward the nurse. Cas, helmets in hand, followed the boy.

"Hi, I'm Patience and I work with Dr. Moseley. I'll be asking you a few questions and getting some stats before the doctor comes in. We'll be in this room here." Dean followed Patience into the room and took a seat on the papered exam bed, hands nervously clasped in his lap. The bed had scent neutralizers underneath it, but a thread of sourness still reached the visitor chair that Cas claimed for himself. "Are you nervous, Dean?"

"A little," the omega admitted. The nurse was a beta, so her sense of smell wasn't as refined as Dean's or Cas's, but she could certainly recognize trepidation.

"Have you ever had a checkup, Dean?"

"Not like this."

"Okay, well there's nothing to be afraid of. I'm just going to ask you a few questions, check your height and weight, and then the doctor will be in."

"Ok."

Patience was quick, moving Dean through the questions without giving him time to worry about his past, commenting that his weight was a little low for his size but nothing to worry about. Cas was especially happy with that part, especially considering how gaunt the boy had been when he joined the gang. She left, and the doctor arrived, with a welcoming smile on her face. Though she was larger than Patience and had darker skin, Dean instantly scented the familial connection and leaned forward, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "She's your granddaughter?"

Dr. Moseley's eyebrows shot up and she nodded. "Very good. I haven't seen a nose that sharp in a while, especially with all of the scent neutralizers we use in here. Yes, Patience is my granddaughter and she is usually my nurse, as well. She specializes in omega cases, despite being a beta herself." Dr. Moseley was an omega, with a warm, mothering scent that calmed even Dean within a few moments of her arrival. "Dean, a nose like that is a gift."

"Yeah, uh, thank you, Dr. Moseley."

"Child, call me Missouri. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other. Now, I read through your chart and it looks like you're overdue for a number of things. I know that your past, as what is commonly known as a 'bought' omega, was pretty rough, but we're gonna get you fixed right up. I'm going to start with the simple stuff before we check your reproductive organs and look at what vaccines we can get you today."

"Vaccines?"

"Sure, honey. I know you don't want to be getting any preventable diseases, and you so near your next heat. Better to be safe."

Dean started at that, trying to watch Missouri as she grabbed her otoscope to check his ears. Cas just watched the interaction, marveling at how comfortable the boy was around his doctor, even though he was still nervous about the visit itself. "I'm close to my heat? How do you know?"

"Nothing definite in your scent, yet, but your file said you had your last heat seven months ago. It resulted in a pregnancy that you did not carry to term, so your body is going to gear up to try again, especially with the promise of a virile young alpha to help you out. It's natural omega biology. Your next heat may not be fertile, but it will happen soon."

Dean's eyes flicked over to Cas, but he decided to move on from the implication that Cas had already agreed to help with his heat. "I thought all heats were fertile."

"Most omegas believe that, and it's better to assume that they are for family planning purposes. The truth is, certain events can cause one or two atypical heats that don't produce any viable eggs, and losing a pup is very traumatic. Your recent change in family situation is another factor that we have to consider. This stethoscope is going to be cold, but just take a deep breath and let it out slowly." Dean obeyed, the conversation paused as Missouri took his blood pressure and tapped the results into the computer near the door. "Now, in order to make sure you're healthy enough to have a heat, fertile or not, we're going to need to do a more comprehensive exam."

"Ok, what do I need to do?"

"Well, I'm gonna go outside for a few minutes and you're going to get undressed and put that paper robe on, opening in front, with the paper blanket over your lap. Then the real fun begins."

Dean whined softly and scooted back on the bed, dropping eye contact as his scent soured. "I don't think that sounds like fun at all."

Missouri smiled and placed a hand on Dean's knee, her energy instantly calming the boy. "I know it doesn't, but this exam is very important for you. After three pregnancies, it's important that we figure out if your reproductive system is working correctly, and unfortunately I need you to not be wearing clothes for that part. I'll also check for cervical cancer since you've never had that checked before."

"It's important for your health, Dean," Cas murmured from his chair, knowing that his voice could calm the omega. "Gabe and Alfie get checked yearly."

"Is it going to hurt?"

"Well, it's not comfortable, child, but it doesn't really hurt. You're a strong young man, and you will do just fine."

Cas helped Dean change into his paper wardrobe, standing by his side when Missouri returned and had him lay back on the exam bed. The exam was uncomfortable, but with Cas standing by his side and Missouri's calm, soothing scent keeping him from getting anxious, he made it through the experience. Missouri left again to let him get dressed in private, returning a few minutes later with Patience in tow.

"Dean, we have a series of vaccinations that Patience is going to help me give you today. I also noticed that you have a number of injuries and scars that we need to ask you about."

Cas instantly knew that he needed to leave the room for that particular conversation. Doctors usually wanted to speak with abused patients alone, away from any mates or guardians who might have a hand in the physical harm they had endured. He reached out and ruffled Dean's hair, grinning as the boy huffed and reached up to fix the damage. "Hey, I'm kinda thirsty and I'm not a huge fan of needles. Do you mind if I go grab a drink while they're handling your vaccines? I won't be gone more than ten minutes."

"You're afraid of needles? I'm not afraid."

"I know you aren't, my brave boy. Will you be alright?"

Dean straightened and nodded, confidence bleeding into his scent. "Yeah, I'm good."

Cas smiled and turned to the door, nodding at Missouri who silently thanked the biker. She had been worried that asking Cas to leave would be detrimental to Dean's confidence, but clearly the alpha understood what she needed from him.

He returned ten minutes later, having finished a can of soda in the waiting area before asking a nurse to bring him back. Dean, a number of band-aids on his arms, smiled his welcome as the alpha returned to his side. "She gave me a lot of shots, Cas. I think I'm immune to everything now. She also said that I have to have more, soon."

Missouri chuckled as she typed a few last notes into her computer. Patience was gone, and it looked like Dean's examination was pretty much over. "You did great, Dean. We'll need to do some labs, as well, but you did so well with the needles for these shots that I know you're going to be a perfect patient for our phlebotomist. Here is the paper for the tech, just go back to the waiting room and she will grab you in a few minutes. I'm not going to write a prescription for birth control until after you successfully makes it through your next heat and we get a blood panel after it, but you seem healthy enough in all other regards."

"I'm glad to hear that. What did Dean mean about having more?"

"Well, some of the vaccines are part of a series, so he'll need to come back a couple of times. The HPV is actually three parts, and I really want to make sure he finishes that one."

"I'll make sure he comes back," Cas replied, reading over the visit summary page that Missouri handed him. Dean, the paper for the lab tech in his hand, pressed himself against Cas's side and watched the doctor silently. "How will we get the results for his tests?"

"There's a website here and the information for setting up an account. Dean said that he wants to make the account as soon as he gets home, and the results should be uploaded in a few days. I've also included the number for our office so you can schedule the rest of the immunizations."

"Thank you, Missouri." Cas led Dean back into the waiting room, where he was quickly called into the back for his blood draws. "Do you need me to go with you, Dean?"

"It's only a little needle," Dean replied, puffing out his check. "I already handled so many, I think I will be alright."

"Good boy," Cas purred, reaching out to run his fingers through the omega's dark blond hair. "I'll be here when you get out."

Dean's blood draw did not take long, and he eagerly rejoined Cas in the lobby when he was done, bright pink stretchy bandage material wrapped around his elbow. "She said that we are done and can go home now."

"Back to the hotel, anyway," Cas chuckled, leading Dean outside. "In a few days, we'll be going home for real, to that house that you liked."

"Good. The hotel is getting boring. Gabe didn't mind it as much, since he got to find his alpha in the room next door, but I'd like to get outside."

"I know, Dean. I did get a text while you were getting your blood drawn; Gabe is back and recovering from his heat. He's agreed to behave until after we move into the house and I can set up a meeting with that alpha of his, though Benny said that Gabe is more determined than ever to mate him. We'll see."

"I'm glad he's happy," Dean murmured. "Everyone deserves to be happy."

"Of course they do, Dean. Let's get going, shall we? Gabe has missed you greatly."

"Hi, Gabe; welcome back."

"Heya, Dean-o. How was the doctor?" Stretched across the couch with the remote on the table nearby, Gabe was clearly only pretending to watch the television. His hair was damp from a recent shower, but simple soap and water couldn't wash away the sandalwood aroma he had picked up from his heat partner, now strong enough for the alphas to detect it. Most couples wouldn't mate unless they managed to create a successful scent bond during one of their cycles, and Gabe clearly had with the leader of the other biker gang.

"It was good. Cas, can I use your laptop to go to make an account to see my results?"

"Sure; it's in my bag by the bed. You know they won't be up yet."

"Yes, but this way I can get a notification when they are. Charlie already helped me make an email address and she's going to give me her old phone when she upgrades it next month so I can check the messages there, too. I told her I didn't need anything that fancy, but she said that the flip phone Balthazar got for me is 'no better than a burner' and not worthy of use. I'm not sure I completely understood that part, but it would be nice to see my emails on my phone."

Cas nodded as Dean headed for the bedroom, pushing Gabe's legs out of the way and forcing the omega to sit so he could join him on the couch. "So, tell me about him."

"I want to keep this one, Cas. I don't care what it takes."

The alpha smiled and leaned closer, taking a quick sniff of his brother's scent. "You know, this is the first alpha you ever scent-bonded with. You got pretty close with Kali, but I think part of that was just the pregnancy since all of that faded when you lost the pup.

Gabe ran his hand across his trim belly, remembering that faint bump he'd managed before the fetus died and he lost it. "Sam isn't sure about pups; he's young yet and it would have been too much for him right after meeting me. Still, I tricked myself into believing that we were breeding on purpose, and I want that to be real eventually. I think Sam will warm up to the idea when he's a little older."

"You want pups almost as much as Dean does. He was actually worried when the doctor told him that not all heats are fertile, even without birth control."

"Did she say when his next one would be?"

Cas shrugged. "Soon. You went into heat five months after your miscarriage, and the doctor said that things like that are common. She thinks Dean could have another heat any day now, though I haven't seen any of the signs yet."

"Not that you would; he's never been allowed to nest before his heats in the past and eats like a starving pup normally so you wouldn't notice if his appetite increased. The only warning you'll get with him is the scent."

"I'll rely on you and Alfie for that diagnosis; the only positive thing is that we will finally have a house instead of this damn hotel by the end of the week and he can have his heat safely there."

"He's going to ask you," Gabe murmured, his voice too low for Dean to hear in the other room.

"Yeah, I know."

"What will you say?"

"I won't let him suffer, Gabe. If he wants me, he'll have me."

"Maybe you'll finally get it through your thick skull that he loves you after spending a heat with him. You both deserve to be happy."

Cas grinned and patted his brother on the back. "Yeah, maybe. I'm starting to believe you and Benny when you say it, so we'll see how things go in the house."

Cas leaned back in his chair and watched Dean rush around the suite in a flurry of activity. He had already packed most of his meager possessions, but he had insisted on helping Cas and Gabe, most of which involved glaring at the two before refolding all of their shirts and pants to fit better in their suitcases. Gabe, still sulking from being separated from Sam, was perfectly happy to watch the other omega dig under the bed for an orphaned sock. "Did Balthazar text you yet about the furniture?"

Cas nodded. "It's going well. The moving company Benny picked was on time, has everything except a few backordered items in the house now and is in the process of setting up the last of it. The girls will be back from the store in an hour and get the soft stuff set up."

"Blankets and towels and stuff?"

"Yeah, and I'm sure far too many pillows everywhere. Charlie, especially, has a penchant for pillows. Benny has stocked the kitchen with enough cookware and dishes to feed an army on a long-term basis and Balthazar said he will go to the grocery store in two hours and get some of the basics so we can eat for the rest of the week. I'm hoping we'll be good until you and I have time to get everything we need from the storage unit near the old house."

Gabe nodded. "Yeah. Did you get everything sold with the old house?"

"Yeah, it's mostly finished. Leaving the furniture helped with a faster sale, and I was thinking about buying a whole new bedroom set anyway. We deserve some new stuff with the business doing so well."

"Yeah, Benny sent me a picture of the new desks from the store; yours should fit in the den just fine when it arrives. Three total have been ordered, though yours is the largest, of course."

"I had Charlie take the floorplan of the house and digitally fit in all of the new furniture. The office should be nice, and I know that having a space we can work together will be a nice change from our last place. I need to get back up and running full-time and take some of the burden from Michael and Lucifer once our move is complete."

Dean finally decided that he had found all of lost clothes, folding everything neatly and putting it in the right suitcases. When Cas had taken him in, all he had was a thin backpack, but now he had two brand-new suitcases of his own filled with clothes and supplies. He looked around the suite, suddenly feeling a pang of fear shiver up his spine. This had been his home for so many weeks, and it was the first place he had ever felt safe and cared for since his dam died when he was four. Some part of him, the part that kept thinking this was a dream and Azazel was still his owner, whispered that he should wake up before everything shattered around him, but he spent every waking moment pushing that voice away, smothering it until it wasn't quite so loud. He hoped that one day it would go away.

It took longer to get all of their bags down to the lobby than Balthazar had planned for, the rangy alpha pacing and glaring at his watch. Cas ignored his cousin's restlessness as he counted heads and bags. They had way more luggage now than they had arrived with weeks earlier, so the plans were more complicated than just hopping on their bikes and heading out. "Cas, just put it all in that car you got for Dean and drive that and him over to the house; I'll take your bike."

The alpha chuckled and nodded, glad that he had an older brother who could read his mind sometimes. "It's a good plan, should be enough to calm Balthazar down. Tell him to send out two scouts to check the path, I want to let Dean practice driving if traffic is light." Gabe nodded and joined Balthazar on the other side of the lobby, Benny wandering close enough to hear the plan before waving his hand at Ketch. The Brit accepted his instructions and tapped Mick's shoulder before heading out the door, his mate grabbing his helmet and hopping out after him. Benny and Balthazar would ride behind Cas's car, of course, along with Gabriel and Samandriel, while Ishim and Inias would take the second patrol spot. Cas could feel his gang falling into their accustomed spots, moving in familiar rhythms, and he relaxed a little. The move into the house was a huge interruption, and part of him was worried that a big change could set back Dean's healing process despite the omega's clear eagerness to return to the house he had clearly fallen in love with weeks earlier.

Dean drove very carefully on the way to the new house, staring at the road and almost shaking with excitement. Cas reached over and rested his hand on Dean's shoulder, running his fingers over the soft green leather of the boy's collar and the skin just above it, that small touch enough to calm Dean. He still didn't say anything, but the silence was much warmer than before. They pulled into the driveway beside two bikes, two more pulling up on the other side of the car, Cas's old truck already parked in one of the garages. Dean sat in the car for a long moment, just staring at this lovely house, a real home like he had not known since his mother died. Cas let him stare, never moving his hand until Dean took a deep breath and smiled.

"Are you ready to go in now, Dean?"

"Yes. It's so lovely."

"It's your home now, certainly much better than that cramped hotel room."

"It's been a long time since I've had a home."

"I know. You'll always have a home with us."

Dean smiled and reached for the door handle. "I know. Thank you, Cas."

The two of them walked up to the porch side-by-side, most of the other bikers flanking them. Gabriel, eager as ever, reached the house first and dashed inside, making a beeline for the kitchen. Most of their supplies were already unboxed and put away, but some of the deliveries had just arrived that morning and were still waiting to be arranged neatly in the generous space. Benny followed more slowly, determined not to let Gabe rearrange too much since they had already agreed to share most of the cooking duties in the household and he wanted to know where things were when he started breakfast in the morning.

Dean was drawn immediately to the spacious living room with windows overlooking the backyard and a new couch dominating the space. A lovely rug, chosen by the omegas, protected the cherry hardwood floor from the coffee table and small side tables flanking the couch, while a large television promised hours of group entertainment in the open space. The high ceilings made the space feel even more open, as did the connected dining room. Benny had found a nice second-hand table, and it looked brand new after he cleaned and polished it. A glass sheet on top of the wood offered the lovely piece protection from food and drink spills, while the mismatched wooden chairs arranged around it gave a more homely feel than a brand new set would. Benny had also shortened the chandelier hanging over the table in deference for their taller members, while Gabe had insisted on changing out the bulbs to warm white LEDs instead of the standard ones that had been in there at closing. Most of the lights had been updated, including the old dome light which was now a curved metal piece with three small halogen-shaped bulbs that pointed in various directions and did a much better job of illuminating the space. The ceiling fans in the living room and all of the bedrooms didn't match, but none of the bikers minded the differences since they all worked just fine. Gabe, of course, had insisted on LED bulbs for the fans, while Benny and a few of the alphas had focused on outside security, including a camera system, a camera doorbell, motion-sensor lights, upgraded wifi locking garage door openers, and a security system inside the house that included its own suite of cameras.

"You got this place fixed up fast," Cas commented as he looked at the security system config on the app Benny had installed on his phone. "What about the locks?"

"The pin pad deadbolts will be here tomorrow, and we can change all of them out at the same time," Benny assured him. "We can set individual codes for the doors and the alarm systems so we can always track who is coming in or going out, and this system has an auto-arm timer plus a notification that we can set after just in case someone goes out after the Home setting is turned on. I was thinking about a couple of guard dogs, too, but that might be overkill."

"It might at that," Cas replied wryly. Benny loved dogs, but a life on the road didn't lend itself to owning pets. Maybe, once they had settled in for a while, he would let his friend indulge in his dreams. Providing Dean was not afraid of dogs. "Office?"

Ben nodded toward the den. "Not yet. The desks are set to arrive in a few days and it shouldn't take long to get them built. The internet will be turned on tomorrow and the power, water, and gas are all switched over. We're having someone out next week to do an evaluation of the yard and see about some landscaping. Dean wants more flower beds, Alfie wants a pond, and Gabe wants a robot lawnmower with gps which apparently costs slightly less than a riding mower and takes significantly less effort after it's sets up."

"Should I leave that to you?"

Benny snorted and shook his head. "Charlie and Glinda will be happy to oversee everything to do with plants and water and robots. I'm sure Dean will be helping, too."

"Alright, sounds like you have everything in order. Did you get the bedrooms set up?"

"Yep, Chief, just as we discussed. You have the master, Gabe has the other bedroom with the bathroom attached, Alfie will be in that third one facing the front yard, I'm in the very nice attic, and Dean will be in that fourth room. Having his own room should give him that space to decide if he likes you and wants to be with you, which is apparently something you are quite concerned about for no reason that anyone else can see."

Cas shook his head as he watched Dean head outside to enjoy the porch. They would have to get some nice furniture for out there, and maybe a fire pit and some seating out in the yard for a fire pit. "I'm worried about his attachment. He's never had any space of his own, so I am hoping that a little independence will help him decide if he wants to be with me or if he's just grateful that I got him out of a bad situation. I'd like him to have the choice for once in his life."

"I don't know why you refuse to listen to us, but the boy is head over heels for you, Chief. His own room isn't going to make him want to spend less time with you."

"Yeah, I hope so. I certainly want that to be true."

Gabe and Benny managed to throw together a simple gumbo for supper, the group gathering around the nice dining room table and powering through it. The rest of the bikers who had helped move the furniture in that day were gathered in the living room and on the porch to eat, as well, everyone glad to have a home-cooked meal for the first time in weeks. There weren't enough chairs for the entire group yet, though Crowley had generously donated a few folding chairs from his own supply for their impromptu move-in party.

"It's a nice house, Cas. Did you see the one that Charlie and Hannah finally agreed on?"

"Yes, it's lovely. And, it's only about ten minutes away so that should make it easy for us to gather for business when needed. How are the Topeka and Kansas City house hunts going?"

Balthazar sighed and shook his head. "No, and since you saw how little vote I had in picking the house I will live in, you can imagine how much I am involved in the other two searches. Anna is very determined to find the perfect house with a big enough yard for her pup and Sophia wants to be close to the town center so she can go to museums, good shopping areas, and whatever else her little extroverted heart desires. Malachi is more concerned with being able to get to you fast if needed, but Ezekiel is perfectly happy to be in an independent splinter like the one he ran in southern Illinois before mating my sister. Ketch told me earlier today that he, Ishim, and Akobel have come to an agreement on what features they want in a house, so Crowley has sent them a final list of three to look over and he will be taking them to look at their final choice tomorrow morning. Hopefully, this will lead to an actual purchase, which the organization has already allocated more than enough money."

"Good, I'm glad that Michael is on board. Any sightings of Azazel's gang since we chased them out of town?"

"No, and I sent Jonah, Kelvin, and Muriel to scout the border a couple of days ago. We are pretty sure they are gone for now, and setting up a permanent base here should keep them in line for quite some time. Michael and Lucifer have finished their reorganization and will send us the final list of new base locations and membership tonight or tomorrow sometime."

"Good, let me know when you get it and we will go over it together."

The gathering started to die down after that, the other bikers leaving in twos and threes until only the occupants of the house were left. They sat on the back porch together and finished their drinks as the sun set and the lightning bugs came out to light up the yard. When the night air began to chill the group, they headed inside and cleaned up from the party, Dean eagerly joining in and scraping off the dishes to load them in the shiny new dishwasher. He had done a lot of cooking in his old life, though never anything interesting, and the gumbo was something he wanted to learn to make. Benny and Gabe had both promised him that he would be able to cook as often as he wanted and that they would teach him as much as they could.

It didn't take long before the whole group started to get tired, though Benny put a pot of coffee on since he was going to stay up late and work through some financial numbers while he worked out the final settings on the security system. Balthazar, who really didn't want to head back to the hotel so late, offered to stay up and help his friend, though he would probably crash on the couch in the attic sometime before dawn. Gabe yawned performatively a few times before heading to his own room, knowing that Charlie had set it up enough to let him crash so he could worry about putting his clothes and supplies away in the morning. Samandriel also headed to his room, but most likely to hook up the game system that he had talked Glinda into getting for him. There was little chance he would sleep that night, but he would make up for it by napping the next day, probably out on the porch so he could bask in the sounds of birds and insects.

Cas pushed himself up from the couch and held his hand out to Dean, smiling as the omega tucked himself against his side. "Are you ready to go to bed?"

"Yes. I'm exhausted."

"It's been a long day. Hopefully tomorrow should be more relaxing." He led Dean up the stairs to the second floor. He hadn't seen the bedrooms yet, but he knew that Charlie and Glinda had set up everything nicely for them, and Balthazar had carried their bags up when they arrived. Cas headed for the fourth bedroom, pushing open the door and smiling as he saw the new queen bed, bedside tables, and dresser arranged nicely in the space with green curtains covering the two windows. "Here's your room, Dean; I hope you like the color scheme. If you need anything, let me know, ok? Charlie will come back later this week to make sure that everything is set up to your satisfaction."

Dean nodded slowly, some confusion leaking into his scent. Cas knew that the boy had never had anything of his own, so he had somewhat expected the reaction, but he was sure that Dean would be more comfortable later. He patted the boy on his shoulder and left, closing the door as he headed to his own room to crash for the night.

Dean looked around at the queen-sized bed, the nice long dresser, the small bookshelf with a few of his GED books piled on the shelves waiting for organization later, and the two small bedside tables. The room looked nice, but it was empty and lacked any of the warmth and comfort that he had come to associate with his room at the hotel. He had thought that when they finally moved into the house that he would still be sharing Cas's room long enough to work up the courage to tell the alpha how he felt about him. Dean hadn't known love since he was sent away from his baby brother, but he already know that he was falling in love with Cas who had saved him from Azazel. He had hoped that being away from the chaotic hotel and in a peaceful home would help him find his words, but it was clear that Cas did not feel the same. Why would he give Dean his own room if he didn't want space from the omega? Cas must have some other love interest and his time with Dean in the hotel was only temporary until the rest of his family could join them.

Dean stared at the lonely bed and felt something inside him turn to ice. Cas wanted to keep his distance. "He doesn't want me," the boy whispered, his voice breaking. Dejected, he shuffled to the bed and tugged at the blankets on top, laying down and curling up in the middle of the mattress. He pulled the covers tight, hoping to fight back the chill he suddenly felt spreading down his arms and legs; burying his face in his pillow, he felt the tears come, unable to contain his despair any longer. "He . . . doesn't . . . want . . . me," Dean sobbed, letting the pillows swallow the sound. The last thing he wanted to do was to bother anyone in the adjoining room. As the night deepened, the omega gave into the flow of tears as every thought in his mind faded into that one sentence, over and over again. He doesn't want me.