Castiel was mentally kicking himself the rest of that night and the following morning. How could he have been so stupid? He couldn't get close to Dean, no matter how much he wanted to. At school, he avoided Dean as much as he could, but Dean seemed to have the opposite idea. At lunch, Castiel got his food as quickly as he could and took it out into the empty hall. Unfortunately, he wasn't as stealthy as he thought he was.

"Cas?" Castiel looked up to see Charlie walking over to him. She crouched next to him. "Dean says you've been avoiding him." Castiel didn't respond. "Look, Cas, Dean... he cares about you. I know he's not being very subtle and he's kind of... overwhelming, but he means well. It's okay if you don't want to be his friend, because he has other friends, and I know I don't know much about you, but.... you might need a friend, Cas. And he's willing to be there for you," Charlie said. Castiel still didn't do anything. "Okay. Well, I've said what I need to say. I hope I see you around." Charlie stood up and walked back to the cafeteria. Castiel just sat there, thinking about what she'd said. Castiel wanted a friend, more than anything else, but he couldn't. Not after-

"Hey Cas!" Castiel's thoughts were interrupted when Dean came around the corner. Castiel stood up. "How are you? I haven't really seen you since yesterday," Dean said. Castiel shrugged and walked past Dean as the bell rang.

Castiel walked home from school again. Gabriel had texted him and told him that he wouldn't be able to pick him up. Castiel wondered what Gabriel had to do, but maybe their dad was making him get a job or something. Castiel saw Dean driving home, but luckily Dean didn't see him.

When Castiel got home, he headed out towards the treehouse again, until he saw Gabriel sitting on the back porch, looking like he'd been in a giant blender. Castiel stopped for a second, then dropped his bag and ran forward, kneeling next to his brother.

"Hey baby brother," Gabriel said. Cas gave him a worried look, running his fingers lightly over the bruises and cuts on his brother's face. "Oh, this? It's nothing." Castiel glared at Gabriel. "I'm fine, Castiel. I just... got in a fight with some guys. I'm good," Gabriel said, avoiding eye contact. Castiel pulled out his phone and typed a message into Notes.

Hospital.

Gabriel's eyes widened. "No, I'm not going to a hospital. No way," he protested.

What else?

"I'll be fine, brother. And I'm not going to a hospital, whatever you try," Gabriel said.

Know someone can help. Please? Castiel typed.

"Fine, if it'll make you feel better. But I'll know if you try to take me to the hospital. And this better not be far away, Castiel," Gabriel said, pulling himself to his feet. Castiel wrapped an arm around Gabriel and started helping him down the stairs and towards the street.

Castiel couldn't imagine what was going through Dean's head when he opened the door, but he was to distracted to care. Gabriel was barely able to keep him head up, and Castiel had half-carried him.

"Cas? What- what happened?" Dean asked. Castiel glanced at Gabriel.

"He... He wants you to help me," Gabriel said. Dean stepped back, holding the door open.

"Of course, come in. What happened to you?" Dean asked again. Castiel helped Gabriel inside and set him on a chair in the kitchen.

"Look, I'm fine. Just give me a band-aid before Castiel has a heart attack," Gabriel said.

"Dude, this looks really bad. I think you should go to a hospital," Dean told him.

"No!" Gabriel exclaimed, his eyes flashing panic. The look on Dean's face changed, and he paused for a moment.

"Okay. I'll see what I can do," he said. Gabriel nodded his thanks and Dean went about examining him. Castiel watched them both, feeling like he missed something, until finally he went up to Dean's room. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. His drawing was on the desk, right next to a piece of paper that had what Castiel thought might've been either a cow with no legs or a badly drawn cat. Castiel smiled and brought his drawing down to the kitchen, where he sat and continued it. He drew for what felt like hours before slowly slipping into sleep.

Castiel was in a car- no, not this. Not again! He saw the lights, he heard the screeching tires, the impact. He was screaming, but no one could hear. He just kept screaming, someone had to hear him soon, someone had to, they had to-

"Castiel!" Castiel was jolted awake by Gabriel shaking his shoulder, the scream dying from his lips. Castiel hugged Gabriel tightly, trying not to cry. "I know, I know. It's okay, Castiel. I'm here, I'm here now," Gabriel murmured. After Castiel took a second to calm down, he let go, noticing Dean standing in the doorway, looking awkward.

"I, uh... I've done what I can. It's kinda late, do you two want to stay for dinner? Sammy and I were gonna make some frozen pizza," he said. Gabriel turned to Castiel.

"Is that okay with you?" He asked. Castiel nodded. "Sure, we'll stay," Gabriel said, turning back to Dean.

"Great. I'll put it in the oven," Dean said, turning and walking over to the fridge. Gabriel squeezed Castiel's shoulder and Castiel went back to his drawing.