I've Got You

Chapter 5

"You gonna let me in or what?" Dean teased from where he was leaning against the doorway, looking every sense of the word perfect.

Castiel hurriedly nodded, a blush of embarrassment spreading up from his collar, causing his face to feel just a tad too hot.

He stepped aside, eyes still wide from the shock of what he just witnessed.

He heard a distinctive snort from behind him, presumably from Gabriel, and tried not to look down in shame.

That was so humiliating. He thought with a small pout.

Dean strode in as if he owned the place, an air of confidence encompassing him. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings, green eyes bright and intrigued.

His eyes lingered on the nook under the stairs where a bookcase was pressed up against the wall with a beanbag chair next to it. Castiel's personal safe haven.

Gabriel cleared his throat from behind them, and Cas turned around, circumspect of his brother's intentions.

"Mom's waiting in the dining-room. Are you going to come join us?" He asked with a smile pointed at Dean, and Cas didn't miss the way his eyes raked over every inch of the quarter-back.

Castiel just nodded, hesitant to sign in front of Dean. The rational part of his brain knew that Dean learned to sign a greeting for him, but Cas never used it in front of him.

Other kids at school thought it was weird when they witnessed him do it, and the last thing he wanted was to break Dean's interest in him. Because, frankly, Dean was the only friend he's ever had.

Gabriel gave him an indecipherable look but said nothing as he retreated back into the dining-room.

All thoughts of Gabriel were pushed away when Dean turned to him with a beam that could rival the sun.

"After you." He said, and Cas gave a private smile as he walked ahead of Dean.

~~

Seated at the table, Castiel, once again, felt insecure about his muteness.

Castiel was dumbfounded with how well Dean and Gabriel got along. He soon understood that they bonded over being older brothers.

Cas saw that spark of pride in Dean's eyes as he talked about Sam. It made him smile down at his plate of food. The action caused him to miss the way Dean looked over at him fondly.

"Anna, this food is amazing." Dean raved, and Cas looked up in time to see the older boy's wide smile.

"As much as I appreciate that, Dean, Castiel cooked the entire meal." Anna was grinning, and Gabriel smirked over at his younger brother.

Castiel swooned when Dean turned that blinding smile unto him. "I didn't know you could cook, Cas. I would love to come home every day to a meal like this." Dean didn't seem to realise how that sounded, but Cas was preening under the compliment.

Gabriel was watching him with a knowing gaze, and he did his best to ignore him.

It was then that the front door opened, and he heard the tell-tale sound of his father walking in and hanging up his coat.

"Baby?" He called out, and Anna responded by getting up to go greet her husband. Cas couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be married to Dean. Would he use pet-names? Would he come home and kiss Cas? Would he want to come home? Would h-

His thoughts were cut short when Anna reemerged with Chuck by her side.

Cas didn't notice the longing in his eyes until Dean nudged his foot with his own under the table, silently asking if he was okay. Castiel just gave a forced smile that most likely looked like a grimace.

His thoughts quickly started to spiral downward from there.

You'll never have that. Why would anyone love a freak like you?

He tried to push them away, turning to his plate with a small frown. He tried to lose himself in the food, hoping to turn off the mind. There wasn't a worse time for the memories that were sure to come.

It, of course, didn't work. He gripped his fork with white knuckles, and he knew Gabriel recognized the signs of a flashback when he gently put a hand on his wrist.

He could barely feel it, as if it was just a ghost of a memory. Ghost of a touch. He slipped further into the past, blocking everything else out.

Castiel looked up with wide, teary blue eyes. "Daddy?" He asked in a small voice.

His father turned around sharply, eyes filled with anger. "What did I tell you about coming into my office?" He growled out, and Cas whimpered, taking a shaky step backwards.

"I-I was just looking for mommy..." He missed his mommy. He didn't know where she went, but she had been gone for a long time.

His father was suddenly there, slapping him hard. There was a burning sensation, and he brought a hand up to cover the bruise, the tears spilling over. "Stay out!" He yelled, and then he heard his mother's quick steps as she made her way up the stairs, calling for him.

When she came into the room, she immediately stepped in front of him, shielding her son from his father.

"I told you to keep him away from my office!" He shouted pushing her to the ground.

All Cas could think about as he watched his mom get beaten was that it was his fault. He's the reason mommy was hurting.

Gabriel was immediately out of his chair and crouching next to his brother as tears silently slid down Cas' face.

"It's okay," He cooed, helping Castiel out of his chair. Gabriel could tell he was still disassociated from the present.

He led a pliant Castiel upstairs, telling Dean to stay where he was when the other boy tried to follow them, asking if Cas was okay.

Anna and Chuck were right alongside Gabe, and they got him to his bedroom, laying him in the bed.

Gabriel left the three of them alone to go deal with Dean.

The teen was pacing worriedly around the living-room, and Gabriel was glad someone as kind-hearted as Dean cared for his baby brother.

"Is he okay?" Dean asked as soon as he noticed Gabriel approaching.

Gabe nodded, offering a small smile. "He will be. You have to understand that Castiel has gone through a lot. I'm sure you know a person has to go through severe trauma to become mute. And while even I don't know the extent of it, I can tell you that I was there when mom and dad went to the local orphanage in search of another child. And we found Cas, beaten and scared. He may be good at making people think he's okay, but he's very fragile. And unless you're willing to stay with him through everything, then you should just leave."

Dean looked both angry and heart-broken, face flickering between the two as if he couldn't decide which one he felt.

"I'm not leaving," He finally determined, looking determined. "I don't want to leave. I don't care how much pain he's gone through. I want to be there. I want to help make it better. I want to help make him happy."

Gabriel smiled, feeling relieved. Castiel deserved friends. He was the most amazing person Gabe has ever met, and he's always wished somebody else saw that too. Dean obviously did.

"If you want to stay, you can. I'm sure once Cas comes back to himself, he'll want to see him." Dean nodded his agreement, and Gabriel gave Dean one last smile.

Yeah, with someone like Dean watching out for him, Cas was going to be just fine. Gabriel was sure of it.

I thought it was time to really get into Cas' PTSD and start diving into his past to learn why he's mute.