*A/N: Trigger warning for very brief self harm implication

Also, I put an update in between two earlier chapters, and I believe it's now chapter 4. Anyways, didn't want you all to miss the edits!

When Dean finally woke up, Luke had left breakfast for the two on a bench next to the bed and Dean spotted a note written with Luke's flourishing writing.

Dean,

I know Gabe said thanks already, but this is from me. Thank you for being there for Cas. I am so sorry this happened to him, I should've protected him.

Dean rolled his eyes before he continued reading.

Don't roll your eyes at me, Winchester. I know you as well as Cas does. Don't worry about school – I called you in sick and they know the situation with my brother. Just take care of him today, and please work this out. He's gotten through a lot and I won't let this throw him back. Besides, you two are pretty damn adorable.
-Luke

Dean felt his eyes watering at the outpouring of emotion from Cas's older brothers. He felt Cas shift beside him and shoved the note in his pocket, turning around and laying down to face Cas. The younger boy opened his eyes slowly, "Dean?"

"Good morning, sunshine."

"What are you doing here?"

"You were having a nightmare so I jumped the roofs. I can go if you want me to…"

"No! I mean…stay. Please. I was just surprised. It's been a while, you know, since we've jumped roofs."

Dean smiled at Cas in a poor attempt to hide the sadness in his eyes and lay back down, facing his sleepy friend. Cas checked his phone and frowned, "Apparently Gabe wants us – quote – crazy kids to work our shit out."

"I got the same speech. From Luke too."

"Look Dean, this is my fault. I shouldn't have ended it."

"No Cas. Don't you dare put any of this on you. None of this was your fault, understand? I should've been there for you at dinner, Luke and Gabe should've stuck up for you, and Mike shouldn't have done anything but accepted you. This was everyone's fault but yours. So don't you dare put any of this on yourself."

Dean felt Cas's arm wrap over his shoulder and he realized they were both crying. He scooted closer and buried his head in Cas's chest, "I'm just so happy you're okay."

John sat in English between Clara and River and glared at Cas and Dean's empty seats. He could actually feel the tension surrounding him and while he had expected Cas to be absent, he could really use Dean's assistance. He had tried to get Jack's attention, but the guy had just winked at him and gone back to his novel. John put his head down on the desk in resignation.

Clara was taking Amy's advice and going after John. She sat next to him in English and avoided River's confused gaze. She did feel bad when John got progressively redder throughout class, eventually laying down on his desk and closing his eyes. She tossed a note over onto his desk.

J-
Your place after school. Good idea for project.
-C

She went back to her book and was surprised when a note landed on her desk a few minutes later.

C-
Sounds good. Meet me at my car at 4.
-J

Clara smiled at him and he winked back, blushing slightly before burying his nose in the book again.

When the final bell rang, Clara hurried to her locker, anxious to grab her books and get to John's car. What she wasn't expecting was River to be right there when she closed her locker, "Clara we need to talk."

Clara reluctantly followed her friend into the bathroom, ignoring John's look from where he stood with Jack.

"Clara, Amy explained everything to me," she saw Clara's eyes widen in fear, "I'm not mad! John and I aren't together; I think you guys will be great. I can help set you up if you want."

"You mean you aren't…mad?"

"Of course not! You and I are friends and I won't let a guy come between that. Besides, do you realize how long it's been since you looked at anyone the way you look at John?"

Clara blushed and River smiled knowingly. She was going to need to talk to Jack about setting John and Clara help seeing as the two supposedly leading this plan had stayed home.

John ignored Jack as he watched Clara follow River into the women's bathroom. Nothing good could possibly come of this. "Hey John. Helloooo," Jack was waving a hand in his face when John turned back, "What?"

"Whoa! No need to be so testy. Dean texted and he wants me to take over his job for now."

"Which is…?"

"Making you realize you like Clara."

John gaped, "What? C-Clara and I are just friends. Uh, I think River likes me, doesn't she?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, everyone knows you and Clara like each other – even River. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only people that don't know are you and Clara. That's why River's in the bathroom with her. Clara told Amy and Rory she likes you and Dean and Cas were supposed to get to you before all that shit went down."

"So you're all in on it?"

"Yup!" Jack smiled proudly, "Amy and Dean started it all, but the rest of us had to jump in. It's so obvious it's starting to get painful." Jack clutched his hands over his chest overdramatically and fell back against the lockers, attracting a few odd looks from passing students.

"Ok…well, uh, thanks? I guess? I gotta go. Rose will be waiting for me, and, uh, shit Clara's coming over too…thanks mate, I guess I'll see you later."

Jack smiled and even laughed a little watching John turn red and trip over himself as he scurried out to his car. He went over to his locker to gather his books before picking up Dean's and Cas's assignments and heading over to the Novak's place.

Dean and Cas had been talking for hours, and Dean had barely gotten Cas to budge on their relationship. Dean was starting to get frustrated and he hated himself for it. He knew Cas had been through hell and had to be terrified. He was pretty sure he knew what Gabe meant about taking care of his brother – he had seen Cas's hand on his wrist when they first got together, not that Cas had admitted anything. All Dean wanted was to be there for Cas, wanted Cas to trust him and feel safe. Michael had shattered that and Dean didn't know if he could ever get it back, but he was going to go down swinging.

They were getting closer. Cas had opened up to Dean a little more and they both ended up in tears. Now Dean was trying to make Cas feel safe. He had the younger boy's head resting on his chest, stroking his back to try and calm Cas's shaky and uneasy breathing. Their hands were intertwined and Dean smiled. He liked this. It had taken every single one of their friends to drag him out of the closet he didn't even realize he was in and he was happy. Really happy.

When Cas had broken it off, Dean couldn't help but feel completely and totally betrayed. He had used every ounce of courage to be open about his relationship with Cas and that was what it got him. He had shut himself off until his friends had quite literally busted his door in on homecoming night. He was still hesitant; he was scared to try anything with Cas again. Even though Cas had had a legitimate reason to break things off before, Dean was terrified it would happen again. Cas would leave him and walk off after Dean had let his guard down. Dean was terrified, but Cas needed him now and he wasn't going to let his best friend down. He rested his head on Cas and they both fell asleep.

When Jack pulled up that afternoon, the boys were still passed out. Jack pulled both Dean's and Cas's books out of his backseat and instructed David to wait in his car while he took them inside. Luke was on the couch, Anna napping on his lap, "Hey Lucy, guessing Dean's upstairs too?"

"Yeah he jumped over last night. First time since they were ten."

Jack jogged over to the stairs, stopping only to kiss the top of Anna's small head. He winked at Luke, who narrowed his eyes in response, and headed upstairs with a smile. There was no noise coming from the twins' room, so he let himself in. He let out an over exaggerated "Aww" trying to wake the pair up. Cas and Dean were facing each other with Cas wrapped in Dean's arms. Jack thought they looked happy, but woke them up anyway.

Dean was the first to pop up, "Jack?"

"Oh hello, its 4:30 in the afternoon might wanna wake up."

Dean leaned down to Cas and pushed the boy's hair back over his black eye, slowly bringing him out of sleep, "Hey Cas, Jack's here."

"Why…"

"I brought your books. Good to see you too, though, man. You look better."

"Thanks I guess. I just meant, why you over Gabe. No offense, but Gabe actually lives here."

"And our dear Gabriel is currently at the library with River actually doing work for the first time in his life."

Dean laughed out loud, "Someone got Gabe to do work? River must have super powers or something."

"Tell me about it."

Cas groaned, "Jack I know we're friends and all, and I have missed you very much, but I still feel like shit and would like to take another nap with my boyfriend. You can leave the books on my desk." Cas flipped himself back toward Dean dramatically and pulled the blankets up over his head. Jack raised his eyebrows suggestively at Dean who glared at him and motioned for him to set the books down and leave. Jack defensively raised his arms, but didn't protest, setting the books down and leaving the room. Dean waited until he heard Jack clunking down the stairs before he looked down at Cas, "Boyfriend?"

Cas turned white, "I mean, if you want to be again. I know I kinda messed it up before…"

"Of course," Dean leaned down to kiss him gently, "And you didn't screw anything up. Michael did. It is not your fault." He fell asleep with his head on Cas's and was surprised to find himself drifting into sleep once again.