The incessant pounding was going to drive him insane. Why do they feel the need to pester me? Is it too much to ask for a little mercy? The pounding continues. Pillows. His hand gropes about for one that is not already firmly beneath his head. Finding one he grips it tight and drags it over his face. Not enough. There is still pounding. It is coming from inside his head too. He hugs the pillow to his face then with resignation.
He pulled the pillow away from his face and dragged his eyelids open. Too much light. Next there are voices. Gabe's voice to be exact and Anna's. The muffled sounds of others are in the background. Why are they still here? Seriously, don't they have homes? He gave up and pulled himself out of the bed with as much force as he could muster.
"I'm coming. Stop pounding on the door." He opened the door in the midst of Gabe's next volley of knocks and was greeted by way more light streaming in from the living room than his eyes were ready for.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." Gabe's sing-song voice was irritating. Everything was irritating. He strolled into the room only to move to Cas' back and propel him out into the light. "How's your head?"
"I will smite you, Gabe. Stop talking." Cas stumbled from the room. Anna stood off to the side watching it all play out with mild amusement.
"Use your inside voice, Gabe." She smiled at Cas as he was taking in the chaos of his living room.
"I was." Gabe smirked. "Also, really Cas, who says smite? I swear, you are from another time." He moved past Cas to the kitchen. "I made breakfast. You have the most raidable pantries. Do you know what is in my kitchen right now?" He waited for barely a second, clearly not expecting a response before proceeding. "A can of stewed tomatoes and a box of Cheerios. Seriously. I don't even have fresh milk in the fridge right now. If I didn't live down the hall, I would probably have to cave in and go to a grocery store."
"Let me break this down into simple language for you." Cas leaned against the counter. "You are loud. Quiet now."
Anna laughed and made her way to the coffee pot. She poured out a full mug and carried it over to Cas. "Here, maybe this will help." Her voice was quiet, a welcome reprieve.
"Thank you. Nectar of the gods, hmm." He cupped it in his hands and made his way over to the dining room table next to the kitchen. He leaned into the cup breathing in the earthiness before taking a first sip. He looked at his couch and smiled a little at the sight that greeted him. Uriel was sprawled out with his head tipped back over the cushions in a manner that could only be comfortable if one were as hungover as Cas was. "How are you feeling Uriel?"
"No talking." he grunted. "Keep Gabe quiet."
He had to laugh at that, but it was a quick laugh. Too much hurting. He did not usually drink that much. It did not appeal to him. He certainly did not enjoy the after-effects. He had made partner at the firm, and what better way to celebrate than with drinks on a Friday night? At least that was how Gabe put it. So what, if he really never drank. So what, if he felt like drunk people were depressing. So what, if they reminded him of his ex.
Anna, Gabe, Uriel, and Sam were his comrades that night. "Wingmen" was how Uriel put it. Anna had been quick to add "Wingwoman" to the mix. He had counted them as his best friends. They had put up with a lot from him over the years, and they kept him from being a complete recluse.
They all worked for the same firm. He and Gabe had graduated from the same university. Sam was the newest member of their group. He was, as Gabe put it, "fresh meat." Sam had just graduated from Stanford, and seemed to be quite skilled at research and dissembling, two talents that served him well at the firm.
Gabe interrupted his thoughts, "So, how is your head?" His voice was quieter, but not much.
"Pounding," Cas replied.
"I mean besides the hangover. Don't you remember?"
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"You fell. Outside of the club. Hit your head." He quirked his head to the side and strolled over to Cas. He stooped down and peered at his forehead. "Maybe Sam was right. Maybe you did have a concussion."
"I fell?" He raised a hand up to his forehead to explore. Up at the hairline he felt a slight, tender bump. "Ow."
"Yeah, don't touch it." Gabe turned back to the kitchen and his breakfast preparations.
"It doesn't look bad." Anna offered. "Just a little bruise. How does the back of your head feel?"
He smoothed a hand through his hair and felt another tender spot at the back of his skull. Never again. There is a reason that I don't do this shit. "Did I act like an idiot?" He whispered to Anna who had lowered herself into the seat next to his.
"Hmm, not really." She looked away.
"Anna." Worry crept into his voice.
"You were just, not yourself." She added carefully.
"I'll say." Gabe laughed. "It was kinda nice to see you get rid of that stick up your ass for once. Really, you should do that more often."
"Mmm." Cas slumped down closer to the coffee, trying to recall the night before. It was there in flashes, but it was a jumble of pounding. There would need to be more coffee, much more coffee.
"I'm just glad that I got it on video. That was a night that just begs to be watched on repeat." Gabe laughed as he scooped up two plates of eggs, bacon, and toast to carry over to the table.
"What are you talking about?" Cas had that worried tone again.
"Oh, nothing." He turned to Uriel, "Hey, Uriel. Get over here. Breakfast is served."
"Too loud," Uriel muttered, but he got up slowly anyway and made his way to the table.
"Anyone going to get the rest of the house guests?" Gabe motioned to the spare bedroom that was on the other side of the apartment.
"Who else is here?" Cas asked. The eggs on the plate in front of him were threatening his stomach with their pungent aroma.
"Wow, you really don't recall last night at all, do you?" Gabe strolled toward the closed door, and started the pounding again. "Wake up princesses. Sleep time is over and breakfast is on the table."
"Too loud," this clearly was going to be Uriel's mantra for the day. Cas just pressed his palms to his ears to block out the noise for himself.
"What is on the video, Anna?" Cas asked while lowering his hands to hear her answer.
"Singing." She was avoiding something, he knew her too well, to just think that she was being brief.
"Singing?"
"Yes, singing." She scooped up his mug to refill it. "You should watch it. You have a good voice."
"Why was I singing?"
It was Uriel's turn to answer now, "Because, my friend, you are Cas, the King of Karaoke." He laughed a little with a memory that Cas did not share. It was a brief laugh though, followed by the mantra muttered again, "Ahhh, too loud."
He quirked his head to the side as if to ask for more information, but at that point the guest room door opened and Sam spilled out in an uncoordinated pile of limbs. Although Cas did not know him as well as the others, Sam was a welcome addition to the group. He was, at least quiet and thoughtful, two things that Cas particularly appreciated now.
Gabe made his way back over to the kitchen and grabbed more plates of food for the table. He set one in front of Uriel and had two other plates balanced precariously on his other arm. He set those down in front of the remaining seats. Sam took a seat while Gabe strolled back into the kitchen for another plate.
"I think that you got enough food here, Gabe. Unless, of course, I have miscounted," Cas said.
It was then that he noticed the other house guest. He was wearing a dark tee shirt that had seen better days and a pair of worn jeans. His hair was golden brown and stood up in the back where it had recently been pressed into a pillow. His face was attractive. Until one looked closely at his chin. A rather large purple bruise covered the lower portion of his jawline.
"Join the party, Dean." Gabe called over. Dean made his way over to the table looking at each of the people seated there. When his eyes fell on Cas, he quickly looked away.
Cas remembered him a little. He was Sam's brother. He joined them toward the middle of the night. He was going to give Sam a ride home. Oh, no. What did I do? Cas thought to himself. He had other flashes of memories from last night, and this man was in them.
Anna interrupted his thoughts by asking around the table, "Anyone beside Cas want some coffee?" She got up and started gathering more coffee mugs.
"I'll take some, angel." Dean sent a semi-lascivious wink her way. She just laughed and got the coffee.
Oh, so maybe I didn't do anything stupid. He's flirting with Anna. I just have an active imagination and maybe a slight concussion paired with the world's worst hangover. I do not need to be concerned. But Cas was concerned. Panicking even. Make conversation, he thought.
"So, Dean, looks like you had a bit of a rough night too." He said as he indicated the bruise on Dean's chin. So not the best conversation starter. Really, find the only flaw on his face and highlight it. I need to shut-up. No more talking. Talking bad.
Dean threw him a look of confusion. Sam spoke up though, "Uh, you don't remember what happened?"
"Oh, no. What happened?" Cas became rather concerned that he might have done something worse than casual flirting with his friend's straight brother.
"There may have been more than singing," Anna said.
"Well," Dean started, "Let's just say that I won't be helping you next time you fall." Dean held his gaze for a second before diving into his plate of breakfast. "Thanks for breakfast though. Certainly makes up for last night."
"That's all Gabe." He waved at the breakfast before asking, "I gave you that bruise?"
"Don't sweat it. Bruises heal. Maybe next time you're celebrating, don't go walking out into dark alleys." Dean looked over to Sam and added, "I hate to eat and run, but we really gotta get going. Uncle Bobby's going to have my hide if I'm late."
"UhHuh." Sam quickly stuffed a few mouthfuls of eggs in at once and then with a couple of swallows of coffee stood up. "Thanks for letting us crash here last night, Cas."
"Apparently, it was the least I could do after bruising up your brother." Cas stood to walk them to the door.
They made it out into the corridor when Sam said, "Oh, I almost forgot my jacket. Just a sec." He darted back into the condo, leaving Cas awkwardly alone with Dean.
"I'm really sorry about all of that. Really sorry." Cas muttered pathetically.
"Don't be. It wasn't all bad." Dean smiled at him then and Sam rejoined them in the corridor.
"Hey, Cas. Congratulations again on making partner and all." Sam threw back as they made their way toward the elevator.
"Thanks." Cas looked at each of them as they walked away, feeling like he needed to say something more, but not having anything to add.
Dean turned as they reached the elevator and called back to him, "See you Friday." Then he winked and the elevator doors closed.
What the Hell just happened?What is happening on Friday? Cas was not ready to watch Gabe's video, but clearly that might be a necessity now.