WEKYN CH 1
Chapter 1
"Ugh! Fuck men! You hear me Clarence, fuck em!" came an exasperated shout behind him.
Castiel smiled, knowing his favorite patron had just walked through the door and began the usual double vodka tonic with a twist she had been ordering since she first walked in here six months before hand. He turns to her with her finished drink and a twinkle in his eye, "Well speaking as a man we can be dogs. I apologize on behalf of my species. Unless of course you were looking for that one night stand you keep teasing me about"
Meg Masters grimaced at him as she snatched her drink away and took a large gulp. She was wearing a cocktail dress that hugged her the way Castiel, hell anyone would like and was dolled up to the nines. Castiel gulped audibly as he looked her over, praying she didn't notice. If she did, thankfully his pass went ignored. "Funny man there, Cas. When did you finally grow a sense of humor?"
"About 3 drinks ago" Castiel says, gesturing to the near empty bar, "Dean said that since it was a slow night I should pass the time and possibly close up early. Only stayed open this late to see if you would stop by."
"Really know how to make a girl feel special there, Clarence. Makes me all dewy if you know what I mean," she mumble between swigs of her drink.
Castiel sighed, knowing that something must really be digging at her. Meg only got really drunk and flirty if something was truly bothering her. Having tended bar at the Roadhouse for the past few years, Castiel got defense mechanisms, but they were still a strange thing for Meg. She was the most confident and strongest woman that he had ever met, so it was always a little saddening to see her so low. "Talk to me Meg, what's going on? You should be out tearing up the town in a dress like that."
Meg looked up from her nearly finished drink at Castiel, her eyes almost drilling into his soul. It made him shiver a bit, and the only time he shivered around Meg was when she flashed that amazing smile of hers his way. He lived for those moments with her, he lived for the shivers. Not this time though. "I was at a work function," she slurs out, "and I got fired because I wouldn't let my boss feel me up in the break room."
Castiel felt his grip tighten on the bar painfully as he watches her down the remainder of her vodka tonic. It's only after a moment of silence he realizes he is hurting himself by gripping so tight. That's strange, he thought, why does this bother me so much? He can't think of what to do other than to reach out and take her hand in his. She looks at him with a very wary look in her eye, and he mentally kicks himself. Why would he try to touch her when probably less than an hour ago a guy was almost assaulting her? He pulls away momentarily before walking around the bar and sitting next to her, "Look, Meg, I honestly don't know what to say in this situation other than I'm sorry. And that your boss is a massive dick. And that he deserves a very severe STD for karmic balance."
Meg cracks a small smile that makes Castiel's heart leap a little. It quickly disappears though as she seems to pull back into herself. Castiel can't help but feel a little stung. Aside from his ridiculous crush on Meg, every time she almost opens up to him it is gone in a flash. He recognizes that in this situation he is being a bit unfair given what happened, but come on! If there was one time where she was going to finally open up this would be…..is….is Meg crying?
Meg's shoulders are moving up and down, barely noticeable in the dim light of the bar. Castiel has to almost lean in to hear the sobs coming from between clenched teeth. Unsure of what to do he just stands up abruptly. The sudden movement causes Meg to look up, the spell broken for a moment. They both stare at each other for what seems like an eternity, bright blue eyes locked on brown ones that are tinged with a bit of red. A sniffle from Meg breaks the silence as Castiel tentatively moves forward and pulls her into a tight embrace. Like that the flood gates open and she is sobbing openly into his shoulder.
"This…this is so, so stupid Cas" she gets out between sobs, "I shouldn't be wasting tears on that son of a bitch."
"I know, Meg, I know" Cas says, doing his best to comfort the small woman now curling herself into him, "the tears aren't for him. They're for you. You went through something traumatic tonight and your body is just letting all that adrenaline and stress out. I've been there."
Their eyes meet again for just a moment before Meg buries her head deeper into Castiel's shoulder, wrapping her arms even tighter around his neck. Castiel just holds her, letting her get her emotions out, knowing that this is what she needs to begin the healing process. Castiel looks behind him to see the few other patrons clearing out, giving him and Meg the privacy they need. He mouths thank you at the departing bodies and they all tip their hats or hands in his direction. Castiel takes a deep breath before saying, "Meg? I kind of need to lock up ok?"
Meg is suddenly very aware of how empty the bar is and is almost embarrassed of herself, "Oh god, Cas, I'm so sorry. Here I am dumping my problems on you like some high school sophomore. I'll just head home."
"No, Meg, you're in no condition to drive. Look, there is a spare room in the back we use for when regulars need to sleep off the sauce or if someone is working late. Please, stay there tonight. I'll crash out on the couch and we can leave in the morning ok?" Castiel says, hoping he doesn't sound too eager.
Meg Stops for a moment, considering it, "No, I couldn't, I don't want to impose on you…"
Castiel shushes her with a finger and walks into the back. He grabs a spare shirt of his, one of the many white dress shirts he uses for work and gives it to her, "Here, you can sleep in this if you want, that dress looks far too nice to be left on."
Castiel blanches in horror at what he just said, recognizing the implications of that little Freudian slip. He starts to babble an apology before Meg's giggle cuts him off, "Its ok Clarence, I know what you meant. Thank you for all of this, for being so kind to me."
She walks into the back to change as Castiel busies himself with the usual procedures of closing the bar for the night. He closes out the register and wipes down the bar before finally locking the front door. As he turns to head back towards the couch he sees Meg out of the corner of his eye, watching him tentatively from the doorway to the back room. "Meg, is everything alright? Is there something else I can get you?"
Meg seems very nervous and flustered as she struggles to get out the words, "No, Cas, everything is fine, I guess….Oh god I don't know, everything is all so jumbled up in my head right now and I can't think straight."
Castiel sees her shoulders start to tense again and hears the start of sobs before he rushes over and wraps her up in his arms again. He kisses her forehead and whispers in her ear how everything will be ok, that he's here, whatever he can do to make her feel better. Castiel leads her to the back room and they both sit on the bed together, Meg finally unleashing a torrent of emotions on Castiel.
Castiel just sits there, his arms still wrapped protectively around her as she cries and talks, cries and talks, finally opening up to him about everything. They sit there for god knows how long before Meg has finally cried herself out. She yawns and Castiel takes the opportunity to put her into bed properly. He kisses her on the forehead one last time before he turns to leave before he feels something grab at his hand.
Castiel turns back to see Meg staring up at him with big eyes, asking him to stay even though he knows she won't say it. He cocks his head and gives that half smile he saves only for her, before nodding. He climbs in bed behind her and pulls her against him, feeling her bury herself into the crook of his of his arm, her head resting on his chest. As Meg slowly drifts off to sleep after what must be the longest night of her life, Castiel can't help but smile. He could get used to something like this.
