The text message was unwelcome, he was standing in a bar alone having been stood up again. Dean sighed into his beer and rolled his shoulders back. Who knew meeting a guy could be so hard in this day and age. What was it about him he wondered, that made the men he talked to online not show up when they finally agreed to meet.

He knew Sammy would never let him live it down if he'd told him he was trying to find Mr Right online. But damn it, this one had seemed perfect. What was the point in being out and proud if he was single. He knew he was good looking, he'd been told as much his entire life. So why was this much awesomeness going to be heading home alone on a Friday night.

It wasn't that he couldn't pick someone up for a few hours fun but he wanted something that would last beyond an awkward goodbye after a night of drunken excess. He wanted what his brother had with Jess and the baby they were expecting. He wanted the apple pie with picket fence, arguing over getting a cat or a dog and who's turn it was to wash the dishes. He didn't want to go to sleep each night alone and wake up lonely.

'Buy you a drink big boy?'

Dean turned towards the British accent and indicated his glass was still full. The tall blonde pouted a moment before shrugging his shoulders.

'Name's Balthazar.'

'Dean.' What the hell, wasn't his usual type but it was someone to talk to. 'You cruising?'

'You offering?'

Dean shook his head. 'I'm not in the mood for a random hook up and you don't look like the type of guy I want to introduce to the folks.'

'I'm not sure if I should be insulted by that assessment of my character or not.'

Dean laughed. 'Probably not, but I'm not wrong am I. You're looking for a good time and I'm pretty sure I'm not it.'

'You close yourself off from the world Dean and you wont find what you're looking for either.'

'Thank you for that assessment Doctor Phil.'

Balthazar shrugged. 'I taught him everything he knows. Except about the hair, even I can't work miracles.'

Dean laughed.

'That's better, I'm here visiting some family and could use a friendly face at the table if you want to join us.' Pointing to a corner table. 'My cousins Gabriel and Castiel are going to start bickering soon and I think we could all use the distraction.' He watched as Dean considered his options and shrugged.

'Sure. Not like I've got anything better to be doing.'

Balthazar patted him on the shoulder. 'Good boy, and wow, do you work out?' His hands running down Dean's arm, eyes suggestive.

'I'm a physical therapist, it comes with the job.' He shrugged as he followed the man across the room.

Balthazar pointed. 'The short stack is my cousin Gabriel, and this is our other cousin, Cassie.'

'Castiel.'

Dean found himself sitting next to the blue eyed man with the deep voice. 'Dean.'

'I found him at the bar looking lost.'

Gabriel laughed. 'You're the one from out of town Balty, if anyone looked lost it would've been you.' He grinned at Dean. 'Hi ya Deano, so, what team do you bat for?' Winking at him.

Dean reached across the table and patted Gabriel's hand, shaking his head laughing. 'Sorry dude, I like my men a little taller.'

Gabriel laughed. 'Same old Deano, how's the family?'

Balthazar frowned. 'You know each other?'

'I work at the hospital doofus, Deano here is a physical therapist, you're the highly paid lawyer, you figure it out.' He shook his head. 'And they say you're the smart one.'

Sitting next to him Balthazar slapped him on the shoulder. 'And they would be right cousin.'

Dean tuned out the friendly bickering of cousins and turned to the blue eyed man sitting next to him wearing a suit with a crooked blue tie. 'So, Cas, how do you fit in with these two idiots?'

'We are cousins, our grandmother is unwell.'

'I'm sorry to hear that.'

Cas shrugged. 'We were never close.'

Dean knew there was more to a statement like that but he'd only just met the man and he knew Gabriel didn't talk much about his family. Perhaps it was all part of why. 'Family, they sure have a way of changing the world sometimes.'

Balthazar leaned across the table. 'We all have our stories don't we. Our's is an old woman who never had a nice word for anyone. Now, suddenly she's inspired to reach out make amends, guess she can hear the hell hounds coming for her in her final hours.'

Dean wasn't sure what to make of that so he sipped his beer and changed the subject. 'So Gabe's a doctor, the Brit's a lawyer, what do you do Cas?'

'I am an insurance assessor.'

'Cool, maybe you and I should make sure my cover is up to date sometime.'

'I would be happy to assist you with your insurance requirements Dean.'

Balthazar turned to Gabriel, his voice soft. 'Did we miss something?'

'No.' Gabriel's voice also quiet. 'But I think our cousin just did.' He gave the two men sitting opposite them a thoughtful look. 'Although I'm not sure he was the only one.'

Dean finished his drink and declined a refill. 'Sorry Balty, I still want to drive home.'

Balthazar shrugged as he looked at his cousins. 'Who's in for a refresh?' Grinning as Gabriel nodded. 'Cassie?'

Cas shook his head. 'I would not enjoy another drink.'

'I'm about to head out, I can give you a lift if you want and leave these two girls to their tea party.'

'I do not believe they are having a tea party Dean.'

'It's an expression Cas.'

'Oh. Then thank you I would enjoy a ride.'

Gabriel had to stuff his hand over his mouth to stop himself from giggling at his cousin and Dean.

Balthazar just shook his head before moving towards the bar.

Cas followed Dean into the parking lot and stopped when the blonde unlocked a classic muscle car. Watching as Dean all but caressed the car lovingly.

'This is my baby.' His eyes moving over his black 1967 Impala.

'I do not know much about cars but I can see you have taken great care of it.'

'Yeap, rebuilt her with my dad once or twice. He brought it before he proposed to my mom.' He swung behind the wheel. 'Come on Cas, jump in. What's your address?'

Following the directions Cas gave him he pulled up outside an apartment building. 'This is you then.'

'It is. Thank you for the ride Dean.'

'Your welcome Cas. I'll see you around then.'

Cas nodded. 'I would like that Dean.'

'Tell you want.' He pulled the glove compartment open and withdrew a pen and a card, scribbling a number on the back. 'Why don't you call me and we can go for coffee, there's this dinner not far from here that serves pie that's almost as good as my mom's.'

'Thank you Dean, I would enjoy that.' He tucked the card in his pocket and smiled before he turned and walked away.

Dean watched Cas walk away and grinned. Maybe getting stood up wasn't such a total loss after all as he drove home to dream about blue eyes and a sexy voice.

Cas let himself into the apartment and hung his coat in the hall closet. Checking his answer phone there were no messages. It was still early but he hadn't felt like staying in the bar with his cousins, although the presence of Dean Winchester had been a welcome addition to the table. He hadn't wanted to go out but Gabriel wasn't gracious in accepting no for an answer.

Over the year he had been living in the same town as his cousin he had learnt that sometimes it was just easier to go along with him. He was like a hyperactive puppy much of the time but he meant well.

Now he had Dean's number he wasn't sure if he should call the man or not. He pictured the green eyes and short spiky blonde hair. He had been wearing faded jeans and a black shirt under his leather jacket. Clothes that hugged his body like they had been painted on. It struck him that this was the Dean who sometimes worked out of the hospital. He had never been very good at picking up on the things others didn't say, being much more literal than the world around him.

Now he wasn't sure if Gabriel talking about Dean was because he found him interesting, or if his feelings were deeper for the green eyed man. He did not want to get in the way of something Gabriel wanted. It wasn't a fight he was likely to win. He might be the shortest member of their family, with the exception of Grandmother, but he knew how to fight dirty. Cas was even more confused when his phone rang and it was Gabriel.

'Cousin, are you home alone or is Deano with you?'

'Alone.' He could hear this being repeated.

'Bal and I think that's a terrible shame, why didn't you invite the divine Mr Winchester up to your bachelor pad?'

'I do not understand.'

'You're tilting your head aren't you.'

'Yes.' He heard Gabriel sigh.

'Look, I think you should go for the guy Cassie, have some fun. And trust me, Deano looks like someone who knows how to have fun.'

'He did give me his number.'

'Then what are you doing talking to me?'

'You rung me, it would have been impolite to disregard your call Gabriel.'

There was an exasperated note in Gabriel's tone. 'Really?'

'If you did not wish to speak with me why did you call me?'

'Sometimes I don't know how we are related.'

'My father and your mother are siblings Gabriel.'

'Agh. Really, why do I bother. Look, call Deano, go somewhere that sells pie, because the man has a serious thing for pie and make beautiful babies or something.'

'As a doctor you should know it is scientifically impossible for Dean and myself to -.' He looked at his phone as the call ended. 'I wonder if he lost service or hung up on me.'

Balthazar looked at Gabriel. 'So he gave our dolt of a cousin his number I take it.'

'Yeap. Phase one of Operation Get Cassie Laid is officially go.'

'That's a terrible name for your evil plan cousin.'

'Well what was your suggestion again, remind me?'

'Oh shut up. I thought Operation Shag was a perfectly acceptable code name.' He winked at the barman and indicated a refill would be appreciated. 'Now if you could just get me this cuties number my life would be complete.'

Gabriel laughed. 'Since when did you need my help getting laid.'