Dean had been the one to talk his client into actually going into a rehab center. It was a young college boy who lived on his own, and he assured the kid it was better to go to a facility for support. He had gone back to working at a center since what happened with the Hastings, he wasn't really trusted for individual clients. Plus at a center, he was able to come and go, rather than having to stay in one place and act as a babysitter. It also gave him more time to come and go so he could have his dates with Spencer and not have to wait an unknown amount of time.
Spencer and Dean had made arrangements to go to dinner in Philly since Spencer didn't want her friends to start asking questions yet, and she really didn't want to run into her parents. They hadn't figured out what they were going to do about her mom if they did start dating, but they figured that they'd cross that bring when they got there.
Dean made his way inside the restaurant they picked, something low key and simple, and smiled when he saw that Spencer had once again beat him there. He smiled and went over to her, giving her a soft hello kiss. he hadn't wanted to make it a habit until they figured out if they were more than friends or not, but he'd wanted to do it for a while, so he had to. "Hey," he greeted with a smile, sitting across from her.
"Hey, Dean," she responded, smiling as well. "How's work been?" she asked.
"It's been alright. I've been back working at a rehab center. Your mom as a reference isn't really the best thing right now.." he murmured. He didn't want her to feel bad about it, but it was the truth. It wouldn't get better if Veronica found out they were seeing each other.
"I'm sorry about that," she said sympathetically.
He shrugged in response. "It's easier to work in a center anyway. I can come and go instead of living with someone, and I don't have to be paranoid about my client disappearing and wondering if they went off to find drugs," he said.
"You find a positive in everything, don't you?" she asked, quirking a brow at him.
"I do my best. Sometimes it's harder than others," he said with a smile. "Have you talked to.." he trailed off, not sure if the name was taboo or not.
Spencer nodded. "I didn't tell him that I wanted to see someone else, but that I did need some time to figure out what I wanted and get my mind in a better place, which isn't a lie."
"I understand why you wouldn't want to tell him about seeing someone else. Especially who that person was," he agreed.
"So it doesn't bother you?" she asked, sipping her drink.
Dean shook his head. "No. Like I said, I understand. And especially right now, since we're only testing the waters right now, and it might turn out we're better off as friends. No reason to get him upset when you could be back with him in a matter of a few weeks," he pointed out. No, he didn't want it to end like that, but it was a possibility.
"Thanks for being so understanding," Spencer said, giving him a smile that showed how it helped relax her. Obviously she was really trying and not doing it to humor him.
"Of course," he gave her a smile and ordered a drink when the waiter came back to get his drink order and gave them a few minutes to decide what they wanted to eat. After they'd ordered their food, Dean turned his attention back to her. "So you mentioned deciding to write the speech? How's that going?" he asked.
"Oh, so you give a crap now?" Spencer teased, given the fact last time she brought it up, he told her he didn't give a crap about it.
He gave her a look to say he wasn't amused.
"I haven't gotten much of it done yet," she said with a shrug. Between everything going on with A, and trying to get ahold of Dean, she hadn't had time to sit down and try to write.
"Well if you need some help, let me know? I may not know all about what you went through, but I can try to help you put your thoughts together about what you do want to talk about," he offered. "And I know I'm not your counselor anymore, but if you want to talk about what happened.. I can be someone to listen," he added.
"I appreciate both offers, and I may take you up on helping with the speech, but I don't want to blur the lines between counselor and.. whatever we are," she said.
"Just sticks with friends for now?" he asked. She nodded in response. "I'm not saying I'd be acting as your counselor. I'd just listen. I'm not going to try to tell you how to cope with it or anything like that. But it may make it easier to help you with the speech," Dean assured her. Really, he didn't even know how to help someone deal with that. He was a Substance Abuse Counselor, and he'd already given her some advice about not trying to rationalize using weed to help her sleep. He didn't have the training to help her with PTSD.
"Maybe," Spencer said, still sounding unsure.
"No pressure or anything. Figured I'd give it as an offer," he told her, giving her a smile
"I appreciate it," she assured him with a smile.
Their food arrived shortly after and they ate in a comfortable silence, and once again, Dean paid for their stuff. He knew he didn't have to, but he wanted to, especially when it was considered a date. He walked her out to her car and smiled down at her.
"As much as I would love to figure out something else to do, I have to get home before my mom freaks out, especially with the fact I didn't tell her where I was going," Spencer told her apologetically. All the parents had been protective of their kids since they got out of the bunker and understandably so, but Spencer couldn't exactly say she was going to meet Dean for dinner. Her mother would have a cow. And she was trying to keep from telling her friends she was seeing him. When she told Hanna Dean had stopped by, she sounded less than pleased, so it wasn't like she could get her friends to cover for her..
"I understand. Are you going to the meeting tomorrow?" Dean asked. He'd missed quite a few, and had to let Spence know that he missed the one the day they had talked because of work, but he did still want to continue going.
"Yep, I'll be there. And I promise if something comes up and I can't make it, I'll call you," Spencer said, not wanting a repeat of what happened last time.
"I'd appreciate it," he said with a smile. He opened her door for her. "Let me know when you get home?" he requested. No, he wasn't being paranoid like her parents. He was just being a concerned friend that wanted to know she got home okay.
"I will. You too?" she asked. See, she wasn't being paranoid either.
Dean nodded. "Drive safe," he told her, leaning down and gave her a soft kiss. He still didn't want to make a habit out of it until he knew, but he liked the feeling he got when he kissed her, and she didn't seem to mind. "Talk to you later."
"Talk to you in a bit," she said before getting into her car and headed back toward Rosewood.
Spencer sent him a text when she got home, letting him know she was safe and in her bed, and Dean responded when he arrived home a little while later.
'I'm home too, a bit to do before I can actually get in bed, but here.'
'Aw, poor Dean. Gotta be an adult' He could sense her sarcasm through the phone.
'Being an adult sucks. Never do it.' Yes, he was going to tease back.
'Noted. I had fun tonight though.'
'So did I.' He'd been tempted to flirt a bit, but didn't want to push it.
'Enough to go on another date?'
'Date, or hang out?' He didn't want to get the two confused.
'Date.' 'I think there are more feelings than just friendship.'
Dean smiled at his phone in response. 'I'm glad to hear it. I'd love to go on another date with you. Whenever you want.'
'We can discuss details tomorrow?'
'Sounds like a good idea to me.'
'I need to sleep cause some of us have class in the morning. Being a teenager isn't that great either ;P I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Sleep well. Maybe you'll dream of me. Feel free to call if you can't sleep.'
'Will do. Goodnight, Dean.'
"Night, Spence.'
If anyone has any ideas, feel free to let me know. Like I said, I've been dealing with writers block lately, and I also like taking requests and fulfilling them. Reviews are love.