Dean grumbled in annoyance and slammed his hand down on his alarm clock as it buzzed obnoxiously. He swore as his fingers tried to find the snooze button, but failed. Lifting his head and glaring at the horrible contraption, Dean reached down and simply unplugged the damn thing before lying back on his pillows, eyes closed against the early sunrays coming through the window. Today was…Thursday? Yeah, that sounded right. He had to get Anael up and at daycare by nine, then go down to the auto shop to balance the books, sign paperwork, and make sure his employees weren't screwing up his shop. He didn't have class today, but he was pretty sure he was supposed to call Sam at some point. Or had he done that yesterday? Whatever. If he forgot, Sam would call first anyway. Was there anything else? Oh. Oh…
Eyes snapping open and all traces of lethargy evaporating, Dean remembered exactly what else there was today. His date. With Castiel. Right. Breathing deeply to calm his suddenly fast beating heart, Dean pushed himself up until he could rest his back on the headboard. All right. No sense in freaking yourself out, Dean. Just get through your day.
Throwing a quick glance at the baby monitor, drawing back the dark blue sheets and getting out of bed, Dean ambled down the hall to Anael's room. She was still sleeping peacefully, so he went to the bathroom across the hall, brushing his teeth and showering quickly. Hopefully he could get his morning stuff done before Anael decided to wake up.
He had no such luck though. The moment he stepped out of the shower, still dripping wet, Anael started crying. Hurriedly wrapping a towel around his waist, Dean dashed back across the hall and picked up his distressed daughter, "Well good morning, sunshine! I see you've woken up on the wrong side of the crib." Anael quieted considerably once safely in her father's arms, but still whimpered pitifully.
Dean smiled at her and kissed her cheeks before carrying Ana over to her changing table and setting the baby down on it. He grabbed a fresh diaper, a pair of jeans, and a moss green sweater for her to wear before taking on the task of actually getting Anael into them. Dean talked to Ana as he tried wrestling her into her outfit, "Remember that big day I was talking about? Well, that's today, Ana! Yep, Daddy's got a date. Weird, right?" Ana pouted heavily as her head appeared from the top of the sweater. At almost ten months old, it was clear Anael was about as much of a morning person as Dean himself was.
"Can I tell you a secret? Daddy is actually a little nervous about today, but I'm also happy."
Anael made what sounded like a noise of disapproval as Dean managed to get her arms through the sweater with relative ease before she started crying again. Quickly finishing getting Ana dressed, and whispering soothingly to her, Dean lifted Anael and carried her back to his bedroom. Setting her in the playpen he had set up in the room, Dean grabbed the plush block he knew Ana liked before handing it to her, "Here, Ana. Daddy has to get dressed then we'll go find some breakfast, okay?" Ana took the block and promptly started chewing on it and looked at it, displeased, when she realized it wasn't food. Trying not to laugh, Dean hurried to his closet and pulled out his nicest pair of jeans-which, if he was being honest, weren't exactly what he'd call nice-and one of his tighter black undershirts. He also grabbed his favorite red and black plaid button-up. Changing quickly, as Ana had started sniffling again, he exited his closet with a pair of socks and work boots in hand. He sat on the edge of the bed, facing the little girl, "It's all right, Anael. Just another minute and we'll get you fed." He stood after getting his shoes on and ran back into the bathroom to hang up his towel and run another over his hair to soak away the stray water droplets. By the time that was done, Ana was screeching unhappily, making Dean dash back to get her.
Breakfast and the subsequent clean-up done, Dean packed up the Impala with Ana, her snack and lunch for the day, her diaper bag, and some paperwork for the shop before setting off toward the daycare center.
"Forest Children", the daycare center ran by Dean's longtime friend, Charlie Bradbury, was a small blue and green building right off the highway next to the campus. She was a complete nerd, but a loveable one, despite the slightly shady name of her establishment. Dean remembered her saying something about it referencing some anime. Regardless, it was safe, clean, convenient, and Dean wouldn't trust Anael with anyone else for the length of time she was sometimes there.
Going inside, Ana in tow, Dean was immediately greeted by Jo, another childhood friend, from behind the counter, "Hello! I know that's you, Dean, cuz I can see your boots! Gimme a second. There's a cable back here that just won't…" Jo yelped as there was a sudden buzz from the outlet she had been poking around, "Oh forget it. Charlie! The computer is broken! Come fix it!"
Chuckling, Dean shifted Ana to his other hip as Jo appeared from under the counter, smoothing her light blonde hair down, "Careful there, Jo. Don't want you electrocuted. Just think of what Ellen would say."
"Oh shut up. Mom would probably just tell me I deserved it for messing with the cables since I didn't know how they worked."
"And she wouldn't be wrong either. Jesus, Jo, I fixed this not even last week! Stop putting your feet on the cables and I wouldn't have to fix this. Oh, hey, Dean." Charlie burst into the room, washable marker already on her forearms, fiery red hair streaking behind her as she practically dove behind the counter.
Laughing outright this time, Dean handed Anael to Jo, "Hey Charlie. Business as usual, yeah?"
"Worse, actually. We got some new kids this last week. Brothers. One is five and the other is three. They're little terrors. And-ouch!-get this, one's name is actually Lucifer. I'm not kidding." Charlie stood, rubbing her head from where she'd collided with the underside of the wooden counter, "Anyway, they're both still in the adjustment period and pressing on boundaries. Ya know, testing what they can and can't get away with. It'll be over soon. I hope."
"Sounds like crap, Charlie. Makes me glad I don't have your job."
"Yeah, but you've still got a kid."
Dean smirked, "Anael? She's a little angel."
"Ha-freaking-ha, Winchester."
"You know she's your favorite. Anyway, I gotta get to work. I'm actually running a little behind, so I'll be back at three for Anael." He walked up to Jo, who was still holding the baby, and kissed his daughter on the forehead, "Okay, little girl? I'll see you at three," and waved as he walked back out the door.
Anael raised her pudgy hand and waved back, yelling an actual word for the first time that day, "Da! Da! Da!"
Back outside, Dean made his way back to the Impala and drove across town to work. Without Anael in the car, Dean happily blasted his old rock tapes during the drive. Twenty minutes later, he was parking to the side of "Winchester Auto Repair and Body Shop". He had always rolled his eyes at the long-winded name, but Dean could never bring himself to change it, even after his dad had died and the shop was named his.
Walking into the garage, hearing the familiar sounds of drills, cranks, and wrenches, Dean entered his office and shut the door soundly against the noise. As much as he didn't mind it, the racket from the shop still distracted him if he was balancing the books. He really didn't feel like risking mistakes today. He had plans later, after all.
At the thought of his date, Dean felt his stomach clench. Sitting at his desk and opening the register, Dean resolutely tried to ignore the butterflies currently throwing a party in his stomach and throat.
Three hours later, Dean had gotten almost nothing done. Maybe a full page of receipts, if even that. Checking his watch and seeing it was almost one o'clock, Dean decided he'd go ahead and call Sam to see if they could meet for lunch. He wasn't going to get anything done at the shop today, and if he did, he was pretty sure it wasn't right. Sighing heavily in defeat, Dean pulled out his phone and dialed Sam's number.
It rang twice before Sam picked up, "Dean! What's up?"
"Hey, Sam. You wanna grab lunch today? I'm bored here. Too many numbers."
"Just bored?" Dean could practically see Sam's knowing grin.
He scowled, he never should have told Sam that he had a date later this afternoon, "Yes, Sammy. Just bored. And hungry. I didn't get much of a breakfast since Ana was fussy this morning."
Sam laughed, "Yeah, sure. Sounds great, actually! I could use a break from all this client paperwork. Today's an office day and I hate it. Where you wanna meet up?"
"I was thinking about going to "The Roadhouse". I haven't seen Ellen in a while and it's about halfway between us both."
"Whatever, Dean. You just want one of Ellen's burgers and a decent beer."
Dean frowned again, even if Sam couldn't see it, "Your point? They're good and I know Ellen ain't spittin' in my food. I'll meet you there in twenty. See ya."
Hanging up, Dean distantly heard Sam's laughing, "Bye, Dean," before he stood and stretched. Oh yes, a good greasy burger definitely sounded good right now. Closing the register and putting away the paperwork, Dean grabbed his keys and wallet and made a beeline for one of his mechanics to let them know he'd be out the rest of the day. He found Garth first, underneath an old Chevy, and kicked his boot.
"Hey, Garth. I'm heading out to meet Sam and then pick up Anael. You've got keys to the place, so lock up tonight, alright?"
Rolling out from under the truck, Garth stared up at Dean, "Sure thing, boss! Why ya leavin' so early?"
Dean narrowed his eyes. Garth was a good kid, but he had a knack for cutting directly to the point that you didn't want him to find. He'd found it anyway, and he knew it from the way Dean had slightly tensed at the rather innocent question. Great.
"Nothing Garth. I'm just meeting Sammy for lunch and then I've got to pick up Ana, like I said. Nothing else."
"You sure?"
"…Yes, Garth."
The man shrugged and rolled back beneath the truck, "All right, Dean. But if you need to talk, I'll be under this old clunker."
Smiling awkwardly at Garth's boots, Dean turned to leave, "Yeah, sure. Okay. See ya later."
Nearly sprinting toward the Impala, Dean climbed in and started the engine hurriedly. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, put the car into gear, and headed toward Ellen's place.
