A/N: Hello my dearies! Sorry it took so long to post this! I'm sorry it's kind of a crappy chapter, I tried...I did, but between hives and work, I wrote on the bus. I hope you like it 3
Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are mine. xxPyx
"Damnit, Dean! I'm your brother, not a housekeeper!" Sam tossed his rag at Dean and threw his arms up in frustration. "You know what? You've turned into a vegetable. Ever since Cas and Gabe appeared in front of us, you've been moping and acting like...like...like a girl!"
"My god, Sam. You've given them nicknames!" Dean peeled the wet rag off of himself and threw it in the sink. "Don't you call me a girl. Not you. I thought you're all, 'treat women equally and tell them that they're all wonderful and-" Dean spoke mockingly.
"You don't have to be so misogynistic!" Sam countered. "What I was referring to was that you're moping around like a twelve-year-old girl who was just rejected by her crush!" He decided that this was it. He couldn't spend one more minute with Dean. "I'm going for a walk."
"Where to?"
"Does it matter?" Sam pulled his jacket on. "This is Chicago, by the way, there are a million places i can go." Truthfully, he had been craving a certain kind of chocolate since the angel fiasco began, and he didn't get why. And with that, Sam just left. He just couldn't handle anymore of Dean's bitching or his complaining and acting like a kicked puppy. He was quick about leaving and went the opposite of where Dean thought he wouldn't go, so he went the way he normally went.
Sam all but ran down the stairs and down the street to the red line to Michigan Avenue. Time for some Ethel's chocolates. Even though Sam couldn't see him, Gabriel was following behind close by, keeping in step and openly checking out his body.
Dean, on the other hand, had remained right where he was after Sam stormed out. He figured that Sam would just head over to library to cool off for a bit and then come back later that night and they would just never talk about that moment ever again. So Dean went into his kitchen to make himself a burger. This was what he had wanted ever since he could remember. A place to himself where he could make his own dinner and call it his own. No more microwaving his dinners in some grubby gas station.
Burgers, Dean decided, were his favourite foods and fries. And...and pie. Of course pie. This was nice. Exactly what he had been searching for for as long as he could remember.
Castiel was watching carefully as Dean made his burgers and other foods. He stayed cloaked as he followed Dean around his kitchen. The hunter drank a beer while he flipped burgers. It was strange how stress relieving this was, for both of them, even if Dean didn't realise it. While his charge ate, Castiel was sincerely tempted to uncloak himself and say hello, but that wasn't part of the plan. As messed up as Gabriel's plan was.
This was nice though. Standing over Dean while he watched a mindless television show about earth doctors that really over-enjoyed each other's presence. It was the simplicity of humanity that he loved. Not the unnecessary complexities of having to change one's personality depending on one's location. Even a change so simple from one's home to his or her car demanded such a change in demeanour that was almost completely unnecessary. Castiel missed it when all humans worried about was if they were going to eat that night or not. Not if they'll be able to pay for an educational institution or if they will make enough money to retire or if they'll manage to climb the corporate hierarchy in able to ascend what was considered to be metaphysical greatness. But Dean Winchester was able to hold a job and still enjoy his little life.
Castiel stayed poised at the door jam, hands in his pockets, his eyes focused on the television. It was cute and full or rather attractive people. Well, attractive by human standards. Dean was, well, attractive by anyone's standards, whether human, angel, demon, man, woman, werewolf, vampire...he was who Da Vinci was searching for. Although, Castiel was sure that there were other perfectly proportionate human beings in the world other than Dean Winchester. It was just Dean Winchester who had saved the world and the world didn't even know. Humanity's unsung hero.
Castiel had lost track of time. How long he had been standing there, watching Dean eat and curl up and watch what Castiel learned to be called Doctor Sexy, M.D. He had shadowed a doctor once, and it was not anything like this show. But it had grown dark outside and Dean's plate had long since been abandoned and he found himself to be perfectly content just sitting there. If only Dean knew that in three days he would see Castiel in a completely different way. It was a bit of a worrying thought though. Thinking that someone so untrusting as Dean would actually come to trust him. And what would come out of it? Probably not what Gabriel was anticipating. It would be nice to, but Dean wasn't that kind of human.
Gabriel decided then to make his appearance. His eyebrows raised pointedly at Castiel. He shook his head and motioned for them to return to the penthouse. So they did.
"Look at you!" Gabriel stood at the bottom of the landing in the living room. "You're totally smitten with the guy! Did you even move? Even once?" Gabriel was difficult when he got into these giddy moods. Typically, it meant that he was going to start planning some pretty devious stunts. Castiel wasn't going to let that happen.
"Brother, I would prefer if you wouldn't do anything drastic. I am able to handle this on my own." Castiel sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Are you, Castiel? Are you really able to handle this thing on your own?" Even as Gabriel said those words, Cas was absolutely certain that even if he answered that he could handle it, the archangel would still interfere.
"Yes, Gabriel. Just allow me to take care of it one my own." Castiel went over to the refrigerator in the adjoined room and pulled out a beer. Gabriel always kept a strange stash of alcohol and sweets. But Castiel had never really been into trying alcohol.
"What the hell are you doing, Cassie?" Gabriel was next to him in an instant. "Are you...drinking?" His jaw dropped. "Oh, Father in Heaven. I hope you're seeing this. Your little boy is all grown up." He put his arm around Cas. "Let's go drinking tonight."
Castiel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I just want to try it."
"Dean is having quite the influence on you." Gabriel squeezed Cas' shoulder. "It's okay though. I kinda like you when you're into trying the fun stuff." Castiel sent his brother a glare. Before he could even attempt speaking, he was cut off again. "We need to get you out of those clothes if you're gonna go clubbing." Before Cas could protest, Gabe snapped his fingers and put Cas into something a bit less 'holy tax accountant'.
When Castiel looked down at his clothes again, he was clad in slim black slacks, a white collared shirt, and a grey waistcoat. His hair was still a mess of unruly black waves. He pouted when he realised that he didn't have a place to put his hands.
"You look like you just had mad sex." Gabriel smirked and changed his own clothes. Dark jeans and a flannel shirt. "Look at us, moving up in the world. As hipsters. Just one thing is missing on you." He snapped his fingers and Cas felt something around his neck.
Castiel jumped and instantly pulled at the fabric that had encircled his neck. Nothing threatening. "Gabriel, I am beginning to regret this decision."
"Don't. You look sexy. You'll get Dean like this." Cas tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Never mind. C'mon, it's time to get our moves on!" Gabriel winked and snapped his fingers.
The instant the two of them appeared within the club, Gabriel took off, determined to find some cute human and fornicate. Castiel wandered over to the bar, pushing through gyrating couples who were connected posterior to anterior and so on. He felt unfriendly hands as he walked by groping at his nether regions, but he ignored them for the bar. All he wanted was to just try a drink, that was it.
"What'll it be, pretty boy?" The bartender leaned against the bar as he spoke to Castiel. By human standards, the bartender was attractive. The angel knew his name to be Ben, born on a Thursday.
"Your strongest mixed drink. Something good, I suppose." After Ben went off to make his drink, Castiel stared at his forearms in shock. It had been a while since he had seen them. Perhaps a good good decade or so. Which passed by fairly quickly, as decades go.
"Here you go, one Manhattan. Some guy over there picked up your tab." Ben nodded over to a man sitting at the opposite end of the bar. The man winked at him. Cas nodded in acknowledgement and downed whatever had been given to him.
Ben leaned forward and spoke conspiratorialy. "Don't let him get too close to your drinks. He comes around often and always leaves with someone. I'm sure he drugs them."
"I'll be just fine, thank you. However, I appreciate your concern." It wasn't as though Castiel didn't know how to flush his system. Besides, the normal amount of rufilin that a person put in another person's drink wouldn't even be close enough to even begin to affect Castiel.
The man sat himself down next to Castiel, his body leaning suggestively towards the angel. "So, beautiful, what brings you to this part of the world?"
"A man." Castiel answers truthfully, picking up his drink and sipping from it.
"I knew you swing that way. I could see it from across the bar." The man continues to lean forwards.
"I don't swing any way. I do not prefer the perpetual movement of staying in one confined area that swinging consists of." Castiel downs his drink in a single gulp and taps the bar for another.
"Wow. You really know how to put it down. I wonder what else you know how to swallow." The man places his hands on Castiel's knees, leaning close to his lips. "I'm Max, by the way."
Castiel looks up at Max and narrows his eyes when he's touched. "No, that's your preferred name. Your given name is Eugene." Max-Eugene takes his hands away in shock and sits back.
"How the hell do you know that?" Pleasantries are beginning to slip.
"You are no stranger to me, Eugene. Perhaps, if you chose a more righteous way of seduction, you would not feel so empty." And that ended the conversation.
Eugene shouted abuse at Castiel, telling him to go to Hell. Unbeknownst to him, Castiel had already been there and had not enjoyed it very much. Needless to say, a return visit would be unlikely.
Ben leaned against the bar, giving Castiel plenty of space. "Wow, you sure do know how to ward off creeps, don't you?" He smirked.
"I know how to do a lot of things." It was not the Angel's purpose in existence to answer forward questions so vaguely, he merely replied with the truth.
"And for that, your next drink is on the house. I hope that son of a bitch doesn't come back." Castiel looked up at Ben and saw his disgust and his anger, yet at the same time his relief.
"I sincerely doubt that he will." Castiel attempts a smile and Ben goes off to start his next drink. Same thing.
Castiel figured that if he would be there for a while, he should at least let himself get just a little drunk. Maybe not super drunk, but drunk enough that Dean isn't constantly on his mind. Or the festivities that Gabriel had been sharing with Sam Winchester.
But it didn't help. Five Manhattans, twelve tequila shots, one Phil Collins, and ten screwdrivers later, Castiel was beginning to feel a lot less holy. His thoughts aout Dean had only increased. Gabriel must have sensed his distress and appeared next to him towards the end.
"Wow! You're on fire! Let's get this party started, bro!" Gabriel, although better and holding his liquor, was in it for being able to act as though drunk. "'Ow 'bout...'bout Dean comes 'ere? He'd-he'd like to ride you like a, like a horse. Ooh! He wants your sexy buns." He leaned close to Cas. Ben shot hm a curious look.
"Hey, be careful, Castiel. I might have to cut you off soon."
"It's not-it's not me that needs cutting off." Cas hiccups and then giggles. Not one of those cutsie giggles, no, it was a manly giggle He looks over at Gabriel. "You know...if you bring Dean Winchester here, the righteous man will kill you. Or at least, he'll find a way to. Or-or maybe he'll just say he will and then punch you and then break his hand and then yeah."
"Aren't you supposed to be the eloquent one?" Gabriel laughs and downs a jello shot. His eyes widen. "Cassie, you gotta try this." He grins. "Barkeep! Another!" He slams his glass down in jollity.
"No. Drinking a solid is redundant." Castiel leans back in his stool, nursing his beer. When he got a beer, he'd never know, but why not drink it?
"You're the worst angel in existence. Do you even know what jello is?" Gabriel placed his hands on either side of Castiel's face. "Worst. Angel. Ever."
"Okay, I'm cutting you two off." Ben announces.
"No! We'll be good, we promise." Gabriel whines at the bartender and then drops his forehead onto Castiel's shoulder. "Let's get Dean!"
Castiel shakes his head. "No. That is not consented by me. If you bring him here, I won't be a part of it."
"He won't see it that way." And with a snap of his fingers, Dean was sitting right next to Castiel, a look of sheer bewilderment on his face.
"What the hell?" Dean shakes his head and stands up from the bar. "You two!" He lays eyes on Cas and barely resists the urge to punch him.
"Blame Gabriel." The words come out slurred, and he turns away from Dean. The nagging persistence at the back of his head is pressing forward, much stronger than before.
"I don't care who did it. Send me back home."
Ben is looking at the new arrival with a look of surprise. "You're sneaky. Usually I see people coming." He must have missed the Angel mojo part of his appearance. "Are you friends with these two?"
"Hell no. They abducted me."
"That seems pretty unlikely. This guy here," Ben gesticulates over to Castiel. "He's a freaking saint. A little weird when he's drunk...a little weird all the time, really. But he's a good guy. Called some dick out on date rape earlier tonight."
Dean looked over at Cas, he felt like there should have been a little bit more surprise at how holy he was, but then again, he was still being led to believe that he's an Angel.
"You're really an Angel, huh?"
"Dean, you make it sound like we're all gay for each other. We're Angels and you're, well, Deanie Weanie." Gabriel leaned in close to Dean and muttered in his ear. "I should bring Sam out here too. I'll do so many things to him."
Dean, none too nicely, pushed Gabriel's face away and shuddered. "Stop. I don't want to think about you ogling my brother."
He tapped the bar. If he's not gonna be put back home, might as well enjoy a beer or two. Ben walked over. "What can I get for you?"
"A beer. Anything in a bottle." Dean turned around so that he could lean back against the bar. His eyes scanned the dancefloor for some pretty young thing. It was his intention to ignore everything that was happening to his right. Castiel and Gabriel were clearly drunk and clearly not making any sense.
"You shouldn't do that. Lust is one of the Seven Deadly Sins." Castiel had turned his attention away from his brother to watch Dean carefully. Dean who was, for all intents and purposes, a righteous man with beautiful features and an ever-bright soul.
"Well, I guess I'm going to Hell then. I mean, well, the Bible says that only 100,000 souls will make it to Heaven. So my chances were already pretty slim." Dean tips his beer to Castiel who only tilts his head in confusion. Dean rolls his eyes at the look. "Can you just send me home?"
Gabriel chooses that moment to interject. "I really like you being here. Cassie finally has some eye candy. Do you know how long it took him to find someone he was interested in?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Dean look between the two Angels who, in all honesty, didn't seem angellic at all.
"He wants your hot bod, riled up and sweating up against a wall." Gabriel giggles and downs a fruity looking drink.
Castiel was doing all that he could to not look at Dean. But the hunter was staring in awe and confusion. "You're both crazy. I'm going home." He dropped a twenty on the bar and stalked off.
"Go get him, tiger!" Gabriel unceremoniously shoved Castiel off of his stool and pushed him in the direction that Dean had gone. "And before you go, sober up."
Castiel flushed the alcohol from his system, leaving himself sober. He mentally kicked himself. There was no way that he was going to go to Dean. His alcohol induced brother was out of his mind. So instead, Castiel zapped himself home.