Castiel looked around the lake and then leaned against and slide down the oak tree. He and Dean were supposed to be meeting here to discuss how they were going to get to California in the next few days. Castiel leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes. Castiel waited for Dean for almost an hour until he heard the familiar roar of the Chevy Impala. Castiel heard Dean get out of the car and then sensed him standing in front of him. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, but he smiled when he felt Dean's finger under his chin and his thumb ran across his lips.
"Wake up, Cas." Dean whispered.
"Naw. You're late."
"Aw, come on, ya can't be too mad at me. If ya opened your eyes, you'd see why I'm late."
Castiel slowly opened his eyes and he woke up the next morning around ten thirty to an empty house. He was still jetlagged from his plane ride, but knew that he needed to get up and moving. His mother had made pancakes and left those in the kitchen for him with a note that said she and Chuck would be back around five thirty. He knew he should probably get dressed and go see Dean, just to get things over with. He took a long shower, got dressed in a pair of jeans and a white button up shirt. He looked at himself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom and tried to get his hair to cooperate in some fashion. Why was he so nervous about this? All he had to do was go to the garage, say hi, and then he could leave. Easy as that. Nothing too scary. Castiel took a deep breath, grabbed his keys, and then walked out the door.
Castiel pulled into the salvage yard and thought back to the times he and Dean would sneak in when they were younger. At ten years old, Dean was very adventurous and he would drag his "scardy cat" friend Castiel with him whenever he could. Dean had convinced Castiel to jump the fence and look around the salvage yard with him more than a few times. They continued when they got older, and in high school, Dean learned how to pick the lock so they didn't make as much noise. Castiel doubted that Bobby Singer knew about those nights, or maybe he did. Those nights he and Dean would sneak in, sit in one of the nicer cars, and just talk. That was where they had come with the plan for California. That was where they had… Castiel shook that memory from his head. That memory wasn't allowed on this trip down memory lane.
When Castiel parked in front of the house behind the garage, a large Rottweiler came running out of the doggy door and stared at him. He barked as Castiel got out of the car. Castiel was not going near that thing. The dog continued to bark, but never left the porch and Castiel waited for him to give up and go back inside.
"Aw he don't bite!" Castiel knew that voice. And it wasn't Bobby. The owner of the voice came out and smiled. The smile reached all the way to his jade eyes. His sandy colored hair was spiked and short, just like always. His biceps looked like they were about to pop out of his white t-shirt and his legs looked muscular even under his dirty, oil stained jeans. He was holding some car part in one of his hands and a rag in the other. Castiel realized that he had probably been staring a little bit too long when Dean Winchester spoke up again.
"Shut up, Rumsfeld." The dog finally stopped barking and laid down near Dean's feet. "Can I help you?"
"I uh…no…I…Dean?" Finally, Dean's eyes traveled up and down the shorter man and he dropped the piece in his hand, barely missing Rumsfeld.
"C…Cas?" It came out like a whisper. Like he didn't believe who it was standing in front of him. Bobby obviously hadn't told him. Dean slowly walked down the stairs and picked up the piece that had bounced down them, not taking his eyes off Castiel now.
"Hello, Dean. How are you?" Castiel mustered up a smile, even if it felt fake. Okay, he had come and said 'hi', he could leave now.
"I…uh…I'm good." Dean cleared his throat the way he did when he was uncomfortable. Castiel fought back a laugh. Somethings never change. "Great. You?"
"Not bad. I was just in town for a few days. Figured I would come say hi."
"Y…You're back in town? Why?" Castiel suddenly noticed that Dean hadn't stopped walking. He was now just on the other side of the car, staring at him just across the top of it.
"Well, I had some time off of work and I thought I could come see me parents."
"And say hi to me?" The way Dean said it, Castiel figured that he actually wasn't supposed to hear that.
"Dean! Where'd ya go, boy?!" Bobby called from the house. He seemed to break the trance the two had on each other. Dean turned around as Bobby came out and looked at them. "Oh, hi Castiel. I was wonderin' when we'd see ya. Well come on in."
"Wait, you knew he was in town and ya didn't say anythin' to me?" Bobby shrugged as a way of answering and then leaned against the doorway, watching them.
"We were just about to have lunch if ya wanted some, Castiel."
"I don't think Cas wants to waste the small amount of time here with us, Bobby." So Dean still didn't want him around. That was good to know.
"Well, it's not that. I just need to get home to help…"
"Nonsense! Come inside! We got plenty for ya." Bobby pushed himself up and turned around to walk inside. Dean turned back to Castiel and looked at him.
"I uh…he'll just come back out until we go in."
"Oh, so, um…okay." Dean and Castiel walked into the house.
"So, what have ya been up to, Cas?" Dean went to slap Castiel on the back, but apparently decided against it.
"Well, I became an artist in California." Castiel decided against telling Dean about his engagement (for reasons that Castiel couldn't even really explain).
"Yeah, yeah, I think your folks said somethin' about that. That's great. You always were good at that sorta thing." Dean smiled shyly and Castiel bit his lip to keep from smiling back.
"Thanks. How about you? You're working for Bobby now?" Dean led the way into the kitchen and the two sat down at a table. Bobby seemed to have gone upstairs.
"Yeah, I got a small house between here and my folks' place."
"Wow, that's great. How's Sam doing?"
"He's good. He's actually home from Stanford for the summer. He's goin' to law school when he's done." Dean beamed. Castiel had almost forgotten that amazing smile and the relationship between Sam and Dean. They were closer than Castiel and any of his brothers.
"I didn't know Sam was accepted to Stanford. Good for him. Maybe I could visit him sometime." Dean looked at Castiel as though he had suggested he move in with Sam.
"Yeah, maybe." Dean stood up and got a beer out of the refrigerator and offered one to Castiel. Castiel shook his head. Dean looked down and chuckled slightly. "I forgot you don't like beer."
"It's gross!"
"Oh but those Fireball shots ya used to do were so good."
"They were! Hell of a lot better than beer!" They both laughed as Dean sat down again. The laughter died down and Dean began to pick at the label of his beer bottle.
"Cas?" He finally said, looking up and meeting Castiel's eyes. That damn green still took Castiel's breath away.
"Yeah?"
"I…I just…" Loud footsteps came down the steps. Dean scooted away slightly. Bobby came into the room.
"Are ya just gonna sit here or are ya gonna eat?"
"What's on the menu, Bobby?" Dean stood up and walked to the refrigerator. Castiel watched his every move, wondering what Dean was going to say to him.
"Well, Ellen made some casserole last night ya could heat up if ya wanted some. Speaking of Ellen, ya should take Castiel here to the Roadhouse tonight to see everybody." Dean looked at Castiel and smiled slightly.
"Ya think ya can hang with us southerners, Cas?"
I am so so sorry that it took me so long to upload! I actually moved into my very own apartment so I had to get THAT all packed and squared away and I STILL don't have wi-fi (I'm at Starbucks right now), but I'll try to upload when I can until I get it! Now, the story. Okay, so we met Dean! Yay! Now, I'm going to ask you guys for your opinions. Would you like Dean's perspective (before/when Cas arrives) or would you like a couple chapters of younger Dean and Cas? PLEASE let me know because I can't write the next chapters if you don't (also it's my 21st birthday this weekend so if you let me know before then I just may upload before the craziness, but afterwards it probably won't be until Monday!)! Either way, the next time we come back to Cas will be the Roadhouse! Thank you guys so much for your reviews (RandomActsofSambriel and 1hotpepper), favs, and follows! They make my day!