The two men head back to the saloon; Dean giving Sammy the journal to look over, at the back table, before joining Cas at the bar. They're on their second whiskey when Dean starts to remember the reason he hated Michael so much.
It was back when Dean and Cas where about ten or so, it's when Dean saw firsthand how bad of a temper the eldest of Cas's brothers possessed. It was the first snow fall of winter where the temperature dropped below zero and froze the nearby ponds. Dean tagged along with Castiel and his brothers to go ice skating, leaving Sammy at home since he was still too little.
The day started out fun, the boys sliding around the ice whether they had skates or not, Gabe sneaking off for snowball attacks. After a while a few of the other kids from town showed up including the girl Michael was sweet on. Instantly his demeanor changed, trying to show off to impress the girls while Gabe did his best to thwart it.
"What's with your brother?" Dean questioned Cas, as Gabe discretely dropped a stick in Michael's path causing him to fall and everyone watching to laugh.
"Cut it out Gabe!" Michael snapped at him.
"Nothing," Cas rolled his eyes watching his brother's. "He's just acting like a donkey butt!" He shouts at him, "Because Molly, the most beautiful girl ever, showed up," he deadpans, the girl in question obviously overhearing.
"Shut up, James!"
Gabe skates by singing, "Michael and Molly sitting in a tree," he laughs, Molly turning red and Michael growing more and more irate.
"Why?" Cas tilts his head at him, "I'm only speaking the truth."
"Yeah, if we have to listen to you bemoan her pretty chestnut hair why can't we share?" Gabe mocks.
"Enough!" Michael bellows, his anger getting the better of him as he pushes Castiel roughly out of his way to lunge at Gabriel.
Gabe flitters off laughing with Michael close on his heels, Cas hitting the ice hard when an unwelcome noise rings out causing everyone to pause.
"Michael," Cas accuses, feeling the back of his head.
"Cas get off the ice," Dean warns.
Castiel moves to stand gingerly, the cracking continuing before it abruptly breaks open plunging Cas into the frigid water.
"Cas!" Dean shouts.
Gabe comes rushing back towards the spot, "Jimmy! What'd you do Michael?" He accuses as Dean and him try to get Cas out without falling in themselves.
"What?" Michael huffs indifferently, not even helping them.
Luckily Cas had been able to tread water a little and not get sucked under the ice, Gabe and a couple of the older boys dragging Cas out of the frigid water.
"What the hell's the matter with you?" Gabe rages at Michael, placing his coat over Castiel's shaking form and ordering Dean to take him home.
"Come on Cas," Dean ushers him off as Gabriel berates his brother.
"You want to off him just like Luce?" He shouts, "Cas is your brother damn it!"
"Doesn't mean I have to like him… or you," He glares.
"No," Gabe agrees, "But you should still love him." He states evenly, fixing the elder brother with a look before running off after Dean and Cas.
Dean clears his head from the memory, not wanting to remember how Castiel almost died from pneumonia that winter, and focused back on the present where Cas and him where currently off on a bender.
"No more sarsaparilla eh," The bartender chuckles as he wipes out one of the mugs.
"I believe it is a late enough hour to drink, though I can't recall why I didn't do this sooner," Cas iterates carefully.
"Another round, boys," the Bartender smirks.
Cas motions with his hand for another, "I think that's yes," Dean translates with a laugh.
Sam pops up between the two men as their drinks are refilled and drops the journal on the counter.
"Looks like we're heading to Texas," Sam nods.
"That's what I said," Cas glares at him.
"Cas, are you drunk?" Sam looks at him bewildered.
"Don't ask stupid questions," he slaps Sam on the cheek lightly.
"You heard the man, Sammy," Dean smirks.
"Hell that's the most I've heard the man say since I known him," Bobby chuckles coming up to the bar.
"That's just his way… unless he's drunk," Dean adds.
"Any way, I'm off to see Jess," Sam smiles goofily.
"Ooo," Cas snorts, laughing with Adam.
"Oh, Missouri said you better make a decent woman out of her," he tells his brother.
"I could think of a few things to do with a woman, but ain't none of them decent," Ash smirks suggestively.
"I'm leaving… you're all animals," Sam calls back.
"I'll drink to that," Ash raises his glass, the other men following suite before throwing back their drinks.
"How'd the farrow treat ya?" Dean ask Bobby and Rufus.
"Eh, it was far," Rufus shrugs.
"Might head back later," Bobby adds.
"I wouldn't mind playing," Cas interjects.
"Well alright," Rufus nods.
"Have you ever played Cas?" Dean wonders skeptically.
"I'll have you know I thought all the bridge ladies at my congregation."
"You're a grand man, Cas," Dean chuckles as he pictures it, "Don't ever change."
Unfortunately the game doesn't quite go as amicably as you'd expect; Castiel winning all five hands as he plays Bobby, Rufus and some drunkard.
"Well I'll be damned," Bobby sighs, tossing his cards down before lifting his hat to run a hand over his head.
"The big man must really be on your side, padre," Rufus nods, throwing back a shot.
"You're cheating, god-man… I know it," the drunken guy accuses rising from his seat.
"I am many things, sir," Cas starts almost as drunk as the other man, "But I'm not a cheat."
The drunk guy obviously not seeing the irony in accusing a priest, even if he's an ex-priest, of cheating and goes to draw his gun; in a blink of the eye Cas's six shooters are drawn on the man. Castiel blinking lazily at the other man, knowing full well there's no contest. Dean, Bobby and Rufus standing as well, hands ready to draw.
"Come on, gospel sharp, Yyou're drunker than I am and probably seeing double," the man stutters, clearly realizing this isn't a battle he wants to be fighting.
"I've got two guns," Cas states, watching the man, "One for each of ya," he cocks the pistols.
The man swallows audibly, "MMy mistake," he mumbles, eyes wide. "I'm drunk…I'ma go sleep it off." He grabs his hat and stumbles off the porch into the street. Dean squeezes Cas's shoulder looking after the drunk man as Castiel re-holsters his guns.
"You sure you were a priest?" Bobby asks, shaking his head.
"Damn," Rufus agrees, "We could have found you sooner."
Dean refills their glasses, having cut Cas off awhile back when two figures make there away across the darkened street.
"You ruffians decent?" Sammy calls jokingly.
"Define decent," Dean shouts back as Sammy and Jess come into view.
"Guy's this is Miss Jessica Moore," he introduces the simply dressed women.
"It's nice to meet you boys," She smiles.
"Darlin' you're the prettiest school teacher around these parts," Bobby tells her earnestly.
"I'm the only school teacher in these parts," Jess chuckles sweetly.
"Don't you get lovelier every time I see you," Dean greets, kissing her on the cheek and whispering, "What are you thinking going with Sasquatch, here?" He jests.
"Now Dean, that's no way to talk to your brother's fiancé!" She squeals, showing off the simple ring.
The congratulations are interrupted, however by a loud snore coming from Castiel who had humorously passed out in his chair.
Reviews, questions, answers, thoughts, ideas? Lets me know and thanks guys!
AN: Just watched Tombstone for the billionth time for inspiration! (arguably one of the dopest western's!) Watch it!