Sorry for the delay...hehe...This chapter wound up being longer than I'd intended, and it went in a completely different direction. For example, the whole 'laser tag' thing? Yeah. Not planned. Random mood led to random writing, which...yeah...but I hope you like it! I think I know what's going to happen in chapter ten but with this whole change in this chapter, I might change the next chapter as well ;) Either way...there will fun ahead! And darkness...and angst...and possibly love...if I feel like it...lol ;) Anyway, thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews! I love them all! I know I stopped replying to them but I will start back up soon, hehe. I've just been busy. Sigh. Damn life... ::grumbles:: anyway...thanks again. You guys keep this story going.

And you guys asked for longer ;) So the story will probably be around 20 chapters now. Hurrah! Maybe longer, depending on how much I want to put in here. Tell me, do you guys just want one long one or would you like a sequel? It's up to you, I guess, hehe, or I can just put it all in this one but it might get confusing later ;) Thanks! Let me know!

Oh and I apologize ahead of time if I completely botched laser tag...I've only played twice. Sad sigh. But I love it! Anyway...you're probably tired of me talking about nothing, eh?

Onward!


Chapter Nine

Dean wasn't very receptive to the whole 'invited to dinner' ordeal, which confused Castiel at first. Didn't Dean want to go? He could see the hesitation each time Dean said no, and then the regret written across his friend's face each time he did so. It was like he wanted to go but something was stopping him. Castiel didn't want to push the issue, as he could tell more than a few things were bothering his friend. So he dropped the subject for the time being, and the cut on Dean's face healed pretty quickly in the next week.

Things, to Castiel, were going okay. He got to see Dean a lot through the week, and even sometimes during the weekend, when Dean would call him and the two would just randomly go on a drive that served no purpose except to 'get away', as Dean put it. Sometimes Sam went with them but more often than not, it was just him and Dean…and he liked that. Spending time with Dean was really beginning to make him feel…more than a little strange. He felt warm inside, warm, light, and somewhat fuzzy and sick to his stomach, if that made any sense. His emotions grew conflicted and confused when Dean was near, especially when he bothered to touch Castiel in anyway, be it a friendly thump on the back, a lighthearted arm around the shoulder, or just a simple high-five…which Dean seemed rather fond of.

Castiel was actually kind of nervous about being around Dean too much. And to think of the two of them, alone in his room if Dean ever came to dinner…well, that thought always led to Castiel flushing deeply and hurrying to cover his face as soon as possible, lest someone see and prod him for information as to why his face was turning so red. If Dean were to see it, he would keep nagging for details and then Castiel might actually spill what he was feeling, and that could never happen. So he was a little glad that Dean wasn't too thrilled about going to dinner at his house. It just meant a nagging thought was put away in the shadows of his mind.

"Hey, Sammy and I are going to play laser tag this Saturday," Dean commented casually as he leaned against the locker next to Castiel's. He always insisted on walking with Castiel in the hallways, even though some of their classes were in completely different directions. Castiel had told he didn't have to at the beginning of the year, but now he didn't bother…besides, he liked the attention.

"That's cool," Castiel said. He had never played laser tag before but he'd heard Dean talk about it often enough that he knew it sounded pretty fun. "Have fun."

"Yeah." Dean paused and then shifted his gaze away. "I was actually going to ask if you wanted to come along as well. It'll be fun," he promised.

Castiel paused and frowned at him. "You…want me to go?" he asked just to make sure he was hearing correctly. "Really?"

Dean frowned. "Well, yeah," he said. "You're my friend and you've never gone, so…" He shrugged. "I just thought it'd be fun. Me and you could totally take on Sammy." He grinned. "That kid is freakin' sneaky. Not to mention he's too quiet. We should really put a bell around his neck."

Castiel arched a delicate brow at him. "Are you sure you want me to go?"

"Yeah…but you don't have to if you don't want to," Dean said. "I understand."

And Castiel knew that Dean did. He seemed to be able to understand Castiel better than most people lately, including his brother.

"No, it's fine," Castiel told him with a smile, feeling that warm, fluttery feeling flicker in his chest, coursing along with the pulsing of his heart. "I'd love to go. What time?"

"Probably around six…we'll go eat and then go."

"That sounds fine."

"Cool," Dean said, grinning.

Castiel nodded, smiling back at him.


To Castiel, Saturday couldn't come quick enough. And once it did, six o'clock couldn't arrive fast enough. He paced in his room, growled at his brother, and kept checking the clock. Jimmy finally just barged into his room and glared at him until Castiel sat down on the bed.

"What the hell is up with you?" Jimmy asked, frowning deeply. "You're acting all strange, man."

Castiel sighed and shrugged. "I don't…know. I guess I'm just…nervous…"

"Nervous? Why?" Jimmy questioned, cocking a brow at him.

Castiel shrugged again, looking at the ground as he averted his gaze. "I don't know…I've never played laser tag." That wasn't the real reason why he was nervous, but there was no way he was actually going to tell Jimmy that he was really nervous because it was more time together with Dean. Those twisting feelings in his stomach kept making him eager and anxious at the same time, which left him exhausted at the end of the day.

Jimmy sighed. "Cassie-" he started, but was cut off by the sound of Dean honking outside. He'd finally arrived. Castiel checked the clock and smiled. It was finally time.

"See ya," he said with a bright smile, leaving Jimmy to stare after him in confusion as he darted from the room and quickly exited the house, climbing into Dean's Impala.

"Hey," Dean greeted with a grin as he started pulling away from the curb.

"Hey," Castiel said in return. He glanced at Sam in the backseat and smiled.

Sam smiled back. "How have you been?"

"Uh…pretty good," Castiel replied.

"Where do you guys wanna eat?" Dean asked, glancing at them momentarily and then returning his gaze toward the road.

"Doesn't matter to me," Sam said with a shrug. "Cas?"

Castiel shrugged as well.

"Right. Cheeseburgers it is, then," Dean said with a smile.

Castiel chuckled while Sam rolled his eyes in the backseat.

"There's more to life than cheeseburgers, Dean," the younger Winchester commented.

"Says the kid who's too scared to talk to a girl," Dean threw back with a laugh.

Sam scowled heavily at the back of Dean's head while Castiel watched them. "She's got a boyfriend! You don't know!"

"Oh, I know," Dean drawled. "Been there, done that, totally lived to tell the tale. Talk to her, Samantha."

Sam sighed and kicked the back of Dean's seat. "Jerk."

"Bitch," Dean replied with a grin.

Castiel hid a smile. He liked watching the brothers interact like this. It made him think that maybe things were right with the world and there was really nothing to worry about. It actually made the fluttering knot in his stomach ease and calm down, for which he was grateful.

Maybe tonight would be a great night.


They arrived at the laser tag arena a little after seven that evening. Dean went on ahead to pay for them and get their vests and guns while Sam and Castiel waited in the main lobby, outside of a door that read 'LASER THIS!' written in large, dark red letters. Dark smoke filtered through the cracks in the door, but Dean and Sam had already warned Castiel of this so he knew not to worry about it. Apparently, it was supposed to be foggy and smoky in the laser tag room so that it was hard to see people and one could hide more efficiently.

Sam was watching him intently. Castiel felt nervous under his gaze and found himself shifting uncomfortably, averting his gaze toward the ground, silently hoping Dean hurried up and got back to them quickly so Sam would stop looking at him as such. "…What?" he finally asked, unable to stand it any longer.

Sam laughed. Castiel looked up to find the younger Winchester smiling brightly. "Can I ask you something?"

Castiel swallowed. "Like what?"

"Just can I?"

"Um…I guess…" Castiel murmured, frowning deeply. He didn't like where this was going.

"I know my brother can be pretty dense at times, but I'm not," Sam said slowly, as though wondering how to start.

Castiel paused. "You shouldn't talk about your brother like that," he sighed. People seemed to talk down about Dean a lot…not in really so much of a bad way, but in a way where they didn't really believe he was that smart, which Castiel knew he was. He could get straight 'A's if he wanted to.

Sam grinned. "I knew it." He seemed happy.

"Knew what?" Castiel asked, confused.

"You like him."

"W-What?" Castiel stammered, taking a slight step back, his heart beginning to race rapidly. His mind struggled to come up with something to say but all he could do was stare dumbly at Sam as Dean's little brother looked at him with a wide grin.

"You like him. Dean," Sam said as though it were completely obvious…which Castiel hoped it wasn't. He didn't even really understand the emotions himself, so…did he like Dean? Well, sure. Dean was his best friend. Dean seemed to understand him when no one else did. Dean was…well, Dean. So yeah…Castiel liked him. "And I don't just mean like a friend, Castiel."

Castiel swallowed thickly. "You don't know what you're talking about," he said, turning away quickly.

Sam opened his mouth to reply but stopped as Dean hurried toward them, grinning as he carried three vests and three guns. "Strap up," Dean told them, handing each of them a vest and a gun. "Aim for any of the lit up areas - you'll see what I mean in the room," he said, probably for Castiel's benefit.

Castiel nodded in thanks but refused to look up, to see whatever expression might have been on Sam's face, and he couldn't meet Dean's eyes. Would Sam be…horrified, that Castiel thought he was actually starting to really like his brother? That he was starting to like Dean? Would he be angry? Disgusted?

"Something wrong, Cas?" Dean asked, worried. He lightly placed a hand on Castiel's shoulder. "You don't have to play if you don't want-"

"It's fine," Castiel grunted, his voice a little harsher than he'd intended. He just wanted to get in the room and get this over with. At least in there, the fog would block Sam's expression. Unless Sam decided to tell Dean…Castiel's gaze shot up quickly, his wide eyes landing on Dean as his friend frowned at him in concern.

"Cas?" Dean asked. "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing," Castiel stuttered, swallowing thickly.

Dean sighed. "Well…if you're sure…then let's go." He nodded in the direction of the door that would lead them to the fog and smoke.

Castiel nodded and walked next to Dean as they entered the room beyond. Smoke pelted against Castiel like a thick blanket and he was momentarily blinded.

"Have fun! Good luck!" Dean said, and then Castiel heard the distinct sounds of him running away, further into the fog to disappear. Castiel swallowed and then listened as Sam shifted next to him. He didn't want to be left alone with the younger Winchester.

"It's okay, you know," Sam said quietly.

Castiel started walking away. He didn't want to hear any of this.

"And no…it's not…that obvious. I mean it kind of is, but…" Sam trialed off and Castiel felt his heart sink. Obvious? Did that mean other people could see it too? Did Dean? He almost felt sick to his stomach at that thought.

He hurried away from Sam and into the shadows around them, hoping to completely disappear so he didn't have to face Sam or Dean because, surely Sam would tell Dean what he had figured out.

And then Castiel's life would be over.

He almost wanted to cry. He might have, if it wasn't for the fact that Dean suddenly appeared next to him, a foggy grin plastered on his face. "How are you doing?" he asked cheerfully.

"Um…" Castiel started, flushing.

Dean smiled and grabbed his arm, tugging into one of the corners in the room. There were a lot - there were little things, like cardboard almost, that were up all over the room to allow people places to hide and whatnot, and they were now hiding behind one, near one of the actual walls of the room. "We're taking out Sam," Dean declared with a chuckle. "Little bastard's always sneaking up on me." There was a fondness in his voice that let Castiel think that Dean actually let Sam win and it had nothing to do with the fact that Sam was quiet. "You with me, Cas?"

And how could Castiel not be with him when Dean was smiling at him like that, like there wasn't a care in the world? He nodded and Dean grinned.

"C'mon." He grabbed Castiel's arm again and started tugging him through the fog.

Castiel didn't protest, even though his stomach was flipping uneasily. Dean hefted his gun up, getting ready, and then he suddenly fired into the darkness. There was a loud sound as someone's alarm went off on their vests, the laser from the gun hitting its desired location. Some random kid groaned aloud. Dean chuckled and he and Castiel hurried through the fog once more. Castiel was happy for the distraction.

"There he is," Dean suddenly whispered, pulling him in close. His hot breath ran across Castiel's neck as he stood next to him, facing him. "Follow my lead, Cas." He took a step forward and Castiel took in a small breath before he followed suit. Sam appeared faintly through the fog and Dean lifted his gun, aiming his laser at one of the bright places on the back of Sam's vest as the younger Winchester looked around, hunting down someone else. Castiel grinned at Dean's enthusiasm as his friend marched toward Sam like he was in Mission Impossible, his face set in a humorous determination. And yes, Castiel had seen Mission Impossible, despite Dean's beliefs.

Castiel raised his gun as well and the two fired as one. Castiel had to admit, a rush of adrenaline shot through him as he did so, and the alarm for Sam's vest went off, signaling he'd been hit. Dean grabbed Castiel's arm and hurried the two of them out of sight, behind one of the board walls.

The two shared a small laugh as Sam's head darted each way, searching for them, before he sighed and hurried into the foggy darkness around them, away from prying eyes and trigger-finger guns. Dean threw an arm around Castiel's neck and laughed heartily.

A rush flowed through Castiel, his cheeks darkening as he averted his gaze toward the ground, thankful for the fog so Dean couldn't see his face clearly and realize he was blushing. He really needed to get this thing under control…and if he did like Dean like Sam suggested, then…well, he really needed to do something about it so this feeling would stop. Even if he did like Dean…like that, there was no way Dean would ever feel the same. To Dean, Castiel was just a friend, and that was fine.

Thinking about it was really starting to make Castiel's head hurt. He pressed a hand to his temple and Dean frowned at him.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine," Castiel murmured. "What now?"

"Now we hunt down little boys and girls."

"That sounds strangely creepy."

Dean nodded, smirking. "Indeed it does, Cas. Indeed it does. C'mon." He moved out of the cardboard and spun, suddenly shooting off into the distance with pinpoint accuracy. Another alarm went off and Dean laughed, pumping a fist in the air. "Yes! I am the king!"

Castiel smirked and hurried after his friend as Dean darted away again, in the thrill of chasing someone down.

It was nice to see Dean so happy and carefree. It had seemed like there had been a dark cloud followed him this past week, a damper on his mood, his usually exuberant, cheery atmosphere dulled and more quiet, which simply wasn't like him. Castiel liked that he was enjoying himself, which made him enjoy himself in return, despite the fact that when the night was over and they returned to the car, everything would be ruined because surely Sam would bring up the whole 'you like Dean' incident within hearing distance of his brother.

And then Castiel's good time, friendship, acceptance…it would all be over.

Everything.


Hope you like...hehe ;) Thanks again for the reviews and please continue to do so! They make me oh-so-happy and make me write quicker, hehe. Thanks! I will try to get the next chapter up by Wednesday.

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~