''We can still go back home it's not too late. If you take the next street on the left we can get back to the ring road in less than 10 minutes!'' said Castiel in a shaky voice.
''Cas, you know I would rather be doing anything else with you than jump into that snake pit but what about this asshole going around throwing threats and taking advantage of people? We need all the clues we can get and if this dinner can give us anything then it's worth the pain. We're in this together, nothing can happen to you while I'm by your side I promise. I won't allow that, okay?'' answered Dean, taking one hand of the steering wheel to grab Castiel's and put a soft kiss on it.
Castiel took a deep breath and nodded.
''I know, I'm just a bit nervous. We are almost there, it's the house at the end of this road.'' He said pointing at a well lit street on their right.
Dean followed the instructions and parked the car in front of a big white victorian house that left him speechless. But before he could say anything, the door of his car opened wide and he found himself wrapped into some guy's arms. Surely not the ones he wanted to be in at least.
''What the hell?!'' he shouted while trying to push the guy off him.
Castiel quickly got off the car and came to his rescue, pulling the man and looking at him with an apologetic look.
''I'm sorry Dean. This is my brother Lex but we call him Cupid because of his overly affectionate tendencies…'' he said while looking at the blond man.
''Well hello to you too I guess.'' Muttered Dean, taking some preventive distance.
''Cupid, go help Ezekiel with the desserts would you? Leave them alone!'' scolded Samandriel before adding ''Don't mind him too much, he's just happy to meet new people! Please get in and make yourself at home, we'll eat in a couple of minutes!''.
They followed the advice and went straight for the bar where Dean met way too many people in way too little time. All of them with names weirder than the one before. Castiel had just left for two minutes to help setting up the food on the table when he saw Balthazar flirt with a very uncomfortable Dean on the other side of the room. Dropping the squid he had been holding on the white table cloth, he quickly made his way across the hall, ignoring Uriel's screams, to put a hand on his relative's shoulder.
''Brother or not, I will murder you if you get any closer to him.'' He whispered in Balthazar's ear, seeing the blond man chuckle at the statement.
''Well well well, would you look at that! The kitten is finally showing some claws! Relax Cassie, I was barely introducing myself to your boy toy. After all, he must be important if you have the courage to bring him here.'' Said Balthazar with a smirk.
''Don't you have an orgy to attend? I wouldn't want to keep you. Also, I think Gabriel is looking for you. Something about Father hearing about some shady investment you made last year in Ireland. I wouldn't wait if I were you.'' Stated Castiel behind his best poker face.
Suddenly Balthazar turned white and ran away without a word, making Dean frown and Castiel raise an eyebrow.
''Looks like someone's in trouble and have a dirty conscience…'' grunted Dean as he took a sip of the beer he was holding.
''I was actually bluffing just to get rid of him but that is an interesting reaction indeed. I'm sorry you had to deal with him. He doesn't understand what's socially acceptable or not very well. He hit on you didn't he?'' asked the black haired man, hiding his face in his hands.
''He might have offered to show me the best piece of art available in the house…before adding that it was in his pants when I asked about it. Rookie mistake.'' Laughed Dean.
''Oh God…we can still leave, if we sneak out through the kitchens right now I'm sure we can be out of state before they decide to start eating. But I can't say I completely blame him. It is hard to keep a cool head when you're looking so handsome.'' Admitted Castiel with a blush.
''Well, I don't care much about your brother but I would gladly explore what's in your pants given the occasion…'' said Dean in a voice deeper than usual, getting closer without realizing it.
''I hate to barge in and break this sexual tension but we are about to eat so Father dearest sent me to fetch you.'' Exclaimed Gabriel with a bright smile, appearing out of nowhere.
With deep sighs, the two men followed him to the gigantic dinner table. Dean still had trouble taking it all in. The family house that Castiel had shyly given him directions to was mind blowing. Nothing like what he had known or would ever know for that matter. Among the marble, gold and sculptures he felt like he didn't belong. It wasn't only a material matter though, there was something in the atmosphere that did not feel right. Something that created a knot within his guts, a latent danger. By the way Castiel forced his smiles, was so obviously uncomfortable and tensed made him think that he felt it too. Sure Anna, Gabriel or even Michael didn't seem like bad guys but their recent discovery made them even more aware of the deep shadows and secrets hiding in this house which seemed to be ready to swallow them whole. They couldn't, mustn't trust anyone. They could only trust each other. Dean hurried to stay by Castiel's side, which earned him a grateful look from the black haired man.
''Dean, Castiel! I'm glad you could make it, please have a seat and enjoy yourself. I hope this will be an opportunity for you Dean to get to know the rest of the family and think about our partnership as a friendship. Welcome to the Novak's!'' exclaimed Chuck from the head of the table as soon as he saw them, lifting his champagne glass in their direction.
''Thank you, I'm honoured to be invited in such a personal event and proud to say that we are in the same team. '' answered Dean respectfully.
''That's at least one time where we can say that we play on the same team!'' laughed the man he identified as Uriel, to instantly be elbowed by Anna who was sitting next to him.
''Can you not be an asshole for once and let the man think for at least a day that we are civilized people?'' said Gabriel who was sitting on his other side.
''Coming from you I find this very hypocritical…'' muttered Uriel between his grinded teeth.
''You don't want to go there with me brother because I'm not sure that between the two of us I am the one with the dirtiest conscience…Do you keep bringing new skeletons in your closet or are you too afraid that someone might have found the key?'' spat Gabriel bitterly.
Uriel hit the table with his fist, making everybody jump and turn to them. Castiel and Dean looked at each other with a frown before focusing on the scene happening in front of them.
''Now now Gabriel, that's not how you treat your older brother. Don't you have any respect for anything or anyone?' said Raphael, his voice cold and sharp.
''You are one to talk Raph. Where is your respect towards all these people we work for huh? You treat everyone like shit, especially clients. You think about yourself so highly that I'm surprised you had the courage to come sit with us peasants. You don't see people, you see numbers. That's why no matter how hard you try, daddy can never do anything that will turn you into a real boy.'' Shouted Gabriel.
''Enough! If you are going to behave like children, I will treat you as such. Do you really want to keep on and see how I can punish you?'' yelled Chuck while standing up, slamming his two hands on the table.
The room went quiet, Dean noticed everyone looking down. He was familiar with authoritarian fathers but he didn't like the terror that seemed to freeze every member of this family once Chuck raised his voice. Was there something Cas wasn't telling him? What were they so afraid of? He looked at the man by his side to find him looking away as well. He grabbed his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. Castiel looked up when he felt the warmth and comfort offered by Dean's hand. He was a grown man and he did nothing wrong. He would not be afraid anymore, he couldn't afford it if they wanted to get answers.
''I'm sorry for my children's attitude Dean. I thought I raised them better than that but it still looks like we lack manners in this house.'' Said Chuck, seating down to continue eating his meal.
''It's alright, it's not a family dinner without some feud in it!'' said Dean nervously with a fake chuckle.
''Some feuds have been going on for decades, that's the problem. If we could all agree to a family council, talk to each other about important things in a safe context, lay it all out without fearing repercussions I'm sure that we could figure out a lot of things.'' Said Castiel in a small voice that seemed to echo through the hall.
''Castiel is right. We can't keep on hiding things to each other and pretend that everything is alright. I just want a normal family.'' Added Samandriel, the youngest of all.
''Like we will ever be normal.'' Laughed Michael bitterly.
''There is nothing to talk about. Eat your meal and act like the children I wish you were. Can you do that or is it too much too ask? You see Dean, one thinks to do good while hiring his own blood to work with him but you always seems to be paying the price for it in the end.'' Said Chuck coldly.
''You are paying the price? What about mom?'' screamed Castiel.
Everyone gasped, staring at him as he just lost his mind. Anna started crying and Michael left the room without a word, quickly followed by Ezekiel and Uriel. Chuck seemed frozen in shock, unable to say anything. Feeling all the frustration and rage ready to explode within him, Castiel got up and ran upstairs to what used to be his bedroom. Dean ran after him right away, still not understanding what the hell was going on. He banged at the closed door, calling out his name and pleading him to open the door.
''Cas just please talk to me! What is this all about? Is there something you haven't told me?'' he whispered through the crack of the door.
''I can't do this Dean, I can't. It's been years and we are still not allowed to talk about it. I've tried to live with it but it's just eating me alive. And now I blew it. You should run while you can Dean because I'm afraid that this is getting bigger than we thought it was and I don't know if I can deal with it.'' Whispered Castiel in between tears.
''What are you talking about? Just let me in and let's talk about this! Everything is going to be all right, I got you remember? Nothing will happen to you while I'm around.'' Answered Dean softly, his head resting on the wooden door.
He could hear screams and things breaking downstairs but he couldn't bring himself to care. All that mattered right now was Castiel and how distressed he sounded. He only wanted to grab him and drive as far away as possible from this place. He just wanted him to be alright and safe in his arms, he just wanted to kiss his pain and troubles away. He just wanted to tell him that…
Dean's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Castiel choking inside the bedroom and gasping for air.
''CAS?!'' screamed Dean hitting on the door.
When he heard no other answer than the sound of the blue eyed man falling on his knees he tried to burst the door open once, twice without success but it finally let go on the third trial.
Dean fell on the floor as it opened wide to find himself lying over Castiel's unconscious form. His breath got stuck in his throat as he pulled the man's face between his hands, calling out his name.