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Here is Dean's first day as a free man. I hope you enjoy.
'Where do you want to go first,' Cas had asked and Dean knew the perfect answer to that question.
"I would really like to go to the best diner in town and get a burger," Dean grinned. "If it's alright with you," he added with a quick look at Cas.
"Sure. I don't have to be at the office today. I can from home mostly," Cas told him with a smile. He started the car and drove straight to the next diner, one that he knew to serve excellent food.
The diner wasn't full. It was the middle of the morning and there were only a few people there to drink coffee. Dean ordered a bacon-cheeseburger, even though he had just had breakfast. He couldn't wait and needed one now. Cas only ordered coffee and sat with Dean while he ate, almost moaning at the awesome taste of the burger.
When Dean was done with the burger he called the waitress to their table. Cas expected him to ask for the bill but instead Dean ordered pie. Cas only smiled and shook his head but didn't say anything. He got another cup of coffee and enjoyed watching Dean and how happy something as simple as food could make him. He was glad he had decided to take the time to pick him up from prison.
When Dean was finally done eating he gave Cas his new address and Cas drove him there. It was an apartment building at the edge of town, not the best area but not the worst either. It was what Dean could afford right out of prison and where he was accepted as a tenant. Missouri had gotten the room for him and as far as he knew he'd share the apartment with someone else who was also out on parole.
"So this is where you live now?" Cas asked when they sat in car outside the building. It was a big building that felt cold and uninviting and Cas thought it was hardly better than prison.
"I guess so," Dean answered not sounding very impressed by the place either. "Maybe it's better inside. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?"
"Absolutely. How long do you have to stay here before you can move somewhere else?" Cas replied and it made Dean laugh.
"I don't know. I guess as soon as I find something I can afford and where they accept an ex-convict. And Missouri would have to agree, too," Dean said, still chuckling. "Missouri is my parole officer," he explained when he noticed the confusion on Cas' face.
"Ah," Cas simply said and for a moment they just sat there in silence, watching the building and the people coming and going. Finally Dean moved, unbuckling his seatbelt and turning slightly towards Cas.
"I guess I should go inside, see what my room is like." He stared at Cas who held his gaze for a long time. Then Dean shifted again and opened his door. "Thanks for picking me up, Cas. It really was nice to see a friend," he smiled and then got out of the car and opened the rear door to get his things.
"You're welcome, Dean. If you ever need anything…" He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper on which he had written his own address and phone number. "…or if you just want to hang out, give me a call." He handed the paper to Dean who unfolded it and read it quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't get any new business cards made yet," Cas told him, apparently embarrassed at the unprofessional piece of paper.
"No, it's fine. I will," Dean told him reassuringly as he put the paper in his pocket. He didn't say it but he actually thought the handwritten note was better than a printed business card. It was so much more personal and it made him happy that Cas had thought of doing that so they could stay in touch.
Their eyes met again for a moment before Dean straightened and closed the car door. With a small wave he walked to the entrance of the apartment building, the key Missouri had deposited at the prison for him feeling cold and strange in his hand as he opened the door. He turned around once more and saw Cas drive away before he went inside.
He would have liked for Cas to stay but right now he needed some time alone to settle and get used to his new situation on his own. But he was sure he'd want to hang out with Cas soon. Once he had gotten his new life in order. He didn't want to burden Cas with any problems he might have. And since he'd spent a year in prison, living with strict rules, there would certainly be problems while he learned to be in charge of his own life again. But he'd handle them when they came.
He went up the stairs to the third floor and found apartment 312, which was where he'd live from now on. He opened the door to a short, dark hallway which soon widened into a large room which seemed to be kitchen and living room at the same time. A very messy room with dirty dishes and empty bottles and an overflowing trash can.
Great, Dean thought as he stood there, surveying his new home. He was sorely tempted to go back to the door and check if he was really in the right apartment, when one of the three doors leading away from this disaster zone opened. It was the one with a sign on it that said 'Dr. Badass is in' and a mullet wearing man appeared. He looked like a Lyrnyrd Skynyrd roadie and Dean wouldn't be surprised if all the empty beer bottles were his from last night.
"You must be Dean. Hi, I'm Ash," he introduced himself. "The room over there is yours," he told Dean, pointing at the door opposite his own. Which meant that the third and last door was probably the bathroom.
"Yeah, I'm Dean. Nice to meet you," Dean answered though he wasn't quite sure yet if that was the truth. "Well, I'll be…in there then," he finished lamely, moving towards his room. He didn't really know what to make of that guy yet. He wasn't easy to label like the people he'd met in prison had been. But he'd probably find out more sooner or later, he thought as he put his bag down on the small bed and started to put his few belongings away in the closet and on the shelves that he found in his room. There was also a desk and a chair in front of the window so there was everything he needed, at least for now.
It turned out that Dean found out more about Ash sooner rather than later. He had spent most of the day setting up his room and doing some cleaning in the kitchen, even though it was not his dirt and therefore not his job. But he needed something to do and it was the obvious thing that needed to be done.
When Ash stuck his head out of his room later that day he was surprised and offered Dean a beer and the two men sat together and talked for a while. Dean learned that Ash was actually a computer genius and had been involved in some kind of internet scam and he'd been caught. He promised that that would never happen again but Dean wasn't quite sure if he was referring to doing something illegal on the internet or to getting caught.
And when Ash produced a movie later that night that he couldn't or shouldn't have yet, Dean was sure he had meant he wouldn't get caught again. He could only hope the guy was as good as he said he was and that he wouldn't drag Dean down with him if he wasn't.
For the moment he did get along quite well with him though and he enjoyed the movie, too, so living with this guy might have some advantages. After the movie Dean got ready for bed. It was late and he was used to sleeping at certain times and also he needed to get up in the morning for his new job. He had also wanted to call Bobby but had forgotten with everything else going on. He'd do it in the morning.
When he finished in the bathroom he found Ash asleep on the small sofa. He shook him carefully but the guy wouldn't wake so Dean just shook his head and went to his room. Ash would be fine and Dean really couldn't worry too much about someone else right now.