A/N: This is the first chapter that I'm posting without having the next chapter fully written first... Uhh. Yeah. That means that there might be a bit of a delay. I was writing chapters that take place later, rather than what comes next... Oops.

And I really have no idea how long this is gonna be. Original plan was 15-20 chapters, but now... Well. I have a plot written up, and we're only half-way through the third point... And there are eight points... So it's probably gonna end up being more, plus I'm going to be writing a sequel. For which I only have a general plan for...

Dean didn't know what it was about him, but there was something about Jimmy that had Dean dropping his defenses slightly. Usually, it took awhile to get any sort of information out of him. Now, Dean hadn't told Jimmy much of anything, but it was more than anyone previously had gotten out of him in the short time they'd known each other.

He passed it off as a side effect of mourning. His one week off had since passed, and he'd had to return to work at Bobby's garage. Throwing himself completely over to the job worked well as a distraction, allowing him to forget about all the shit in his life.

But the distraction only worked for so long as he was busy. As soon as he left, or took a break, it all came rushing back to him.

Dean didn't like the way this grief was taking over his life so absolutely. The only time it lessened was when he was with Jimmy, and while Dean didn't like it, he found Jimmy's personality scarily similar to Cas'. That was something Dean didn't like about the man. He wasn't about to befriend him just because of the similarities.

It wouldn't do Cas any justice, and Dean wasn't about to tarnish his memory by speaking with the first person to remind Dean of Cas.

And when Dean went to the Roadhouse, just wanting a beer to drown his feelings in, he'd found a certain Jimmy Novak standing behind the bar counter. Against his better judgement, Dean found himself asking the shorter man his story, despite having only spoken to him three times. Jimmy had willingly enough told him, speaking often of someone, his apparent best friend.

Jimmy's voice, when he spoke of his best friend, took on this note of both sadness and fondness, the two emotions wrapping themselves around his words. When Jimmy was spinning this tale of half lies, half truths, Dean kept thinking back over to Cas.

A short while after that, Dean left the bar. He hadn't driven, expecting to get completely drunk. Obviously, that plan hadn't gone too well. He walked down the sidewalk, hands in his pockets. His apartment building soon came into view, and he quickly entered, heading up to the one he resided in.

Turning the light on, he sat down on the couch, expecting to watch a little TV before going to bed, but the second he sat down, he was asleep.

Dean awoke hours later, the light still on. He stood, turned it off, and moved to his bedroom. But as he passed the door to Cas' room, he looked inside. It was a habit he'd developed after finding that stranger in there.

Not much about the room had changed; only a few things were gone. Anna had shown up one day, went in there, and emerged hours later holding only a few pictures and trinkets.

-x-

The next morning, when Dean woke up, his mind immediately flicked to Jimmy.

That settled it, Dean decided, no more seeing him.

And as the next few weeks passed, that plan worked surprisingly well. He only went to the Roadhouse when he was positive Jimmy wasn't there. But that plan wasn't going to work, as shown by Dean going to the Roadhouse, looking in, seeing Jimmy, and immediately heading away.

Jimmy, of course, had to notice him and come running after him. Dean continued walking, ignoring the other man until he ran in front of him.

"Dean, you've been avoiding me." Statement, not a question.

"Yeah, so?" Dean mumbled, looking anywhere but at Jimmy.

"I just want to know why," Jimmy said.

Dean sighed, not wanting to explain, but knowing he owes the other man some sort of reasoning. "It's a long story," he offers, hoping that'll disinterest Jimmy.

And Jimmy obviously has an answer to that. "I've got time. Ellen gave me the rest of the night off."

Dean shook his head. "Some other time, man."

"And how am I too know if you're just going to go back to ignoring me again?"

Dean groaned. "Fine. I'll tell you. But not now." He paused, thinking for moment. "Lunch. Tomorrow. At 1:00, Der Waffle Haus." He looked at Jimmy. "You do know where that is, right?"

Jimmy laughed softly at the mention of Der Waffle Haus. "I do know where it is. I won't be late."