I am SO sorry that this next chapter took so long. After changing my major and getting into more classes, I have noticed how my time for writing has dwindled. This chapter is actually more the length of the first few chapters, and I apologize for its short length. I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer, though, so I decided to submit it right away.

Let me know what you think! Fave/follow if you like it~ :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Now We're Getting Somewhere

"Sir, I've been keeping an eye out on the outside world… I don't think you're going to like what I have to say."

"Do tell either way. Not hearing it wouldn't make the problem go away."

"Well, the police is still pursuing Bela, and it seems that there is now a small group of people searching for our new headquarters."

I let out a sigh at the news, but I knew that it was only a matter of time until something like this would happen. "Okay. Thank you, Azazel. You may go—unless you have any other pieces of useful information?" I raised an eyebrow.

"No, sir—Well, maybe… I heard about a short brunette with curly hair who has been poking around our areas. Sort of sounds like Meg, doesn't it?"

"Right. Carry on, then," I replied and waved him off, not replying to the last part of information. He nodded and quickly rushed off to continue whatever it was that he was doing. "Dearest Bela, what problems you have caused for us," I then said as I turned my body around from the tall seat I was in to face the woman standing at the back of the room.

"I apologize," she replied, "I didn't expect this to happen…" She looked down at the ground.

"No worries. Just make sure this doesn't happen again, and it'll all be okay," I added with a smile and reached out my arm, signaling for her to come close. She obliged and grabbed my hand.

"Yes, sir. I understand," she spoke with a nod and kissed my hand before leaving the room. Meg, Meg, Meg… Did you decide to show your face again even though you knew the consequences of that? I thought, a bit frustrated since I really didn't want to have to take action. Meg was one of the only people I liked—like a daughter to me—and I didn't want to end her life, which was why I did not go searching for her when she left. As soon as people would find out, though, I know they would talk and their fear of me would lessen, knowing that there was an exception meaning that there could be more along the way—which is not true, but try explaining that to a bunch of blubbering idiots.

xxx

It was a weird night that night—Cas being drunk and all. He was a lot more open about things, and he talked and talked forever about his past once we were done watching Cloud Atlas, which opened a topic for deep conversation. I wasn't complaining about this openness of his, of course; I was just merely confused by it. I know people say that being drunk is the most truthful someone will ever be, but I never experienced it firsthand.

After the long conversation we had about family and friends and trust—or, should I say, during—Castiel-dear fell asleep within seconds on the couch. It was impossible to wake him, so I figured I would let him stay on that couch. Again. That couch ended up being his own, really—he slept on that thing more than I or Growley even sat in it. So, after a while I would call it his couch, which would get me a sneer from him. Either way, I found a blanket and laid it on top of him since he didn't have that dreadful trench coat that he had used as a blanket many times before. He snuggled up to the blanket as soon as it covered his shoulders, which was entirely amusing.

Anyway, once it was around ten in the morning, I walked out of my bedroom to find him still in the same position he was in when I left him. I didn't even try waking him because I knew he would wake up to an unpleasant headache—the later he woke up the better. And, well, of course he looked too cute to be woken up. I stretched my arms above my head and let out a small yawn as I sat down by Cassie's feet. It was quiet and boring, to be honest, but it was nice to relax for a little bit and not have to think about anything. However, not thinking is completely impossible and my mind was already racing at a million miles per hour in such a way that I didn't even know what I was thinking about. I grunted in annoyance and put a hand to my temple as I looked over at the sleeping angel next to me. Noticing that the blanket rode up a bit at one of his legs, I moved it back so it would cover him entirely again. It was funny how I was more worried about whether Cas had a headache from a hangover or wasn't completely covered by the blanket than the huge ordeal of finding Bela and getting her behind bars, which would ultimately set me free forever.

It was rather cumbersome how quickly I had changed directions. Yes, of course Castiel caught my eye and I saw what a beautiful creature he was from the beginning, but it was no more than a superficial appeal. Not that I was admitting to anything more at that time; I still believed that it was just that. I didn't notice how much I worried about that man not having enough time to relax because he worked too hard—or how much I was personally bothered by him spending some extra time with the Winchesters. I passed those off and over my shoulders as me wanting him to be solely focused on the Mission: Find Bela. Unfortunately, though, I knew that wasn't the truth at all.

…

While I was making some brunch—eggs, bacon, et cetera—I heard a groan coming from the couch. "Oh, is Sleeping Beauty finally awake?" I called from the kitchen and got a grunt in response. "How you feeling?" I asked when I got nothing else from him.

"My head hurts really bad…" Cassie's gruff and tired voice replied. I peeked through the walkway of the kitchen to the living room and chuckled to myself when I noticed his hair was in all different directions and that he had cute, little bags under his eyes, which he was squinting through, making him all the more adorable. I honestly had the inclination to walk up to him and run my hands through that messy hair, but I held myself, silently scolding about how that is completely unnecessary.

"Is this your first time having a hangover?" I asked, slightly amused.

"Hang…over…?" Castiel's eyes opened as he tried to process what was going on. "No, no; in order to have a hangover, I would have needed to drink a lot last night…" he spoke but then his voice trailed away as he noticed the smile on my face. "What?! I got drunk last night?" he added, his voice rising.

"Calm down there," I laughed as I walked over to him, my arms crossing over my chest. "You went with Moose and Squirrel yesterday to have a good time or whatnot, and you called me drunk out of your mind—so I got you and we spent the night here," I explained as I looked down at him.

"Who? And… S-spent the night? We didn't… Uh—"

"The Winchesters. And, Cassie-dear, I'm flattered, but no. We did not. Don't worry," I replied with a smirk and watched him as his face turned red and he looked down at the ground.

"O-of course. I don't know why I asked," he stuttered and refused to make eye contact with me. I laughed softly and walked back into the kitchen to continue cooking, but my mind was thinking a little bit too much for my taste. I wasn't entirely sure why Cas thought we had done something—whether it was maybe the way I worded my phrase or that there was enough chemistry between us for that to happen—and I couldn't help blush slightly at the thought of it. Oh, look at you. Stop blushing, you blubbering idiot! Just get back to cooking and stop thinking too much.

"You hungry?" I repeated my question from earlier, trying to get things off my mind.

"Huh—what? Yeah. I was wondering what that smell was," Castiel replied and I heard him chuckle slightly.

"So," I started to change the subject as I continued cooking, "Last night I talked to Meg on the phone and she mentioned that she remembers something about a secret room and wants us to go back to the area to scope it out. I was going to tell you once you came over last night, but… It would have been to no avail since you were out of it."

"How can someone forget about a secret room?" Cas asked and I heard him shuffle his way over to the entrance of the kitchen.

"She was never in it—it was all very hush-hush. She has tried her hardest to keep all of that stuff in the past and forget about it, you know, so she only remembered this important fact now. Either way, I figure we should go once you're over your hangover," I replied as I turned off the stove and started putting the food on two separate plates.

"No, no…" Castiel replied with a slight grunt and a hand to his forehead. "We don't have to wait. We can go after eating."

"Did I say you have a choice in the matter? I want you to be as sharp as possible, capiche?" I then handed him his plate of food. He let out a sigh but took it from me and shuffled back over to the dining room table.

"All right, fine. But as soon as I feel the slightest better, we're going," he added over his shoulder.

"Okay, Mister Grumpy. I'll notify Meg right now that we'll go check it out later today. Now eat your food; we have a long day ahead of us!"