Chapter 11

Sam had wondered what Dean was going to do when he found Jes and Martin closing in on his little conference with Castiel. His jaw dropped when Dean actually grabbed the angel and pulled him into the middle of the dance floor. For a moment, Castiel stood stock still, and Sam thought Dean's attempt to make him fit in was going to tank, but then they started moving together in a way that was on par with some of the couples on the floor who actually had a sensual connection. They were practically grinding.

"Sammy," said Jericho, lengthening the name with a mocking tone. It brought Sam back to earth from his astonishment, and he turned towards the waiter. "A guy might think you'd never seen your brother dance before."

"I haven't," he said frankly, then returned to fixing drinks.


"Dean, we must speak."

"So speak," Dean said, still controlling Castiel's hips. It was a weird sensation, to feel an angel's pelvis moving in time with his. "I can't just go outside during my shift, and besides, it's damn cold out there, or hadn't you noticed?"

"The last time I was outside, I was in Australia," Castiel replied.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Well, it's snowy here." He glanced around surreptitiously to see what the other dancing pairs were doing and put his arms around Castiel's neck. "Talk if you're going to."

The position they were in brought Cas close enough that Dean felt moist breath against his ear. "Why didn't you answer my calls?" the angel asked.

"Because I was busy, and because my ringer was off." Castiel opened his mouth. "Put your hands on my butt, Cas. This needs to look right."

"Dean, I –" Dean grabbed Castiel's hands and placed them squarely on his rear end, returning his own hands to Castiel's neck. Castiel had rhythm, Dean had to admit. They were doing pretty well at keeping time to the music. He hadn't ever done much dancing, but it seemed like a fun activity, kind of like having sex, only with clothes on. "Dean!" Castiel said intently. "Why would you turn your ringer off?"

"I didn't," Dean said. "I don't know what's wrong with it." The song had a driving beat, but Castiel's movements were beginning to falter. "Cas, keep it up. You need to dance."

"I have never danced with a man before," Castiel replied.

"Have you ever danced with a girl?"

Castiel's eyes were distant. "In the clouds."

"With a chick!" Dean exclaimed, but then he realized how loudly he'd spoken. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Way to go, Cas."

"We were young," Castiel said repressively.

"Okay, I sense a story, but now's not the time."

"No," Castiel said firmly.

The rhythm was faltering again. Dean couldn't keep this up on his own. "Cas, come on. If you're not sure what to do, look at some of the others."

"You never called me back," Castiel said, but his dancing improved.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Look, when I got your message, I –" He shook his head. "Why are you calling so much, Cas? You never have anything to tell me, and it's beginning to drive me nuts." Castiel didn't speak for a long moment, and Dean glanced around to see how people were looking at them. Martin had returned to work, but Jes was hovering at the edge of the floor, his eye on the angel. "Cas, you –"

"I do not altogether feel comfortable discussing this here," the angel said, the whole length of his body pressing warmly against Dean's.

"No one is listening," Dean said. Castiel's hands shifted up to Dean's back for a moment, and it felt very strange to be in this close embrace. They were really getting the hang of the dancing, their hips moving in unison, Cas's hands on the small of his back. Dean shifted his arms out around Castiel's shoulders, his hands on the angel's upper back.

"I have had a bad feeling about events surrounding you for some weeks now," Castiel said finally.

"A bad feeling?" Dean repeated. "Why didn't you say something?"

Castiel shrugged, and Dean could feel muscles move all up and down Castiel's torso. "I did not wish to alarm you, and I did not wish to make you careless."

"Careless?" Dean shook his head. "Cas, you're holding me close, not just putting your hands flat against my body." The angels hands shifted, and Dean nodded. "Why would that make me careless?"

Castiel leaned in closer to Dean's ear and spoke softly. Other couples were drawing near, so Dean thought he was trying to keep their conversation private, but their cheeks were actually touching. "You have a tendency to try to prove yourself unafraid when warned of possible threats," Castiel said quietly.

Dean rolled his eyes, though Cas couldn't see his expression with as close as they were together. "Is that all you got, Cas? A bad feeling?"

"I do not get them often." Castiel's lips were practically touching Dean's ear, making him shiver. "And they always portend ill."

Dean leaned back a little. "I'll be careful, okay?" Castiel was silent, and Dean snorted. "It's not like I could avoid it at the moment, with Sammy being all nutso with the overparenting." This seemed to go right over Castiel's head, not surprisingly. Something suddenly occurred to Dean, and he leaned back further still, so that he could see Cas's face. "Wait, is the reason you're calling so often to check up on me?" Castiel's eyebrows went up and Dean interpreted that as an acknowledgment. "Dude, I will call you before I head to work in the evenings if that will make you feel better."

"Before and after," Castiel said.

Dean rolled his eyes again. "Fine, before and after." Raising his hands to the backs of Dean's shoulders, Castiel pulled him close again, and Dean didn't resist. The angel's hands made their slow way downward again. Dean let out a wry laugh. "You're being very girly, you know."

Dean knew that Castiel was blinking in puzzlement because he could feel the eyelashes against his skin. "How can I be girly? I am not a girl."

"Neither is Sam." Castiel's hands had reached Dean's butt, and the sudden squeeze the angel gave made Dean squeak and stiffen in surprise. He could not believe that an angel had just grabbed his ass. That might just be a little too far in character. At that moment, he saw Jes's eyes narrow across the room, and the bouncer started through the crowd towards them. Dean spoke hurriedly into Castiel's ear. "Dude, if you really need to talk to me, meet me at the car after one, okay? I think you'd better go, because Jes looks pretty pissed, and I think Martin is just looking for a chance to scratch your face off." Castiel nodded and took a step back. Dean caught his arm. "And use the door, Cas? Okay?"

Castiel sighed and turned towards the exit. Since he was leaving on his own, Jes simply followed him to see that he left. Martin came to Dean and dragged him into the back room. "What were you thinking, Dean!" he exclaimed.

Dean shook Martin's hand off. "Right now I'm thinking I'd better get back to work before Ted fires my ass."

Martin made an irritated sound as Dean headed back into the noise and dim lights of the club, but he didn't protest.