Chapter 10

Hi everyone! New chapter here, hope you'll enjoy it!

It was strange to come back to the Blue Jungle for Castiel, after all it was here that everything started. He had went there thinking he would just allow himself a night of fun after a long time, but instead...Well, it wasn't like it could happen twice.

"You remember everything I told you?" Dean asked brushing his temple and putting a strand of hair back in place.

"More or less," Castiel replied, a bit unsettled by that gesture. Dean had told him a few things about his friends, their names, what they were doing and how they met. Things he should have learned if he truly was with Dean since two years.

"Remember, act loving, we're supposed to be a couple."

"I know, I know…I'm not that good at lying, though."

"I noticed," Dean told him, remembering the time on the rooftop restaurant, when Castiel pretended he was okay and had to leave to gather stuff when in reality he intended to hide his daughter; Dean had immediately seen he wasn't honest with him. In fact Castiel rarely lied, he would just refuse to answer questions, because he was bad at that.

"You handled yourself with the reporters, though."

"Because you had given me a trail to follow, told me what to say. Same when I was lying to my friends, we had already imagined some story…"

"Well, it's still the same story!"

"I don't know if I can go on like this forever."

He was about to tell him to twist the truth a bit, because the best liars would always tell the truth, but he didn't. He didn't want Castiel to become a good liar, he liked his honest personality.

"It will be alright, don't worry, don't speak too much if you want."

"You don't have any guilt? Lying to them like that? I felt shitty after lying to mine, and I could have strangled you at that moment."

Not really knowing what to answer, a pang of guilt blocking his throat. He took a deep breath and eventually replied: "They're my friends, but there are things about me they don't have to have to know. Anyway I don't want to let them come too close."

"Why not?"

"You never really know what to expect from people. I do believe they like me, but they don't care that much."

Weird…Was that guy really thinking such things about his friends? Well, he wondered what kind of people they were.

They got out of the car and came in; once again he found the place really appealing, with its particular décor. Dean was of course greeted by every employee who crossed his way. It had been strange to think he could come in without having to wait in the queue, nor care about the way he was dressed. Well, at least being with Dean had its advantage. He walked with his future husband who lead him to the bar counter where a group of people were talking. A red-haired woman waived her hand at the sight of them.

"Here they are!"

Castiel saw there were five people, two women and three men, and the red-haired woman introduced herself first to him. They all first came toward them to congratulate them about their future marriage and Castiel remembered that none of them knew, except for one. A dark-haired woman shook his hand first:

"Hi, I'm Lenore, glad to meet you," she said with a nice smile.

"Happy as well," he answered while shaking her hand.

"Benny, her husband," one broad man added with a huge smile.

"Hey, I'm Charlie," the red-haired woman declared.

"I'm Kevin, and this is Marc my husband," finished one Asian young man.

"His husband and the one who will take care of your wedding."

"Ah, yeah, Dean told me about you: you're his advertising agent."

"Yep, and I'm now an amateur wedding planner! I might find myself a new career after that!" He jokingly told them.

"No way you're quitting, I need you," Dean replied on the same joking tone. "Where is Jo?"

"She had to go to take care of something, she'll be here soon," Benny replied. "Come on, take a seat, the two of you."

They sat at a table after ordering drinks, and Castiel found himself between Dean and the one named Lenore.

"So you guys have to tell us everything," she told them, "You hid that for so long!"

"Come on, we aren't here only for a chat!" Dean declared. "I'm here to party a bit! We all need it, especially Charlie and I."

"Yeah, that frigging hacker got me some sleepless nights! But I don't wanna talk about it, it's been too much already!" She sighed heavily.

"You surely need to relax a bit too," Kevin told Castiel with sympathy. "Moving away, preparing a wedding and the reporters, that's a lot."

He lowered his eyes, the guy was just genuinely asking, and that was the worse. "Yeah, that's overwhelming to say the least. I guess it's a good thing I'm not working for now." At least, it was the truth, it was quite overwhelming.

"You're a teacher, aren't you?"

"Yeah, an English teacher."

"So was my dad," Marc told him, "did you…"

"Dean Winchester! I'm happy to see you."

They all turned to the voice and Dean's smile faltered a bit: here before them was Alistair Crowley. He was a mob boss, and though Dean wasn't scared of him, he knew he had to be careful. It was just like Dick Roman, he wouldn't let him push him around but he wouldn't underestimate him either.

Unknowingly to him, Castiel was agape, because he had also recognized Crowley's voice, and he wasn't expecting to see someone from his past. Was he here for him? Would Crowley speak to Dean? Even if he does, why should you care? You got nothing to be ashamed of.

"Happy as well, Crowley! Is it a curtesy visit, or are you here for a business talk?"

"Both, I needed to speak with you but I also wanted to congratulate you for your wedding," he spoke the last words while turning to Castiel who didn't dare to say anything. Immediately, Dean shifted to put himself between him and Crowley, he didn't want that mobster around his friends and even less around Castiel. Thank God Claire wasn't here. Putting a firm hand on Crowley's shoulder, Dean gave him that smile and look which had hint of threat.

"Let's talk somewhere else, somewhere quieter."

"As you wish."

They got away and Crowley gave one last look to Castiel before disappearing into the crowd. A silence settled in the group, no one knowing what to say at first.

"I hate those guys," Marc finally said. "I know Dean had to trade with them a bit, but I hate them."

"I don't like it at all," Castiel breathed out without even thinking. They all thought he was worried for Dean of course.

"Don't be scared, he knows how to handle them, and I don't think he would do anything in the club Dean own, it would be too risky," Benny explained, trying to reassure him.

"He is used to it anyway, and Crowley had no one with him. If he wanted to try something, he would have had bodyguards, at least…Isn't ?" Charlie added, trying to comfort herself as much as the others.

"Yeah, I think so too."

A short and awkward silence settled between them, unable to know whether or not they should be scared, after all it could have been a simple business talk. Crowley had no one with him, as Charlie pointed out.

"I don't know if Dean spoke of us to you?" Benny asked Castiel, trying to find something to break the slight awkwardness. "I must say I was blown off when he told me about you. But I can understand why you wanted to hide."

"Yeah, same here, I couldn't believe I didn't notice anything," Marc added. Castiel noticed the girl named Charlie lowered her eyes, looking slightly embarrassed. Ah yeah, Dean told him she was the only one who knew. At least someone shared his feelings.

"Hum, yeah, my friends were also surprised. The two of you met during college, if I'm right?" He asked Ben. "I heard of your names, it's just your faces I didn't know."

"Yeah, we lost contact for a bit and met again," Benny explained. "I lived in Portland for some times."

"Dean told me you have a little girl," Charlie declared. "What's her name?"

"Claire, she is three year old, she'll be four that autumn," he explained with that slight bloom of pride he had whenever he would speak of his daughter.

"He said it was also for her that you didn't want to expose your relationship," Lenore continued, gazing once more toward the direction where Dean and Crowley left.

"Yeah, I knew the media would speak about it, one of the biggest names of New York getting married to a man, I knew everyone would talk about it. I wasn't ready to face it myself, so having my daughter in the middle of that…I really wasn't ready," he repeated as it was absolutely true.

"Are you now?" Lenore asked with a genuinely worried expression.

"Not really but I don't think I'll ever be." She smiled comfortingly and put a hand over his shoulder: "I'm sure your little girl will be perfectly alright. And in the end, it will be worth it."

He nodded, not really knowing what to say. If he had been really in love, it would have been worth it, but he wasn't? And Lord, she seemed to be a really nice person, once again it was so strange, having to lie. There was a time in his life he had to lie and dissimulate, that was when he was still a kid and living with his father, and he had hated it.

"You'll see, those things go and pass," Kevin assured him. "I work as an agent for models, and I can tell you that kind of stories will interest people until another one is brought up. And it will happen."

"Let's hope you're right."

It was weird when he thought about it: half of Dean's friends were his employee. But well, maybe that was because he spent so much time doing his job, maybe his social life was mostly related to it?

"So you all met during your job?"

"Not us," Kevin said about Marc and himself. "And I actually met Dean because he had briefly dated a model I worked with. Funny when you think about it, he dumped th girl but kept the agent as a friend! And I introduced Marc to him when he searched for a new advertising agent."

"Ah yeah, now I remember, he told me that," Castiel said as if it had been a while ago instead of ten minutes.

"I did met Kevin, Marc and Jo through the job," Charlie said, "But I met Dean and Benny during college too."

"You didn't like us much back then," Benny pointed out jokingly. "But I admit we could be annoying back then."

"You especially could be a total pain in the ass," Charlie reminded him with a smile, "Thank God you met Lenore!"

"Come on!" He huffed, laughing at those words, a bit embarrassed. His wife kissed his temple.

Castiel smiled at that picture and weirdly he imagine someone saying the same think about Dean and himself kissing his husband's temple. He tried to push that away, and just continued to speak with them, though he was a bit embarrassed having to lie, he was growing more and more comfortable. None of them were snobbish, he didn't know them yet, but they weren't what he expected. He wondered why Dean refused to let them close, but now maybe he had his reasons, after all he didn't know them.

"Ha, finally, Jo's here!" Marc exclaimed with a little smile for Charlie, and they all looked at the newcomer.

Castiel turned to look at her and saw a blond young woman coming toward them with a smile. He frowned, she looked oddly familiar, and he titled his head as she got closer. He didn't notice the older woman behind her.

"Hey guys!" She turned to him with a hesitant expression. "You're Castiel right?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Jo Harvelle, I think…"

"Wait, Harvelle?"

Jo smiled even more hugely at this: "I knew it!" She turned to the older woman behind her! "I knew it was him mom!"

Castiel gaped as he saw the woman: Ellen! She advanced toward him with a huge smile.

"Hey, kiddo! It's been a while!"

He was absolutely breathless: after ten years, Jo and Ellen were here before him!

O o O

"What was so important?"

He had led Crowley to Jo's office, he had the keys to it, and he knew she wouldn't mind him being in here. The man just sat and looked at him with a very serious face while Dean stood, leaning against Jo's desk with his arm crossed, facing Crowley.

"I came to speak to you about some rumors. You know, I do know some people who have some ties with the Church of Hope, that one you were supposed to agree with."

That was surely not what he was expecting. He raised an eyebrow: "What about them? And why do you have ties with them?"

"Oh, you know, they got some ways of getting money which aren't all that clean. I don't like them, but business is business. Thing is, I heard that apparently, that guy who declared you and your company supported the Church, he didn't exactly do that on his own."

Now Dean tensed a bit in anticipation, and listened as Crowley went on: "He was quite drunk, but he told someone he hated himself for failing his mission. He had to spy on you and find some dirty thing about you to bring you down. But well, you fired him before he could. Now I don't know if those rumors were his ideas or someone else, but I guess it has something to do with it."

Dean bit his lip. It wasn't that impossible; he had noticed Arthur Damian wasn't working as well as usual, and several employees had complained about his behavior, but he hadn't thought he would have spied on him. That and the hacking attempt…But wait, was Crowley even saying the truth?

"What do expect in exchange of such an information?"

"Take it as a show of good friendship. Something is going on, I can smell it, and I simply think you're the right side to bet on. I simply hope you'll remember I am the one to trust."

Of course! Dean had found himself dealing with Dick Roman, a new rising mob boss, and rumors said Crowley was eying Roman's territory. And having big names in New York on his side could only play in his favor. Crowley stood up from his chair.

"Take it also as some kind of engagement gift, after all you're gonna marry an acquaintance of mine, I must say it was strange to see you with Angel Face…"

"Angel Face?!"

That startled Crowley a bit, his composed face suddenly a bit confused at that outburst. "Yeah, Castiel. That's how we nicknamed him back then."

Fuck! What the hell was that? How did that mobster know Castiel and what the hell was that nickname?! He gauged the guy with a threatening eye, making him grew paler and growled: "Why the fuck do you call him like that?"

"Wow, calm down! It was just a nickname for the fights! Whenever he was in the ring, he was always careful of his face, he would always make sure no one could hit it! And that's…"

"What? In the ring?"

It hit Crowley that Castiel would have tried to hide his past, maybe he feared that such things about himself would make a man like Dean Winchester back off. Yet Alistair knew the billionaire a bit and he doubted it would bother him that much. Anyway he said too much to back off on his words.

"Yeah that guy fought in my ring, I bet on him many times."

"You're seriously telling me Castiel was a fighter in an illegal fighting ring?!"

"I fear I said too much, maybe you should see the rest with your future husband."

Fuck! He gotta be kidding! Castiel in that kind of place? On the other hand, he did fight off his three men, and one of them admitted they only got him because they threatened him with a gun. Yet…Fuck, this seemed completely unlike him to go and fight among that kind of people! Charlie was definitely right, he had to know more about him. He left the wary Crowley here and immediately went back to retrieve them. He found the five of talking together and there was an older woman with them, whose face looked vaguely familiar. As he approached, he suddenly remembered her.

Of course!

Castiel was still absolutely baffled at this. He couldn't believe Ellen was here, but anyway he was happy to notice she looked perfectly fine. She was briefly introduced to everyone, but she mostly paid attention to Cas'.

"So wait, you know one another," Charlie asked in astonishment.

"Yeah! I had no idea Dean was dating him! But when I saw his picture in the news and the name, I knew it had to be him!" Jo exclaimed while hugging Castiel.

"I came immediately when Jo told me about you," Ellen explained, "God it's been a long time, I still remember you when you were a twelve year old kid hanging out at my bar!"

"It's been…Ten years ago the last time I saw you," Castiel replied, still shocked. "How are you?"

"Pretty good, I must say I got wiser, I avoid the old businesses I used to be in, if you know what I mean."

Damn right he knew, he had been part of it! She was still beaming at his sight: "So what did you became?"

"I'm an English Teacher. You always said I was quite an egg-head, well I decided this was the best job for me."

"Yeah, I remember that! It's good, kiddo, I knew you would find something to do. So, you're really gonna marry my daughter's boss?"

"Well, yeah, but you…"

"Hey, Jo! So this is your mom, am I right?"

That was Dan's voice. He was coming toward them and Castiel braced himself for the confrontation. He knew Ellen, she wasn't the kind to hold her tongue either. But at Castiel's surprise, Ellen just smiled and held out her hand.

"Long time no see, Mr Winchester! I wondered if you would remember me."

"Of course, it was ten years ago now, but I remember it like yesterday: you were my first business deal!" Dean commented.

"Yeah, back then I couldn't believe someone so young would handle that kind of things. Is the store doing well?"

"Just fine. They all thought I had done a bad move, but hey, it' still here and kicking! Jo told me your new bar was doing well."

"Yeah, honestly I don't miss New York that much, my life in the countryside is actually much better. If it wasn't for Jo, I would never come back! I must admit I also missed the lad over here," she declared, showing Castiel.

Dean frowned and blinked in surprise once he heard that: "You two know each other already?"

"Yeah, I used to work for Ellen," Castiel uttered, barely able to process what was happening.

"We were friends back then," Jo told Dean with enthusiasm, "If someone had told me you would marry Cas' one day, I wouldn't have believed it! Where did you two meet?"

"In a club," Dean simply replied, looking the three with astonishment. "I had no idea you already knew each other!"

"You can count yourself pretty lucky, guys like Castiel aren't easy to find!" Jo told Dean, putting her arm over Cas's shoulders. The latest didn't know what to do or say. Why didn't Ellen look mad? Why was she letting her daughter work with him? Ellen wasn't the kind to hide her discontent, had she been angry at Dean, she would have given him a piece of her mind. But no, she was warm. Obviously, he didn't know everything.

He waited for the right moment to speak with her alone. He seized the occasion when she went to the bathroom, h waited for her to return and intercepted her before she could join the rest of the group again.

"Wait, can we talk?"

"What's wrong?"

"Ellen, I need to ask you something: what happened in the past? I heard you had been forced to sell to the Winchesters?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that?!"

"That's what everyone would say."

"Can you be a bit more precise?"

"They said they absolutely wanted your spot and that John Winchester's son was the one who forced you to sell, using threats and all. What really happened?"

Ellen snorted and then laughed. "Ha, those sly bastards! No, you really want to know what happened? I was forced to sold, but not by the Winchester. By that fucker, Harvey Connor; you remember him? He was the boss of some mob."

"What?" He did remember, he hadn't seen him much but he had heard his name. Crowley was the one who had over-taken control of his territory a long time ago and no one had heard about Connor anymore, some whispered he had ended up in the river.

She sighed at the unwanted memory: "He was the one who absolutely wanted my bar. I don't know if you remember but some people wanted to buy it along with the fighting ring."

"I just remember some mobsters would come and speak with you."

"Yeah, I wanted to leave you and Jo out of it as much as possible. But Connor was trying to get a name for himself and he wanted to gain more power. My place really interested him. He threatened me, tried to corner me into selling it, I didn't want to budge, but he started to make threats toward Jo as well, and I understood it would be too dangerous to stay. I still didn't want to sell to him, because I didn't want to give him that victory. That's when I heard that the Winchester company some offers around to find a place for a store. I immediately did everything to come in contact with them, and offer to sell. That's when I met Dean Winchester's son. I knew that once they would buy, Connor wouldn't dare to go against them. It was my last 'fuck you' to them."

She took another gulp and Castiel was completely agape. That story was the reason why he had hated Dean Winchester at first, the reason why he had despised him at first sight, before he even spoke to him. And now, he understood it was false.

"I guessed it was much better for him to pretend Dean Winchester took me down before they could, rather than admit I screwed him over by selling to another he couldn't reach."

"Yeah."

He spoke a bit more with Ellen, still baffled as he understood that even though Dean didn't buy her bar just to help, he didn't force her to leave either, it had actually been an opportunity for her. He told her about his little girl and she showed herself pretty enthusiastic to meet her.

They eventually joined the group again and he went to his future husband who was still speaking with Jo. Before Dean could react, Castiel kissed him. In spite of the surprise, he returned the kiss eagerly and embracing him. That taste of alcohol on those lips was more intoxicating than any other drinks and Dean had to hold because he felt like he was swaying. Castiel parted the kiss as well, feeling a strange sensation, like a creeping shiver and attributed that to the alcohol. You hardly drunk anything tonight.

"Dance with me?"

Castiel grinned and nodded. The dance was strange, he never allowed Dean to get too close, but he still danced with him. As they both moved, they felt that weird sensation between them, like sweet electricity, but neither voiced it. Between the anger, and the strange connection forming between them, Castiel didn't even know what he was feeling anymore, so he just danced, letting himself drift a bit.

It was around 3 am when they left. The group had separated, and while Ellen had went back to her daughter's flat, Jo had decided to escort Charlie home. Marc, Kevin, Lenore and Benny also left. Castiel and Dean remained a bit, and as everyone had left, Dean told his future husband.

"There are some things we'll have to talk about. You didn't tell me everything."

"Surely not. I didn't want to. Why would I?"

He wasn't drunk, but he was tired, overwhelmed by everything. Seeing Ellen, Jo and even Crowley had been really strange. Dean took his face in his hands and leaned closer.

"You remember when I told you I preferred honest hatred rather than fake love…"

With that, he kissed him, and pressed Castiel against the counter. Almost as if he had to hold on something, Castiel gripped Dean's shirt and allowed him to kiss him and bend him over slightly. He should have pushed him away, but tonight it felt easy to kiss Dean. They broke the kiss and Dean was about to go for another But Castiel stopped him this time.

"Let's go."

Though he was disappointed, Dean nodded and freed him from his grasp. The car was down the street, they had to walk a bit. It didn't bother Castiel, the smell of alcohol inside was a bit smothering, and a bit of fresh air before getting into the car was welcome.

"How did you meet Jo and Ellen? Couldn't believe you knew them."

"Trust me, I was very surprised to see them here."

"An Crowley? He told me some things."

"Yeah, I guess he…"

"Look what we have here!"

Their attention was called and they saw three men advancing toward them. They stopped walking, any sensation of tiredness fading away. It reminded Castiel of the night he had faced Dean's lackey, the way they were looking at them was all the same. But this time those guys were thugs, and Dean was obviously not their boss.

"If you know what's best for you, you'll back off," Dean simply declared. "We don't have time for this."

"Too bad, because we do," the leader of three snarled while taking out a knife.

Dean and Cas' looked at each other and then back at the attackers. Even the thugs didn't see it coming. They threw themselves at the three men, Castiel immediately punching one before elbowing another while Dean disarmed the one with the knife by twisting his arm as hard as he could. The guy let go of the knife but elbowed Dean in the chest, making him release his grasp and punched him in the face. Backing away, Dean was still not down, though. Dodging another blow, he gave a hard punch between the guy's ribs. The guy bent over in pain, but before Dean could attack again, a yelp from Castiel took his attention.

Cas' had just been grabbed from behind by the broadest of his two opponents but he kicked the other one right in the crotch before he could take advantage of that to hit him. Gathering himself, Dean's opponent pushed him against the closest car before he could go and help Cas'. Growling, he retaliated with a head butt and kicked the thug away toward the closest wall. As the guy crashed against it, Dean grabbed his face and pushed his head hard against the bricks. Crumbling, the man fell at Dean's feet.

He looked up to see Cas' who had been able to free himself. Dodging a punch from the broadest one, Cas elbowed the guy right in the face, and Dean rushed to kick the other one before he could attack his future husband by behind. Before he could recollect his spirit, Cas' grabbed his opponent by the hair and pushed him against the tall one who just got kicked by Dean, making them collide violently. He gave another punch in one guy's face, making him fell and knocked him off with one last kick. Dean grabbed the last conscious one and pinned him against a car.

"What the fuck was that?! Who sent you?!"

"…cough…No one, we just…"

Dean pressed him furthermore and yelled: "Don't fucking lie! Who sent you?!"

"I swear! We just target people coming out of rich clubs!"

"I see…"

Dean gave him one last punch, knocking him out. Castiel took out his phone, and called the cops. Silently, Dean was already thinking of how he would unveil the truth. He was sure this was no coincidence, but who sent them? A mobster? The Church of Hope? Or somebody else?

As difficult as it is to write those, I love fight scenes! Hope you liked it.