The Muse

Dean Winchester pulls his Impala into the lot of Bobby's repair shop. The old girl used to be his dad's car. John Winchester had treated better than he did most people, making sure it got oil changes when it needed, fluids changed, he always kept it clean always gleaming in the sunlight despite its black color. He's father gave it to him as a graduation present; it meant the world to him. His dad decided it was time to pass on the old girl and got himself a truck which he claimed was more practical than the car Dean wasn't sure how. Stairway to Heaven began to blare through the speakers as he cut the car off. It was time for some work now.

He got out of the car and got his tools and headed to the garage. Bobby was sitting out front in a folding chair soaking in the sun.

"Bout time you got here, son." Bobby greeted with a wave.

Dean and his father worked with Bobby Singer at his garage. Bobby and John had graduated from school together and were always close, best man at his dad's wedding, Godfather to him and Sam, he was like a brother to John. Bobby had been married once but lost his wife to cancer a few years back. They never had any children of their own and babysat him and Sam to cope with the lack of their own kids.

Bobby gave a warm smile to Dean. "So what was her name this time? I know you pulled that knight in the shiny Impala thing today."

Dean chuckled and shook his head. "Well it wasn't a she," He started

He raised an eyebrow. "You stopped for a guy?"

"You should have seen him, Bobby, he was so lost. He was driving his dad's old clunker and I don't even know how he got it that far. It looked like it was about to go at any minute. I stopped when I saw him he looked like he was having a rough, rough day."

He shrugged. "All right so what was his name?"

"Castiel Novak." He stated. He sat down his toolbox on the workbench. There weren't any cars in the garage so pretty much they were playing the waiting game. They either were up to their eyes in oil changes and bumper replacements or bored out of their mind.

"Castiel? What type of name is that? Wait, isn't that Chuck's youngest?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he said he was Chuck's kid. I can barely remember him from my freshman year of high school. He was a… weird awkward thing. A target for bullies, you know. He was only there for maybe a month. I remember I saved him from getting the shit kicked out of him by Seth."

"Seth's a dick." Bobby said with a nod.

Dean laughed. "Yeah and still is from what I hear. So yeah apparently he came back to go to the art school. Oh and I told Cas that he should bring his dad's car by and we will take care of it."

Bobby reached into his cooler and pulled out a beer then handed one to Dean. "Are you giving away business again, son?"

He shrugged when he opened the bottle. "I don't know man. I doubt they got much money so…"

He narrowed his eyes. "This ain't no charity it's a business." He sighed. "Fine if he comes around then you can work on it and charge him whatever but the difference is coming out of your check."

He nodded. "Fine Bobby," He looked around. "Is dad around?"

"Nope, John went home about an hour ago. Hasn't been much business here."

Dean went to say something when he saw the golden Lincoln pull up on the lot. A smile played out on his face one that Bobby caught but remained quiet about it.

The car came to a stop and the door opened. Castiel stepped out of the car. Dean looked at him and took in the view. He was about average height, his hair black as night and messy, he had stubble on his face like he forgot to shave and his eyes blue and piercing. He was attractive, sexy, even though he looked like he didn't really try. His clothes were a little ill-fitting, his eyes a little tired but it added something to him. An almost mysterious quality.

Castiel looked at them and gave a half wave. "Uh hi, I came to get…" He looked at the car. "This… car worked on." Dean noted how he blushed. His voice shook some and went in and out. It sounded like he was very uncomfortable speaking. The dark haired man quickly looked down and took a deep breath.

Bobby looked up at Dean and nodded to Castiel. "Well knight, help the boy with his car."

He smiled at him. "Yeah of course." He walked up to Castiel. "Glad you came. I was worried it would break down on you." He teased.

He blinked a few times then looked away from Dean before he spoke. "I ugh… I went home and… I… got my assignment done so… I figured I would help dad out…" He rubbed the back of his neck and Dean smirked.

"I need the keys." He held out his hand and Castiel dropped the keys in his hand. Dean pulled the old car into the garage. He got it up on the lift with no trouble. He popped the hood of the car and went to work. He checked all the fluids, plugs and even the battery in the car. He felt eyes on him and he peeked over the hood. Castiel stood there and stared at him, his face blank for the most part. He played with his hands like he was uncomfortable. Dean had never seen someone so uncomfortable around people before. He wasn't that bad this morning. Perhaps Dean didn't notice. His family said he wasn't very observant. He walked around the car and looked at Castiel. "This is going to take a while." He looked at Bobby. "We need a battery and an oil filter."

The older man got up with a nod. "Okay," He walked towards the row of cars.

"You don't keep that stuff on hand?" Castiel asked his voice soft.

Dean shook his head as he watched Bobby back out of the lot and leave for the store. "No usually one of us works on the car and the other one goes and gets the parts." He watched as Castiel gave a nod. He walked over to the hydraulic system for the lift and started to raise the car. Now that he remembered Castiel was awkward around him when he asked about lunch. Did he think Dean was attractive? Dean mentally slapped himself. He could hear Sammy now telling him to check his ego. Sam liked to pick on him about how Dean had once thought in high school he could get him any girl he wanted. He bit his lip remembering; he had gotten the girl he wanted. Then he learned very quickly that getting what you wanted wasn't a good thing. He looked at Castiel admiring his blue eyes as he watched the car being lifted up. Dean was well away he swung both ways he just never acted on it like ever. He had found himself attracted to men before but usually, it was just actors. He almost chuckled to himself as he slid under the car to drain the fluids. He barely knew this guy and he should have learned the last time looks aren't everything. He noticed shoes by the side of the car.

"I've never seen under a car before." He heard Castiel say.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be." He said as he got from under the car. "It smells, and it's gross." He said as he held out his hands to show how dirty they were.

"Most good work is dirty." Castiel said. Dean noticed how he had crossed his arms like he was closing himself off. He's body langue read uncomfortable.

"Yeah…" He tried to clean off his hands. "I suppose so." There was a thick silence now. He looked at Castiel and the other man looked down at his feet. He shook his head. Hot or not this would be odd to date this guy.

About that time Bobby returned with everything. He hauled it up to the garage and Dean finished cleaning out the car. He unhooked the battery and dropped in a new one.

"There it should start easier now." Dean said as he smiled at Castiel.

"Good… especially with colder weather coming…" Castiel trailed off.

Dean plugged the drains back in and then filled the fluids back up. While he was filling in the coolant he heard Castiel speak.

"So ugh… how did you get into working on cars?"

Small talk. "Well, you see this shop belongs to my dad and Bobby. They sort of started to teach me how to work on cars when I was younger and… then I decided to help out. The pay isn't glamorous but I got food on the table and a roof over my head."

He nodded. "Interesting."

And that was that. Castiel didn't say anything else he just watched Dean work. Dean finished off and got the car off the lift.

"There ya go. It even sounds better." Dean said as he got out of the car and handed the keys to Castiel.

Castiel took the keys. "Thanks… how much do I owe you?"

Dean's eyes flickered to Bobby who looked back at him and shook his head. "Well…" he tried to figure it out. Batteries alone weren't cheap plus the oil change it was almost about two hundred. He looked at the man who was staring at him with such intensity it made Dean feel uncomfortable. He couldn't get a read on this guy he either didn't make eye contact or he was staring a hole in him. "How about… one twenty?"

"Hundred and twenty?" Castiel asked his head tilted and it reminded Dean of a puppy and he couldn't help but think about how cute it was.

"Yeah ugh give you a discount." He was pretty sure he heard Bobby let out an annoyed sigh.

Castiel nodded and pulled out his wallet. Dean noticed how the wallet looked worn and old and he wondered how often this guy went clothes shopping. He flipped open the wallet and pulled out the money and laid it in Dean's hand. "Dad gave me money for repairs since it is his car and all."

Dean pocketed the money. "Thanks for bringing her here." He patted the car on the hood. "And tell your dad thanks too."

He smiled briefly then looked uneasy. "Th-thank you again for earlier and just now… I know it's your job but…thanks…"

He gave him a wave and turned around and was getting ready to walk back in the garage.

"Ugh… Dean, I was…" Dean looked back at Castiel waiting for him to finish. Castiel opened his mouth a few times then his face turned bright red. "Lunch… tomorrow…"

He raised an eyebrow. "You want to do lunch tomorrow?"

"Yes." He nodded with vigor. "I ugh… would like that."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at noon. You are staying with Chuck right?"

"Ye-yeah."

"Cool my parents live in that neighborhood so I know where he lives."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." He flashed an award- winning smile before he got in the car. Dean was pretty sure his world lit up when he saw that smile.

He watched him pull out of the lot and turn down the road. He shook his head as he began to clean up from the job.

"Dean I'm taking the difference out of your check. That battery alone was one hundred and thirty." Bobby said

"I know." He trashed the rags and walked back to Bobby and picked up his beer he had left. "I just I don't know he seems so… pathetic."

He shook his head. "Dean, Dean you got it bad, son."

He blushed. Bobby was one of the few people that knew about his bisexuality. He was scared to tell his parents they were so traditional, he hadn't even told Sam but Bobby; Bobby was different. He didn't give him judgmental looks, he didn't demand to know if he chose a degree yet, didn't ask him how many kids he was going to have, didn't demand to know what happened between him and Lisa. He gave Bobby a wink as he drank on his beer. "What can I say, I'm a romantic."

He rolled his eyes. "Sure Dean," He polished off the last of his beer. "He seemed a little awkward though." He sat down the empty bottle. "Remember son, looks aren't everything."

He nodded. "I know I learned that lesson once already." He shuttered. The most beautiful girl in the school Lisa Braeden and boy did he ever learn that looks weren't everything. "Besides its just lunch. It's nothing serious."

Bobby smirked. "Well take it slow, okay. Don't go rushing into anything."

He nodded again. "Yeah I know but it's just lunch. He's paying me back for the belt replacement. I'm not going to read too much into it."

"He was staring at you awfully hard." He let out a yawn. "Just don't give it away on the first date; make him work for it."

Dean just laughed and spotted another car pulling up to the garage. "Look lively we got another customer." He went to work but his mind was on Castiel and the lunch he was going to have with him tomorrow. He had to admit it he was looking forward to it; even if Castiel was pretty awkward.