February 14, 2007

"I'm still kinda surprised he asked us out to a double date." Jess remarked, tucking her hair behind her ear as she began to apply her makeup.

"Well, I'm not. I wasn't exactly surprised when he officially announced he and feathers were a couple." Sam groused, adjusting his tie as he stood in behind Jess.

Jess rolled her eyes, "Feathers? Don't you think that's a bit childish?"

"Not for Dean." Sam frowned as he finished his half-windsor knot. He was the one who came up with the pet name, I merely overheard it.

**SPN**

The Italian restaurant that Dean had made reservations at was full to the brim, and despite making sure that he had called ahead the four still had to wait nearly 20 minutes for their table to open. When it did the two couples sat across from each other as the waitress handed out menus.

"Can I start you off with anything to drink?" She smiled politely, pulling a small notebook out of her apron.

"Can we start with a bottle of the Pacific Peak Merlot for the table?" Sam smiled, knowing how much his brother loathed red wine.

"I'll have water with lemon." Jess added.

"We'll both have waters as well-no ice for him." Dean ordered for himself and Cas-the angel having confided in advance that he had little knowledge of human dining etiquette and after their last episode did not wish to cause any issues, leaving Dean to handle the ordering.

After the waitress left Sam spoke. "It's nice to know you two finally clued us in on being together." Sam stated, not looking up from his menu. Given how you've been together since at least New Years…

"Well, we've really only been together for a week…" Dean stated, clearly warning Sam not to take it too far with his tone. "Even if we have been living together for a few months."

Sam settled into a bitch-face and continued to peruse the menu. "So Cas, what do you think you'll get? Given that you've decided to eat tonight."

The angel looked down at the menu and frowned. There were easily a hundred different options to choose from, and despite not needing to eat, he did want to order something reasonable, "I… am unsure."

Dean glared at his brother as he looked over to Cas, "It doesn't matter, I'm sure we can figure something out."

"Yes…" The angel slouched slightly as he held up the thick booklet and tried to ignore the distractions in order to pick a meal. Dean scooted closer to Cas and hooked his arm around his shoulder as he started talking through the different options, making sure to give his boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek when Sam had glanced up from his menu. Sam rolled his eyes and silently wished the wine would arrive.

The waitress returned and delivered their drinks, then took the orders. Cas ended up getting a veal cutlet and angel-hair pasta in a creamy basil sauce. Jess noticed the tension between the brothers, and decided to try and make small talk after the waitress left. "So Cas, how's everything been? I imagine it must be interesting to get to learn about us humans so up-close and personal."

"Especially when it means getting fucked by them…" Sam mumbled.

Dean scowled, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it must be fascinating for him to get to see how great it is to be close to you. Getting to hear all your stories and help with every little thing you need, then getting screwed whenever you feel like it." Sam paused, "Not that that's anything new." Given how often you've screwed me over recently, it must be becoming pretty easy for you.

Dean reddened, "Sorry I don't just drop everything to go gossip with my brother. Oh Sammy, did you hear? Cas actually cares about my baggage instead of focusing on his own trauma for fucking once."

"I'm glad you found someone who can put up with your bullshit, because frankly I was tired of it. I know what happened sucked, but it's been two months. Get over it. I was kidnapped and almost died before I found out the whole truth and I don't bring it up constantly." Sam crossed his arms.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't compare your trauma to mine."

"Well maybe I wouldn't have to if I even knew what you were going through! You're more emotionally constipated than anyone else I know."

"Look, just because I don't want to talk about it-"

"To anyone else but your boyfriend." Sam cut him off.

Dean was steaming, "Yeah, because you haven't confided in Jess shit that I don't know."

"That's different."

"How?!"

"She helps me train because you've been too busy with the self-loathing thing. I've actually been making progress with her help." He flicked his wrist causing a nearby empty chair to flip over. "And look, no nosebleed!" He sarcastically gestured for approval from his brother.

I ought to give you a nosebleed you ass. "And he's been helping me get over the shit that happened so I can get back to helping you. Meanwhile you're too busy being a dick to even ask how I've been."

"Sorry, I forgot you were an expert on dicks, given how you're obsessed with your angel boyfriend's." Sam commented.

Jess anxiously eyed the brothers, now leaning in only inches from each other's faces. "Sam, Dean, let's calm down…"

"I think I'm not hungry anymore." Dean commented, standing up as he threw his napkin on the table.

"Me neither." Sam stated, leveling a glare at his brother.

"Dean, perhaps we should reconsider… This is your brother, you two should not be arguing like this." Cas pleaded.

"Sam… let's sit back down." Jess motioned back to the table.

"Good night." Dean stated firmly, turning away from the table.

"Good riddance." Sam responded, marching toward the opposite exit.

Cas and Jess briefly exchanged worried looks as they ran after their boyfriends, hoping to salvage something of the clearly stressed relationship the boys were currently in.

**SPN**

"Hello?" Dean flipped his phone open at Bobby's number. When it came to Bobby you didn't want to have to answer to him after you'd sent him to voicemail.

"I have your idjit brother on the other line. We are going to talk through this and you two are going to make up. Then all four of you are coming here-no refusals." Bobby paused, "And yes, I know about 'Cas'. After I got a call from a Jess a random number called me-claiming to be your boyfriend Castiel."

"Oh, I kinda forgot to tell you about him…"

"Really, you didn't think to call me and mention you're currently dating an ACTUAL angel?!" Bobby was incredulous.

"Well…" Dean felt shitty to say the least, I haven't really thought to tell anyone with all I'm still processing.

"Look, don't feel too bad-he explained a bit to me, and I understand that you're not 100% right now. But that isn't an excuse to get into a shouting match with your brother. Which goes for you too, Sam."

Dean heard an indistinct grumble on the other line.

"So let's start with the basics-why are you two angry at each other?" The older hunter leveled.

"Because he kept making Cas feel embarrassed and saying I've been too busy with him to do anything else." Dean stated.

"Because you are too busy with Cas, and you never tell me anything!" Sam retorted.

"Boys." Bobby warned. "We aren't arguing, we're talking."

"Fine." Dean sulked.

"Okay." Sam added.

"Good." Bobby stated, "Sam, were you trying to embarrass Cas?"

"Only half-trying. The guy doesn't know anything about being human."

"Because he's an angel!"

"Still, you constantly fawning over him doesn't help. You're treating him like he's a baby in a suit."

"He basically is, in terms of life experiences." Dean sighed, "Look, so what if he doesn't know everything? We're working on it…" And besides, that's kinda why I like him-he gets to experience all this stuff with me and it's cute to see him get so into it. Like, seriously, he spent 20 minutes playing with the radio after I showed it to him because he found it 'a fascinating approximation of the hosts' communication methods'…

"Sam, Dean has a point. If he wants to show Cas new things he has the right to. And you shouldn't try to embarrass the boy for not knowing things. How would you like it if I started talking about hunting all the time and calling you out for not knowing everything?" Bobby chastised.

"I wouldn't like it." Sam admitted, his tone revealing his embarrassment.

"Dean, would you mind if Cas and Sam did some things together?"

"What? Why?"

"Because it'll give your brother chances to actually get to know the man you've decided to be with. You know his girlfriend. It's only fair that he gets to know your boyfriend."

"Well, I guess that's okay. I might've not really introduced them well…" Thinking back to how they'd only talked once before as a group-prior to him and Cas dating.

Bobby paused, "Dean, have you been keeping things from Sam?"

"No. Not on purpose." Dean replied, "Things have just been… different recently. I've been talking a lot to Cas."

"I understand that it is nice to have a close person to talk to, but don't forget your brother. You two had each other before any of the rest of this mess. It's only fair you talk with him about how things are."

"Yeah!" Sam interjected.

"But that is a two way street, Sam. Jess told me you haven't even tried calling Dean for almost a week, and that he hasn't been helping you with training-she has. I told you two to work on it together. I don't care if she helps, but the two of you should both be there."

"Oh." Sam coughed, "Look-I guess, maybe, I might've been a bit mean tonight, and I haven't been great at reaching out."

Dean sighed, fucking chick-flick moments! "Same here. I promise I won't let Cas change anything between us-and I'll try to talk more."

"Good. Now all of you are coming up here this weekend. One hand or not, I'm still slapping both of you for being so damn stupid to each other!" Bobby concluded, hanging up the call.

Sam shook his head as Dean exhaled, both thinking the same thing: How the fuck did we end up here?