It takes only a second for Sam to spot Dean's car once they exit the school. Without hesitation, he slides in the passenger's seat and Cas hops in the back right behind him. "How was school?" Dean asks and Cas is the first to respond.
"Sam asked a girl to homecoming."
"Way to sell me out Cas," Sam huffs, glaring at the boy through the rear-view mirror. Cas simply grins back and Sam tries to bite back a laugh. It is ridiculously hard to stay mad at Castiel. Dean smiles at his brother.
"So, who is she? What's she like?" Dean asks as he pulls out of the parking lot.
"Her name is Jessica, she's a junior in my math class. She's really attractive and super intelligent. She's taking a few classes out at the college. We're actually meeting up this Thursday to study for our math exam too," Sam says, genuinely excited about spending time with the girl outside of a school setting.
"Way to go Sammy!" Dean grins, glancing at Cas through his rear-view mirror. "What about you Cas? Got a hot date for the dance?" Dean says it jokingly, but Sam reads straight through it. Sam does not even have to look back to know that Cas's face is bright red as he responds with a simple no. "Why's that?"
"Jo informed me I'm going to be joining the losers' section with her, Kevin, and Andy by the punch bowl," he says casually. Dean laughs, not at all noticing the dodged question.
"With you guys, there 's no way that can be the losers' section."
"Dean, I spend my free time reading comic books. Kevin does as well along with playing an unhealthy amount of video games and studying almost nonstop. Andy is obsessed with almost every anime under the sun. In high school that's not exactly seen as cool. The only one that confuses me is Jo. Why does she hang out with us?" Cas asks, looking at Sam. He had never really thought about it before, but Jo could easily be popular if she wanted to. She most certainly has the looks along with enough sass for a whole cheerleading squad.
"Jo hates the popular kids. She used to be friends with them, that's actually how she met Chuck and Kevin, but as they all got older she realized that she couldn't stand them. All they want to do is party and drink but Jo's got a better head than that. Plus she's wicked smart even though she doesn't really show it. So she started hanging out with Kevin, Chuck, and I more at school, then Andy came along, then you, and here we are," Sam explains.
"Alright let's take the story circle inside," Dean says as they pull into Gabriel's driveway. They all exit the Impala and make their way inside. "Gabe!" Dean yells once they are indoors. Nothing but silence answers. "Car was still out front. He's probably under the house trying to figure out the damn pipes. Be back in a bit, no wild parties."
"Dean you'll literally be under the house, plus who are we going to call?"
"Good point, but the rule still stands," Dean says before heading out the door. Sam rolls his eyes and turns to Cas.
"Wanna get started on our history essay?"
Dean enters the crawlspace underneath the house, doing his best to dodge the many cobwebs and praying that he does not pick up too many eight-legged hitchhikers along the way. He readjusts his face-mask as he spots Gabriel. "Dean-o! Welcome to my lovely home. What do you think? Be honest. Are the cobwebs too much?" Gabriel asks and Dean laughs.
"Just a tad less might be nice," Dean says as he walks over to where Gabriel has the insulation torn out of the wall.
"So, I think I figured out the problem? This one pipe, just this one for some fucking reason, is clogged up with rust. So I'm thinking if we just bring it out and let it soak in a rust-eating solution overnight we might be good. I took a few others off but they all looked fine."
"Probably because this one was hanging the lowest, water probably settled. Alright well, let's bring it out and up and then hit up the hardware store. They should have some of the heavier duty stuff there," Dean says, already making his way toward the exit. Gabriel follows behind, pipe in hand, and takes a deep breath once they're out.
"Ah! Fresh air!" he exclaims as he takes off his face mask.
"I can't believe it took three days to figure out one pipe. If this works I'm going to be both annoyed and relieved," Dean says, taking off his jacket and shaking off a couple spiders that had fallen on it. Gabriel nods his head in agreement as they walk inside.
Cas and Sam are sat on the couch, completely silent as they work on their homework. "How's my favorite Moose today?" Gabe asks as they walk through the living room. Sam rolls his eyes at the nickname. It is one of Gabriel's favorites and has apparently come to replace Sam's actual name in his mind.
"Alright, you?" Sam responds back automatically.
"Fantastic," Gabriel responds with a wide grin as he grabs his wallet off of the kitchen counter. "We're heading to the hardware store, don't break stuff," Gabriel says simply, ruffling Sam's hair as he walks past. "I think it's almost time for a haircut Sammy."
"Your hair is literally the same length."
"Ah but see Samsquatch I actually keep my hair groomed thank you very much."
"Dude it literally looks the same as-"
"Okay ladies you're both ugly now Gabe let's go," Dean interjects and Castiel chuckles slightly. Gabe and Sam both give Dean an almost identical bitch face. "Sammy stop teaching him things," Dean says as he walks between the two, looking at how oddly similar their facial expressions are.
"He's right you know. Perhaps I should be teaching you a few things," Gabriel winks at the end of his sentence and Sam rolls his eyes, all too used to the double innuendos by now. Dean nearly gags.
"Alright we're burning daylight, come on," Dean says as he heads out the door, keys to the Impala in hand. Gabriel pats Sam and Cas on the heads before following Dean outside.
The trip to the hardware store is spent with Dean blaring his music and Gabriel in the passenger's seat, nose scrunched at the obnoxious volume. "You're spending too much time around Sam," Dean says, acknowledging the all-too-familiar expression.
"Not enough," Gabriel says and Dean rolls his eyes. Gabriel has gained almost an obsession with his brother. If Dean did not know any better he would almost think that Gabriel actually had a thing for him, but of course, he would not. Dean warned Gabriel that Sam was straight. Only a fool would set themselves up for that kind of heartbreak.
The trip is a quick in-and-out and then they are on their way back to Gabriel's house once more. The music is blaring again and Gabriel is pulling that face. Dean chuckles and shakes his head. "Heard Cas got dragged into going to homecoming with Jo and them," Dean says, glancing over at Gabe.
"Really? He hasn't gone to any school dances since he started high school," Gabriel comments, looking mildly confused. "He going with anyone? Well besides their friend group I mean."
"Nah, wouldn't say why though. Might just be scared to ask someone." Gabriel laughs.
"Yeah, that's why," he says, looking very pointedly at Dean.
"What?" Dean asks, and Gabriel rolls his eyes. Those two are ridiculous.
"What about Sammy-boy? He find himself a pretty girl to take to the dance?" The statement is said sarcastically but Dean is almost afraid to answer.
"Uh, yeah, actually." Dean pauses. There's no response so Dean tries to press on. "Her name's Jessica, she's a junior in his math class." More silence follows. Dean looks over and Gabriel has gone tense, not making any eye contact.
"Oh," he squeaks out. "Good for him."
"Gabriel," Dean sighs, noticing something in the tone that he had been dreading.
"What?"
"You didn't?"
"Didn't what?"
"Gabriel don't play stupid. I told you that Sam was straight. I warned you."
"I know," Gabriel sighs, rubbing his hand down his face. "I didn't mean- it was an accident. I was just being stupid at first but then- look I know it's my own stupid fault and I'll get over it eventually I just- fucking hell I'm an idiot," Gabriel says, allowing his face to drop into his hands. Dean sighs and places a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. Yeah, he is an idiot, but he is also his best friend. His best friend that went and got a crush on his brother. Idiot.
Dean and Gabriel walk into the house to grab the pipe that Gabe left on the counter. Cas and Sam are at the table playing a game of cards. "What sounds good for dinner tonight?" Dean asks as they enter the kitchen. He places the bag on the counter.
"Anything but pizza," both the boys answer without looking up from their card game.
"Okay, noted, but what do you guys actually want?"
"Can we just get a couple subs or something?" Sam asks, finally breaking eye contact with his cards to acknowledge his brother.
"Fine, but we're not doing all your health crap on it. Subs sound good to everyone else?"
"Yeah," Cas responds, still staring at his cards.
"Sure," Gabriel responds before heading out the back door and toward the garage. His voice is lacking its normal boisterous tone. Sam raises an eyebrow but leaves the question unasked.
While they are ordering their subs online Sam manages to talk Dean into getting a whole-grain footlong with a heavy helping of vegetables on it when even Cas admitted that he was growing tired of eating food covered in grease. Gabriel returns midway through ordering with a relatively large metal bucket. "Hey, Gabe you down for the- what's with the bucket?"
"We need something to soak the pipe in," he responds simply. "So what am I down for?" he asks, not taking the chance to make a joke out of the phrasing. Sam and Cas both exchange a look of confusion.
"Uh, the Philly cheesesteak sub? Sam and Cas are eating some rabbit food wheat piece with a sliver of ham on it." Sam rolls his eyes at his brother.
"Yeah, Philly sounds good," he says, taking the pipe, the bucket, and the rust solution with him as he heads back out the back door. Sam finally breaks.
"Did anyone else find that weird?" he asks, looking at the faces of the other two. Over the last week, he's gotten used to Gabriel making jokes and obnoxious comments whenever he finds the chance. He is not used to Gabriel acting almost… normal.
"What?" Dean asks, looking up after he clicks send on their order. His hypnosis via meat-packed subs is finally broken.
"Gabriel," Cas responds simply, cocking his head to the side. "Something's wrong," he says simply. Dean shrugs.
"He'll get over it," he says, standing up from his seat.
"What's wrong with him, Dean?" Sam asks, eyeing his brother suspiciously. Dean usually pesters people until they tell him what is going on. If he is not doing that then either he already knows or has finally taken the hint that they do not want to talk about it. Seeing as the situation is relatively new Sam determines that it is more than likely the former option.
"Nothing, Sam. He'll be fine. Just trust me, okay?" Dean asks though the question is rhetorical. He finalizes the conversation, cutting off whatever argument Sam was about to retort, by shutting the back door behind him. He follows Gabriel to the garage to see if he needs any help with the pipe.
(A/N: Agh! I'm so excited about where this story is going. The real climax of the drama is still a few chapters away but I promise you guys won't be disappointed! I really appreciate all the follows and favorites, they fuel my writing. You guys are great. Thank you!)