A.N. I'm so sorry my unicorns! Real life grabbed me and insisted I pay attention... plus I'm writing for the 2018 pinefest on AO3... but here's the next chapter!

The sedate routine Cas had been craving, did settle in and before he knew it, he was in his last week of his forced, but oh so welcome, vacation.
"We should go somewhere, Cas." Dean suggested that Friday.
"A movie or something. We never got to celebrate your vacation." he clarified.
Rolling up his eyes in pretend thought, Cas was amazed how much their thinking was alike at times.
He had heard something at the bar a week ago, and he had decided there and then that he would get Dean to come with him, to celebrate his time off properly.

"I'm not working at the bar tonight, but I heard there was a local cover band playing... we could go see them." he dropped his suggestion casually, but his heart was thumping.
Dean sat to attention and demanded to know what the covers were.
Once Cas had told him, he was buzzing with anticipation.
To be honest, Cas was too, but not because of the band, although he knew them and they played pretty well.
No, Cas was excited because it would basically be a kind of date. With Dean. Even though they were just friends and housemates, it still felt that way.

So, when the time was there to get ready, Cas took a little time extra, to make sure he looked ok. His tighter, black jeans, which Gabriel had told him made his butt look delectable, a not too ratty Metallica shirt, his ring, earrings, and his leather wrist cuffs. He glanced at his reflection in the full sized mirror on his closet. He looked... ok. Not too sexy, but it wasn't a real date. He nodded. No eyeliner. He found he was too old for it anyway. Teens and tweens can get away with it, but on a guy his age... it would be a bit sad.
He smirked at his reflection and turned on his heels to go downstairs.

Dean was waiting and they pulled on their coats, Cas of course opting for his all time favorite black one.
"Lookin' good there, bud. You ready to go?" Dean asked in that gruff voice.
That voice uttering the veiled compliment, made Cas' cheeks glow slightly.
To hide his reaction, Cas asked if they could take Baby. He just loved to hear her purr.
"You afraid your Mark 5 will stall?" Dean chuckled, but he did grab his keys.
Not dignifying that with an answer, Cas glared at him, arms crossed.

The grin slid off Dean's face and he averted his eyes a bit.
"Just get your ass to my Baby... she'll match your colourscheme..." he said a bit breathless.
Worried he'd scared Dean, Cas walked off towards the drive, where Dean had parked his car earlier on.
When he noticed Dean was hanging back, he looked over his shoulder, eyebrow raised.
"Comin'!" Dean called out and all but ran to the car.
Cas shook his head and got in, a small smile on his face as the door creaked shut.

Once they got at the bar, they were earlier than expected, and Cas couldn't help but lend Samandriël a hand.
When he came to the main area, Dean was backstage, waving him over.
"Cas! C'mover here!" he called out, his hand on the shoulder of a scrawny looking man, with a mullet.
Stomping down his spiking jealousy, Cas sauntered over.
He greeted the guy in the manner he usually reserved for encounters with people he was slightly wary of.
Kindly, but without real warmth.

Dean didn't seem to notice, and smiled warmly, before taking care of the introductions.
"Ash, Cas. Cas, this is my old pal Ash."
Old pal... that didn't sound too sexual or romantic.
Cas relaxed a bit and even shook the guy's hand.
Even though he had no claim on Dean whatsoever, he still had that ugly, green monster clawing up his insides.

Ash raised his eyebrows and his grey eyes flicked all over Cas.
"Housemate? Like..." he smirked, and Cas could hear the innuendo slot in place.
Even though he wished more than anything that it was justified, Cas wanted to spare Dean the gossip.
"Like he pays me rent and we share my house. It is too big and pricey to live alone." he retorted blandly, as if there never was any innuendo.

Dean's smirk was almost proud when he told Ash how Cas could stop innuendo before it was even started.
Ash looked part impressed, part calculating as he took Cas in a second time.
Then, waving at the assembled hodgepodge of equipment, he grinned.
"Dudes, you're right on time. Our roadies have not shown..."
Cas felt his mouth quirk up, as Dean wondered if they weren't just simply stoned.
At the mention of one Gordon, Cas' mind shifted gear and provided one explaination for his absence.

"Dean... wasn't there a Gordon at the Salvage?" he queried carefully.
Dean blanched slightly, realising what Cas was hinting at.
He relayed the guy's name to Ash, asking if that was the one he had meant.
Ash looked only slightly worried, and when he commented on this Gordon glueing his leg to a car tyre, Cas wondered why Mr. Singer kept him employed..
Dean made light of the whole glueing incident, but when the fractured hand was mentioned, Cas saw Ash pale. It seemed he was really concerned.
"Holy Hellballs. Well, then he ain't showing anytime soon, huh?"

He was now looking over both Cas and Dean, and apparently Dean saw him coming, because even before Ash asked, he was grabbing one of the amplifiers.
Cas followed suit, telling Ash he was glad to help.
Ash waved it off, telling him to call him just Ash, no mr.
Dean chuckled and Cas loved seeing him this relaxed.
Meeting his old friends, because it seemed other band members were old pals too, helped Dean become more and more his old self.

Most of the band's equipment was in place, and Cas sat down, back against the last amp-speaker he had hooked up.
Dean was bantering with Viktor, and Cas feasted his eyes on how his biceps were bulging, trembling slightly, as Dean placed a top amp on another speaker.
He'd tied his green plaid around his hips, and Cas' eyes were glued on the muscles rolling beneath the tight, black t-shirt.
This was shaping up to be a great night.

Dean caught his glances and smiled at him, staring right back.
Suddenly, his face clouded over.
A worried frown forming, Cas asked what was wrong, but Dean waved it off, saying it was just a dark thought and he'd pushed it out already.
Not convinced, but determined to not ruin the evening, Cas feigned acceptance.
Dean winked and smiled, but Cas could see in his eyes that is wasn't gone yet.
When Dean turned around, Cas allowed his worried frown to deepen again.
Whatever was eating Dean, he hoped it was either minor, or something he could help with.
He'd be damned if he let Lisa, or something concerning her, dampen their fun.