Okay, so I lied. I was planning for some humor, more than what's in here anyways, but I didn't get through as much as I thought I would for this chapter. I had to decide whether to wait and make this a really long chapter or just cut it in half and save the rest for the next chapter. I decided, obviously, to just give you a chapter to reward all of you (extreme) patience with me! :) Sorry! Hasn't it been a month? ;n; Anyways, without further delay, another chapter, my gift to you. (Happy Thanksgiving?)
"Sammy?" Dean called as he pushed open the door to the mansion on Chuck Ln. He hung his leather jacket on the stand by the door. Sam rushed inside from the sliding glass door that lead to a porch outside.
"Where the hell have you been?!"
"I was getting the food, relax!" Dean gestured to Cas, "And look what the cat dragged in." Cas stood awkwardly by Dean's side. Sam withheld his frustration towards Dean to greet Cas.
"Hey, Cas. I should ask you the same question."
Cas looked around the room. "I've been around…" The openness of the Campbell's place never ceased to astound Cas. He wondered what else there was to see than just the entrance. Sam raised an eyebrow at Cas.
"Well, keep your mysterious aura if you want, but you really should come around more often." Sam dismissed his judgments and redirected the conversation to his brother. "What did you get, Dean? And you better not tell me you just got what looked good."
Dean looked down after a second, pouting. Sam rolled his eyes, "You did, didn't you. Man, you know that no one likes what you think 'looks good'."
"Hey, that's not fair." Dean set a bag down and searched through it. He pulled out a package of mini hot dogs with a smile. "Everybody loves wienies." Sam sighed heavily, clearly frustrated at having to deal with Dean's one-liners all the time.
"Except vegetarians." Cas added. He got weird looks from the brothers, so he kept quiet.
"Dean, just…just start with the food." Sam waved a hand at the two and returned to the porch. Dean looked at Cas, the wieners still held up to his face.
"Was that a joke?"
Cas tilted his head. "Did it not sound like one?"
"Never mind," Dean rolled his eyes, but let a smile surface. "Well, Cas, where should we start?" Dean carried his armful of groceries into the kitchen on their right. Cas followed with his share. There were no doors to open, they only needed to go under an immense arc that stretched across the entrance. A rectangular counter with a marble top stood in the center. Alongside the walls were other marble countertops, a few sinks and a stove. Above were rows of cupboards and below were rows of mahogany drawers.
Cas was hit with the sight a little too suddenly. He dropped all three of the bags he had been holding before he could make it to the center counter. Cas soon snapped out of it.
"I'm so sorry," Cas cried. "I was just-I lost focus, I'm sorry." Cas scrambled to pick up the things he had dropped, checking for any damage. Dean stood watching him clamber for atonement. What have I done? Does he hate me now? I'm so clumsy, I'm such a fool- Cas' thoughts were cut short by Dean's erupting laughter.
"I'm sorry for laughing," Dean said. He stooped down to help gather the items that fell out of the ripped grocery bags, still chuckling. "But is this the first time you've seen a nice kitchen? Haven't you ever seen a cooking show or something?"
Cas shook his head. "I never really learned to cook."
"Not anything? A burger? Sandwich?"
"Well, I can make ramen noodles. And pizza, sometimes."
Dean widened his eyes. "Well."
"Well what, Dean?"
"Well, we are going to have to teach you a thing or two." Dean smiled and rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands.
Dean wasn't tough on me about me not knowing how to cook…Everyone else was. Even Meg. Cas pondered this as he watched Dean scrub the bubbles between his hands.
"Well, come on, take your coat off and roll up your sleeves." Cas obeyed, revealing a dark blue waistcoat to match his tie messily stuffed into it. He hung the trench coat right next to Dean's on the large stand at the door. Cas rolled his white sleeves up and began washing his hands after Dean had finished and was drying them.
"Dude," Dean said, looking Cas over. "You wear that on a casual day?"
"Yes..?"
"That's a little formal isn't it?"
Cas looked down at his outfit and shrugged. "It seems sufficient."
Dean shook his head in amazement. "I would never be comfortable in that kind of wear all the time. Jeans and a T are comfortable for me."
Cas observed Dean's attire. He was wearing a scarlet red polo with silver buttons up the front. A straight top hat was backwards on his head, the front portion of his hair flicking up out of the hat's reach. His bottoms were a pair of dark jeans, splattered with what looked like black grease. Dean also wore brown work boots, stained with the same black grease as his pants.
Dean noticed Cas eyeing him up. "Yeah, yeah," Dean brushed the questions Cas showed on his face aside. "My brother made me dress up a little for the barbeque. Which I find no purpose for!" Dean finished his last phrase louder, looking towards the porch door.
"You can't look like you do every day for a party we've been planning for weeks, Dean." A voice answered from outside. Dean rolled his eyes and began laying out food on the counter. "Actually," the voice continued, "It's more like a party I've been planning for weeks. You haven't really done anything."
"Bullshit, Sammy, I've helped!"
"Like what? Name one thing you've done to help prepare for this."
Dean smiled slyly. "I got the groceries!"
"At the last minute! And you're late!" Sam appeared in the doorway, a bottle of cleaner in one hand and a rag in the other. "Who thought of it? Who got the presents for Lucy, from both of us? Who sent the invitations and recorded who was coming? Who decided what food to get and how much?"
"Alright, alright, you did a lot of the work!"
"And," Sam continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "You probably didn't even buy the majority of the food I told you to buy. I'm not even sure I want to see what you're going to be cooking in there."
"Relax, Sammy, Cas will be cooking a lot of it."
"What?!" Cas and Sam stammered in unison.
"The guests are going to be bringing most of the sides, remember? Plus, we'll be grilling outside, so we aren't cooking in here." Dean smirked.
"Dean," Sam's voice got deeper than usual. "You are going to take that smartass of yours and lock it in the basement for the entire party. It better not find its way out." Sam glared and returned to wiping off the chairs and tables on the deck.
Cas glanced at Dean with careful eyes. He didn't want to become a part of any argument. He didn't want to have to pick sides. After all, if he had any chance with Dean, wouldn't his brother's approval be a necessity? They seemed to be very important to one another, even while arguing.
Dean met Cas' eyes and smiled. "I'm his favorite brother."
Cas squinted. "Aren't you his only brother?"
Dean glared at him. "Shut up." He gave Cas a friendly shove. Cas couldn't help but smile. Was this flirting? The women's magazine he had read wasn't very clear on how to do it. But, Cas figured, we are both smiling. That's good.
"Alright," Dean said. "You are going to make the burger patties first. We need the meat to start cooking on the grill so there's some food ready when the people start coming." Cas' face went pale.
"Is something wrong?" Dean asked worriedly.
Cas shook his head. "No. I just realized I won't know anyone."
"I'll introduce you. I think you'll like them."
"Okay."
"Come to think of it…Sammy!" Dean yelled.
"What?" Sam yelled back.
"Who is coming, anyways?"
"I don't know, I just invited the usual and told them to invite their friends or family."
"Why would you do that?" Dean asked wearily.
"I don't know, meet new people? Which you, of all people, need to do."
"Whatever," Dean turned back to Cas. "Okay, making burgers is really simple. You just mush the beef around, about the size of your fist, and shape it into a circle. Then just toss some seasoning salt on them. Got it?"
"Got it." Cas began working with the burgers.
"Don't you want an apron?" Dean proposed.
"What for?"
"It protects your clothes from getting crap on them. And those clothes of yours…" Dean's voice trailed off and he stared blankly at Cas for a few moments.
"Dean?" Cas ventured.
"Huh?" Dean shook himself. "Uh, yeah, those clothes are too expensive to get dirty…so put an apron on." Dean threw a fresh apron towards Cas and walked out of the kitchen, his cheeks flush. Cas fumbled with the apron, his eyes following Dean until he disappeared up the stairs. Did he share Cas' feelings? He was very good at hiding what he was feeling, but the simple things seemed to give hints. They were subtle, but they were there nevertheless.
Better not get my hopes up… Cas decided, sighing. He continued to shape the hamburger meat, arranging them on a platter. Sam strolled in from the porch.
"Hey Cas. Where's Dean?" Sam asked as he washed his hands from the cleaner on them.
Cas motioned toward the staircase. Sam rolled his eyes and dried his hands.
"Should have known he would be avoiding work. He even picked up someone to do it for him," Sam mumbled. Cas' heart shattered. Was that all he was to Dean? Stupid…I said I wouldn't get my hopes up, but…
Sam noticed the broken look on Cas' face. "Oh-Cas, I didn't mean…"
"It's fine, Sam." Cas turned back towards his work. He was holding back tears and kept his face hidden from Sam. Why are you crying, idiot? There's nothing to cry about, you knew he had a police background.
"No, that was harsh. I'm sure him picking you up had nothing to do with his refusal to work. I just get frustrated with him, you know."
"It's fine Sam." Cas reassured him, still feeling just as bad. Sam reluctantly let it go and started to leave, grabbing the full platter Cas had next to him. Then he stopped and popped his head back into the kitchen.
"I've seen the way he looks at you. You really do mean more to him than just someone to do his work for him." Sam winked and went back to the deck.
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