2. Say What?

"I still don't get it."

"What do you mean, you don't get it?" Jimmy glowers at Luke from across the room, the effect of the stern expression ruined by his hurried blinking in order to dislodge the sting from putting his contact lenses in, as Chuck tries to get the fake stubble spread evenly across his cheeks. He's been complaining about the arrival of the older Winchester ever since he and Gabe had left Sam's place that evening and got on the road for the next town over, the venue for the festive where Castiel had agreed to play. Mary, of course, had been thrilled to find out that her son had come home in order to finish his tour in Pontiac; Jimmy, on the other hand, not so much.

"He was rude," he continues, as Chuck gives his chin a final dab, before dropping the sponge back onto the table. "Plain and simple."

"He seemed alright to me," Gabe says, adjusting the baseball hat he's pulled on over his wig. When Castiel's identity had been created, it turned out that he did not come alone. He had brothers too - Gabriel and Lucifer, to name names.

"That's because he actually spoke to you," Jimmy replies grimly. "You know, spoke to you with actual words, and didn't reply to your questions through condescending glances."

"You were the one asking him stupid questions about his sunglasses."

"Because who the fuck wears sunglasses inside?" Jimmy emphasises the word with a huff, grabbing Castiel's signature trenchcoat from the back of the couch (he'd worn it once whilst performing with the flu; now he can't get rid of it. People - Meg - sometimes got borderline angry when he was seen without it).

Gabe snorts. "Blind people?"

"Well, Dean didn't seem particularly blind to me," the younger sibling grumbles, hands in his coat pockets, as he heads towards the door, and the corridor that will take him out to the stage. "I don't get it. So he can sing; that doesn't give him the excuse to be an assbutt."

"Sounds to me -" Luke says, sharing a smirk with Gabriel, slipping into a sing-song tone. "- like somebody's a little jealous."

"No, I'm not!" Jimmy insists, yanking the door open with more force than necessary. "And stop singing!" He makes sure to slam the door as well, if only to cut off the laughter coming from his brothers, before it suddenly opens again, and Chuck slips out.

"Better be careful that you don't knock the door off its hinges," he says, a slight smile on his face at his own joke. "I don't want the hassle of the paperwork if Castiel gets taken in for damage to property."

It's not that funny, but it still pulls a snort from Jimmy. "The press would have a field day."

"True. They would." Chuck pats his son on the shoulder, using his hand to guide him down the corridor, towards the sounds of the crowd, cheering on the current act. "So, this Dean -"

"Dad." Jimmy sends him a look. "Not you, too. I've heard his name too many times today already." He clears his throat, slipping into Castiel's gravelly tone, now that they're getting within the proximity of people not in the know. Better to be safe than sorry, after all (even if Jimmy's vocal chords didn't always agree.)

"He was so rude," he continues. "He didn't even ask our names."

"Maybe he was just happy to see his brother again after so long."

"There's a line between being happy to see your brother and just being an ass for the sake of it."

"Oh, I don't know. He didn't seem so bad. Not when I spoke to him -"

"Wait, wait, say what?" They come to a complete standstill. "You spoke to him? When was this?"

"Uh -" Chuck finally drops the hand from his son's shoulder. "About, you know, an hour ago -"

"An -" Jimmy narrows his eyes. "Why were you -"

"There they are!" He's interrupted by the arrival of a redhead, who comes barrelling around the corner, only to throw herself into his unsuspecting arms. Jimmy glances up, more than a little confused, only to see Dean following the girl, a few paces behind her. Explains how Chuck had been talking to him earlier.

At least he's managed to remove the sunglasses. Jimmy isn't sure that he would have been able to restrain the urge to knock them from his face if he came in wearing them.

The redhead pulls back from the unexpected hug, grinning broadly. "Castiel. It's great to finally meet you in person." She looks him up and down. "I thought you'd be a little shorter, personally."

"Oh -" Jimmy exchanges a look with Chuck. "I, er - sorry to disappoint."

"Leave the guy alone, Charlie," Dean says, fondness in his tone, as he turns to "Castiel". "Sorry about her, man. Charlie's my boss; she can be a bit over excitable."

"Hey!" Charlie digs him in the ribs playfully, still beaming brightly.

"It's not a problem." Jimmy meets Dean's gaze to attempt to smile; Dean seems to blink rather rapidly, as if not realising what he's seeing, and, for a horrible impulsive moment, Jimmy is certain that he can see right through the fake stubble and messy hair that seem to fool nearly everybody else. But, then, the moment passes, and Dean smiles at him, holding out a hand for him to shake.

"Dean."

Jimmy exhales in relief. The last thing he needs is for Dean Winchester, of all people, to work out who he really is. "Hello, Dean."

They share the proposed handshake.

"I've heard some of your music," Jimmy continues, after a moment, making an extra effort to make sure that his voice doesn't start to morph back to its usual tone. "You have a lot of talent."

Dean shakes his head, but there's a smile on his face still. "Kind of you man, but I'm the one who should be complimentin' you - y'know, startin' so young, and keepin' yourself on the ground, and everythin'. That's cool."

"Such a way with words," Charlie teases from beside him, before looking back to Jimmy. "But, we aren't just here to mingle and share feelings, Cas - Can I call you Cas?"

"Uh -" Yet again, Jimmy isn't entirely sure what to say. He's never been ambushed by people just before going on stage, not even by fans of Meg's level. "I don't see why not."

"Awesome! Well, anyway, Cas, me and your dad were just talking while you were getting ready, and we've been negotiating a few things."

"Oh?" Jimmy glances back at Chuck, who's looking a little too sheepish for his liking. "Such as?"

"Well..."

"Well?"

"We were thinking," Charlie says, when Chuck can't seem to make himself, "that it might be a good idea for you and Dean to collaborate." She emphasises this good idea with another one of her bright smiles. Not that it does anything to reassure Jimmy.

"Colla - Say what?" He directs this towards his father. "When did you agree to this?"

"Hey, now -" Chuck holds up his hands. "We haven't agreed to anything yet. We just think it would be a good thing for both of you."

"Good thing for - Say what?"

"Castiel, we really don't have time to talk about this now." Chuck cuts him off with a look, that stern father expression he's perfected after having three children. "You're due on stage now; We'll discuss this when we get home, okay?"

"Hey, man, for what it's worth," Dean says, interrupting, still smiling, despite the exchange going on in front of him. "I'm up for it."

Well, great. How is he supposed to refuse after that without making himself look like a dick?

"No, no," he assures the other guy, although he's pretty sure the words are sliding through gritted teeth. "Don't worry - I'm up for it too."

Well, there's that :) See you soon, my little sock puppets :) X