Notes: Woooo! It's finals week for me, so hopefully I'll still be okay with posting a new chapter each day. : / But anyway, this chapter was fun for me to write. I get a special happy kick out of the fact that they had the same actor for Badger that they did for Crowley XD

Disclaimer: Not mine, nope nope nope.

CHAPTER 3

The Impala lands somewhat smoothly in the bustling port on Lawrence. Outside were lines of vendors and shops, performers and peddlers. Chuck lowered the ramp for the crew and they all stepped forward and took a collective breath of fresh air. Standing at the top of the ramp, everyone's eyes were drinking in the colors and movement.

Castiel was with them, smiling happily and drinking in everything that the sight had to offer. His gaze wandered and jumped from one discovery to the next, finally falling on the performing dancers in the center of one of the streets. He excitedly grabs at Gabriel's and Sam's arms to point out the athletic and intricate dance.

Meg and Chuck's mouths were watering when they caught sight of the ramen stand. Balthazar was appreciating the many women walking by in colorful and extravagant dresses. Bobby was trying his best to not look too excited, but he looked like he was still smiling through the fuzz of his beard.

"Ooh, look at all the pretties," leered Balthazar while giving a little wave to some girls who passed by.

"What am I looking at? The girls or the clothes?" asked Anna, giggling lady-like.

Castiel was still trying to make sure that everyone saw the dancers by moving to each person and shaking their arm until he got their attention. Once they had indulgently glanced at the dancers, he would move on to the next crew member and repeat the process. He was practically vibrating with energy.

Dean walked up to the ramp after coming from somewhere else in the ship. Castiel immediately zoned in on him.

"Hello Dean. Look at the dancers!" He pointed in the direction of the performers and Dean followed his gaze to see them. It was an interesting kind of dance. They seemed more like acrobats than dancers with their twirling ribbons, flips, and summersaults, but Cas was entranced by it.

Sam commented from nearby, "Too much bouncing around. If I'm going to dance, I want it to be more smooth and fierce. Like a tango or something." Dean turned to regard his brother an incredulous look and tried to picture his little brother in a tux with a rose in his mouth. It just looked wrong.

"You want to tango? I can learn to tango! Captain, can I have money for lessons on how to tango?" Gabriel rushed out in one breath, practically bouncing were he stood.

"I'd chip in to see that," laughed Meg from behind.

"It's like a garden of colorful flowers got up and started to walk around and dance! I wonder where all of their pots are?" pondered Cas.

Dean glanced around to see that each of his crew members were staring starry eyed at the crowds before them. Cas couldn't take his eyes away, and that worried Dean. They should head out to business so that Cas could go back inside, he thought.

"Okay, okay. Show's over guys, let's get to work." He was ignored by everyone.

"Do you think I could go dance with the flowers, Gabriel?" Cas asked his eldest brother.

"No! You are staying right here. You wanna dance with flowers, go find your plant and spin around with it somewhere on the ship because you are not leaving it." Dean said harshly, startling Cas and the rest of the crew.

"See here Dean, you can't make him stay here. The boy needs fresh air as much as the rest of us." Bobby argued.

"Dean, I know you're concerned about him, but I really think he could use this," Gabriel tried to reason, Anna and Balthazar nodding next to him in agreement.

Even Chuck threw in his two cents, "He seems to be handling it okay so far…."

"So far? Let me tell you about the guy who jumped off a building. Every other floor that he fell past people could hear him saying, "so far, so good." This is just like that. So far, so good. I'm doing him a favor by making him stay here." Dean spat out.

"Dean…" Cas pleaded before he was cut off harshly.

"No. Now get back in the boat." Cas looked at him for a beat before shuffling sadly back into the Impala. When Dean turned back to his crew after watching Cas walk off and was met with angry glares.

"What?!" Nobody answered, and they turned to walk off the ramp to run whatever errands they had planned.

"See you later, Dean." Mumbled Chuck and he walked off with the rest of the crew, leaving him with a smirking Meg.

"Wow Dean. Think they're mad?" She asked sarcastically.

"Shut up. It's for the best."

Dean moved down the ramp to get to work only to be met with a gun to his face. Great, he thought. I've been on this planet not five minutes and I piss off my crew and get a gun in my face. Great.

Then he heard a familiar cultured voice come from off to the side. "Hello there my dear Dean Winchester. Where's your moose?"

Crowley came into view, a sneer on his face.

"Piss off."

Crowley put on an offended look, "Oh Dean, is that anyway to act towards a business partner? And here I was coming to get you so we could have a little sit-down."

"I'm thinking no."

"I'm sorry, did I give you the impression that I was asking?" The gun in Dean's face was cocked. Looks like he and Meg were going on a little detour.

"Hey, don't suppose I can go back onto my ship for a second? I've got a yorkie upstairs and he pees when he's nervous." Dean thought of Castiel.

"No."

Dean and Meg sit uncomfortably around a table as Crowley pours tea. It doesn't sit well with Dean at all that he is basically having a tea party with the "King of Crime". But Meg at least seemed to be enjoying the little sandwiches that had been laid out all fancy like on some girly looking plate. The whole scene here was just sick and Dean wasn't here for a play date.

"So Crowley, seems to me, last time we were talked it seemed like we were no longer welcome amongst your…little world." Dean hashed out. Meg tentatively tried the tea set in front of her and it put a content and surprised look on her face.

"That's not bad." She commented. Crowley looked pleased.

"There's a trick to it. Wood alcohol." The dealer said confidentially to Meg with a smile.

Dean just continues like he wasn't interrupted.

"Now here we are as…favored guests? Treated to your fancy girly tea that probably costs more than wines? What is it that you need from us?" Meg rudely reaches across in front of Dean to pour out more tea.

Crowley took a sip of his own tea, and with that he seemed willing to talk business. "There's this local, name of Warrick Harrow. He's got some property he wants to sell off-planet, to fetch a higher price…." He took another sip of tea. Dean didn't want to stick around long so he tried to hurry this conversation along.

"But the local powers won't let him sell off-world." Dean guessed.

Crowley shrugged, "It is a conundrum. What my man Harrow needs himself is a smuggler. I'm willing to cut you in on it."

Dean wasn't completely satisfied with that info, "Why me? You've got access to ships. You could do it yourself."

Crowley looked a bit reluctant to answer, but he answered, "He won't deal with me direct. Taken an irrational dislike to me it seems."

Meg laughs rudely with her mouth full of sandwich. "What happened? He see your face?"

Crowley only gave her a nasty look and continued to regard Dean, "He's a quality gent. Nose in the air like he never wun gwo pee. Doesn't find me respectable. You on the other hand, you might have a chance." (smelled a fart)

"You backed out of a deal last time. Left us hanging." Dean reminded him.

"You also hurt our feelings." Said Meg sounding pained at the thought.

Crowley rolled his eyes, "I had problems with your attitude. I felt that you were….pretentious. You think you're better than most people."

Meg snorted and nodded in agreement and Dean shoots her a look.

"Just the ones I'm better than. Now I'm thinking that very quality is the one you're placing value on today." Dean smirked.

"I place value on the fact that the stick up your pee-goo is about as large as the one Harrow's got up his."(ass)

Meg barks out in laughter at this comment and Dean shoots her another look.

"So how do you propose setting up a meet with a man who won't deal with you?" Dean asked, skeptical of the whole job.

Crowley smiles, "I know a place he'll be. Safe place, using new gun tech scans. High class joint too. They wouldn't let me in, but you might slip by. Of course you couldn't buy an invite with a diamond the size of a testicle. But I got my hands on a couple."

Meg starts giggling at that and Dean raises his eyebrows and smirks at Crowley who looks confused at their reactions.

Figuring out what he had just said he clarifies, "….of invites. Do you want the meeting or not?" He asks testily. Dean considers, and looks to Meg who only shrugs and reaches for more food.

Dean is walking through his ship, room by room looking for Cas.

"Cas!" He shouts down the hall. No answer.

"Hey, Cas! Where are you buddy?" He shouts in the engine room. Still no answer.

He reaches Chuck's room. Dean hadn't yet been in to see the "nest" that the others said Cas had been compiling, but this was probably a more likely place to find him.

Climbing down the ladder he calls out again to announce his arrival, "Hey Cas, you in here?"

He spots him finally. Trench coat still on as he sits grooming his plant. Dean hadn't seen the project for a couple of weeks now, and he really couldn't tell if it had improved or not under Cas' care. Glancing around the rest of the room he noticed little things placed here and there.

There was what looked like a puzzle off in one corner, but upon closer inspection it was actually sorted piles of broken dishes and a glue bottle next to them. Cas was trying to fix all of the dishes he had broken.

Off to the other side of the room on the desk was a pile of aluminum foil sculpted into odd shapes. The bed was also completely untouched. Gabriel had mentioned that Cas came here at night so as not to bother Balthazar when he was trying to sleep. Apparently Cas wasn't joking when he said that he didn't sleep.

Bringing his attention back to the reason he was there, he tried again, "Cas? Hey, buddy."

Cas sighed in annoyance and didn't look up from his plant, "Not talking to you Dean. Fern and I are busy."

"Who's Fern?"

"My plant."

Dean looked at the plant again, "Is it a fern?"

"No."

The following silence was painfully uncomfortable. Dean started to fidget with some unseen lint on his sleeve. He looked again to where Castiel sat with his back turned to Dean.

He heaved a big sigh. He was going to regret this, he just knew it. "Cas…I've got a job for you."

GAH! So cute XD