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Disclaimer: Nothing here belongs to me. It's tragic, I know.

CHAPTER 6

"So are you going to tell me why you are really here? And also why you chose to bring Castiel along after yelling at him for even considering leaving the ship?" Anna asks innocently.

Dean was a little distracted, not being entirely sure how to do this dance, but he picks up enough from the others around them to not look like a complete douche. "Business, same as you. And Cas…needs to get out more. I swear he is so socially awkward that he would rehearse his order before calling the pizza place."

Anna smiles brightly at this and looks over at Cas who seems to have picked up a few more older party goers. "He seems to be doing quite well."

Dean also glances over, and becomes dumbfounded at the crowd Cas seemed to have acquired. He got thoughtful for a moment, wonder if Cas was like this before….everything. Was he still some little nerdy dude, or was he as suave and elegant as Balthazar, or was he a charismatic jokester like Gabriel? He might have even gone to events like these before and was the life of the party. All he had to go by were those few moments of sanity that let him get a glimpse of what used to be.

"But I suppose you shouldn't keep him here too much longer. So what do you need my help with?" She asked, bringing Dean's attention back.

"I was hoping you would have some Intel on Harrow. The guy seems to be hard to crack, and we really need this job." He informed her.

Anna looked thoughtful, "I only know that he doesn't keep a profile for companions to view. I don't even think he has ever asked for a contract with a companion. So I suppose he isn't bought on beauty or status."

"Aww, and here I did my hair up for him," Dean joked. She smiled indulgently.

She continued, "And I have heard that he is a very just and honest man. Fights for the underdog. That sort of thing." Dean nodded in understanding, he could work with that, so he changed topics.

"So how goes your…business? He seems like a real catch." He smirked.

"Well, at least my business is legal." She teased as she was spun around by Dean.

He laughs, "My job may be illegal, but at least it's honest. I mean, seriously, how do you stand the…lie of it….that bag of dicks parading you around on his arm, as if he actually won you, as if he loves you! How can you stand it?" Dean asked incredulously.

She smiles softly, "Well, the beginning of the day I get to go to a grand party and be among society, play a part…and at the end of the day I get to go home and be myself among family. Kind of like most people's real lives." She says fondly a soft smile on her face.

Dean returns the smile, "Well when you put it like that perhaps I'll just shimmy my way into one of your dresses and sleep with Mr. Green over there."

She laughs merrily and people turn to look at the red headed beauty spinning elegantly on the dance floor. Dean pulls her in close again and she takes a moment to glance over to check on Castiel. He still looks quite content.

"I see that Cas is still having a good time. It's wonderful to see him out of the ship. And someone cleaned him up nice! I never noticed how handsome he was." She commented.

Dean spun them so that he could get another look himself. "Yeah, you should have seen him, crying Cinderella tears when I told him that he could come out with me. But it took me a while to convince him that he couldn't wear that trench coat." He grinned at the memory.

"I think he looks adorable, especially with his tie all twisted like that."

One more glance across the room, "Well, yeah, but I never said it." He pauses for a moment to glance yet again, but he covers it quickly, "But hey, what about those girls, huh? It serves to remind a man that girls are supposed to dance, that's why god gave them parts that jiggle."

Anna rolls her eyes, and they continue with their dance.

Cas is having a wonderful time. The daisies and lilies are chittering away happily as he pats their petals. And the people around him seem to be just as entranced with the happy plantae. Nobody had ever been interested in his gardening tips before. Gabe and Balth had just nodded absently in the past when he told them about the new soil he had acquired, but these lovely people seemed to hang on his every word.

"Lilies like to hear stories. And the tulips love funny anecdotes. However, Roses like to be sweet talked into growing. That's why the romantic souls always have the fullest roses," Cas informed the crowd around him. The women were smiling sweetly and the gentlemen who Cas had learned were owners of successful nearby farming orchards, were enraptured with the techniques that Cas had been sharing.

"But talking isn't enough! Like any good relationship, there is also giving and receiving. Like say, tomato plants. You may get ten or so fruits per plant, but if given extra rich fertilizer they will give back up to twenty tomatoes the size of grapefruits!"

"But the larger tomatoes lack sweetness!" One of the gentlemen stated. Cas shook his head, "Tsai boo shr, you must be using commercial fertilizer. I'm talking about real fertilizer. You have animals on your farm do you not?" Cas asked nicely. (No Way!)

The group around him laughed happily and one lady from the back spoke up, "We've been telling him to use the real stuff for years now!"

One of the elderly ladies who had been standing closer and closer to Cas moved up and asked, "Cas, I was hoping you would be so kind as to…" She was cut off by one of the other eager women, "Oh, yes, I was also wondering…" And then she was cut off by one of the gentlemen farmers, "Dance later, he's talking! Let him talk," he said quickly, eager to let Cas continue and learn as much as he could.

Their eyes all turned back to Cas, waiting for more words of wisdom from him, obviously charmed by the sweet young man and his flowers.

So he continued happily, "When I left, I wanted to observe the flowers…and the fruit. Flowers come first, obviously. But I heard nothing from them…."Cas glances behind him for a moment, feeling something shift in the air. But he only briefly sees a man watching him.

Zachariah watches the blue eyed man while the Captain and his Companion dance. He is intrigued by what he sees.

The dance is starting to get more complicated now, with some tricky footwork going on. Anna and the other dancers are as graceful as always, but Dean starts to stumble more and more until Anna finally shows some mercy and starts directing their movement off the dance floor. Dean trips on their way out, and they both laugh as he catches himself on her waist. They grin at each other as they move off the dance floor and back to her date.

"This is not my kind of party, but I'll admit it ain't bad. At least people here have the courtesy to not laugh right at my face for looking like an idiot."He joked at her. She can't help but burst out laughing at that. But they both stop short as Zachariah is suddenly there in front of them.

He obviously had seen enough and wanted Anna back at his side. She moves forward to him and he grabs at her arm roughly, pulling her close while glaring at Dean.

"Would you look at that, Anna? It's so cute when monkeys wear clothes." He said as a greeting.

Dean is used to ridicule, and he can take it for the sake of Anna's business, but then Dean sees that the skin where he grips Anna's arm is white from the pressure and Dean can't ignore that.

"Hey buddy, watch yourself there. No need for roughness." People around them stopped to stare at their public display. They can see the tension between the two men like a physical entity. Even Harrow had come up to see what the commotion was about.

"Well excuse me, Captain. But she belongs with me. Not working monkeys like you."

"You can call me anything you like, but don't forget that she isn't one of your slaves. She doesn't belong to anyone." Dean insisted.

Something like a demented sneer appears on Zachariah's face, "Money has changed hands. That makes her mine tonight. Just like that boy you have over there. He's an odd one isn't he? Who is he exactly? A relative? A friend? Or is he just a pretty and pliant bed warmer for you…"

Crunch

Dean punches the dick right in the jaw and it sent him stumbling back, but surprisingly he doesn't fall to the ground. How the hell did a guy like that know how to take a punch? Maybe he was beat up a lot in school, it would totally explain his attitude, thought Dean.

Dean turns to Anna and smiles ruefully, "Maybe this is my kind of party after all."

Somewhere behind them Harrow is observing, and he cracks a smile. Anna on the other hand looks terrified.

"Dean, do you know what you just did?" She asked frantically. Dean was confused.

"What? He was out of line talking about you and Cas like that." He defended.

Zachariah, now steady, moved up to Dean, "I accept!" He announced. Dean became even more confused.

"Um, that's great. What do you accept?" The captain asked. Then the porters voice vibrated the air, "THERE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE!" he cried.

"I hope you are prepared, Captain," sneered Zachariah.

"Oh, are we talking about a fight? Well, fine, let's get out of here. I'm going to need some space to toss you around in." Dean said starting to take of the restraining dress coat.

"It's not a fist fight, Dean," said Anna exasperated.

"THE DUEL WILL BE MET TOMORROW MORNING, AT STULL CEMETARY!" The porter cried again.

That made Dean happy, "Oh good, I can grab my favorite pistol then."

"If the captain requires it, any gentleman here can give you use of a sword." Mentioned a nearby fellow.

Dean wasn't ready for that, "Use of a s'wat?"

Bwah ha ha! Silly Dean. You can't go around slapping people! XD