Notes: Schmeep! I finally finished writing this story. It'll be 12 chapters once I finish editing. I also have a couple chapters of the random holiday fic I'm working on. If you like fluff and meaning of the holidays type fics, then please check it out. If you don't like that, it's not necessary to read for the long term plot, it's just meant to be fun. =)

Disclaimer: WAHHHHH! Why isn't it mine!?

CHAPTER 7

Dean is really confused. This is not how his fights normally go.

"Dude, I just laid this joker out. Seems to me the transaction is complete….and satisfying. I don't see why we need a duel with oversized pig stickers." He argued with Harrow once the crowd had finally dispersed to enjoy the rest of the party. Anna was still nearby trying to calm Zachariah and take back the challenge. Didn't look like she was getting anywhere with him.

Cas had been moving through the bustle of people after detangling himself from his audience, trying to reach Dean.

"What is going on?" He asks once he gets to Dean's side.

Dean shook his head in amazement, "Dude, I don't even know. I just decked that big bag of dicks and now he's challenging me to some duel with swords! What….what is going on?" He directs the question at a hovering Harrow. He seems to be taking some personal amusement in the whole situation and it almost pisses Dean off.

"Well, first off, you'll be put up in lodgings for the night, so you don't disappear. Though, I wouldn't blame you for trying to. Green may be a pompous ass, but he's an expert swordsman. He's killed a dozen men with a longblade and you're the only one who has ever really given him a reason." He tells Dean casually, and with lightness in his tone that Dean doesn't really appreciate.

"This can't be happening. This is a joke, right?" Dean practically begged. Cas put his hand on Dean's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.

"No joke, but I'll be your Second." Harrow said smiling.

Dean looked up confused, "My second what?"

"Your Second is there to fight if you refuse, "informed Castiel merrily.

"Anna!"

They hear Zachariah's outraged voice from behind them as Anna moves over to Dean quickly. "Dean, I can't talk long so listen. My contract is still intact through the night, so I have to go, but I will keep an eye on him for you. He won't be able to do anything sneaky under my watch. But…watch your back, okay?" She said hurriedly. Then at Zachariah's second impatient call she went back to him and grabbed his arm to be led off. She was trying to keep everything professional here. She had a reputation and responsibility to hold to. She didn't even glance back at them as they left, trying not to anger Zachariah any more than she had. Dean and Cas watched her leave, twin worried expressions on their faces.

Turning back to Harrow Dean dug for more information, "You taking this on…being my Second? Does this mean we're in business?" he asked. He better not have gone through all this trouble to have not even gotten the job.

He was pleased and surprised when Harrow smiled and clapped Dean on the back. "What it means is that you're in mortal danger. But you messed up Zachariah's face and that has endeared me to you. Perhaps you will even give him a little bit of a fight before he cuts out your intestines." He said chuckling. He was really enjoying this. Dean shook his head.

Dean saw two guards coming forward. They were probably here to take him to his "lodgings" for the night, he had to think quickly about what to do with Cas. He turned to Cas and caught his eye and then grabbed both of his shoulders to keep the other man's gaze on him.

"Cas? I need you to listen closely. I need you to go back to the Impala and tell the others what is happening, okay? Don't stop for anyone or anything. But most importantly, stay safe. You got that?"

Cas nodded earnestly, "Of course Dean. Stay safe. I can do that."

Dean moved one hand to pat the side of Cas' face, pleased that he was listening. They held the gaze for a little bit longer. "Okay, good."

Harrow watched the exchange, a soft look on his face before turning to walk away. He would give them a moment alone. Especially since Dean would probably be killed by noon tomorrow.

Dean cleared his throat, now realizing what this must look like. "Alright, you need to go now, before we get into more trouble."

Cas nodded solemnly, "Yes, it seems I can't take you anywhere." He said sadly and walked away, waving goodbye to the flower pot and his former audience members on his way out.

Cas was walking quickly back to the Impala, as per Dean's orders. He was trying to stay safe by sticking to the main roads, but it was starting to get dark out and he could see things lurking in dark alleys. He moved to pull his coat tighter around him when he remembered Dean had made him leave it behind. He shook his head sadly and picked up the pace again.

He finally saw the Impala right where he had left it, humming welcomingly in the night. He hummed right back, trying to match her pitch. He was about to cross the street to great her when he caught sent of something odd.

He ducked behind one of the closed vendor kiosks and watches as a few men move up the ramp of the Impala, all holding guns. They did not look friendly and the man leading them felt slimy to Cas. Perhaps they are friends of Meg? He ponders at the thought of her having friends and keeps watching. After the men have all entered the Impala Cas sneaks closer to peak in on what is going on. Perhaps if he is nice to her friends and offers them tea, she may be kinder to him. He hides off to the side of the ramp to listen in before interrupting anything.

Sam was in the hold of the Impala with the rest of the crew. He and Balthazar were working out on the rusty work out equipment, trying to pass the time somehow. They were just starting to get a good sweat going when Gabriel had finally come out of their room to watch them work out, offering lewd comments here and there whenever Sam bent over or grunted in strain.

Bobby was still playing poker with Meg and Chuck, but they had moved their game to the hold to stay with the others. If anyone was in the hold at this time waiting for Dean's and Cas' return, nobody made comment of it. They were all somewhat concerned and impatient for their return in some way or another.

A loud metallic banging startled each of them, making Chuck drop his cards and Balthazar to sit up quickly from the bench press. They all look to each other and then pointedly at Sam.

Sam sighed heavily and moved to the ramp to open it up to reveal Crowley and eight armed men.

"Hello Moose, lovely night isn't it?" He said cheerfully, stepping into the Impala without waiting for an invitation.

Sam wasn't impressed, "What do you want Crowley? Dean's still at the party working on the deal. He'll be back soon enough." He said with an annoyed tone.

Crowley only chuckled darkly, "I don't think so, Sammy. See…your brother has gone and gotten himself in trouble."

"Trouble?" Sam asked worried now. Of course Dean would get in trouble, he had gone somewhere without Sam and took an unstable person instead. From behind him, Sam heard Balthazar and Gabriel come forward, probably to find out if this trouble had anything to do with Castiel.

The crime lord was smiling, "Yes, seems he went and punched some fancy man and now has to take part in a duel tomorrow morning."

Sam's racing heart slowed a bit, "Well that's not so bad. Dean can handle himself in a shoot-off." Sam frowned when his comment only seemed to make Crowley laugh.

"Oh, you are funny, Gigantor. I'm not talking about a peasant's duel, but a gentleman's." He laughed out.

Now it was Gabriel's and Balthazar's turn to frown. They knew what the difference was, even if Sam didn't.

"Swords." Gabriel said simply, sounding impressed. Dean had really found himself in a pickle this time. The Winchesters certainly had a knack for finding themselves in troubling situations.

"The boy's a good fighter. He must know how to handle a sword?" Bobby asked eagerly, looking to Sam for reassurance.

Sam swallowed uncomfortably, "I…I think he knows which end to hold?" He offers a really awkward smile with the comment and he can see the rest of the crew sags despairingly. This was a bad situation.

"Well…then we go get him…I mean , you guys go get him," offered Chuck helpfully.

Bobby picked up the thought from Chuck, "Yeah, we have until morning, right? Plenty of time to come up with a plan and get him out of that mess. Do you know where they are keeping him?" Bobby asked Crowley.

Crowley sucked in a sharp breath, his face looked somewhat regretful, "Oh, this is embarrassing. Some of you seem to misunderstand my purpose of being here among you…monkeys."

Sam moved forward quickly when he heard this, knowing where Crowley was going with this. Crowley's men all raised their weapons in response, stopping Sam in his tracks.

"You're here to make sure we don't bust him out." He said stonily. They're going to keep me from Dean…

"Ah, yes! Give the giraffe a neck rub! You see, I'm a businessman. And my reputation is everything. So if the people of this planet find out that I was the one who brought the party crashers to their fancy gala….well, it's bad for business. So, I'm here to ensure that we all just settle here until the blows over," he finishes cheerfully. Sam surges forward again, but gets held back by Gabriel and Bobby.

"Sam, now isn't the time. Dean can handle himself, you know that." Gabriel whispered to Sam soothingly. The pilot grips Sam's arm hard, not willing to let him go off and sacrifice himself needlessly for Dean.

"Yes, yes, let's all calm down and find a comfy place to sit." Crowley follows his own advice and find the nearest crate to sit down on, looking like he had just sat down on some posh friend's couch. His men spread out to block all the exits from the room.

The Impala crew looks at each other and head over to the crate that had served as a table for the recent game of poker. They all sat around it, gathered close so that they could talk and not be overheard.

Balthazar was first to ask, "Should we ask him if he knows anything about Cassy?" He whispered.

"No. Even if he knows something, we don't want to draw any more attention to Castiel than we have to. You know that if he was to figure out who Castiel was…." Sam didn't finish, he really didn't want to have to say out loud what everyone's fears were.

"But where is he?! He went with Dean, and Dean got in trouble. What if he is being held as well? He could be recognized!" Gabriel whispered worriedly. Sam grabbed Gabe's hand and gave it a squeeze.

He caught Gabe's gaze, "There isn't anything we can do now. But I'm going to take it as good news that Castiel hasn't been mentioned at all." Sam paused and chuckled before continuing, "And it sounds like Dean was the one responsible for this mess, not Cas. Big surprise there."

That got a couple weak smiles out from some of them.

"So what are we going to do?" Meg asks, impatient.

Sam answers simply. "We wait."

Outside the ship Cas slowly and silently moves away from the ramp. He was thinking hard. Those men had guns, and apparently they were not friends, not really. So then going back on the ship would not be safe. And he had promised Dean he would stay safe.

Cas made a decision. He would go to the safest place in the 'verse. He closed his eyes and reached out for the light. Finding the familiar glow, he turned in its direction and started walking that way, happily strutting forward. This was clearly a safer choice. Besides, it looked like it would be boring in there for the next few hours

Fencing lessons in the next chapter! Woooh! Sharp pointy objects!