{Word Count: 1253}
"Michael tells me you're enjoying it here," was the first thing Raphael said when Cas walked through the doors. "Yes, very much," Cas answered honestly. Raphael nodded thoughtfully. "He said you've even made some friends." Cas nodded. "Yes, I was just with one." The conversation continued like that for the rest of the night; stiff and wooden. Ten o'clock came around and Cas managed to convince his siblings of how tired he was and went to bed. Once up there he sent Dean a text to let him know he could put the plan in action. A few minutes later there was a light tapping on his window. Cas opened it to let Dean in. Dean was in Cas's room and they were alone. Cas had to calm himself down otherwise and certain friend would be making an unwanted appearance. Dean helped Cas situate some pillows and clothing under Cas's blanket to make it look like Cas's sleeping form. With the lights off your couldn't tell the difference.
Once that job was done they climbed down the ladder Dean had climbed up with. Dean folded the ladder back up and put it in his trunk and the two drove away as silently as they could in Dean's car. "So, how does your first time sneaking out feel?" Dean asked. "Worrisome," Cas answered honestly. He was terrified of what might happen if Michael found him missing from his room. He had already gotten off easy on his suspension; he didn't want to push his luck. "That's nothing a few beers can't fix." They pulled up to a house that was seemingly quiet on the outside. The inside was a different story. Some old rock song was playing and people were grouped up everywhere. Almost everyone had a cup in their hand. It definitely wasn't what Cas was expecting, but he had only seen parties in movies. There were some guys and girls all over each other and some people dancing drunkenly. It was only ten; Cas could only imagine what they'd look like by midnight.
"C'mon, drinks are over here." Dean led him to the kitchen where there was a keg in the corner and a bucket full of ice and beer on the island. Dean poured some beer from the keg into two cups and handed one to Cas. Cas looked at the liquid unsure. "C'mon, Cas, loosen up a little. I'll be with you the whole time. I promise I won't let you get too drunk or let anything bad happen to you, okay?" Cas trusted Dean more than enough to believe all of this to be true. He nodded and took a sip. He cringed instantly. It was bitter and all around nasty. Dean laughed. "The more you get in you the better it tastes," he told him. As the hour went on more and more people began to arrive. Cas had three cups, Dean was on his second. "These are a lot of mannequins," Cas slurred as the two sat on the beaten up couch. Dean laughed. "I think it's time to slow down, buddy," he said and took Cas's cup. "Just let me finish that one," Cas begged like a child with a protruding lip. Dean sighed and let him.
They sat there for a little longer. The music pulsated around them and bodies moved nonstop. Some people came over to greet Dean and ignore Cas. Dean always managed to get Cas involved in the conversation though. "Dean, I don't feel so good," Cas told him as a wave of nausea washed over him. "Let's get you upstairs." Dean's words were a little slurred now. Cas wasn't quite sure if he was enjoying the warm fuzziness that took over his body and made him a little less coherent. One thing was for sure, though, he didn't completely hate it. Dean brought him to a bedroom and closed the door shutting out the world. He brought Cas to the adjoining bathroom.
Cas bent over the toilet and puked almost instantly. Dean sat on the floor and rubbed his back asking if he was okay periodically. Once the horror show of bile was over Cas tried to wash up in the sink, but gave up when he couldn't tell which of him out of the three he was seeing in the mirror was the real him. Dean cleaned his face up with a wash cloth and tossed it in the trash. They sat on the tiled bathroom floor in silence for a few moments. "My dad isn't in jail for stealing a transmission," Dean said suddenly. Cas sobered up a little. "He's in for killing my mom," Dean admitted. He looked down at the cup in his hand. "Why did you lie?" Cas asked he words less slurred than before but still slurred. "I don't know. I guess I just didn't want you thinking I was some fuck up like everyone else does." Cas stared at Dean. He was seeing a side of Dean Winchester he's never seen before; the vulnerable side. He only wished he was completely sober to witness it.
"I don't think you're a fuck up," Cas told him sincerely. Dean chuckled. "I think that's the first time I've heard you curse." Cas blinked a few times and realized he had cursed. He laughed along with Dean. "I want to lay down," he said when the laughter died away. Dean helped him up so he wouldn't fall and led him to the bed. They both fell onto the rather lumpy queen sized mattress. They laid there for a few moments just staring into each other's eyes. "I don't know where my dad is," Cas blurted out before he could help himself. "What do you mean?" Dean asked. "When my mom died he went a little crazy. He said he was going on vacation one day and never came back," Cas confided in Dean. He had never told anyone that before. "That sucks, man. I had no idea," Dean said at a loss for words. "I still have Michael, Balthazar, and Gabriel." Dean nodded.
"I hate myself," Dean blurted out now. Cas was completely taken aback by this. "Why?" He asked. "I'm a shit big brother to Sammy, I do nothing but let him down, hell I couldn't even protect him from that asshole Gordon. He'll never have a normal life and instead of being at home making sure he's okay right now I'm at some party getting you drunk for the first time," He vented. Cas's eyebrows knitted in an almost pained expression. It killed him that Dean felt that way about himself. "Dean, you're an amazing big brother. You do everything you can to make sure he's safe and happy. You won't be able to protect him all the time and it's important you have fun too," Cas told him softly. Dean smiled a little. "You're a really good friend, you know that, Cas? You're the best friend I've ever had," Dean told him honestly. Cas didn't even try to stop the wide smile that spread across his face. "You're the only friend I've ever had," Cas admitted. Dean stared into Cas's deep blue eyes for a moment before pulling him into his embrace. Cas froze for a moment in shock before wrapping his own arms around Dean and burying his face into his neck. Dean returned the favour. Cas was the happiest he had ever been as he and Dean fell asleep in each other's arms