A/N: Finally Dean appears! I know this isn't how it goes at all in the movie but I kind of liked this better and I just couldn't write Dean and Cas disliking each other. It simply wouldn't come. Also, I don't know if I'll be able to keep updating this often. Since it's the weekend soon I shouldn't have any problems but once the week starts again, I don't know. Just wanted to give you guys a heads up. Thanks to everyone who's read it and especially to those of you who have reviewed!
They arrived at the bar around five. If they had been able to see it, the sun probably would have been at Castiel's favorite angle, where everything is bathed in the warm light of the sunset but you can tell darkness is still a few hours away. But as it was, the sky was gray, just a few shades darker than when his plane had landed. The rain was still coming down hard and he gave the driver a tip for having to endure these driving conditions. The street he was on was lined with stores that all looked just enough alike in the heavy rain that Castiel was having trouble figuring out which one was the bar he was supposed to stay at. Apparently the cab driver noticed his confusion because he pointed to the door just a few feet from the car. "Don't worry. It can be a little confusing, even when the weather is nice," he told Castiel. Castiel thanked him for the ride and finally got out of the warm cab.
The building was older looking, the paneling painted dark green. You could tell Mother Nature had had her way with the building before as that same paint was starting to fade and chip. The door looked newer, or at least more recently painted. There was a sign above the front window that said The Roadhouse. Just from his outside view Castiel could tell it was well taken care of - you could feel love that had gone into the place.
He stepped inside just as the wind started picking up and he realized he was starting to shiver. The place was quiet, a few of the tables filled and only three men at the bar. This didn't surprise Castiel very much though considering the weather. He walked up to the bar and sat next a young man with long brown hair.
"What're the odds of me getting out of this town tonight?" he asked the man.
The man turned to him and grinned, probably either from a joke Castiel hadn't heard or at the fact that Castiel didn't know what he was doing. "I wouldn't count on it buddy. Weather like this can last for days, so you might be stuck here for a while."
"Great," Castiel sighed, running his hands through his wet hair.
"Oh, it's not too bad. We could probably get you set up here until it clears up. There're usually a few open rooms."
"Do you own the place?" Castiel asked.
The mirth returned to the man's eyes as he smiled again. "Nah, my older brother does. A family friend left it to him before she moved away. Oh, by the way, I'm Sam. Sam Winchester. And that's Bobby Singer and Rufus Turner," he added as he pointed to the two bickering men next to them. "They spend a lot of time here, usually complaining about the service, or the food, or sometimes my hair."
"It's only 'cause you look like a girl with it that long, Sammy," came a voice from the other side of the door behind the bar.
An attractive man walked out a second later with two plates of food. He had brown hair, a little lighter than Sam's, and he was wearing a faded Metallica shirt under a plaid over shirt. His jeans had holes in the knees. Castiel usually would have found it unprofessional but it suddenly seemed like the only thing a person could wear in a place like this. This wasn't one of those inner city bars Balthazar usually took him to, where everyone was in their best suits and dresses. Castiel liked the place well enough, even though it was very different from his usual destinations.
The man handed the plates to a couple in a booth by the window. He walked back behind the bar and leaned against it, his elbows on the counter.
"You know, Sammy, you could help."
"Dean, it's not Sammy," he said with less heat and more fondness. The other man, Dean, just grinned and said, "Whatever you say, Sammy."
Sam sighed a little and told him, "You know, I'd help but Ellen did leave the place to you. I wouldn't want to overstep my welcome in a place that isn't even mine."
Dean just rolled his eyes and turned to Castiel.
"So stranger, you got a name or should we make one up?"
"Oh! Sorry, my name's Castiel, Castiel Novak," Castiel told Dean, still a little surprised at the turn in the conversation. He enjoyed watching the brothers interact. They were better than reality television.
"Well Castiel, what can we do for you?"
"Have you got any open rooms? And maybe a menu, if it's not too much trouble."
Dean handed Castiel a menu and a room key.
"I'll show you where it is once you eat. As you can probably tell, it's not exactly packed."
"Thank you," Castiel said quietly.
Castiel didn't make it upstairs for another two hours. He had ordered a sandwich and a cup of coffee that was surprisingly good for being from a bar. Sam and Dean had talked to him while he ate, mostly about his job and his family. He told them about Balthazar and his many siblings. After Castiel had finished his food, Bobby asked if anyone wanted to play a game of poker before he headed out.
"Sorry, Bobby. I'm on the job," Dean told him. "Besides, I don't think it'd be fair to Castiel to introduce him to Winchester-style poker on his first night here."
"You should probably show him his room anyways Dean," Sam said, standing up from his seat. Castiel hadn't realized how taller the younger Winchester was. Castiel wasn't short by any means but this man towered over him. He was even taller than Dean who himself had a few inches on Castiel. Castiel got up too, stifling a yawn as he reached for his bag and the key that was still on the table. He hadn't even realized how tired he was.
Dean turned away from Bobby and smiled at Castiel. "Dude, it looks like you're gonna drop at any second. How long have you been awake?"
Castiel looked at his watch, a gift from Balthazar for their second anniversary. It was now almost eight. If he didn't count the two hours of poor sleep the night before, Castiel had been up since six in the morning yesterday.
"Uh, since six yesterday morning."
"Seriously? How are you still standing?" Sam exclaimed from his spot by the bar.
"I didn't realize it had been that long. A lot of stuff going through my head and all that."
"That's it. You're going to sleep now. No questions," Dean told him. It was a weird feeling, having to strangers take interest in his well being.
"I suppose it wouldn't do me any good to argue," Castiel said, the corner of his mouth curving up a bit.
"It might be safer to just do what Dean says," Sam told him with a grin. "Anyways, I'm headed to bed too, unless you need my help down here Dean."
"Nope, no point. And I'm fine. Might close down early tonight anyways. It doesn't look like anyone else is coming in."
He nodded at the window and the others turned to look. The rain had let up a little but now it was dark. People probably weren't going to venture out of their warm houses just for a drink or to have someone else make them food. The people who had been in the bar when Castiel had come in were long gone, including Rufus and now Bobby.
As Sam went off through the door behind the bar, probably to his own room, Dean gestured for Castiel to follow him. Dean led him up a flight of stairs near the front door and down a hallway with a few doors on either side. He reached one towards the end of the hall on the left and opened to door. He flicked on the lights and stepped aside so Castiel could go in. It was a little cramped, just a small bed, a dresser, and a desk. The walls had old wallpaper on it with a small floral print and the windows were covered in white drapes.
"Bathroom's down the hall. It gets a little funny sometimes so you might have flush twice and there might only be a little warm water tomorrow if you get up late, since Sam takes such long showers. But anyways, night. We're downstairs if you need anything."
"Thank you Dean," Castiel told him, his voice full of sincerity. Dean just nodded and walked back down the hall. Castiel closed the door and took of his now dry trench coat. He pulled on his pajamas as sleep started to overcome him and the second he fell down onto the bed, he was asleep.