Lazarus had won every race she had been entered in. She soared past the field in her first stakes race at Aquaduct, and when Dean finally decided to put her up against the colts at the Wood Memorial Grade I Stakes, she won by 4 ½ lengths. Seven starts and seven wins. By all rights Dean said she deserved to be Horse of the Year, but it was not Lazarus that graced the cover of the magazine when it came out; it was Morningstar.

Frankly, Dean wasn't at all surprised by it. Morningstar had only lost one race and it was by a nose. Crowley's name was all in the news and he and his prized colt were already the favorite for the Derby before entries were even drawn. Castiel and Dean had talked about it extensively, and had already decided to nominate Lazarus for the Derby early, even when she still was unproven against the colts. Even with an early entry, Dean was worried they still would not be picked. Their only saving grace was that the fees to even run in the Derby were so outrageous most people couldn't afford it. By the time it was all said and done, only the winner of the Derby even drew even with late entries costing up to $200,000 with an additional $25,000 if chosen to race and $25,000 to enter the gate. With that being said, Dean had decided not to run Mystery in the Derby, even when he thought he would have greater odds over Lazarus.

Lazarus was on the tentative field for the Derby, but nothing would be for sure until the posts were drawn that afternoon. They had already brought the filly to Churchill Downs earlier that week to start working her out on the track. Dean was thumbing the phone in his pocket as he watched Gabriel warm Lazarus up in the dense fog before running her last session before Saturday's race.

Castiel snaked his arms around Dean and buried his chin into his shoulder. "You keep playing with your phone these past few days. Who is it you won't call?"

With a heavy sigh Dean leaned into the touch. "My dad. Sam. I know Sammy would be thrilled, but I just don't want to get my hopes up before post positions are drawn."

"Dean," Castiel groaned, "They've already been covering us in the papers and filming for the promotion videos. Next to Morningstar, Lazarus is the most talked about horse in the field. Even if no one expects her to win, the crowd already loves her. You don't think your father would be proud of you just getting this far with her? Dean, she's already beaten all odds."

Dean gave a slight shrug. "To be honest, I don't think my dad would even care. I keep hoping he might, but..."

Castiel turned Dean in his arms so that they were facing each other. "Call your brother, Dean. Invite him out here, it's not too late..."

"Yeah?" Dean asked with uncertainty.

"Yes." Castiel cradled Dean's face in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "She's going to be great."

Dean didn't want the kiss to end, wrapping his arms around Castiel's slender torso and leaning in to the touch. Even when they did separate Dean rested his forehead against Castiel's and they stood there for several moments just like that. "Ok. I'll call Sam after Laz's workout."

Castiel beamed, "Good. I look forward to finally meeting him."

Dean finished working with the horses - Frenchie and Mystery were in races the same day as the Derby - and found himself a lonely and quiet place in the stands at Churchill Downs. It wasn't his first time at the track, but it was by far his first time there as a trainer. The feeling of being there was ethereal. Glancing at his phone one last time he searched for his brother's number and gave it a dial.

"Dean! Hey!"

"Hey Sammy," Dean smiled at hearing his brother's voice. "Bad time?"

"No, of course not. What's up?"

Dean licked his lips. He had gone back and forth several times on how he would tell Sam the news. "Sam...I made it."

"Made it where?"

Dean sucked in a breath, "Churchill Downs. Sam, I've got a horse in the Derby." He felt himself shaking in anticipation of Sam's response.

"I know."

Dean was taken aback by the unexpected reply. "What?"

Sam laughed, "Dean, Bobby told me over a month ago. He knew you probably wouldn't say anything, but that you'd want me there. He's been keeping me up to date on everything. Jess and I come in tomorrow."

Dean didn't know whether to call and scream at Bobby or profess his love for the old man. "Fuck, Sam, that's great!"

"I'm so proud of you, Dean. You deserve this. Have you Dad?"

Dean swallowed and shoved his free hand in his pocket, "No."

"Look, Dean, I'm not going to tell you what to do. I know your relationship with Dad sucks, but you should at least give him a call. You'll know he'll watch the race, and he should hear it from you and not some newscaster on the TV."

Dean rubbed at his temple in irritation of the topic at hand. "Just drop it, please? Dad probably already knows considering he still keeps up with the racing scene. It's obvious he just doesn't care."

Sam gave a heavy sigh but agreed to let it go, "Fine. Our flight gets in to Louisville around 4, can you pick us up?"

"Yeah, of course. I'll bring Cas and we can go out to eat." It couldn't come quick enough, as far as Dean was concerned. It has been far too long since he had seen his brother.

"Great! I can't wait to meet him. Jess has been going on and on about this since I told her about it. She's spent my entire paychecks on hats and dresses for this thing."

Dean smiled at the thought of his brother's wife blowing all his cash, "And I'm sure she'll be the most beautiful woman in the race track, next to my Laz of course."

"Yeah, I'll make sure to leave the part about the horse out," he scoffed. "I'll call you as soon as we land and let you know what gate we are at. See you tomorrow, jerk."

"You got it, bitch," Dean grinned as he ended the call and looked out at the track with excitement. Itching to tell Castiel the news he turned towards the stairs and headed back to the stables. He was greeted with a kiss that received an eye roll from Gabriel and a cooing noise from Charlie. "Sam and his wife, Jess, will be here tomorrow around 4."

Castiel gave a surprised look, "So soon? I'm surprised they could find a flight that quickly."

"They already knew," Dean shrugged.

"Ah," Castiel smiled, unsurprised. "That's good. Are you excited?"

"Like a kid waiting for Christmas," Dean chuckled.

"Have you decided on whether or not you'll talk with your father?" Castiel prodded.

Dean tensed, feeling the urge to lash out at the question he kept repeatedly being asked, but he bit his tongue. "No. I'm not going to, Cas. We'll just let it be a surprise."

Castiel looked like he was going to respond, but changed his mind. "Why don't we all go grab some food and then we'll head to the press conference for the post drawings?"

"You're paying, right?" Gabriel grinned.

Castiel gave an irritated grunt but nodded, "Of course."

They enjoyed their food and chatter and then made their way to one of the largest conference rooms at the track, the Secretariat Lounge up in the Clubhouse. Cameras were everywhere as the post position draw was broadcasted live on NBC and several online racing networks. Directly in front was a wooden stand with a microphone and there was a table to its right where the numbers would be drawn. To the far right was a large board with a cartoonish picture of the starting gate and velcro jockey silks representing each of the various horses running the race. The four of them took a row of empty seats and settled in to the busy chatter before three gentlemen in sharp suits took their positions; two at the table and one at the stand.

A hush fell over the room and the red lights flared on the cameras indicating they were live and recording. Dean zoned out the introductions and formalities. He was a ball of nervous energy, his right leg bouncing up and down endlessly, as he waited for them to finally get to the post position draw. It was luck. Complete and random luck. They used a box that held 20 marbles each with a number on it. A marble would be drawn, and then a horse from a stack of papers that were shuffled ahead of time would be called. Dean prayed they did not draw the number one post. It would be the complete kiss of death.

"Without further ado," the gray-haired MC started, "Let's begin the drawing."

A marble was rolled onto the man's hand with the glasses and pink tie. "Number 14."

The gentleman in the grey suit next to him pulled a piece of paper from his stack. "Jus in Bello. Gordon Walker."

"Jus in Bello is just coming off a spectacular win at the Spiral Stakes," the MC commented, "but this will be his first time running the dirt."

"Number 2," the next marble was drawn.

"Wendigo. Tommy Collins."

The marbles continued to be drawn, and Lazarus had yet to make an appearance by the time the board was half full. Dean sucked in a breath, trying to keep his cool but felt like he was about to explode. Castiel's hand crawled onto his nmoving thigh and gave it a squeeze, instantly freezing it. Dean took hold of the man's hand and held onto it tightly.

"Number 1."

Everyone in the crowd was now holding their breath.

"Morningstar. Alistair Black."

There was a small gasp and all eyes turned to Crowley who had gone extremely pale underneath all that black. The man locked eyes with Dean, and he so couldn't hold back the smug grin that found itself on his lips. This was sweet victory of the best kind.

"Man, do we have the best luck or what!" Gabriel snickered.

"The race isn't won yet," Dean commented, but he felt the same way. The drawing continued, everyone talking about how the favorite horse was in the worst possible position.

"Number 8."

"Lazarus Rising. Gabriel Novak."

Dean's heart jumped.

"Lazarus Rising is trained by Dean Winchester and has won all seven of her races, including against the colts at the Grade I Stakes Wood Memorial."

Dean barely registered the congratulatory words from Castiel and his crew. He instead watched as the woman dressed in an elegant red dress by the board moved Lazarus's silks to the Number 8 gate. They were in. It took him a moment to even realize there was applause.

The rest of the drawing went by in a blur. He was stopped for comments by a few newscasters, but he barely remembered giving any kind of answers. Dean was wholly stuck in his daze.

"Dean," Castiel finally snapped him out of it with a kiss.

When had they gotten back to the barn? "Yeah?"

Castiel chuckled as he straightened out Dean's collar. "You were in the clouds."

"You think?" Dean scoffed.

Castiel gave him another kiss and ran his hands suggestively down the front of his shirt to the slight bulge in between Dean's legs. "We should celebrate."

Dean licked his lips and nodded, Castiel's lustful eyes locking with his. "Yeah, we should."

Gabriel rolled his eyes, "Jesus Christ, can't the two of you even wait until we get back to the hotel to fuck like bunnies?"

/*/

This was not good. This was not good at all. Dean couldn't tear his eyes away from the technicolor photo of him and Castiel kissing at the track gracing the cover of the Louisville newspaper, the bold headline reading "TRAINER AND OWNER OF DERBY FILLY FIND LOVE WITH ROSES"

"Who the hell took this picture?" Dean asked, still in complete shock.

Gabriel gave an apologetic shrugged, "There are journalists all over the place for the Derby. At least it wasn't a picture of my brother blowing you in the back alley of the stable. Charlie can't scrub that image from her brain, by the way."

"Hey, I didn't mind it," Charlie disagreed.

Dean put his head in his hands in disbelief, "Holy shit."

"So what?" Castiel asked coolly. "This is not about us, but about Lazarus."

"This isn't exactly how I wanted to let everyone know we were together, Cas!" Dean shouted out of anxiety. "My brother is going to see this! My dad!"

Castiel heaved a sigh and took a seat at the table next to Dean. "I know, I'm sorry, but there's nothing that can be done about it now. I...I hate to ask it, but is this something you want to deny?"

Well that was a punch to the gut. His eyes shot daggers into the man across from him. "Are you fucking serious?"

"Don't yell at me, Dean!" Castiel hissed. "You aren't exactly taking this very well. You act as if you would deny this if you could."

"I can't exactly deny us sucking face, Cas!" Dean threw the paper at Castiel for emphasis.

"Ohhhh kay," Gabriel cringed and took hold of Charlie's arm, "We're going to leave now." The two hurried themselves out of the room leaving the couple alone.

"What do you want me to say, Cas? That it's photoshopped? That we're just fuck buddies?" He barked, palms placed flat against the table top.

"You're the one who is so worried about the photo being in the newspaper, Dean!" Castiel argued back furiously. "You're the one who is afraid of others seeing it! Are you ashamed of us, is that it!?"

Dean clasped his jaw shut in shock. In their moment of silence they stared at each other, breaths coming heavy from fighting. "N-no! Christ, Cas, no!"

"You've told no one in your family about us. What am I supposed to think?" Castiel's eyes were filled with hurt.

Dean looked away at the accusation. "It's not that I didn't want to Cas, it's just...I've done nothing but disappoint my family, and if my dad knew I was gay he'd try and rip the Winchester name right off me. And Sam...Sammy always looked up to me, and I've just been one giant catastrophe. I couldn't-," He swallowed trying to keep the tears at bay, "I couldn't even grow a pair of balls to tell him I was living out of my car and fucking broke. Somehow, I think he kind of knew. He was always offering money, but I just couldn't fess up to the reality. I feel like," Dean wiped away at the tear that had shed, "I feel like if I confess to how I feel and make this all real, you'll disappear."

Dean closed his eyes and let his cheek fall against the palm of Castiel's warm hand. "Dean," Castiel whispered as he brought their foreheads together. "I'm not going to disappear."

"What if I lose?"

"Then you'll have done exactly what everyone expected us to do. Dean," he sighed and took both of Dean's hands in his and brought them to his lips to kiss, tears stinging at his own blue eyes. "What you don't realize is that I need you as much as you need me. If you left now, I don't think I could bear it. You are my rock. Without you, I will fall. Dean, I -..."

There was a sob.

Dean didn't know if it was from him or Castiel, the weight of the unspoken words heavy in the room. But they didn't need to be said. Dean buried his face into the crook of Castiel's shoulder and they stood there in the comfort of each other.

/*/

"If you don't stop doing that I'm going to make you pull over and then I'm driving," Castiel scowled from the passenger side of the truck.

Dean glowered in his direction. "You don't like to drive!"

"And you aren't looking at the road! Dean! Look!" Castiel shrieked as they almost crashed into another car.

Dean slammed on the brakes just in time. "Son-of-a-bitch!"

Castiel was clutching at his chest, the other hand on the dashboard. "Pull. Over."

"No!" Dean glared as he pressed his foot on the gas pedal again. "We're almost there. Look, I can see the signs for the airport!"

Castiel crossed his arms and sunk into the seat. "I do hope that once you've finally set eyes on your brother, you can set eyes on the road!"

"Well who put a cup of sass in your coffee this morning, huh?" Dean snorted playfully, reaching across the armrest for Castiel's hand. He hesitated, but only briefly before giving in and letting Dean have it.

Dean had gotten a text from Sam a few minutes before pulling into the airport telling him what gate to go to. The timing was perfect as Dean drove up to the curb and spotted six feet of moose hauling a suitcase quickly towards the truck. "Ah, there's sasquatch," he grinned as he unbuckled his seatbelt and quickly scurried out of the vehicle.

"Dean!" Sam cried as he let his suitcase go at the curb and embraced his brother in a tight hug. "I can't believe you!" He cried in irritation as they separated. "I had to find out from the paper!?"

"He's been complaining about it ever since we left the airport this morning," a beautiful woman with long blonde hair smirked.

"Jess!" Dean embraced the woman next to his brother.

"It's good to see you, Dean!" Jess grinned. Her eyes glazed over Castiel and she beamed, "Oh my goodness, aren't you handsome?! You must be Castiel! I'm Jessica, Sam's wife!"

Castiel blushed as he went to extend his hand, but Jess was hugging him instead. "Oh, uh, it's nice meeting you."

Sam quickly offered his own hand and presented a warm smile, "Cas, it's so nice to finally meet you. Dean's talked so much about you."

"Likewise," Castiel responded.

"But seriously, dude," Sam turned his attention back to his brother. "I mean, I suspected, but why couldn't you just tell me?"

"Sam, come on," Dean pleaded as he began grabbing the luggage and putting it into the bed of the truck, "Can't I just say I'm sorry and be done with it?"

"Absolutely not!" Jess responded. "I demand to know all the juicy details of this relationship over dinner!" She made her way into the backseat next to Castiel as the brothers took point up front.

Dean was surprised, but relieved, at how happy Sam was for him and Castiel. Of all the people he should have been scared of, it should have been Jess. The woman had been drilling poor Castiel non-stop at the restaurant on how they met, their first kiss, the first date, even trying to ask what the sex was like before Sam finally stepped in to save Castiel from his wife.

"Well," Jess tossed her silky blonde locks over her shoulder, "I think the two of you are completely adorable and you shouldn't listen to what anyone tries to tell you."

"Well, I'm so glad I have your approval," Dean responded mockingly.

Sam gave his wife a peck on the cheek. "So, Dean, are you excited?"

"I'm not sure I'd call it excited," he answered as he cut into his steak. "I mean...there's just a lot riding on this."

"Sam was showing me pictures of Lazarus on the internet. She's gorgeous! I just wish you had chosen something other than black for her colors. I wanted to find a dress to match her, but this is hardly a funeral I'm attending."

"I don't know, it might be mine," Dean muttered, earning him a slap on the hand from Jess.

"Well, I thought I'd just get a dress in red instead to match the blanket of roses she'll have on her back after the race!"

"I certainly hope that is the case," Castiel spoke as he took a sip of his wine. "In two days, we will know."

Dean sucked in a breath at that. Yes. In two days, they would know.