The day Dean left was Wednesday. The following day, Castiel sat in a meeting. It was his second meeting of the day. He still had another before seven this evening. He listened to the lawyer for Norton Industries talk a few chairs down and across from himself. The Vice President of Castiel's company spoke occasionally and Paul Norton's father, but the rest were mostly silent.

Castiel's attention wondered momentarily and the flash of silver caught his eye. Across the table, Paul Norton idly played with a pen. Paul's eyes were glazed as he stared at the middle of the conference room table. Then he seemed to feel Castiel looking at him and gave him a small smile.

Then Paul clicked his pen and began to write on the notepad in front of him. He angled it so that Castiel could see it while the lawyer continued to drone.

How are you feeling?

Castiel wrote on his own notepad and put it where Paul could see. Well. Thank you.

Paul smiled then wrote. Good.

Castiel gave him another smile of his own before looking back toward the lawyer, not that the proceedings had become any more interesting. The merger was going to happen. The details were the only things that remained and the details were tedious. While the lawyer read, Castiel's attention wondered repeatedly.

More than a few times, he found himself looking at Paul from the corner of his eye. His nose was classically straight and his lips narrow without being thin. His eyes were light brown. Once Castiel was caught looking and he glanced away, but not before he saw Paul smile as he looked down at his own notepad again.

After the meeting, Castiel began to walk toward his office again mentally mapping out what was left for him today. He had one more meeting, then a handful of phone calls to return and make, then another meeting to prepare for tomorrow for the Vice President of the company. He should be able to leave by midnight.

"Castiel."

Castiel turned back to Paul coming toward him.

"Paul."

"I want to apologize in person for how I acted last time I saw you. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable," Paul said.

"It isn't needed. I should have been more aware of myself."

Paul nodded then opened his mouth a fraction, pausing. "I don't mean to be rude, but are you seeing anyone?"

"No."

"I wouldn't have asked, but I'd never smelled any change in you before."

"I was recently taken off suppressants for health reasons."

"I hope it isn't serious."

Paul looked very sincere when he said it. Again, Castiel looked at Paul more closely, passed the associate he worked with and to the man he was. It was a strange feeling after being devoid of that kind of assessment for years. Even the beta and other omegas he dated casually had never genuinely inspired that kind of evaluation from him. It wasn't a side-effect he had considered, but he found he didn't particularly mind it.

"It isn't," Castiel said.

"I don't want you to think I'm being overly assertive, but," Paul cleared his throat and put one of his hands in his pocket. "Would you like to have a drink with me sometime?"

"Yes," Castiel said.

Paul smiled, showing white healthy teeth. "Great. Could I have your number?"

Castiel gave Paul his number then they went their opposite ways as Paul's father called him. Castiel walked toward his office with a small mental smile of his own.

Castiel sat at his desk late into the night. The monitor was beginning to blur in front of his eyes as he looked over the economic presentation that would be given tomorrow to the Vice President. They still had issues to be ironed out in the morning, and it was Castiel's responsibility to look over the last of it so the financial department could look it over early tomorrow morning.

Castiel leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his tired eyes. He looked at his desk to let his vision adjust for a moment. They relaxed on the wood grain then Paul's business card caught his attention, laying beside his keyboard, half hidden by binders.

After staring for a few moments, he picked it up and his phone. He keyed in Paul's number to a text message.

This is Castiel. Are you still at work?

He held his phone as he waited. A strange fluttering feeling bubbled in his stomach, mixing with hunger pains. The last time he ate was before noon. His phone vibrated quickly.

Paul: Unfortunately.

I'm going to step out for something to eat. Would you like to come meet me?

Paul: Of course. Where?

Castiel gave Paul the address to a small pub near his building. He had never been there in person, but Cooper got his lunch from there often. His office building was dark as Castiel walked through the halls he knew better than his own home and rode down the elevator.

The night air was refreshing with the scent of exhaust fumes and cooling concrete from the heat of the day. As he walked, the tightness in his back lessened from sitting in his chair for so long. When he was nearly to the pub, a silver C63 pulled along the curb and Paul stepped from the driver side. He met Castiel on the sidewalk and smiled.

"I thought the perk of being the boss meant not having to stay all night," Paul asked.

"I'm beginning to think we were lied to about that."

Paul pulled the door of the pub open and held it. His hand brushed Castiel's shoulders as he followed him inside. There weren't many patrons, but the scent of food made Castiel's mouth water. They took a seat at the bar and ordered their drinks.

When Paul asked, Castiel told him what was keeping him at the office so late and Paul told him the same. They spoke about work, but not as much as Castiel expected. Paul was very good at directing conversation, so that when Castiel did say something awkward, it didn't seem awkward. He found Paul very easy to talk to and that was pleasant as they ate their dinner and ordered another round of drinks.

"I'm glad you texted me," Paul said, picking at the fries on his own plate.

"Me too."

"I've always thought you were attractive, but I didn't think you had an interest in relationships or that maybe you were already in one."

"Work came first for a long time. Now I'm to a point that I'm comfortable with," Castiel said.

"I'm glad," Paul said.

Now Paul's tie was undone slightly like Castiel's own. Castiel had never seen himself as attracted toward younger men, but Paul was very visually appealing. He found himself wondering what Paul would look like without his shirt.

He saw a flash in his mind's eye of Paul shirtless kneeling on his bed, before coming toward him. Castiel's tracked his eyes up the firm stomach to the lightly haired chest until reaching Paul's imagined face with his eyes glazed in want. It slipped then it wasn't Paul. It was Dean and he was over Castiel, on his hands and knees above him and bending to kiss him. Castiel could nearly smell motor oil.

"Okay, Castiel?" Paul asked.

Castiel looked up from where he'd let his eyes wonder on the legs of Paul's stool. "I must be getting tired."

"Why don't we go get a coffee?"

"That sounds nice."

Castiel let Paul pay for their dinners then they walked half a block toward Castiel's office building. They ordered coffees and talked while they waited with the grinding of ice and the smell of coffee beans surrounding them. When they stepped from the shop, Castiel stood with Paul on the sidewalk.

"I'd like to do this again," Paul said.

"I agree," Castiel said.

Then Paul stepped forward a fraction and pressed his lips to Castiel's. His lips were soft and firm. His mouth tasted like coffee and faintly of alcohol. Castiel barely contained his frown as he pulled away.

It wasn't what he expected. There was no tingle down his spine, no warmth in his stomach. For a split moment, he thought he saw the same disappointment in Paul's eyes then they both smiled at each other.

"Do you want me to drive you to your office?" Paul asked.

"I enjoy the walk," Castiel said.

"Then I'll see you Monday. Have a good night."

"You too."

When Castiel finally sorted through the last of his work for the night, it was after two in the morning. He checked his email one last time before he left and opened the only new message.

From: dw1968
To: cnovak

Subject: Untitled

How are you feeling?

Castiel thought of deleting it. Most people he communicated with were listed in his address book and if not they put their business or question in the subject line.

Fine. Who is this?

It was only sent ten minutes before, so he waited for a reply. He refreshed the page as he looked over some paperwork he had to go over tomorrow. After five minutes, he had a reply.

Dw1968: Ohh spend all week with a guy then just forget him. That's cold, Cas.

Castiel smiled faintly.

I didn't think they gave out personal information at the agency.

This time Dean's reply came within two minutes.

Dw1968: Nothing a paperclip and some stealth couldn't solve. So it's all gone? Have you gone to the doctor?

I go tomorrow. Yes, it seems to have passed. How have you recovered?

Dw1968: Don't give yourself so much credit you didn't wear me out that bad. Email me when you get your check up, okay?

Ok.

Dw1968: Now go to bed, Cas. Geez. You're such a stalker.

Hm. Yes, I'm the stalker. Good night, Dean.

Then Castiel signed off of his account and closed down his computer. He felt a faint flutter in his stomach. He was smiling faintly as he walked to the elevator and didn't know that he was until he saw his own reflection as the elevator doors closed.

The next day, Castiel laid on the exam table with his feet into the paper-covered metal stirrups. He stared at the tiled ceiling while Dr. Aims mumbled to the nurse for different tools and he felt the brush of his latex-covered hands. He braced himself for the pain of the speculum. It never came. When he felt it, it was only an uncomfortable intrusion with none of the usual burn.

"Okay, done," Dr. Aims said, standing up and removing his gloves.

Castiel sat up and arranged the gown over himself. "Can you tell if there's an improvement?"

"There's some damage to your outer ring, that I assume happened during your heat. Other than that, yes," Dr. Aims said, smiling at Castiel. "You're producing lubricant correctly. It's a healthy color and viscosity. We won't know anything else until your samples come back, but overall I'm hopeful that you're well on your way to having healthy cycles."

"What about the intensity?"

"They should regulate themselves. Although, I doubt you'll fall into a regular cycle for a year at least. You'll probably have another sooner rather than later. I would advise you to use the same alpha again if you can manage it."

"Are their health benefits to the same semen?"

"Possibly, but I want you to use him again, because he called multiple times about you and waited to speak to me every time. Your situation is unique. I would like you to have someone near that cares and understands."

"Of course," Castiel said.

He listened as Dr. Aims continued to give him advice about vitamins he could be taking and foods that could lessen the pain of heats. Mostly his mind was brought back to what Dr. Aims had said and a fever hazed memory of Dean pacing behind the couch without his clothes and the home phone pressed to his ear.

When Castiel made it home late that night, he checked his email again before going to bed. There was only one message and it was from Dean.

Dean: see the doctor today?

Yes. He was pleased with my progress. He recommended that I put in a standing reservation for you through the agency. I will if you wouldn't be opposed. He did say it will likely be sooner than six months before my next heat.

Dean's message was sent at nine that night. It was now nearly one. He didn't wait for a reply before going to bed.

The next morning in his office, Dean's reply appeared in his inbox.

Dean: I know, my dick is addicting. I have to touch it all the time too.

Is that a yes?

Dean's reply came quickly.

Dean: Yes, Cas, that's a yes. My dick's on reserve just for you. Don't put it through the agency though. I'm on hiatus from them. Text or call. I don't get on email much.

Below Dean included his phone number. Castiel put it into his phone enjoying the flutter in his stomach, even if he didn't understand why only putting the man's number in his phone made it appear.