Someday - Chapter 9

I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright

I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home,

I don't care what you say anymore this is my life

Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone.

-My Life - Billy Joel

The rain did not last forever, although the possibility crossed every citizen in Jericho's mind at least once during that long night. The clouds soon cleared, leaving behind roofs to be repaired, tattered gardens in dire need of replanting and a much refreshed looking town and inhabitants. Cas left Dean's sodden home late the next day with an equally refreshed outlook - the sun was attempting to shine again, much cooler and less intense than before, and for the first time in a long time the previous night, he had actually been relaxed and calm with a bright immediate future to look forward to.

Once the phone lines had started working again early in the morning, Dean had been inundated with calls from those who hadn't been lucky enough to park their cars and trucks indoors the previous day, all promising good money if he could help them rescue their water-logged vehicles. Cas had mentioned casually the night before that he wasn't in with any chance of a job until at least the Fall, so a mutually beneficial solution had been worked out between them. As soon as the rain had properly cleared, Cas would start work at the garage three days a week, for the small amount of money Dean could afford to pay him, in order to give Dean more time to work on the other side of business that the garage offered.

Dean had stressed that the actual work was boring and too often entirely non-existent, but Cas was still unreasonably happy with the offer, and spent most of the night offering awkward thank-yous and silently wondering what he could have possibly done to change the opinion of a man who was so surly originally.

Dean simply sat close to the radio, which was struggling through old classic rock songs in between lapses into plain static, silently wondering why he had yet again welcomed this strange man into his home and now even further into his life. Much as he hated to admit it, Sam might have a point. Did really he just need some freaking friends?

When Cas left in the morning, the flat somehow seemed emptier than ever, a feeling which Dean was quick to bury as he prepared to gather up his personal tools from the unused garage where the impala sat, looking rather lonely for once. It had been more than three days since he'd worked on it he realised suddenly, another uncomfortable and quite unwelcome thought. He stood up in a hurry, foot knocking against several empty bottles of scotch piled up next to the rear bumper. Dean winced slightly, and kicked them ungracefully out of sight.

Something was definitely crying out to be changed in his miserable life, he thought grimly as he locked up the house. Maybe he should just start shutting up and let it happen- whatever it might be.

The next week passed quicker than ever before for Cas, his head full of new responsibility at finally having a job that didn't involve working for his father or spreading the word of a holy book he wasn't even sure he trusted himself. With Dean's slightly confused help, he'd managed to purchase a newer and more modern cell phone at a store in town with a new number, which he gave only to Gabriel and Dean, bringing the number of contacts he had in the whole world to a whole two people. The peace that came with absolute silence from his brothers and father was both amazingly good and slightly disconcerting. His silence suddenly became filled with music from the tinny radio he had brought from his aunt's house to the gas station during the day, tentative conversation with the locals who were very slowly accepting him as part of the community - he suspected Dean's influence was a large part of it, but who was he to complain - and the buzzing of insects flying in and out of the quiet shop on warm afternoons.

It had been a week since he had agreed to work for Dean, and a particularly quiet afternoon when the phone rang, loud and shrill in the empty space. Cas hurried over, slightly nervous as he picked up the unfamiliar handset, the ever-lurking fear that Raphael had somehow figured out where he was working haunting the back of his mind as he cleared his throat to speak.

'Winchester Gas, how can I help?'

'Dean?'

Cas let out a breath he hadn't even realised he'd been holding. The voice was unfamiliar.

'He isn't here until tomorrow, can I take a message?'

'Oh right, of course. You must be Cas!' the voice suddenly became far less confused-sounding, and more animated. Cas started, defensive mechanisms automatically rising, and his formality levels alongside them.

'I'm sorry, to whom am I speaking?'

'Sorry man, should have said. I'm Sam, I'm Dean's brother. He usually calls about this time of day but I figured I'd call him for once since I had something to tell him. He did tell me he was out fixing on Thursdays now, I just er, dialled the shop out of habit I guess.'

'Oh, of course.' Cas paused awkwardly, not sure if he should just say goodbye and hang up. 'Dean mentioned you once, and I saw a picture of you in his house.'

Damn. Now his brother knew he'd been to his house, if he hadn't known already.

'Oh that old thing, I wish he'd get a newer one' Sam laughed easily, sounding for all the world as if he was talking to an old friend. 'Listen man, sorry to bother you. I'll call Dean's cell and try get him on that.'

'Oh, erm, it's no bother, really,' Cas stammered awkwardly. 'Sorry I couldn't help with anything.'

'Hey, It was nice talking to you.' Sam laughed as he hung up the phone. Cas replaced the handset, feeling slightly confused at what had just happened. Should he telephone Dean and let him know, or just let Sam call him himself? Eventually after hovering by the phone for a few more minutes, he came to a decision and returned to his seat behind the counter. No point getting involved in things that didn't concern him.

Dean's phone buzzed irritatingly on the floor next to where he was halfway under a car. He pulled himself out and wiped his hands on a nearby rag, before picking up his phone with a sigh.

From: SAMMY 13.09

does he always sound so nervous, or am I just particularly intimidating over the phone? x

Dean stared at the text for a few seconds, before deciding that nope, he had absolutely no idea what that meant at all. He typed back a quick reply requesting that Sam tell him what the hell he was talking about, in slightly shorter words. His reply came back even quicker as Dean was chugging down a bottle of water.

From: SAMMY 13.11

I just dont think your new 'friend' likes me very much, is all. I think I scared him. Are you calling later? I have news x

Dean glared down at his phone, wondering whether or not he even had the right to get mad at Sam for what amounted to spying on Cas. Hell, he wasn't the boy's mother. He typed back another blunt reply, then turned his phone on silent. It was a while before he checked it again, and when he did he had to read back through the messages before he even realised what Sam was on about at all.

To: SAMMY 13.15

dammit, leave the poor kid alone, would you? i'll call tonight, busy right now.

From: SAMMY 13.25

Ha. No longer objecting to having him as a friend then I see. He must have done something right then. Talk later x

Chapter 9 of 'Someday' has been brought to you by insomnia and Billy Joel. Thank you for reading.