Chapter 5 - "Do you want to know what I think?"

"You guys love me right?"

Meg slapped four tickets on the bar.

Dean picked up one and squinted at it. "Blondie?"

"Dirty Blonde actually, cover group. I know a guy who knows a guy who got me tickets. So you're all coming with me."

Sam frowned down at the tickets. "I don't know Meg. I have school the day after…."

Cas watched as Meg rolled her eyes theatrically.

"Come on! It'll be fun. Hey… First drink on me?"

"Ah why the hell not." Dean grinned. "Been too long since I got away from this hole, we could do with some fun, right Sammy?"

As Sam continued with half protestations, Cas slipped away.

He was glad that Meg seemed happier. Certainly she'd calmed down. No more drinking on the job, no more random guys. It was like she'd found a little peace in her confession.

He couldn't help but feel though, she'd distanced herself from him a little.

Not like before, when she had blanked him after he'd run his mouth off at the bar.

No. It was as though she had withdrawn, the intimateness they'd shared a few weeks ago seemed to have been left behind and she'd shown no sign of wanting a repeat session.

When she talked to him it was in the same friendly manner she chatted to patrons.

He tried to be pleased, to feel like he'd done a good thing.

But underneath he was a little hurt.

"Cas?" She was stood behind him, watching him from the doorway. "You're coming too, right?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I don't go out much. I'm sure you'll have more fun with Sam and Dean."

Meg chuckled. "Those two? They're sweet Cas, but it won't be fun if I'm thinking about you being home alone."

She pressed the ticket into his hand and smiled.

"Told you they were good."

Meg smiled across the table at them and Dean nodded.

"Not bad, not bad at all, look… even Sammy's having fun."

"Jesus Christ can you stop calling me that? I'm not six anymore Dean."

"Always will be to me buddy." Laughed Dean, ruffling Sam's hair, no mean feat as he towered over his big brother.

Cas found himself smiling quietly to himself.

A couple of beers had relaxed him a little and he sank into the seat and watched the evening unfold around him.

The club was small enough to be intimate, but large enough that no one was crushed or unable to see the stage.

Dirty Blonde really where good. They'd run through Sunday girl, Heart of Glass, Denies and he was pleased to find he knew them all. A lot of music had passed him by over the years, even classic stuff, so the familiarity of this was comforting.

"Oh God! I love this one!" Meg grabbed hold of Cas's hand and pulled him to his feet. "Come on! You're dancing with me…"

His eye's widened in surprise and he tried to slow her down.

"I don't dance!…. Meg…"

But there they were, pushing their way through the crowd to get near the front of the stage.

Dirty Blonde were thrashing out Hanging on the telephone, and Meg had both his hands in hers, dancing round him as he shuffled awkwardly.

"Come on!" She laughed, and her smile… He'd never seen her smile so easy, so open, and he realised he'd never seen this, never seen her look happy.

Cas found himself smiling back and he saw, in her eye's, the same slightly surprised look he must have given her.

Meg threw her head back, let go of one of his hands and ducked under the other, spinning one way, then the other, before coming back to hold both hands again.

And now he was dancing, no longer self conscious, and somehow they were closer now and it seemed natural for his hands to move to her hips.

She looked up at him, still moving, still warm and solid under his hands, a half smile playing across her lips, then she closed her eyes, let her head fall forwards, her arms raised slightly in the air, and it was like he was holding her steady, stopping her from floating away, he dug his fingers into the softness that covered her hips and moved with her, watching the sinuous way she moved her hands, the way her hair moved about her face.

As the final notes played she stopped, glanced up at him and he could have swore he saw colour rising in her cheeks.

With a small smile she turned towards the stage and clapped her appreciation along with the other dancers, before facing him again.

"I could use a drink, what will you have Cas, my treat."

His hands, he realised, were still half hanging in the air, and he let them fall to his sides.

When he didn't immediately reply she said "Same as before?" And then pushed back through the crowd towards the bar, leaving him stood alone.

What the hell was she doing?

Meg lent against the bar, pulled out her wallet and was surprised to see her hands shaking slightly.

It was like she was playing some sick game with herself.

Only it wouldn't be just her who got hurt.

When he smiled…

God.

She didn't think she'd ever seen him smile, not properly, he always looked so serious, like he carried the world around with him.

It was meant to be a bit of fun, dancing to some stupid '80's music with a friend.

But he'd smiled, and put his hands on her, such a simple touch, but her stomach had flipped and ….

Fuck.

Now it was all screwed up.

"Hey."

Sam slid onto a stool next to her and held his finger up to the barman.

"You were right. Band's pretty good."

"Yeah."

She could see him watching her out the corner of her eye, one eyebrow slightly raised.

He cleared his throat.

"So. Are you and Cas…."

"What."

"…..You guys have a thing?"

"No."

"Only it sure looked like it….."

"I said no."

She twisted to face him.

"Look kid. Cas and I are friends ok. Friends can hang out and they can share a dance at a club"

"Friends don't tend to look like they'd rather be fucking than dancing."

She glared at him and Sam met her gaze with a ferocity of his own.

"What's your point?"

"My point?…. Meg, Cas is my friend. I don't want to see him get hurt. You think I haven't seen the way he looks at you? He's crazy about you and you're…."

"A whore?"

She watched the anger slide from his face. "I wasn't going to say that." He said quietly.

"Maybe. But it's what you think, right?"

Sam looked down at his hands. "I'm just looking out for him, that's all."

"Well good for you Sam. You might wanna remember though that you don't have the monopoly on friendship here."

Throwing her money on the bar, Meg snatched up the beers and hopped down from the stool.

"I'll see you later Sammy."

"Hey. Cas. Got a minute?"

He was just coming out of the bathroom when Deans hand fell down on his shoulder.

"Sure?"

Dean took him to one side, away from the noise of the club.

"Look. Is there something happening between you and Meg?"

Cas frowned. "What do you mean?"

Dean rolled his eyes and sighed.

"You guys fucking?"

"What! No! Why would you think that?"

He watched confusion pass over Deans face and to his horror, he felt his own face start to flush at he thought of Meg, of him and Meg.

"Look. All I'm saying is, she's nice…. She really is, but…. Watch out for yourself."

"I don't understand."

"Cas, please don't pretend you have no idea what I'm saying."

He didn't like to say he really didn't, so instead he kept quiet.

"Buddy, she'll eat you up! I mean, damn, when we hooked up that one time…"

"I don't think I'm comfortable with where this conversation is going." Mumbled Cas.

"Yeah. Sorry." Dean ran his hand down his face and frowned. "Just. Play safe ok? …and don't get hurt. She's not like the girls you knew."

Cas looked Dean in the eye and saw that he was looking at him with a mixture of concern and pity.

He hated Dean a little for bringing that up.

For reminding him.

Dean pressed his lips together, a parody of a smile, and slapped Cas on the shoulder. "Me and Sammy are gonna go. You need a ride?"

He shook his head, no.

"Ok. Well, we'll see you tomorrow then."

Cas watched him leave, unsure of what to do next.

At a loss, he made his way back towards the table where they had been sat and saw Meg sat there, alone.

She looked misteable.

Something swelled in his chest at the sight of her and before he knew what he was doing he was stood before her, hand held out.

"Dance with me?"

She looked up him and a ghost of a tired smile began to move across her lips.

"You want to dance with me?"

"Yes."

"It's a slow song."

"I know."

She nodded. "I just bet you do."

Meg let him take her hand and Cas led her through the dancers.

He stopped and turned, pulling her gently towards him.

Cas watched her carefully as he wrapped his arms around her waist, as her hands moved up his body to twine behind his neck, she lifted her head to look into his face.

She wasn't smiling anymore.

Her eye's were bright, her pupils wide and dark and under his gaze she chewed at her lower lip.

She leaned forwards and whispered in his ear. "Your friends are worried about you."

He nodded. "I know."

"They think we shouldn't spend time together."

"What do you think we should do?"

She faltered, cast her eyes down and furrowed her brow.

He thought he saw tears balancing on the edge of her lashes and with a tiny moan she half pushed him away.

"I'm no good for you." She half laughed, her lower lip trembling.

Cas pulled her back to him.

"Do you want to know what I think?" He said, taking her chin in his hand.

"Yeah."

He lent into her and kissed her, softly at first, until he felt her surprised lips begin to move against his and suddenly, there was no one else in the world but them.

Music as usual on youtube _link on profile x