After nearly three months, Cas has learned a few things about Dean. One; Dean is very secure in what he likes and dislikes and very little can make him feel insecure. Two; Dean is very protective of his family and friends. Three; family and friends are virtually the same thing to Dean. Four; Dean knows his way around a car blind folded. Five; Dean enjoys listening to classic rock music at drum shattering volumes. Six; his opinion of his self-worth is extremely low on the scale. Seven; Dean is smart, whether it shows or not depends on if he applies himself.
After nearly three months, Cas has learned a few things about himself. One; He is rather insecure about what he likes and seeks approval often. Two; Cas really doesn't have many friends. Three; he's very distant from the Milton family. Four; Cas enjoys soft classical music, but only as background noise. Five; Cas has a very large crush on Dean. Six; he's too afraid of to do anything about it.
Cas thinks of himself as a coward, but he's just gotten Dean to open up to him again and he doesn't want to set himself back.
'Or drive him away completely.' His mind supplies.
So he's rather nervous when Dean invites him over to work on their project. He keeps his expression cool and agrees. The rest of the day flies by and before he knows it they're talking to Gabriel and he can't believe he's going to Dean's house.
Then Dean is not-so-subtly insulting Gabriel before walking off. Cas apologizes profusely before chasing after Dean. They reach the Impala and Cas can't help but fidget before climbing into what Dean has often referred to as Baby. It doesn't look like he thought it would and he can't help but think Gabriel must be extremely jealous right now.
"This is your car?"
"Yup. Used to be my dad's, but she got wrecked. I fixed her up with Bobby last summer." Cas is stunned that Dean willingly gave up some information like that. He's happy that Dean trusts him again, on some level. They wait a while for Sam, who shows up frazzled. He demands they drive off right that second. They leave the school, and for most of the ride Cas remains silent, just watching the Winchester brothers interact. He doesn't talk until they make a joke he doesn't understand. His confusion just makes Dean laugh harder. He looks to Sam for explanation, but he keeps silent as they finish the drive to Dean's home.
He was not expecting Singer Salvage Yard as they make their way through huge piles of wrecked and junked cars. He did not expect a large dog to growl and snarl at him. He jumps away from the door, not expecting the dog to be on a leash. Dean just gets out of the car and throws something towards the dog to distract it. He's wary when he gets out of the Impala, but Dean asked him if he was coming. They get past the dog, who Sam gives a thorough petting. They get in the house and Dean calls out they're home. No one responds as Dean leaves into another room. Sam lounges on the couch. Dean returns and hands the two other occupants water bottles before setting himself on the couch. Cas, nervous, sits down on a recliner. Cas loses track of time, but before he knows it two older gentlemen are walking in the house.
One seems to be near fifty, very well dressed, with dark hair and eyes. He wears a well-tailored suit that compliments him very nicely. His voice is Scottish as he calls greeting. Cas doesn't expect the sarcastic greeting he gets in return. He does, however, as he continues walking past the living room and to the back of the house.
The other is nearer to sixty, scruffy, with greying hair and brown eyes. He wears worn, but comfortable looking clothing that fit nicely enough. His voice is as gruff as he looks when he asks them what they're doing home. Dean replies wordlessly.
"I don't think we've met. I'm Bobby Singer." His voice shocks Cas a bit, not expecting him to address him.
"Castiel Novak. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Cas nods in Bobby's direction.
Bobby just raises an eyebrow before staring at Dean, "You sure this is the same kid? I can't see how you'd be friends." Dean hauls his body up to glare over the back of the couch. Cas' gut clenches because he knows how hard that is to do without using your arms. His mind thinks about how strong Dean must be before shoving his mind back to the problem.
"Haha, Bobby. Yeah, I'm sure." Dean flops back down.
"You kids ever agree on what you wanted for dinner?" He walks away and Cas finds that very rude, but the entire family seems to be that way.
"I pulled out the ground beef because we tied between burgers and taco's." Dean calls out.
"Who wants what, ya Idjit?"
"Uh," Dean looks at Cas, "You wanna stay for dinner?"
"I would have to call Zachariah." He fidgets, not sure if he wants to stay much longer.
"Hold on." Dean gets up and walks into the back of the house.
Dean walks back into the living room after a minute, "Phone's in the kitchen. Use the black one." Dean directs him to the kitchen.
Cas walks into the kitchen to find four phones set up. One is white and mounted on the wall, the next is white with a counter jack, another is beige rotary phone, and the last is black on a counter jack. He wonders vaguely why they need four phones. He picks up the one he's supposed to use and dials Gabriel's cell phone number.
"Hello?" Gabe picks up after the third ring.
"Hello, Gabriel."
"Cassie! What's up?"
"Dean has invited me to stay for dinner."
"I see. And you want me to break the news to dad?"
"I would appreciate it."
"Alright, but you owe me Cassie."
"Thank you, Gabriel." He hangs up the phone before Gabriel can make a joke of some sort.
By the time he gets back, Dean is finished with the poster and Cas nods his approval. He fibs about getting permission from Zachariah. Dean asks him what he wants and Cas picks one at random. It seems to be the right choice, cause Sam huffs out a laugh.
"Alright. Well, I should probably get started on that. You stay here and… I don't know… geek with Sam." He rolls off the couch and heads into the kitchen. Cas is sitting there with his hands in his lap when the door slams open and two women and a boy walk in. The two teenagers jump onto the couch while the older woman heads into the kitchen. They seems to know who he is, and they ask him questions. Normal things like; what classes he has, and what his hobbies are.
Three more teenagers walk in and Cas thinks he recognizes them from school The red headed girl sits on the arm of the recliner he's sitting on.
"Hi! You're Cas, right?" She sticks out her hand and Cas shakes it.
"Yes, and you are?"
"Charlie Bradbury! Nice to meet you." They talk for a bit before something collides with the back of her head and explodes.
She whips around and yells, with righteous fury, "Damnit Winchester!"
"Oops! I missed!" He sang and Cas knew he was lying.
He has to admit, Dean wearing an apron isn't something he thought he'd find attractive, but he look rather enticing with it tied around his waist and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"Winchester's don't miss." She growled.
He winks at her, "That's right sweetheart!" He ducks back into the kitchen and Cas tries to not blush.
After the food is cooked and everyone has finished eating, Charlie drags him away from helping Dean. They stop in a corner of the living room where no one will hear them.
"I need to know right now, Castiel. Are you going to hurt Dean?"
"I don't understand, why would I hurt Dean?"
"He fell apart after you left. Horrible things happened, Cas. It's not my place to say what, but those things shouldn't happen to anyone, let alone a preteen." She looks honestly horrified that something like that could happen to Dean. Now he's even more curious as to what happened.
"I… No. I will not leave again if I can help it."
The conversation is cut off when Dean calls him over to the front door to leave. Cas nods to Charlie, grabs his bag, and leaves the Singer residence. They get in the Impala are half way to Zachariah's house when Cas speaks up.
"I really had fun today." He confesses.
"Yeah? I really liked having you over." Cas doesn't know if he should read into that, so he doesn't.
"Your family is… very big."
Dean laughs and Cas' insides clench, "Yeah, we're loud, too."
"And very rude. You should not throw produce at your friends."
"Fine. No produce for you." Dean looks affronted and Cas panics before realizing Dean called him a friend. In a roundabout sort of way. He looks down and smiles. This is the best day he's had in years.