okay, I couldn't do 'in battle', so I looked up quotes with 'in battle' in and based the chapter on those. If it's unclear, just ask and I can explain it.
title: (war consisteth not) in battle) only
War consisteth not in battle only, or the act of fighting; but in a tract of time, wherein the will to contend by battle is sufficiently known – Thomas Hobbes
In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense – Sallust
"Hey, was that Anna?" Dean asks as I put the phone away.
"Uh… yeah."
"What was up with her? Calling isn't really her gig, doesn't she usually just turn up with what's-his-face when she feels like talking to us?"
"Yes, well, 'what's-his-face' is the problem. They're… separating."
"Really? She was totally in love with him."
"It wasn't her affections that were the problem."
"So what have you promised her?"
"What?"
"You can't handle emotional girls, and you've got that look that says you've done something you regret. Out with it."
"I said we'd meet with her."
"And..?"
"She chose the place."
"Which is?"
"She… called it a pub. I gathered that they do food and lots of alcohol."
"Sounds like my kind of night out." Dean grins.
"With a distraught Anna?"
He hesitates. "I'm sure we can handle it?"
I laugh. "Sounds like the way to go."
###
2 hours later and we are sat in Anna's 'pub', in a slightly corner table. Dean and I are sat across from each other, and Anna is somewhat in the middle but is simply sat at another side of the table. It's a small table, and I'm not sure anyone ever comes here actually to eat.
Anna tries to laugh when we arrive together. "I think I may have invited you two to convince other people that I'm on a date with two guys."
"I'm sure that will work brilliantly, Anna." I say with a gently teasing smile.
"Especially since the two guys will be making eyes at each other over the table." Dean winks at her, then smiles at me side-on.
"Eh, maybe that'll help with the illusion…" She smiles. "But thank you, guys, for coming out with me tonight. I'm sure you'd rather be home, just you two."
"Hey, you know how I am with emotional girls. How could I say no?" I nudge her gently.
"Yeah, yeah; and it has nothing to do with the 'family values' Michael was so keen on?" She raises an eyebrow.
"If you wanted Michael's family values, sister dearest, you would have called him."
She laughs a little, sadly. "Maybe I don't need his views on marriage right now. Somehow I have the feeling you are a little more liberal."
Dean laughs. "Okay, I think it's time someone gets some alcohol here."
"You volunteering?" She gives a charming smile.
"Anything for Cas' sister." He says back with a quick wink.
"You see right through me." She laughs.
They're not really flirting – we've been around each other enough for me to know that. They like to scare their significant others into thinking they are, though.
Anna finds the short silence uncomfortable very quickly. "How is work going?"
"It's all right. We believe a promotion is on the horizon; we very recently were invited to a business dinner with my boss, and I think that went well enough."
"I'm glad to hear it. You guys deserve way better than you have."
"No, we're okay." I smile at Dean's back where he stands at the bar.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?" I fix my eyes on her. My older sister had always been astute in the nuances of people in a way I never had been.
She sighs. "It's nothing. It's just… I didn't notice my marriage going badly, so I don't want anyone else to suffer it."
"This sounds a bit too serious." Dean says, placing three glasses in front of us. "Drink up."
###
Given an hour or so, Anna is much more cheerful. Dean and I are still well within the realms of sober, but I cannot say as much for her. Somehow, I believe that was the goal of the evening on all of our parts.
"Dean? Will you get me another?" Anna's flirtations have become increasingly infantile – she is now fluttering her eyelashes at my boyfriend.
"Of course." Dean smiles back in a rather condescending manner. "You need anything, Cas?"
"I'm all right, thank you." He ruffles my hair as he walks past. "Thanks."
"You're welcome!"
"Dean's great." Anna mumbles.
"I know."
"Don't let him get away from you."
"I really don't intend to."
"Just 'cos…" she yawns before picking the sentence up again, "you don't mean to, doesn't mean you won't. I mean, I wanted to stay married to him forever, you know? I wouldn't have gotten married otherwise, that'd be silly… but boom." She makes a lazy hand gesture. "He… he thinks I don't care anymore, and he's found someone that does. And now Anna's alone."
I put my arm gently around her shoulders. "Maybe you don't have him, but if he can't see how much you care about him, then he's a fool. Besides, you're not alone. Dean and I are here for you whenever you need us, you know that, right?"
Anna shakes her head. "Dean'll only be here for me while you guys're together."
"Firstly; even if we did break up, which I feel is pretty unlikely, he'd still help you. He does like you, I promise. And secondly, you… keep acting like we're going to break up and that it's inevitable. Is there… a reason for that?"
She points a finger at me. "Don't assume it's gonna last, Cassie. He could still decide to leave at any time." So no. She's just paranoid that everyone will break up. Okay, I can handle that. "I mean, look at him now… he's takin' his time with the drinks, isn't he? So maybe that's not 'cos the bartender-y person is entirely inept, but maybe it's 'cos he likes the look of that girl next to him. She definitely likes him. And look, they're talking! See, he could just… up and leave you, with no warning. One day, you're fine, then the next… he loves someone else."
"Anna. Anna, listen."
She mumbles vaguely in response.
"Not everyone is the same, okay? Inias was a bad example of a person, in every way I can think of. Dean isn't like that. He isn't flirting with her. I'll bet you almost anything that she started the conversation, and I'll bet they're talking about how long it takes to get a drink. Maybe she's interested in him…" given the angle she's leaning into him, and this place isn't that loud, I'd say she is, in fact, "but he isn't in her." Straight back, eyes occasionally darting back to us.
"Maybe he's acting it." She shrugs, a very large gesture.
"Do you really think Dean would?"
"No… not really." She deflates a little. "I just don't want you to lose him, or be unprepared. I… I don't want you to be me."
"I don't think we'll be breaking up any time soon," I smile reassuringly.
"Promise me something?"
"Of course. What?"
"You'll fight for him."
"What?"
"You won't let him leave without a fight. You love him, I know you really do, and I know… I know that when you love people, you'll do anything for them. So would he, actually. But that… that doesn't matter. Not right now, at least. So just… don't let him leave. Let him know you love him. Don't ever make him think you'll leave, and don't leave. Fight for him." She shrugs. "It's simple."
I smile. "Sure it is."
She grabs her head. "I can feel myself getting more sober."
"I'll see if I can get Dean to hurry it up a bit. And hey, I'll start fighting for him now, if you'll care to watch." I'm smirking a little, I can feel it, but Anna's beaming up at me, so it doesn't matter.
Dean smiles at my approach, turning his body immediately to me, even as he talks to the girl on his side.
I wait until his sentence is finished to kiss him, because otherwise that would be rude. I keep it relatively short, too, because I wouldn't want to give the impression that I was jealous.
He tangles his hand with mine as our lips part. "You been drinking Anna's happy juice?" He laughs.
"No, actually, and that's why I'm over here. She says she can feel herself getting sober again."
"I'm not sure that's the problem."
"Me neither, but I said I'd see if I could speed up the drink-getting process any more. I'm sorry if I interrupted your conversation, though." I look between the two. The girl smiles at me, though it's slightly strained.
"No, not at all. We were just saying how long it was taking. Not much to interrupt, really." She says, and then waves quickly at the bartender when he glances in our direction. "Hey, can we get some drinks?"
"Sure, what would you like?"
When I look back at Anna, she gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I roll my eyes before returning them.
this chapter to the next is like 103% the reason for huge time jumps