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Chapter Six

The pair spent the next half an hour playing a really messed up game of dodgeball, but Dean had to admit if it came down to it Cas could probably stand a chance against a Strigoi. Not that it would ever come down to that.

They sat side by side, backs against the wall of the training room. Cas was excitement was contagious and Dean couldn't help but smile himself.

"That was really cool," Cas said to him. "Thanks for helping me. I know you were a little leery."

"I guess I can be a little stubborn sometimes," Dean agreed. Cas gave him a look. "Or a lot," he amended.

"It's nice to see you have some fun. You're always so serious," Cas commented.

"I have to be serious. You of all people should know why," Dean said quietly.

Cas' smile started to fade. He nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right," he said. "You know…I really don't know anything about you."

"Do you really need to?" Dean asked him.

"Need to? No. Do I want to…yes," Cas said. "You know my secrets…why can't I know yours?" he asked. "It doesn't seem fair."

Dean sighed. "When I came to St. Vladimir's I wasn't anything like I am now," he admitted to him. "I wasn't serious about school or training or anything."

"What were you like?" Cas asked gently.

"Angry. Really angry. All the time," he said. "I was pissed off that my mother let some Moroi have sex with her and drink her blood and then leave her with two kids and no means to raise them." Now that he was on a roll it was hard to stop. "So I goofed around, did a lot of stupid shit that almost got me kicked out of here more times than I'd like to admit."

Cas remained silent, but kept his attention focused on Dean and his story.

"One day a bunch of big wigs were here at the school for some meeting. Adrian and I had a really epic prank planned. We worked on it for weeks. The whole thing went off without a hitch. Of course the one thing we hadn't planned was an escape and we got caught. Had to apologize to all the dignitaries in front of the whole school. After we muttered our sorries we had to clean up the mess. So as I'm on my hands and knees scrubbing the main staircase my father, who I hadn't seen in fucking ten years, leans down next to my ear and says, "And this is why I never claimed you. You're an embarrassment." I hadn't even realized he was there. I don't know why I cared what he thought about me. It's not like he ever gave a damn and clearly from that statement he was never going to, but something inside of me snapped. Suddenly I wanted to prove him wrong. I wanted to be the best damn guardian there ever was. I wanted him to see what he was missing out on by not being in my life." Dean had to stop and catch his breath. The story had gotten away from him.

Cas didn't say anything at first and that upset Dean more than he thought it would. "Anyway, that's my secret so…" Dean got up to his feet and started to walk towards the door.

Before Dean could step through the doorway he felt Cas' hand on his shoulder. "I think you're pretty great," he said softly. "And the only person you have to prove that to is yourself."

Dean felt something wet streaking down his cheeks. He quickly wiped away the tears he hadn't even realized escaped. "Thanks," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"If your father ever comes to visit again I can use the new skills I learned today," Cas said. Dean assumed he was joking, but a part of him thought Cas would make good on the offer if he really needed to. "We should go to that party," Cas said. "It might be good to bring back a little of the old you. Not the getting kicked out of school part, but the not so serious side would be nice to see."

Was he asking him out? "Are you asking me out?" Dean asked bluntly.

Cas stifled a bit of a laugh. "I guess I should have been a little more clear," he said. "Would you like to go to the party with me?"

For once his life didn't think…he just went for it. "Yes," he said quickly. "I mean…yes, that sounds good."

And this time it was Dean who was grinning like an idiot.

…

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dean asked Sam upon arrival at the feeder's room. Cas was here for a feeding and wherever Cas went Dean was right there, but Sam was only a sophomore. He wasn't assigned a Moroi so he had no need to be anywhere near this room.

"Oh, hey, Dean…" Sam said to him nervously.

"Um, Sammy…" Dean prompted him. "I asked you a question."

"I'm waiting for my girlfriend," Sam replied meekly.

Sam might as well have said he was waiting for his pet dragon. Even though Adrian and Sam gave him a hard time about his lack of social life Sam was so reserved that sometimes Dean wasn't even sure he'd know how to speak to a girl.

"You have a girlfriend," Dean said slowly. "How did I not know this?"

"You've been so busy with the whole exam. I didn't really have a chance to tell you and…" he trailed off.

"And she's really ugly?" Dean joked.

"What? No! She's beautiful. I just didn't want to mess it up with her and then like have to tell you I messed up and stuff," Sam said with a sigh.

Dean could tell this was totally embarrassing him. He found that really amusing. "What's her name?" he asked.

"Jill," Sam said, smiling now. "Oh, and there was one other thing…"

"What's that?" Dean asked his brother.

"I figured you wouldn't be comfortable with me dating a Moroi," Sam admitted. Though most races stuck to their own kind in the end it was common for Moroi and Dhampirs to date when they were young. "You're so 'They come first' and all that."

"I'd be a hypocrite if I told you you couldn't date a Moroi," Dean revealed to his brother.

Sam furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" he asked him curiously.

"I'm going to that party next weekend…with Cas," Dean said softly.

"No way!" Sam exclaimed and then put his hand over his mouth. Sam's outburst caught the attention of the nurse who gave the boys a look.

"He has turrets," Dean said with a wave of his hand. "He's fine." He looked at his brother. "Could you keep it down, dude?" he hissed.

"But you're guarding him," Sam whispered this time.

"For this exam…not forever," Dean said.

Sam grinned. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother? Wait…I don't want to know. I kinda this Dean."