Chapter Three

"Another one down the hatch" Dean declared before knocking back his 4th shot of tequila.

The bartender winced slightly, watching Dean down the shot and took the empty glass away.

"Keep 'em coming man" Dean requested, hiccupping slightly.

Sam hadn't kept his meeting with Ruby so quiet this time and insisted she had found some info on a local case. Dean had refused to go with and somehow ended up in a local dive of a bar, not wanting to be totally alone with his own thoughts.

Taking his mind off everything seemed to be the best case scenario these days and what did the trick better than booze.

When a tall, slim girl with wavy blonde hair entered the corner of Dean's eyesight, he mentally added, booze and women…of course.

"Hi, my name's Mary-Beth"

The sweet tone of her voice echoed closely to Dean's ear and he couldn't help but turn on the infamous "I'm Dean Winchester, aren't I so charming" smile, that he adopted so well. No matter how forced it seemed to be these days.

"Well Hey there Mary Beth…I'm…"

"Dean."

The sound of his own name spoken in Castiel's voice could be heard from behind; Dean sighed loudly and gave the girl an apologetic smile.

"Just one second…" he said, before turning to face Cas.

"Cas what are you doing here man? Cant you see I'm…busy…" Dean said, motioning with his head to the girl stood behind him.

The angel tilted his head to the side and briefly looked past Dean at Mary Beth who smiled and waved, before turning his attention back to the hunter.

"You don't look…busy. Where is Sam?"

"Where do you think, huh?" Dean snapped a little too loudly, causing the girl behind him to flinch slightly and the smile disappearing from her face.

"Maybe I should go…" She said quietly, resting a hand on Dean's shoulder.

Dean turned round to face her and shook his head rapidly.

"No no you don't have to go Mary Beth…my friend here was just leaving. Isn't that right Cas?"

Dean raised an eyebrow at the angel, hoping Cas got the hint but as predicted, it was totally lost on him and he frowned slightly at Dean, looking confused.

"No…that's not right. I'm staying. She is free to leave"

Mary Beth sighed in defeat and nodded her head.

"I'm gonna take off…it was nice to meet you Dean"

"No…no…don't go…come on, just ignore him…he's just…Mary Beth…" Dean shouted after her as she walked away quickly and that's when the hunter turned his death glare on Cas.

"DUDE!" Dean exclaimed, throwing up his hands in frustration and staring at the angel in front of him.

When Castiel just stared at him blankly, Dean shook his head in annoyance and stormed past the angel, knocking into him slightly to show how angry he was.

"Dean where are you going….Dean…" Castiel called after Dean, following close behind him, as he made his way out into the parking lot.

"I'm going back to the motel…to load up on more booze, since you just ruined potentially the only good thing I had going tonight, thanks for that by the way." Dean ranted angrily, heading for the impala and not stopping to look back at the angel as he spoke.

"I don't understand…I came to find you, to see if you are OK…What did I do wrong…Dean?"

Cas sighed heavily, confused by Dean's reaction and trying to keep up with the hunters long strides across the parking lot.

"Dean please just talk to me…if this is about Sam or…"

The angel was cut off abruptly as they reached the impala and Dean stopped dead, spinning round to face Cas and causing him to bump into the hunter.

"What is it with you huh? I'm FINE…just leave me alone Cas…"

"You don't look fine, drinking yourself stupid and willing to go home with any whore that throws them-…"

Dean grabbed hold of Cas' trenchcoat and slammed him against the impala.

"Who the hell are you to judge? If I wanna go home and bang every bimbo that approaches me then I'll fucking do it…if I wanted to drink myself into a god damn coma…then why the hell not…"

Castiel shook his head sadly at Dean, not quite understanding human logic…or was it Winchester logic?

"I just don't understand how any of it helps you Dean…"

"CAUSE IT HELPS ME FORGET…" Dean yelled angrily, still clinging onto the lapels of the angel's coat.

As soon as the words fell from his lips, Dean let go of Cas and stepped back shaking his head in frustration. Castiel simply watched Dean wide eyed, as a multitude of emotions passed over his features.

"…I just want ONE night…where I can forget…everything, is that so much to ask? You wouldn't understand but sometimes…people…they just need to indulge a little, let it wash away their problems"

"Believe me Dean, I may not be human…but I get it. It is not…a long term solution for your problems…you should really…"

"Cas, if you say 'talk about it' I'm gonna kick your ass. I don't WANT to talk about it…any of it. I just want to forget."

The angel sighed again in defeat, he wanted to help Dean anyway he could and Cas figured if anyone was to help the older Winchester through his problems, it should be a friend.

A friend like Cas.

"Then let me help you. Whatever you need Dean…I just want to help…please"

"I don't need your help" Dean mumbled, turning around to unlock his car.

"Clearly you do…whatever you need from me Dean…I'll do it. Just promise me, when you feel the need to 'forget'…you will pray for me first, before turning to the nearest whiskey bottle…promise me"

The hunter was taken back slightly, not quite being able to figure out if Castiel wanted to help him because God had plans for him and Cas was his guardian angel or whatever….

Then on the other hand, Dean felt humbled that there was finally someone…a friend…willing to help him through this, while Sam was away playing house with a demon.

Dean froze with his hand planted firmly on the door handle of the car, he didn't turn to look at Cas before getting inside, but the angel was sure he heard a definite; "I promise" escape from Dean's mouth, before he got into his precious car and drove back to the motel.

Finally Castiel felt confident that he was getting through to his friend.