A few days later, Dean looked up from where his and Cas' fingers sat entwined on the table when Charlie burst through the Roadhouse door and grabbed a seat at the bar.
"Give me as many shot as you've got booze for," she told Jo. Sensing Charlie's agitation, Jo didn't question it and started pouring shots. Cas removed his hand from Dean's.
"You should talk to her," Cas said, getting up.
"I'll see you later?" Dean asked.
Cas pressed a soft kiss to Dean's lips and answered, "Of course."
Dean watched his friend leave the bar, shamelessly undressing him with his eyes as he went, before going up to the bar to find out what happened with Charlie.
As he sat next to the disgruntled red head, she threw back a shot before saying, "Don't even start, Winchester. I don't want to talk about it, and you are not going to make me." Dean nodded and stole her next shot as she reached for it.
"What the hell, Dean?" she snapped.
"What's going on, Charlie?" he asked. Her eyes looked red as she glared at him.
"I told you," she said, grabbing for the shot glass that Dean held just out of reach, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Alright," he said, "How about I give you this back and we go not talk about it outside?"
She sighed and nodded, "Fine." Charlie gulped down the burning liquid, slapped some money on the bar, and followed Dean out into the cold Chicago night.
They started heading back to their apartment in silence. Dean shoved his cold hands in his jacket pockets.
"Alright," Charlie broke the silence, almost making Dean smile from successfully cracking her, "You know how Dorothy's been sick? Well, I finally got her to go see the campus doctor."
She paused and Dean turned to look at her. She stopped walking.
Taking a breath that didn't stop her voice from cracking, she said, "She's sick. She's really sick." As a few tears rolled down her cheeks, Dean wrapped her in a tight hug.
"It'll be okay," he said, pressing a kiss to her hair.
She sniffled and shook her head, "No, it won't, Dean."
"What do you mean?"
"She's got HIV," Charlie sobbed into Dean's shoulder.
Dean's heart broke with the shock. He thought of Charlie's girlfriend. She was smart, had a good head on her shoulders. How could Dorothy have HIV? A sickening thought wormed its way into his brain.
"Charlie," he said, stilling holding onto his weeping friend, "You're not sick, right?" She looked up at him blearily.
"No, I'm clean. I got tested after hers came back positive," she said, struggling to regain her composure. Worry released Dean's heart slightly. At least Charlie was okay. She wiped at her eyes to dry them. Well, she was physically okay.
"You know," he said, trying to calm her, "HIV doesn't mean she's gonna die from it."
He silently thanked google for the search results he'd poured through shortly after kissing Cas.
Charlie looked up at him skeptically, "What are you talking about? It's incurable." Dean smiled. This must've been how Sam felt all the time, knowing stuff before everyone else from doing research.
"There's better meds for it now," he said, "It's pretty manageable. Just gotta take the right meds and get to the doctor more."
"What?!" she asked, shocked. He smiled at the renewed light in her eyes.
"I don't know the science, but you can look it up if you want," he replied. She smiled and hugged him.
"I have to talk to her. Dorothy will want more info on it anyway. Do you think the school insurance would cover medication for her? They should, shouldn't they?" she babbled, already working out logistics.
He listened to her rapid-fire talk all the way back to the apartment where, thankfully, Cas had beaten them on bike and was waiting for him.
"Hey, Cas," Dean said softly as Charlie ran to her and Dorothy's room.
"Is she okay?" Cas asked.
Dean nodded, "She's better. Dorothy found out she's HIV positive. But they're both strong. They'll work it out."
Cas breathed, "Holy shit."
"I know," Dean said.
"How are you dealing with it?" Cas asked quietly.
Dean sat on the couch next to Cas and said, "I think I'm still in shock. I feel like it hasn't really hit me yet. Charlie's not sick, and Dorothy's condition is manageable. It's not like she's going to the chopping block. But this is really big. I don't think I've fully absorbed it yet."
Cas nodded in understanding.
Dorothy burst out of her room, walked calmly to Dean, and with red-rimmed eyes, said, "Thank you. Charlie told me what you told her and...it helps a lot. Thank you."
"No problem, Dorothy. I just want you to be okay. You're family," Dean said. Some of the dam broke then. She hugged Dean where he was on the couch tightly, tears flooding her eyes.
He tried to register how she was feeling. He guessed he had sort of given her her life back, but he was still trying to understand how that life was in jeopardy in the first place. How had she even gotten HIV? If her cold symptoms started when she got infected, what could she possibly have done to get it? He hugged her back until she let go and straightened up like that display of emotion had never happened.
"Thanks," she said again.
She called to Charlie, "Ready to go?"
Charlie hurried out and grabbed her jacket.
"Going to the campus doctors' office. We'll be back soon," Dorothy explained quickly as they walked out the door. Then, it was just Dean and Cas.
Cas sat quietly on his half of the couch cushion, staring at his hands folded on his lap.
"Cas," Dean said, "You alright?" Cas nodded quickly and slapped a smile on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" he said a little too quickly. Dean's instincts told him something was off, but he didn't feel like pressing it. It was probably about moving in so suddenly or something. If Cas wanted to tell him, he'd tell him.
"No reason," Dean said, "You just seemed a little off."
Cas shrugged stiffly, "Well, I'm fine."
Something was seriously odd. Dean leaned forward and chastely kissed Cas. Cas didn't return the kiss.
"Okay, Cas," Dean said, "What's going on?"
Cas looked at Dean and said, unconvincingly, "Nothing. I was just zoning out." Whatever it was was something he didn't want to tell Dean. That worried him more.
"You can tell me anything. You know that," Dean said.
Cas nodded, "I know." He leaned his head onto Dean's chest and wrapped his arms around Dean's torso.
"I'm sorry I'm acting weird," Cas said, "I am fine, though. Really."
"Okay," Dean said, raking his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. If it was something Dean needed to know, Cas would tell him. There was no doubt of that. He tried to let his sense of worry drop. He needed a distraction.
He tilted Cas' face up and pressed a kiss to his lips. Cas returned the kiss without hesitation and scooted up on Dean's chest to be at better level with his mouth.
Maybe everything was okay. Or maybe the stuff with Charlie and Dorothy had hit Cas faster than it was hitting Dean. Maybe he was just overreacting. Lisa used to complain about his overreacting all the time. The thought of Lisa constricted his chest for a moment, but it was only for a moment.
He kissed Cas harder and shook off the memory. Cas' lips felt good and everything was fine. His hands tried to memorize the feel of Cas' hair, his chest, his arms, his back, his ass, anything he was able to reach. The taste of Cas lingered on his lips as his boyfriend kissed down his neck. Dean stopped him and tugged his shirt off, throwing it across the room. Cas followed suit and kissed Dean's throat. He moved to Dean's collarbone, shoulder, chest, sternum, stomach, all the way to Dean's pants. Dean was torn between letting Cas have access below his waistline and pulling Cas up to kiss him. He sat up to meet Cas' lips.
He wasn't sure if he was ready for below the waist action. Yet, when Cas lay on top of him and he felt their erections rub together through their jeans, he craved it. But he wasn't ready for that. Cas probably wasn't ready for that either. Their lips crashed together desperately as Dean's hands tried to decide what part of Cas to touch first. Cas' hands found purchase sliding over Dean's shoulders and arms, making Dean's skin erupt in goosebumps and chills. How could he do that just by touching him?
Again, Dean felt their pelvises connect with sweet pressure. Fuck it. He slid his hand down Cas' chest and stomach to his pants.
"May I?" Dean asked, breaking the kiss.
Cas nodded and captured Dean's lips again like he needed his kisses to live. His heart raced as he slipped two fingers under the elastic of Cas' boxers.
The doorknob on the apartment door turned.
Dean retracted his hand, Cas slid down so he could be laying on Dean's chest, and they both pretended they weren't breathlessly panting when Charlie and Dorothy walked into the apartment in a huff. Charlie tossed her coat down angrily and walked over to the couch.
"I am so done right now," Charlie seethed. Dorothy sat on the arm of the couch near Dean's head. She smirked at their shirtless condition.
"You just left. What happened?" Dean asked, ignoring Dorothy's knowing grin.
"I called ahead and the campus doctors don't have the medication she needs," Charlie said angrily, "and the clinic they connected me to won't take our stupid school insurance."
"Maybe you should try Planned Parenthood," Cas said, sitting up on Dean's crotch.
That son of a bitch.
He shifted ever so slightly that made Dean realize Cas knew exactly what he was doing.
What an asshole.
Cas explained, "They were discussing in Women's History that Planned Parenthood has a pink card that can give you access to a bunch of medical help. Do you remember that, Dean?" Before Dean could answer, Cas turned slightly making him fight back a moan. If Cas wanted a war, he'd get it.
"No," Dean said, pushing his pelvis up surruptitiously, "I don't. But it's worth looking into." His motion got a small blush to spread across Cas' face.
Charlie nodded, "Yeah. I'll look it up. Good idea. Do you know where Sam's laptop is?"
Cas dropped his voice to a low murmur and asked Dean, "Do you think it'd be in his room?" Dean glared at Cas. He knew what that low voice of his did. Dean sat up and pushed Cas off of him unceremoniously.
"I'll go get it," Dean said, grinning at Cas. Cas squinted at Dean but was smiling regardless of his being forcibly unseated. Served him right.
He walked over to Sam's room and grabbed his laptop off his bed. As he turned around, he saw some things from Sam's shelves were missing. He didn't know what they were, but there were clean outlines in the dust of where things used to be. Then, he realized one of the missing things was a picture frame. It was a picture he'd taken of Sam and Luci when they'd first started dating. Maybe Sam broke it off with Luci. That'd be some freaking good news. God, he hated that bastard.
He adjusted his grip on Sam's laptop and walked back out to everyone.
As he handed the computer to Charlie, he asked, "Why do you need Sam's laptop? What happened to yours?"
Charlie smiled and said, "It has dementia and keeps forgetting that it can connect to the wi-fi. I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet. Thanks." Dorothy and Charlie retreated to their room.
Dean turned to Cas, "What the hell was that?"
"Fun," Cas said with a wide grin.
"Fun? Really? That's what you call teasing me in front of Charlie and Dorothy?" Dean asked.
Cas laughed, "Yep. Fun."
"I see," Dean said. He took a predatory step towards the couch.
"Dean," Cas said warily, "What are you doing?"
Dean grinned, pulled Cas off the couch, and slung him over his shoulder. Honestly, it was easier said than done since Cas wasn't much smaller than he was, but the squeal of surprise he pulled out of Cas with the move urged on his endurance until he plopped his boyfriend on his bed.
He slid on top of Cas and lightly nibbled his earlobe.
Cas released a loud gasp and said, "Why? Why does that-"
Dean grinned and rocked his hips into Cas', a moan forcing its way from Cas' throat. He stole a long, deep kiss and slid his tongue along Cas' upper lip. Then, quickly, he slipped down a bit and rested his head on Cas' chest.
"Dean?" Cas asked, confused. Dean nuzzled his head against Cas' chest and faked a snore.
"Really?" Cas asked, "You turn me on and then-" He stopped talking as it clicked.
Dean laughed and said, "Teasing still fun?"
Cas shot him a devilish smile and ran his hand down along Dean's upper thigh and up against Dean's crotch. Dean stared at him.
"You really put the ass in Cas, you know that?" he said, smiling. They kissed again. Cas rolled them so he was on top of Dean. He sat up on Dean's pelvis again.
"Do you have any STDs I should know about?" Cas asked. Dean stared up at him. Did he seriously just ask that?
"No," Dean answered, "I'm clean. Been screened and everything. Why?" His heart thudded. Cas couldn't possibly be proposing sex this soon.
"I was curious. If we ever have sex, which I would very much like to experience at some point, it would be nice to know what I'm getting myself into," he said.
Dean nodded, and it struck him that if they were to ever have sex, Dean would be popping his metaphorical cherry. That freaked him out. How would Cas want to do it on his first time? Sure, Dean had never been with a guy, but Cas hadn't slept with anyone. Oh, God, they were both guys. Who would be on top? Oh, God.
Cas smiled, "Relax, I'm in no hurry to have sex with you. We should probably date a bit longer before doing that."
"I'm totally relaxed," Dean said, secretly relieved beyond belief.
"Oh, yeah, you weren't panicking at all," Cas said sarcastically, "I could practically hear your heartbeat from here." He leaned forward on all fours and brought a knee up gently between Dean's legs, spreading sweet pleasure everywhere.
"Don't worry," Cas said, "I know you're not ready."
Dean swallowed as Cas nestled his knees between Dean's legs, making Dean spread his legs for Cas. Dean couldn't help but notice that it was the same move he'd pulled on Cas a few nights before when he'd asked Cas to move in. Slowly, watching Dean for any signs of discomfort, Cas eased the button of Dean's pants open.
Charlie opened the door to their room with a bang, holding the laptop in one hand.
"I've got it!" she said happily.
Dean sighed, "Privacy, Charlie. Heard of it?"
She took in the scene on Dean's bed and laughed, "Ha. Sorry. I forgot you guys do stuff." She walked in anyway, and sat on the edge of the memory foam mattress. She held open the laptop to their school's website. Dean and Cas sat up to give her room. Charlie really was the sister Dean had never wanted.
"I looked up the pink card, which was cool, but I'd have to refuse insurance for Dorothy and I in order to qualify. It also covered every kind of birth control but not the meds she needs," Charlie said quickly, "But I did find out that our school insurance can write a referral for us to go outside the school to the clinic that has the medicine." She gestured at the web page to show them, but it had gone back to the school's home page.
"Whatever," she said, "It said it. Long story short, I'll be on the phone for the foreseeable future. Don't be too loud till I tell you." With that, she closed Sam's computer and left the room.
Cas looked at Dean. Dean kind of wanted to make Charlie a badge that said "Official Cockblock." The mood was pretty clearly dead.
"Do you think the referral's going to work?" Cas asked.
Dean pulled Cas onto his chest and sighed, "I hope so. If it doesn't, we'll help them figure it out."
Something started to bother him. It was a Saturday.
"Hey, Cas," Dean said after a minute, "Have you seen Sam at all today?"
Cas tensed slightly, but he said, "I think he said he and Gabriel were going to Luci's. I'm pretty sure he's going to break up with Luci."
"Good," Dean said.
"Why do you say that?" Cas asked slowly. Dean got that feeling again that Cas was purposely not saying something.
"Dude's a prick," Dean said, "So, I'm glad Sammy's wising up and ditching his ass."
Cas nodded, but that worried feeling didn't leave Dean's stomach.
Out in the living room, he heard Charlie say, "Dammit. I'll have to call you back."
She paused, "Gabriel, what the-oh my god."
Cas sat up quickly, instantly followed by Dean.
"Dean!" Charlie called. The alarm in her voice had them out of the room in less than a second.
She said, "We have to go. It's Sam."