AN: i really meant to write this a while ago, but i forgot just how friggin busy the first few weeks of january are at work. plus i was distracted doing a couple oneshots that i kinda got absorbed in... hopefully, though, i'll be back to weekly updates.

another warning that i will be upping the rating at some point in the future - there's some stuff i gotta set up before anything *ahem* happens

as always, feel free to hit me up on tumblr jhoomwrites (just my writing) or jhoomreads (all my random fandom stuff)

Thomas is relieved when they start working the hunt. It offers the distraction he's been needing these past few weeks, something that's completely outside of himself and his current issues. People need help, need him - whoever he actually is - and it's something he can do something about.

On the last leg of the drive, Thomas goes over the case notes and starts doing phone interviews. He's always been good at listening and seeming disarming, probably because his interest and concern are always genuine. While Dean drives, he manages to whittle away at the mystery until it's all but solved.

He hopes Dean is at least a little impressed.

In town, there's not much left to do. There are a few people left to interview, just to confirm what they've already found out. They end up playing the role of FBI agent and intern. He bristles a little at having to play the intern, but it works so he lets it go. As easily as he slipped into working with Sam, that seems to carry over with Dean as well.

The only exception to that comes at the end of the hunt. They're sneaking into a house, were presumably the demon is holed up and at least suspects their arrival. Dean seems to want Thomas to stay in the car, but at least doesn't voice the thought. But he does, however, insist on entering the house first. And then he pushes Thomas back, going around each corner and into each room first. Splitting up doesn't even seem to cross his mind.

In his frustration, Thomas nearly hands over his gun and asks if he should turn the safety on.

Turns out it wouldn't have mattered - the gun almost immediately is forced from his hands as he's thrown clear across the room. He's dizzy and might have a concussion, but Dean distracts the demon long enough for Thomas to sneak around the couch and untie the hostage, some poor old woman whose possessed daughter is currently trying to kill them.

For all his earlier bravado and self-assurance, it does nothing to stop Dean from getting pounded into the floor. Thomas jumps on the woman's back to try and slow her down from killing the older man, but she just pulls him off her as though he were a rag doll. She's no doubt about to toss him aside again when she must see something that makes her hesitate. Black eyes narrow, focused completely on his, pulling him closer and staring as though she can see into his very soul.

"I know you," she snarls. Based on the way her grip around his neck tightens, that's not a good thing. Thomas' vision is just starting to go when he feels himself falling to the ground.

Choking out a few breaths, he watches as Dean handcuffs the woman. He wonders briefly what that could possibly do, but it somehow holds her. As he tries to keep her from fighting out of his grasp, Dean recites the exorcism. It's almost anti-climatic after that, the demon's smoky form fleeing the poor woman.

"You..." he swallows to try and ease the words out of his mouth. "You didn't kill her?"

Dean's carrying the woman's limp body, feeling for a pulse as he makes his way outside. "What's the point of doing this if you don't try and save 'em?"

He dusts himself off as he gets up. "And did we? Did we save her?"

A slight twitch at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, we did."

All in all, the hunt was easy. Too easy, really. He's high on a mix of unspent energy and excitement at taking down a demon. With Dean Winchester. As they drive to a bar after cleaning up, he can barely stay still and is out of the car before Dean's even turned off the ignition.

Thomas isn't a lightweight per say, but he's well past tipsy an hour later. And he may have lost count of his drinks. Dean just smiles indulgently at him and goes to order another round.

At some point, he's drunk enough and running on so much energy that he makes the decision that he needs to get laid. And after another shot, it's not just seeming like a good idea but a fantastic one. He gives Dean a sloppy smile before somehow stumbling to the bar to start looking around.

His first attempt seems to be going well. The girl's probably around his age and is incredibly sweet. Their conversation is going well, especially considering he's slurring his words and maybe laughing a bit too much. But before he can manage to suggest they leave, her girlfriend shows up. He pouts slightly but chats with both girls for a couple more minutes before moving on.

This time it's an older guy who attracts his attention. Maybe in his thirties, decently built. He's a little too drunk to trust his ability to judge attractiveness, but they seem to hit it off and it's not like he plans on anything more than a quick lay. But this time it's not a cockblocking girlfriend that interrupts. This time it's Dean, who saunters over and pulls gently at his elbow.

"Hey, uh, can I talk to you?"

Maybe he should wonder a little bit more about why he doesn't even second guess letting Dean lead him away. Why he doesn't even care enough to say anything to the (possibly) cute guy he's been pulled away from. But that's really a problem for sober Thomas to worry about.

Back at their own table, the tension is palpable. He can see it so easily, how jealous Dean is. It's not something he really understands, though. Why would Dean be jealous? Is this a Cas thing or a Thomas thing? God, he must be drunk if he can't even tell anymore. Doesn't even care to try and tell the difference.

He patiently waits for Dean to start. Wonders how he'll approach whatever it is he's going to say. He's so busy watching Dean lick his lips that he's completely blindsided by the question.

"... What?"

"I said, what did that demon mean, saying she knew you?"

"I..." he tilts his head and tries to focus on Dean's eyes. This was not what he was expecting to talk about and he's at a loss. Not that he knew what he'd have said in the other conversation he had been expecting. "I don't know?"

"You sure? She was pretty convinced. Was gonna kill you for it."

He laughs (giggles really, but he's not drunk enough to admit that he giggles). "She was gonna kill me anyway."

Dean just rolls his eyes and concedes the point. "Yeah, maybe. How 'bout we get you back to the motel, buddy."

For reasons he doesn't understand, his heart swells at being called "buddy."

Thomas is determined to make it back to the motel under his own power, so he pushes off Dean's attempt to shoulder some of his weight. After stumbling a couple times, however, he does allow Dean to rest a guiding hand on the small of his back.

As they walk along the near empty street, he wonders if he was wrong about Dean being jealous. He decides he shouldn't ask about it, it would just make things awkward that he was wrong.

Which of course means the next thing out of his mouth seconds later is a whiny, "Are you sure you weren't jealous cuz of the bar?"

There's a slight falter in Dean's stride, but otherwise he doesn't really react. "Thomas, if you wanna pick up chicks or dudes, I'm not gonna stop you."

"Then why'd you pull me away?" He can't tell if it's just plain old curiosity or annoyance that Dean wasn't jealous.

It takes him a moment to answer. "You do realize you're drunk, right? Like... I'm not even sure how you're still standing."

"So?" The pouting is back and he can't stop it.

"So? You are way too drunk to be making decisions, and you'd probably just like... throw up or something and ruin everyone's night."

They're about a block away from the bar - and the fact that Thomas doesn't remember most of the walk lends credence to what Dean had said - but it still doesn't sit well with him. "Are you sure you weren't even a little jealous?"

Dean just laughs. "You telling me you want me to be jealous?"

Thomas gives an over-dramatic shrug. "I dunno. Maybe."

He thinks Dean won't answer as he sifts through his pockets for the key (when did they get to the door? he really did drink too much...). He opens the door and motions for Thomas to get in, and as he passes, Dean gives him a small wink and says, "Noted."