A/N: Thank you all again for the kind reviews and the patience. I have been writing like crazy and have nearly 10k words in the bag, but they need editing. That does mean regular updates this week and a ton of Dean and Cas' weekend (Fluffy good times for all). First, though, this chapter which is not a Dean chapter, but it felt necessary.
He walked into the office that morning feeling like too much was resting on his shoulders. He had enjoyed the conversation with Dean the night before, and when he woke up in the morning, he had spent a fair amount of time over-thinking things until he had it all pressed firmly into a neat box of friendship. Comfortable, uncomplicated if I keep repeating it, it will be true. He told himself this with each step from his bed to each room of his home.
He told himself this as he flicked on the stereo in his living room and switched the music to something up tempo. He told himself this as he strolled into the kitchen to prepare some coffee. Then he stopped telling himself the same thing and just started singing along with the song on the stereo. It was the Barenaked Ladies' song One Week. He liked the rush of the lyrics and how it made him have a little bounce in his step as he moved around the condo, getting ready for work.
He was not looking forward to the meeting with Zach. Despite the confidence that Gabe felt, Cas just couldn't believe that Zach would just accept it. Acceptance went against everything that Cas knew about Zach's personality.
He was a control freak. Near as Cas could tell, the man had no social life. He certainly has no wife or kids. He did however, have success. He was widely respected and maybe even a little feared.
Cas did not want to face him. He could already see his stern face with small, dark beady eyes staring back at him. He could see the light from the window bouncing off of Zach's round, bald head. He could see his broad-shouldered frame methodically moving from the chair to the window. He could see him returning to the table to lean over with menace.
His imagination was not off. When they first entered the conference room, Gabe tried to make some light joke to disarm the situation. Zach had looked up from his work and directed them to seats that were across from him. "I wasn't expecting you too, Cas."
"Hello, Zach." Cas couldn't explain his presence without making things difficult for Gabe so he took his seat and didn't say anything else.
"So, Zach..." Gabe started but was immediately cut off by Zach.
"I already know why you are here, so spare me the so-called explanation. I'm assuming that you have a finely crafted story about your accidental meeting with Mr. Crowley." Zach stood then and walked to the large window with his back to them. It was an intimidation tactic.
Gabe spoke then, "How did you find out?" Gabe turned to give Cas a questioning look. Cas shrugged to show that he had no answer.
Zach turned back then, "I know because it is my business to know. How dare you, Gabe? How dare you?"
"I should have talked to you first, I..."
"Oh, spare me," Zach interrupted as he slipped back into his seat.
Cas chose to speak up then, "How did you find out about the meeting?"
"Crowley called. Imagine my surprise. You know how much I like surprises." His half smirk spoke of irritation, he continued, "How are you involved, Cas?"
"I asked him to be here as moral support." Gabe answered before Cas could.
"I was not talking to you, Gabe." Zach spat out.
"Moral support." Cas chimed in.
"So, you agree with Gabe here that we should take on the Crowley case?" Zach stared at him steadily, "It hardly seems like the kind of client that you would want me to send your way."
"I do not think that we want this case." He felt Gabe's eyes on him and hoped that he wasn't feeling betrayed. "However, Gabe does have the best interests of the firm in mind. He was trying to bring us something that he thought would benefit our reputation, as well as our pocketbooks."
"I had been contacted by Crowley's people some time ago about representing him. I declined. I was asked again recently, and was going to decline again, but then you," he turned to Gabe fully then, "made that impossible. How can I decline now without losing face? You've backed me into a corner, Gabe."
"I'm sorry." Gabe muttered. "I do think that it will be a good thing."
"I'm putting you on leave. Two weeks. Hand off your work to Sam. I checked your schedule, you don't have much that needs to be covered so we won't suffer." He walked over to the other side of the table then and looked down at Gabe, "I don't care how good a thing you think you have arranged, if you ever go behind my back again, you will be gone." He turned his back on him then and said, "Now leave before I rethink my generosity."
They both stood to go, but Zach interrupted their progress. "Cas, you stay."
Cas returned to the table but did not sit. When the door closed behind Gabe's departing form, Cas spoke up, "I'm sorry about this situation. It is unpleasant."
Zach motioned toward the seat while taking the one next to it, "It is unpleasant and unfortunate. I had hoped to avoid it. I didn't think that you had anything to do with this arrangement of Gabe's. I hope I wasn't wrong in my assumption."
"I found out about it last night. I hope, though, that you can see past Gabe's mistake." Cas was having a hard time defending Gabe, but he felt like he had to try.
"The relationship with Crowley was inevitable; I just wanted to stall it for a bit longer-maybe wait for him to have a sure win to offer up."
"Nothing is ever sure. I find it hard to believe that you were actually interested in representing him."
"Gabe's not entirely wrong. This will be good for our reputation, and the money is good. That doesn't change the fact that Gabe needed a little lesson in how we do things around here. Someone has to be in charge and it certainly shouldn't be him." Zach gave Cas a slight smile then. "I'm going to put you on the Crowley cases. You can pick your second. I'm thinking, not Gabe. I think we'll need a level head running this, someone with some moral compass."
"I'm not sure that I'm the right one for this."
"And that statement assures me that you are." Zach rose from his seat. "I'll see you back here at the regular meeting. For now, go see Gabe off. Calm the waters as he takes his leave. Go be our little diplomat."
Cas frowned a little as he left the conference room. This had not gone well for him. In fact it was a world of discomfort laid out in front of him. He hoped that he could comfort Gabe. He hoped that he could get out of the Crowley case. He also hoped that this wasn't a sign of just how badly everything could go this weekend.
He found Gabe in Sam's office. He looked defeated and Sam had his face of comfort firmly in place. When he saw Cas in the doorway, Sam waved him in.
Cas closed the door behind him as he slipped in. Gabe looked up at him, "So did it get any better after I left? "
"Not so much. You're looking at Crowley's new lawyer." Cas sounded like he was as defeated as Gabe.
"Oh, sorry Cas." Gabe muttered. "Why you though?"
"Who else should it be, Gabe?" Cas looked him steadily in the eyes.
"I don't know, I guess I thought that it should be me, but I guess I can see why Zach would disagree."
Sam spoke up then, "Maybe you can work together."
Gabe looked hopeful for a second. Cas could not see why he would want this. "He said that I should pick a second, but that it should not be you."
Gabe smiled at that, "He said 'should' when he told you that?"
"Sort of, what's your point?"
"That gives you a little wiggle room. He said what you should do, but you, Cas are a rebel." Gabe smiled at him some more. "You don't want to do as you should."
"I don't?" He quirked up an eyebrow at him then.
"Exactly, you don't. You'll pick me because I make everything better, and let's be honest here, I'm the right one for this." He got up then and strode to the door all swagger and confidence. "I'll see you all at the party. And Sammy, we'll be in touch. Can't have you screwing up all of my hard work."
"Yeah thanks for that." Sam groaned.
Cas watched him go and wondered how this would play out. He looked to Sam for comfort and found it in his look. "Let me know if you need help with Gabe's work. No sense in you getting overwhelmed."
Cas rose to go too, "Thanks Cas. You can let me know too if you need help with Gabe's work. You don't deserve to be overwhelmed by this either."
Review, Fav, Follow, etc. The little alerts I get from this make me all kinds of happy. Thanks. There will be Dean and Cas tomorrow. 'Till then.