AN: Thanks again to my reviewers, followers, and favers (that is so not a word). Thanks innocence2652 and Mummabro. I'm glad you liked the singing and the chapter. Thanks also to Crimson92501. I am so glad that my little story has helped. I'll be hoping that things look up for you. Now on to the party.
When they could no longer put off the inevitable, Dean and Cas finally left the storage locker behind to get ready upstairs. They were making their way back to the condo when Cas' phone buzzed. "It's just Gabe." Cas said to Dean when he threw a glance at the phone in Cas' hand.
"What does he want?"
"He is going to the party tonight. He wanted to know if we wanted to carpool." Cas looked over at Dean and added, "Do we want to do that?"
"Sam and Jess are going to meet us there so it's not like we need to have the extra space saved for them." Dean shared.
"That wasn't really an answer. What should I tell Gabe?" Another text came through then.
Gabe's text read, You can't say no. I totally left you alone with Dean last night without bothering you at all. You owe me.
"What did he say now?"
"Oh, nothing. He really wants an answer."
"Well, tell him yes then. I didn't think that he liked me much." Dean said as they exited the elevator.
"Gabe is just hard to read sometimes. He's a bit of a joker. It will be nice for him to have a little entourage as he goes into the party. He got put on leave this week."
"Oh, what did he do?"
"The short version, he got us a client that we should have avoided." Cas offered vaguely.
"Hmm, so I should do my best to avoid that topic. When does he want to leave?"
"I don't know. Let me check." Cas texted the question to Gabe and received an almost immediate reply.
"He'll be here in an hour." They stepped into the condo, and Cas added, "I'm going to get ready. You might want to do the same."
"Nah, I think I'll just go like this." Dean spun around in his greasy shirt and ripped jeans. "No one should notice." He laughed at Cas' too serious look and added, "I'll just see if I have something a little more appropriate"
Cas stood at the mirror and fastened the last of the buttons on his shirt. The tie hung on the rack next to his dresser. He snatched it up and put it on. He tied the knot loosely, then fastened the cuff links and threw on his jacket.
He ran a hand through his chronically wild hair. It was a little tamer than normal, but it still had the little spiked out edges that would never be tamed. He walked out of the bedroom to wait for Dean in the living room. He took a seat on the couch and picked up his copy of The Great Gatsby. He had decided to reread the book after the night of texting with Dean where he had claimed that he was reading the book. Ironically, he was in the chapter where the narrator went to an unusual party.
The door to the guest room opened a few minutes later and out walked Dean. His black suit jacket was slightly tighter around his waist and it framed him well. Cas sucked in a little breath at the sight of him. His hair seemed darker because he was standing back from the window, but as he made his way into the light, Cas could see blonde highlights catching the sun. "You clean up nice." Cas said as he stood and walked toward him.
Dean stepped up to Cas and reached out to his tie. "This is too loose." He fiddled with it for a second and then tightened it. "I feel all uncomfortable in this thing. Too confining." Dean stretched his neck back and forth. He smoothed his hands down Cas' arms before taking a step back to assess Cas from a slight distance.
"You get use to them." Cas looked over at the kitchen clock and said, "I'm surprised that Gabe hasn't shown up yet. The doorbell rang then.
"Speak of the devil." Dean smirked as Cas walked over to the door.
"Hey Gabe, Kali." Cas welcomed them as they came in. Kali gave Cas a slight hug and a peck on the cheek.
"It's good to see you again, Cas," she said.
"You look stunning," Cas said as he stepped back and looked at her in her long violet dress.
"I find it uncomfortable, but it will do for the night. Give me a power suit any day." She smiled at him, "You don't look so bad yourself."
Dean stepped forward then and extended a hand, "I'm Dean," he said and Kali took his hand in a gentle shake.
"Enough of this civility, let's go to the party people. We are missing all the good stuff."
"Fine, Gabe. It's not like we were the late ones," Cas said.
"I hope that you know that I have been working on him and his tardiness issue." Kali said as she looped an arm through Gabe's.
"You shouldn't bother trying to fix perfection, baby," Gabe said. Then they all headed out the door and to the party.
The long driveway to the house was crushed gravel surrounded by a seemingly infinite number of thin trunked trees. They had already shed their leaves which was unexpected since it was mid-August. They should have had another couple of months of green. The long lanky branches stretched out over the top of the driveway like skeletal fingers folded in prayer over their path. The night sky loomed beyond the branches, brightened only by the white brightness of the full moon.
Cas kept stealing glances at Dean. His face aglow in the evening light that flickered through the car window. They wound their way around the long loop of the driveway's end to the main entryway of the house. It looked as though a large number of people were already here, if one could judge by the number of cars parked along the sides of the driveway. An attendant greeted them as they pulled up and took the keys. "Welcome. You can get your keys from me at the end of the night. I'll be over at the stand there." The attendant gestured toward the house and hopped into the front seat of the Impala to drive it to an empty space.
They walked up the wide stairway to the massive oaken doors of the mansion. Ezra Brady was doing quite well for himself, by the looks of the house. Cas wanted to loop an arm through Dean's but felt that perhaps it would be too presumptuous. Instead he opted to walk right alongside him allowing their arms to brush each other with each step. Dean seemed nervous as they walked up the stairs. His eyes were sweeping the area as if he was looking for something sinister.
"Everything okay?" Cas whispered.
Dean seemed to jump slightly with the words. "Um, I don't think that I was prepared for this type of party. Is this normal for you?"
"Define normal." Cas smiled.
"Do you always attend parties at homes like this?" Dean was still looking around the area with concern as they entered the house.
"No. I have simpler tastes." Cas reached up a hand and gave Dean a slight pat on his shoulder before returning his focus to his surroundings. They were greeted by Ezra and his wife and son. The wife was younger than Ezra, but only a little. Her face held wide-set eyes and skin pulled tight by doctors that had tried to turn back the clock. Next to her was a young man in his late twenties. His hair just slightly too long was brushed back into one flowing blonde wave. He seemed to be comfortable in his surroundings and at the same time bored with his role.
"Glad you could make it Cas. Was starting to wonder if you thought that the invitation was optional." Ezra looked from Cas to Dean then and reached out a hand, "And you are?"
"Dean Winchester." Dean spoke with confidence as he shook Ezra's hand.
"Any relation to Sam Winchester?" Ezra released Dean's hand and waited for a reply.
"Yes, he is my brother."
Ezra turned then and introduced his wife and son. "This is my wife Johanna and my son Michael." They each reached out and shook hands in turn. "Head on inside and join the others. We have a kind of buffet set out and a band, just in case anyone wants to dance the night away."
"Sounds great Ezra." Cas edged away as Gabe and Kali stepped up for the meet and greet. As Dean and Cas entered the room to the left of the entry hall they encountered the same feeling that many encounter when entering a room that should not be so large but is. They both stopped and looked immediately up toward the ceiling to be sure that there was one in the very tall room. The one wall on the right was nearly all glass panes that showcased the sprawling lawn that ventured out to a vast expanse of trees. A little lake glistened in the moonlight not far from the house and offered up a picturesque view.
They slowly walked into the room making their way toward the back and the greater numbers of people. Cas spotted Sam and decided to make his way toward him. He reached a hand up to Dean's elbow to help propel him in that direction. Dean looked at Cas and said, "I can't even imagine how someone could afford this life."
"Sam and Jess are over there. Shall we?" They walked over and Sam gave his brother a warm hug. Jess did the same when Sam stepped away. Jess' wavy blonde hair was pulled back partially into a knot at the base of her neck. Her dress was a simple green satin floor length gown that trailed down farther in the back. When she smiled at them, her face seemed to glow. She had a beauty that was natural and inviting.
"Hey, Cas. You remember Jess?"
Cas took Jess' hand and said, "It's great to see you again."
"Silly. I think that we hug." She gave him a little hug and then smiled back and forth between Cas and Dean.
"Okay, you are not doing that." Dean gave her a pointed look. "I'm getting a drink, anyone else want one?"
"Yeah, bring me something," Cas said. When Dean was out of earshot he asked, "What was that about?"
"Oh, you know." Sam said as he stared off at his brother's retreating form.
"Sam, you are the worst." Jess gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Let's just say that we like your taste in men. Dean sure does look nice in a suit doesn't he?" She smiled at Cas.
Cas felt suddenly awkward and stuttered out, "Um, yeah, his suit is nice."
"Jess, don't put him on the spot. They think that no one knows." Sam laughed a little.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Cas stammered.
"Really, Cas, living in the closet is so 1982. Come on." Sam laughed at him.
"I assure you that I am not doing that." Cas looked around for an escape, finding none he turned back. "Where are Uriel and Anna? Did Uriel bring Sarah?"
"They were just here. I think that they went out onto the veranda for air. They should be back." Sam motioned over to a far table then, "Did you meet your newest client yet?"
Cas looked over to a far corner of the room and found a dark haired man sitting at a large round table. His keen dark eyes surveyed the room and eventually connected with his. He tipped his head in acknowledgement. Cas nodded back. His hand was laying languidly on his half-empty tumbler of what appeared to be whiskey. He raised his hand slightly then and beckoned Cas over. Sam saw what transpired and said, "I'll let Dean know where you went. Let us know if you need a rescue."
Cas turned to him before leaving and said, "Thanks."
Review, Fav., Follow. This was originally a 4k chapter, but I split it to make it less cumbersome. The second half of the party will go up tomorrow.