AN: Welcome back. Thanks Mummabro for the review. I imagine that this lengthy update will keep you busy. To my new followers, welcome aboard.
Dean had been waiting in the lobby when Cas arrived with M in tow. She was exuberant in her constant chatter all the way back to the office. Cas was trying to find a way to rid himself of her, but was finding the situation to be difficult. "I don't imagine that you will find much enjoyable about Carmine's Cafe. It is just a busy little Italian place, but that is where we had planned to go."
"Perfect, that sounds like my kind of place. None of this chi-chi, fancy crap. Give me a quaint little mom and pop joint any day."
They had reached the office then and he could see Dean seated at the long couch in the waiting area just outside of his office. M was flowing along at his side like she was hearing music in her head. He looked to her and had to smile a little. He may have been annoyed with her intrusion, but he found her energy to be a little infectious. He looked back to Dean just as he was turning back in his seat. The sight of his face gave Cas new resolve. "You know, I'm not picky, but Carmine's did have that rat issue not too long ago. I only bring it up because, well, full disclosure. I shouldn't mention it, I mean, they totally took care of it and all. They likely wouldn't be open if it was still an issue." Cas tried to maintain an air of casual sharing in his voice. Good job, Cas. If this doesn't work, just grab Dean's hand and run like Hell.
M cocked her head to the side, grabbed Cas' arm and said to his face, "Hey, I swear if I didn't know any better that you were trying to get rid of me." Cas donned a look of shock that was not so convincing. "Really, Cas. I thought that we were becoming friends. And here I took you to that nice bar and bought you drinks." She smirked at him.
Cas had to laugh then and continued their walk over to Dean who was standing now. "I am not trying to get rid of you. And, for the record, I bought my own drink, singular, and there was nothing nice about that bar."
Dean was standing before them now and said, "What bar would that be?"
"Why hello, there." M turned her full attention to Dean. "Cas and I may have started without you. We need food now to go with our alcohol." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone, as if their activities should not be discussed in the office, which was probably apt.
"Really." Dean looked a little amused. Something else was in his look, but Cas couldn't decipher it. "So, I guess that it will be a table for three then. Should I go get Sammy and make it an even number?"
"At this point, why not." Cas said. His look just barely concealed his disappointment at having their lunch hijacked. Dean smiled at him and then headed toward Sam's office. Cas watched him go with barely concealed admiration. God, I love to watch him go. His glance trailed after him the whole way. He could almost forget the woman at his side.
"UmmHuh," M grunted out with an elbow to the side. "You got it bad." She smirked again.
He looked down at her then and did not try to conceal his smile. "Not sure, that I know what you mean."
"Yeah, right." She wrinkled her nose a little in a way that was kind of endearing. "You are totally, totally giving his backside the stare down."
Cas glanced back to see if Dean was returning yet and saw him emerge from Sam's office with his brother in his wake. "Might as well admire the scenery."
M was looking past Dean to Sam. "So, that's Sam Winchester?" Cas nodded. "We had a dossier on him too. I had thought that you might be working with him at some point."
"Hmm, did you learn about all of his significant others and such too?" Cas asked as Sam and Dean drew up to them.
"Not so much." She looked at the brothers then and asked, "So, are we ready, 'cause I am starving? Plus, I hear that Carmine's had this big ole rat problem so, we might need to get there quick before the health inspectors close them down." She turned then and headed for the elevator.
"Well, okay then." Sam followed her while Dean and Cas took up the back of the group.
"Um, rats?" Dean lowered his voice and asked Cas.
"No rats. I was just failing at getting rid of our companion." Dean chuckled a little and placed a hand on Cas' back then as they reached the elevator. "When do you have to head back?"
"I got a generous two hours," Dean replied. "I thought that it might be nice to not rush out of here this time." He threw a sidelong glance at Cas as they stepped into the elevator. Cas caught in the look what wasn't being said and had to look away in order to hide the color seeping into his cheeks.
Sam seemed to notice and shuffled awkwardly in the back of the elevator next to M. "So, you work for Mr. Crowley?" Sam asked seemingly to jump start a conversation.
"Yep, you're a quick one aren't you?" She laughed a little at him.
Sam seemed to grow more awkward, so Cas offered up introductions, "Sam this is M. She is always this pleasant. Enjoy. Dean meet M." He directed each of the brothers to M and took a step back so that everyone could shake hands if they chose to do so.
Instead of a series of handshakes though, M just did a little salute. "How nice, Cas. I didn't know that you found me pleasant."
Dean had to laugh at the way that the two of them were interacting. "So, you two already hit the bars?"
Sam looked at Cas with something like shock. "What, Cas? Seriously, you never do that sort of thing."
"What are you talking about? Cas was all like, M you must let me do this incredibly boring work at a bar, any bar. I need to drink all of the alcohols." She was trying to mimic Cas' voice and she was failing at it spectacularly when the elevator reached its stop and they poured out.
Sam and Dean were both cracking up at this point and Cas found it infectious. "Yes, I did demand all of the alcohols. I may have drank a liquor store."
"So, we take you out to karaoke and now you are a miserable drunk. What a difference a week makes." Sam threw an arm up onto Cas' shoulder in a companionable way smiled and then withdrew to walk on his own.
Dean fell into step beside Cas, his arm brushing his with each step. Carmine's was just a couple of blocks away. It was a nice, very small restaurant. Cas had chosen it for the intimacy that the small dining room afforded. Plus, he thought that Dean would like the food. It wasn't too fancy and it all felt like it was made with love by an overly affectionate Italian grandmother. There was always cheese and meat, and it was all delivered to the table in abundance.
They were given a table immediately, and before M had even opened her menu, she began speaking to the waiter in Italian. He replied back with enthusiasm. All that Cas picked up was that she had ordered a bottle of wine for the table, a red. "Really, M, now you are just showing off."
"Hey, I don't get nearly enough opportunities to keep up on my language skills. Plus, I don't think that you are going to be sent anywhere exciting, so I need to practice where I can."
"What do you mean?" Dean asked.
"I am Cas' liaison. Of, course I do mean that in the least sexual way possible. Don't get that worried look, lover boy." Dean rolled his lip into a semi-irritated smirk. "I get to act as a go-between with my boss and Cas. So we will be practically joined at the hip for the foreseeable future." M lifted her menu then and seemed to be perusing the items.
"So, what do you recommend, Cas?" Dean asked after a cursory glance at the menu.
"I like the calzone. It is sort of like I am getting a pizza that is a pie all in one happy little package." Cas smiled over at Dean.
"I am so getting that." Dean smiled back.
Sam was grinning behind his menu where Dean couldn't see him, but Cas could see everything. He sent a swift kick at Sam's calf on Dean's behalf and then smiled innocently. "Oops, my foot slipped."
"Sure it did, oaf." Sam laughed at him.
"What are you two going on about?" Dean asked.
"Oh, nothing. Did you ask Cas about his weekend plans?" Sam smirked.
"Oh, um, did you have weekend plans?" Dean turned to Cas now.
"No. Why?" Cas replied.
"I was thinking that I could bring the trailer out to tow the Triumph up to Bobby's. If you were free, that is..." Dean seemed to blush a little with the awkwardness of sharing this in front of his brother and a virtual stranger.
"Ah, isn't that like all kinds of cuteness?" M quipped. Then she leaned over and pretended to vomit down the side of the table. "God, when did I fall into a chick-flick? I am going to need most of the wine, so don't you all get too greedy with it." She reached over and plucked up the bottle and gave herself a generous pour into one of the tall glasses that were in front of each of them.
"Hey, save a tormented brother. I need some of that too." Sam held out his glass then, and M smiled back at him, pouring a generous amount for him too. Dean and Cas both glared at them.
"Next time, I am driving to your town for lunch." Cas leaned over and snatched the wine bottle and poured some in his glass and Dean's.
"Good plan. Will there be less Sam and M?" Dean smirked over at them.
M laughed a little too loudly. "Hey Sam, if you went by S instead of Sam, then Dean could have asked if there would be less S and M. That would have been funny huh?" Cas had to wonder if she was maybe starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, because she was enjoying herself way too much. However, Sam laughed at her too. Perhaps they are both just very odd people. He looked over to Dean in solidarity and tried to promise with that look that this would not happen again.
"So, you up for the trek out to Bobby's this weekend?" Dean tried again.
"Yes. Let's just talk about it later." Cas threw out.
Dean gave Cas a nearly imperceptible nod then and the waiter came over to take their orders.
The meal had been enjoyable, though, despite the good natured ribbing that they received from Sam and M. The four of them seemed to fall into an easy camaraderie that is usually born out of time. Even Dean seemed to grow more comfortable with M, despite the fact that most of her jibes were directed at him. They walked back to the office, full of energy sapping food and warming wine. Cas felt like he needed a nap, and vowed out loud that he would go back to his salad ways.
Dean laughed at him and said, "I don't think that salad constitutes a meal."
"Don't listen to my brother, Cas. He doesn't understand the point of vegetables."
Dean sent a light punch over to Sam's shoulder. "Untrue, onions are great on a burger, and ketchup counts as a vegetable twice because you dip fries in it." He grinned with his pronouncement.
"Tomatoes are considered a fruit." Cas offered up.
"Hey, you mean I've been getting fruits and vegetables? I am a regular health nut now, Sammy."
"Yep, Dean, you should write a book. I imagine that the world would like to know how they can get high cholesterol and early on-set diabetes." Sam's remark earned him a little shove from Dean.
M seemed to be taking it all in with pleasure. She looked back at Cas then and smiled. "Are they always like this?" Cas moved from Dean's side to walk alongside her.
"It would seem." He could see the entryway to their office now and he wondered if he would have to say goodbye to Dean on the street or if he would come up. He also wondered if their companions would give them even the slightest bit of privacy. Doubtful.
"Almost makes me wish I had a sibling. They seem to provide a great deal of entertainment." M was surprisingly steady, given the amount of alcohol that she had consumed. Cas had wondered if they were going to have to get a cab for the couple block return. She had waved off his suggestion with a comment on how hard it was to be out with so many lightweights.
Cas glanced over at her as they walked and saw a touch of seriousness in her expression where she had been all jovial before. "You okay, M?" He lowered his voice so that the words went to her alone.
"Hmm. I'm fine." She tucked an arm into his and Cas felt her lean a little into him.
Perhaps we should have called a cab. "We are almost there."
"It isn't what you think. I just…" She stopped speaking then, but continued walking. Cas did not pry. He divided his attention between her and Dean's and Sam's silly banter. They seemed to be arguing about some recent movie that they watched together. Cas tuned them out and gave more focus to M. She began again. "I think that I have been cut off for too long. I haven't been around real people in a while. At least I have Lil. That is the only real person I know."
"Who is Lil?" Cas asked while still keeping his voice low.
"She's my daughter." M began removing her arm from his, but Cas brought his other hand over to rest on hers.
"How old is she?"
M didn't answer right away. They continued walking along. Finally she said, "She's four."
"That's a nice age." Cas speculated. He had some nieces and nephews that he did not see much of, but he recalled that the younger ones were more enjoyable.
"All of her ages are nice. I got lucky. She is a great kid. She puts up with me, thinks I hung the moon." She smirked at that.
"I think that is what kids are supposed to think." They were just about at the office building now, and a decision would have to be made about where they would all part ways. "So, are you coming back up, Dean?" Cas turned to Dean.
"Um, nah, I think that I'll just head out from here." Dean reached over to his brother and gave him a wicked slap on the back. "See ya next weekend. Tell Jess to make me some of that pie."
"Geesh, neanderthal. Why don't you just give her a call and see how far your demands get you."
"No, way. That is why I have you around. You smooth over my coarse ways."
"Shit, I need someone to do that for me. Are you available for hire, Sammy?" M threw him a wry grin as she asked.
"I am not sure that I have the time. Dean is a full time job." They all laughed at this. Everyone was lingering just a little too long as if waiting for someone to break from the group first.
"So, where did you park?" Cas asked.
"Oh, over at the garage on 4th." Dean began a sort of shuffle move away from the group. 'It was nice meeting you M. Maybe next time we'll learn the rest of the letters in your name."
Dean moved away from them then, and Cas felt like he was getting neglected. Seriously, I would even take a Sam-level back slap. Come on. Sam seemed to notice and offered his version of help.
"So, Cas, should I have M show me some of the files while you walk with Dean to the garage? He gets kind of lost sometimes and frankly, I don't want to have to replace him after all of the effort that I have put into him."
"Rude. I don't get…" Dean seemed to buy a clue then and amended, "Well, you don't need to be telling people how inept I am." He smiled at Cas then and said, "Only if you can spare a couple of minutes. If not, I totally understand."
"Of course. Anything for the directionally challenged." He looked over at M and said, "I'll be up in just a second. I leave you in good hands." Cas and Dean headed off before anyone, M, could offer up a protest or quip.
As they got out of earshot of the others Dean said, "That was certainly an experience."
"That's one way of putting it." Cas eased over closer to Dean as they walked and he wondered if Dean would be comfortable with some minor hand holding as they walked. He decided against it.
"So, when should I come get you on Friday?" Dean glanced at Cas as he slowed his pace. They had been walking a little quickly, trying to put distance between themselves and their lunch time companions. Now that they were out of sight, Dean and Cas could slow down.
"I am not sure what Friday will look like yet. M will likely have me booked up with her for the better part of the week. I am almost certain that she will want to meet on Friday."
"Hmm, tell me that we are not going out to dinner with her on Friday." Dean groaned. "I can actually see it all playing out right now. I'll show up to pick you up and M will be like, we need to all hang out and get food. Suddenly, we will be entertaining every blessed person that we know."
"What, you don't like my friends?" Cas said with mock seriousness.
"Your friends are great. I had different plans for today." Dean and Cas rounded a corner and made their way into the 4th St. Garage. "Just so you know, Bobby has already set-up Sam's room for you."
"Sam's room?" Cas wondered what this detail meant, then he realized. "Oh, I see."
"I just didn't want you to think that it could be like it was at your place."
"I'll have to keep myself in check then, I take it."
"Me too."
"I'm sure that won't be too difficult," Cas said as he donned a slightly mopey tone.
"Oh, shut-up." Dean reached out and shoved his shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?" Cas wrinkled his brow at him.
"Seriously, I totally drove all the way out here on Monday for literally two minutes of your time. I think that I was maybe wrong about your level of confidence." They reached Dean's car and Cas felt Dean's hand slip into his.
"So, what does your uncle know about me?"
"He knows that you work with Sam, and that you are the guy that saved him from being hurt by that lunatic. He knows that I was at your house working on the Triumph. He doesn't know that I think about you."
"Is thinking about someone a problem?"
"I didn't say what I think about you." Dean dipped his head quickly and stole a kiss. It was quick and almost chaste. He backed up from Cas quickly as if he worried about the possibility of being viewed.
"Is your uncle kind of like your dad? Does he have issues with you dating a guy?" Cas wondered aloud.
"He is nothing like my dad. He really loves Sam and me. I mean, we practically lived with him growing up. I just don't think that he would be comfortable with me bringing home a date."
"Any date or just a date like me?"
"Maybe any date. Not sure though, since I never have. I tried to keep my family and my other stuff separate. It's cleaner that way."
"Is that what is happening now?" Cas felt unhappy with the idea that he was being marginalized or compartmentalized into a place that was disconnected from Dean's family.
"It doesn't have to be such a big deal, Cas. I am just not ready to bring Bobby into this." He released Cas' hand then, stepping back as he waved a hand out toward Cas to indicate just what this meant.
Cas looked away from Dean when he spoke. "Hmm. I guess I did say that I could be patient." He had been leaning back against Dean's car. He pressed his palms against the side of it and pushed himself off. "Well, I'm heading back." He started to leave when he felt Dean grab him and spin him around to face him.
"I'm sorry." Dean pulled him into him and crushed a kiss fully onto his mouth. Cas barely had a chance to register what was happening before he was enveloped in the warmth of Dean's body pulling him in with arms wrapping around his back. When he stopped kissing him, Cas opened his eyes and saw Dean's staring down at him with something like worry. "Are you still mad?"
"I wasn't mad. You were." Cas' voice was practically a whisper.
"I'm really sorry." Dean continued to stare down at him. "I won't be ready to share stuff with Bobby, though. Can you be okay with that for right now?"
"I can try, but I am not comfortable with lying like that." Cas stepped away from Dean then.
"Is it really lying? I mean, we just aren't parading around for him. We're not really lying." Dean offered.
"No, it is lying. It is lying about who we are and what we are to each other. It is pretending to be something that you are not. So, I am okay with this temporary equivocation, but I will not be comfortable with it for the long haul. If your uncle cares about you, he'll accept this part of you."
"Maybe."
"I do have to get back. God only knows what M is doing to my office. Sam can only be expected to do so much." Cas reached out and squeezed Dean's hand. "Just think about this. It's so much easier when you can just be yourself."
"I think that you have had more time to adjust to this. But, I'll try to work on this. I really will." Dean squeezed his hand back before releasing him.
Cas began walking away. "I'll see you on Friday." He threw Dean a wink to lighten the mood.
"Cute, Cas. I'll see you." Dean turned and got into his car. Cas made his way out of the garage with his thoughts roiling about in his mind.
Review, Fav., Follow. Well, there you have it. I hope that 4k words wasn't too big an update. I also hope that the dialogue is working for M and the others. 'Till tomorrow.