Chapter Text
Chapter 1. Lollipops and Coffee
Ellen sat in her truck, watching the local police supervise community service workers as they repainted the side of the Roadhouse, covering all those stupid spray-painted sad faces. She was glad to see them go. She had to admit, she missed that crew.
Cas and Dean broke Ellen’s rule, dating, and look what that got. Dean left for Denver. Sam dumped Stanford and went to Denver. But the boys were happy, so she would let that one slide. Besides, she gained a damn good lawyer in that deal. Gabe had saved The Roadhouse from Crowley’s greedy clutches.
Nobody should be late for work. Three strikes and you’re fired. No whinin’ about it or excuses. You’re out.
Now, minding your own damn business was a must. People get all upset when someone is snoopin’ in their business. It causes problems. Don’t be a snitch. Be a straight-shooter. And mind your own damn business.
Now, Jo didn’t count in that category. Jo was her one and only daughter. Her pride and joy. And currently, the pain in her ass. No matter what she said to that hard-headed girl, she wouldn’t leave to get a good college education. She insisted on going to the local community college and working nights at the Roadhouse. Though she loved having her daughter around every night, she worried she was letting herself get trapped in this little town. Fremont, Nebraska wasn’t anything special.
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Gabriel scratched his head with annoyance. There was no way in hell his client was getting out of this mess. He was going to lose this case if he couldn’t come up with a whole new plan.
He leaned back in his chair, popping a lollipop in his mouth as he watched one of his least favorite people in the world walk toward his office with a smirk. She had been the prosecutor against his team on Gabe’s biggest case so far. They had lost. Terribly. And this particular bitch had everything Gabe had worked so hard on, dismissed from the trial. She seemed to love seeking him out and fucking up his day. She was a pompous bitch. And he was going to go head to head against her on this new trial coming up. She opened the door without knocking and came in with a swagger.
“Mr. Novak.”
“Ms. Abaddon.” Gabe gave her a smirking smile, flicking his lollipop to the other side of his mouth.
Her flaming red hair was slicked back into a bun, accentuating her high cheekbones. “Twiddling your thumbs, I see.”
Gabe rocked back in his chair. “Aw, what’sa matter? Was one of the newborns you ate for lunch cranky? I hear that can give you heartburn.”
She smiled, sitting in the chair at his desk. “I stand by our client. The law found him innocent.”
“The bastard got a hung jury on a technicality. Somehow I don’t think his freedom makes anyone with a child sleep better at night.”
Abaddon waved a hand flippantly. “That’s old news, Novak. You lost that trial. Water under the bridge. Besides, that was Lilith’s case, not mine. I only supported.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me there are other versions of you. It’s like a box of crayons that come in every shade of evil.” Gabe pursed his lips, pulling the sweet taste of strawberry from his lollipop. “You freed a baby killer. How does that not get you sent directly to hell?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I sleep just fine.”
Gabe shook his head in wonder. “It’s lawyers like you that make people think we’re all evil.”
“Everyone is a little bit evil,” she grinned.
Gabe blinked at her with mild shock. “Do you wake up demonic in the morning, or does it take coffee to get you started?”
She schooled her smile a bit tighter. “Are you ready to drop this new case, Mr. Novak?”
Gabe smooshed his lips together, “Are you? The old evidence-was-tampered-with or misfiled is pretty much your only trick these days. Luckily, my case is air-tight.”
Abaddon rolled her eyes with a perfectly lovely smile. “I can’t help the police make it so easy for me.” She stood, giving his Funko-Pop collection a disgusted curl of her lip. “I’ll see you in court. Again.”
She stalked out. The straight lines of her dress were form-fitting. He held his fingers up, squishing her head of too-tight red hair, as she walked away.
“What a bitch.”
Gabe blew a breath out, flicking his lollipop to the other side of his mouth. He was too new to lose another case against Knight Law Offices.
He had done an internship with Adler Attorneys at Law. He was hired on because he had proven himself a damn good researcher, quick on his feet in court, and fearless against even the likes of Knight Law Offices. He wanted to scoff at his boss, Zachariah, and tell him he had obviously not grown up in his house. His mother was more frightening than any of the Knight bitches. Or bastards.
Adler and Knight were the two biggest law offices in Denver. They both had multiple offices in over ten states. When they went head to head, all the top dogs were watching. This was going to be his first case with him in first chair. The fact that ole Zach had dumped it on him, the newest guy here, was a huge test. And he was feeling every ounce of the weight.
School had always been so easy. He had kicked ass at his Bar exams. He had done well at all his internships. And now that he was fully practicing law...he felt like he was being set up for failure. But why?
Maybe Zach knew this case was doomed. So it might as well go to the new guy. No reason to tarnish any of the fellows profiles with a loss. Just stick it to the new guy.
Gabe pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket. He grinned as he swiped the screen. He cleared his throat. “What are you wearing?”
Sam giggled low, making every fiber in Gabe’s body relax.
“I’m wearing silky, black boxers and I’m in bed.”
Gabe glanced at his clock with a grin. “Liar. But nice try.”
Sam laughed. “I’m at work. Sittin’ out back on break.”
Gabe could picture his tall frame slouched at the picnic table out behind the mall. “How goes book life?”
“It’s busy. Back to school time, I guess.”
“Aw. Lots of moms and sticky children?”
Sam laughed. “Yeah.”
“No hot guys though?”
“Well, there was this blonde...”
“Samuel! I will smite all those college bastards coming in there to look at you.”
Sam laughed. “And the books.”
“Oh, baby. If anyone says they’re there for the books, they’re lying.”
“Gabe! It’s a BOOK store!” He laughed hard, making Gabe grin.
“When will you be home tonight?” Gabe asked, turning his chair to look out over Denver.
“I should be home by ten. And I’m off tomorrow.”
“Me too. I say we send Cas and Dean out for breakfast early, lock the door, and stay naked all day.”
“You’re killin’ me, Gabe,” Sam said back in a low voice.
Gabe smirked, watching the sun set over the Rockys. “See ya tonight, Sam.”
“See ya tonight.”
Gabe slid his phone back in his pocket. Sam was young. It made him nervous as hell. There was a sea of curious, young college guys around him everyday at school. But there was something about the guy that stopped him in his tracks. From the moment he first laid eyes on him. Tall, dark, and handsome. And waaaay too nice to be attracted to someone as jaded as himself. And yet...the kid had dropped out of fucking Stanford to come live with him. To follow him to Colorado. The whole thing was nuts and Gabriel loved it. The only thing he worried about was Sam getting bored of him and tasting some of that wild college life.
“Hey boss,” Samandriel said, poking his head in the office door.
“Hey, Alfie.” The kid was as sweet and innocent as a summer day. It was wrong, but Gabe thought he looked like an Alfie. So that’s what he called him.
Samandriel came in, laying a stack of files on his desk. “Here are the files you asked for.”
Gabe took the top one, flipping it open and scanning the page. “Good work as always,” he said quietly. He looked up at his young intern. “Take off, kid. Have a good weekend.”
Samandriel grinned. “Big plans?”
Gabe envisioned Sam all stretched out and naked in his bed Saturday morning. “Big, big plans. You?”
Samandriel shrugged. “Not really. But I’m going to try that new tea house downtown.”
Gabe smirked. “You wild, crazy kid, Alfie.” He tossed his empty lollipop stick in the trash. “Is that what the kids are calling herbal these days?”
Samandriel gave him a completely innocent, puzzled look. “Um...”
Gabe rolled his eyes. He was pretty sure he had hired Alfie because he reminded him of Cas. Moments like these, the likeness was ridiculous. But even Cassie knew what pot was. “Go, Alfie.”
Samandriel nodded, grinning sweetly. “Have a great weekend, Gabe!”
Gabe grinned, “I intend to.” He waved as Alfie left, listening as someone else came in.
Gabe stood, closed the file and put the whole stack in his messenger bag. He could look over this shit in the comfort of his own apartment easier than his noisy office where demon lawyers like Abaddon showed up at any given whim.
“Hello, Gabriel.”
“Cassie! What brings you to the zoo?”
Cas sat down where Abaddon had been. “I wanted to be sure everything was going okay. With the apartment. And...us.”
Gabe sat down, shoving his laptop into the messenger bag with the files. “Everything is hunky-dory, Cassie. Why?”
Cas looked down nervously. “I just feel like we are...cramping your style.”
Gabe shut his bag, studying his little brother with a little concern. He came around the corner of the desk, sitting on the edge of it. “My life has vastly improved since I found you in that dumb little town.”
Cas grinned. “I miss that dumb little town sometimes.”
“Yeah, me too,” Gabe admitted.
Cas pressed his mouth together, tipping his head. “Your apartment is bordering on crowded.”
“Waaay better than empty. Because, that’s what it was before I brought all three of you here.”
Cas gave him a disbelieving look. “But you lost your spare room.”
Gabe shrugged. “So?”
“What about all the parties you used to have?”
Gabe smirked. “Trust me, partying with Sam has me sated beyond belief.”
“Gabe,” Cas groaned.
“Hey, you asked!”
“I did not ask that,” Cas said, scrubbing his hands down his face.
“It is what it is, Cassie. Besides. It’s temporary.”
“I just...want you to tell me if you think things aren’t working.”
“They’re working! Quit stressing!” Gabe shook his head. How was he even related to someone SO serious?
Cas nodded. “Alright, just promise you’ll tell me if there’s any problems. It’s been a few weeks now, and I just wanted to be sure you were still okay with us still being there.”
“I’m an open book, bro. You’re the one all broody and silent.”
Cas frowned. “I’m not broody.”
“Dude.” He popped a fresh lollipop into his mouth. “Broody.”
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He dropped Cas off at the tattoo parlor Dean was working at. “See you Sunday!”
Cas turned, leaning back in the window of Gabe’s car. “We will be back early Sunday morning, Gabriel. Please be dressed.”
Gabe leaned over. “Wait, I thought you were coming home tonight! I was only kidding about Sunday.”
“Well, Sam asked for a few nights alone. So I made arrangements for Dean and I to stay in my friends dorm room this weekend. They’re going home and said we could stay there until Sunday.”
Gabe knew his face lit up. “Sam arranged that?”
Cas shrugged. “It...we worked it out yesterday.”
“Yesterday...that little shit!” The car behind Gabe beeped. “Looks like Sammy is full of surprises!”
Cas stood up, smiling. “Have fun.”
Gabe waved and pulled away, relieving the irate driver behind him. “Sammy Sammy Sasquatch. Just what are you planning?”
He pulled into the parking garage below his apartment complex and jogged to the stairs. He was glad Cas was staying with him. And he was glad Cas had Dean. He wasn’t too sure he wanted to like the punk, but Dean was ridiculously in love with his brother. And how can you not like that? So, while he was glad both of them were staying with him, it totally cramped his style. His old style, anyhow.
Sam, on the other hand, had moved into Gabe’s life, shocking even himself. The day he showed up with a car full of clothes and school crap had been a real eye opener. He wanted Sam there. But he might not have totally thought that through. As his clothes went into his closet and Dean moved in a second dresser from the spare room, it began to dawn on him just how permanent a thing he might have done. When the bathroom supplies went on the shelves and his toothbrush went into the slot next to his, he almost had a panic attack. Thankfully, he kept all that to himself. Because when he got in bed that night and Sam was there...it changed everything.
Now, he could care less about his gym membership or his golf swing. His job ate up his time. But it no longer ate up his life. He had a new life. He had family and friends that he ACTUALLY liked.
Sam was just as busy as he was, so they were okay with their limited time together. But they were still together.
He swiped his card to get into the sixth floor. He was definitely excited to have some alone time with his Sam.
Gabe put his messenger bag on the table. His sleek, downtown apartment had felt so huge when he was alone. His kitchenette area rarely got used before. Now, they made meals for four here everyday, crowding around the sleek, granite island that only had three stools. Last one to dinner had to stand. Or sit on their boyfriend’s lap. He smirked at the thought. His small sofa and recliner was plenty. Now someone was usually stretched out on the floor to watch TV. His bedroom was ten times better with Sam in it. His one and only bathroom, which was only annoying when he was having a party, was a constant hot commodity. His spare room used to keep all his weird shit hidden. He had sold most of it to make extra money. No more inflatable slide, volleyball net, and portable foosball table. Now, Cas and Dean had cheap dressers side by side, a freaking twin size bed and barely enough room to change your mind, let alone your clothes.
It was perfect. He groaned as his phone began vibrating.
By the time Sam came in the door from work, Gabe was 35 minutes into a frustrating conversation on his phone from his co-worker. He was so wound up and irritated with this case that he barely nodded at Sam.
He ended the call and sat back, throwing his phone onto the table covered in legal pads and files. “Fuck!”
Sam came out of the bedroom. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything! Abaddon is gonna eat us alive if I can’t get something going on this fucking case! Now one of my witnesses is getting antsy. And all anyone cares about is a time discrepancy between two other witnesses.” He slumped back in the chair. “That fucking Zachariah. I swear he set me up to fail this. And Abaddon can just hardly fucking wait to get me in that courtroom.”
Sam stood behind him, his heavy hands landing on his shoulders. “You have the weapon, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And the surveillance footage?”
“Yeah.” He sighed as Sam began to massage his shoulders.
“You’ll think of something,” Sam whispered in his ear, dropping a kiss onto his neck.
Gabe grinned, melting into Sam’s hands. “I will,” he mumbled.
“I think my big, bad lawyer needs some down time.”
Gabe grinned harder. “I do. I deserve it.”
Sam’s hands disappeared, along with the rest of him. “I don’t know about all that.”
Gabe opened his eyes, watching Sam walk over to the music dock. He put his phone on it, scrolling through his music.
All the worries and struggles of the case were left on the table as Gabe got up. He had all weekend to do whatever he wanted with Sam. He intended to make good use of it.
“My apartment, my rules. I say it’s play time, Samwise.”
Sam laughed. “I make the rules.”
“Oh really?” Gabe crossed his arms over his chest. “By what right?”
Sam turned to look at him. “I’m bigger. I’m the boss.”
“Huh.” Gabe couldn’t help but smile. “You gonna make me listen?” It was a bit of a challenge. He wanted to see what Sam would think. What he would do.
Sam grinned with a new kind of gleam in his eyes. “I will.”
“And just how do you intend to make me listen?” Gabe crossed the living room, leaning on the doorframe to the hallway.
“I’d suggest you don’t make me catch you. If I have to chase you...”
“What?” Gabe grinned, feeling his dick already getting hard. “What exactly would you do?”
Sam took his flannel shirt off slowly, watching him and thinking. “I might have to spank your ass.”
“Promises, promises,” Gabe rolled his eyes, hearing exactly what he wanted.
Sam’s eyebrows raised. He came around the end of the couch slowly, but Gabe could read the predatory look in his eyes. Ohhhh Sammy might just be a bit more playful than what he had thought. With a good three feet still between them, Gabe darted down the hallway and ran into his bedroom. He didn’t make it any further than the bed when he was snatched by the waist by a strong arm and tossed onto the bed.
Gabe laughed with the thrill of the chase, bounced and scrambled to get off the bed, only to be caught again and pinned down by Sam straddling him.
“Someone’s feeling like playing,” Sam laughed, pinning his wrists to the bed. “I’ve got a little exam for you to take first.”
“No exams,” Gabe laughed.
“Oh, you’re gonna like this one.” Sam let his wrists go and quickly unbuckled Gabe’s pants and fished his dick out, holding it in his hand.
“Okay, I might like this exam,” Gabe grinned.
“How about I play some romantic music and make love to you before we go to sleep?”
Gabe’s jaw dropped a little, but he wasn’t quite sure how to say what he really wanted. He didn’t know if Sam would be into that kind of thing and he didn’t want to freak him out.
“Huh.” Sam didn’t look surprised. “What if I spank your ass for running away?”
Gabe grinned, seeing Sam’s eyes dilate as his dick gave an interested jump in his hands. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Sam growled, flipping him over.
Gabe squirmed and laughed as Sam rid him of all his clothes, kissing the back of his neck and slapping his ass. “Mmm, that all you got?” Gabe taunted, squirming and getting nowhere.
“I got plenty more,” Sam laughed, pinning his hands at his sides and rubbing his still dressed crotch into Gabe’s bare ass.
“I’m gonna need some physical evidence,” Gabe mumbled, having a hard time keeping himself from coming against the bed his dick was rubbing into.
Sam stood up, lips swollen with lust and a grin that spurred Gabe on. “More evidence, huh?”
Gabe turned himself over so he could see Sam’s face better. “Go on,” Gabe panted, licking his lips. “Show me what you got Mr. Pre-law student.”
Sam laughed as he undid his pants and pulled himself free of his boxers. “I’d like to present exhibit A.”
Gabe squirmed around on the bed, facing his cock head on. “I’m gonna need to...review this piece of evidence.”
Sam wrapped a hand around the back of Gabe’s head, guiding him on, watching as Gabe wrapped his mouth eagerly around his head and slid down.
“Mmgh,” Sam moaned. “You better review that pretty closely, Mr. Attorney at Law.”
Gabe could lose himself in someone as talented as Sam. He groaned when his body was slid around so Sam could start opening him up. He was so steady and thorough. So effortless with adding lube. He was lost on the long fingers inside him and the longer dick he was mouthing that he was caught off guard when Sam suddenly flipped him around and shoved himself ball-deep inside him.
Gabe gasped and clung to the bedspread. “FUCK!”
“Too much?” Sam asked, sliding out.
“Just...uhh...”
Sam slid back in. He could hear him fucking giggling.
“More. Fuck yes.”
Sam moved slowly at first, moving Gabe’s legs where he wanted him. “This ass,” Sam growled, slapping his ass, sending a shock of lust through Gabe so hard he was moaning.
“All the way,” Gabe moaned, wanting more, harder, faster. “Make me come!”
Sam lifted Gabe’s whole bottom half up with one arm, slamming into him with a grunting power that Gabe could barely manage. And yet he still felt the need to taunt Sam for more.
He braced his hands, gripping into the covers to stop sliding. “That all you got?”
Sam laughed, not stopping his ceaseless pounding. “Mouthy. So mouthy. Always got something to say. Pretty soon you won’t be able to put two words together. Brat.”
Gabe was fucking done for. He was a brat. Spoiled and needy. He felt another stinging slap on his ass and bucked, crying out in wanton lust. He had no words. No anything. He was completely lost in the spiral of Sam’s pounding against his prostate.
He wanted to grab his own dick to get that last bit of what he needed to climax, but if he let go of the bed, he was going to eat the mattress.
“I’m not stopping,” Sam gasped, “until you come all over the bed.”
Gabe cried out again, losing everything but his grip on the bed. Another slap to his ass and he came, untouched. He writhed and was vaguely aware of how Sam had to fight to keep ahold of him. He felt Sam’s huge hand land on his already throbbing cock and stroke it, making him scream out in unintelligible nonsense.
He fell onto the bed and Sam pulled out of him suddenly as unmistakable ropes of hot cum landed on his back. He could only lay there worn out and helpless as Sam came on him, groaning and barely holding himself up.
“Fuck,” Sam panted. “That was NOT what I had planned.”
Gabe could only pant and lay there.
When they could both form sentences again, Gabe moved slowly to a standing position. “I need...a shower.”
Sam sat up, brushing hair out of Gabe’s face. “Was that really okay?” He gave Gabe a slightly nervous look. “Was I too much?”
Gabe laughed. “You are too much. Too fucking much. And I love it. You can slap my ass any time, Samwich. Any time.”
Sam grinned. “Come on.” He stood up, scooping Gabe into his arms. “Let me clean you up.” He kissed him on the mouth and headed for the bathroom.
They laughed as he walked, chain-gang style, with his pants around his ankles and his shoes still on.
He sat Gabe on his feet, kissing him so thoroughly Gabe thought he might faint. “What do you want? Bath or shower?”
Gabe moaned. God, he could get soooo used to this.
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Cas and Sam climbed aboard the bus. Sam folded into a seat, sighing. Cas squeezed in beside him.
“I wish we had a car.” Sam pulled out a book and highlighter.
“Me too. And a house. And a degree. And a decent paying job.”
Sam huffed a laugh. “Right?!”
Cas and Sam both went to University of Colorado. Cas in his last year for accounting, Sam in his first for pre-law. The tiny two-bedroom apartment the four of them shared was crowded and money was insanely tight while Gabe supported all four of them. It felt messy and rushed and yet, not going fast enough.
It was late October and fall was settling in, the weather changing to chill winds and the days shortening.
Dean worked nights at a tattoo parlor downtown under the apprenticeship of Benny and Pam. He was making a name for himself already. And he was happy when he was working. He was happy in general, but it was gratifying knowing he was doing what he loved.
Cas grinned just thinking about Dean. “I’m getting off at the next stop,” he told Sam.
“Okay. Tell Dean I said hi.” Sam did not look away from his book.
“Don’t miss your stop again. Gabe is looking forward to having the place to the two of you.”
Sam looked up, pencil in his mouth and highlighter in his hand. He pulled the pencil out, licking his lips. “When will you guys be home?”
“Probably around 2am.”
Sam nodded with a growing grin. “I’ll...try to have things wrapped up by then.”
Cas rolled his eyes. “Thank you.”
He got off the bus, pulling his coat tighter around his neck to stop the wind that was whipping down the street. Crisp air from the Rockys gave fall an icy edge here. He went into Pam and Benny’s shop, pulling the door shut as the bell jingled.
“Heya, Cas,” Benny waved, looking back at his book on the counter.
“Hello, Benny.” Cas kept walking through the little shop, past the walls of drawings. Pam was at her typical station just inside the back door.
“Hey there, gorgeous!” Pam grinned, coming back to a thin blonde who was laying on a chair getting a flower tattooed onto her hip. She stopped, kissing Cas on the cheek, him doing the same.
“Evening, Pamela,” he grinned.
“This the guy?” The blonde girl asked. “Your boyfriend?”
Pam snorted a laugh as Cas moved further back inside. “He plays for the other team, honey. Trust me. If I had a chance at that piece of ass, I’da takin’ it.”
Cas turned, grinning at her. She winked at him before going back to work. Benny’s station was empty. He moved past it to Dean’s workspace. He was cleaning his tattoo gun with intense precision.
“Hello, Dean.”
Dean looked up, grinning. “Hey babe.” He leaned up, kissing Cas as he bent down to him.
“How was your night?” Cas asked, sitting in the chair that reminded him of being at the dentist.
“Busy. Typical Friday. I got a guy coming in soon for some sleeve work. You gonna stay?”
“I am,” he sighed. “Gabe requested the apartment for as long as we could give them.”
“Oh,” Dean grinned. “So, you’re stuck here with me?”
Cas nodded, his grin widening as Dean leaned over him to kiss him. “I wish I could tat this skin,” he mumbled, his hand running up under Cas’ t-shirt and over his abs.
“Wish I could afford you.” Cas kissed him back, running a hand up Dean’s arm, over his own beautifully crafted sleeve of tattoos.
“I’ll tat his ass for free,” Pam said, startling them both.
“Stay off my boyfriend’s ass,” Dean smirked.
“Yours then?” She grinned hungrily at Dean.
“No,” Dean and Cas both answered.
“How bout Sam, then?” She winked.
“What do you want, Pam?” Dean sat back in his rickety stool, propping an elbow on his work table.
“I’ll make a list. But for now, what blues do you have?”
Dean pulled out his cartridges of blue inks. She tapped one and he handed it to her. She sauntered away.
Dean shook his head, watching her walk away with a grin. “If we ever get crazy enough to do a threesome, she’d be my pick.”
Cas laughed. “I’ll take that under consideration.”
“You will not,” Dean frowned. “Nobody gets you but me.”
Cas grinned, leaning his head back.
“Can I do some drawing on you?”
Cas smirked, pulling his coat and flannel off, down to just his t-shirt.
“I need more work around the elbows. It’s such a bitch of a spot.”
Cas laid back in the chair, letting Dean move his arms this way and that as he experimented with drawing on his arms and elbows. It was mesmerizing to watch Dean so intently focused. Benny came back, telling him a few stories about his own experience tattooing around elbows. Cas found it amusing how they turned his arms, contorting him. Benny left and Dean started working on his other elbow, winking as he scooted around to Cas’ other side.
It would take two or three days for the ink to wash off his skin. At least he had long sleeves since the weather had started changing. He had sported all sorts of drawings to class and to work. He considered it an honor to wear Dean’s work. And it had, in fact, gotten Dean several jobs.
“Dean, Jake’s here,” came Benny’s voice, shattering their intimate little bubble of heaven.
Dean grinned, stopping the pen in its tracks. “Guess play time’s over.”
Cas sat up, careful to let Dean’s work dry without smudging it. “I’m gonna go for a walk. I’ll bring you something to eat.”
Dean handed him his flannel and kissed him soundly. “Be careful, be back here by ten.”
Cas nodded, grabbing his coat. He passed a tall, mountain of a man with intricate sleeves on both bare arms.
He gave Pam a wave and nodded at Benny as he left. The little tattoo parlor was like a second home to Dean. Cas didn’t enjoy it quite that much. He adored Pam, even though she made him a little nervous sometimes. But he didn’t really care for Benny. Benny was Dean’s main supervisor. He held a lot of power over Dean. And in Cas’ opinion, touched him entirely too much. Dean would come home with drawings on him that he knew Benny had done to ‘demonstrate’ a skill.
He headed toward the cafe down a few blocks for a coffee. It was going to be a long night. He sat at the counter, working on some homework and sipping coffee. People came and went around him as the waitress kept his cup topped off.
His cellphone rang, surprising him from his world of numbers. He fumbled through his coat to pull it out of a pocket.
“Shit.” The time was 10:20.
“Cas? Where are you?”
“Sorry, Dean. I lost track of time. I’m at that cafe on 6th.”
“Oh, I was getting worried.”
“I’m packing up now.”
“Well, don’t stop for food. Pam invited us to stay at her place.”
“Dean...we are not doing a threesome.”
Dean laughed and the waitress gave Cas a surprised look. He grimaced at how that must have sounded.
“No, none of that,” Dean chuckled.
Cas knew he was blushing as he paid his bill, tipping her more than he normally would have. He grabbed his books and headed back to the tattoo parlor.
The night air was quite cold and he was shivering by the time he got there. “It’s starting to rain.”
Dean, looking relieved to see him, hugged him, kissing his cheek to warm him up.
“I hate when I don’t know where you are,” Dean murmured.
Cas gave him an apologetic grin. Dean was definitely a worrier. He thought it had stemmed from when he was stabbed outside the Roadhouse, but Sam assured him Dean had always been that way.
Dean stepped back, pulling a backpack onto his shoulder. “Wanna stay at Pam’s tonight? Give our brothers some real privacy?”
Cas shrugged. “Sure.”
They rode the five miles to Pam’s place in her car. She drove like she dated. Fast, furious, and left others either impressed or thoroughly pissed off.
Pam’s place was an apartment on the south end of the city. It had two bedrooms and a huge kitchen that she never used. Dean said it was a waste. If he had a full kitchen, he would cook more often.
As screwed as Cas’ financial situation was, he endeavored to have a place of their own within two years. He just needed to finish school. Oh, and actually get an accounting job.
Dean texted Sam that they wouldn’t be home until morning.
Pam had several roommates, but she also had a huge, comfy couch. Even with a movie playing and all the noisy people around them, they snuggled up on the couch together and made the best of it.
Dean held him, nuzzling into his hair. “I miss my apartment,” he whispered.
“Me too,” Cas whispered back.