Cheeseburgers and Pie (Chapter 16)
Dean pulls the car up in front of an old railway car that had been converted into a diner. Castiel smiles softly to himself. It’s like nothing has changed. Except that everything has changed. A small voice reminds him. Castiel instantly wipes the smile off his face and climbs out of the car, following Dean inside silently.
They’re seated and handed menus. Both of them look over the piece of laminated paper quickly before setting them down and placing the order with their waitress. Two bacon cheeseburgers, one with fries one with onion rings. Dean orders himself a beer, but Castiel sticks with an old fashioned fountain cherry Coke. There’s no need to add alcohol, who knows what might come spilling out of my mouth. The waitress brings their drinks quickly and they both sip in silence.
“So,” Dean starts, but fails to continue, letting the word drop like lead out of the air. Castiel nods solemnly and looks around the place, taking in everything in detail and making sure he’d looked at every corner before turning his eyes back to Dean. Dean’s staring at him with a lost look in his eyes. It causes Castiel’s chest to constrict and for a moment he can’t breath. This was an awful mistake, say something. Say anything.
“Sam seems to be doing well.” Dean relaxes his shoulders slightly and takes another long sip from his bottle. Absent mindedly Castiel follows the bob of his Adam’s apple before mentally shaking himself and lifting his gaze back up to Dean’s eyes.
“He is,” Dean smiles slightly, “he’s actually trying to get an internship with this big law firm. Got an interview Monday.”
“That’s incredible!” Castiel is genuinely excited for the younger Winchester’s success. “How’s Gabriel?”
Dean’s face falls immediately and his eyes go dark. “He - “ Dean’s cut off by the arrival of their food but they both ignore it for the time being. “He’s not around anymore.”
“Oh.” Castiel isn’t sure what happened but the look on Dean’s face tells him something awful.
“He, uh, he was jumped.” Castiel sits back a bit on his seat and lets his mind wrap around that thought.
“Oh. Oh God, Dean.” Realization hits him like a brick in the face.
“He went out clubbing with friends one night. Sam was studying for his bar exam. We got the call the next day.” Dean dropped his gaze from the window to a speck of dried cheese, “beaten within an inch of his life and just left there. In some back alley. Sam didn’t handle it very well.” There were tears brimming in Dean’s eyes and Castiel reached forward to take Dean’s wrist. Dean’s eyes snapped to the point of contact and Castiel gave a firm squeeze before letting go quickly.
“I am so sorry,” Castiel pushes empathy through his entire being, hoping Dean can feel it, because he can’t find any other words than that right now.
“Yeah, I know.” Dean rolls his shoulders back and wipes his eyes quickly before slapping on a winning smile, “we’re okay now though. Sam’s got a new guy, weirder name than you, if you believe that. Lucifer.” Castiel’s eyes go wide in amusement, “I know, I know, I gave him shit for like a solid week. But he’s a good guy. He was there to help Sam through a lot when I couldn’t be.”
Castiel nods and smiles back at Dean, “and how are you, Dean?”
Dean starts on his burger as Castiel asks the question. He chews the mouthful, pretending to contemplate his answer before shrugging casually, “I’m good. You know, busy.” Dean manages around a mouthful of ground chuck.
Castiel huffs quietly, same old Dean, as he picks up a few of his fries. “W&W, is that yours?”
Dean nods enthusiastically and swallows down his first mouthful while shoveling in a large onion ring. “Yeah, the official name is Winchester and Winchester, but let’s be honest, that sign would have cost me and arm and a leg.” Castiel smiles and nods, imagining a comically large sign hung across the facade of the garage. “I moved out here to be with Sam and got a couple investors and everything just kind of fell in place.”
“It’s a nice garage, you should be proud.” Castiel says as he starts on his own burger. He moans low in his throat and lets his eyes close as he chews, relishing the taste of a well cooked meal after not having eaten since yesterday’s lunch break at the hospital. He opens his eyes as he swallows and finds Dean staring intently out the window again. Castiel checks to see if there is really something interesting this time but finds only the setting sun. “Dean?”
Dean whips his head around and smiles, “yeah, I am proud.” He takes another huge bite of burger and chews steadily. Castiel gets distracted again as Dean’s tongue darts out to catch a bit of ketchup that had landed on the corner of his mouth. “But hey! What about you! Big shot doctor now?”
“Something like that.” Castiel states as he dips his fries in ketchup and pops them in his mouth, licking the salt off his fingers afterwards. “I uh, I actually revolutionized a treatment method for the type of bone cancer that claimed my mother. It’s why I’m here, I’m speaking at the conference about it.”
“Woah!” Dean’s eyes go wide, “are you serious?” Castiel nods and continues on his burger, “shit, Cas, that’s great!” Castiel blushes slightly and nods in acquiescence. “I knew you’d make a difference.”
Castiel lifts his head and tilts it in confusion. Dean chuckles and Castiel knits his brow together, “what’s so funny Dean?”
“Nothing, you just,” Dean snaps an onion ring in two and uses one side to gesture at Castiel, “you haven’t really changed that much.”
“Neither have you.” Castiel states, taking another bite of burger. Dean’s eyes follow his movements and for a brief moment Castiel sees hunger there that has nothing to do with food. But Dean blinks and it’s gone. It probably wasn’t ever there.
“I guess not, huh?” Castiel shakes his head and smiles. Most of the rest of dinner is filled with simple chatter about work and Castiel’s trip. They order pie for dessert, apple, which Dean claims is the best pie he’s had since Castiel’s. Castiel blushes at the compliment but waves him off, reminding Dean that it was actually his mother’s recipe. Dean smiles and nods.
“So, are you going to get a car for the weekend?” Dean asks as he licks the filling from the back of his fork.
“I hadn’t thought about it yet. I suppose we have to. Or take taxis.” Castiel jabs at some apples that had fallen out of the crust.
“I have the weekend off from the garage. I could drive you,” Dean offers tentatively while breaking apart the remaining bits of dessert on his plate, “if you wanted.”
“That’s generous of you Dean. But I wouldn’t - “ Dean holds up a hand to stop him.
“Please, Cas. Let me help.” Castiel has a feeling this isn’t about the issue of another rental at all and nods slowly.
“Alright, Dean.” Dean relaxes and shovels in a forkful of pie. “I really only need to be driven for two days, tomorrow and Saturday. You said my car would be fixed by Sunday correct?” Dean nods as he chews. “Then it’s a deal.” Dean flashes him a smile that would be charming, if bits of pie weren’t trying to escape his cheeks. Castiel laughs and Dean quickly swallows, mumbling an apology into his napkin.
They pay for their meals and leave the diner, still chattering on about their lives for the past few years. Castiel has the sense though that Dean is skating around every topic that might lead to an explanation for what happened between them, but for right now, Castiel is okay with this. He’s getting his friend back, and that’s all he ever really wanted.
The drive back to the hotel is ten times more enjoyable than the drive to the diner. They spend it in silence, except for the tape Dean’s playing at a low volume. Castiel keeps thinking Dean’s staring at him. But every time he looks over, Dean’s eyes are firmly planted on the road ahead. They pull up to the hotel and Dean cuts the engine.
Castiel turns to him, unsure of what to do. Dean opens his mouth a few times but words don’t come out. “I have to be at the college at ten tomorrow.” Castiel offers.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll be here, say, nine thirty?” Castiel nods and exits the car. He shuts the door and is about to walk away when he turns back and leans down to look at Dean through the open window.
“Tonight was nice,” Dean nods and Castiel grins, “good night, Dean.”
“Night, Cas.” Castiel watches the car pull away and remembers absent mindedly that he told Dean not to call him that, even though he hadn’t bothered to correct him all night. Old habits die hard.
Chapters: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Epilogue |
They’re seated and handed menus. Both of them look over the piece of laminated paper quickly before setting them down and placing the order with their waitress. Two bacon cheeseburgers, one with fries one with onion rings. Dean orders himself a beer, but Castiel sticks with an old fashioned fountain cherry Coke. There’s no need to add alcohol, who knows what might come spilling out of my mouth. The waitress brings their drinks quickly and they both sip in silence.
“So,” Dean starts, but fails to continue, letting the word drop like lead out of the air. Castiel nods solemnly and looks around the place, taking in everything in detail and making sure he’d looked at every corner before turning his eyes back to Dean. Dean’s staring at him with a lost look in his eyes. It causes Castiel’s chest to constrict and for a moment he can’t breath. This was an awful mistake, say something. Say anything.
“Sam seems to be doing well.” Dean relaxes his shoulders slightly and takes another long sip from his bottle. Absent mindedly Castiel follows the bob of his Adam’s apple before mentally shaking himself and lifting his gaze back up to Dean’s eyes.
“He is,” Dean smiles slightly, “he’s actually trying to get an internship with this big law firm. Got an interview Monday.”
“That’s incredible!” Castiel is genuinely excited for the younger Winchester’s success. “How’s Gabriel?”
Dean’s face falls immediately and his eyes go dark. “He - “ Dean’s cut off by the arrival of their food but they both ignore it for the time being. “He’s not around anymore.”
“Oh.” Castiel isn’t sure what happened but the look on Dean’s face tells him something awful.
“He, uh, he was jumped.” Castiel sits back a bit on his seat and lets his mind wrap around that thought.
“Oh. Oh God, Dean.” Realization hits him like a brick in the face.
“He went out clubbing with friends one night. Sam was studying for his bar exam. We got the call the next day.” Dean dropped his gaze from the window to a speck of dried cheese, “beaten within an inch of his life and just left there. In some back alley. Sam didn’t handle it very well.” There were tears brimming in Dean’s eyes and Castiel reached forward to take Dean’s wrist. Dean’s eyes snapped to the point of contact and Castiel gave a firm squeeze before letting go quickly.
“I am so sorry,” Castiel pushes empathy through his entire being, hoping Dean can feel it, because he can’t find any other words than that right now.
“Yeah, I know.” Dean rolls his shoulders back and wipes his eyes quickly before slapping on a winning smile, “we’re okay now though. Sam’s got a new guy, weirder name than you, if you believe that. Lucifer.” Castiel’s eyes go wide in amusement, “I know, I know, I gave him shit for like a solid week. But he’s a good guy. He was there to help Sam through a lot when I couldn’t be.”
Castiel nods and smiles back at Dean, “and how are you, Dean?”
Dean starts on his burger as Castiel asks the question. He chews the mouthful, pretending to contemplate his answer before shrugging casually, “I’m good. You know, busy.” Dean manages around a mouthful of ground chuck.
Castiel huffs quietly, same old Dean, as he picks up a few of his fries. “W&W, is that yours?”
Dean nods enthusiastically and swallows down his first mouthful while shoveling in a large onion ring. “Yeah, the official name is Winchester and Winchester, but let’s be honest, that sign would have cost me and arm and a leg.” Castiel smiles and nods, imagining a comically large sign hung across the facade of the garage. “I moved out here to be with Sam and got a couple investors and everything just kind of fell in place.”
“It’s a nice garage, you should be proud.” Castiel says as he starts on his own burger. He moans low in his throat and lets his eyes close as he chews, relishing the taste of a well cooked meal after not having eaten since yesterday’s lunch break at the hospital. He opens his eyes as he swallows and finds Dean staring intently out the window again. Castiel checks to see if there is really something interesting this time but finds only the setting sun. “Dean?”
Dean whips his head around and smiles, “yeah, I am proud.” He takes another huge bite of burger and chews steadily. Castiel gets distracted again as Dean’s tongue darts out to catch a bit of ketchup that had landed on the corner of his mouth. “But hey! What about you! Big shot doctor now?”
“Something like that.” Castiel states as he dips his fries in ketchup and pops them in his mouth, licking the salt off his fingers afterwards. “I uh, I actually revolutionized a treatment method for the type of bone cancer that claimed my mother. It’s why I’m here, I’m speaking at the conference about it.”
“Woah!” Dean’s eyes go wide, “are you serious?” Castiel nods and continues on his burger, “shit, Cas, that’s great!” Castiel blushes slightly and nods in acquiescence. “I knew you’d make a difference.”
Castiel lifts his head and tilts it in confusion. Dean chuckles and Castiel knits his brow together, “what’s so funny Dean?”
“Nothing, you just,” Dean snaps an onion ring in two and uses one side to gesture at Castiel, “you haven’t really changed that much.”
“Neither have you.” Castiel states, taking another bite of burger. Dean’s eyes follow his movements and for a brief moment Castiel sees hunger there that has nothing to do with food. But Dean blinks and it’s gone. It probably wasn’t ever there.
“I guess not, huh?” Castiel shakes his head and smiles. Most of the rest of dinner is filled with simple chatter about work and Castiel’s trip. They order pie for dessert, apple, which Dean claims is the best pie he’s had since Castiel’s. Castiel blushes at the compliment but waves him off, reminding Dean that it was actually his mother’s recipe. Dean smiles and nods.
“So, are you going to get a car for the weekend?” Dean asks as he licks the filling from the back of his fork.
“I hadn’t thought about it yet. I suppose we have to. Or take taxis.” Castiel jabs at some apples that had fallen out of the crust.
“I have the weekend off from the garage. I could drive you,” Dean offers tentatively while breaking apart the remaining bits of dessert on his plate, “if you wanted.”
“That’s generous of you Dean. But I wouldn’t - “ Dean holds up a hand to stop him.
“Please, Cas. Let me help.” Castiel has a feeling this isn’t about the issue of another rental at all and nods slowly.
“Alright, Dean.” Dean relaxes and shovels in a forkful of pie. “I really only need to be driven for two days, tomorrow and Saturday. You said my car would be fixed by Sunday correct?” Dean nods as he chews. “Then it’s a deal.” Dean flashes him a smile that would be charming, if bits of pie weren’t trying to escape his cheeks. Castiel laughs and Dean quickly swallows, mumbling an apology into his napkin.
They pay for their meals and leave the diner, still chattering on about their lives for the past few years. Castiel has the sense though that Dean is skating around every topic that might lead to an explanation for what happened between them, but for right now, Castiel is okay with this. He’s getting his friend back, and that’s all he ever really wanted.
The drive back to the hotel is ten times more enjoyable than the drive to the diner. They spend it in silence, except for the tape Dean’s playing at a low volume. Castiel keeps thinking Dean’s staring at him. But every time he looks over, Dean’s eyes are firmly planted on the road ahead. They pull up to the hotel and Dean cuts the engine.
Castiel turns to him, unsure of what to do. Dean opens his mouth a few times but words don’t come out. “I have to be at the college at ten tomorrow.” Castiel offers.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll be here, say, nine thirty?” Castiel nods and exits the car. He shuts the door and is about to walk away when he turns back and leans down to look at Dean through the open window.
“Tonight was nice,” Dean nods and Castiel grins, “good night, Dean.”
“Night, Cas.” Castiel watches the car pull away and remembers absent mindedly that he told Dean not to call him that, even though he hadn’t bothered to correct him all night. Old habits die hard.
Chapters: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Epilogue |