Uncle Cas

Dean, John and Cas.

Dean and Gabriel stayed even after the last bell had tolled. The school emptied fast enough but the schoolyard would be filled with children long after and the boys loved to stay and play. At least, Dean did. Sometimes he thought Gabriel stayed because he didn't want to go home but Dean couldn't be certain. He had only been to Gabe's house one time and he didn't like it. It was dirty and smelled strange. None of Gabe's parents had been home but his friend had seemed more relieved than sad at that and it had made Dean a little uncomfortable.

"Have you seen the new Indiana Jones?" Gabriel asked as they paused at the very top of the jungle gym.

"No." Dean answered truthfully but avoided his friend's eye. He hadn't actually seen any of the movies. They seemed a little scary to him and he wasn't certain his parents would let him see them. He didn't want to tell his friend that though so he just kept silent and watched out for his father's black Impala. Dean loved the days that dad was the one to pick him up because he was almost always a little late and that meant more time to play with Gabe.

"Michael says Indy's father's in this one." Michael was Gabriel's much older brother so Dean supposed he would know.

Dean scrunched up his nose. "Wouldn't he be old?" he wouldn't really know because he had only seen the movie posters but Indiana Jones seemed kind of old too, definitely older than dad at least.

Gabriel snorted. "Well, Dean-o, we can't all have children for fathers." He drawled and Dean rolled his eyes but decided not to engage. He knew his parents had been young when they had him. He had compared them to other parents at the PTA:s but he didn't mind. In fact, he thought that made them much livelier and he liked that. Besides, Gabriel was just jealous because his parents weren't as great as Dean's.

However, before Dean had thought of a way to change the subject he heard a familiar rumble. Turning, he could see the Impala and he was about to groan in displeasure from the early pick-up when he caught the driver's features. Uncle Cas, he thought and practically bounced off the jungle gym without a glance at Gabriel.

He loved his Uncle Castiel, who, of course, wasn't his real uncle but he and Dean's dad were so close everyone always thought they were brothers.

Dean secretly thought Uncle Cas was cooler than dad. He was more laid-back and when he smiled he showed all his teeth and his face kind of lit up. Everyone was always happy when Uncle Cas was around, Dean especially.

Dean only realized he had jogged to the curb when he had to stop abruptly before running head-long into the car as it slid to a stop.

"Hello Dean." Uncle Cas smiled and leaned out the open window.

"Uncle Cas." Dean panted a little and smiled back. "When did you get back?"

Uncle Cas had a job in marketing, that was the extent of Dean's knowledge of the other man's life outside of Dean's family. He had a tiny one-bedroom apartment downtown and he divided his time between sleeping there, working and staying with the Winchesters, where he slept on a pull out couch in the spare room. His work often took him out of town for long periods of time and Dean hated that. Sammy usually teased him when he would pout about Uncle Cas leaving. Sam was four years younger than Dean but he handled those moments of farewell much better than Dean and Dean was a little ashamed of that. Uncle Cas would just smile and tell him there was no shame in missing someone important. Sometimes, if Sammy wasn't looking, he would hug Dean and kiss him on the top of his head. Though less frequently now as Dean grew older and Dean hated that but never said anything.

"This morning." Uncle Cas answered and looked Dean up and down. "Did you grow?"

Dean straightened a little, preening under the attention. "Almost an inch." He boasted and only lied a little.