The End of All Things

Chapter Six: Spring Break Madness

The months seemed to rush past in a blur, the days spilling lazily into the next. School was hardest for the new couple, because of all the secretiveness. Outside of Sam and Bethany, no one else seemed to have any clue they were together, but that was only because the two barely saw each other except during psychology and when they passed each other in the halls. Of course, Dean often wanted to screw the whole secret and grab Cas in the middle of the hallway to kiss him until they both ran out of breath. But, Cas seemed to be able to sense when Dean was in one of those moods, and would meet Dean's eyes only to shake his head no.

Not only did Dean and Cas grow closer through their time together, but so did Cas and Sam. They both had a lot of the same elective classes and Sam was glad there was someone else around to help Dean with his homework, though Dean was a lot smarter than he and everyone else gave him credit for. Cas also helped Sam to finally ask Jess on a proper, official date, because all of Dean's methods seemed too blunt and forward. Jess became good friends with Cas as well upon figuring out that Castiel's speech was what finally shoved Sam in the right direction. With so many friends and a boyfriend who loved him, Cas forgot all about his cutting problem. Dean, however, had not forgotten and he would discreetly check his arms every so often. He was pleased to find that Cas didn't seem to have the urge anymore. It pleased him even more to realize he was the reason and it made him feel like maybe he wasn't such a bad person after all.

The closer it got to spring break, the harder Cas and Dean found it to talk about anything else. Cas was mostly excited to see his two cousins, Gabriel and Balthazar. He claimed that Sam and Dean would love them, although Balthazar could be a bit pretentious and Gabe talked too much. Sam was excited, but also reluctant to leave his best friend and now girlfriend. Jess insisted it was fine, claiming she would just be distracted with swim team practice the whole time anyways. Cas suggested Skyping and phone calls every night and morning and that helped the two of them feel better about being apart. Dean was mostly going because of the pool and the chance to get to know Cas and his family even more. He was hoping he might be able to change Naomi's mind about Castiel's sexual orientation, but he tried not to bank too much on that hope. He didn't want to get too disappointed.

The day before March 17th, Dean and Sam followed Cas back to his house to stay the night so that they could leave for Virginia early the next morning. Sam and James hit it off almost immediately, both of them discovering they shared a common interest in medicine, although Sam was beginning to lean towards being a lawyer rather than a doctor.

Before they went to bed, James pulled Dean aside.

"Dean, I have to warn you; my sister Naomi is a very closed minded woman. I've told her that you and Sam are coming and of course she threw her fit, but that doesn't mean she won't throw about five more the whole time we're there. Just try and be patient with her. She...she means well, Dean, she really does." Dean nodded.

"I will, sir, but she can't say anything rude to, Cas. I can't promise I won't lose it if she does." Now it was James' turn to nod.

"I'll back you up, Dean. I don't like when she talks down to Cas either."

"Thank you, Mr. Novak." James smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

"You're welcome, son. Now, get to bed. We've got a long drive tomorrow." Dean smiled and then disappeared after Cas, relieved that James seemed okay with Dean putting Naomi in her place.

+++

Dean's foot tapped nervously against the floor of the Impala, watching as the sign slid past stating they were only 10 miles from Fairfield, Virginia; the lake house. They had driven all day the day before and then most of that day and throughout the whole time, Dean's excitement had ebbed away into nerves. He was gripping the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles turned white and he was staring down the car in front of him which held James Novak, the only one in their party of four who knew where he was going. Dean was practically riding his tail in a desperate attempt not to lose him. Cas reached over and squeezed his knee, smiling reassuringly. Dean glanced back and smiled tensely, trying to calm down.