Clipped Wings

[FIVE] It's Cold as Balls!

"Don't be such a prick, Dean."

"I'm not being a prick. I'm just saying, maybe if you didn't have such high standards on every guy you met, you wouldn't complain about being single all the time." Dean argued, raising a knowing eyebrow at Jo.

"No, because if I dropped my standards any lower, I would be dating guys like you. I have too much self-respect to dip that low." Jo countered, a sly smirk on her lips. She leaned back in her chair, putting her feet up on the table. She always wins these types of arguments.

Dean shook his head, rolling his eyes at his defeat. "If that's what you wanna believe, go for it, sunshine."

"Trust me," Jo said, smirking. "I will."

Dean rolled his eyes again, standing up from his chair. The employee lounge was already empty since most people took off the day before Christmas Eve. But, Dean couldn't. He's got bills to pay and himself to feed (and that strange homeless dude from the bathroom.) Jo was only working because she actually enjoyed working here, or that's what she told Dean. But, secretly, she just wanted to keep Dean company since she felt sorry he had to spend most nights alone. She was one of his friends, after all.

"I should probably head out. I heard we're suppose ta get at least a foot of snow tonight." Dean said, putting on his usual leather jacket.

Jo yawned, taking her feet off the table and standing up. "Yeah, you're right. No use staying here any longer. I'll see you sometime between Christmas and New Years then?"

Dean nodded, remembering their usual get together between the holidays. "Of course."

"Sammy's gonna be there right? I haven't seen that kid in ages!" Jo exclaimed, recalling the last time she's seen Dean's younger brother.

"Yep, he's coming home from college that week. I think he might be bringing his girlfriend too." Dean informed Jo, hoping to catch her up. Sam, Dean's very shaggy brown haired little brother, had been trying to catch up with Dean for the last two years. But, every time they planned to visit, something always came up. And, since Sam's studying at Lawrence University all the way in sunny California and Dean is stuck in New York, it's hard to make it work. Thank god for cellphones, though.

"Well, that's good news." Jo said, smiling. "Well, stay safe, Dean."

"Thanks, Jo. You too." Dean smiled, leaning in for a quick goodbye hug. That hug went a lot smoother than the one with Cas the day before.

==========================

"I hate snow. Hate it. I'm moving to California after I'm done with this." Dean grumbled, scrapping off his Impala's windows. A good three inches of snow and ice had built up on Dean's baby while he was at work. And, it was still snowing out. He kept blowing warm air into his hands every so often, but they still kept going numb after only a few minutes. This sucks.

By the time Dean had (poorly) cleaned off all the car's windows, there was already five inches of snow collected on the ground. He was thankful the Impala started up this morning. He figured it was stalling because of the cold. But, somehow she was doing just fine in today's weather.

"The roads are going to be shit." Dean said to himself, pulling out of the grocery store's parking lot.

He carefully drove through the city, heading to his apartment downtown. He didn't really enjoy living in the city, but like he said, it's all he could afford. Luckily, there weren't many cars out that night, so when Dean saw a figure huddled up next to a dumpster down one of the ally ways, he slammed on the breaks. He slid a good three feet before stopping. He backed the car up until he was looking down the alleyway again.

A person, curled into a ball and covered in blankets sat leaning against a dumpster. There was snow settling on the blankets and ground around them. They didn't seem to notice.

"Holy shit, they must be freezing." Dean exclaimed in disbelief, getting out of the car. He wasn't really sure why he was about to help some guy on the streets, but it felt wrong not too. If Jo wouldn't have found Dean a job after he got fired from his old one, that could he him sitting out in the cold the night before Christmas Eve. It just didn't feel right to walk away.

"Uh, hello? Are you okay? Do you need some help?" Dean asked, carefully walking towards the person huddled on the ground.

With each step closer, Dean could finally make out a face in the pile of ratty blankets. It was a man with his eyes closed.

"Hello? Do you need some help, sir?" Dean tried again, hoping to wake the man. Dean shivered against the sudden gust of wind.

That guy must be frozen to death! Dean thought, taking another step closer so he was almost standing over him. Maybe, I should just...

Dean found a small stick in the snow a few steps away from him. He picked it up, but just before he was about to poke the man awake, he opened his eyes.

The man looked unbelievably sad, but that wasn't the first thing Dean noticed. He noticed the man's bright, almost sapphire blue eyes. They looked even brighter compared to the snowy-white surroundings.

"Dean?" Cas' voice cracked, his body shifting under the blankets.

"Cas... Cas? What are you doing out here?" Dean asked, trying to remain professional.

"I don't have anywhere else to go, Dean. Remember?" Cas answered, his voice low.

"Oh... oh. I'm sorry, I forgot." Dean admitted. Another gust of icy, cold wind blew snow across his face.

"Holy sh— okay, well you can't stay out here." Dean insisted, putting his jacket collar up to protect his neck from the wind.

"I don't have anywhere else to go." Cas repeated, annoyed. Dean would usually get the hint that Cas wanted him to fuck off, but Dean didn't get the hint this time. The thought of leaving a friend out in the cold made him sick.

"Just, get in my car. I'll find you some place." Dean instructed, shivering.

"What place?" Cas asked, still huddled in blankets.

"Just, for christ's sake, Cas. It's colder than balls out, just get in the damn car or you'll freeze to death!" Dean snapped. He didn't intend to sound mean but he was seconds away from just carrying Castiel's ass to the car.

"If it was as cold as a males genitals, then it would actually be quite warm." Cas corrected, ignoring Dean's offer.

"Are you kidding me?" Dean muttered, rubbing his frozen hands across his face.

"No, I'm not actually 'kidding.'"

"Cas... I can't leave you out here. Please, just please come with me?" Dean asked, on the verge of getting down on his knees and begging. He was starting to lose feeling in his toes.

Cas hesitated for a solid 20 seconds before slowly standing up from the ground. He kept the blankets wrapped around him until he got into Dean's Impala. Dean immediately turned the heat on full blast, warming his hands in front of the vents.

"Where to?" Cas asked, once Dean started driving again.

Dean thought about where he could actually take Cas to stay. A homeless shelter? A hospital? Maybe he had family to stay with? He doubted it.

He glanced at the clock. It was already 10:30 p.m. and he had no idea where to go except home. He just wanted to go home.

Finally, after going through his options, Dean said, "My apartment."