Our Crazy Life

Chapter 3

Saturday, Gabriel is in his room, speaking to his favorite brother.

"Cas, what should I wear? What if I say something stupid? What if he says something stupid?" Gabriel flops onto his bed with a distressed sigh. He buries his head in the comforter.

"That's why I'm going to be there, watching from afar. If something goes wrong, I'll call with an excuse for you to leave." Cas says simply.

"But what about my clothes?" Gabriel's voice is muffled from the blanket.

"Wear what you usually wear, it's that simple." Cas roll his eyes at his overdramatic brother. Gabriel just let's out a noise that sounds similar to that of a dying whale.

"Maybe I just shouldn't go." Gabriel turns his face towards Cas.

"Oh no, you are not gonna stand that man up. You are going to get dressed and you are going to drive us to that restaurant." Cas demands.

Gabriel moans and rolls out of his bed. He throws on his usual attire.

"Well?" Gabriel holds his arms out and does a little spin.

"You look fine." Cas rolls his eyes. "Now hurry, before you're late." Cas grabs Gabriel's arm and starts to pull him out.

"Wait, I need my suckers!" Gabriel shoves a handful in his jacket. It's always a necessity for him.

Cas rolls his eyes and drags Gabriel out. Gabriel opts for the passenger seat, Cas being the driver.

Cas drums his fingers along to Metallica.

"Really Cas, you are the only person to even like this music anymore." Gabriel sighs. "Honestly I'd rather listen to the classical music you like. Like Baratoven or whatever."

"You mean Beethoven?" Cas cocks his head slightly.

"Yeah, whatever." Gabriel rolls his eyes. Cas leaves the music as it is. They arrive with minutes to spare.

"Now get that ass in there and get you a man." Cas pushes at Gabriel. Gabriel steps out the car. He goes in to the building. A woman stands at a podium.

"Reservation?" She looks at him.

"Uh-"

"He's with me," Sam walks up behind her.

"Okay, here's the menu," she hands it over to Gabriel. Gabriel follows Sam back to their table.

"I almost thought you wouldn't show," Sam smiles sheepishly.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, moose." Gabriel smirks.

"Moose, why do you keep calling me that?" Sam inquires.

"I don't know," Gabriel shrugs. "You just kinda remind me of a moose."

Sam pulls the chair out for Gabriel.

"Such a gentleman." Gabriel smiles.

"Of course," Sam blushes as he sits as well.

They look at their menus, it's all Italian foods.

"So what's good here?" Gabriel scans.

"I'm not sure, I've never been here. A friend suggested it." Sam shrugs.

"I think I'll stick with what I know," Gabriel looks at the lasagna. A waiter approaches.

"Can I get you guys a drink?" He poises his pen over the pad of paper.

"We'll take a Cribari Marsala, if that's okay with you?" Gabriel looks at Sam for approval.

"Uh, yeah, sure," Sam nods. The waiter marks it down and scurries away.

"What exactly is that?" Sam leans forward to ask. When he leans forward he can see Cas two tables away.

"It's a sweet red wine with a citrusy taste. It smells like flowers." Gabriel says automatically. It's his favorite kind of sweet wine.

"I'm not much of a wine drinker," Sam murmurs.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Gabriel apologizes.

"Don't be, it's good for me to expand my horizons." Sam says reassuringly.

The waiter returns with their wine. And a bowl of breadsticks.

"And for your food?" The waiter asks.

"I'll take the lasagna," Gabriel hands his menu over.

"I'll have spaghetti." Sam hands his over. The waiter nods and leaves quickly.

"So," Gabriel starts. He isn't sure how to start a conversation with the other man.

"Let's me just say this is my first date in a while, I'm sorry if things are awkward." Sam sighs as he notices Gabriel's nervousness. Gabriel cracks a smile at this comment. "It's just my last relationship went up in flames."

"No, it's fine, moose." Gabriel laughs.

******

Cas is watching the scene unfold before him. Gabriel looks nervous and Cas can tell his brother is floundering.

Then things seem to get better between the two. Cas looks around the room. He recognizes a man at a the next table. He gets up and plops down in a seat at the other man's table.

"So you're keeping an eye on the date too, huh?" Cas asks the green-eyed man. He remembers him from the picture in Sam's wallet.

"You are?" The man rakes his eyes over Cas.

"I'm Castiel Novak, I'm Gabe's younger brother." Cas holds his hand out to the man.

"Dean Winchester, Sam's my baby brother." He grabs Castiel's hand and pumps it twice.

"The date looks like it's going swell." Cas comments. Gabriel seems much more at ease now.

"Yeah, but I swear, if your brother hurts Sam, I will personally end him." Dean threatens.

"I can assure you, Gabriel has no intentions of doing so." Cas pats Dean's arm. Dean nods.

"So what about you, why are you here?" Dean inquires.

"I'm Gabe's figurative escape pod." Cas explains.

"You too, huh?" Dean chuckles. "You don't have anything better to do?"

"I've had a lot of free time since-"  Cas stops. "I'm sure you don't wanna hear about my sob story." Cas shakes his head.

The waiter who took Cas' order comes over.

"Will you be sitting here for now?" He squeaks.

"Yeah, he will." Dean answers for Cas.

"Okay, I'll return with your food." He takes his leave.

"Tell me your story, we have nothing better to do." Dean gives Cas his full attention.

"A little over a month ago my six month relationship ended. I thought we were in love, despite what everyone was saying." Cas pauses as the waiter brings their food. He gets a salad, Dean's food is unrecognizable.

"What was everyone saying?" Dean questions.

"They told me that we weren't good together and that the relationship was just going to end with me getting hurt. Turns out they were right. After we finally slept together, he up and left me for a blond woman in France." Cas picks at his food, not eating.

"He?" Dean raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Cas hides his blushing face. "Is that a problem?"

"No, it's cool, I don't judge." Dean shrugs, "so the guy, did he end it?"

"Yeah, he told me he never loved me and he was done. It broke my heart. I didn't take care of myself for two weeks. Thankfully I had Gabe to take care of me. He's the reason I'm actually leaving my house." Cas glances at his older brother. Gabriel is laughing at Sam, who seemed to have spilled something on his pants.

"Well, his loss, honestly, you seem awesome," Dean sips his drink. Cas smiles at this man.