Soldier Boy

Chapter Four

"How's the headaches?" Dean murmured, careful to keep his voice down. If he didn't, they'd surely yell in his ears the next time he got a hangover.

"Horrible." Anna groaned, always the lightweight.

"Manageable," Balthazar muttered, rubbing his temples.

Castiel rolled his eyes at his siblings, nose buried in a book. Of course his siblings had tagged along to come to his best friend's house! Then again, he understood why. Their father was home- his one day off this week- and was likely getting drunk while Raphael was home. Michael was at work. So, no wrestling match, but more yelling and screaming and whining than was ever imaginable, all from the third oldest.

All the while, Chuck would get blindingly drunk- but, if they happened to call him in for an emergency surgery (he was the best neurosurgeon in the area, after all) he would somehow, miraculously, get sober quickly and be able to operate. It's amazing how functional of a drunk their father really was.

Dean quietly got up and strode from the room, returning with some migraine medicine. Anna quickly took four, drowning it down with a glass of water.

She didn't even look to see what the healthy dose was.

Balthazar took two, thankful for the reprieve from the pounding in his head, even if it just became manageable.

Dean had been lucky last night, Bobby not noticing the alcohol on his breath. If he had, at least, Bobby hadn't mentioned it for once. Bobby usually could tell when Dean drank, and was quick to chastise him for such behavior. Not because he didn't drink- no, Bobby drank beer casually in place of water- but because Dean was underage and it could be dangerous.

Of course, Dean didn't normally listen. He loved Bobby, but Bobby was a worrier.

"So, where's the major party you're hitting up tonight?" Dean asked curiously, looking to Balthazar. Somehow, Balthazar always knew where there would be parties and how to get into them. Being friends with Balthazar was like being friends with a celebrity- there was always a party to go to.

"Across town, some college students just came home from college and are throwing a killer party- alcohol and everything, drugs if you talk to the right people- while their parents are away. It's going to be the greatest thing in this town since I don't know when. Nothing like high school parties- no, that's amateur hour to these guys. Party starts as soon as the sun goes down and lasts until the sun comes up. You in?" Balthazar asked, already giddy with the excitement of going to a party.

"Count me in, man," Dean said, knowing Bobby wouldn't be here tonight. Saturday nights he spent at his own home, trusting the two boys not to get themselves killed. He also, for whatever reason, trusted Dean not to do anything too illegal when he left him alone on the best night of the week to party.

"I'll go," Anna mumbled, even though she really had no choice. The siblings couldn't very well leave Balthazar alone to get drunk- that's a horrible idea- and they couldn't tell their oldest siblings, and Castiel wouldn't be caught dead at a party like Balthazar was talking about; he could barely handle high school parties.

Balthazar, if left alone, was sure to go home with someone. Male or female, it really didn't matter to him. For all any of them knew, he could go home with a man and a woman. He was so talented at seduction that he could seduce a monogamous couple into his bed- he'd once done it. He'd almost seduced Dean a couple of times, too. Even with Anna's supervision, Balthazar could still end up going home with someone. He was a talented escape artist as well.

"I'll come, too," Castiel added, much to everyone's shock. Dean dropped his controller, right in the middle of some gory, bloody war game. Anna choked on the water she'd been sipping, sputtering and spitting it on the table and herself. Balthazar nearly dropped his glass, staring at his youngest sibling with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Cas, are you possessed?" Dean asked carefully, his nose wrinkling as Anna struggled to clean up her mess.

"What? No! Can't a guy go and enjoy a party?" Castiel replied defensively, annoyance clear in his tone as he looked up from his book.

"You? Not really, no," Balthazar answered amusedly.

"Screw you," Castiel replied hotly, breathing through his nose to calm himself down as his blood simmered.

"Cas, your sitting at your friend's house on Saturday with a textbook in your lap, studying. That doesn't exactly scream 'guy looking for some fun,'" Anna said gently, choosing her words carefully so she wouldn't offend him much more.

"I have a big test on Monday!" Castiel defended.

"Again- not a guy looking for fun." Dean chuckled.

"I'm going tonight, and that's final," Castiel growled, his voice deep and gravely, a shiver racing down Dean's spine like lightning.

Yeah, Dean really needed to get laid.

Maybe he could score with the girls Balthazar rebuffed. They'd need a shoulder to cry on. Or just an alternative bed to have a romp in.

"Just... Stay close to me, okay, little brother? They can be a rowdy crowd..." Anna said, her voice soft and full of concern and very apprehensive. Castiel's eyes softened on his red-haired twin, nodding his acceptance to ease her mind.

"Winchester, you better have some good games to play!" Charlie, Dean's red-haired, fiery best girl friend yelled, walking into the house. She most likely would've slammed the door behind her, but since Ash, Jo, Bela, and Benny were following her, Benny quietly shut the door behind all five of them.

The two suffering from a hangover winced at Charlie's volume, and she had the decency to look apologetic as she flopped onto the couch next to Dean. He quickly started a new game to play with her, eager for a teammate who knew what they were doing. Jo and Bela sat with Anna on the couch, Bela crossing her legs in a very lady-like manner while Jo, in her jeans and plaid shirt, sat with her knees spread out and her elbows on her knees.

Never let Jo's beauty trick you- she was the rowdiest and loudest and toughest one of them.

Never let Bela's appearance and lady-like tendencies trick you, either. She's one of the scariest when crossed.

Benny and Ash sat with Balthazar on the floor, nodding their heads in greetings. Castiel was on the other side of Dean, the only other seat in the room, leaving the three to the floor. They didn't mind, though, the carpeted floor being quite comfortable.

"Party tonight?" Bela asked with a raised brow, hiding her hopefulness easily behind an arrogant smirk.

"Yep, across town. College party. The works," Balthazar said simply, and Bela full-on grinned.

"I am so coming," Bela practically purred, imagining herself grinding on some hottie on the make-shift dance floor. Plus, she needed a drink after failing her latest math test.

"Count me in!" Charlie said excitedly, and Jo seconded her statement less enthusiastically.

"I gotta go then. Someone's gotta look after her," Ash said with a silly grin, pointing his thump over his shoulder to Jo. Jo laughed and punched his shoulder, knowing she could take him and the majority of this room in a fight. Ash whined in pain, rubbing his shoulder and fake-pouting.

"I guess I'll go," Benny agreed weakly, not really keen on such a crowded area. "Are you going, Dean?" Bela asked curiously, hoping secretly he would attend. Maybe they could have another round or two? He'd been so fun the first few times.

"Yeah. Sammy's going to Kevin's house with Barry and Andy, so I don't have to worry about him," Dean said, eyes focused on the TV screen as his thumbs moved effortlessly across the controller.

It was going to be a fun night for the group.