Always Cas | ✔

CHAPTER NINE; part one

     For what it's worth, Cas doesn't miss a beat.

     He smiles big at Amelia, says, "Oh, wow, hi." And he's hugging her before I've even moved. Amelia pulls away and holds him at an arm's length. She's a vision in a baby's breath blue dress that hits a few inches above her ankles. I feel entirely out of place, now, wishing I'd bought a change of clothes with me.

     "Uhm, you look great," she marvels. "Is this what happens when you become a doctor? I've chosen the wrong career path."

     Cas flushes. "You're not doing bad yourself." He steps back from Amelia and nods to Lucy. "This is my friend, Lucy Mei." Amelia shakes her hand as Cas says, "Luce, this is Dresden's sister, Amelia."

     "I didn't know you'd be here," Amelia goes to Cas.

     "It was a last minute thing," Cas responds. Lucy gives him a look but doesn't say anything.

     It's not tense, but I'm nervous that it'll change at any moment. Even though I left things with Cas at the hospital in a fairly good state, I never know what I'm going to get with him anymore. And I really don't want to have a row in the midst of all these people, especially Amelia. I wonder why he didn't mention he bought tickets yesterday.

     "Are you hungry Amelia? I have a plate made for you in the back," I say.

     She shakes her head. "I'll take it with me to go. I'm sorry I was late. How was it tonight?"

     "Everything was excellent," Lucy says, her eyes wide. "But the lamb! My god, it stole the show. This was such a nice change from hospital food."

     Cas nods. "I've eaten more tuna sandwiches than I've ever wanted to in my life."

     Staring at him, now, unabashedly because he's distracted in conversation with Amelia and Lucy, I can see that he's definitely lost weight. He's leaner than he was even five years ago, but more so since he got back. His face is getting thin and he looks a bit worn down. I wonder if it's an effect of me or just the job.

     I feel a hand on my elbow and turn to look at Ashley and Ibrahim standing beside me. Ashley pulls me into a hug, saying proudly into my ear, "Congratulations!"

     The conversation dies down as everyone turns to look at the new faces. "Thank you, Ashley. Ibrahim, I'm glad you could come." I offer him my hand and he shakes it firmly.

     Ibrahim is Ashley's complement in all ways. He's a short man with thick hair and an even thicker beard that he wears very neatly. There's never a moment where he isn't smiling and he's always the funniest person in the room. He's a grade school teacher and maybe from the outside it would look like an unexpected coupling but it's clear that Ibrahim keeps her grounded.

     Ibrahim's expression is aghast. "Are you kidding? I would've crawled here if I had to. This beats your thanksgiving spread and that's saying something."

     "He's really not kidding," Ashley says. "He was ushering me out the door at six."

     Amelia steps forward, giving a short wave. "Hi Ashley, it's nice to see you again."

     I glance over at Cas who's expression has changed, looks like he's realizing something. I say quickly, "Ashley, this is Cas and his colleague, Lucy. Ashley is a psychiatrist out of Aurora Memorial."

     "Oh nice to meet you," Lucy says holding out her hand. "We're physicians in the ER."

     If things aren't already getting tense, Jack and Jasmine are making their way over. Jack comes up and claps me on the back, saying, "Well you didn't poison us." His eyes move among the group. He gets to Amelia first who he hugs.

     "I would've thought Dres's bootcamp would have you with a six pack by now," Amelia says lightly.

     "He's certainly trying," Jack responds with a laugh.

     "Congratulations Dres," Jasmine says as she hugs me and I plant a kiss on her cheek. "The food was amazing, no surprise there."

     "Thank you, Jas. I'm glad you guys could make it. I know there was a struggle with the sitter."

     Jas rolls her eyes. "The agency we use is just not working. I keep telling Jack I just want two people that we know and like instead of bouncing around all these new faces in my house."

     I look to Jack and Jack is staring at Cas. My stomach starts to sink but then they're bro-hugging? Clapping each other on the back while Cas says, "You look great. And congratulations. Two kids — that is amazing. Atlas looks just like you."

     Jack stares at Cas confused but pulls it together quickly. "Thank you, thanks. And you — a Doctor. Good for you."

     Jasmine moves to Cas next and I can't really watch it, anymore. Its about as back then as I can handle. When I look to Ashley, she's looking at me, reading the situation the way only she can. I smile, small, forced.

     "We're going to head out," she says after a beat. She places a hand on her belly, which has dropped revealing the beginnings of her bump. "The baby zaps all my energy."

     I nod, hugging her again as I say goodbye. "Take care," I say to Ibrahim as he cups my shoulder.

     "We will most definitely see you at the next one," he says. "But in the mean time if you need a sounding board for any recipes. Some poison control, quality assurance type deal, I'm your man."

     Ashley and Ibrahim leave and Jack and Jasmine follow shortly after. When Dolores and Charles make their way over, Cas gets roped into conversation so deep he hardly notices when his friend Lucy says her goodbyes.

     I feel comfortable enough leaving Cas with Dolores, just by the way he acted with Jack and Amelia and turn, walking away. I find Tasha in the kitchen, running the dishwasher and cleaning up. "You didn't have to," I say, unable to express exactly how much I appreciate her help.

     She nods her head. "I know, but I didn't mind. Did you see Rumi and her girlfriend? I had to pull wine out of her hands twice."

     "I didn't. I think they already left."

     I move to help Tasha with the last of the clean up. Amelia walks in, saying, "Mom is getting a play by play of the last five years from Cas."

     I grimace as Tasha greets Amelia. "Hey girl. Love the dress."

     "Thrifted this baby for twenty-seven bucks," Amelia says as she swings her hips so the hem dances around her calves. "Are you doing anything after this?" she asks Tasha. They're sort of friends, I suppose. One of the few people Amelia has to hang out with when she visits.

     "I've gotta get home soon. My mom's watching Opal."

     "Go ahead and head out," I tell her with a wave of my hand. "I've got it from here."

     Tasha nods and says goodbye before she leaves. I point to the food left by the stove. "Help yourself," I say to Amelia as I go back to hand washing the last of the dishes.

     "So what's the deal with you two?"

     "Me and Tasha?"

     "No, you and Cas."

     "There's no deal," I say.

     "You hardly talked," she points out. "Or looked at each other."

     "I was a little preoccupied."

     Amelia stares at me, unconvinced. "Alright, well I'm not going back into he city till Monday. So let's do brunch tomorrow?"

     I nod. "Okay, are you staying at moms?"

     "Yeah, sorry but sleeping on your couch just doesn't work unless I'm drunk. Unless you wanna' go out drinking tonight?" Amelia shimmies her shoulders suggestively.

     "I definitely do not," I respond laughing. "I'm exhausted and Jack and I went out last week and my liver has honestly not recovered from it."

     "Wow, sick invite," Amelia says and we both laugh. Drinking with my younger sister isn't high on my social priorities. "Alright, come say good night to mom so she can take me home. I'm beat."