Let it Snow

Chapter three

December 5th
20 days until Christmas

He expected Jack's hockey game to go like every other. It would be an hour and a half, spent with Dean at the top of the bleachers, in the far corner where no annoying parents looking to make small talk could see him, and more importantly Cas couldn't see him. Then when the game would end he'd sneak out through the backdoors before he could be stopped and instead of seeing him in person call Cas so he could talk to Jack about his game. Though apparently last game of the year included an after party for the kids, an after party that before Dean could sneak out the back door was being dragged to by another parent he couldn't completely remember the name of, Hannah? Helen? Holly maybe? which was held in a far too small conference room for the fifteen kids, and a handful of parents and siblings.

Dean had immediately made his way to the back corner, as far away from Cas as possible, and instead talked to Garth who at some point had joined him. The other happily talking about his dentel clinic, while Dean hummed along, more focussed on watching Jack play with the other kids, then whatever the other was saying.

"And you're still working at the highschool?" Garth suddenly asked, Dean's gaze immediately darting away from Jack to the other who was leant against the wall next to him.

"Uh yah- I teach metals and mechanics," Dean replied. He raised a hand to his hair running it through the messy strands before he let it fall back to his side, and instead licked his bottom lip. "I've also been pickin' up some shifts at an auto shop."

Garth's lips spread into a grin, "that's really good for you." Dean hummed, gaze darting away from the other and instead once again across the room, looking over the crowd of talking parents and screaming children for the familiar mess of dark hair. A head of hair he wouldn't admit he was looking for, because why would he, it wasn't like he planned on talking to the other. "It's hard to move on and get back on your feet after a bre-"

"Do you see Cas anywhere?"

Dean's gaze once again darted across the room, an unease settling in his stomach as after the third glance he still hadn't seen the other. No ugly trench coat. No messy hair. Only loud parents, the noise seeming to bounce through the room.

"Uh no-" Dean heard Garth say from his left. He wasn't fully listening and instead glanced towards where he'd last seen Jack playing, the child still there with Garth's daughter. "I think I saw him leave."

Dean finally looked back to Garth, as he pushed himself from the wall they'd leant against. "Look man sorry to cut the conversation short but I've got to go."

He took a step towards the door, stomach still twisting, knowing the situation after being in it far too many times. "Me and some friends were going to get drinks tomorrow if you'd like to come," Garth offered.

"Sorry, I don't drink."

Garth began to say something though Dean couldn't hear him as he walked away, not carrying who he bumped shoulder with as he made his way out of the small room, and into the hallway. The silence he was suddenly met with almost defening, only lasting for seconds before his foots steps were filling it.

It took Dean little over five minutes to find the other, after checking the bathrooms, and the unlocked conference rooms, he found him in the back parking lot. Dean had pushed open a back door, his gaze immediately meeting Cas who was sat on a bench, facing away from Dean.

For a moment he didn't move, one hand holding the door open, while the other stayed at his side, his breath hitched in his throat. A year ago he would have walked over without hesitation, sat with the other until Cas's panic attack was over, and the other could properly breath. He would sit, and talk or let the other talk, whatever Cas needed. Everything would go smoothly, because they knew each other, because they were Dean and Castiel, they were best friends long before boyfriends, but now-