It's Thanksgiving, and Castiel is in Michigan, waiting for Dean to come back. He got stuck playing a game against the Michigan team that, according to Dean, always ends up playing on Thanksgiving. Castiel watched the game, of course, but he didn't hang around afterwards, trying to avoid the fan crowd as much as possible. He's back at the hotel room now, waiting for the rest of the thanksgiving crew. He knows Sam and Gabriel are somewhere, probably still at the stadium, and Bobby may be with them, but Dean never really specified who was coming.

Part of Castiel wishes he was back in Sioux Falls with his family, like he was supposed to be. It's the stupid football game that screwed that up. They were all supposed to celebrate Thanksgiving together, instead of split between two places like this.

Finally, the rest of the gang shows up, all of them coming back together. He can hear their laughter before he sees them, and they all seem to be having a good time. It would have been cool to hang around with them, but even making a run for it to get out of there before anyone noticed him, he still signed countless autographs, and he probably would have dragged the rest of them down with all his celebrity duties if he did stay.

"Hey, Cas!" Dean runs over to give him a hug and quick kiss on the lips. "Happy thanksgiving. How ya been?"

Castiel shrugs. "Lonely. Isolated. The norm."

The nice thing about Dean is he can tell that's a joke and isn't concerned. "Well, at least you've got your dog." He looks around, then adds, "Or did have a dog."

"Yeah, he's sleeping," Castiel says. "He's been really tired lately. I think he has a cold. Can dogs have colds?"

Dean shrugs. "Beats me."

Castiel goes to greet the rest of the gang, because, much like Dean, he hasn't seen them all day, either. He gives Gabriel a hug, shakes Bobby's hand — apparently he did come — and offers Sam a head nod and a smile. It's weird to think that Dean is such good friends with Lucifer, but Castiel and Sam rarely speak. Funny how things like that happen.

"Hey, we missed you," Gabriel tells him. "I looked for you, but I didn't see a giant rainbow in the sky landing right in the stands, so I gave up."

Castiel chuckles. "No, that rainbow was probably hidden by all the people trying to talk to me."

"Ah, man, sucks to be you." Gabriel sticks his tongue out teasingly.

Castiel shakes his head at him. "This is why we can't have nice things."

~~

Everyone gathers around the table, eating a very late thanksgiving dinner. It's a pretty big turkey for five people, but knowing Dean, the bird will be gone within an hour.

"So," Bobby says, probably just to make conversation, "How are the rest of the Novaks doing?"

Castiel looks to Gabriel, expecting him to have a better answer, but he doesn't seem to know, either, so Castiel just says what he knows.

"Well, Lucifer got a guinea pig, so they're kinda preoccupied with that. Michael barely exists outside the hospital, per usual. Samandriel and Claire are fighting over getting another guinea pig. That's pretty much it, as far as I know." He gives a halfhearted shrug.

"And Anna just ceases to exist," Gabriel adds teasingly.

"Well, I don't know what Anna's up to," Castiel says defensively. "She doesn't talk to me anymore. She's probably been hanging out with Cain."

"Cain McLeod?" Bobby asks.

Castiel nods. "That's the one. Why?"

"I didn't realize he and Anna were friends," Bobby says.

"Dating, actually," Sam tells him.

"Oh." Bobby looks mildly surprised at that. "I know he's mentioned a girlfriend before, but I didn't realize it was Anna."

"When'd he say that?" Dean asks.

"Oh, he works for me," Bobby explains. "Has for, what, two years? He's a hell of a mechanic. Sweet kid, too."

Sam scoffs. "Yeah, okay, sure."

"Do you not like him?" Bobby asks.

"No one likes him," Sam says. "Literally no one. I can't believe you hired him."

"Well, with you two boys gone, I needed some help around the place, and Adam's clueless when it comes to cars. Cain seemed more than willing to help out. Hasn't caused me a lick of trouble."

Sam raises an eyebrow, not trying to hide his skepticism, but doesn't push it, instead just saying, "Alright, if you're sure about him, forget it. I'm sure he's great."