Castiel manages to make it to the band room the next day without seeing Crowley and his friends at all. As usual, Dean is already there, and he gives Castiel a big smile when the boy appears. He walks up and gives Castiel a brief hug as a welcome.

"Heya, Cas!"

"Hi, Dean."

"Are you coming to the game tonight?" Dean asks hopefully, as he has done every single day since he proposed the idea.

"I don't know yet," Castiel replies, just as he has done every single time Dean has asked.

"But it's tonight!" Dean reminds him. "You can't just not know the day of the game!"

Castiel shrugs. "I'll figure it out before the game starts."

"That's your way of saying you're not coming, isn't it?" Dean guesses.

"No, I mean I honestly haven't decided." He's leaning more towards not going, but he isn't sure yet. He still has to make the official decision.

"Then how about I make the decision and tell you to come?" Dean proposes.

"No," Castiel replies. "It's my choice, and I'll be the one to make it. Eventually."

"Can you make it soon?" Dean pleads. "I want you to come!"

"Well, I don't know what I want, so we'll see."

Dean groans. "You're too stubborn."

"Like I'm the only one," Castiel replies sarcastically.

"Okay, true," Dean agrees. "But I really want you to come!"

Castiel shrugs again. "I don't know. Seriously. I'm not sure I'm in the mood for that."

"Why not?" Dean asks curiously. "Did something happen?"

"Sorta," Castiel replies. "More like something didn't happen, though. My Dad's been gone since New Years, and he's texted us twice, and that was only when Gabriel texted him first. He won't answer our calls and Michael and Lucifer won't let us call him again until next weekend and I'm sorry, I'm ranting. I'll stop now."

"No, it's fine," Dean assures him. "He's been gone for a week? Seriously?"

Castiel nods. "Yeah. I just — I don't know. I'm just hoping he's okay."

"I'm sure he is," Dean replies.

"Everyone says that, but I know you don't mean it," Castiel replies. "We don't know if he's okay. He could be lying dead in a ditch somewhere for all we know. It would explain why he didn't pick up the phone."

"My dad used to disappear like that all the time," Dean tells him. "It doesn't necessarily mean anything."

"But my dad isn't like that," Castiel replies. "He doesn't just up and leave, especially without telling us. And he definitely doesn't lie about where he's going, either."

"I'm sure something came up that he had to do," Dean says. "He's fine. Stop worrying so much."

Castiel scoffs at the suggestion. "'Stop worrying'?" Castiel echoes. "Yeah, sure. It's only my father that just disappeared. Yeah, totally nothing to worry about." His voice drips in sarcasm, not light in his usual joking tone but bordering on hostility. He realizes this, though, and quickly adds in a kinder tone, "I'm sorry. I'm just really stressed out right now."

"It's okay," Dean assures him. "I get it. I'm sure I would be, too, if I was in your shoes."

Castiel nods. "Trust me, you would be."

~~

Sam and Dean pick Gabriel up to go to the game over an hour before it actually starts. Dean has to get there early to warm up and to practice, and Sam wouldn't have a ride otherwise. That's what he claims, at least, but he lives in an auto repair shop. He has plenty of cars. He probably just wanted to spend more time with Gabriel.

Castiel doesn't go with them. When he was debating going or not, he did not anticipate getting there an hour early. There is no way he's doing that. He makes sure to tell Dean that he hasn't made a final decision as to whether he's going, though Dean has likely given up hope of Castiel coming. Castiel can't blame him; he's passed up any opportunity to come when Dean offered.

Still, soon after Dean leaves his house, Castiel decides to walk to the school by himself. It will take the time he would have had to spend waiting around, and he'll still get there around when the game begins, though probably a bit later.

To his surprise, he actually arrives just as the game is starting. At least, that's what he thinks is happening. Unfortunately, the author doesn't know shit about basketball or school sports in general, so she can't really describe what Castiel sees. Let's just go with Dean gets a bazillion slam dunks and every time he shoots from behind the three point line, he gets it in. Does that make sense? The author has no clue. This was probably a bad scene to add in here.

Anyway, the game goes into overtime, which the author is assuming is possible in basketball. The other team has the ball and they shoot it toward the hoop. It's clearly going to make it in when all of a sudden, Dean jumps up higher than Castiel had thought humanly possible and grabs it. He hurries to the other side of the gym, then jumps up and slams the ball into the hoop.

The crowd goes wild, likely because it's at Sioux Falls High School, so most of the people that came are from the school. The team runs over to congratulate Dean, who beams proudly. He gives a high five to everyone there, who are all talking to him at once.

Castiel had planned to leave as soon as the game ended — he even stood right by the door so he would have an easy escape. But he doesn't; seeing Dean this happy is a rare occurrence, and though Castiel has seen him happier occasionally, he loves it as much as he did the first time. He can't help himself; he has to stay for a few minutes to watch.

Dean looks around the room, giving his brother a big smile when he sees the boy. He continues to scan the crowds until his eyes finally lock with Castiel's. Dean says something briefly to his friends before hurrying over to Castiel — in the most casual way possible.

Castiel walks out of the gym, not wanting to risk being seen by the team, and Dean follows. When they're out of sight, Dean gives Castiel a hug and a quick kiss.

"You came," Dean observes, his smile impossibly wider than before.

"I couldn't miss this," Castiel replies. "You're the hero of the game."

"I wouldn't go that far," Dean says sheepishly.

"Of course you were," Castiel replies. "I kept track. You got your team almost half their total points. You did amazing, Dean!"

"Thanks," he says, for once in the entire time Castiel has known him seeming shy. "Well, I'm glad you came, Cas," he adds.

"I'm glad I did, too," Castiel replies. "That was actually a lot more entertaining than I had expected."

"Are you saying that you didn't think it was going to be good?" Dean asks in mock offense.

"No, just implying it," Castiel jokes. "But I'm glad I came today."

"You should come to more of my games," Dean suggests.

"I don't know about that," Castiel replies hesitantly. "I mean, it was nice for the break today — you know, so I'm not constantly stressed out until my dad finally comes back, whenever that may be. But if things are going good, I don't think I'll find this as fun. No offense to Mr. MVP here or anything, of course."

"None taken," Dean replies. "I feel ya. But if we have another game before your dad gets back — which we probably won't, because I'm sure he's coming back pretty soon — you should definitely come."

"Maybe. I'm still trying not to have your friends beat the crap out of me, though."

"Just do something stupid so I can issue another hands off order," Dean suggests, then adds, "But not really, because I like you in one piece."

Castiel chuckles. "Alright, I'll try not to break myself again. Now I'm gonna go home before anyone finds me, but I'll see ya later."

"Yep," Dean confirms. He pulls Castiel into a hug. "See ya, Cas." He gives the shorter boy a quick kiss before removing his arms.

"What the hell was that?"

They recognize the voice immediately.
Crowley.