When Cas came out of the bathroom, the first thing he saw was someone getting slammed onto the bar. The second thing he saw was that it was Dean. Cas's eyes widened as the other man pulled back his fist and punched Dean in the face. Everyone else in the bar seemed reluctant to get into the fight, and Cas was almost inclined to agree with them. The strange guy was huge, and Dean was no pixie himself.

  Dean tried to retaliate but the man had him pinned down. Dean got punched again, and Cas jolted into action. Before he could think twice about it, he took off and slammed his body into the other man's as hard as he could. It worked, the two of them fell on the floor in a tangle, but now the other man's attention was on Cas, and damn it Cas did not sign up for this.

  "Dean!" he yelled as the man rolled into a kneeling position and raised his fist. Cas raised his arms over his face but the blow never landed. Cas lowered his arms right as someone grabbed him and hauled him to his feet. Thank god, someone was escorting Mr. Punchy out. Dean and Cas were also promptly asked to leave, and they complied with no arguments.

  "Okay, how long was I in the bathroom? What the hell happened?" Cas asked as they walked back to the car. Dean was quiet for a moment before his shoulders started shaking.

  "Dean? Are you okay?" Cas asked, halting in his tracks. Dean stopped too, grabbing Cas's shoulder and doubling over before Cas finally heard giggles erupt from Dean's mouth, and the next thing Cas knew, Dean was laughing harder than Cas had ever heard him laugh.

  "What the hell is wrong with you?" Cas exclaimed, holding back baffled laughter of his own. Dean tried to calm himself down but devolved into more laughter. 

  "I just... I walked up to the guy... and asked him... to flirt with you... and he fucking... punched me in the face," Dean said between his laughter. Cas gaped at Dean.

  "You asked him to flirt with me?" he asked, now desperately trying not to join Dean in raucous laughter. Dean wheezed out a breath, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes. 

 "I thought... it would be funny... I don't think... I don't think he agreed," Dean wheezed. The last of Cas's restraint vanished and he was laughing right alongside Dean, nothing but the fear of death by vicious disease keeping him from falling on the ground. 

  When the two of them had managed to calm down, Dean slung his arm around Cas's shoulders and they started back towards the car, still chuckling a bit.

  "The next time you go out and have this kind of a time, marry that man, because it won't get any better than this," Dean said.

  "Almost getting the shit beat out of us? Forgive me if that isn't my dream date, Dean," Cas said. They reached the car and Cas looked at Dean.

  "You look like ass. I'm driving," he said.

  "Like hell I'm letting you drive Baby," Dean said. Cas gave him a stern look.

  "Dean, hand over the keys," Cas said. Dean frowned and looked at Cas, clearly trying to determine whether or not he could win this argument. Finally he sighed and handed the keys to Cas. The two of them got into the car and as Cas started the engine, Dean spoke again.

  "A cute ass?" he asked. 

  "I'm sorry, what the hell did you just say?" 

  "You said I looked like ass. Was it at least a good ass?" Cas laughed and started back to the apartment.

  "Yeah, sure Dean. You look like a good ass."

***

  Cas was, in fact, able to get back to their apartment without crashing the car, which Dean was a little too surprised by.

  "I can drive, you know," Cas said as the two of them walked into their apartment.

  "Barely. I'm suprised you haven't killed me yet, Novak," Dean said, grinning at Cas and grabbing a beer out of the fridge. Cas groaned and rolled his eyes.

  "Not this again. Dean, people calling you by your last name doesn't make you cool. Calling me Novak won't get me more friends, so just call me Cas. Please?"

  "Wow, when did you get so grumpy?" Cas collapsed onto the couch.

  "I'm not grumpy. And you owe me five bucks," he said, smiling slightly. Dean just chuckled, sitting on the couch beside Cas and handing him a napkin. Cas took it, confused until he saw the writing on it.

  "How- when- what the hell? You got his number?" Cas asked, baffled.

  "Just for you. Go wild. And you know what, keep the five bucks. Merry Christmas, Cas. Buy me something nice with it," Dean said, grinning. Cas rolled his eyes.

  "Don't count on it. I have some homework to do, so you have fun with your beer and I'll see you tomorrow," he said, standing up and heading towards his room. When he got to the doorway, he paused.

  "And Dean?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Thanks for tonight. I... I had fun."

  ***

  Cas couldn't focus on his homework. He kept looking between Henry's number and the picture of Cas and Dean that Cas had on his phone. Cas really had enjoyed himself that night, and that was the problem. He'd gone on something akin to a date with Dean, and damn if he wasn't a pining freshman again. If Dean could just stop being so perfect Cas wouldn't have this problem. He could let go and move on. Cas knew he had no business crushing on Dean. Dean was straight and he knew that. After what happened in freshman year, Cas was painfully aware.

  So Cas put Henry's number into his phone, sent him a text, and as soon as he heard a girl's first muffled giggle from outside, he put on his headphones and turned the music up until he couldn't hear himself think. It was time to let go of Dean.