Title: Mixed Signals
Author: downfall35
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Fandom: Supernatural
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Word Count: 2,043
Notes/Prompt(s): Thanks to dvshipper for the great beta. Prompt: Castiel is jealous because Dean checks out a girl at the bar.
Summary: For the first time in what felt like weeks the brothers and their angel had finally enjoyed a highly successful hunt.

***

For the first time in what felt like weeks the brothers and their angel had finally enjoyed a highly successful hunt. They'd gotten by rather easily, defeating a demon worshipping cult that had been trying to resurrect Pestilence the horseman, with minimal injuries. Dean had suggested celebrating which Cas and Sam agreed to with no argument. For once it seemed that they all thought they deserved a break.

The trio soon found themselves at one of the town's better looking bars. Dean liked to step it up a bit these days now that he had Castiel by his side. There was something that, even to him, seemed wrong about taking an angel to a dive bar.

It was a rather classy place; uniformed staff, a band instead of a broken jukebox, imported beers on tap and a few pool tables off to the side. Dean pretended not to notice the small dance floor, simply dragging Cas by when the angel caught sight and turned his head back to check it out. Dean didn't dance for anyone and not even Cas' best tilted head hurt look would change that.

Picking a table in the back corner Dean and Cas sat as Sam was unanimously picked (meaning Dean made Cas back him up) to buy the first round. Two beers for the hunters and a bourbon and coke for Castiel. They'd quickly learnt that Cas preferred mixed drinks as opposed to beer, probably because the sugar made the taste more bearable.

Returning after only a couple of minutes, Sam rolled his eyes. Dean already had his arm around Cas' waist and they leaning closer towards each other whispering and smiling like teenagers. This place was a lot nicer than the establishments they usually visited so Sam knew he didn't have to worry about their public displays. Most people probably wouldn't even notice them as long as Dean behaved himself. Sam figured there was a good five percent chance of that happening. Placing down their drinks, Sam didn't even bother to tell them that he was off to play some pool and hopefully hustle a couple of bucks out of a few of the locals.

"You did well today," Cas pointed out. "You and your brother."

"Yeah well, it's what we do," Dean leaned away, taking a swig of his beer. His public displays with Cas never lasted long, only enough so that Sam would pull a bitchface and leave them alone. It's not that Dean didn't like the angel; it's just that he was never a touchy feely kind of guy, let alone in public. He just did it to annoy Sam because, well, it was fun. "Want another one?" Dean asked, when he'd noticed Cas had finished his first bourbon. He really needed to teach him how to drink slower so that he could at least blend in with humans a bit better.

"You're not finished," Castiel pointed towards Dean's half full bottle of beer.

"Guess that means I'm just going to have to drink a little faster to catch up," smirked Dean. Standing up, Dean crossed the room and moved towards the bar.

Castiel watched the hunter as he walked away. It didn't take long though before a loud groan distracted the angel causing him to look away.

A bald and rather stocky man was unhappily paying the youngest Winchester after having lost their game of pool. Cas watched with caution in case things escalated. The brothers had once attempted to teach him how to play but stopped once it became apparent that the angel was able to sink every ball off the break. Several minutes went by and Cas managed to watch Sam play an entire game of pool before he realized Dean had not yet returned.

Castiel scanned the bar until he found the hunter. Dean was standing at the end, but he wasn't alone. A small, petite, brunette was next to him. Dean was smirking and deep in conversation, her hand resting on his forearm. An unknown emotion swept through Cas as he sat there glaring at the pair, unable to take his eyes away.

Returning to the table, Sam instantly noticed something was not right. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," replied Cas, his eyes ghosting over the hunter with fake reassurance.

"Really?" Sam cocked a brow. "Cause I think you're holding onto your glass just a little too tightly."

Looking down the angel noticed how the empty glass had shattered in his grip.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked, knowing that it'd be best if they dealt with the matter straight on.

"It's Dean." Castiel's gaze returned to the bar where Dean was leaning, opposite the brunette. "He proceeded to..." Cas searched for the right terminology, "Check her out. And now he is..." the angel paused once more. "Chatting her up." He looked on as Dean was now making hand gestures as if he were retelling some epic tale.

Awkwardness filled the space between Sam and Castiel. Whilst the younger Winchester knew about and accepted his brother's relationship with his angel, it was still something he preferred not to talk about. Turning around Sam's gaze fell upon the woman who had managed to make an angel jealous. "Oh," he sighed unsure of what to do. If handled badly things could get ugly. "Cas," Sam was concerned. "You're not planning on sending her to Tokyo or something are you?"

"No," Castiel replied, back straight, posture stiff as ever. "I had only planned to send her out of state."

Sam laughed, but soon stopped, he could never tell whether Castiel was serious or not. "I'm sure it's nothing," he forced a smile, but it was gone as soon as he heard a mutual laugh coming from Dean and the mystery woman. He turned back only in time to catch the pair now moving away from the bar and back to the table. What was Dean thinking bringing her back to the table? Especially with Cas there. Not even thirty minutes earlier had Dean been all over Castiel and now his attention was on some random barfly he'd just met. At that moment Sam felt like banging his head against the tabletop, this could not end well.

"Here he is," Dean announced as soon as they were in earshot. "Didn't I tell you, arms like tree trunks."

"Dean," Sam frowned, looking up to make sure no one had been turned to dust yet. "What are you doing?"

"Helping," replied Dean. "This is Chloe, she's a kindergarten teacher, was supposed to be meeting a blind date here tonight, but he cancelled so I told her I knew someone even better." Pulling out the chair, Dean helped Chloe into her seat before he crouched beside his brother. "What?" he whispered, instantly reading the look on Sam's face. "Can't have you always being the third wheel." He slid the keys to the Impala into Sam's jacket pocket. "Don't worry. Cas can pop us back to the motel, we'll try not to wait up," he smirked before standing straight and patting Sam on the back for good luck.

"And that's our cue to leave," Dean pulled Cas up onto his feet and walked with him to the nearest exit. When they got outside Dean noticed the dumbfounded look of Castiel's face. "Guess that kind of cuts short our evening, huh? But at least we're alone now," a coy smiled covered the hunter's face as he pushed Cas up against the wall around the back hidden by the cover of the dumpsters.

Castiel, however, didn't move into the embrace.

"Cas, what's wrong?" Dean asked, clearly recognising that something was amiss.

"You did all that for your brother's sake?" he hung his head as he spoke, clearly feeling guilty about something.

"Of course, what'd you think? I wanted her for myself?" Dean was trying to make a joke, but his grin faded when he noticed no change in Castiel's expression. His grip on Cas' shoulders loosened.

Castiel didn't answer. He didn't have to.

Dean's hands fell to his side. "You did, didn't you? You thought I'd what, dumped you to try out someone else?"

"No," Cas shook his head, an obvious lie. "Yes," he corrected a couple of seconds later. "You were smiling, she was laughing at your stories and her hand was resting on your arm and I couldn't help but feel-" A kiss silenced him as Dean cupped his face.

It was slower then when they usually kissed, less hurried, less hungry and much more passionate. Eventually Dean pulled away. "I was chatting to her for Sam's sake," he said between pants. "Those stories were all about him. I'm not going to bother with some random skirt from a bar, no matter how sweet or nice they seem. I don't want anyone else; I've got you."

A shy, barely there smile covered Cas' face and if angels could blush he'd be a bright shade of red. "Dean I-"

"It's okay," Dean shook his head cutting Cas off, he didn't want to turn this into a big deal. Cas was Cas so Dean gave him a bit of slack. Plus, with his reputation he couldn't really blame the angel for thinking what he did. "Let's just go."

Agreeing Castiel turned and headed towards the Impala.

"Ah Cas," Dean stopped him. "Car's Sammy's tonight...figured you could zap us back," Dean explained with a shrug. "Or I dunno," he looked down at the gravel on the road below, "We could walk."

Castiel chose the latter and the pair started their walk back to the motel, it was only a few miles. Besides, the weather was good, cool but not cold breeze with plenty of stars in the sky.

"Did you really mean it?" Cas spoke up a few minutes later as the pair walked past several stores all closed for the day; the street was fairly deserted this time of night.

Dean frowned; sometimes Cas had a complete mindset of his own. "Mean what? That stuff I said about Sam?"

"What you said about me," Castiel clarified.

Dean was dangerously close to chick flick territory. Looking around, the hunter checked his surroundings before putting an arm around Cas' waist as they walked. "Of course I did."

They made it back to the motel sometime after ten, Castiel stood by the door just inside the room as Dean made his way towards the bed, kicking off his boots and sliding off his jacket. "You okay?" Dean smirked as he noticed the formal way in which Cas was standing.

"I wish to apologize," Cas blurted, it was obvious he'd wanted to say it for some time.

"Cas, I said it's okay," Dean retorted.

That wasn't enough for Castiel as the angel walked towards the other man. "I know, but I was wrong to question you tonight. I was-"

"A green eyed monster," Dean finished his sentence for him.

Castiel opened his mouth, but frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"You were jealous, maybe even envious," Dean explained. "I bet you were probably going to send Chloe to Timbuktu or something weren't you?"

Eyes quickly diverted to the ground, but Cas couldn't hide the small grin that lit up his face. "I wasn't planning on sending her that far."

A full on laugh erupted from Dean. "Come over here, ya big idiot," Dean wrapped his arms around the angel drawing him in close. "Girls like that aren't my kind of thing anymore. I think I've proven over and over and over just how much you mean to me." Hands roaming, Dean slid the trench coat off of Castiel's shoulders. "But I think I can show you again just to be safe." He led them towards the bed, pushing Cas and falling onto the mattress with him.

"I shall try to not be a green eyed monster in the future," Cas remembered the phrase, smiling just a little bit.

A small chuckle left Dean as he started unbuttoning their shirts. "Things like that, Cas," he mumbled. "No wonder why I love you." Stilling, Dean couldn't believe how easily the words slipped from his mouth, or how he didn't seem to care that they had. He only hoped Sammy wouldn't return to the motel until morning.

***