02 - Not the devil you know

Dean observed his phone for a bit before finally answering to Sam's message. He excused himself from his friends, telling them he was going outside to talk a bit with his brother. He took some deep breaths and dialed the number while standing next to the entrance, away from meddling people. "Hey, Sammy", he greeted him as soon as he picked up.

"Honestly I would rather... talk of anything else that's not this mess, at least right now", Dean answered with a deep sigh. He loved his brother, he really did, but there was too much going on right now for him to want to talk about it any further. He had discussed about it with Charlie, with Cas, with Balthazar via messages, with Selena... He was a bit sick of all that. "How's it going for you?"

Dean blinked, gaping a bit. Well. That hadn't been what he imagined he would hear. He let out a startled chuckle, breaking his surprised silence. "No way, you have a girlfriend? That's too good to be true. Are you sure she isn't completely blind or anything? I mean. If she manages to stick around you, it must be something like that." He poked at him affectionately, like he always did. Of course he was happy to hear this news. His brother had never been particularly lucky with his relationship - neither had he, for what matters, but Sam had always been a big romantic. "So she's a colleague of yours then?"

Dean couldn't help the smile that blossomed on his lips. "That's great news. This chick sounds like she's tough, and you sound like you just met the princess of your dreams. You're really head over heels, eh? And - wow, assistant procurator already? She must be very good at what she does!" Of course he was thinking of a young woman, same age as Sam.

Dean blinked. "... well", he finally said, after a whole good minute of silence, just to pause again shortly after. "I had no idea you were into older women. This counts as a cougar thing, right? It definitely counts as a cougar thing." He grinned. "Is she hot?" Well, it's not like Sam could expect Dean to be mature about it. But he wasn't being terrible either!

"I see your point. I take note of it. I don't care. Still a cougar", Dean quipped back, grinning like an idiot. "Interfering? When have I ever!", he added, feigning offense. "I just want to meet up with her some day. So that I can judge this supposed hotness by myself. I don't think I'm asking for the moon here."

"I would like that. I definitely feel like fleeing from everything for a weekend", Dean sighed. He paused, hesitating. "Could I... do you think I could bring a couple of friends by with me, if I come at the end of this week?" Of course he was thinking about Charlie and Castiel. But he didn't want to say it out loud.

Dean thanked his brother, feeling better now that he had talked to him to be honest. He hung up with the promise of hearing back to plan everything out better and then headed back in, to sit down with Charlie.

Balthazar excused himself from his reunion with Selena and the head executives of the recording company when he saw his little brother was the one calling him, and picked up the call as soon as he was out of the door. "Cas, there you are. Is everything alright?"

Dean beamed. "Really? Ah - I'm glad to hear that", he commented, trying his best to look less enthusiastic. "I hope Selena will give him back his place", he added, clearing his throat a bit. "He is very good at what he does. I'm almost sure she will say yes." Well, he had pleaded her to try and get him back too. Maybe that would have helped.

Balthazar sighed, pinching his nose. "Well, good to know something can help us. The man pressing charges is definitely intending on either taking this to a tribunal or asking for an astronomical refund. We can't allow either of that to happen. But we are in contact with a very known lawyer, and if we have any proofs that can help us, he'll surely manage to get us out of troubles." He tilted his head, hit by a sudden thought. "You're sure everything is alright, yes?"

Dean flushed. "Shut up", he replied fastidiously, elbowing Charlie in her side. He was trying hard to hold back a smile, though. "Well, you know - he has a certain drive, when we work. And I kind of enjoy the fire he gets in him when he gets mad. But it's not about that, or the fact that he is pretty handsome. Well. It's also about that. But he is other things, too. He's smart, he is sweet. All that stuff." He felt embarrassed, talking about it.

From the silence that followed that revelation, Castiel would maybe think the call had been shut off. A whole minute dragged on before Balthazar managed to take in a sharp intake of breath and go "Pardon?" about it. "You- the two of you have a thing going on? And you made out in public places?" He breathed in again. "I am offended you never spoke about it with me." He seemed frankly more excited than upset, but details.

Dean frowned slightly. "He had bad experiences?", he asked, remembering the strange take their conversation had taken earlier that morning. "He seemed to be a bit underwhelmed about me not wishing to make it public. At least before I explained that it had already happened in case of official relationships - remember that story with Lisa?"

"Yesterday night?" At least Balthazar wasn't one who screamed, but his voice had assumed that precise shade it took when he was extremely interested. "Oh my God. You two really hit it off, didn't you. So all that dislike I sensed was all scene? You worked with him just because you really wanted a piece of that ass? I mean - not that I can blame you. He does have a really nice ass."

Dean forced a smile. "Well, it wasn't anybody's fault. I can't blame her for wanting to quit, and she didn't blame me for not making our story public. I was thinking of my career, still am, and she wanted a family. We were young, now she has a son. I'm glad she is happy." He cut that topic quickly. Thinking about his relationship with Lisa still kind of hurt him. And besides, what Charlie had said afterwards made him let out the most outraged sound he had ever made. "He was what? What kind of bastard does that to his own family and to another person! Sick fucker- How did Cas find out?"

Balthazar nodded to himself, trying to put his own curiosity and childish glee on the side. "I know, I'm sorry. It's because you know I would have seen the footage along with the lawyers, right? Don't worry. I'll make sure it won't get out of the office where us and the other man plus his lawyers will envision it. And if you don't want us to use it, just say the word. We can try to work out something only basing it over your witnessing." Even though they still would have to make sure that every recording of that would end up in their hands.

Dean pressed his lips into a tight, nervous line. "Had I been you I would have gone straight to the bastard's wife and told her about it all", he said grimly. "It's not fair that all Cas got out of this was a bruised ego and a broken heart while he still got to go back to his family as if nothing had happened!"

"Sure. Don't worry, we want to keep your privacy well sealed. It will never go out to the public." Balthazar's voice was calm and he sounded sure of himself. He knew how to do his job, and he would have done everything to keep his brother safe. He hesitated, though. Should he tell Castiel about what happened with Lisa? "The reason for which Dean's relationships have to be kept secret is also for... well. For his partner's safety."