31. Pizza, Booze, and Truth or Dare

Cas and I don't pursue Metatron, as we have been given no clues in that hunt. So, our only option is to head back to the bunker, which we do. I take shotgun in Cas's car, and he drives with one hand, with the other wrapped around mine.

"Welcome back, guys," Sam greets us as we walk down the stairs.

"Well, what news do you want first?" I ask Sam. "Because we've got each."

"Uh, bad, I guess."

"Metatron escaped. He led us to Cas's Grace, but the little weasel ran off before we had a shot of tracking him down. He also took the Demon Tablet with him, whatever that is. Good news is, Cas is back." I pat him on the shoulder. "So, uh, what did we miss?"

Sam recounts the latest events: Charlie has found the Book of the Damned, although she was pursued and nearly killed because of it. She reached out to Sam and Dean, thinking that the book may be the key to helping Dean out. Dean had a run-in with Rowena, and apparently the Mark of Cain is a curse. So, that's a great development. Not.

Charlie had to go into hiding until my brothers could reach her. They found out that this family called the Stynes felt they were entitled to be the book's owners, and those were the people who were after Charlie. The Book of the Damned is in code (naturally, because nothing is ever easy with us). Dean tried to persuade Charlie and Sam that the book was only going to do more harm than good for us with the Mark. After an encounter at a store thanks to Dean, the Stynes tracked him back to the cabin where Charlie and Sam were. Long story short, the book had to be burned.

"Well, damn, I wish I had been there to help out," I say to Sam. "I could've been useful. They sound like tough sons-of-bitches. Um, hey, speaking of Dean and Charlie, where'd they run off to?"

"They went to grab food and drinks."

"Ah." I notice Cas's uncomfortable gaze. "What is it, Cassie?"

"I was foolish, selfish," he mutters. "Should've just killed him. Who knows what he'll do with that tablet."

"Well, you know what? You got your Grace back. You're back. You did the right thing."

"You did the right thing," Cas says to Sam. "That book needed to be destroyed. We will find another way, Sam."

"We're back, bitches!"

Cas and I turn to find Charlie hopping down the stairs with two plastic bags. Charlie stops, noticing Cas.

"Whoa! Is that who I think it is?"

"Charlie, Cas," I say. "Cas, Charlie." I step away as Charlie hugs Cas, and I can't help but laugh a little.

"I thought you'd be shorter." She sets the bags on the table.

"I'm gonna get these to the fridge," says Sam, who takes the bags.

"Heard you got your mojo back."

"Yes, my—my Grace, it's—it's been restored," Cas says.

"So, can't you just—you know...cure Dean?"

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple."

"Oh. Never is, is it? Do you think you could do something about my carpal tunnel?" Cas puts two fingers to Charlie's forehead. "Is that it?"

"Your carpal tunnel and your bullet wound are now healed. You may want to continue wearing your wrist brace at night, though."

Charlie punches Cas's arm in a friendly gesture. "Did we just become best friends?"

"I think you just did," I chuckle. "Good to see you, Charlie."

"Hey, look who decided to show," says Dean, who comes in carrying pizza boxes. "So? You're back? One-hundred percent? How did that happen?"

"Um, it was Hannah," Cas lies. "She managed to get the location of the remainder of my Grace out of Metatron."

"Awesome. I told you we were due for a win. Good to have you back, pal."

"Well, hey, let's put a hurting on these, shall we?" I say, flipping open the pizza boxes.

There's a sense of comradery amongst the five of us as we chow down on the food and guzzle down the drinks. This seems normal, even for me. I find myself leaning on Cas, so much so that Charlie and Dean give me inquiring looks. If they're curious enough, they'll be vocal about it.

"How about we do a game?" Charlie suggests.

"Hide-and-seek would be a hell of a game in here," I joke.

"No, like, Truth or Dare. You game?"

I nod. "All right." I look at the guys. "You guys in? No fun when it's just two people."

"It can be if you're watching the two," says Dean.

"Oh, come on, spoil sport." I ruffle his mussed hair. "Let loose a little, will you? Charlie, since this was your idea, you go first."

"Okay then. Josette, truth or dare?"

"Hmm. Dare." I sip the bottle I've got in my hand.

"I dare you to kiss Cas."

At this, I sit up straight. "Of all the things you choose, and that's what you pick? Weak game, Charlie," I tease.

"This is warmup. Well, go on. You picked dare." She gestures to Cas and me.

I look to Cas and shrug. "Not like that scares me much." I pull Cas by the collar of his shirt and give him a huge kiss on the mouth, so much so that I feel like I've stolen his air for my own. Charlie wolf-whistles, which only encourages me more.

I'll admit, I've never seen Cas so stunned before once we come up for air. He looks like I've hit him over the head with a frying pan.

"Well damn, I should've dared you to kiss me," I hear Charlie mumble.

"You probably would've fainted. Cas can handle it." I tousle the angel's dark hair. "It's not our first rodeo." I hear Dean nearly spit out his drink, and I can't help but laugh.

"I knew it!" Charlie bounces in her chair.

"See, Charlie can pick up on it, but you two"—I gesture to Sam and Dean—"not a thing."

"Jo, we don't scope out who's tied to who," Dean coughs. "But, you and Cas? Really?"

"Come on, are you really that surprised?" I lose the amusement in my face. "And, no, this was before I got my black eyes. It was uh, the day...well." I rub the back of my neck. "You two remember it well."

I'm not sure what I was expecting when Dean would get a hold of this development. I don't think I was expecting anger to come out of him, but with how the Mark of Cain's been screwing with his head lately, it would've been a possibility. Instead, Dean takes it surprisingly well. No pissy attitude. I guess food and drink pacified him pretty well.

"Okay," Charlie says awkwardly, "moving on. Jo, you're up."

Throughout the night, we seem to each pick one person in particular as their own personal targets. Of course, those people would always choose truth, which really isn't much better than a dare, because the questions are just as bad as the dares can possibly be. I keep near Cas the entire time, and on occasion, I see Dean watch us. I pretend to ignore him and delve into the fun some more.

Eventually, even Dean begins to get back to his lighter side. A side that hasn't seen its spotlight in what seems like forever. But amidst all the happiness, while everyone seems distracted, I notice a change in Sam's face. He looks like he's having fun, but there's something off about his features. Like he's forcing the smile on his face. Like he's forcing himself to put up the happy mask for all our sakes. It's a happy occasion, he wants to blend in, not stand out. And everyone's in too good a mood to pick up on the subtle change.

But little does Sam know that I'm not everyone else in the room. There's not a lot he can try to get past me. The uncomfortableness in his face is something I don't overlook.

**Okay, I might slightly ship CharliexJo. 

Besides, Dean had to know about Cassette.**