'Fuck. Fuck.' Castiel pushed harder and let out a quiet moan. Drops of sweat began to drip down the side of his face. It was making him hot and sweaty. His legs were shaking.

'Come on-' He whispered.

He gave up. The car wasn't going to move. Cas wasn't exactly the most muscular person, so it was hard for him to push his Ford SUV. But what was he supposed to do? There wasn't a car in sight, he didn't have his phone and there was no other way to get his car to the nearest gas station. He knew he would have to leave it there, but what he had inside was too precious.

Cas went to the car window and looked inside at the brief case on the back seat. He sighed, opened the door, and took it out. He had to take it with him. It was extremely important to him. Of course not the brief case itself, but the thing it was protecting. The case, black shiny and big enough to put a laptop inside, wasn't hard for Cas to carry around. He was just concerned that what it contained would be affected somehow. He had driven so far. And now, he was stuck. He had to be in Kansas, but here he was in South Dakota.

Cas trudged up the road. The land was flat and crops were on both sides of the road. There were crops everywhere. In fact, it looked quite pretty. Cas wished he had a camera with him so he could take photos. Rocks stuck out of the ground. He stepped over a hole in the road and continued. He could see something in the distance. He squinted and guarded his eyes with his hand from the glare. He could see a tall sign. A gas station. Cas would be able to use the phone to call for help. And maybe he would be able to buy something to eat. He was starving. A burger or a sandwich, even if it was wrapped up and filled with preservatives.

Cas whistled a song to lift his spirits, but it didn't change anything. He had walked for 20 minutes now. He hoped to escape the dark clouds that were moving closer towards him, but they were coming to quickly. He heard thunder.

'Oh shit.' Cas uttered.

Very light rain began to fall. The road started to shine from the moisture.

'Oh.' It surprised Cas. He thought it would be worse. But of course, he was wrong. The rain became heavier and heavier and soon it was pouring. Cas put his briefcase in the inside of his trench coat. Big thick drops of rain fell down to the ground- most of them were hitting Cas.

'Fuck!' He walked quickly. His soft brown hair became drenched and his shoes became muddy. It felt like hell.

The gas station didn't seem to come any closer towards him. How long was it going to take until he walked through those doors? Cas fantasized about fireplaces warming his hands, a heater, a cup of a drink that was warm. That was what he wanted. What the hell was he doing there? Sure, he going to be paid for it, but he didn't think it would become that difficult. Cas began to walk even slower. He wanted to fall to the ground and sob and cry. His clothes were wet. His briefcase was wet. Cas muttered curses. He just wanted shelter.

'Hello?'

Cas turned to his right.

'Hi there.'

Cas was speechless. With its engine running was a Chevy Impala with a young man at the wheel.

'I- uh.. hello?' Cas felt confused. Who the hell was this guy?

'Is that your Ford back there?'

Cas nodded.

'Do you need help?'

Cas nodded again.

'So... do you wanna get in?'

He didn't want to simply get inside a stranger's car.

'I'm going to the gas station back up that way.' The man pointing towards the way Cas had walked from. 'I'm calling for help it's okay.'

Cas squinted.

'No, see, I work at a car yard. There's a truck there that I can drive up here to get the car for you. I'll drive you back there. You look soaking.'

Cas looked down at his dark brown trench coat, which was light brown before, then back up to the stranger.

'So you're a mechanic?'

The man nodded.

'Yep.'

'Well uh- okay.' Cas opened the front seat door, looked up at the stranger again, then stepped into the car. After closing the door, he looked around at the interior. It was a nice car. Well kept, despite its age.

'I'm Dean by the way.' Cas turned to him.

'Oh.' He put his hand out. 'I'm Castiel.'

'Castiel? Hmmm. Nice name.'

Dean turned the car around and drove in the direction towards the car yard. Cas smiled to himself. Usually people would say things about his name. Not nice things. And he hated some of the nicknames he was given. Balthazar in high school who would call him 'Cassie.' Zack calling him 'Cat' when he was 10 years old. His sister calling him 'Ellie.' Dean was the first person in a very long time to compliment on his name upon meeting him.

'So where you from?' Dean asked.

'Uh- Illinois.'

'Really?'

'Yeah.'

'I'm from Kansas.'

'Kansas huh?'

'Yeah. Lawrence.'

'Did you grow up there?'

'Yep. I'm living in Sioux Falls though right now. Just helping out with Bobby. Oh- he's the owner of the car yard.'

'Right.'

Cas held the brief case to his chest.

'I'm going back there actually.'

'Lawrence?'

'Yeah. I have some stuff to do in Kansas City first but afterwards I'm going straight on home.'

Cas smiled.

'That sounds nice. I haven't been home in a while.'

Dean nodded.

'So what are you doing in the middle of nowhere?'

'I'm driving through the state. I have some things to do. In Kansas actually.'

'Well that's, that's great. Where are you heading?'

Cas didn't exactly want to share where he was going, but he trusted Dean.

'Kansas City.'

'Oh really? I'm not going in the plane though. I'm taking the car.' He patted the steering wheel.

'You're driving there?'

'Ha,' Dean swallowed, 'you should come with me.' Dean smiled, but was frowning at the same time as if he was unsure of whether to show Cas a grin or not.

'Thanks but no thanks.' Cas then smiled.

Dean smiled at Cas, without the frown, then looked at the road again. Cas felt so, awkward. Awkward because Dean was so kind to pick him up. But Cas sat with his back straight, not leaning on the seat. He felt like an ant in a giant room. Dean noticed how he was sitting, and wanted to push him back into the chair so the stranger knew it was okay for him to relax in the car. But like Cas, he was somewhat cautious and unsure of how to act with him.

A gas station was coming up. Cas remembered passing it, but of course, that was when he wasn't in distress.

'I just have to buy a few things. Do you want anything?'

'No, I'm fine thank you.'

Dean parked the car and went into the station. He found an issue of Busty Asian Beauties and started going to the checkout. Then he remembered how hungry he was.

Cas looked at the CDs Dean had.

'Hmm.'

He took out a CD and put it into the player, but didn't see that the volume was turned up to full. And with the windows rolled down, it would sound even louder from outside the car.

Dean began to hear ACDC playing loudly. He looked out the window. Castiel was searching the car, and he assumed he was trying to turn it off. Dean groaned. The music stopped, and Dean let out a chuckle. He bought what he needed and took it all back to the car. Cas was bright red. His arms were by his side and he looked down to his feet. It was like seeing a dog after it did something bad. The eyes shifting slowly then moving back. The tail between the legs. The flat ears. Dean had known a few dogs in his lifetime, so he knew exactly what they looked like when they were guilty.

'Hiya Castiel. Had a little, incident with the CD player did you?'

Cas made a fake smile.

'Yeah it was uh..'

Dean smirked and threw his things into the backseat of the car.

'Don't worry about it. You gave me and the store owner a scare that's all.'

Cas smirked back at Dean.

The car ride began to feel less slow when Dean put on Led Zeppelin II. Cas didn't mind being in the car with him. Sometimes he'd look over to him curiously. Dean would look to Cas, then to the road. Cas couldn't deny that Dean was attractive. Those lips, those eyes, the hair. Everything about Dean screamed handsome. At first glance, you'd think he was a model. But of course that idea would then be covered up with the leather jacket, the plaid and the dirt covered boots.

Dean wanted to sing and tap the wheel to the song that was playing. He would have if the man wasn't there. Cas made him curious. He kept looking at Dean, as if wanting something. It made him happy that he was helping the guy, but he didn't think about the silence that would fill the car when they were on the road. He decided it was time to talk again.

'So Castiel.'

Cas's eyes widened and he sat up.

'Uh, yes?'

'What's with the brief case?'

'Oh.' What was Cas supposed to say?

'It just has some things inside.'

Dean nodded. He was so cute. He liked the way Cas talked, how Dean intimidate him and how fond he was of his trench coat. (He would always be touching it, almost stroking it)

'Cutie.' Oh shit. Did he just say that out loud?

'Sorry?' Shit. Cas had heard Dean.

'Uh-' He paused for half a second but it felt like 10. 'Nothing.'

Cas squinted. Had Dean just said what he think he said? Probably not. Cas was feeling tired from driving the night before. Whilst driving on the dark road and living off coffee he had been tempted to stop at a motel, but he wanted to arrive in Kansas City early. Just so there'd be less pressure.

'Dean?'

Dean was glad Cas had forgotten about him murmuring what he said.

'Yes?'

'Why are you driving to Kansas City, instead of flying?'

'I should be asking you the same question.'

Cas tilted his head.

'You first.' Dean said. The look in his eye pinned Cas to the chair. Everything slowed down when Dean gave him the look. He struggled to begin to talk.

'Ahem. What I have in the brief case is very important to me. Very.'

'Okey dokey.'

'And you?'

'Flying? I hate it. It scares the hell outta' me.'

Cas smiled. 'Seriously?'

'Yeah. Seriously.'

He laughed. Dean didn't look the type.

'Don't laugh!' Dean smiled as he talked and it warmed Cas's heart. He laughed. Dean liked the way Cas laughed. It was like, 'Heheh.' It was slow and husky. He liked it. He liked Cas's laugh.

Dean was singing to the song playing. Cas didn't mind at all. In fact, he tried to join in. He mumbled most of the lyrics, which made Dean laugh.

'Hey Cas could you pass me the pie it's in the back.'

Cas tilted his head.

'What did you call me?'

'Uh- sorry. I-'

'No. It's okay. Everyone calls me Cas.'

The sides of Dean's mouth curved slightly.

'Do you want me to open it for you?'

'That would be appreciated.' Dean replied.

Cas smirked and began unwrapping the thin plastic covering from the pie then handed it to Dean. He began eating the sides of it.

'Did you want some?' Dean asked with a mouth full of food.

'No thanks.' Deep down he was saying 'I'm starving.'

'Come on.'

'It's your pie.'

'I'm willing to share with you.'

Cas opened his mouth.

'Eat some you must be hungry.'

He gave the hand-sized pie to him. Cas decided to eat some. He gave it back to Dean and he would eat some, then give it back to Cas. Soon they had finished it. Cas had crumbs on the sides of his mouth.

'You have-' Dean touched his own mouth with his fingers. 'Crumbs.'

Cas wiped his mouth with his hand, but there were still lips above his upper lip.

'Here-' Dean wiped Cas's mouth. Cas blushed.

'You're red.' After saying it, Dean felt bad. But Cas looked so cute.