A/N: I apologize for this chapter being so short, I wasn't paying attention when I ended the last one. But in the meantime, how are you guys liking this fic? It's pretty different from the last one. I have yet to decide which I like better.
Dean doesn't see Cas at all for weeks—months—after Sam is healed. Sometimes he sits out by the bridge, waiting, but Cas never comes. Not for the rest of February. Not March. Not May.
Not until June fourth does Dean finally see his best friend again.
"Cas!" he says in surprise. He'd just been taking the garbage out and caught sight of him down the road, having no idea Cas would be there. Running up and giving him a hug, he says, "Where've you been?"
"I'm sorry," Cas says, hugging him back, putting his face in Dean's shoulder. During the time they've been apart, Dean realizes he's grown slightly taller than Cas. "I know I should've told you somehow, but my...my family was keeping me from going anywhere, especially here. I want to come, really—"
"Hey, don't worry about it," Dean says, frowning and stepping back. "Are you, like...not allowed to come here? Your dad doesn't want you to? What's the deal?"
"I...kind of," Cas admits, not meeting Dean's eyes. "I'm not really supposed to be here, but...but it's not like I'll get in trouble or anything," he adds too quickly.
"Wait, is there something you're not telling me?"
"Forget it," Cas says. "Sorry I've been gone so long. How are you? How're Mom and Dad and your brother?"
"We're so much better since you last came by. Sammy's really good. He's getting really smart actually, he worries me." Dean chuckles, but then his smile drops. "But lately the big news is that we're moving."
"Really?" Cas asks with a small frown. "Where? When?"
"New York, and in just a few months. Before school starts again, hopefully." Dean kicks a pebble of gravel. "I've wanted to tell you for a while now. I don't think we'll see each other again after that."
Cas's expression falls further. "Really?"
Dean shakes his head sadly. "Not unless you're moving to New York too."
Cas looks thoughtful, then disappointed. "No. I don't think we'll see each other."
"Well," Dean says with false casualness, "we'll make the most of this summer, huh?"
Nodding, Cas looks up to him. "Dean, there's something I have to do. Especially now that you're moving."
"Oh...kay. What would that be?"
Cas doesn't answer, but reaches out and puts a hand on Dean's chest. It isn't an affectionate gesture, it's purposeful. "This is gonna hurt for a second," Cas warns.
"Um, what—" Then Dean's whole chest starts to burn, like his very bones are heating up. It reaches the point where he almost cries out in pain, and then it's gone.
Disbelieving, Dean steps back from Cas, shoving his hand away. "What the hell was that for? That hurt. A lot."
"It's—it's to protect you," Cas says.
"Protect me?" Dean asks incredulously. "Protect me from what?"
Cas turns away. "I can't tell you."
"What, so you mess with me and then can't even explain why?" Dean steps around so he's more in front of Cas again, though the other boy keeps his eyes on the ground. "You're my best friend, Cas. You really are. But sometimes, you're creepy, and you scare the crap out of me."
"I'm sorry, Dean—"
"Quit apologizing! Just tell me what's going on!"
"I can't," Cas says, his voice breaking. He finally looks up, and Dean can see tears in his dark blue eyes. "I just can't tell you. I wish I could."
After a pause, Dean says quietly, "Okay." He takes Cas's hand and laces their fingers together. "Sorry. I shouldn't have gotten worked up. I don't understand you sometimes, but I guess I don't have to. Just don't do anything like that again. Not if you can't tell me why."
Cas nods. "Okay," he whispers.
The summer passes faster than Dean expects it to. He only sees Castiel a handful of times—much less than he'd like—and before Dean knows it, they've agreed on the time they'll say goodbye.
It's an hour or two before Mary and John say everybody will be in the car to head to the airport. Dean heads out to the bridge, their forever meeting spot, and waits for Cas.
And waits.
And waits.
Ten minutes pass. Fifteen. Thirty.
Dean swings his feet over the water.
Forty. Fifty-five.
He's not coming, Dean realizes. For whatever reason, Castiel isn't coming to say goodbye.
And hour passes, and then another half.
"Dean!" he hears his mom call. "Time to go!"
Slowly, it sinks in. He's not going to see Cas again. This was it, and he missed it. He swings around, stands up from the bridge, and heads toward where John and Mary are loading the rental car—the Impala is already in New York.
He gets into the car and all he feels is sad. He's leaving this home he's known all his life, that bridge and that river, this state, and his friend.
As the car starts to drive away down the gravel road, Dean looks back at the bridge.
He can see him. Cas, standing at the bridge, watching the car drive away.
But Dean knows he's just imagining it, because before he looks away, he swears that Cas has wings.
