Disclaimer - I do not own the characters or Supernatural. All credit to Eric Kripke and the writers/producers. Thanks to Kathy for your review - totally made my day! Thanks also to those following the story, hope you're enjoying the ride as much as I am...

Every few minutes, one of the boys would stop to peer in the window of an interesting looking shop. Sam and Dean had to drag Castiel away from a Celtic shop with angel statues displayed out the front; he was trailing his fingers over the stone wings with an expression of longing and deep sadness.

"C'mon Cas." Dean muttered, gripping the angel's elbow, but not before Sam had a word with the shopkeeper, returning to the group with a little souvenir for Castiel; he hoped the angel wouldn't be offended by it.

"Here." Sam said to Castiel, once they were back out on the street. He held up a leather necklace adorned with three small pendants: a silver angel wing, a pentagram, and a tiny glass phial of rock salt.

"Manly, Sam." Dean said sarcastically, rolling his eyes as Castiel stowed the necklace in the innermost pocket of his trenchcoat, next to his heart; the angel's gratitude for Sam's kind gesture shining in his blue eyes.

"Thanks Sam." Cas said simply, with a warm smile.

"No problem, Cas." Sam said with an embarrassed shrug, clearing his throat as his face flushed crimson and leading the way down the street.

...

Cold beer, hot staff. Dean read off the board outside a local brewery. "Free tastings 2 - 5 pm. C'mon Sam!" he exclaimed. But Sam dug his heels in, he wasn't spending his holiday nursing a hungover big brother.

"Absolutely. No. Way. Dean." Sam said firmly, continuing down the street, as Castiel looked anxiously at Dean, not wanting his friend to be upset.

"We'll go for a drink at the pub later." Sam promised.

"Okay, fine." Dean agreed, allowing himself to be led away from the brewery with a twinge of regret.

They walked past butchers, bakeries, jewellery stores, pubs, cafés, and even a puppet shop offering free psychic palm readings. Next door was a second hand book shop and Sam darted inside before Dean could stop him.

"Sam... Let's go!" Dean said in a furtive whisper, earning a glare from the stern looking woman behind the counter.

"5 minutes Dean. I just want to have a look." Sam said, scanning the various book spines which were jumbled together in no particular order, alphabetical or otherwise.

Dean huffed a sigh and tapped his foot impatiently.

"Cas might want a book." Sam suggested innocently, nodding to the angel who was standing patiently by the door.

"I think they ran outta scrolls and stone tablets a few millennia ago Sammy." Dean said sarcastically, hating the stuffy bookshop more with every passing second.

"So, go ask her for a copy of Busy Asian Beauties, if that's more your thing." Sam said mockingly, picking up a weighty tome on 14th century witch-burnings.

"Thankyou Sam." Castiel said awkwardly. "But those magazines aren't really appropri- Garfield Comics!" the angel exclaimed excitedly.

"You like Garfield?" Dean said incredulously.

Castiel nodded, already perusing the closest Garfield and Friends.

Resigning himself to the inevitable, Dean allowed Sam and Cas to venture into the dusty shelves of the tiny bookshop. After nearly an hour, with no end in sight, as Sam and Cas pored over book after book, freaking nerds, Dean was itching to slip out and grab a cold one at the pub down the street. He started edging toward he door, when something caught his eye. Vinyl records. ACDC to be precise. Sweet mother of awesome! He hadn't seen these kinds of records in years! Flicking through the rack, Dean was thrilled to find a number of his personal favourites. He selected a handful to take to the counter: ACDC, Guns n Roses, and even Credence Clearwater Revival.

"Find something you like, Dean?" Sam said with a sly grin, playfully nudging his big brother in the ribs as he loaded up the counter with the books he and Cas had selected.

"Shut-up Sammy." Dean said, pulling a face at his brother, as they paid for their things and left the shop. Dean secretly couldn't wait to play some of his new records. He'd found a record player and an old gramophone in the bunker when they'd first moved in. Now he'd finally be able to put it to good use...

Next chapter coming soon...