CASTIEL

Castiel walked through the busy streets with his collar up against his cheeks as he attempted to hide his face from the surrounding citizens. He needed a way out of Mill Valley and the busy streets were his ticket. Without a car or friend to help him, he was all but stranded with very little money.

With what money he had left Cas got on a bus and left the town in hopes of finding a new life somewhere safer.


DEAN

Dean floored his Impala as he raced for Mill Valley, praying to god that he could get there in time. Street signs and turns offs from the highway flew past him as he entered San Francisco, the sun high in the sky by now. Traffic was unbelievably slow within the heart of the city, so Dean turned on his radio for a while to cool his nerves.

He caught the end of some stupid song he'd heard a million times before a news broadcast came on the air. It was an update on the disappearance of one Castiel Novak. Dean's breath caught in his throat and he moved his hand to flick the radio off again when he found they had no new updates.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel as his nerves reached an all-time high. He was never going to find Castiel at this rate.


CASTIEL

Castiel stared out the window at the vast wheat fields, thankful to be free of the city and that no one on this bus had recognised him.

His head swam with the confusing recent events. Could I possibly be a murderer? Castiel must have asked himself this question a thousand times as he felt the bus come to a stop at some all but deserted gas station. Cas looked through is tinted window as the passengers boarded, laden with heavy bags and suit cases. They took their seats and before long the bus was traveling on the open highway once again. Castiel didn't know where he was going. All he knew was that it was far away from San Francisco.


DEAN

Dean had finally made it through the city and was now traveling to the police station in Mill Valley. He parked his Impala outside the office and went inside, trying his best to keep calm considering his take on the circumstances.

"Hi there, Sir. What can we do fer ya today?" Dean practically winced at the horrid accent but held his tongue from his usual smartarse comment.

"Uh I was actually here to see if I could get some extra info on that run away suspect of yours. Castiel Novak?" Dean put on his nicest smile and felt stupid for it.

"All yas heard on the radio is all there be on the subject." The police officer replied bluntly, his interest completely gone from his expression. "If that's all I'll ask ye to leave now."

Dean gaped at his ill mannerisms and left, his fists clenched.

I can't hang around all day, I gotta find the little dude.

Dean started the Impala up and left the lot, frustrated and worried. Castiel could be anywhere by now, and Cas was a lot of things but as Dean remembers, stupid wasn't one of them. He wouldn't hang around a place where every guy knew his face. He'd be long gone by now and there wasn't a damned thing Dean could do about it. Nevertheless, Dean drove his Impala for hours surveying the streets, asking people in stores and apartments if they'd seen a gawky tall guy with dark hair, blue eyes and a vacant expression.

Regrettably, no one had.


CASTIEL

The bus stopped in a small town and by now the bus driver had noticed that the skinny guy in the heavy clothes at the back of his bus had been on for far longer than what he had paid for. Without much hassle he was asked to exit the bus and Cas had no choice but to leave.

Castiel watched with an empty feeling in the pit of him stomach as the bright red lights on the back of the bus drove off and out of sight leaving him stranded in an odd town late at night. Not a soul wandered the streets, not even a car drove past as Castiel wandered along the highway, completely by passing the small town. The cold night air bit at Castiel's cheeks, turning them red as he walked against the breeze, headed out of town.

He walked what felt like a century before he reached a small farm. There was a cosy little farm house, its lights flickering brightly through its tiny windows. Castiel looked inside at the small family, feeling his stomach twist uncomfortably. He found himself dawdling towards the house, lost in his imagination as he pictured himself inside with his own family, happy and warm. Castiel was brought back to reality when a roaring truck passed him on the highway, its backdraft washing over Cas as he stood still, arms folded across his shivering chest.

He walked closer to the house and found that in the next paddock over there was a large hay barn, its windows dark. Castiel waddled over awkwardly, stepping around mud puddles as he made his crooked way toward the darkened barn. When he arrived, to his delight he found that the side door was unlocked so he pulled the lever and entered the large wooden structure.

Inside was marginally warmer, the cold wind ceased and he, as quietly as he possibly could, shut the door behind himself. The barn he found, when his eyes adjusted to the darkness, was filled with towering bales of hay, a rather small red tractor and a makeshift stable in the far corner; very typical for a farm barn, really.

Castiel walked over to the back of the barn, hidden from view if someone were to walk through the door at any time, and settled himself down for the night amongst the prickly hay, the smell of wheat in the air.


DEAN

It was a few hours after dark before Dean finally called it quits. After hearing no word about his long lost friend Castiel, he decided it was time he headed home for Sammy.

When Dean got home from a very long and disappointing day, he crashed on the couch before he gave Sam the opportunity to ask any questions.

Dean dreamt of a lazy afternoon spent at a green park, a dark haired boy running with him as they raced each other to the swing set.