Chapter 3
Dean Winchester leaned against the wall, feeling his head pound as he waited for Hailey to get out of school. It'd been three days so far since Dean had last seen Castiel, and he wasn't sure if he was grateful-or dare he say it-disappointed for that. He and the dark-haired teacher had clashed from the start, not by Dean's fault, no matter what Sam said! Yet despite seeing the mutual dislike between the two, Sam had sent Dean to go fetch Hailey from school.
Wise choice on that, Sam.
Dean snorted at that, feeling amused by Sam playing peacekeeper again. Something's never change, he realized affectionately, as he recalled Sam's need for everyone to get along. Everyone except their father, John Winchester. It was there, when father and youngest son meet, that Dean played peacekeeper. He-Dean-kept both from lashing out with more than just their tongues.
They're more alike then they realize.
Although Dean would never voice that thought out loud, he knew it to be true. Both tall men tended to be harsh with their words, as he recalled from past experiences, and-despite their denial of such-were quick to abandon their families. Now he knew he wasn't being fair, he knew John had run from the ghost of Mary and Sam had been quick to change after meeting Jess, but the left over anger and frustration from realizing that they had abandoned him still stung. The bell rung, it quickly drawing Dean back from his thoughts as a little blonde haired child ran towards him.
"Uncle Dean!" she squeaked.
"Hey squirt." Dean chuckled back. "Ready to go?"
Hailey nodded, blue-green eyes sparkling.
"Yeah," she laughed." but first I want to show you something!"
He pushed back the groan that threatened to come out at the idea of entering the stuffy classroom and facing the serious faced teacher. Without waiting for a reply, Hailey grabbed his hand, her small soft hand clasping his rough calloused one, and pulled him towards the door.
"I made you something, but Mr. Novak said we couldn't take them home 'till Friday!" Hailey said over her shoulder.
"Well then," he laughed. " what'd you make me?"
Hailey shook her head.
"You'll see!"
Dean found himself standing at the back of the room staring down at a small round table filled with hundreds of papers. Hailey began to scramble through the papers, intent on finding whatever it is she made him.
"What are you looking for, Hail's?" he asked as he kneeled down beside her.
She didn't acknowledge him as she continued to push papers aside.
"What are you doing, Hailey?" Castiel's voice out behind Dean.
"I'm looking for the paper that I made for, uncle Dean!" she exclaimed.
Cas chuckled, the deep throaty sound startling Dean as he glanced up to look at the teacher who was staring down at Hailey with amused blue eyes. He noticed that Cas's hair stood out in tufts on one side-whether it was intentional or simply done by a hand trying to forget the days events-he was unsure, but liked the way the it framed the man's face allowing Dean the chance to view his delicate features. Cas leaned forward, giving Dean a view of the way light stubble ran along his face, and reached out to grab a brightly colored paper.
It suits him. He thought before quickly pushing the thought away of him tracing a finger along the stubbly jaw line.
"Is this it?" he asked.
"Yeah!" Hailey replied brightly. "Here Uncle Dean, have it!"
Hailey thrust the paper into his hand, as he stood up. The white paper was colorful, a brightly yellow sun smiling down at the four people drawn holding hands down below. He recognized Sam first, his brother drawn freakishly tall in the way only a young child could portray. Then Jess was next, her hand clasping Sam's as her blonde-golden colored hair weaved in every direction. Hailey was drawn between both, with a huge smile on her face as her own blonde-golden hair tangled with Sam's and Jess's. Finally there was Dean, who stood shorter than Sam, was clasping his brother's hand well his own dirty blond hair spiked up in strands that only six-year olds could manage.
"It's very interesting." he laughed." But why do I have a cap, and why does your mom have a halo and wings?"
" Because you're a hero, and daddy say's mommy saved him." Hailey explained before turning and following another classmate.
"Why does she keep calling you that?" Cas asked after the moment of silence still hung in the air.
"Do what?" Dean replied.
" Call you a hero," Cas continued." are you like a secret super hero or something?"
"Or something." he replied teasingly with.
Cas's lips briefly twitched before he continued on giving Dean a serious look behind deadly blue eyes.
"Well I guess that's Sam told her." he explained. " I'm a solider, so maybe to her that means I'm a hero."
Cas nodded.
"Why does her mom have a halo and wings?"
Dean swallowed, instantly pushing back the grief that threatened to rise up at the thought of Jess.
"It's a...uh...long story." he stuttered.
Cas's eyes narrowed before giving Dean a brisk nod.
"It's personal, right?" he asked.
Dean shrugged not entirely sure of how to respond.
"No...it's just hard to talk about."
"Well then that sounds personal." Cas teased.
Dean let out a snort of laughter before going and clasping Cas on the shoulder.
"Smartass, you know what I meant!"
Cas laughed before shaking his head.
"Go take Hailey home, Dean."
Dean laughed before turning his head to meet Cas's stare, suddenly Dean felt himself flush at the intensity of the teacher's stare. His throat felt dry and his palms sweated as they continued on with their silent match.
Get a hold of yourself, Soldier!
He scolded himself as he felt his heart pound as fiercely as if he was in the battlefield. He was a soldier, he withstood tougher things! But now, to his mind, this average day teacher seemed to be his biggest threat to both his sanity, and his hidden heart.
"Well...I...uh...have to go." he stuttered awkwardly with. "Hailey, come on!"
"Hey Dean." Cas called gently as Dean began to walk away.
"Yeah?"
"You are hero, you know that right?" Cas murmured gently.
With a quick choked up nod, Dean walked away with Cas's words ringing in his head.