Real life:
Castiel threw his head back in laughter as he listened closely to one of Dean's stories about his brother when they were younger. "Yes! He really stole my prom date. He was only a freshman!," Dean laughed incredulously.
Castiel shifted in the passenger seat in Dean's patrol car. He put his hand on his face and wiped away the tears coming out. "Are you serious?," he laughed.
Dean nodded and shrugged while smiling widely. "I swear. And he said he was doing me a favor. Called it brothers intuition saying that he knew I liked boys."
Castiel smiled as he watched Deans bright green eyes fog over. He touched his knee lightly to get his attention, "Thank you for sharing your life with me, Dean. Even these little stories. I want to know everything about you."
Dean looked at Cas's serious eyes and shook his head, "I really don't think you want to know everything, Cas."
Cas nodded quickly, "Of course I do."
Dean sighed and pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. "How about we save this conversation for another time?"
Cas tilted his head in confusion and nodded his head in defeat, "If you wish." He swung his door open and put his foot on the pavement, preparing to get out before a strong hand grabbed his forearm. He turned to see Dean who was looking upset.
"I promise, Cas. One day, I will tell you everything. But for now, let's just live in this moment," Dean said quietly.
Cas pursed his lips and nodded once. He stepped out and slammed the door, walking briskly to the front doors before anyone on the street could notice him.
"Cas! Wait up!," Dean called while jogging to catch up.
Cas turned and held the door open for Dean who smiled thankfully. He let the door closed and walked to the elevator, waiting for it to come down.
Dean grabbed his arm and spun him to face him. "Hey," he started softly, "don't be mad at me."
Cas crossed his arms and shrugged, "I'm not. It's just different for me to want to be with someone so private when I have no other choice but to keep my life public."
Dean shook his head and furrowed his brow, "You do have a choice, Cas. I thought you were taking your life back."
Cas pursed his lips into an even line and stepped into the elevator that just opened. Dean followed him and continued to stare at him as the elevator took them up to Cas's floor. The doors glided open and Cas stepped out still not waiting for Dean.
Dean caught up with him once more and turned him to face him in front of his rooms door. "Tell me what's wrong. I'm trying to help you, Cas," he said through gritted teeth.
Cas crinkled his nose and rolled his eyes, "Don't you see, Dean? Even if I do quit this life, it's never going to be over. Ever. My face has been in everything from movies to billboards since I was seven. I can't even go get a cup of coffee without a swarm of paparazzi following me and screaming accusations. And you think I want to live like that? Sometimes," he paused and looked down at the ground not wanting to look at Dean, "Sometimes it all hits me at once. All this pressure to be the guy that they built me up to be and I feel like I'm suffocating."
Dean bit his lip and swallowed nervously. He took Cas's hands in his, "Hey," he started softly, "Look at me."
Cas looked up with teary, tired eyes. The look alone was enough to break Dean's heart. He cleared his throat nervously and said, "I've learned and found out the hard way, that the thing in life that screws us up the most, is that little image in your head that tells you how your life should be and how it should look but it's not reality, Cas. And I've learned that you can keep going long after you think that you cant. Please believe me."
Cas nodded and threw his arms around Dean, wrapping him into a tight hug. He stayed there for several minutes and Dean didn't bother to let go either. Cas let out a shaky breath and was about to let go when he heard his door open. Confused, he looked over to see Jo standing in the middle of the frame with a displeased look on her face.
"Jo?," Cas asked letting go of Dean.
"Hey, Castiel. Nice to hear from you. Gee, I sure am glad that this is what has been keeping you so busy," she said as she threw a hand in Deans direction.
"Jo, this is none of your business. You are simply my assistant. And I don't think I need any assistance here," Cas said beginning to feel his blood boil.
She shook her head in anger and let out a mock laugh, "Uh, actually you do. You have a contract, Cas! And you haven't even been going to any scheduled events. Your reputation is going down and you are being called a 'Hollywood flake.' If you cut this contract then I am out of a job. But why would you care? After all, I'm only an assistant." She threw the newspaper she was holding on the floor and stepped over it with her heels. She turned around one last time as she walked away and yelled, "Don't give all this up for some fling. You're smarter than this so call me when this mid life crisis of yours is over."
Dean looked at Cas and pursed his lips trying g his best not to get in the middle of it. They both watched as Jo's blonde hair swayed from side to side as she got into the elevator. She looked sadly at Cas and frowned as the doors closed slowly.
Cas turned to look at Dean who's face gave away no emotion he was feeling, "I'm sorry you had to see that. That was extremely unprofessional of her."
Dean shook his head quickly, "Uh, no. Its fine, Cas. I mean, I shouldn't have expected anyone to be fine with this really." He looked down to the ground at the crumbled up newspaper and bent to pick it up. There was a series of photos on the front of Dean and Cas. In one, Dean was leading Cas to their car with their hands intertwined. In another, Cas and Dean were hugging in front of the hotel. And in the last one, is a small unclear photo from the night on the balcony. Dean is seen holding on to Cas's hands. The headline read, 'Castiel Novak: from suicide attempt to romance?' Dean folded the paper up quickly and placed it behind his back in hopes that Cas didn't see.
Cas held his hand out for Dean to hand over. Dean sighed and unfolded the newspaper, handing it to Cas. Cas read quickly over the front page and dropped it back onto the floor, shaking his head. He turned on his heel and entered his room, grabbing his suitcases quickly.
Dean followed behind him, confused. "What are you doing?," he asked confused.
Cas started to pack his clothes into his open suitcase on the bed, not caring to fold them. "I'm leaving," he said with no explanation.
Dean ran a hand down his face, "Uh, yeah. I get that. But I'm asking where you're going exactly?"
Cas stopped and looked to Dean who had his hands on his hips, "Anywhere but here. I can't be in this space anymore. I can't keep looking at those French doors that lead to the balcony. I just cant anymore."
Dean shook his head and sat on the bed where Cas was packing. "Let me come with you," Dean said.
Cas looked at him with wide eyes, "You want to come with me?"
Dean nodded and ran his hand down Cas's cheek lightly, "Of course. You really don't expect me to stay in L.A without you, do you?"
Cas laughed and shook his head, "Well, it wouldn't hurt to have company. But what about your job?"
"It's my job to protect you now. I'll just let my dad know that I'm going to be following you for the rest of your tour," Dean said.
Cas nodded and smiled, "The tour can wait. But you don't happen to have a passport, do you?"
Dean laughed, "Oh no. What do you have planned?"
Cas got up and finished putting the rest of his clothes in his bags. He put his baseball cap on his head and his signature sunglasses. "Alright, let's do this," he said with a large smile. He grabbed his bags and left the room to go check out.
xXx
Once they were in the car safely with no attention from anyone on the street, Cas let out a relieved sigh. "The hardest part is going to be sneaking out of the country without my mom finding out," he laughed.
Dean nodded and swallowed nervously, "Uh, so this is going to involve like a long flight, huh?"
Cas nodded and looked over at Dean with his head tilted, "Yeah. Anywhere we go is going to take over twelve hours."
Dean sighed and ran his hands down his thighs , trying to calm himself down, "Okay. Alright. I can do that."
Cas laughed, "Are you scared? I mean, I have a private jet so we won't be around crowds or anything."
Dean shook his head, "Of course I'm not scared. Its just planes you know, make me nervous obviously."
Cas laughed again and straightened his face up when he saw Dean give him a serious look. "Dean, you jumped out of a plane. I'm pretty sure your fear left when you did that," Cas said.
Dean nodded, "Yeah, you may be right. I just need to stop by my house to pack, okay?"
Cas nodded back and rested his head against the window watching the houses in a quaint neighborhood go by. Dean pulled the car into a driveway of an average looking home. A dodge challenger was in the drive way as well. The house was a one story home with red brick and a white door contrasting the colors.
Dean stepped out and stretched his back out. Cas followed and closed his door softly.
Dean smiled and wrapped Cas into a hug. He ran his hand slowly up and down his back. Cas smiled back and took in the scent of Dean's apple scent mixed with cologne. It smelled like heaven.
"Dean?," came a disembodied voice from in front of them.
Dean turned and let go of Cas. A tall man with similar features to Dean stood in front of them in a police uniform. Cas turned to look at Dean who had his mouth open and his eyes wide.
"Dad?"
