I want to apologize in advance for this chapter. It started out as a funny thing and then Dean just tore the control from my fingers. So, yeah, sorry for this chapter, it's kind of serious. ~Nobu
"I'll be back in a few hours." Castiel announced, heading up the stairs.
The Winchesters sent him their acknowledgements.
When the angel had left the Bunker, Dean turned to his brother.
"No, Dean." Sam said.
"But aren't you the least bit curious? He does this every month."
"If he wanted to tell us, he would. We're not stalking him when we can just ask."
"It wouldn't be stalking."
"Hunting then?"
"What? No, besides, I want to know what's going on."
"You could just ask." Sam pointed out, "And why do you care so much? Worried he's cheating on you?"
"Who've you been talking to? Crowley? Cas and I aren't together." Dean glared.
"So you keep saying."
"Oh shut up, Sam."
"Jerk."
"Bitch."
Sam sighed and shook his head, "If he's driving, you can probably catch up."
[|]
Dean followed the pimpmobile at a decent distance, several cars between them. Sam was wrong. Following Cas, learning what he was doing wasn't wrong. After the Levathans and Cas staying behind in Purgatory, Dean wanted to make sure they were still on the same page.
He wasn't going to let the angel hurt him again. He wanted to know before his trust in Castiel blew up in his face. Again.
Well, there was the possibility that Cas was just meeting up with his sister, who had proven loyal time and again. That would be a relief.
The pimpmobile took a turn into a parking lot for a row of stores. Dean entered the lot a few minutes after Cas, searching the area for angel or automobile.
Castiel was walking into a salon.
Wait, what?
Dean parked in a spot that was far away from the entrance, but with a clear view inside. He saw Cas talking with a woman just inside the door. They hugged.
What precisely was going on here?
Dean watched as Castiel got his hair dyed… The Hunter was beginning to grow concerned about this mid-life crisis the angel was having. Cas couldn't possibly turn into "if Luci had beat Sam" Cas, could he? Surely the angel would be smart enough not to start… well, all that.
When Castiel finally stepped from the salon, his hair was a mere shade darker. The angel froze, eyes on the Impala. Cas took a few steps toward his car before letting out a sigh and walking straight to Dean. Cas opened the passenger door and leaned down to give Dean a flat look.
"Why are you here, Dean?" Castiel asked.
"I followed you." Dean stated.
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to know what was going on and wasn't sure you wouldn't lie to me."
"You don't trust me."
"Not entirely, Cas, not after the Levathans, Purgatory and Metatron."
"Everything I did, no matter how stupid, was in my belief that I was making things better! For you, for Sam, for humanity! I did everything in my power to bring more goodness into this world!"
"Except you're naive and easily manipulated."
Castiel scoffed, "You sure would know, wouldn't you?"
In a second, the Impala was turned off and Dean was striding around the car to Cas. He grabbed the angel's coat and slammed him against the car, "I do not manipulate you. And don't act all high and mighty like you've never manipulated me, you ass!"
"I have done everything because I thought it was the good choice, the right choice. Even manipulating you at first so you could become Michael's vessel." Castiel stared calmly at Dean, "Not that I'm surprised you've decided to attack me after all your frolicking with Crowley."
Dean felt like the wind had been knocked from him. His fist curled, tempted to deck the angel. Instead, Dean dropped the trench coat and slammed the passenger door shut. The Hunter took a moment to look at the angel. He shook his head and got into the Impala.
Castiel stepped away and Dean peeled out of the lot.
"Screw you too, Cas." Dean muttered.
