Everyone Gets a Second Chance

By

Ava Brett

Disclaimer

None of the character mentioned in the below work of fiction belong to me in any shape or form. I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.

Author Note

Here's the next chapter for you! I think.

Updates for this story will probably come one every two weeks though there a glimmer of a chance that I might be able to get the next chapter up over the weekend though don't hold me to that because it depends on a few things, including how much writing I can get done today and tomorrow!

I have quite a few stories to update as anyone who follows any of my other stories will know

The plot for this story is beginning to pick up now. I think this story will probably be between twenty-thirty chapters. There's still a bit to get through! So that's good news if you're reading the story

I'm also thinking about doing some one shots from before Dean went missing, I think it might be fun, there's at least two one shots which I could write just from this chapter alone.

Thanks for reading though, it's much appreciated.

Overall Summary

Castiel is pretty sure he's going crazy. At least he thinks he is, Dean is gone and yet Castiel is hearing his voice and seeing him in his dreams, only now Sam is experiencing the same thing and they can't both be going crazy can they? Castiel and Sam are determined to figure out what is going on before they lose Dean and their sanity for real.

Chapter Summary

Lunchtime…

Overall Romance

Castiel Milton/ Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester/Anna Milton

Chapter Romances

Mentions of Castiel Milton/Dean Winchester and the beginnings of Sam Winchester/Anna Milton

Chapter Ten

Catch up over lunch

Sam pushed his empty bowl away from him with a satisfied sigh. The beef stew Castiel had made had been surprisingly tasty, much better then Sam had initially assumed it would be, having sampled some of Castiel's previous attempts at cooking food. The older man had even gone as far as to cook Anna a vegetarian version of it. Sam rubbed his stomach, leaning back in the wooden chair he was seated in before he turned his attention to Castiel, a wide grin coming to his face.

"Cas I've got to hand it to you man that was actually pretty damn tasty" he announced, reaching out and picking up his half full glass and taking a sip of his chilled coke before he placed it back on the table. Castiel glanced at him, a small smile coming to his face in response to Sam's comment.

"Thank you Sam" Castiel said. "I'm glad you enjoy it so much, you certainly inhaled it quickly enough" he pointed out, his smile widening. "There's more in the pot if you would like a second helping of it? If you don't then it will go to waste" he said. Sam bit the inside of his mouth thoughtfully as he considered Castiel's suggestion. He was fairly full but it had been damn tasty. He stared down at his bowl with a considering look before he nodded his head.

"Well I wouldn't want it to go to waste now would I" Sam said with a smile, holding his hand out in a classic stop sign when Castiel placed his spoon in his bowl and made a movement to get to his feet. "Stay where you are Cas, I'm a big boy, I can serve my self. It's not like it's the first time I've done it in your home. I don't need to remind you on what Dean's view of laziness was" he commented "I've enough bruises from the slaps to the back of the head while I was growing on to never forget" A smile came to his face as he thought back to his brother's outraged expression when Sam had been lazy, allowing someone else to serve him when he had been more then capable of serving him self.

"Ok" Castiel said simply after a pause "You know where the stuff is"

"If I don' then I'm pretty positive I can guess" Sam responded, pushing him self to his feet and picking up his bowl before he moved around the large wooden table and headed towards the cooker where the pot filled with the leftovers was currently resting.

"I've got to agree with Sam baby bro, this is actually gorgeous. You've definitely been promoted away from the 'can't cook' table onto the 'can cook' table. Wait until I text the others to let them know, they are going to be so proud of you just like me. This is a day to remember" Anna said, pretended to dab at her eyes with her napkin. Her eyes gleaming with amusement, Sam grinned at her when she glanced over at him, her smile growing in response to his.

For a moment Sam almost felt normal, he glanced to the door expecting Dean to stroll in but it remained stubbornly closed. He swallowed, making him self pay attention to the conversation which was occurring between Castiel and Anna.

"Very amusing Anna" Castiel remarked, rolling his eyes at Anna who merely grinned back before he turned his attention back to the food he was slowly making his way through. Castiel had always been a fairly slow eater stating that he preferred to take his time and enjoy a meal rather then guzzle it down so fast that he had no time to even realise what it was he had even eaten. Sam could remember countless of conversation with his brother which had featured Dean moaning about it to him. Sam wouldn't have been surprised if Castiel had eaten especially slowly when they were in a restaurant knowing how much Dean wanted the meal to be over so he could have his slice of pie.

"Why thank you for noticing just how amusing I am Cassie" Anna remarked, reaching up and hooking some of her hair behind her ear. Sam found him self watching the movement and wondered briefly whether her hair would be as soft to touch as it looked. He swallowed and looked away, nervously licking his lips as he filled the bowl half way, dropping the serving spoon back in the pot and headed back over to the table, aware of Anna watching his movements thought she remained silent, a thoughtful look on her face. He wondered what she was thinking.

"What are your plans for this afternoon Anna?" Castiel asked. Sam watched Anna start, turning to look towards her brother.

"Oh this afternoon? I don't really have plans. I did notice a big shopping mall on the way to the airport so I was thinking of grabbing one of the cars and driving over there. There's one of two things I need to get so I figured today was as good a time as any. Do either of you need me to pick you up anything?" she asked, looking between them both with a questioning look on her face. Sam shook his head, flashing her a quick smile.

"I've got everything I need thanks" he responded, glancing towards Castiel who was still considering Anna's query.

"We need some toilet paper" he answered after a pause. "If you let me grab my wallet before you leave I can give you the money for it" Anna snorted, looking outraged at his comment.

"I think I can afford to treat you to some toilet paper Cassie if that's what you need" she stated bluntly. "What's the point in earning all this money if I can't treat the people I care for occasionally? I was thinking more in the lines of clothes or something for your house. You know something that would let me actually treat you properly. Think of it as a thank you for letting me stay here with you for the next three weeks. If you had said no then I would have had to impose my self on Michael and as much as I love big brother, I wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought, going to stay there when the two monsters are there is enough to turn anyone off going."

"The two monsters?" Sam queried raising an amused eyebrow at her. Anna glanced over at him and grinned at him.

"Don't tell me Dean never told you about Michael's two little monster? His son and daughter? I mean don't get me wrong, I love the pair of them to death but they are a hell of a lot to take in especially if you just want to chill out. All they ever want to do is play and I mean literally from the second you step through that front door to the minute they fall asleep, it's all they want to do and it's incredibly exhausting."

"They aren't quite as bad as you're making them out to be Anna. I've always found Oliver and Sophia to be highly pleasant" Castiel said with a slight smile at Anna as he placed his spoon into his empty bowl. Anna snorted again, the noise sounded unladylike and full of disbelief making Sam grin, somehow it wasn't the sort of noise he expected someone who looked like Anna to make.

"Please, you always got out of the playing thing because you were clever enough to bring Dean with you" she turned to Sam "Michael's wife and children stayed here in America while Michael travelled around the world for our father's company representing him in meetings because he wasn't able to travel anymore, so his wife and kids actually did meet your brother a few times, even though Michael never did which was a shame in my eyes, because I think Michael and Dean would have liked each other if they had been given the chance to meet" she remarked softly before he turned to Castiel again. "It was a stroke of genius on your part to bring Dean with you, the man was the King of making games up on the spot and god knew he was a big kid him self, he never seemed to run out of energy. I started making sure I visited when Dean was there just to get some peace from them." She fell silent, a warm smile coming to her face clearly thinking about the past.

Sam swallowed, shifting awkwardly in his seat.

"Dean always did come up with the best games, he said he had to, to try and keep me entertained when we were younger because I got bored so quickly with the normal conventional stuff most kids did. I think it drove him up the wall especially as I apparently always wanted to play when he was trying to study for a big test" Sam said, shaking his head.

"Yeah he did" Anna replied before she cleared her throat, pushing her self to her feet and heading over to the sink, placing her bowl on the side, clearly about to rinse it out.

"Leave it there Anna" Castiel called after her. "I can do the washing later, you should probably make a move if you want to have a good look around the shopping mall before it closes" Anna glanced back at her brother over her shoulder, her eyes flickering between Castiel and Sam.

"I was hoping that you'd come out with me Cassie, it be good for you to get out of the house even if its just to get some exercise, you haven't left since I've been here" she pointed out softly.

"I have a book to edit and a deadline to meet Anna" Castiel responded flatly. "If it bothers you that much I'll go for a walk later on this afternoon, you can even come with me if it stops you worrying" he said. Anna met Sam's eyes, shaking her head with a look of concern in her eyes.

"What about you Sam? Fancy a drive and a look around the mall?" she asked. For a moment Sam was tempted to join her so he could get the chance to know her better but he found him self shaking his head. There was still something he needed to do.

"Thanks for the offer Anna but I had a late one last night and with the flight I'm pretty shattered" he said. Anna glanced between him and Castiel with a knowing look as she nodded.

"No problem, I'm a big girl, I'm sure I can brave the shopping mall alone god knows its not the first time I've done it" she commented. "If either of you change your mind about wanting something while I'm out then give me a call on my mobile or something and I'll pick it up for you. Castiel, give Sam my mobile number will ya, I best head off, don't do anything which I wouldn't do while I'm away" she said, giving them a wave before she walked out of the door. Castiel stared after her for a moment, his eyes lingering on the door she had just left through before he turned to Castiel, surprised to see that the older man was staring at him with a blank expression on his face.

"If you would like to go with Anna Sam then please feel free to do so, I don't mind." Castiel remarked casually, Sam watched the older man pick up his bowl and head over to the sink, placing it next to the one Anna had abandoned on the side. He turned on the water and rolled up his sleeves.

"I know I can" Sam replied "But to be honest with you Cas I don't think I'm brave enough to go shopping with your sister. I've got the feeling that I would never quite recover from the experience if I went" He grinned when Castiel gave one of his rare laughs, glancing back at Sam over his shoulders.

"Going shopping with Anna certainly isn't the easiest experience that's for sure" he replied "Dean went with her once because she arrived at our door stating she had an extremely important date and needed a man's opinion. I was thankfully busy editing a book which had to be completed by the following day but Dean had been watching a film on the TV and so wasn't quite so lucky. Anna dragged him out with her, ignoring all his protests. When he did eventually stumble through to door he looked traumatised by it all, he never did tell me what had happened to make him look that way."

Sam laughed, soaking up the information eagerly. It was rare to hear Castiel tell a story about Dean, even before Dean had gone missing the older man had tended to keep his stories private as though he was hoarding the memories for him self.

"That definitely sounds like Dean to me" Sam said, standing up and joining Castiel over at the sink. He handed the other man his bowl, glancing around the room and snagging the tea towel from the radiator stuck in the corner.

"He never minded so much if he was going shopping for something for him self or for me. It was only when he was forced to go with other people that he hated it. Saying that though, it did sometimes depend on what they were shopping for. My brother Gabriel arrived one day grabbed Dean and took him car shopping with him because he needed an expert's opinion and decided that Dean fitted that description. Dean could barely get his words out that evening; I'm only surprised that he didn't self combust from excitement on the spot."

Sam nodded fondly.

"Dean always did have a long love affair with cars, I can't remember a time he didn't like them. When we were younger and he was stressed out he would take me with him to look at the car show rooms they had in our area. We never went in, we would just stand outside and he would stare at them and tell me all about them. He literally knew everything there was about them, he would even tell me how they could improve the cars to make sure they ran the best they could." Sam said, licking his lip and sighing as a wave of sadness hit him. He reached out and picked up a mug using the towel to dry it, the simply task felt strangely soothing as did speaking about Dean to someone who knew him almost as well as Sam did. "How have you really been Cas?" Sam found him self asking without thinking, hiding a wince when Castiel's shoulder hunched over defensively at his comment. "I mean I love the house don't get wrong but this move did kinda come out of the blue. It's like you just woke up one day and decided you had enough and were moving away."

"The move was never something which was out of the blue Sam. I have been planning it for a while. I just saw no point in telling anytime about it until I was sure it was something which I could afford to do" Castiel answered shortly, keeping his eyes fixed on the washing up bowl.

"I get you" Sam said "Anyway it was good of Gabriel to let you stay in this house for as long as you want. Dean would have loved it" Sam frowned when a strange expression cover Castiel's face at his words but it was gone before he could identify what it was.

"Yes he will" Castiel remarked quietly. They carried on washing up in silence before Castiel turned to Sam, wiping his hand on a hand towel he had picked up from the side, his eyes searching Sam's carefully as though he was looking for something. "I am glad you're here Sam" he stated "I'm going to my study now to do some editing. With Anna out why don't you head upstairs to the bedroom and have a nap, you look tired and a rest would probably do you good." he suggested, a sudden intent look coming to his eyes. Sam shrugged his shoulder.

"That does sounds a pretty good plan Cas as long as you don't mind, I didn't exactly sleep much last night" Castiel nodded his head.

"I don't mind Sam, I'll wake you up in two hours time if you're not already awake by then" Castiel said. "Sleep well Sam, we can speak again once you've woken up, I'm sure we still have lots to talk about" he stated. He smiled at Sam, his eyes remaining thoughtful before he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Sam alone in it, staring after him with a suspicious look.

Something was definitely up; he just didn't know what it was.

Shaking his head, Sam left the kitchen and headed towards the staircase and his room. He opened the door, stepping inside and closing it behind him. He glanced around him, his eyes focusing on the big double bed which suddenly looked extremely comfortable to him.

Perhaps Castiel was right.

What harm could a simple nap for two hours do to him?

Author Note

Thanks for taking the time to read, it's much appreciated!