Here you go ladies and gents, the penultimate chapter! Thanks for sticking around. :)
Dean fell asleep watching an episode of "Little People Big World" on TLC. The teenager woke up after hearing a loud crash coming from the outside hall. Dean rubbed his bleary eyes. He frowned upon noticing it was pitch black outside. "Cas!" He yelled. Dean leapt from the bed and ran to the bathroom. He swung the door open and turned on the lights, but there was no sign of his boyfriend.
Goose bumps rose up his arms and the tiny hairs on the nape of his neck prickled. Dean returned to the bathroom and slid off the fluffy hotel robe. He swiftly got dressed in the clothes he arrived in, earlier that afternoon. Dean strolled to the window. He called Cas. The other boy's cell rang only once and went straight to voicemail.
Dean stared at the full moon. He licked his chapped lips. "Cas baby please call me back. I'm worried." He turned his head to gaze at the digital clock, which stood on the nightstand. "You've been gone for five hours." Afterwards, he sent his boyfriend a text message.
The green eyed teen sat on the edge of the messy bed. His right leg twitched. Deep down Dean knew something happened to Castiel. He wouldn't have arranged a romantic getaway for the two of them, and then ditch him. A plethora of accidents assailed Dean's thoughts. He imagined Castiel being the victim of a hit and run accident. Then Dean thought the dark haired boy might've been mugged or assaulted.
Dean had enough. He placed his wallet inside one of his dark jeans back pockets. The teen grabbed the extra room card key and vacated the chamber. He headed straight to the nearest diner. That's where Cas was headed, when he left their room.
The Winchester basically interrogated the waitress, who luckily started her shift, when Cas showed up. "Yeah I remember him; quite a cutie and decent tipper." She chewed gum loud and hard. She blew a bubble, which Dean fought valiantly not to pop. "He left with his order a long ass time ago, kid." She scrunched her brow.
"Did he leave with anyone? Did he look fine to you?" Dean tapped his right thumb on top of the Formica countertop.
Jamie, the waitress shrugged her shoulders. "He seemed really happy and left the diner with a big smile on his face."
Dean felt like crying. If something happened to Castiel; it must have taken place during his way back to the hotel. He gave Jamie a wobbly smile and thanked her. His heart plummeted, as he made his way back to the hotel. He pulled at his hair, when he returned to the room.
He'd prayed to God on his way back for Cas to be safe and sound, once he got back to the hotel. No such luck. The room was dark and empty. Dean felt scared all of a sudden, being alone in the room. He checked his phone again for any missed texts or calls from his boyfriend. Dean's vision blurred. He wiped his eyes. He called Bobby.
"Singer here," Cas' dad said. In the background, Dean could hear Missouri playing a game with Alfie and Zoey.
Dean swallowed hard. "Bobby?" His voice cracked.
"Dean, is that you boy?"
"Yes, uhm."
"What's wrong? Is Castiel ok?"
"Bobby...Cas is missing." Dean sobbed.
"What do you mean he's missing? I thought my boy was going to surprise you with a romantic stay at the new French place." Dean heard Missouri tell the toddlers to quiet down, and ask Bobby what was going on.
"Well he went out to get us burgers and that was like six hours ago. He never made it back. Cas hasn't responded to any of my voicemails or texts." Dean calmed down for a moment. "I even went to the diner, and the waitress told me he'd been there, but that had been a long time ago."
"He hasn't contacted me," Bobby said. "Get your ass home, Dean. I'm gonna call Sheriff Mills."
Mr. Singer immediately hung up. Dean called the first person that popped in his head. Twenty minutes later, Grandpa Henry was picking his grandson up at the front of the hotel. "No news yet on Blue Eyes?"
Dean shook his bowed head. Henry tapped the teen on the shoulder. "He'll show up soon. Kid better have a damn good explanation for scaring the shit out of us." Dean closed his eyes and pressed the side of his head against the window.
Henry drove Dean to John's house. "Grandpa, you mind coming in with me?"
"Sure thing, kiddo." Henry stated. A thought entered the 60 year old's mind. Henry shook the dark thoughts away. He parked his vehicle in the Winchester's driveway. Nah! John wouldn't stoop that low. Although the 180 he pulled in accepting Dean and Cas' relationship still gave Henry whiplash.
"I'm going to take a quick shower and change." Dean descended the vehicle and jogged to the front of the house.
The munchkins were watching the History Channel with John in the living room. The trio instantly noticed Dean's pale demeanor and puffy, red eyes. The pastor rose from his position on the couch.
"What's wrong, son?" He approached his first born.
"Cas is missing. No one's heard from him." Dean wrung his hands.
"How could that be?" John asked in a genuine tone.
Henry remained standing by the front door. His eyes were glued on John. His son seemed genuinely surprised at hearing the terrible news.
"I don't know. I need to take a shower." Dean was on the verge of tears. He bit his lower lip. He didn't want John to witness his queer son cry like a baby in front of him. Dean turned to Henry. "Mind calling Bobby?"
"You got it." Henry strolled into the kitchen to make the phone call. Dean ran up the stairs.
Fifteen minutes later, Dean returned. His eyes were even puffier. John met his son at the foot of the stairs. "I'm here in case you need anything, son." Dean hugged his father. He needed his dad more than ever now.
Meanwhile at the Sheriff's Station, Bobby was livid. "What do you mean he isn't considered a missing person?! My boy's been missing for seven hours. The clock is ticking! Who knows what happened to him? Jody, you're a mother. Please I need you to get your men on this ASAP!" He banged a hand on the receptionist's counter.
"Bobby, I need you to calm down. I can't imagine what you're going through, but the law dictates 24 hours need to pass for a person to be considered missing. We can't do anything until then."
"This is bull shit and you know it!" Bobby turned around and slammed the front door.
Dean was restless all evening. It was already 12:30 at night and there was still no word on Cas. He called Missouri every half hour. Adam and Sam were already asleep. John left half an hour ago with the excuse of setting up a sermon and vigil for Castiel's safe return. Dean crept down the stairs and found Henry speaking with someone on the phone. The sixty year old saw his grandson sitting on the bottom step. Dean's fingers gripped tightly to the banister.
Henry quickly finished the conversation. He motioned for Dean to sit next to him. "That was Bobby, there's still no word on Castiel."
"Grandpa, I'm scared. I think something really bad happened to Cas. He wouldn't take off like that."
"You want to go to the Singers?"
"Yes please."
"Go get dressed then. I'll have Ellen come over to look after the munchkins."
Missouri let the two of them in Bobby's house. The mechanic was arguing with someone on the phone. After four minutes, Bobby hung up on the person. He turned to the newcomers.
"Jody agreed to send two of her men to comb the area where Cas disappeared. I can't sit still all night. I have to do something."
Missouri placed a hand on his upper arm. "What are you going to do...hmm? Let the police do their job. Stay here with us; in case Castiel calls or comes home."
"My boy is in danger. I have a bad feeling deep in my gut. I feel useless here."
"I'll go with him," Henry volunteered. Missouri thanked him.
"I'm going too." Dean was already at the door.
"You're staying here and that's final." Henry gave his grandson a stern look. Dean deflated. He knew there was no point arguing with his grandfather.
Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door. Dean rocketed out of the sofa. He tripped with the edge of the coffee table. Once he reached the screen door, the teen frowned and froze. Cas wasn't at the door; it was Fer and Zeke.
The Winchester opened the door and invited them in. "Did they find him?" Fer asked. The kid sported a frantic look in his eyes.
"How did you guys find out?" Dean asked.
"Dude, Lawrence is a small town," Zeke replied.
Dean could tell Fer was really worried about his best friend. The guy bit his cuticles and circled the living room. Dean hated the thought of Cas being in real danger. All he did was sit here like an obedient lap dog.
He turned around and almost bumped into the playpen. Both Alfie and Zoey slept angelically in the middle. Alfie clutched a furry rabbit in his arms. Zoey's pudgy arms were wrapped around Alfie's stomach. They needed to find Cas soon. His baby brother needed him. Shit Dean needed him! Castiel had made him a stronger person, and helped him discover, who he truly is. Dean couldn't fathom his life without Cas in it.
Fer and Zeke told him, they were going to make tea in the kitchen. The couple found Missouri preparing a pot of coffee. Fer hugged her. For the first time that evening, Missouri cried. "God, I pray nothing has happened to that boy. This will destroy Bobby. That man's lost too much already." Fer patted Missouri's shoulder.
A few minutes later, she turned to Zeke. "Keep an eye on the coffee. I'm going to call Jody and see how Dean's doing."
The teens heard the woman call out Dean's name several times. Zeke and Fer ran into the living room. There was no sign of their friend. Missouri held a yellow post it in her hands. "Damn fool said he couldn't stay here doing nothing! Where could Dean have gone off to?"
Dean took Sam's bike and pedaled his way to the sheriff's station. He witnessed a furious Bobby and Henry exit the brick building. Dean made sure the coast was clear, before he placed the bicycle next to the back entrance. The teen slowly walked into the front of the station. A bored receptionist with a bad dye job filed her fingernails in the counter. She didn't even notice the adolescent sit to the side of the counter. Dean hunched down, so he wouldn't be seen.
Meanwhile at the Blue Moon Bar, Gordon and his partner, Alphonse were gulping down tequila shots like if they were going out of style. Andy, the local drug dealer sat at the bar. The shaggy haired man made eye contact with Gordon, who motioned at the restroom. The drug pusher dumped a twenty dollar bill on the counter and headed to the men's bathroom.
Gordon downed one more shot. He wiped his mouth. "Where you going, man?" Alphonse asked. His speech was slurred due to the high level of his intoxication.
"None of your business!"
"I thought the pastor paid you good money to abduct the kid. You're going to blow it all in alcohol and coke?"
Gordon cackled. "What a fucking idiot! Pastor John believes I am checking myself into rehab with the dough he gave me. What a fool!"
"We should be under the radar for a while, bro. Let's get out of here. I hear Miami's great this time of year." Alphonse stood up. He held on to the table for support.
"Fuck off! I'll see you in ten." Gordon waved him away.
Unknown to the two idiots, Deputy Victor Henriksen heard the entire exchange. Jody had put out an APB on Castiel Singer's whereabouts an hour ago, as a favor to Bobby. Henriksen waited two minutes, and followed Gordon inside the bathroom. This asshole had a rap sheet a mile long. He would be in the big house for a long ass time for kidnapping, if all of this panned out. Hopefully the Singer kid was safe.
Victor instantly noticed a pair of dirty combat boots and a pair of Converse peeking out of one of the stalls. Whispers were heard coming from behind the door. Henriksen strolled closer. He pressed his ear to the door, and kicked it down, when he heard the exchange going on.
Gordon's eyes practically popped out of their sockets and Andy leapt half a foot in the air. Henriksen read them their Miranda Rights and handcuffed the pair. Afterwards the deputy called for backup. Another deputy showed up ten minutes later and read Alphonse his rights. The man was so out of it, he giggled through the entire routine.
Dean heard commotion at the station. His eyes landed on the sheriff, who was coming out of her office. The teen jogged to the water cooler. Jody wouldn't see him there. Three thugs were escorted by two deputies inside the station. One of them, who was identified as Gordon Walker by the tallest deputy screamed obscenities and asked for an attorney. The bulkier one laughed and was obviously intoxicated. The shorter one, who was a well-known drug dealer acted all calm. He was a pro at this.
Jody motioned for Henriksen to join her by the receptionist's counter. "Will Walker talk about Castiel?"
Dean's ears perked up. What the hell?
"He'll sing like a canary if we tell him his sentence will be reduced."
"I can't believe Pastor Winchester paid him to get rid of Castiel. Why would he do that?" Jody shook her head.
Dean couldn't move. He felt bile rise up his throat. No, he didn't hear right. His father was behind all of this? All the blood left his face. Dean caught a look of his reflection on a window. His freckles stood out.
Jody escorted Gordon to the first interrogation room. Henriksen led Alphonse to interrogation room #2. He ordered the receptionist to make a pot of strong coffee. They needed Alphonse sober for his confession. Andy was guided to a holding cell by a rookie female cop.
Two hours later, Jody finally emerged from the interrogation room. She ordered a deputy to escort Gordon to a cell. Henriksen also vacated the interrogation room he occupied with Alphonse. The two officers exchanged information, which ended up matching.
The Sheriff shouted for six officers to accompany her to Castle Storage on 42 Rover Hill. Dean waited for the officers to leave before making his own exit. Luckily, the place was located half a mile from the station. Dean knew a shortcut that would get him there before the cops arrived. For the first time that night, Dean's faith returned to him.
The Winchester pedaled as fast as he could. The cold night air stung his lungs, but it didn't prevent him from reaching his destination. Dean was still in denial about his dad being behind Cas' kidnapping. No wonder he agreed to their relationship all of a sudden. Dean should've known better. His father would never change. Pastor John Winchester will remain living in the Dark Ages with his archaic religious beliefs.
But what were his intentions with Castiel? Was John willing to kill Cas? Goose bumps travelled all over the teen's body. What did he intend to do with Castiel? A migraine started to form in Dean's left temple. The warehouse was in sight. Dean dropped the bike and ran to the unit his dad used to store things.
Dean didn't have a key, but that didn't prevent him from banging on the garage like door. "Cas, you in there?! Please answer me!" He banged harder.
Castiel opened his eyes. He felt a little woozy. It must be due to whatever the thugs injected him with. His throat felt dry and his legs were cramped due to the fetal position he'd been lying in God knows for how long. He cleared his head. Cas could have sworn he heard Dean calling out for him.
"Dean," Cas whispered. He stretched his legs and stood up. Loud banging was coming from the outside. The dark space he was in smelled of mold and moth balls.
"Cas baby! Are you in there?" Dean banged harder.
Castiel followed his boyfriend's voice. He splayed his hands on the door, where the banging was coming from. "I'm here, Dean!"
The banging stopped. "Oh thank God...I thought I lost you babe." Cas heard Dean sob.
"What the hell happened? Last thing I remember two ugly mother fuckers cornered me in an alley."
"I'll tell you later. The cops should be here any moment."
"I was taking you pie." Cas sounded like a little kid.
Dean smiled for the first time that night. "We'll have pie some other time. I just need to hold you, Cas."
His boyfriend stopped talking. Castiel scrunched his brows. "Dean, what's the matter?" Cas heard voices coming from the other side.
All of a sudden, the door was lifted up. The light from outside bothered Cas's eyes. He shielded them with his hands. The brunet saw the silhouette of two people. One of them was obviously Dean.
His boyfriend rapidly enveloped Cas in his arms. Dean kissed the top of his head. The light was turned on and Mr. Winchester came into view. "Mr. Winchester what are you doing here?" Castiel was confused as hell.
"He's the bastard, who arranged for you to be kidnapped." Venom laced every single word that came out of Dean's mouth. "How could you, John? Your religious fanaticism led you to abduct a boy just so he wouldn't be with your son?" Dean clutched Castiel tighter.
"What were you going to do kill him?"
"I have an acquaintance who is a hypnotherapist. I was going to have him hypnotize Castiel into believing he never met you. We were going to remove all of his memories and put him on a bus to Wisconsin."
"Oh my God! You've really lost it. You need help, John. What about Bobby and Alfie? They were going to live the rest of their lives thinking Castiel died or disappeared off the face of the Earth. What about me? How could you live with yourself knowing your son would never recover from a broken heart?" Dean stopped speaking.
Castiel continued for him. "Bobby has suffered more than enough with the deaths of his wife and son. You were willing to have him suffer more heart break. That man can't take any more pain and suffering!" Castiel walked toward John and slapped him twice. "You're the one going to Hell for all of your evil doing."
Police sirens were heard. Three patrol cars approached the warehouse. "It's about time you start paying for everything you've done to me and my brothers." Dean clenched his hands.
"Son, I did this all for you. You needed to be saved." John approached his first born. The teen scooted away.
"The ones who've been saved our Sammy and Adam! Now you won't inflict your wacked out religious punishments on them anymore!"
"Dean, can't you see this boy has corrupted you? Before he came into the picture you were an obedient kid, who never talked back at me and followed my every word. Now your soul is filthy and you will not be allowed in Heaven."
Castiel rolled his eyes. This dude was a real whack a doodle. He held Dean's hand. Jody, Henriksen and two other cops entered the storage room. An officer approached Castiel to make sure he was alright. The teen told him he felt fine and that there was no need for an ambulance.
Jody read John his rights. "Please Dean ask God for forgiveness and change your ways."
"I hate you," Dean spat at his father. "And never want to see you again. You're dead to me."
Henriksen escorted the pastor to the back of a patrol car. Jody asked Castiel a few questions. She told him he needed to go in for questioning later in the day. Bobby and Henry arrived. Mr. Singer gave his son a giant bear hug. "You ok, son?" He searched for any visible bruises on his son's head, face and arms.
"I'm ok, dad. Can't believe the pastor would stoop so low to keep Dean and me apart."
Dean held hands with his boyfriend again. Henry smiled at them. "Good to see you safe and in one piece, Blue Eyes."
"Thanks, sir."
"How am I going to tell Sammy and Adam about dad?" Dean asked his grandfather.
"Leave it to me, Dino. John ain't getting out of the slammer. According to Kansas law kidnapping gets you 20 years."
"I want to rip his lungs out!" Bobby bellowed.
"He'll get his in the slammer. Don't think the inmates will take kindly to his fanatical sermons." Henry shook his head. "Oh John," he whispered. A tear slid down the corner of his right eye. The man had gone deranged, but he was still his only son.
"Where are we going to live, especially Adam and Sammy? I'll be off to college in the fall." Dean swallowed hard.
"That's the least of our worries, Dino. As your next of kin, I will become your legal guardian. You three will move in with me."
"Thank you so much, grandpa. For the first time we will get to live normal lives. My brothers will be regular kids." Henry ruffled Dean's hair.
Bobby cleared his throat. "Let's get going then, idjits. Zeke says Missouri and Fer are crying up a river in my front porch."
Castiel and Dean chuckled. The teens walked behind the two adults, on their way to Henry's car. The duo enlaced their fingers. Dean kissed Cas' temple. "I have never been so scared. I thought I'd lost you."
"You never will, St. Dean. Our bond is too strong. Not even your father's insanity could keep us apart." He raised their entwined fingers and kissed each of Dean's knuckles.
Dean opted to spend the night with Castiel. As soon as they lay in bed, Dean covered both of them with a quilt and wrapped his arms around Cas' torso. Cas held Dean's hands. Castiel was the first to fall asleep. Dean kissed the back of his boyfriend's neck and thanked God for bringing Cas back to him safe and sound.