The Wayward Man

by mctangelo

It's been 35 years and Castiel has driven the Empty to its wit's end when he inexplicably finds himself back on earth. Suddenly, Cass must learn how to be alive. But what does that even mean to him after all this time? Slightly revisionist in-canon post season 15. Spoilers for season 15. TW: grief, depression, death. Story in 8 parts.

2. Chapter 2 - The Bunker

When Castiel awoke, he was in a familiar space. It was the room where he had been taken all those years ago. Memories came flooding back as he became overwhelmed with emotions that were far more intense when experienced with a soul. This is where he had made his confession and his sacrifice. Cass reached out and grazed his fingers against the wall.

Dean.

He should find Dean. He could still be alive. Cass imagined him, old and happy, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. It was a nice thought, even if he knew that the alternative was far more likely. That Dean had been gone for a long time now. But he still had the flickering hope that the brothers left the hunting life behind, left him behind, and started again.

Cass wandered through the dark bunker. Only the security lights, powered by residual magic, were working and the entire place was covered in several inches of dust. It was a relic of the past. His past. Long since abandoned by the Winchesters.

He could probably get it up and running again. Cass knew what it was like to live on the street during his last time as a human so he knew how nice it would be to have a permanent place to go. Maybe he could even do some good with what was here.

He walked past what used to be Dean's room and peered inside. It was left exactly as Cass remembered it; beer bottles on the bed side table and piles of dirty flannels littering the floor.

He felt a sinking in his stomach. Most of Dean's belongings were still here.

Maybe they left in a hurry. Maybe he lived past the bunker.

Cass wandered into the kitchen. It had been completely cleared out. No trash or decrepit milk cartons. There was a rat skeleton in the corner but no mummified food residue.

Sam's room was cleaned out.

His own, as well as Jack's, were left intact.

The impala was nowhere to be found.

Maybe they didn't leave in a hurry.

They could still be alive, he thought. This doesn't mean anything.

Castiel moved along the halls towards the main area. Everything was completely normal and that made him nervous. He was beginning to doubt that the Winchesters made it very long at all.

He needed to make his way into town. He doubted that any of the cars in the garage would work after all this time. Even if they did, Cass didn't know if he could remember how to drive. He decided to set out on foot.