Author's Note: 1) Okay, so I attempted to write RPF, ended up overhauling it when I couldn't get past the first two paragraphs of the prologue, and somehow ended up with this multi-chapter Denny idea. Am I complaining, though? Hell no! Denny is just SO MUCH fun to write! 2) Honestly, Another Number was going to be the title of the RPF and I just decided to keep the title for this, it is also the title of a Jason Manns song. 3) Cannonball is a song by Radio Company, which if you've read my other stories…you are probably already aware of (or, if you're just a fan of Jensen's). Yes, I do like the song…it's actually my favorite of theirs. The song has nothing to do with the chapter…I just don't like unnamed chapters and it's not like Ty sings (yes, I am aware of the verse of You Are My Sunshine).

Disclaimer: Supernatural and all characters wherein belong to their respective owners, I do not own them nor have I ever claimed to, I'm just playing around with them.

Other: And, a huge thank you to my wonderful beta from the Stanford Daze series, The Lost Book of Chuck, Vampire Rescue Mission, Creole Pie, Lost Bones, Hellbound, Hidden Within, Pocket Sized Angel, and whose now acting as my beta for this story, vrskaandrea - any remaining errors are solely my own.

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Cannonball

Dean sat on the edge of the bathtub with his head in his hands. Sam had called to congratulate him on finishing another season of Supernatural. Sam, despite being the little - not so little - brother and having a habit of joking with Dean about a lot of things - most of the time it's at each others expense - he's never really joked - to much - about the reason Dean had even accepted the role…or stayed on after the initially planned five seasons. Dean as a fan always held a preference for horror movies but was never one for reading - contrary to Sam's joke, he could actually read…he just preferred books with pictures which was why he had a small comic collection. When Sam sent him the first Supernatural book, Dean had honestly refused to read it because he wasn't going to turn into the kind of nerd that Sam was. The fact that he got bored on one of his few off-days and decided that nobody ever had to find out that he'd read the book…well, that was the plan. That plan blew up in his face when he promptly fell in love with the series. A fact that that only two people outside of himself became privy to, Sam and his friend since childhood, Castiel.

When Dean auditioned for the role of the older brother - a role he was all to familiar with in real life between having to raise Sam and then John's bastard son, Adam - he ended up absolutely THRILLED that Carver Edlund was actually involved with the series. The fact that Carver had actually requested Dean for the role - for a reason that he's never actually explained to Dean besides 'you're perfect for the role' - just added to that thrill. Befriending Carver - whose real name was apparently Chuck Shurley - wasn't part of the plan, but there was only so many times Carver/Chuck could come to Dean's trailer to hide from his psycho ex-girlfriend Becky Rosen before that was bound to happen. Dean was younger than Chuck but he wasn't nearly as anxiety ridden and so somehow, he ended up 'hiding'/'protecting' Chuck from Becky quite often since the long-standing restraining order wasn't actually keeping her away and the police didn't seem to care, and they became friends. Chuck was probably the only person besides Sam and Cas who knew just how Dean's career was starting to effect him.

Dean knew…he knew he should have just stuck with his acting career. Supernatural was SO MUCH fun to act in, his fellow actors were great - there was the occasional asshole but that was just part of being human, the fans were mostly great, their supportiveness had been part of why he'd felt comfortable enough to come out as being bisexual. His manager had thrown SEVERAL fits over it before Dean snapped, fired him, and then turned around and called Chuck because he had NO IDEA what he was going to do. Chuck had gotten in touch with his publisher who made a few calls and put Dean in touch with a new manager - one who wasn't going to make him feel lower than the gum that he keeps getting stuck on his shoe for being bi. But, after the initial five seasons ended, Dean had wanted to expand and show that he had musical talent - outside of the conventions.

There was a BIG difference between the Supernatural fans and music fans and Dean was beginning to understand Chuck's anxiety, he was just better at hiding his. The problem was, his anxiety was turning into depression and there were getting to be more and more days where it was an effort just to get out of bed. The reason the seventh season finale had taken over a mouth to film wasn't because it was difficult, it was actually rather simple…at least, in Dean's opinion. But, between having a panic attack during filming and then turning around and swallowing most of a thirty day subscription for anxiety - and damn, did Chuck ever get an earful for 'sharing' his anxiety medication since Dean was terrified of going to a doctor and the media finding out that he had that kind of issue - they'd been lucky to film the episode as quickly as they did.

Seven seasons into Supernatural and already with two CD releases, Dean knew he should be happy. SHOULD being the operative word, but then…why was he sitting in his bathroom with his pocket knife against his wrist? Just a little more pressure and - his phone dinged. He glanced at the phone sitting next to him on the bathtub. The message was from Sam. 'De, I stand by what I said earlier. Your acting career is in full bloom, your music career is shining just as bright, why not take a few months off - skip the mid-Spring-Summer cons and just get away for awhile?'

Dean shook his head. 'What a fucking hypocrite!' He thought. Yeah, SAM telling him to get away for awhile? Maybe he should point out to his little brother about Lucifer? Dean had NUMEROUS pictures from Cas of the bruises Sam was getting from THAT bastard and Sam wouldn't call the police or let Cas file a report since Cas was a Police Sergeant with the SFPD. But, honestly…Dean knew better than to have THAT talk with Sam. Jess had died in a house fire, Eileen had died in a home invasion because one of the parents of a kid that Sam was trying to protect hadn't been happy - being a Child Welfare Law Specialist did come with the side-effect of A LOT of unhappy parents, and then Sam had met Lucifer.

Actually, Dean had met Lucifer back years prior when he and Cas had first met - Lucifer being one of Cas' older siblings. Dean always joked about Cas' parents being catholic rabbits due to the amount of siblings Cas had. Dean had never liked nor trusted Lucifer. The fact that Sam never seemed to see the bad in Lucifer was bad enough but after Eileen…Sam ended up involved with the abusive bastard and neither Dean nor Cas could get him to see it. Cas' long-time girlfriend Meg - and hadn't THAT been a weird relationship - had broken things off with Cas, drained his bank account, and left him in a HORRIBLE situation which resulted in him having to temporarily stay with Lucifer and Sam in their guest room. After Cas sent the first picture, Dean had offered him quite a bit of money not to leave, to come up with some excuse as to why he couldn't. Cas agreed to stay to keep an eye on Sam as much as possible but he'd refused the money.

Dean dropped the knife, picked up his phone, and sent a quick message before he could think to reconsider. Maybe, just MAYBE Sam was right. 'Chuck, it's Dean. Don't worry I'm fine, but I think I'm gonna take Sammy's advice and disappear for awhile. Call my manager and have me pulled from the next several cons. I don't really plan to be back before Season 8 is due to start filming. I'm leaving my phone and Baby here. I'm taking the Knucklehead so it'll be harder for people to find me. If you need to come here to hide from that crazy bitch you're more than welcome to, I'll leave word with the security at the gate to let you in even if I am not here. If Becky shows up and tries her shit, THEY'LL call the police. -Dean' Okay, he'd PLANNED for it to be a quick message.

'Try to keep it quiet that I'm gone so that Cas will keep sending pictures. You know my pen and how I talk so just send him something that sounds like me. I'll leave my phone on the kitchen island.' He added in a second, shorter message.

After Dean had turned his phone off, put it on the kitchen island, stuffed his knapsack full of clothes, essentials, and his iPad - what? He had music, digital copies of his comics, Chuck's entire repertoire of books, horror movies, and some games he liked. Disappearing didn't mean 'dead of boredom.' - he walked into his garage, walked over to his '67 Impala, a.k.a. Baby, and ran his left hand along her hood. 'I know, I know. I'd normally take you with me, but I can't. I just - I just need to get away for awhile and you would be a flashing neon sign as to who I am. I'm sorry.' He whispered before patting her hood. 'Besides, Chuck should be here in a few days and I'm sure he'll keep an eye on you. At least, if he plans on keeping a key to this place.' He added with a weak smile. He walked over to his Harley, hit the garage door button on his key ring, put his knapsack into his saddlebag, climbed onto his motorcycle - it was habit that he backed into the garage with his motorcycle but pulled in with his car, started the motorcycle, and pulled out of the garage…hitting the garage door button again before he was out of range.

Dean honestly had no idea where he was headed, but as he felt the under-his-skin itch that he'd come to ignore on his inner left wrist, he had an idea what he would find when he got there. 'Are you okay?' Oh, could his soul mark be anymore vague? He's only been asked that THOUSANDS of times in his life and not a single solidarity one was his damn soul mate! Honestly, he didn't care if he found his soul mate or not, as long as wherever he ended up didn't know who he was. Sometimes, he'd give just about anything to not be Dean Winchester.

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Chuck looked at the two messages curiously. He was half-tempted to call Castiel and have him check on Dean to make sure he hadn't done anything stupid, but if he was telling the truth and was just needing to get away for awhile…then, the least he could do was keep Dean's secret. If that meant he had to cover for Dean for the next few months, then he would. He was glad that Dean trusted him enough to let him know. Of course, Dean HAD to tell someone or else a missing persons report would get filed and then Dean's disappearance would just add MORE to Dean's already heaped pile of issues.

Chuck had honestly considered pulling out of the Supernatural series after Dean had swallowed his entire thirty day prescription of anxiety medication and not because of THAT - even though, he was lucky he didn't end up facing charges over that since 'sharing' medication is illegal - but because it was obvious that Dean wasn't going to keep being able to act in the series and survive, but even if he did leave, it wouldn't stop the series. And, he wasn't going to stop writing the books. At least, if he stayed on…he could keep an eye on Dean and make sure that he didn't end up 'belly up in the shark tank that was acting'. It wasn't like Dean was doing much else acting wise while he was part of Supernatural. And, at least he wasn't doing musical tours since between acting and the cons, Supernatural was a life absorbing show.

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Author's Note: I have no honest plan for how long this story is going to be, but as you can see…this is just the introductory chapter.

Reviews/Comments/Constructive Criticism welcome!

Flames will be used to roast marshmallows and then promptly deleted!