This is actually my creative short story for an English Project. My teacher gave us a book with a picture of a bunch of things left at the Vietnam Offerings Wall, and we had to pick one item to write creatively about. I picked a pair of black lace panties. This was what ensued.

In the version I'm turning in, I changed Castiel to Jimmy, because Castiel is too unique a name. And Jimmy was his original name, so I went for it.

November 2nd
Prompt- Vietnam War

Frilly lace underwear. "That's the joke," Dean had said. "That's why it's funny, Cas!"

He leaned forward, gripping Castiel's hand like a life-force. Castiel's grip was just as tight; he did not want to let go; he would never let go. Maybe if he leaned forward and kissed him right here, in front of all these people, Dean would be kicked out of the war. "Don't go," he whispered, pleadingly. "Let's run away to Canada! You don't have to go!"

Dean's eyes were almost desperate, but he shook himself, smiling bitterly. "No, Cas. This is something I have to do." Castiel swallowed, trying not to release the tears built up behind his eyes, "hey! Hey!" Dean's hand lifted his chin to face him, "don't be sad. I'll see you soon, OK?"

He nodded slowly, wanting to trust him, needing to believe his lies, but knowing the death toll. "Yeah... Yeah."

Dean turned to face the train, but then realized what he'd forgotten. Castiel watched him, a soft smile on his lips, missing Dean's warmth already. Then, unexpectedly, Dean whirled around, wrapping his arms tightly around Castiel, "I'll miss you, man." Dean whispered against Castiel's neck as Castiel tightened the hold. "I'll miss you so much!"

The pair slowly separated, Dean's warm hand rested against Castiel's neck, "keep these for me, will ya?" He finally whispered, tossing a small bundle at Castiel.

The train grew louder gradually, soon-to-be soldiers filling it's cabins one by one. Steam puffed into the air; the white and grey fog stood out against the blue of the early morning sky. Couples were parting all around the train station, whispering their last words, but hoping for another chance to see their partner.

Castiel nodded, grinning until he caught sigh of the small, lacy panties.

"But, I-" Castiel tried to give them back, pushing his hands against Dean's large chest. "I'm not-"

Dean clapped him on the back, shaking his head at Castiel's desperate attempts to reject the small momento. "That's the joke!" He shouted over the roar of the train behind him, stepping backwards to depart. "That's why it's funny, Cas!"

Castiel grimaced, putting the underwear in his pocket. "Aren't you worried that they will change me?" He grinned saliciously, trying to appear more promiscuous.

Dean laughed knowingly, the smaller man had always been a bad actor, "yeah, Cas. That's what I'm worried about. Don't bed too many ladies while I'm gone!"

Dean stepped back once more, finally moving onto the train's platform. Castiel was suddenly hit by a violent wave of desperation, "Dean!" He hollered, jogging to catch up with the now moving train.

The man he was searching for ducked his head out the door, watching as Castiel tried to catch up, "Cas?!"

"I'll miss you too!" Castiel yelled with all the voice he could muster, stopping just as Dean's lips curved up into a content smile."I'll see you soon, Dean." He whispered as the train sped off into the distanced.

The letter came seven months later.

Castiel missed Dean just as much as he'd promised, if not a thousand times more. He never went a single day without thinking of the thick-skinned man with dark eyes, and a bright heart.

The letter came on a rainy Friday. The sky was streaked with clouds, and the envelope's inky pen left stains across the white surface. Castiel held onto the letter like a lifeline, realizing only important messages could come from that address.

Dean Winchester was printed across the top of the envelope, and Castiel just below it.

His smile lit up the small, dingy apartment he resided in. His fingers traced the curves and folds of the letter, memorizing the smell, texture, and lines of each carefully crafted letter.

His hands shook as he scanned the contents of the message. Dear Castiel, it began.

He paused, hearing the words in Dean's husky voice even from thousands of miles away.

I don't know much about you, but Dean spoke of you everyday.

Castiel froze. This letter was not going the way he'd planned in his dreams.

He missed you more than I miss my girlfriend, Andrea. Anyway, Dean and I came to be good pals here in Vietnam. He always had my back, and I made sure to have his. I wish I'd had the chance to grab a beer with the guy in a few years, once all this monster-killing business had finished up.

But, this is where I've had trouble continuing.

Dean's dead, Castiel. I'm so sorry for your loss. He died with honor, out on the field. He took three bullets to the chest, and one to the head before he went down. He fought so hard to make it back, but.. I'm sorry.

He always said, if anything happened to him, write to Cas! Write to Castiel, because the army won't know to do it. I swore on it, and that's just what I'm doing. Castiel, if you're reading this, I'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot even believe a man like Dean could perish in such a stupid war.

Dean was a great man.

Sincerely, Benny

The letter dropped to the floor; the room spun. Castiel sat down, and for once in years, allowed himself to cry.

Ten years later, Castiel finally worked up the courage to visit the wall. He phoned Benny, knowing the soldier wouldn't miss the trip for the world. After the war, the two men had become fast friends, forming a slow bond over a lost companion.

Benny stared at him as he traced the words on the wall, finding Dean Winchester almost immediately.

He watched as a couple placed a baseball glove against the wall. He followed a sobbing woman as she ran from the building. Finally, he knelt and placed a pair of frilly, black panties against the wall, smiling as he stood back up.

"Girls panties?" Benny questioned from behind him. "Why panties?"

"That's the joke." Castiel whispered, smile growing bigger as he spoke. "That's why it's funny, Benny."