A/N: This is a short chapter. The next chapter will be up tomorrow! Hope you are all enjoying this story. Thank you for the favorites and follows!

Chapter 3 Home Again

Castiel returned to Chicago with no Dean and no Gabriel. And no contact from either of them. Jimmy was the only bright spot in his life.

Four months later, Castiel was in bed when his cell phone rang. He gave it a cursory look and then saw the number was from Arizona.

He snatched the phone, swiping the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Cas," came the deep, gravely voice he had longed to hear for so long.

"Dean! How are you?" He asked, blushing and immediately starting to pace around his apartment.

"M good. Down in Arizona visiting a friend. How bout you?"

Castiel could hear bar or restaurant noise behind him. Dean sounded slow, like he had been drinking.

"I'm okay. Busy working. Ya know." He frowned at the floor. All he had wanted since he left Angel's Landing was to talk to Dean again. Now he had his chance and he was freezing up.

"How's those asshole brothers of yours?"

"Still assholes," Cas laughed. "Are you out at a bar?"

"Yeah. Had some moonshine. Think of you every time I even smell it."

"Wish I had some right now," Cas grinned.

"Yeah? Why don't you fly over here and get some."

It was a loaded statement. Castiel palmed himself just hearing him say that.

"I will. Anytime."

Dean laughed. "You will?"

"I miss you, Dean."

"Yeah, me too."

A long silence ran between them.

"Let's make a plan. I'll come out west to see you," Cas offered.

"Yeah. Sounds good. But no. Better not."

"Why?" Cas asked, feeling tight in his chest.

"Because Cas...it's difficult. Just...nevermind. I better go."

"Dean-"

"See ya round, Cas," Dean said with fake cheerfulness.

"Dean!" The line went dead. He called the number back, but no one answered. Then finally he got someone to pick up and they had no idea who Dean was and no one fit his description.

At Christmas, Cas called Angel's Landing. No answer. Shut down for winter. He was on the website and made a reservation for himself in May. It was the first week they were open. He put in for the time off and said not another word to anyone.