A/N: I'm really sorry it's been so long since I last updated. I had taken a few days off to decide how to do this chapter and then I got sick. I never realized how difficult it is to try to write when your head feels like it's going to explode. Gonna try to get the next update up soon but I can't promise anything, especially with finals just around the corner. Keep reading and reviewing, I really appreciate it. Enjoy!
Dean was walking on his own when they reached the train station, his strength mostly recovered. His nose had stopped bleeding a while ago but you could still see where it had dried dark above his mouth where he hadn't wiped it all off. They had finally found a main road and had followed it until a sign pointed to the train station just outside of a small town. The building out front was old, the paint dirty and chipping. Castiel increased his pace and entered. It was empty except for the short man at the counter who was absorbed in the notebook he was writing in. Castiel marched up to him and asked, "Hello, when's the next train out west?" At this point, Castiel was less concerned about getting a direct route to Seattle and more about just getting to the west coast.
The man glanced up and just stared at Castiel for a moment through his black framed glasses, like he was surprised anyone had come in. People probably didn't take trains very often anymore, but Castiel was desperate.
"You're just in time. Next one leaves in, oh," the man looked over at the clock on the wall behind Castiel, "two hours."
Castiel sighed but pulled out his wallet, which he had placed in his front pocket after their encounter with the men in the van. "That'll have to do." He handed the man his money and took the ticket that was offered a moment later. The small man went back to his writing so Castiel went to sit outside. There was a bench just outside and Castiel planted himself there, determined not to miss this train. Dean came and stood next to him.
"I find staring off into space for two hours as fun as the next guy, but I hear there's some awesome sights up here. It's only a half hour walk over that hill to-"
"No, Dean. You can go, but I'm not missing this train."
"Suit yourself," the taller man said as he began walking away. Castiel glanced down at his watch. Only two hours. He sighed and looked around, and upon seeing no one around, got up, leaving his bag by the bench, and went after Dean.
It only took a few minutes to catch up to the other man, who was already halfway up the hill. "Finally decided to have some fun then?" Dean asked, without looking over his shoulder. Castiel was still a few steps behind Dean when he replied, "Hey, I know how to have fun." He could see Dean's shoulders shake with laughter as the taller man simply said, "Sure Cas." Castiel rolled his eyes. Dean had been calling him that for a while now and while he wasn't used to nicknames, he did kind of like it. Not that he'd tell Dean that.
"So where are we going anyways?" Castiel asked as caught up with Dean, changing the subject. "Over the river and through the woods to grandma's house," Dean replied, throwing a smirk Castiel's way. "You're hilarious," Castiel deadpanned. "Seriously though, where?"
"Just wait. Patience is a virtue, or however that goes."
Castiel sighed but kept walking, keeping pace with Dean's long strides. After another minute or two of walking they were almost at the top of the hill. Without much warning, Dean stopped them both and quickly stepped behind Castiel, covering the other man's eyes with his hands.
"Dean, what are you doing?" Castiel asked.
"I want it to be a surprise," Dean said, nudging Castiel's shoulder with his elbow in an attempt to get the other man to start moving. Castiel started walking again, his footsteps hesitant. He still hated surprises but even with Dean stepping on his heels every few steps, he had to admit, he was kind of excited. When they finally reached the top of the hill, the short walk taking longer than it would have if Dean hadn't decided to surprise him, Dean's hands were still over his eyes.
"Can I look yet?" Castiel asked impatiently. He could feel the other man's breath on his neck as Dean laughed a little and he couldn't help the little wave of disappointment that curled in his gut when Dean finally stepped back.
That feeling was quickly moved to the back of his mind when he opened his eyes. They were at the top of a huge hill and Castiel could see for miles, even though it was darker than it should've been, the overcast sky promising rain at any moment. There was a lake to his left, reminding of summer break when his family would rent a cabin and just get away from everything for a week. He and his siblings used to swim in the lake that had been right behind the cabin. Castiel remembered his father tossing him in from the raft floating out in the water that many of the kids used for diving contests. Castiel had been nervous at the time, it being his first time swimming in that deep of water. His father had snuck up behind him, picked him up around the waist, and thrown him in. Castiel had been around eleven, maybe twelve, still scrawny enough for his father to easily lift him up. That had been before his father had become more invested in his work than his family, before his mother had left, saying she needed to "figure things out." Castiel had become more devoted to his studies, thinking that maybe if he became the perfect son his family would go back to normal. It hadn't worked and Castiel had eventually just given up. He had gone to college, met Balthazar, and now he was moving on.
Castiel turned a little, looking down at the hill itself. It was covered in wildflowers, soft pinks and whites and yellows that were just slightly faded due to the oncoming storm. The grass was longer than Castiel had ever seen it anywhere. It was almost to his knee and currently bent low in the wind that was starting to pick up. Castiel turned to Dean, finding the other man watching him with a smile on his face. Castiel smiled back and opened his mouth to say something. He lost his train of thought when the clouds finally opened and rain started pouring down. Moments later he heard the sound of the train whistle and his eyes widened with horror. He hadn't realized they'd been gone for so long. He started running back down the hill, his feet sliding a little on the mud that had quickly formed. Suddenly he was on his back, sliding down the muddy slope as the whistle got louder.
He reached the bottom a minute later, covered in mud and grass and leaves. Dean was still half way up the hill, trying to avoid the same fate as Castiel. Castiel ran back to the station. His bag was where he had left it, thank God, and he ran over to where the man who sold him his ticket was standing. He could still see the end of the train as it left the station. Castiel just stood there, shocked at his luck, or lack thereof. In the back of his mind he registered Dean's arrival on the platform. He heard Dean ask the other man, "What happened?"
"I tried to hold it, really. But everyone's all 'time is money' these days," the other man said.
"Well, is there anywhere we can stay for the night?" Dean asked.
"We've got a room back at mine you can rent. There's another couple staying there for a few nights too so it's no trouble. I'm Chuck, by the way."
"Dean," Dean replied, holding out his hand. "And that's Castiel."
"Nice to meet you," Castiel mumbled, finally coming back to his senses. He didn't say much more after that, just following when Dean grabbed his own bag and they waited for Chuck to lock up before walking away. Just as they stepped onto the muddy ground in front of the station, the sun broke through the clouds, bright and golden and silently mocking Castiel.