"You were the FBI agent from the hospital?" Dean asked, standing still in the middle of the hotel room, knowing that the agent would be able to reach for his gun before Dean could reach hIs from across the room, "How the hell did you find me?"

"We tracked your angel friend," Agent Ness replied.

Dean looked around the room, and came to the conclusion that the man was alone, "and who's we?"

"Well why don't you get dressed and come with me. You can meet them yourself," Agent Ness said, as he rested his back against the doorframe.

Dean walked over to the dresser where the rest of his clothes, and gun, lay. Dean attempted to distract the man with small talk, "So, what did you say your name was again?"

"Eliot Ness."

The hand reaching for Dean's gun froze, and he looked up to the man, "Wait, you're the Eliot Ness."

"I'm the only one I know of," Ness said with a confused look on his face.

"Oh man..." Dean stood staring at the man with this mouth agape, "They made a movie about you. You were my idol growing up." A huge smile spread across Dean's face, like a child meeting a real-life superhero.

Instead of grabbing his gun, Dean reached for his button up shirt, and began getting dressed, "So where are we going?"

"You'll see. It's not very far," Ness said as he turned towards the door.

Dean began to put on his tie, "Wait. I'm not leaving until Cas gets back." With the Enochian carvings on his ribs, Castiel wouldn't be able to find Dean if he left the motel room, "I don't see why you have to banish him in the first place."

"Because if I hadn't, the two of you would have vanished again. I would have never been able to find you, and then you'd never get back home."

Dean froze, and looked up at the man standing in front of him, "You can send me back?"

Before Ness could answer, the room was filled with the sound of wind, and a fully-dressed Castiel was standing between them. Castiel moved forward, wielding his angel blade in one hand. Before Castiel could take another step, Dean grabbed the angel's wrist.

"It's okay, Cas, he's the Eliot Ness," Castiel just turned to Dean with a confused look. "You know, from The Untouchables?"

Castiel still had no reply.

Dean sighed, "1987. Add that one to the list too." Dean released Castiel's wrist and walked towards the door, "Come on, we're going for a ride."

Castiel squinted suspiciously, but followed Dean anyways. Dean felt bad about keeping information withheld from his angel, but he didn't have the heart to tell Castiel he might be leaving. In fact, Dean wasn't sure he had the heart to leave at all.

Dean and Castiel followed Eliot to a black 1940 Plymouth Literature sitting in the parking lot. Dean up to the car in admiration, "Awesome."

He looked over to Eliot with a smile, receiving a puzzled look from the man as he got into the driver's seat. Dean's smile faded, and he took the passenger side, leaving the back for Castiel.

"So," Dean was the first to speak since the three had entered the car, "You know about all this supernatural stuff, huh?" his question being directed at Eliot.

The man didn't even take his eyes of the road to answer, "Yes. I'm a hunter. I was actually in town on a case, but it was taken care of before I got there. Thank you for that, by the way."

"So, these people we're going to see, are they hunters too?" Dean was trying to get as much information form Eliot without letting Castiel know what their intentions were.

"Hardly," Eliot said with a smile, "They're Men of Letters."

Dean's face twisted into a confused look, "Men of what?"

"Men of Letters," Castiel clarified, "Chroniclers of all thing man does not understand."

Dean turned to look at the angel, "Oh so you know Men of Letters, but not The Untouchables?" Dean smiled at Castiel, before turning back to Eliot, "So, if these Men of Letters are such a big deal, how come I've never heard of them?"

"They only trust a select few hunters," Eliot stated, "Guess you didn't meet the cut."

Dean scoffed, "All I'm saying is it would have been nice to have them around when the world was ending." Eliot and Castiel both turned their gazes to Dean. It took the man a couple seconds to realize what piece of information had just slipped from his mouth, "ummm, forget I said anything."

Dean stared quietly out the window for the rest of the car ride. He tried to silence the emotions buzzing around in his mind. A part of him hoped that the Men of Letters didn't have a solution. Dean enjoyed being here, as selfish as it was. It was his own piece of heaven; no demons after him, no responsibility to the family business, no war in heaven. Here it was just him and his angel, and that was the way he wanted it, but he knew that if given the option to return, he couldn't refuse. Even if the present was filled with nightmares and disappointment, Sam was there, and he could never make a decision to abandon his brother.

Similar thoughts were fighting their way to the surface in Castiel's mind as well. He knew what was going on, even if Dean rather him not. Unlike Dean, Castiel was not filled with hope that they could be together. Castiel knew that the Men of Letters had a solution, and he knew he wasn't enough to make Dean stay. The thought sent a sharp pain straight through Castiel, as it settled in his mind. He wasn't enough. Castiel's hand curled up into a fist in reaction to the pain.

"Hey, Cas, you coming?" Castiel was pulled out of his trance by the sunlight dancing on the green flecks in Dean's hazel eyes. Dean's voice was filled with concern, and Castiel suddenly realized how important it was to keep himself composed. Dean was leaving. There was nothing he could do to change that. So, there was no point in making it harder for him to leave. Dean was already filled with so much guilt, and he didn't need Castiel piling on more.

Castiel tried to force a smile, before stepping out of the car, and following the two men down an alley. They continued to walk until the narrow passage ended, splitting into two directions. Eliot led them to the right and stopped in front of a door, concealed by the brick wall. He swiftly slid a key into the door knob, and entered.

They walked down a hallway, painted in a deep crimson, until they reached a door with a strange symbol carved into the wood. Eliot knocked on the door, and not a minute later, an older man answered the door.

"Hello Elder Ganem, I brought the the time traveler, as you requested," Eliot greeted.

"Yes, well, do come in," the older gentleman walked back into the room, letting the door open for the party of three.

Dean looked around the room in amazement. The walls were at least ten feet high. Bookcases were built into the tall walls, and ancient books filled all of the selves.

The older gentleman took a seat behind his desk, and adjusted the glasses on his face, "I've been studying for quite sometime now, but I finally think I've found the spell to send you back, Mr. Winchester."

Dean continued to gaze around the room, "So, is this your library headquarters or something?"

The elder man simply chuckled, "Why, no. Our Central Library is located in Kansas, but you should already know that." The soft features of the older man suddenly darkened, "What do you know of our organization?"

"What? The Men of Letter? I've never heard of you," Dean moved to take a seat across from the gentleman, "but I understand you're a very exclusive group, and not many hunters are in on the secret. So, I guess we're just not high class enough."

"Hunters?" The man's attention was completely removed from the book in front of him, "but you're a Winchester?"

"Yeah," Dean was equally confused, and it showed by the furrow of his brow, "and the Winchesters are hunters,"

"Oh no, boy, you are mistaken," The man stood up from his chair, and walked over to a shelf that contained several thick books. He grabbed one and walked back to Dean, setting the book in front of him.

He stared in awe at the navy book. On the cover, written in silver writing, was the word "Winchester."

"The Men of Letters is an honor that's passed down through the generations," the elder said, "We keep books of the genealogy of all our members, and your family's is one that dates back to the founding of our organization."

Dean carefully opened the book and flipped through its pages, seeing the faces of his ancestors within, "What happened?" Dean took his eyes off the book and looked up at the man, desperate for answers, "If we were really meant to be Men of Letters, then what the hell happened?"

The man gave Dean a sympathetic look, "I wish I knew, son, but it's not too late. When you get back to your time, come back here. If the Winchester bloodline was truly lost, I'm sure the Men of Letters would gladly welcome you back."

A small smile crept across Dean's face, after hearing the man's hopeful words. There was a possibility of a better life for he and Sam. One that didn't involve traveling the country, living out of run down motel rooms without a place to call home. More importantly though, it would be a life where they would have people they could trust; they wouldn't be alone anymore. It would be like they had a family again.

Dean's smile quickly faded though, when his gaze travel over to his angel standing of to the side. With sadness in his eyes, he looked back to the older man, "So, how long until you can send me back?" Hoping to have a little bit more time to spend with Castiel

"Whenever you're ready. The spell is simple enough that we have everything we need here," the elder said, before seeing the look of disappointment on both Dean and Castiel's faces, "but if you need a couple of minutes, feel free."

Dean gave the man a slow nod, and he and Eliot left the room. Dean and Castiel were silent for a while, both letting the hurt sink in. They had to say good bye.

Dean made the first move. He rose from the chair, and took a step towards Castiel. He gently took his angel's hand in his, and stroked the back of Castiel's hand with his thumb, "I'm really sorry. I never-"

"Dean, just don't," Castiel said, letting his eyes close and his face fall to the floor. He couldn't look Dean in the eyes. Every second he spent looking at the beautiful man in front of him was just another second he would miss. "If you regret what happened between us, then fine, but I don't want to hear you say it."

Dean let go of Castiel's hand and brought his arms around his angel, pulling him in for a close embrace, and placing a chaste kiss on his forehead. "You didn't let me finish. I'm not sorry that it happened," Dean closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Castiel's, "I'm just sorry that I have to leave."

Castiel finally opened his eyes, focusing on Dean's relaxed features. Instinctually, his hand moved up to cup the man's face. His emotions were running wild, and he had no control of the hushed words that came out of his mouth, "Then why leave?"

Dean opened his eyes, and took in his angel's pleading expression. The look caused him to melt, and he leaned forward to kiss Castiel. It was the neediest kiss Dean had ever experienced; they held each other tightly, desparate for each other's touch. Dean pulled back for a moment to beg Castiel for the words he wanted to hear, "Ask me to stay, Cas." Dean closed his eyes again, and held on to Castiel as tight as he could, "Cas, all you have to do say it, and I'll stay."

Castiel was silent. He could never ask that of Dean, but the tone of Dean's voice made him want to cling to the man and beg him until his throat bled. He stroked Dean's cheek lightly, and stared into the hazel-green orbs in front of him. He could imagine a human life with Dean, seeing those beautiful eyes beside him everyday, and he wanted it. Castiel let himself enjoy the fantasy for as long as he could, as he kissed Dean one last time, "I can't. I love you, Dean, but you have a life, and I can't be the one to take that away from you."

Dean closed his eyes and took a second to absorb what Castiel had said. He want to tell him that he didn't want to return to a life without him in it; he want to tell Castiel that he loved him too. A bittersweet smile spread across Dean's face. "Cas, I -" Dean opened his eyes, but Castiel was gone, and a cold emptiness spread through him.

Castiel could feel the same emptiness growing inside of him as he watched Dean walk away to exit the room, and meet the men waiting in the hallway. Castiel wanted to hear what Dean had to say, but he was already so close to breaking, and feared the man's words would be enough to push him over the edge, and cause him to beg Dean to stay.

Castiel stood alone in the room, unable to move. He could almost feel a part of him die, when Dean was sent back, like all of the strings holding him on earth were cut. Castiel had no idea how long he had been standing there. It could have been years, and it would have made to difference to Castiel. Suddenly he was removed from his trance by a familiar voice.

"So, what now? Are you just going to stand there for forty years, and wait for him to be born?" Castiel turned towards his brother standing behind him. Balthazar could see the immense pain on Castiel's face; his eye were dull and lifeless, his face was pale.

Still, Castiel managed to smile weakly at his brother, "Well, I can't really return to heaven, can I?"

Balthazar gave Castiel a sympathetic look, "Come on home. Give Robert Novak his life back. Your little secret is safe with me."

Castiel's smile widened, and he returned home to heaven with his brother. Coming back home was refreshing, and it kept his mind distracted from his heartache. There was always a thought reverberating in his mind though; it was something Balthazar had said, and it always brought a smile to his face. He had never said goodbye to Dean, and he didn't have to. He would see him again, and it would be well worth the wait.


Hey guys! Don't worry this isn't the end; I still have three more chapters planned, but it might take a while :( GISHWHES is going on right now, and I start college right after, but it shouldn't be too too long! Love you all and thanks for the reviews :D