Phew. It has been one of those weekends. Fabulous but busy. Without further ado, here's the next chapter. Cas is back whoohoo!

Cas POV

It's cold. Always cold.

No matter where I go, that has been the one constant, and it is a constant I could do without. The wind whips across my face mercilessly, making my eyes water. I'm walking along yet another nameless street in yet another nameless town. Indiana, my weary mind supplies. I'm somewhere in Indiana- I remember passing a sign a few miles back. Or was that yesterday?

I've lost track of time in general. I don't know how long it's been since I decided to leave the bunker, I just know that I greatly regret that decision. I'm cold, hungry, homeless, and I have no destination. No purpose. I have never felt this level of exhaustion, and it frightens me to know how weak I've become. My steps falter as the past few sleepless nights catch up to me, and I am forced to stop, bending at the waist and clutching my empty stomach, trying to adjust to the hunger that suddenly cramps my muscles.

After a few more moments, the pain becomes manageable enough to begin walking again. I glance at my surroundings, taking in the vast amount of nothing that surrounds me. Just a long road with no end. I keep walking.

I should've known that they'd be looking for me. And I should've known that they'd find me.

It still catches me by surprise.

"Cas? Cas, wake up man."

The voice is soft and familiar, the ever-present tint of worry a little more pronounced than usual. I wonder why Sam sounds so concerned...

Wait, Sam?

My eyes snap open and I am met with the enormous hunter's imploring gaze.

"Hey," he says, smiling down at me. "How about we get you into a nicer car, huh Cas? Had enough of life on the run?"

I blink a few times, becoming aware of the way the lumpy cushions of the rusted-out van I had holed up in for the night press uncomfortably into my back. Sam is leaning through the broken back window, his expression a mixture of sorrow and relief. I'm suddenly subconscious of my ragged appearance- I can only imagine how I must look to him.

"Sam..." I start.

"Come on Cas, we'll talk about it on the way okay? There's some people waiting to see you. We missed you." he says, slapping the side of the van decisively. "Let's get you home."

I flood with warmth at the thought but try to push it down just as fast. I cannot go back. The Winchesters are still in danger. I try to tell Sam as much, but he cuts me off once more.

"Newsflash Cas: We're always in danger. We can handle ourselves- along with any other angels that might be gunning for you. It was stupid of you to leave Cas. If I can find you, so can other angels."

"Yes, how did you find me Sam?" I ask, finally stumbling from the van, pulling absently at the sleeves of my thin jacket. "I am quite literally in the middle of nowhere and have warded myself against both angels and demons- not that you fall into either of those categories."

Sam hesitates, a spark of something hidden in his eyes, but it is gone before I can identify it. He shrugs, smiling again, but it seems only half genuine.

"Come on Cas, you know we always find each other. It's just how we are," he says. And then he pats me roughly on the back, urging me along. "Let's go. Dean and Kevin are waiting back at the car."

I start walking, trying to keep up with Sam's enormous strides, an unidentifiable discomfort itching at the back of my brain. After a few more minutes of walking, I voice my thoughts.

"What's wrong Sam? What's going on?"

Sam pauses, running a hand through his hair. "Look, let's just get you outta here okay? I'll explain everything once we're back at the car," he says, not meeting my eyes.

I want to press my point, but at that moment, the Impala finally comes into view, and it's a beautiful sight to see after all those freezing nights shoved into dark crevices and dank street corners. My pace quickens, and suddenly it's Sam who's struggling to keep up with me, though he grins broadly at my obvious enthusiasm.

That enthusiasm is short-lived, however, as I finally catch a clear glimpse of Dean Winchester. He is folded carefully into the back seat, and there is something so innately wrong with that that I stop short, staring incredulously back at Sam. He grimaces.

"What happened?" I demand.

"Look, Dean's pretty messed up right now." Sam frowns wearily and for the first time, I see that he is barely on his feet, weighed down with exhaustion. "How about we find some place to eat while we fill you in, huh?"

I nod, turning back to the car. And freeze again.

Dean has somehow managed to climb from the Impala without my notice, leaning heavily against it, smiling. But my eyes are quickly drawn from his face, instead focusing on the way he holds himself- unbalanced, lopsided. The effort to keep himself vertical seems monumental. My assumptions are only confirmed by Sam's exasperated huff as he rushes to get to his brother.

"Dean, what the hell man?" He says when he reaches him, "you couldn't wait in the car for five freakin' minutes like I asked? You've gotta stay off of it! And where the hell is Kevin?"

Dean sways slightly, but the smile stays in place.

"Kevin's fine, bathroom break. And I waited seven minutes, actually. You two slowpokes should've picked up the pace and then maybe I wouldn't have time to get impatient." He nods in my direction. "You gonna stand there like an idiot all day or are you gonna come say hi? An apology would be nice too." His tone is light, but I sense the remnants of hurt and worry layered beneath his words.

"What happened to you?" I demand by way of greeting, finally reaching the car.

"Due time Cas, due time," Dean replies. "Gotta remember our priorities now, don't we?"

My eyes narrow in confusion as I search his familiar yet unreadable expression. He grins broadly, amused at my inability to decipher his mood.

"I'm fucking starving. Let's go eat."

I'm trying to stay consistent in updating at least once a week. That won't always be possible, but that's my goal. Leave a review if you have time, and have a great day! Thanks so much for reading.