Mary was asleep when I stopped by her room, so I just went to the armory to pick up a few things I would want for vampires. Irradiation gun, machete, dead man's tranquilizing blood darts (Oh yeah. I'd thought it up and tested it myself. Worked like a charm) complete with a small blowdart gun, and…
Ingredients would probably be the only thing left that I needed. Just basic things in case of necessity. Healing. Sleeping. Tracking. A good all-around basic kit.
I actually had one of those pre-made, ingredients neatly labelled in what was honestly a cheap-ass plastic bead storage box I'd picked up from a craft store. Yarrow root, a few charred bones from different time periods, chamomile, pine sprigs, some shit I couldn't pronounce properly…
Yeah, good all-around kit.
I finished packing it all in to my Canada bag, snagged some food, and just… Sat. I wrote. I planned. I mapped out the most convenient routes by car in comparison to what hotels were nearby the target point and, well… I waited. I didn't really know what else to do. I wanted to go back to Castiel, to just walk out and disappear and go see him.
But I still had a job to do, things to accomplish. I had dedicated my time to Project V, and I wanted to see it come to fruition. Plus, if I showed my dedication by staying and ensuring that everything worked just as it should, I had a better chance of requesting and actually getting that reassignment. From there I could work with Cas, I could be around him again, and I could try to make some sort of sense of my life, hopefully without imposing on his own.
"Just bear with me," I muttered, glancing down at my notebook. I'd gone from planning and mapping and setting up a base plan to absent-mindedly doodling out different ideas for… "I don't even know what this is." I muttered, staring at the page. It only made half-sense, like an idea that hadn't been fully thought out.
"Like everything I've done." I gave a sarcastic laugh at the page, but left it be. I could figure out the calculations and intent later, I was certain.
My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my reverie. I took a glance down and saw…
I had a new phone now, and hadn't had Castiel's name saved in it for a long time, but I still remembered it. He wasn't big on changing out phones regularly or having more than one, like Sam and Dean were, much less changing cell phone numbers. I smiled a little, answering it quickly.
"Hey," I said, unable to stop myself from smiling just a little bit.
"Hello." He sounded so… awkward. He always did over the phone, but this time just a little more than normal. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine." I said. "Just a little tired, I guess."
"What's wrong?" Quick urgency, making sure I was alright.
"Nothing, Cas," I laughed a bit. "I've just been planning and getting some things sorted. I'm going out on a hunt with T.J. tomorrow."
"You are?"
"Yeah," I looked back over at my plan notes. Screw the driving, we can just take our stuff and go. I'd been around that area before, I could get us there. "Part of the job, you know?"
"And T.J. is the, um, friend, that you told me about?" He asked. "The one you met in London?"
"Yeah."
"I thought he was in London."
"So did I." I laughed a bit more. "They called him in while I was with you, and he decided to surprise me by being here. He's my partner."
"He sounds… like a good friend." There was a slight bite to his tone, one that I almost missed. I couldn't believe it. Was that jealousy in his voice?
"He is." I agreed. "I think we'll head out to a bar afterwards, like Sam and Dean do."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'll teach him how to properly pick up American guys." I could almost imagine Castiel's face dropping.
"Oh. I, I guess, well…" I laughed, hard.
"Cas, were you jealous?"
"No." Such indignance in his voice. I missed it.
"He's hella gay," I assured the angel, still laughing.
"And hella fabulous, as you tend to say." T.J.'s voice, behind me, making me turn hard in my chair. He leaned in my doorway, smirking, arms crossed as he wore the standard black Men of Letters outfit. I smiled wide, enjoying the look on his face.
"Who is that?" Castiel asked.
"It's T.J." I said. "I thought he had at least two more hours but apparently he's picked up some American driving habits."
"In my defense," he stated. "You did leave behind a very, very nice motor vehicle when you left for a bit."
"You took my bike?"
"You still have that bike?" Castiel's voice, in my ear.
"Yeah." T.J. and I said at the same time. He laughed. "I'll leave you to the call." T.J. offered. "But tell that angel of yours not to worry, I've seen pictures and he's not my type either. Too," he gestured a little haphazardly with his hands. "Well, taken, for starters. And secondly he's much too tall." This time, I laughed.
"What did he say?" Castiel asked.
"He said that you're not his type." I repeated. "And that he's sorry for borrowing my bike without asking." I raised an eyebrow at T.J. for that, and he laughed.
"Should I leave you be to speak with him?" Castiel asked.
"Actually, T.J. just said that I'm all yours for a little while on the phone." I said, nodding to the friend in question. He nodded back, and presumably went to clean up and re-pack for tomorrow. "So what's up?"
"Nothing." Castiel admitted. "I just wanted to call and see if you were alright."
"Thank you." I smiled a tiny bit, turning back to my planning for a moment. Yeah, we could just show up at the area, check in to a hotel, and get working.
"What are you doing?"
"Planning for tomorrow." I said. "Expenses. Temporary home base. Target plans. Normal hunting things."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't really tell you that." I wanted to be honest with him, but saying that hurt me. "It's a part of protocol."
"But what if you need help?"
"Then I'll call you." I promised, deciding to simply leave out the part where I would call Ketch and Mick and Mary before him since they would be closer. "But I promise, I'll be fine."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm just… Not used to you hunting without me."
"Well, I promise I'll be safe and fine and I'll call you afterwards." I offered.
"Thank you." He sounded relieved at that.
"What're you up to?" I diverted the conversation from me to him. It would be easier if I didn't have to tell him that I couldn't tell him things.
"I'm preparing to leave the Bunker." He said. "Trying to track down Kelly is… Difficult, but not entirely impossible."
"Got any leads?"
"Nothing good." I could hear his despair. "I feel as though I am constantly many paces behind her." I thought over that.
"If you can get some DNA, I can try tracking her." I offered. "I can't make any promises, because she's carrying a Nephilim and that could cause some interference no problem, but I can try." I had an idea as I said that. Crowley may still have a bit of Lucifer grace from former vessels that I could use to try and track him. I could always give him a call.
"Thank you." He said. "If I can acquire something of use, I will let you know."
"Awesome!" I looked over at my clock. "It's getting late, and I'm heading out early tomorrow. Mind if I give you a shout later on that night?"
"I don't understand how you could physically give a person a loud version of your voice," I laughed, and I could hear Cas chuckle quietly on his end. I'd told him at one point, way back when, that his literalism made me smile. The fact that he was doing it now, on purpose… It was relieving. "Yes," he said. "I think that I would enjoy that."
"Thanks. Sleep well." I said.
"I love you."
"I love you too." I didn't hesitate to say the words. It felt good to say them, actually. It made me happy. I hung up afterwards, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
