The song here is "Hunting" by The Darcys

Hunting

The Winchesters had gone back home after pissing off Anne Cromwell. She was alright, pregnant, but alright. Her mom was fine and Gadreel was happy as can be. It seemed like the Cromwells have cut their losses and maybe the brothers should as well. After all, Anne had assured them there was no deal with Crowley that involved a bad ending. Now they returned to their lives in separate directions, again.

As they had walked into the Men of Letters' bunker, it was silent and slightly cold, but it welcomed them back. It was their sanctuary from the bullshit outside; once they were in, everything was left behind them. For once, the road wasn't their only home.

They had climbed down the spiral stairs and quickly drifted off, doing their own thing. Sam had gone to the kitchen while Dean went to his room, leaving Castiel alone in that silence and coldness to let his thoughts linger on what troubled him.

Once settled in, it didn't take long for them to return to their table with their laptops and books. The bunker was their sanctuary, but yet they searched for the next hunt. They should just lock themselves in and not want to know what was going on in the world, but with over a decade of hunting, it was like an addiction. They were hunters; they were bred for this and stepping away wasn't as easy as it sounded.

Then there was Castiel. They didn't notice at first, but eventually his behavior let them on that something wasn't right. It was like he was deep in thought, nearly a trance. His face was always in a book or some files and he didn't say a word. If they asked him a question to see if he was alright, he would say "Yes" or "Fine", even if Dean asked him stupid questions like "Why do Aliens abduct Humans if we are an inferior race?" and "If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, it is considered a hostage situation?". Clearly, Castiel was too deep into his thoughts to comprehend what his friends were saying.

The brothers were getting worried. It had to be bigger than Gadreel having a kid with Anne, living like a normal couple in a crazy death-trap world. Was it getting kicked out of Heaven that bothered Castiel? Did he feel trapped between two worlds; Heaven and Earth? Dean could relate to that, having literally been to every place between Heaven and Hell. So much as happened that there are times where he feels like he doesn't belong anywhere. If it wasn't for the Men of Letters' bunker, he'd believe it wholeheartedly.

They gave Castiel some space, but it was the same thing for days.

It was another of those times spent at the table with their laptops and glancing over at Castiel, the brothers knew they had to look into it. He wasn't getting any better, so they had to help him with whatever was bothering him.

"I'll go talk to him." Dean said, leaving the table once Sam gave him a sympathetic look. As he got half way there, his cell phone back on the table rang. He thought of ignoring it, but he couldn't bring himself to keep walking forward.

Dean turned back and picked up his phone, looking at the display screen. He didn't recognize the number, but the area code gave him an idea. He answered it and just barely got the chance to say his name.

"Is Castiel there?" said a familiar raspy voice. It took Dean a couple of seconds to answer and then recognize the voice. "Can I speak to him." Gadreel said and Dean glanced at his friend who didn't move a muscle.

"I have you tell you, he's not himself." Dean replied and Gadreel's voice suddenly took a tone of desperation.

"Please, Dean, I have to talk to him." he said and before Dean could ask what was wrong, Gadreel pleaded. "Please, it's important that I speak to Castiel. I can think of no one else to help us." He said and Dean glanced at Sam who looked at him inquisitively.

"Is Anne alright?" Dean asked and Gadreel hesitated. "Gadreel? Is she okay?" he asked again and Gadreel sighed.

"I need to speak to Castiel to make sense of this, to make sure it's what I think it is. Please Dean, I'll explain later, just please pass the phone to Castiel." He said and Dean did as he asked, although he was confused and worried.

He walked over to Castiel and then handed him the phone. At first, Castiel didn't move, but then his eyes slowly glanced at the phone and then up at Dean.

"It's Gadreel and it's serious." He added. Never had he seen Castiel move so quickly since they returned. He quickly asked Gadreel what was wrong and then he frowned. With each second, his frown deepened with concern as he listened and as he asked questions which didn't give Dean any hint to the problem.

Eventually, Castiel handed him back the phone and then vanished in a split second. Dean only noticed due to the sound of flapping wings. He brought his phone to his ear and there was no one on the other end.

He pulled the phone away and looked at it. He sighed in frustration and returned to the table. Sam looked just as confused, but seeing his brother's irritation didn't help.

"He said he'd explain what's wrong with Anne and he hangs up." He said and dropped his phone on the table. Surprising the backing didn't pop off, sending the battery across the table.

Dean sat down and threw himself back into his laptop, as if wanting to forget what had happened so the stress would roll off his shoulders.

Sam could understand his frustration; once again they were in the dark about what was going with Anne Cromwell. If she didn't want or need someone, she didn't tell them a single thing. She closed everyone out that weren't important enough to her, but they suddenly became important if she turned to them for help.

It was safe to say the Winchesters weren't accustomed to having the door slammed in their faces and being walked on more often than Welcome mats.

For a good laugh, check out 101 Stupid Questions (two of which I used earlier in this chapter).

However, I do not approve of no45