Disclaimers: I OWN NOTHING!. If I did then kudos! I own my OC and that's fine and dandy with me!
Warning: A lot of OC, swearing, manipulations, put downs, and what nots!
Chapter: It's a start!
Cruising down the long stretch of highway on the back roads of the Colorado State Highway, a large truck stuck to the speed limit, not in a rush to get anywhere since they just finished a job in one of the Nationals forest and with the summer season coming, it'll be a great time to take time off.
The dark blue four door 4x4 truck drove down with the music blaring and the driver singing along with the choruses of 'Life is a Highway' while lightly beating their hand on the wheel along with the drums. The lone driver enjoys their time on the roads, learning new things and see new sights, but always schedule themselves time off during the warmer seasons and let others do the dirty work.
And work just happens to be a non-paying, no thanks and very dirty work.
Life as a hunter does have its perks from time to time just like their last job in the National forest chasing after a rouge wolf who picked off hikers like their own personal buffet line. But other times, it just get lonely. Which is why the driver is heading home to get the much needed rest and relaxation plus to get their arrears in order for the season with the added bonus of her peeps in her estate.
Driving down the highway, the driver noticed a lone figure walking on the road ahead. Like literally walking in the middle of the road and the driver thought who in gods green earth would be walking in the middle of fucking nowhere and in a long ass coat in the 25 degrees weather with the early morning sun shining down.
Slowing down as they got closer, the figure didn't seem to be paying attention to the on coming traffic behind them and not wanting to be careless, the driver honked their horn as a warning.
Very bad idea as the man literally jumped five feet in the air and fell on his sides in shock surprise on the road.
"Oh Shit!" the driver exclaimed and put the truck in park before snapping off their seat belt and open their door. Running to the man as said man hissed in pain. "Oh shit, I'm so sorry for scaring you. Are you alright?"
"It hurts" says the man and held up his bloody palms.
"Fuck, I am so sorry. Here let me help you up" the driver took one of the man's arm and carefully hauled him up to their feet. The driver then noticed the man's height and dark hair before noticing the man was dressed in a suit under the overcoat. But when the man turned around, the driver was gobsmacked.
"Castiel?!" said man squinted in confusion at the driver.
"I don't believe I know you" the driver let Castiel's arm go and took a step back as to not crowd his space,
"Of course, you don't" Castiel looked even more confused "But I know you and it looks to me that you are in need of a good patch up" gesturing to his hands "My name is Roxanne but in the hunter community, I'm known as Hunter"
Castiel's eyes furrowed for a moment then widen when he recognized the name "I know that name but in the stories? I've heard you'd thought to be male, not female"
The driver, now known as Roxanne, Castiel sees that she's of average height, good build, dressed in a grey hoodie, black shirt under and dark blue sweats with black trainers. Her face though, good cheekbones, strong jaw, good nose and her hair is shorter then most female keeps, by her roots, she's not naturally blonde. Then he finally looked at the vehicle and wondered why a female is driving such a big truck. Roxanne smiled at the man studying her and her vehicle then waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.
"That's why they call them stories, Castiel. Now come on, hop in and I'll pull to the side so I can patch you up" gesturing to her truck, Castiel paused for a moment in uncertainty that Roxanne noticed.
"How do you know me?" he asked, unmoving from his spot on the road, to which she also took a step back.
"We've met a couple of times. You wouldn't remember. Comes with the territory" waving to her person as the man looked even more confused and voiced his thoughts,
"I don't understand what that means"
"I know you don't, but I can explain while I patch you up, we don't want you to get an infection" Roxanne offered as Castiel took a moment then nodded as he saw blood dripping from his hands onto the pavement. Roxanne led the man to the passenger side and opened it for him. Carefully climbing in the truck so he won't touch anything with his bloody hands, the door closed right after and Castiel watched as the girl quickly went to the driver side and got in. Turning the music low, putting the gear in drive, Roxanne maneuvered the truck to the side of the road and turned on the blinkers before opening the door again.
Jumping out and closing the door, Roxanne went to the back door and opened to grab some stuff before closing the door again. Going around the truck to Castiel's side and opening his door, Roxanne gestured,
"Turn to face me with your hands out, palms up and I'll pour some water on it" she said as she put a small bag with a roll of paper towel on the dash and uncapped a water bottle. Castiel did as told and when the water hit his injured hands, he gave a pained grunt "Sorry" she offered.
"It's fine" Roxanne continued to pour water slowly on the palms "How do you know me?" Castiel asked again as he watched the concentration on the girl's features,
"We met a couple times over the years but because of my magic, you or anyone else won't remember my face or voice if I don't want them to. Its my version of insurance that no one will know me no matter how many times they see me" capping the bottle and putting it on the truck floor, Roxanne picked up the roll, ripped off a couple and lightly patted dry being mindful of the scrapes on the man's hands,
"I know you're an angel of the lord but by the looks of these injuries and last night so called meteor shower; you've lost your grace and are now a full human being" toss the soaked paper to the back and tearing off another couple to pat dry the other hand, Roxanne continued "If you were still an angel, then the fall would of burned off your wings just like I saw a few when they hit the earth atmosphere" Castiel stayed silent "And you wouldn't have these scrapes if you were still an angelic being"
Tossing the bloody paper to the back again, Roxanne took the small bag and opened for Castiel to see that it was a first aid kit. Taking out a small brown bottle, uncapped it then took another few pieces of paper towel and poured some liquid from the bottle. Roxanne looked up to Castiel who looked back as Roxanne said:
"Sorry"
"Why…" then yelped, hissed and groan when the girl covered one of his hands with the soaked paper.
"If it burns, that means it's working" Castiel bit his lip until the burning subsided and the paper removed, being tossed in the back also. Roxanne repeated the action with the paper and bottle then looked up at Castiel who nodded then bit his lip when the paper contacted his other hand. Tossing that away, Roxanne took out a tube of ointment and some large bandages with some q-tips. Removing the bandages from their paperback and putting it on Castiel's lap, uncapping the tube then dabbed a small amount on the end of the q-tip, Roxanne applied the stuff to each scrape on the man's hand. Covering that with a bandage, Roxanne repeated the process for the other hand and put everything away before admiring her work.
"Now then" picking up the water bottle and handing it over "You've lost your grace, that means you're human now and that a whole lot of things you need to do that you didn't need to before"
Castiel looked at the bottle in his hand then took a small sip which turned to downing the entire bottle. He didn't know he was so thirsty and gave a sigh when he finished the last drop.
"Being hydrated is one of your top priorities now, along with hunger and bathroom breaks" Taking the now empty bottle and closing it before tossing that in the back, Roxanne took the first aid bag and gestured for Castiel to move so she can close the door. Going to the back door again, Roxanne rummaged through for a minute before closing the door again and went back to her side of the vehicle.
Door closed, Roxanne turned to Castiel and set down two water bottles, one of which he took with a thanks, and a couple of granola bars.
"This should be fine until we can get to the nearest gas station where you'll be needing the facilities soon" Looking up at the former angel who gulped down half of the bottle and wiped his lips with his sleeve. "You do know how to use the facilities, yes?"
Castiel closed the bottle and set it back in the cup holder before nodding "Unfortunately I do"
"Good! Now where ya headed?" facing forward, Roxanne clicked in her seat belt and watched as Castiel did the same with his own.
"I must get to a payphone. I got to call Dean and let him know that it was a spell by Metatron, he tricked me into helping him".
"Who did you just say?"
Just as Castiel was about to answer, a loud static sounded over them, and Roxanne looked at Castiel who looked up to the truck roof.
"You can still hear Angel Radio" She stated then Castiel turned to her with a furrow of his brows.
"You can hear Angel Radio?"
Then:
"Okay, listen up".
"Is that Winchester?"
"This one goes out to any angel with their ears on. This is Dean Winchester"
"Oh, Fuck me! His pulling an APB on Angel fucking Radio!" Roxanne yelled.
"And I need your help. The deal is this – Linwood Memorial Hospital".
"Don't fucking say it! Don't fucking SAY IT!"
"Randolph, New York"
"FUCK!"
"The first one who can help me gets my help in return".
"Dean" Castiel whispered.
"And you know that ain't nothing. Hell, it's no secret that we haven't seen eye to eye".
"Dammit Dean!" the girl yelled to the roof.
"But you know that I am good for my word. And, uh, I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't needing, so..".
The static ended as the two in the truck sat still. Then:
"That Fucking Idiot is going to get himself killed!" Castiel whipped his head to the girl as she slammed her hand on the steering wheel.
"What do you mean?"
Roxanne turned to the former angel "You said Metatron tricked you into a spell, right?" a nod "That means every angel knows you had something to do with it. That means to get to you they have to get to the Winchesters" Castiel's eyes widen "And Dean Fucking Winchester just put out an all-post bulletin to every fallen angel who would just love to get their hands on him to his exact location".
"I need a phone! I need a phone now!" Roxanne switched her console on her dash from audio to her phone and a keypad showed up.
"Patch it in" Castiel punched in the number that he knows by heart and as it rings, he held his breath until the phone is picked up.
"Who is this?" said the gruff voice.
"Dean" like a sigh of relief,
"Cas. What the hell is going on?" they can hear Dean telling someone to leave in no mannerism.
"Metatron tricked me. It wasn't angel trials. It was a spell. I wanted you to know that" Castiel said sadly.
"Okay. That's great, but we've got ourselves a problem!" eyebrows raised at his dismissal of Castiel's apology, but,
"Damn Fucking Rights we've got a Problem!" Roxanne said over the line.
"Who is this? Cas, Who's with you?!" Dean said loudly over the phone.
"This is Hunter, she's helping me" Castiel said, omitting her real name, knowing how important personal space is, but Roxanne cut him off.
"Never mind that. Do you have any idea what you just did?! You put out an APB on Angel Radio and now every single one of those angry motherfuckers will be gunning for you!"
"Why?"
"WHY?! WHY!? BECAUSE they know you know Castiel and after the freefall of all of them, they'll want to get their hands on you to get to Castiel!"
"What does Cas have to do with it?" Here Roxanne growled loudly over the phone.
"They think it's his FAULT they were THROWN out of HEAVEN!"
"…" silence on the line
"And if they find you then they think they'll find Castiel who is a dozen states away from you and LOST HIS GRACE!"
"He's human? Cas, You're human?!" Dean yelled over the phone, missing the whole point of the conversation.
"I'm fine, Dean" said quietly.
"Winchester, you just put a big ass target on your backs. The angels may have fallen but they are still ruthless super beings in human vessels looking for blood and guess whose blood they'll bleed to get to Castiel?!"
"FUCK!"
"Dean" Castiel got cut off again.
"We're fucking screwed! Sam is laid up on the Hospital, they said he's dying, and the doctors can't help him" they could hear Dean punch something.
"Listen Winchester! The angels are probably outside your door as we speak so you are going to do as I say, am I clear?!"
"Listen lady, I don't know who you are but"
"But nothing. Do you want your brother to be fixed or not? Because from where I'm sitting, you can either fight your way out by yourself against angels while your brother dies, or I fix him, and you both run out of there before any of the angels show up. What's it going to be Winchester?"
Castiel sat staring at the girl, wondering what she's going to do to help, how she's going to help, and if she can help someone Dean thinks is at the very edge of death's door.
"What's in it for you?" Dean gruffly asked as they can tell was said through clenched teeth.
"Like you mentioned, a favor from the Winchesters is as good as winning the lottery. What's it going to be?" Roxanne asked again.
"How'd you...?" He started to ask but Roxanne will have no nonsense,
"Answer!"
"Do it. I'll be damned but Help Sam" Dean said with a finality to his voice with a tiredness tinted in.
"Dean" Castiel whispered.
"Good choice. Now open one of the windows in his room, lock the door and stand back" As she said this, they heard movement through the line as Roxanne open her side of the window then took out a blade from a side pocket and easily sliced her palm. Castiel watched fascinated when she didn't flinch at the cut and watched as she closed that hand into a fist, the blood seeping down her wrist and murmured into her hand as said hand started to glow green.
In all his millennium on earth, Castiel has never seen this kind of magic before as the fist glowed brightly while Roxanne lifted her hand to the window and blew onto her now open palm. The ball of light shot out of her hand into the skies then Roxanne wiped her hand, no cut in sight, then turned back to the phone.
"You better be standing back, this is going to be big" Just as she finished, they heard Dean yelped then a thud.
"Dean?" Castiel asked through the line as they could heard gasping then shuffling and finally silence.
"Dean!" Castiel repeated but they heard another voice.
"Dee?"
"Sam?" more shuffling
"Why am I in a hospital?"
"Winchester!" Roxanne yelled over the phone for their attention.
"Who's on the phone?" the other voice, now Sam, asked.
"I suggest you haul ass, explain to your brother what happen then we'll call you back in an hour" not waiting for an answer, Roxanne hung up then took a deep breath "Fucking Winchesters" she mumbled as she rubbed her forehead.
"What did you do, I've never seen a spell like that before" the former angel asked as he watched the girl now with rapt attention.
"My own invention" said as she leaned back in her seat with a sigh.
"I think it's best to explain now how you know me" Castiel said.
OOOOO
Driving back on the highway, Roxanne popped a gum in her mouth then started:
"Like I said, we met a couple time over the years but because of my magic, you or anyone else won't remember my face or voice if I don't want them to. It's a fail safe that I invented because life as a hunter is not a safe life. I have people under my care that needs to be protected" Castiel nodded in agreement, life as a hunter is very dangerous work which is why most people don't get out of that life.
"Are you an angel? How can you hear angel radio? Why don't I know you?"
"I am unlabeled at the moment" she shrugged.
"Are you a witch?" Roxanne looked at the former angel then back on the road, with a small smile.
"Unlabeled but wicca magic doesn't affect me, nor can they detect my magic. The first time we met was in a motel room with the Winchesters pointing their guns at me and you about to smite me" Roxanne chuckled "It was then I taught you that there was a code decoded into your graceful being about being able to allow human into heaven with an all access pass, a visitor's pass I called it" Castiel eyes widen as he gasped at the information now running through his mind's eye, a memory cleared from its haziness
"You brought us to Heaven and captured Lucifer and Michael for a fight in heaven!"
"Yep" Roxanne laughed out loud.
"You yelled to the ceiling about Earth being your domain and if they are not going to stop it then you would" Castiel would have kept going but a hand up stopped him.
"A story for another time"
"Then" here Castiel face paled when he remembered what he did to heaven.
"Then you went power hunger, became this so-called god and released an ancient monster onto this world" Pointing up a finger.
"And I lost my memory but you" Squinting at the memory.
"Came, threw your memories back at you then you ended up at the loony bin because you were overcome with guilt" Roxanne.
"Where Sam and Dean found me" Castiel.
"That I slipped them via text message without them knowing. Both parts" Castiel dropped his head in shame and mumbled an apology "No worries, it was fun tossing all those dicks back in Purgatory. Big daddy Dick didn't know his babies were being exterminated on a weekly basis all over the country" Roxanne chuckled at the thought.
"And now you're here again. Helping me" a look "What?"
"After purgatory"
"I was being manipulated by Naomi" Castiel's face turned to hurt,
"I put in the information into a few pieces on the board for you three to find the Angel tablet quickly and ingrained an all access release they had on you" Castiel turned to the driver with a surprised look that turned to gratefulness "I can not and did not stand idly by like your father did while you were being tortured over and over again" a sigh "Once again I took matters into my own hands and set you free"
"Where I was on the run because everyone else was looking for the tablet" a nod "How are you able to do all this and yet remain unlabeled?"
"There isn't a word for what I am. I know what I am but choose to remain unlabeled" nodding to herself.
Castiel thought then said: "but" a finger up again.
"I am and this is my domain, let's leave it at that" hand down.
"Have we met before I came to this vessel?" gesturing to his person, knowing to change the subject,
"Another story for another time" Castiel released a breath then leaned back in his seat. They sat in silence for a bit as Castiel wrapped his head around the situation, but he did have to ask a question that stuck by him.
"Why are you helping me? I'm human and of no use anymore and with all these other angels looking for me and" A sigh stopped his ramblings, then Roxanne saw the turn off for a station where she turned in and parked before turning to the man.
"Where are you headed?" She asked instead and when Castiel didn't speak, Roxanne pulled up the keypad on her dash and pressed redial. It picked up after the first ring:
"What the hell is going on?" Was the first words.
"Hello Dean" Both Roxanne and Castiel said then one of them giggled.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Dean, as I mentioned before, this is Hunter and she's helping me" Castiel said.
"Wait a minute: Hunter? As in The Hunter" a different voice asked.
"Hello Sam. Are you ok?" Castiel asked the other Winchester.
"Yeah Cas, I'm ok now. Dean said someone helped me but the way the doctors described to him; they couldn't do anything. I should have died back there" Here Dean could be heard taking a deep breath "Dean, I'm ok now" a mumbling then "Cas?"
"Yes, Sam"
"This Hunter person, is it the same?" Castiel nodded even though they could not see him doing so.
"Yes Sam, the very same. I too was surprised to learn that she was female" Castiel.
"But the stories make it sound too male to be female" Sam.
"That's why they're called stories, Winchester" Roxanne.
"Listen here, Lady! I don't know who you are but let Cas go" the voice of anger came on the line as Roxanne rolled her eyes and Castiel sighed,
"Castiel, am I holding you against your will?"
"No, you are not."
"Castiel, are you bound in any way or form?"
"No, just need to undo my seatbelt but other then that I'm perfectly fine."
"Castiel, have I hurt you intentionally physically or emotionally?"
"No. I hurt myself, but you clean my wounds."
"WHAT!?" a voice roared over the phone while another voice overlapped it with worry in it.
"Cas, what happened? Are you alright?"
"It was my fault. I was walking in the middle of the road and didn't hear any oncoming traffic. A honk surprised me, and I fell. My hands got scraped up bad, but Hunter cleaned and dressed my wounds" as Castiel explained, he rubbed the bandages on his hands looking a little putout,
"But are you ok?" Sam asked in concern as Dean could be heard swearing in the background with muffled thuds.
"Yes Sam, I'm fine" Castiel smiled at the worry in Sam's voice, it lifted his spirits just a bit.
"Where are you!?" Dean yelled then Sam shushed him and covered the phone since the other two couldn't hear anything but muffled noise. Sam's voice came back,
"Cas, Dean mentioned that you lost your grace? Are you human now?"
"Dean shouldn't be yelling while driving, it's very unsafe" Castiel mentioned as Roxanne smiled at him.
"He knows, just doesn't seem to listen" Castiel nodded along "Are you human, Cas?"
"Yes Sam" Said sadly "My hands hurt when I fell on the road" a choked grunt then a shush,
"I'm sorry that happened to you Cas" Sam offered and Castiel gave a small smile
"Thank you, Sam, I'm sorry you almost died because of the trials"
"Thank you, Cas. At least someone said it" A scoff
"Your half assed brother was an idiot for pulling an APB on all access angel radio, so we had to do something"
Silence then "He did WHAT!? DEAN!" Sam yelled then yelled at his brother and the other two listened as they fought
"Dean! That was the most stupidest thing you ever done, we could of both died!"
"Hey it worked!"
"That's not the point, Dean!"
"HEY!" Roxanne interrupted "What IF an angel came and tricked you two into giving consent to possess Sam's body and take over? Claiming they could heal him from the inside?" Silence "Then you would have a Winchester angel walking the earth. Next thing you'll know Lucifer would break out just to take back what's his by all accounts and that'll be a new set of problems you opened" Silence on the other line.
"She's right. There are only a handful of angels I trust who are still alive, but the rest would have taken any chance to possess the vessel of Lucifer and he would of been enraged, enough to actually escape his confinement" Castiel said as he saw Roxanne nodding along then added "From what I used to remember, Lucifer gets very possessive on what's his" Roxanne smiled at the former angel on his nonfilter mouth. "And Sam is his by all accounts" a choking sound "Even if the apocalypse didn't happen"
"So, in other words, be very grateful that we heard it too and called before you met any other angels that would of love to have taken your brother for a ride" Silence on the other line for a moment then,
"Hold please" Sam's restrained voice said over the line then beeping for the call holding sounded.
"Five bucks says Sam punched Dean" Roxanne said as Castiel furrowed his brows.
"I don't have any money" Roxanne chuckled at the former angel then the beeping stopped, and they could hear a groan with a clearing of the throat
"Where are you anyways?" Sam asked, ignoring his brother's pained sounds in the background
"We are in the middle of the great state of Colorado" Roxanne said with a flare in her voice, well tried to anyways when she could hear Dean talking muffled through the line
"I landed somewhere in the forest" Castiel added his part carefully
Suddenly, they could hear the brothers whispering turned angry then grunting and then an angry voice:
"Listen here! We'll be back in Lebanon in 17 hours and Cas better be there!" Dean said over the phone but then Sam held the phone away as he spoke to his brother,
"Dean! Cas is human! How is he going to travel like that?"
"I don't.." Castiel tried but Dean's voice interrupted him and made him winced
"I don't care if he has to take the bus! Cas needs to get back to the bunker where it's safe!"
"DEAN! You don't get to decide what he does!" Sam exclaimed as Cas flinched at their voices,
"And we can wire him some money, it's no problem" Dean said, ignoring everything
"He doesn't know how to do that!" Sam answered
"He'll learn! Cas, get your ass back to the bunker. We'll see you when we get there" Dean said with no nonsense attitude and Roxanne just had enough.
"WINCHESTERS! You are putting unnecessary stress on a newly human former angel"
"My stomach hurts" Castiel quietly said as he put a hand on his midsection, looking confused and hurt that his breathing started to get haggard
Silence from the other line,
"Now look what you did. You two are in time out" Roxanne said as she hung up the phone and turned to the man in the other seat, putting a hand on his shoulder and feeling the tense muscle under.
"Castiel, do as I do: breathe in through your nose" taking in a breath "breath out through your mouth" Roxanne softly said to the former angel and watched as he did as told "Again: in" taking a breathe "Out" breathing out.
A minute later when Roxanne felt the man's shoulder loosen did he spoke,
"I know how to breathe" Roxanne smiled at the quip.
"I know but what you had was a small anxiety attack. A lot of humans' experience that sometimes when a situation they don't understand stresses them physically" patting his shoulder, Roxanne removed her hand and watched as Castiel removed the seatbelt from his person.
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind next time"
"You're welcome. Now Castiel" blues eyes turned to the driver side "What do you want to do?"
"Dean said" a hand up to stop him
"I don't care what Dean Winchester said or wants. This is your decision, your choice on how to go about this. Sam Winchester is right, have you ever driven long distances" mouth about to open "As a human" mouth closed and face furrowed in concentration "Taking in the fact that the road is about 6 hours straight through, the bathroom distances vary between along with eating on the road and in your current condition" Roxanne let that sentence linger as the former angel thought about it.
"How will I get there?" Castiel asked as he looked around the parking lot of the gas station with a worrisome expression.
"Your choice. As a new human, you now have a choice on what you think is right for you and not what others think is right for you. If you want to take the bus to wherever he said, I'll drive you to the nearest bus station and pay for your ticket. If you want to hitch hike all the way there, I'll give you some money to help you along the way. If you like" she gave him a soft look "and this is just a suggestion, if you'd like I'll drive you myself" Castiel turned to Roxanne "If I reroute my GSP to go through wherever they are, it shouldn't change my course by much"
Castiel nibbled on his bottom lip then asked, "Where are you headed to, Roxanne?"
"Boston, Mass of course. In fact, just wait" She said as she faced her console and pressed a button: "Computer" beep, beep
"Yes, Miss Roxanne" the electronic voice said through the console
"Reroute my destination to drive through Lebanon, Kansas"
"Redirecting through Lebanon, Kansas" the digital voice said and Castiel watched the symbol rounded out on the console.
Beep, beep "I have configured three options: Staying on route 70 will not change the time limit. Turning off to route 76 will add thirty minutes. Going through to highway 36 will take seven minutes off your time"
"Thank you, computer" turning to the man who looked surprised at the AI speaking. "So, what do you choose, Castiel?"
Castiel thought it over, the options given, and a feeling bubbled up in his chest that warmed him just a bit. "If I go with you…" letting the question linger as the girl smiled at him,
"I wouldn't mind the company and I can help you on the way" shrugging
"Help me?" Castiel squinted at the words,
"On how to be human. There are a lot of videos on Human behaviour and etiquette along with social interacting. The do's and don't of human society"
"Videos? I'm not good with computers. I can barely text or check my voice mail on my old phone"
"They have tutorials on that too. Now, you don't have to do anything but pick a video online and watch while I drive us through the states. We don't have to rush, we can take in the sights, stop anywhere that peaks your fancy and go shopping" at the word, Castiel's eyes widen "You need your own clothes first of all and little things that catches your eye too" Suddenly a thought popped up and Roxanne had a questionable look "Do you even have a room at where they live in Kansas?"
Castiel sat stunned, he didn't think of that, and his face changed to being worried again but Roxanne patted his shoulder and smiled.
"They should have calmed by now, we'll ask, and you can make the choice on what you want to do, ok?" Castiel nodded then Roxanne pulled up the keypad again and pressed redial. One ring again,
"Cas? We're so sorry, we didn't mean to get you upset" Sam Winchester's voice came over the line and Castiel smiled at his thoughtfulness "Are you ok?"
"Yes Sam, I'm ok now. Hunter gave me some breathing exercises to calm down"
"That's good"
"Winchester. Has any of you given thought on whether Castiel has a room at your place?"
Silence over the line, not a peep from the other brother either as Roxanne and Castiel shared a look then the former angel looked chest fallen as he slumped down in his seat.
"Also, have you considered asking Castiel what he wants to do?"
Again, silence and Roxanne sighed.
"Castiel. What do you want to do?" said man stared at the console for a moment then sat up with a determine look on his face.
"I want to go on a road trip with Hunter"
"Cas, you don't even know this woman" Dean said over the line with a slight tone of condescending that ruffled Castiel's former feathers.
"But you were willing to let me go on a bus with strangers where I could get mugged or hurt or get lost?" Check mate to the former angel as Roxanne did think of that when the Winchester suggested the bus.
"Uhhh" stuttering
"And how were you going to wire me money when I'm in the middle of nowhere" another check
"We're in the middle of ass crack nowhere and the next town is at least a couple hours away" Roxanne helpfully said.
"Cas" Sam said when the older Winchester stayed quiet "Can you trust this woman to take you to Lebanon?"
Castiel looked to Roxanne, looked into her eyes as she stared back unwavering, allowing the now human to read her in anyways he wished and when he found what he was looking for, nodded to himself.
"Yes. She found me, cleaned me and is willing to help me in all the options that have been laid at my feet. She has already put in the coordinates onto her GPS map" Castiel smiled at the driver, proud to have said it correctly "It's not out of her way and she offered. I believe it's best"
"Cas, is that what you want?" Sam carefully asked then Dean added,
"She's not brainwashing you, is she?"
A snort from the girl as Castiel shared a smile with her before answering "I can assure you both that this is what I want, and she has allowed me to choose what I want" That comment must of hit a sore spot when they both heard a quick inhale from both or one of them "Dean. You mentioned that it'll take you 17 hours to get to Lebanon, correct?"
A sigh then confirmation.
"When you get back to the bunker, will you remember to get a room ready, or will I have to do that myself?" Roxanne could clearly hear the sass in his voice but refrain from making any noise
"What do you mean? You'll be there way before us" changing the subject
"And how, pray tell, will he get into your bunker?" adding her own sass with a rolling of eyes
"As I do not possess a key to the bunker" the words 'Like I should of' laid unsaid but very acknowledged that had the older Winchester clearing his throat uncomfortably.
"So, this is what we'll do" Castiel took charge of the conversation but was interrupted,
"What makes you think we'll listen to you?" Dean challenged but Castiel and Roxanne shared a glance.
"You never listened to me when I was the Angel of the Lord"
"He's got a point, Dean" Sam said
"So maybe you'll listen to a frail human being with no idea how to be human"
"He's got you there, Dean"
"Fine" Dean grumbly said "What do you want to do?"
"Thank you for asking" They heard Sam snicker quietly "You will go on your endless nonstop drive to Lebanon while we take our time"
"Wait a minute! We didn't agree to that!"
"And again, not listening to me" they heard Sam laughing
"You more like demanded that he gets there before you AND without a way for him to get into said bunker, Winchester" Sam kept laughing.
"We will take our time driving during the day and sleep at night".
"We don't necessarily have to start at dawn; we can sleep in and have late breakfasts at whatever hotels we crash at along the way plus I think there is a carnival happening somewhere close by" Roxanne tapped her lips in thought and didn't see the excitement in Castiel's eyes.
"A carnival? Can we go?" Roxanne looked and smiled at the childlike glee in the former angels' eyes.
"Of course, we can go. Whatever you want" a low growl from the line then a shushing sound "We'll have to get you to try everything: food, rides, games".
"What a minute" Dean said over the line.
"Win prizes, meet peoples and take pictures which we will get developed on the way. Or we can get those digital cameras with a memory card for you. Which would you like, Castiel?" Roxanne asked as Castiel thought it over.
"I'd like both, please"
"Both it is then. And if there's fireworks, then we can spend another night"
As they chatted about their plan, Roxanne could hear Sam quietly talking to Dean on the line.
"Dean what's so bad about Cas going to a carnival?" that comment struck their attention and so went quiet to hear a response.
"Nothing, just nothing" clearing his throat "Just make it quick and be back in the bunker when we do" again with that no nonsense tone,
Castiel glowered at the console, crossed his arms and leaned forward. "No"
"What do you mean No? Of course, you're going to be there when"
"You don't listen to me Dean, just like I don't listen to you, even as a human. I decided we are going to the carnival, I decided we are taking our time and I've also decided that this conversation is over" Castiel pressed the red button and leaned back in his chair.
A moment later he realized what he just did, and his eyes widen.
OOOOO
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