Chapter Text
Castiel finished his first job of the day. Serving burgers at the 'burger hut' wasn't his favourite thing to do but it paid well, and it was his shortest job at only 4 hours a day 3 days a week, it meant he had a few extra hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and wednesday to himself. This day particular he was covering a shift at the gas n sip. He rushed home with just 1 hour to get ready.
He jogged up the few steps to his house and pushed the door open gently, knowing his father would be asleep. So he tread carefully and closed the door gently. He walked to his room and there his bag on the bed, then crept to the shower and waited for the water. As it got warm castiel got himself under the soft spray. He relaxed and washed himself quickly so he wasn't going to be late. He heard the front door open heavily and some crashing come from the front of the house. Sighing, castiel realised that his brother was home and his father would be awake. He rubbed his wet hand over his face and stepped out of the shower, putting a towel around his waist as he got to the bathroom door.
He didn't see anyone as he returned to his bedroom which made him relax. After getting dressed in a quick time of 5 minutes, castiel walked out of his door with his bag back over his shoulder. No longer wearing his greasy burger hut uniform but now wearing his very neat gas n sip shirt.
He walked down the stairs as another person appeared at the bottom. "Where you going?" Jimmy asked
"Covering a shift at the store" castiel sighed back
"Don't be late!" Jimmy replied as castiel walked past. "I need you to have Claire"
Castiel was already out the door but heard what Jimmy said last.
Castiel grabbed his bike from the side of the house and started pedaling. He thought about his family. Jimmy was his twin brother however these days they didn't look much alike. Jimmy was a recovering drug addict. He got in the wrong crowd after high school and ended up heavy in the same drugs which killed his girlfriend at the time. After that Jimmy had decided he needed to be clean and as far as castiel knew he was. Castiel lived with Jimmy, his father who was terminally ill with cancer and Jimmy's daughter Claire. Claire was 3 and a half and Castiel's reason for living. He worked 3 jobs to care for his family, though he felt some relief when he heard Jimmy was finally looking for work. Castiel helped look after Claire most nights and now that he thinks about it, most days too. As castiel arrived at the gas n sip. He tied his bike up and had one last thaught of Claire and her amazing smile and how much she looks up to castiel. Then he walked inside the sliding doors and focused on his work.
Charlie smiled as castiel set his bag down and took up his position behind the counter. Charlie was Castiel's last friend in their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas. Castiel's best friend Sam winchester had left to go to Stanford university 4 years ago. Although they had spoken on the phone, they had only seen each other 3 times since then and castiel missed him. Castiel started thinking about all the fun times he and Sam had together and also Sam's big brother Dean. Sam and Dean spent most of their time together. From what castiel could remember their father wasn't around much and he knew their mother died when they were young. Sam helped castiel a lot when his brother was going through his drug addiction. He was the reason castiel even graduated high school and went to the art college that he wanted to. Dean Winchester was the reason castiel loved driving and cars so much. Dean loved cars, especially his father's 1967 Chevrolet impala. Castiel smiled wondering if they still had the car.
Then he started wondering if castiel would ever see Sam again. He was very fond of the Winchester brothers.
"Castiel?"
Snapped out of his thaughts he realised that Charlie had her hand on his arm and was talking to him.
"Sorry Charlie" castiel shook his head "lost in thaught"
Charlie's chuckled "thinking about that girl April?"
"No Charlie" castiel forced a smile.
April was a new girl that castiel liked a lot and castiel knew she liked him. Everyone liked to tease castiel about her but in truth he wasn't all that interested. He liked her, but he sure didn't want anything with her.
"I was thinking about Sam" Charlie nodded in understanding.
"You spoke to him lately?"
Castiel shook his head. He served a customer who had walked to the desk. "Not for a few months. I guess he's busy"
"Maybe he will come visit soon?"
Now Charlie was serving her customer. "I hope so Charlie"
Charlie gave his a wide smile as she finished serving. Once the customer left castiel turned around to get some new stock from the boxes behind him. He heard the bell which meant a new customer had come in. Castiel stood up with the box and set it on the counter.
"Hey cas!"
Castiel couldn't believe his eyes. "Dean?" He beamed. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm allowed to come home right cas" Dean laughed and held his arms out "come on"
Castiel walked around the counter and gave Dean a brief hug. He hadn't spoken to Dean the whole 4 years he and Sam had been gone, they weren't best friends after all. "It's good to see you"
"Well I had to come to the area and figured I'd check in on an old buddy"
Castiel smiled and took his place back behind the counter "that's so kind of you. How have you been? How's sam!? Where is Sam?"
Dean laughed "look man you're working. Meet me later and we'll talk"
Castiel smiled softly and nodded his head "okay Dean. Their is a cafe nextdoor. There at 6?"
"Sure thing cas" Dean turned and saluting with hand. Castiel watched him leave and left himself still smiling at seeing the older Winchester. He was excited to talk to Dean.
____
Finishing his shift at 6pm exactly, castiel said goodbye to Charlie and walked just next door. He smiled as he saw Dean already sat at a small table. The bell rang as he walked in and Dean looked up at him. Dean looked a lot older and maturer then he had remembered. He always liked Dean even if he wasn't as close to him as he was to Sam. Then we he thaught about Sam he hoped that Dean wasn't here to break any bad news.
"Hey cas" Dean gestured to the chair opposite him.
"Hello again Dean"
Castiel took his seat and looked over at Dean "there isn't anything wrong right, Dean?"
Dean shook his head "of course not"
Castiel felt relief flood through him and his shoulders relaxed "thank goodness. I started thinking you were here to break some bad news"
"Nah buddy" Dean shook his head and took a sip of his coffee "Sam's good, he's great. He's actually due down here in 2 weeks"
Castiel smiled "I'm glad. It will be good to see him?"
Dean nodded and both looked at each other for a few seconds "how have you been Dean? Nobody has heard from you for 4 years"
Dean laughed gently and rubbed a hand down his face "I work for the FBI" Dean pulled out a badge and showed castiel.
"Wow! Guess you've been busy?"
Dean nodded and out away his badge "I got wounded in my last case so I got a month on rest, figured I'd come down here early and meet Sammy in 2 weeks"
Castiel nodded he didn't dare ask Dean how he was injured "how is your father?"
Dean stilled and castiel realised that wasn't a good question "he died. 2 years ago now" Dean played with his coffee mug.
"I'm sorry Dean"
"Don't worry cas" Dean half smiled "how about you? How's your family?
Castiel sniffed "crazy! Jimmy turned to drugs after high school ended up a mess. Got a girl pregnant, she died after my niece Claire was born. He's been sober as far as I know for a couple years now. My father got diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago. He's terminally ill and we've been told he only had 4 months to live now"
Dean "yeah crazy! Sorry about your dad cas"
"Thank you Dean" castiel smiled softly "where are you staying?"
"FBI let me stay in a safehouse down here. Save me paying for a hotel for a month and it's not being used right now"
Castiel smiled wide again "I have to go Dean. I have to look after Claire, it was good to see you and I'll see you around?"
Dean nodded and stood up castiel followed his lead and both men walked out of the cafe. Dean turned to castiel once outside. "Come around?"
Castiel looked at dean for a few a seconds. "Not right now" Dean held his hands up in surrender "when you're free!"
"I'd like that. We can talk about you being in the FBI for 4 years"
Dean shook his head and laughed. He then made a sip motion over his mouth "classified buddy"
"Give me your number and can text and arrange when I'm not busy?"
Dean took the phone that castiel handed to him and tapped in his number. Castiel messaged it so that dean would have his number in return.
"See you around cas" Dean held his hand up and turned to walk away. Castiel smiled and turned away himself. Ready to head home and care the most important person in his life.