Chapter Text
“Hey, Winchester!” Benny called out from the second floor of the station, to Dean below.
“Hey, Cap. What’s up?”
“I’ve got a dispatcher calling me about a fire down in the old abandoned Sioux Falls Catholic Church. Dispatch says it’s from a repeat caller, some old lady who is not really there in the head. They said just send one person, just in case, but they don’t think a fire is really happening. Probably just some teenage stoners. Everyone else is working on something, can you take the pickup down there and just check it out? Call in if you need us, but I think you’ll be alright:”
“Sounds good, Cap. See ya in a bit.”
Dean put on some of his gear, put the rest in the passenger seat of the pickup, which had smaller versions of all the hoses and equipment the actual truck had. He carried a gun, but he always did, had a license.
He arrived at the church, getting out of the car and walking to the door. He had to mess with it a bit, but he finally got in. It was still before sunrise, so he used his flashlight and looked around a bit. He reached the altar, and noticed a small fire, almost like a campfire, burning. He put it out, amused with such an odd situation.
He walked around a bit more, curiously. He approached the old confession booths, peeking inside, when suddenly, he was grabbed from behind.
Dean fought like hell, but this guy was strong, and well trained. He didn’t see his face, but the guy pinned him to ground, holding deans arms behind his back.
“Who are you?” Asked the deep but young voice. “How did you find me?”
Dean, steadying his breath, scanned his brain for what to do.
“Hey, hey! I’m not trying to hurt you, man, alright? I’m a firefighter, I got a call about a small fire here, so I came to check it out. I’m guessing that was yours then.”
“Really? Then why are you carrying a gun?”
“Well, I have a license for open-carrying. My dad always wanted me to carry a gun as a teen.”
The mystery man was silent. Dean felt him relax and let Dean go. The man got up, brushing himself off. Dean quickly got up and turned around.
The man was probably a little younger than Dean, with black hair and deep blue eyes. He was really skinny, despite being so strong, and he carried a gun and a blade on his belt. He was dressed in all black, with an emblem on the shirt.
“Yeah, okay uh, my turn. Who the hell are you? What’s the emblem for? Are you okay? Why are you here?”
The man stood and stared at Dean silently. He appeared to be thinking, the hesitantly began introducing himself.
“My name is Castiel. I don’t know what the emblem is.” Castiel looked away. “I’m fine… and i’m just here to… smoke.”
“Well, okay, Cas, have you ever seen a cop show where when the unsub is lying, they twitch their eye or something?”
“What is a cop show?”
Dean opened his mouth in shock, then decided not to judge.
“It’s a television program about police officers. But my point being, everyone has a ‘tell’ when they lie. Yours is breaking eye contact. So let’s start that again, shall we? What’s the emblem for? And why are you here?”
Castiel stood silently.
“Alright, Castiel. Either you tell me the truth or I take you to the police for trespassing on private property. Your choice.”
“The emblem is for the Garrison. I’m here to hide.” Castiel answered coldly.
“Ok. That’s a start. How old are you?”
“I joined the Garrison in 1981.”
“Okay well there’s no way you’re over 20, so I guess that’s when you were born. Cool. Um. What is the Garrison?”
“I cannot reveal that information to you.”
“Tell or I tell the cops.”
“They’ll kill me.”
Deans eyes widened.
“Excuse me?”
Castiel shook his head.
“They’ll terminate me.”
Dean hesitantly but worriedly got closer to Castiel.
“Woah, man. Who would kill you?”
“The Garrison. They already want me dead.”
“Hey man, it’s okay. They can’t kill you. That’s like, illegal.”
Castiel looked at him, panicked.
“I have to hide.”
Dean felt something take over him. Against his best judgement, he decided to help this ‘Castiel’.
“I can hide you, man. I can help. Can you come with me?”
Castiel looked at him with newfound hope and shock. He nodded, and Dean gently put his hand on Castiel’s shoulder, where he flinched but then calmed.
Dean led him to the pickup. He put his firefighting gear in the backseat, and Castiel got into the front seat.
Dean started the car to warm Castiel, as it was 24° outside. He was shivering, and Dean felt awful for him.
He called in to the fire station to check in and call in sick.
He picked up the radio receiver, then turned to Castiel.
“I’m not revealing you or anything. I have to tell my captain that the situation was fine and I got sick. Don’t worry.”
He pressed the receiver and spoke to Benny.
“Hey Captain, the church wasn’t on fire, just a couple of teenage stoners. I did kick up years worth of dust though, and my —“ He sneezed realistically. “allergies kind of came up. Is it alright if I go home earlier?”
A few moments later, Benny responded.
“All good Dean. We were a little overstaffed today anyway. Feel better soon.”
Dean glanced over at Castiel. “All good then. Let’s go man.”
Dean put the truck in drive and drove back over to the fire station to switch cars, then drove Castiel to his house.
When they arrived, Castiel hesitantly got out of the car. He looked around, extremely aware of everything that was happening.
By “Everything”, that really just meant Dean’s car turning off, and the birds were chirping, and the winding was moving the long grass.
But Castiel followed Dean inside.