Chapter Text
Castiel Novak, used-to-be doctor-in-training, was soon assigned to a small brick building near the center of the base, which Dean had designated as the hospital. Castiel tried to tell Dean that he wasn't actually a doctor, that he technically couldn't provide that much medical care for the hurt, but Dean was convinced that Cas should and would be able to help, which was the base of their conversation as Dean led the poor trainee-not-doctor to the little building.
"But I was only training, Dean." Cas continued to explain to the persistent Dean.
"But from what Jimmy tells me, you were almost done, Cas." Came the reply.
"I was still in residency!"
"Meaning-?"
"That I'm not actually a proper doctor!"
"Hey, I know you can do this." Dean said, placing a hand on Cas' shoulder. Castiel tried to hide the burning in his cheeks as they approached the building. When they entered, Cas noticed a few beds against the wall, several curtains hanging from the ceiling, and two people already working. One of the younger looking ones, which Cas guessed that he had to only be about 17, came up to the pair.
"Hey, Dean." The boy said. Dean nodded his head.
"Hey, buddy." Dean replied. He then gestured to Cas. "This is Castiel. He's our new doctor."
"Dean!" Castiel hissed. "I was a doctor-in-training!"
"How many years have you done?" The boy asked him. Cas looked over at him.
"10."
"That's better than what I got in - I only had 2 years under my belt. I'm Samandriel, by the way." he stuck out his hand. Cas shook it. "You were probably in residency, huh?"
Cas nodded and looked at Dean, raising an eyebrow that read as a silent told you so. Dean looked at him back and shrugged, with Castiel rolling his eyes. "Cas, they need a doctor. Or what could qualify as one. Little Sammy here and Gabe...well...they can only do so much." Dean said.
"Wait, Gabe-?"
"Gabriel, yeah. I think you've met?" Dean looked around and spotted the man in the corner folding bandages. At the mention of his name, Gabriel looked up and smiled. Castiel took a step back, startled, realising that he didnt even see the man when they entered.
"Nice to see you 'gain, Castiel!" he said.
"Yeah...I didn't know you were medical?" Cas asked.
"That's why I usually go out on raids." Gabe replied, coming over to meet them. "Lil' Sam doesn't have that much training, so I go out in the field, making sure the boys don't get in too much trouble." As he said this, he slapped Dean on the shoulder. Dean grimaced.
"You know me, Gabe," Dean said. "Always happy to bleed for the human race."
"Riiiight." Gabriel replied, raising and lowering his eyebrows in annoyance. "Well, if you all would excuse me, I gotta finish my chores before sundown. Plus, I wanna see if Charlie still has any goodies left over from the last time we went out." He started towards the exit. "I've been missing Sour Patch Kids like hell these days." And then he was gone.
Cas looked at Samandriel, studying him. He looked as though he had been through hell and back.
"So, you're assistant, I take it?" Cas finally asked. "I mean, not to make fun or anything."
Samandriel shrugged. "That's all I'm good for. If it wasn't for this damned virus, I would still be studying."
"Don't get that upset, man." Dean said. "Sam was on his way to be a lawyer - even studied at Stamford!"
But the blond man sighed. "But still. I wish I could be of more help."
Cas looked at him, and then felt sorry for the kid. It wasn't his fault that this virus had ruined everyone's futures. He smiled a little and took the boys' shoulder.
"But I could use all the help I can get." Castiel assured him.
---
Later that day, Cas had decided to visit his brother at the communications building. As he approached, he saw his brother leaning over something near a large satellite dish that was pointing at the sky.
"Jimmy?"
Jimmy looked up to him, and smiled. "Hey, Castiel. This place is great, isn't it? Look at all this tech stuff!" He gestured to a large black box on the ground, which had wires sticking out of it, as well as some switches and lights on it.. "Anna and I are trying to figure out the radio here. If we can get that thing going, we could get a stronger radio signal out! We can see if there are any other survivors!"
Castiel smiled. "That's great, man!"
"And what about you? Heard they put you in the hospital." Jimmy said, wiping his hands on his jeans.
Castiel sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "They needed a doctor, and they think I'm a proper one."
"Man, you were the smartest one in your class, you were a doctor."
"Not by dad's standards." Castiel said softly. Jimmy closed his eyes and quietly sighed.
"Cas..."
"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring him up." Castiel replied. It had been a little over two years, but Castiel still knew that talking about their father was a touchy subject. He knew that while he was excelling in medical school, as was the wish of their father, Jimmy had dropped out of MIT and wanted to pursue a career in application designing - something that their father was completely against, and almost made Castiel lose his brother. The day of the virus outbreak was horrendous, but all Castiel remembered was holding his father and noticing that he never once looked at the younger Novak twin, nor did he ever say anything to him as he drew his last breaths. Castiel suddenly snapped back to the present time and tried to converse as normal by asking "So, have you seen this whole place yet?"
Jimmy shook his head and walked past him to a slightly off-colored table covered in papers. "Not really. I've been working on some stuff with Charlie. You?"
"Nah."
"Maybe you should get someone to really take a tour with you? What about that redhead? What was her name...?"
"...Anna." Castiel replied quietly.
"Cas," Jimmy said, placing a hand on the table and one on his hip. "Just talk to her. I think she's in the kitchens."
"Wait-"
"Dude, just go. Don't be a pansy." Jimmy rolled his eyes. "You're such a pansy."
Cas frowned. He then turned and walked off.
He walked around the base, eventually finding himself at the cafeteria building. A few people were scrambling about, trying to prepare that night's dinner. It was a large space, with different sized tables all around, filled with people from different stages of life (and the end of the world). He spotted Garth and Ash, and Bobby and Charlie, and some of the others that Dean had introduced him to earlier. As he walked by to get his food, some people watched him, curious of the new arrival. When he finally got his dinner (which looked heavenly), he sat down at one of the empty tables. He had barely gotten one bite of bread when a figure appeared next to him. Castiel froze, slowly turning his head to see the short redhead standing next to him.
"Hey Castiel!" Anna beamed at him. "Been wondering when I was gonna see you again!" Castiel nodded quickly in response. She smiled. "Wow, I mean, I know it's only been like, a few days? So why haven't you come and seen me yet?" She asked. Castiel shrugged. She laughed at him. "Seriously, you don't have to be afraid of me."
"Er...right. I mean...I was planning on finding you..." he flushed.
Anna shook her head and continued to smile at him. "Well, Castiel. How about you take a girl to dinner?"
"We are at dinner." He replied flatly.
She laughed quietly and lightly punched him in the shoulder. "I mean, can I join you? Hate for the new kid to sit all alone on the first day of school."
---
"So there I was, surrounded by like, 10 zombs, when Dean shows out of nowhere and kills them all!" Anna was saying over dinner. The pair were now sharing a plate of the most amazing spaghetti, and Castiel was listening intently as Anna was talking about how she came to the base.
"Well, long-story-short, I was brought here, taught how to use a gun properly, and Dean has me go out on supply runs." She scooped some of her food into her fork and ate it, chewing her food as she continued. "And sometimes you can catch me here, since I'm a decent cook too." She swallowed and then gestured to him with her fork. "I heard you got assigned to the hospital?"
"Yeah, even though I'm not a doctor." He replied.
Anna looked at him, confused. "I thought you had some years of medical school in your belt?"
"Exactly. I didn't get to finish."
"It's better than nothing, isn't it?"
"I..." Cas stopped and sighed. "Yeah."
"Well, we need a doctor - or at least, an almost-doctor, around here."
Castiel scooped some more noodles into his mouth, feeling his hand shaking, but he ignored it. "So...do you have any family here?"
"Nope." Anna replied flatly. "My mother died trying to get me out of Miami..."
"My condolences."
"It's alright...and thanks." Anna twirled her fork around her side of the pasta. "She would be happy that I got out of there, and that I'm safe. Not a lot of people can say that. Miami was deadly, and I was able to make out of there alive! It's a pretty cool story to tell now."
Cas looked down at his food. "Yeah."
Silence.
"Castiel, can I ask you something?"
Cas looked up from his plate. "Sure."
"You and Jimmy...you two weren't always alone, were you?"
"No, we had a dad...he was in charge as we traveled around...he's gone."
"And your mom?"
"Died in the first few hours of the virus attack...my father tried to save her, but couldn't. He-" Castiel swallowed what tasted like bile rising in his throat. "He had to decapitate her to make sure she didn't turn. I still see her sometimes, crying for him to kill her." He shuddered. "I begged Jimmy not to look."
"My god." Anna replied, her hand rising to her mouth. "That's horrible."
"Yeah, but I didn't see him do it. I turned away while he raised the axe, so I guess that is a bit comforting." He replied, looking down at his plate. "I'm glad she passed when she did, though. What Jimmy and I have been through...I don't think she could've handled it. She was too good for that."
They sat in silence for a moment. Anna kept looking at him, compassion in her eyes. She then reached across the table to take his hand in hers. "I bet she was lovely."
"She would've loved you."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
Cas froze. "Shit-I meant-"
But Anna smiled and giggled a little. "I get it. I'm a good person. We would've gotten along."
Castiel looked at her, and started to feel something rise from his stomach - but it wasn't bile...it felt...light.
"What was her name?"
"Hannah."
"What a pretty name."
"And she was pretty." Castiel replied, tilting his head and sighing. "She was like an angel. I guess all the Novak woman were."
"Novak? Oh right, that's your last name. Duh." Anna laughed softly. Castiel laughed with her.
"It's a weird last name, I know."
"Not as weird as Milton, but I guess." Anna rubbed her thumb across the Castiel's closed hand. He looked down at their enclosed palms, and noticed how soft her hands were. He followed her arm, to her face, and realized that she was glowing. Anna blinked and gave a little grin.
"You're staring, Cas."
"Sorry..."
"No, no you're...fine." She said softly, staring at him back. They just looked at each other for what seemed like forever. He could see the faint freckles on her nose, the way her hair was parted to the left side, the way her mouth was open in a small 'o'. How he wanted to kiss that little 'o'.
"And your dad?" Anna asked quietly.
"Gone."
"What happened?"
"He died, trying to save us." Castiel breathed in. "I don't-"
"I'm sorry!" Anna said, worry coming on her face. "I didn't mean to get on a touchy subject. But..." He looked at the way her eyebrows were starting to crinkle together bit. "Novak...that sounds familiar..."
Cas froze. "Er, yeah it does. It's common." he said quickly, trying to change the subject. "I'm not hungry anymore. I can take you back to your quarters."
Anna looked at him. "Um, okay?"
"Sorry..." Cas said, standing up. "I mean...my family, all i've talked about is my family..."
"Right." Anna replied, standing up as well. The two walked out of the cafeteria. They walked a few feet in silence, until Anna spoke again.
"Cas, listen-"
"No, it's okay. Really. One day, I'll get around to talking about my dad again. But until then..."
"I understand. I'm sorry, really."
Cas looked at her and smiled. "When the time's right, I'll explain everything to you."
After their dinner, Anna offered to walk him around the base, saying that it was actually pretty nice at night, with it being lit up. "But there's as place you have to see." She said as she led the way. When they arrived at one part of the base, the two talking about the good old days, Anna stopped suddenly, and looked up. "Wow. You don't get to see that in the city." Cas looked up as well.
The night sky was full of brilliant stars - a sight unknown to major cities. Cas sighed. "It's beautiful."
"If there was only one good thing about the whole 'apocalypse' thing, it would be this." Anna said. "No more bright lights to dim the stars."
"Yeah..."
When they finally reached one of the sleeping quarters, they stopped outside the door. Castiel suddenly felt very nervous.
"Cas..."
"Y-yeah?"
Anna smiled."Goodnight."
"G-goodnight, Anna."
She looked at him, and then opened the door. Castiel sighed loudly when her figure disappeared behind the closing door, and groaned inwardly.
"You idiot!" He said to himself. "That was a signal to kiss her you gigantic IDIOT!" He hit himself in the head as he walked towards the hospital. "This is why you were single during high school, you moron..."
Castiel started walking back to the hospital. The base was dimly lit (naturally, to keep them hidden from outside forces), and it was that light that guided him to the hospital doors. He quietly entered and looked around the room to make sure no one was inside. When he saw that the coast was clear, he went over to his desk and grabbed the back hidden underneath it. Once he had the back in his lap, he un-zipped the bag and reached in gingerly. He breathed in a sigh of relief - it was all still intact. He pulled out the two blood-filled syringes and laid on on the desk.
After taking out all of the contents of his bag, he started working on carefully opening the bags - the blood bags marked O-positive, clean and red, and the others, dirty and dark red, for the next few hours. Castiel kept a ready ear for the door, however - he knew if he was caught...
---
The next morning, Cas did all he could to avoid Anna - he didn't think it would be right for an idiot like him to be with a girl like her - and asked Jimmy to bring him some breakfast at the hospital. Jimmy, thankfully, didn't pry as to why Castiel was hiding out.
Later that day, as Cas was counting the number of useable syringes in stock (only a few were probably infected - Samandriel kept the place decently stocked, which was incredible), Dean showed up, two shotguns in hands. When Cas saw him, confusion swept over his face.
"Dean?"
"I think it's high time you learned how to shoot, Cas."
Cas shook his head. "No way. I could kill someone with that thing."
Dean smiled and handed a shotgun to him. "That's the idea."
---
"Now, the trick is to brace for the kick."
Dean and Cas were now in the back of the base, furthest from where anyone would just wander through. Castiel didn't know they had a shooting range, but he did now. Several cardboard dummies were placed in different directions in front of him - he could see bullet holes through many of them. Gulping, he raised the shotgun to eye level.
"Now...breathe." Dean was telling him. Cas breathed in and out, trying to steady the shakiness that was about to get to his hands. He breathed in again.
"Now, carefully, pull the trigger."
Cas felt his finger gently pull on the trigger.
And he found himself on his butt on the ground.
"Woah." he breathed out.
Dean, however, was laughing. "Some kick, huh?"
"Yeah...it's been a while..." Cas started to get up, and felt his shoulder hurt - he knew there had to be a bruise there. He rubbed it gingerly. "Some kick."
"Ah, it's okay, Cas - wait. 'Been a while?'"
"Yes, Dean." Castiel resting the gun beside his leg. "My father taught Jimmy and I from a young age."
"Woah, I thought you didn't know. Like, at all."
Castiel shrugged. "Most people didn't know. I didn't like it too much. I focused on my dream of medical school."
Dean stood there, a little bit of shock on his face. "How long has it been, then?"
"I don't know...last time I shot anything I was about, 9." Castiel replied. "What about you? How old where you?"
"I was 5 when my dad put a gun in my hands."
"That's a little young."
Dean nodded. "Yeah, but my dad was always a hunter. Was so excited to get a boy, to teach him how to hunt buck and stuff. Got double excited when Sam was born." Dean tapped his gun with his hand. "Took me a while to get the hang of it, but Sam...natural, he was." Dean replied. He then turned, raised his shotgun to his eyes. The gun blast nearly deafened Cas as the bullet went straight through the dummy's head. "But all you have to do is practice. You'll be shooting those corpses like your teacher here."
Cas sighed. "Practice is gonna kill my shoulder."
---
After about an hour of shooting dummies and sandbags, Castiel finally had a hold on how to shoot - now, shooting the dummy though the head was the next part. Dean promised Cas another lesson later, after a supply run.
"Oh, and keep the gun." Dean said, as they were walking back to the hospital. "Never know when you're gonna need it."
When they reached the hospital, the pair saw Anna leaning in the doorway. Cas seized up. Dean noticed this.
"What's your problem?" he asked.
Cas hissed back, "Anna."
"What about her?"
"I...She...We..."
"Dude!" Dean smiled. "Did you take out Anna last night?"
"Maybe."
"Awesome!" Dean slapped Cas' shoulder, and Cas winced visibly. "Did you kiss her?"
Cas didn't say anything. As they got closer and closer to the hospital, he could hear Dean chuckle quietly.
"Huh, now I see why you're freaking out." Dean said. "You know, I'm kinda the suave guy with the ladies," he grinned stupidly and winked. "I could teach you how to-"
"Cas!" Anna's voice called out, and instantly he froze. He stared at Dean, who raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"Good luck, buddy." And with that, Dean sauntered off. Cas almost wanted to grab the man by the arm and punch him when Anna walked up in front of him. Castiel quickly breathed in.
"H-hey, Anna." Cas said.
"I've been looking all over for you! I just wanted to tell you that last night-"
"Oh god, I'm so sorry!" Cas said, putting a hand on his face. "I'm such an idiot! I knew I should've kissed you, Anna, but my brain just froze! I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!"
"What?" Anna replied. "I was just going to tell you that last night was awesome...you wanted to kiss me?"
Cas' fear flooded his face. "Y...yes?"
Anna smiled, and grabbed his shirt. Before Cas could react, he felt her soft lips against his. He stood there, frozen for a few seconds, before melting into the kiss. After what felt like a lifetime, they separated.
"Woah..." Cas whispered.
"I was just about to say that." Anna whispered back.
---
A few hours later...
Cas stretched his arms and pulled Anna closer to him, who was smiling and looking up at him.
"Hello." He said, planting a kiss on the top of her head. She hugged him.
"Hi."
"I bet everyone's wondering where we got off to..."
She shook her head. "We were only gone a few hours. Dinner's not until way later, and I don't think anyone's dying."
"Right."
They stayed in bed a few more minutes, and Cas finally sat up. He went over and picked up his clothes, as well as tossing some of Anna's onto her side of the bed. When they had finished redressing (and with Anna combing down Cas' sex hair), they hugged, kissed again, and both left the sleeping quarters. When they both went their separate ways, Cas couldn't help but smile. This happiness was apparent when Dean approached him.
"Dude, you look...different." He said. "You alright?"
"I feel awesome, Dean."
Dean gave him a quizzical look, and then shrugged. "Alright then. I just wanted to see if you'd be interested in guarding tonight - we need another man up in the tower."
"Yeah, sure."
"Thanks man. Just get up there when you're ready - and ask for Chuck. He'll show you what to do."
Cas later found out, as he was talking to Dean, that the raid that he and the others were to go on was in something called 'dead space', which Cas questioned.
"Dead space is just...well..." Dean rubbed his neck. "It's enemy territory, basically."
"Enemy territory? Isn't the enemy, well, the zombies?"
"Kinda, well...yeah. But there's more out there than zombs, Cas. Other survivors, but with a different idea on how to re-live life. And then there's the government-"
"Government?" Cas interrupted. "You mean, the US Government? They're still trying to kill us off?"
"I dunno where you've been, Cas." Dean replied. "But they haven't stopped killing everyone since day one. Remember the military back in the day, killing off those who were not even infected? Where do you think they got their orders?"
"But, if you're going into this dead space, wouldn't that be considered, oh I don't know, dangerous?"
"Don't worry," Dean said, patting his pistol in his thigh-holster. "I live for danger."
Cas rolled his eyes and sighed. "Right."
---
After dinner, Cas made his way to the watchtower, which was a pretty impressive sight, considering it was probably over 25 feet high, and completely made of metal - how the Winchesters were able to build it, Cas couldn't imagine. When he reached the ladder at the foot of the tower, he climbed it to one of the levels, where a short man was standing. When Cas reached the level, he coughed. The man turned around.
"Oh, hey! You must be Castiel!" The man walked to him and shook hands with Cas. "Name's Chuck Shurley."
"Castiel Novak, hi." Cas then frowned. "I thought you worked in communications?"
"Eh, I dabble. If anything, Charlie is the real tech geek around here. Every so often, I go down there and check up on things. Dean thinks coming to me will solve everything, when, in fact, I can't. And you can only do so much now that electricity is basically extinct." Chuck sighed. "So, if anyone tells you that I work in comms, they basically want me to fix up the satellite that's up on the top of the tower."
Cas nodded. "I see."
"So..." Chuck said. "Your brother, Jimmy...he's pretty awesome at the technology, huh? Who's older?"
"I am. 2 minutes."
"Well, I've gotta say, when I met your brother on that first day, I thought he was one-of-a-kind...that was, until I found out he was an identical twin!" Chuck smiled. "Also, he's pretty much genius. But don't let Charlie know that - gotta let the gal keep her pride!"
"Yeah." Cas replied. "Wait...who's Charlie again?"
"Charlie? Charlie Bradbury?"
Castiel shook his head.
"The redhead?"
That's when he remembered. "Oh, the D&D girl?"
"Oh, dude!" Chuck grinned and slapped Cas on his shoulder, which was still a bit sore. "Ain't she the best? But don't go chasing after her, believe me." He closed his eyes and sighed. "Men aren't her strong suit. And I should know - I chased after that beautiful red-head for almost 7 months - with no luck and a horrible dampening to my pride."
"Strong suit...?"
"Let's just say that she doesn't swing that way."
"Oh," Cas replied, finally realising what he meant. "Right."
"So, Castiel-" Chuck said.
"You can call me Cas."
"Alright...Cas...thanks for taking the job tonight, man." Chuck said, sighing and stretching his neck. "Overlooking everything, well, it has its cons. One of them is lack of sleep, and, in my case, 34 hours of it." He looked out onto the base, which was probably only about 10 feet below them. "So this is the lower level - we can see the base completely, but not around it - you have to go up a level. That level," he said, pointing upwards. "let's you see almost 3 miles around the whole base. Not bad, when trying to stop hordes from reaching us. Also holds the satellite, like I said before. Pretty important in contacting other bases and finding survivors on the frequency."
Cas nodded. "Impressive. Are you off then?"
"Yeeeep." Chuck replied, placing his hands on his lower back and slightly leaning backwards. "For me, it's sleep time. So if you don't mind, I could show you the rest after I sleep for 100 years?"
"Not at all." Castiel chuckled, moving slightly so that Chuck could walk towards the ladder..
"Thanks, Cas. I'll see you at dawn." Chuck was about to lower himself unto the ladder when he stopped. "Oh, and there's several crates of guns over there," he pointed to a corner, which Cas noticed had a significant amount of guns and ammunition boxes. "If you see something that isn't human, light up one of the flares. It'll give a signal to the base to prepare for an attack. And if you happen to see anything, well, unusual inside, around, or on the base walls, take arms and shoot it."
"That's an impressive supply. You don't mind if I stay up here then, help you out?"
"Dude, you'd be helping my sorry ass so much if you did that." Chuck replied. "And up here, I mean, that supply has to be, being the watchdog. I like being the sniper, the guard who warns of danger. It keeps me feeling a bit powerful, since I am pretty much useless at anything else. Anyway, see ya." Chuck lowered himself out of sight, and Cas watched from above as Chuck went into one of the sleeping quarters.
"Watches over everything, huh?" Cas mumbled, looking out towards the horizon. "Kinda sounds like the job that God used to do..."
---
The next hours of watching over the sleeping base proved to be uneventful, and Cas was eventually released from that position when a messy-haired Chuck appeared on the ladder, telling him that Dean was looking for him. With a sore neck and an empty stomach, Cas climbed down the tower and went to the kitchen. He saw Dean and Sam in line for some breakfast, and joined behind them. "Hey guys." he said. Sam turned his head and smiled.
"Hey, Cas. How was watch duty?"
Cas rubbed his neck, and then picked up a paper plate. "Uneventful."
"That's how most watches are, unfortunately." Sam replied. Dean nodded next to him.
"Ywep." Dean had stuffed a roll in his mouth. "It was nwice uf you to help Chuck."
"Dean, that's gross." Sam cut in.
"Whatever, mwan." Came the reply, followed by a swallow. "I was up all night doing research, didn't have time to eat. I'm starving."
Same rolled his yes and resumed to eat his food, while an annoyed Dean rolled his eyes and stuffed another his mouth. But it didn't take long for Dean to start another conversation.
"So...you and Anna huh?" came the blunt question.
Cas choked and coughed a piece of his eggs back up. "How-?"
"Word travels fast 'round here." Dean replied, a huge smirk on his face.
"Well..." Cas said slowly. "The word is, uh, true."
"Dude!" Dean reached over and slapped Cas' shoulder.
"Uh, thanks?"
"Ignore him, Cas." Sam said, eating into his toast. "For some reason, he's more interested in you getting laid then he is keeping his gun clean."
"Hey! My gun IS clean!" Dean exclaimed.
"Yeah? Let's see it then." Sam asked.
Huffing, Dean reached to his thigh and pulled his pistol out, gingerly handing it to his younger brother. Sam surveyed the weapon, and then opened it.
"Dude, there's a whole lotta grime in there."
"So?" Dean snapped, taking the gun back. "The world is dirty - it is bound to get dirty sometimes."
"Yeah, on occasion. But jeez, it seems like it hasn't been cleaned in like, days."
"Shut up, Sam."
Cas couldn't help but smile.
---
When they had finished breakfast, Sam decided to go look for Bobby (who sort of intimidated Castiel to no end), while Dean handed Cas a shotgun. Cas groaned.
"You have to learn how to shoot, man!" Dean replied to the groan.
"Can't I just have a pistol?"
"A pistol is a secondary weapon - to use in case you get yourself cornered. A shotgun is gonna save your life. Plus, a shotgun has more kick than a pistol - you can kill a zom with one shot from a shotgun to at least four in a pistol."
"Whatever, Dean." Cas sighed, placing the gun on his shoulder. As they walked to the shooting range, Cas adjusted the heavy gun on his shoulder. "Why couldn't I use an axe, like Anna?"
"Cause Anna is good at axes."
"I could be good too? Some people are just not born to shoot a gun."
"Where in the hell did you hear that from?" Dean asked. Cas shook his head.
"I didn't. I figured it was the truth, considering that I can't even make a shot through the head of a dummy without falling over."
"You'll get the hang of it, Cas." Dean replied. "Here, I'll make you a promise - after several shooting sessions with me, if you can't make a head-shot through one of those targets, THEN I'll consider handing you an axe or a sword. But until then," Dean placed some shotgun shells in Cas' hand. "Gun."
Cas sighed loudly, then finally put the shells into the gun. He cocked it, and then raised it to eye-level. "Hate you."
"No you don't." came the response.
A few minutes later (after Cas had finally successfully shot through the heart of a dummy), Dean took away the shotgun. Cas raised an eyebrow.
"I thought-?"
"I know what I said...but it seems you're getting better." Dean said. "Plus, it doesn't hurt that I'm your teacher."
"Some teacher."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"All you do is stand there and watch me waste bullets." Cas replied, shrugging. "And telling me to shoot through the head."
"Dude, I'm an awesome teacher." Dean said, frowning.
"Yeah, okay." Cas replied, and almost turned away to leave when Dean grabbed his shoulder. Cas stopped. "Dude, let go."
"C'mon, man! I can't take you to raids unless you learn how to shoot!"
That made the both of them freeze. Cas turned his head to look at him. "What?"
"I..er...never mind."
"You... want to take me...on a raid?" Cas said slowly. Cas couldn't believe his ears - a raid meant being with Dean. Wait, why does that sound so good all of the sudden? He thought.
Dean looked at him. "Only if you can make a decent head-shot-"
But Cas suddenly took the shotgun from Dean's hand, and raised it. Before Dean could interject, Cas aimed for the head of the dummy. With a slight pull of the trigger, the bullet connected to its target. Cas smiled.
"Looks like I'm going with you on the next raid." he said.
Dean just stood there, speechless. Castiel couldn't help but laugh but at him. After a few seconds, Dean joined in the laughter. The two kept on howling, with Castiel reaching out trying to grab Dean's shoulder- but the second they touched, a sudden shock ran through the both of them. Castiel's blue eyes met Dean's green eyes, and for a moment, Castiel swore that time stood still.
"Uh..." Cas started. He then realised his hand was still on Dean's shoulder, and quickly pulled away.
"It's fine." Dean interjected. "I'll uh...see when we leave next..."
The air around them filled with awkward tension.
"I've got to go." They both suddenly said, and then went their separate ways. Castiel could swear that everyone was staring at him as he tried to nonchalantly walk back to the hospital, but he had a feeling his bright-red heat-feeling face was like a beacon, and he prayed that no one else could see him as he entered the hospital and slunk down against the wall unto the floor.
---
That night, while Castiel and Anna were cuddling in her bed, Cas couldn't help but feel his chest weighing heavier when he thought about what happened with Dean. He looked down at his chest and saw Anna lying on him. He loved watching her chest rise and fall against his, and he actually felt at peace, for once. He sighed deeply.
"Anna?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"I just have a question...about Dean?"
"Sure." Anna looked up at him. "What's up?"
"Has he always been leader?"
Anna sighed. "Well, when the virus hit," she started. "Sam and Dean's father actually took them here. He believed that this whole thing was going to blow over, but their mother insisted they stay somewhere safe. When she died...well, his father kinda lost it. When he went off for a raid, Dean took over, and started bringing in more people for shelter." Anna adjusted her head on Castiel's shoulder before continuing. "Apparently, that pissed off John, who believed that saving people wasn't his, or Dean's, problem. You can say that Dean and his dad were on off-terms when he died."
"Wait...died?" Castiel blinked in shock. "But Dean said-"
"Dean doesn't like to face the truth. Even to this day, he still thinks that his dad is out there, getting supplies...that he'll show up at the gates like before." Anna adjusted herself slightly to look up at him. "Cas...John Winchester died several months ago. He was trying to save Mary from a freak fire that alerted a bunch of zombs. I don't know if you remember that fire that happened upstate, I think it was last January?"
"That one that took out that entire town?" Castiel responded. "I think so...was it the the one that people claimed was the government's fault?"
Anna nodded. "That's the one."
Cas felt his eyes widen. "Woah. I knew that the government was chaotic but...after what happened in D.C. and Chicago, I just figured they let their military do their dirty work. Plus, I thought they had stopped doing that forever ago."
"Chicago.? You've been there?"
"You haven't?"
"Well, no. I'm a southern girl, by trade."
"Chicago went to hell after the virus struck. My brother and I barely escaped with our lives from there." Castiel felt his throat freeze a little. "It mostly hit the city, but it spread so quickly to the suburbs..."
"My god...that's...that's horrible." She replied, her voice soft.
That's when Castiel closed his eyes, his head starting to ache. "Could we talk about that at a different time? It's-"
"I get it. No really, I do." Anna said, rubbing her hand in circles on his chest. "Sorry."
"It's fine. So, Dean...he keeps a cool composure, huh?" Cas said. "I didn't know that about him."
"Most people don't. Dean keeps a long of things close to the chest. Sam, though, he'll tell you anything you need to know."
Cas looked up at the ceiling, breathing softly. "But Dean seems so...oh I don't know...fine?"
"He acts that way for the base." Anna replied. "If your leader was seen as unstable, you wouldn't want them leading you, right? Dean plays the act that he's fine and collected...but he's seriously hurting. I've been his friend forever now, but he still won't talk to me about his dad, or his mom, or before this all happened."
"And...he doesn't have anyone here to help him? Like, talk through it? He sounds like he needs a therapist."
"Other than Sam? No." Anna said, closing her eyes. "There was Michael, but after he died-"
"Michael?" Cas asked.
"Dean's old flame."
"Old-?" Cas choked. He sat up, bringing Anna's head with him. She stared at him, confused.
"Yeah...his boyfriend. I mean, he mostly sticks to girls now, but...oh come on Castiel! I thought you figured that out already."
"I..." Cas just sat there, flabbergasted. "I didn't..."
"Like I said," Anna said quietly, laying her hand on his chest. "Most people don't know." When he didn't say anything, she spoke again. "He doesn't like opening up to people."
"God..." Cas replied, putting a hand on his forehead. "I'm just shocked, you know? Dean just seems like he would be into ladies...I mean, totally into ladies."
"Playing the act...that's the Dean Winchester way." came her reply. "I know it, Sam knows it, everyone knows it. He will break hearts and skulls before he ever talks to anyone about his feelings."