Chapter Text
Castiel first notices the boys when driving to work. It's very early in the morning, still night by some people's standards, and he's surprised to see them. Slowing down to take a better look, he frowns when sees one of the boys huddled up under a blanket. The other boy is talking to a man, a little distance away from the other. Perhaps he muses, the boys are off on a trip with their father. He chuckles, can't be easy getting boys that age up and out. Frowning again, he wonders if the man realises that this isn't a good area of town for them to be in. Sighing, he continues onto work, but the sight of the boys never leaves him and he periodically catches himself thinking about them, and how he'd have them safely tucked up in bed that early in the morning.
After a very long day, long even by his standards, he heads home. It's already getting dark and on impulse he takes the same route home through the rougher side of town as he took to work that morning. Generally he prefers to switch and change routes, sometimes taking a more direct route, sometimes a more scenic to keep his mind focussed off of the monotony of the drive. He slows down, when he nears the area he saw the boys and their presumed father this morning. Something makes his breathing slow as he approaches the doorway of the abandoned warehouse where he saw them that morning. Not seeing anyone, it dawns on him how disappointed he is and suddenly it feels like his heart stops. At the corner of the street he spots a familiar blanket. It's huddled up against another doorway.
He slows down again and turns into the street, the turning will take him in the wrong direction but he needs to check. Seeing who it is, he stops the car and gets out. The boy suddenly stands up holding a knife in both hands and he threatens to use it if he comes any closer. Castiel holds up his hands, “I'm not going to hurt you” he says. The boy remains stiff and doesn't answer. The lad doesn't look a day over 12. Castiel hesitates before taking a step forward, hands still in the air. “What are you doing out so late?” he asks. Again the only answer is the boys scowl. He tries again, “did you run away from home son? He's about to take a step forward when he hears a gun being cocked behind him. He swirls around to see the other boy pointing a gun in his face, he looks under 18. Castiel smiles at him in an attempt to placate him. The boy glances behind him to the other and asks if he's alright. He receives a grunt in return, presumably in acknowledgement that he is fine.
The older lad looks at Castiel again. “Get back in your fuckin' car mister. We don't need no creeps around here. It's a good job our dad didn't find you or you'd be a dead peace of shit right now”. Castiel slowly lowers his hands, telling the boy he's opening his trench coat to show his badge. Whilst doing so he asks the boy his name mentioning that he himself is called Castiel. “The name's Dean” the boy says adding “and who in the fuck gets a crazy ass name like Castiel?”. Castiel smiles, “well I do for one” he answers, “my family were religious, named me after an angel actually”. The boy, Dean, Castiel corrects to himself, snorts and continues to focus on his hand. He's slowly opened up his trench coat to show his badge. He un-clips it gently from where it hangs on his shirt and slowly shows it to Dean.