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I awoke from my slumber, hearing a loud clatter from outside of my room. Dad had booked us into adjourning rooms, one for me and one for him and for Cas. Looking at the door, I see a blue light from underneath, just like what I saw at Bobby’s in 1988. Getting out of bed, I slowly open my door, peeking around in time to see Cas stood, all powerful. It’s a new sight, seeing Cas looking powerful, especially over my dad. Dad looks shocked, as if he wants to reprimand Cas. Neither of them see me peeking around the door, so I assume its safe to stay hidden here.
I watch intently as Castiel holds out his arm, touching dads face. Dad doesn’t fight back, which is strange and I’m curious to why, but my eyes widen when bright light shines from his face. I enter the room at that point, my face likely looking shocked. Cas looks up at that moment, Castiel’s eyes the lighter blue that they were at Bobby’s. I walk over, not knowing what to say and it seems Cas is having the same reaction, but then I also see shock on his face.
Walking around, my eyes widen as I see dad’s face, his eyes are burnt out, and his head tilted to the side. He doesn’t seem to be breathing either. I turn to Cas who’s eyes turn back to normal. “C-Cas. What…. What did you do?”
“I believe I killed your father.” Castiel informs me, seemingly confused. “He was.. talking about how ‘shitty sons’ he has and how you’re selfish. All very wrong about both you and Sam.”
“But I thought if you killed him you would die?” I frown, not really caring about why he had killed dad. Hell, he’d had it coming long ago, if it wasn’t going to be Cas it would have been Bobby or some other hunter. “Cas, I don’t… I don’t want you to die. I can’t lose you.”
“I don’t know why I’m still alive, or why I’m not feeling any repercussions from my actions.” Castiel pulls at his shirt, looking at his chest. A look of shock spreads across his face. “It seems the sigil has disappeared. I don’t know how.”
“That’s brilliant Cas! You’re free!” I cry joyfully, walking to him and I pull him into a hug. “God, Cas. I love you. I’m- I’m glad you killed him… I can get Sammy back to me now.”
I missed that little jerk to no end. Castiel chuckles slightly, and I feel him kiss my hair. “I love you too Dean. I seem to have my… powers back. Before we journey to get your brother, I would like to take you on an adventure. Take you to places you’ve always deserved to visit yourself, and maybe go back to what was my favourite time on earth.”
I look at him confused but nod at him. Cas puts two fingers against my forehead, and it all goes black.
American Revolutionary War 1775-1783
1774
I come around to find I’m in a street, stood next to Cas who was looking around thoughtfully. I feel his hand on the small of my back. I look around, realising I’m not in the US at all. I look around, taking in my surroundings, outside a big building seems to be a flagpole with the British flag on it, however it looks different, and I can’t seem to put my fingers on what. Cas seems to see my confusion because he decides to speak. “That’s the old flag, from before 1801. The flag as you know it has red in the diagonal parts, but the only red is for the cross.”
I nod my understanding before it fully sinks in what he said. “Woah dude, did you just say before 1801?”
Castiel nods tilting his head. “I did. Because we are in 1774 currently.” He’s speaking quiet as men with fancy coats walk past and with weird top hat things on. I look at him shocked. “I don’t want anyone to hear that we’re from the future, could really mess with the timeline.”
I nod, following him as we take a few steps waiting for him to explain what we’re doing here. “Well, I thought this is educational and I remember you used to enjoy reading about the American Revolutionary War in 1775 to 1783. And this is the lead up to it. I promise we’ll see the actual war.”
“Woah dude that awesome! How did you get us here?” I ask and he doesn’t answer. Instead, he keeps walking to a fence. “Is it your powers?”
“Indeed.” Cas nods. “This is the Houses of Parliament in London. This is the lead up to the revolutionary war starting. Trouble was already brewing in the states and parliament over here has been passing many taxes on the colonists back in America. The colonists didn’t particularly like the laws they were enforcing.”
Castiel explains, and I nod along. Finding him a much better history teacher than I ever had when I was in schools. “The British were only passing these laws because of the French and Indian War that was fought in North America, it left Great Britain with a massive debt, and they had to pay back. They fought the ‘long and costly’ war under the guise of protecting the American subjects from the powerful French in Canada. However, because of this, they decided it was right to tax the American colonists for help to pay the bills for the war.”
We keep our walking pace, slow and steady. I take in my sights, people are more formally dressed compared to back in my time, however the poor seem to be in rags. I take in all the information Cas is telling me. Castiel pays no mind to our surroundings, except where we’re walking. But I suppose that has to do with the fact that he was likely around or something when it was going on.
“Americans disagreed with Britain’s taxes and with why they fought the war, believing they only fought to strengthen its empire and increase its wealth. Parliament was also elected in England and the colonists believed that lawmakers living in England couldn’t understand the colonist’s need,” Castiel explains as we round a corner.
“I agree,” I tell him, unsure of if I should or not but he nods. “I mean, we’re hours away and I don’t think correspondence to and from would have been easy.”
Castiel nods. “Well, the colonists decided that since they weren’t permitted to take part in voting for members of the parliament and they were not represented, parliament wouldn’t have the right to take their money by imposing the taxes, and as you know, ‘no taxation without representation’ became the American rallying cry.”
Castiel puts his fingers against my forehead again and it goes black. This time, I open my eyes to find I’m in a different place and realised I’m outside of a congress building in North Carolina. “We’re still in 1974 at the moment, but this is where the Massachusetts legislature issued calls for all of the colonies to meet at Philadelphia to discuss and consider the problems. Royal Governor Josiah Martin refused to call a meeting of North Carolina’s legislature in time to select delegates to go to Philadelphia. Those who favoured independence formed a provincial congress that sent representatives to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia the following September. Next time you open your eyes it’ll be 1775.”
I nod, and before I can say anything, Castiel presses his fingers against my forehead again.
1775
I open my eyes seeing we’re in the same place, but it looks different already. Soldiers are armed, lined up everywhere and I look at Cas, knowing he said he used to be a soldier. Gunshots are heard loud, presumably able to hear from afar. “So, this is the start, huh?”
“Movement against the English rule spread rapidly and in April 1775, British soldiers, called Lobsterstacks because they wore red coats and minutemen, the colonist’s military exchanged gunfire at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. They called it ‘the shot heard around the world’.” I giggle as Cas tells me, imagining hearing gunshots from the states all the way over in Britain. Cas gives me a funny look and I stop giggling. “This isn’t amusing Dean, it’s war. War is serious.”
Cas seems to speak from experience, maybe its whatever he was a soldier for. But it’s the first time he’s really scolded me, apart from when I self-depreciate myself. “Your right, sorry Cas.”
Cas nods. “North Carolina joined the following month, and in New Bern on May the 23rd, future governor Abner Nash led a group of Whigs – the ones who favoured independence – to Tryon Palace to seize the cannon. Governor Martin became the first royal governor in the colonies to flee office, just eight days later. Seeking refuge in Fort Johnston at the mouth of Cape Fear River, he had to leave the fort in July and fled to the safety of a British ship anchored offshore.”
I nod, not wanting to speak, savouring the time with Cas that we haven’t had much of (except when I’d convince dad to let me take him) and listening intently as he speaks. Everything sounding more fascinating with him telling me.
“The Old North State was the scene of suffering caused by the war for independence for eight years. There were battles and bloodshed, with the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge in the February of 1776. And many more.” Castiel says. “I feel I’ve spoken a lot about this year, I’ll take you to 1776 and then maybe we’ll visit 1780s, the end of the revolutionary war.”
1776
We’re in Halifax the next time I open my eyes. Inside a building but hidden in the far corner. I look at Cas expectantly. “In April of 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress issued the Halifax Resolves explicitly authorising its delegates to vote for independence. On June 11th, a committee was created by the Second Continental Congress to draft a document to justify separations from Britain. They secured enough votes for passage and independence was voted for on July 2nd.”
I nod, watching and listening as people chat. They all sound formal, I don’t understand any of it. “That there is Thomas Jefferson.” Cas points him out.
“One of the dudes that signed the Declaration of Independence?” I say, recognising and sort of remembering the name from my book. Cas nods and I grin. “This is awesome, man!”
Castiel smiles. “I am glad you are enjoying your learning.” He says, quite formally, I imagine he would fit well in this crowd. “Not only did he sign it, a large part was drafted by him also. It was unanimously adopted by the congress on July 4th. Known now as Independence Day.”
1783
As promised, Cas brings me to see the end of the war. We’re currently in Charleston, which also looks different to what I know it as. I had travelled through Charleston with dad many times. “Washington didn’t know at this time if or even when the British might reopen hostilities after Yorktown, where the Battle of Chesapeake happened, in 1781. The British still had 26,000 troops occupying New York City, Savannah and Charleston, together with a powerful fleet.”
“The war finally ended in 1783 and it was followed with a period of prosperity. The national government still operating under Articles of Confederation, and they then settled the issue of the western territories.” Castiel explains, looking around the room. “American settlers moved into those areas by storm and therefor Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee became states in the 1790s.”
We decide to do some exploring once Cas decides he’s finished telling me about the American Revolutionary War. I must admit that this was way more interesting than reading the book was. Having Cas show me all the places and explaining everything in great detail to me. I swear the man? Whatever he is, is a walking encyclopaedia.
William Shakespeare – 1590
I open my eyes looking around at our new surroundings. Everyone around us dressed differently again. Horses are being ridden in the street. I look at Castiel who’s watching everyone passing by. “This is 1590. The time of William Shakespeare.”
“Woah, that’s awesome.” I look at him amazed. I read a few of the books, but I couldn’t really understand what they meant. “Where is he?”
“He’s over there,” Cas nods his head to a man who has pale skin, weird outfit and a long face, the top of his head bald and hair around the sides. “By now, he’s already written the play Henry VI, Part One between 1589 and 1590. I believe he is currently working on Henry VI, Part Two and Henry VI, Part Three. He writes Hamlet between 1600 and 1601. I can’t quite remember when Romeo and Juliet was written. But that and Hamlet seem to be his most popular work.”
“1599. I learnt that in English.” I say, gloating slightly that I knew something Cas didn’t. He smiles proudly at me before he decides we should explore London in the 1500s. I learn more about London during that time whilst here.
We approach him, and I nervously stumble over my words as I greet him. Trying to not sound like an outsider but also not trying to tell him I’ve read a lot of his plays even though that’s all I want to talk about. Cas pulls me away before I could say anything else, knowing its on the tip of my tongue.
I learnt that we are currently under the reign of Elizabeth the first, I learnt some more about Henry the eighth and the terribly sad ending of her mother Anne Boleyn. Two years prior to this Mary Queen of Scots was executed for attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth in 1586 and in 1587 at Fotheringhay Castle, she was executed. I found that incredibly sad, the two had been cousins and from what I learnt, they may have been friends had they not been pit against each other for religion.
Charles Dickens – 1837
This teleporting thing is becoming the usual and easy to adapt to, and I find myself wishing I could possess those powers. Cas looks sad at this time. “We’re in 1837, so closer to our time. Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist this year, which is probably what he’s writing there.”
I look at him, wanting to ask him what’s wrong but he sighs. “I find this time relatively sad that its likely that he wrote the books from his experiences. Dickens grew up with a man who shouldn’t have and couldn’t afford to be a father, much like yours. His father was continuously living out of his means and in 1824 he became imprisoned for his debt. Poor Charles was removed from school at twelve to work at a boot-blacking factory and earning six shillings a week just to support his family.”
I frown, thinking of what it would have been like had I been born back then, Dad definitely wouldn’t have been able to afford anything if he was hunting. Castiel continues his teaching. “The experience cast a dark shadow over Dickens and became a defining experience in his life. While the childhood poverty and feelings of abandonment was unknown to readers until after his death, it would be a heavy influence on Dickens’ later views on social reform and the fictional world he creates.”
Like Shakespeare, we spent some time conversing with Dickens, but Cas was even more worried this time for some reason because he pulled me away. I realise then I made a slip up about one of his books.
We don’t seem to stay here as long as we did in previous time travels, but its likely an experience that will stick with me. If Dickens can rise up from his childhood experience, then so can Sam and I and even Cas. “I think we need a break from learning trips. It’s a lot for your human brain.”
I don’t have chance to even be confused or ask Cas what he means. He puts his finger on my forehead and poof. Off we go.
Nirvana – 1994
I open my eyes to see crowds at a small venue of some sort. I look around and see a lot of people wearing Nirvana merch and speaking in what sounds to be German. Castiel looks at me. “We’re at the Terminal Einz, in Munich. 1994. That Buddhist bands last concert with Kurt Cobain before he died. I know you listen to them a lot.”
I look at him excitedly, but my thoughts drift to Tommy. Tommy would kill to have been able to see this. I try not to let my thoughts drift too much, I’m here with Cas, the one I love the most and its not fair if I think of Tommy whilst experiencing this with him.
I think Cas can sense it, because he gives me a sad look and opens his mouth to speak but he’s interrupted by the crowd starting to scream as the lights go dim. I look to the stage area and get excited as I see Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Chad Channing and Dave Grohl walking onto the stage. Music starts and they start singing with a cover of ‘The Cars’ My Best Friend’s Girl’ by The Cars.
Moving on, they sung ‘Radio Friendly Unit Shifter’, ‘Drain You’, ‘Breed’, ‘Serve the Servants’ and then as they were singing ‘Come as You Are’ the power failed. The crowd erupt in Boo’s, and I see the shadows of technicians working fast to fix the power.
“We’re on the way out. Grunge is dead. Nirvana’s over.” Krist Novoselic announces as a joke, and I just feel sadness at the words. None of them know this is their last performance before Kurt Cobain commits suicide a month later. The power is soon on, and they begin singing again. I notice Cas watching me, and he has a small smile on his face, barely matching my giant one, but he looks fond, and he looks happy.
Once the concerts over and the lights are back on, people walk out of the venue, and I look at Cas. “Wow. That. Was. Awesome! Thank you Cas!”
“You are very welcome Dean. You should always be this happy.” Cas smiles at me.
I nod him on and Castiel watches my face. “I want to go to Ancient Rome and watch them build the colosseum.”
“Okay?” I say confused, wondering why he’s asking or looking for approval of where we go. But I suppose, he hasn’t had this freedom in so long. “Dude, you know it’s going to be hot out mind?”
Castiel tilts his head looking disappointed. I frown at him. “But I suppose, I could see you in a toga so… lets go dude!”
A large grin appears on his face and before he does anything I grab his face and kiss him. He kisses back and I feel fingers on my forehead. I don’t get knocked out or whatever this time, but as we kiss as the time goes back I feel dizzy, I don’t dare pull away. His lips too soft.
Ancient Rome – 69-80 A.D
72 A.D
We eventually pull apart and I see we have changed this time to appropriate outfits. Cas is wearing a toga which is a long white dress type thing with a string around the waist and I imagine I’m wearing the same. He suits it. The heat is scorching, and we look around. “Rome still isn’t fully discovered. It was founded back in 753 B.C and we’re currently in 69 A.D. Historians found took 1,229 years to build Rome by counting from its founding until its collapse.”
I look at him intrigued. Ancient Rome looks cool, and I assume it’s when the Roman Empire was around. I look around and see no Colosseum. Cas looks at me. “See them? They are going to start building the Colosseum. The construction begun under the emperor Vespasian from 69 to 79 A.D, though construction never started until 72. It was then completed in 80 A.D.”
I watch amazed as the Romans work in the heat, starting construction on the world’s biggest ancient amphitheatre. We spend a while watching as the construction starts, Cas watching amazed, and I’m surprised he’s not telling me more about it. Once they get to a point Cas approves, he zaps us forward to the next year, watching until it gets to a point he approves of and zaps us again.
It becomes a pattern, and I’m wondering if my face looks like a beetroot from the hot sun. Cas gives me a concerned look at one point, but he zaps us again.
80 A.D.
Eventually, Cas stops zapping us and I realise why, the Colosseum is practically built, and the Roman’s only have a few bits of construction left to do. I want to go and offer a hand, but Cas stops me, telling me I could really mess with the timeline if I do. And Sam would be very confused when a statue or something with my face or name shows up in the history books. I personally think that would be awesome, Cas however, disagrees.
As the Roman’s place the last brick I see them wiping their faces that were full of sweat. I can’t imagine what it’s like to work like that with little breaks, especially in this heat. Castiel’s watching amazed. “This will become the place where the Gladiators are and then in the very future, the Olympics will come from all of this.”
I look at him shocked and he nods. “Thank you for showing me this Cas, it’s been awesome seeing all of this.”
“Oh, we’re not done yet.” Cas says, looking nervous. “I have two more places I want to show you, but this is another one I enjoy, if that’s okay with you, Dean?”
“Anytime with you is great, Cas.” I tell him and his nerves evaporate.
Library of Alexandria – 246 BC
We end inside a building, seemingly only just been built. The building full of scrolls, but some shelves are empty. I follow as Cas wordlessly walks around, looking at each book. “So, we are now in the Library of Alexandria in 246 BC where it was established. It’s one of the largest and significant libraries of the ancient world.”
Egypt, I can feel the heat from outside. “This library was established under Ptolemy II Philadelphus in third century BCE. Most of the writing is from papyrus scrolls. It is unknown what the number of materials housed in the library is, but it could be anywhere between 40,000 and 400,000 at the height of its popularity.”
I nod along, and Cas gets a solemn look on his face. “Throughout its 1,000-year history, the library was burned many times, therefore it became known for its burning. The final blow to the library came in 640 CE where it was burnt again, the material used as tinder for the city’s bathhouses. It is said that it took six months for all materials to burn. Nothing of the library remains today which is deeply upsetting.”
I frown, Cas is very clearly upset by all of this. We soon leave the library, and we walk around Alexandria for a while. I find that Egypt was a hub for developing agriculture. We walk until the heat gets too much and Cas turns to me.
“We’re going to stop and get your brother for our next trip.” I look at him confused, why would he want to bring Sam on our adventure? “I believe I remember he loved prehistoric times, with dinosaurs and such. Be a shame if he missed it.”
“No way Cas. This is our time and besides, the little shit would get himself eaten by a dinosaur because he’d want to pet it.” I don’t have much faith in my brother, especially after the amount of times I’ve told him not to pet a random dog, because he doesn’t know if the dog’s got diseases or whether the dog is aggressive. I would rather him have a hand and complain than no hand and complain. Castiel gives me a look and I know I’m not going to win. “Fine.”
Present Time
Cas zaps us back to Bobby’s, or more specifically, Sam’s room. I watch as he’s asleep and I walk over, pulling the blankets off him and he wakes up grumbling about being cold. “Hey!” He complains looking at me.
“Wake up, you’re coming on an adventure with Cas and I.” I say, pulling him up, grateful we’re back in our clothes. Sam looks at us confused and Cas zaps us.
Jurassic Period
Opening our eyes, I look sorta scared seeing all of the Jurassic dinosaurs. I look at Sam who’s watching amazed. “Woah Dee, this is awesome! Cas, they don’t sound like the dinosaur sounds you used to do when you’d play dinosaurs with me.”
“They don’t, I agree. I believe I was far off with my interpretation; I am sorry for that Sam.” Cas says, genuinely sounding apologetic at something so little. “This is the Jurassic period, the middle part of the Mesozoic Era.”
Sam nods amazed, asking Cas all sorts of questions as we venture carefully around the land. Trying to keep out of sight by the dinosaurs. Their roars are ferocious, much louder than I’d have imagined. Despite Sam’s questions, Sam starts spitting off facts.
Sam, being the chaotic child that he is, steps on a branch, just next to a velociraptor. The dinosaur turns to us, and before any of us can say anything we have to run in the opposite direction. The velociraptor’s footsteps behind us are loud.
Sam next to us doesn’t seem to want to shut up. “Hey Dee! Did you know velociraptors were thought to have run up to 25mph and that feathers helped them reach their speed, especially when they’d need to glide. Sometimes they’d even get up to 40mph for short amount of time!”
“I don’t care just shut up and run!” I say to him, and Sam in fact, does not shut up. “Jesus Christ Sam! Shut the hell the hell up! Barney doesn’t want to sing ‘I love you, you love me we’re all happy families’ to you!”
Okay, I might have been harsh but now is not the time for spit balling random facts at us. Sam gives me his regular bitch face. “Actually Dean, Barney was a tyrannosaurus rex, this is a velociraptor. They lived in the Late Cretaceous and we are currently in the Jurassic Period, Dean.”
“Not helping Sammy!” I say, starting to feel I’m losing my breath and I look at Cas. “Hey, do your thing, get us out of here please! Before this idiot gets us killed!”
Cas stops for a second and he motions for us to. Before I can panic he touches our foreheads again.
Present Time
I open my eyes, alive by some miracle. I look at Sam who’s grinning like an idiot. Cas looks happy and I breath a sigh of relief, hugging him. Sam joins us too, thanking Cas over and over. Cas kisses my forehead and I realise we’re back at Bobby’s.
As I think of the man, Bobby is knocking the door, looking confused as he sees Cas and I stood in Sam’s room. “You two have some explaining to do. Anyway, I came to inform Sam here that your daddy’s been found dead in his apartment. Eyes burnt out.”
Bobby eyes Cas, who puts his hand on my back. I can sense he’s nervous. Bobby seems to know but he shrugs, seemingly able to tell by the fact Cas is still alive. “It’s not the worst news on the planet. He got what was coming to him. Just means there’s one less waste of space on the planet.”