Chapter Text
House searched through the whole hospital before deciding to Wilson's office and wait for him until Cameron and Chase rushed towards him, with distress on their faces
"This patien-"
"Hes dead bu-"
House looked at them intrigued.
"We declared him dead—" Cameron interrupted
"But he's very much alive, and with all of his injuries healed." Chase added.
House frowned, with an amused look on his face
"Is the apocalypse already starting?" House quipped.
Both Cameron and Chase ignore that.
"It's truly strange. I'd say it's nothing short of a miracle." Cameron responded. "You never know, right?"
Chase eyed her, and House followed.
"Show me the way. Is he still in there?"
—
After a small walk through the hospital corridors in silence, they finally arrive at the room the patient was in. House scoffed. Injuries cured, miraculously? Yeah, right.
While Chase talked about the guy's condition, he stood there deep in thought, occasionally catching what he assumed was his name. Castiel? Religious families are the worst to deal with. So basically, like, 60% of the American population.
He heard Cameron talk about the missing injuries the man had and switched his attention to their conversation.
"So what do you guys think. Was it God?"
Cameron spared him an annoyed look. "What if it was? The patient does seem to think so."
"Pretty sure the amount of sedation we had to use was the most worrying part. He wouldn't stop talking." Chase spoke "All that creepy angel stuff too. Shouldn't we call a psychiatrist for this?" He said.
"Angel stuff huh? Not surprised when his name is Castiel. Seriously, you gotta really hate your kid to name them that."
"Your name is Gregory House, i dont think you're one to talk." Answered Chase
They heard a noise and simultaneously looked at the chair close to the hospitals room window, and saw Cameron searching through Castiel's trenchcoat. Checking every pocket, until she found what can only be assumed as his wallet. She opened it, and her eyes widened.
"James Novak... wasn't he Castiel? Wai— Federal Bureau of Investigati- oh"
House limped in her direction, and snatched the badge from her hands. He squinted, and after about 5 seconds he looked at Chase and Cameron up from the document.
"This is fake"
"Wait" Chase quipped "How do you even know that?"
"The real question is who would even fall for this." House paused, and pointed his cane at the sleeping man. "Wake him up"
"No way." Cameron denied. "Even if we wake him up, I doubt he'll be coherent enough for you to play your little games. Maybe he was just hallucinating. Or the meds made him confused."
"Weren't you all for the angel stuff like 5 minutes ago?" Questioned Chase, frowning slightly. "Anyways, I agree with House"
Cameron gaped at him, clearly offended but not surprised.
She crosses her arms
"Let's do it then."
The three of them stood around the hospital bed, impatiently waiting, but suddenly Castiel— or maybe Jimmy? Opened his eyes and rised up abruptly. No one moved or even dared to; the guy's presence was enough to stun anyone in his surroundings. Almost like a sly animal, he put his legs on the ground and walked way. Just like that. What the hell.
But as soon as the man slowly got away from the room, House snapped out of it, and with no hesitation turned around and grabbed Castiel by his arm.
"Are you seriously just gonna walk out like that?"
Castiel frowned and tilted his head to the side. "I figured as much, yes. Your services aren't needed anymore."
Without House even noticing, Cameron and Chase were already at his side, grabbing the man too. Chase held onto his left side, while Cameron joined House on the right arm. Some nurses and other hospital staff had already taken notice of the commotion, and occasionally glanced in their direction.
House opened his mouth to speak and—
"What the hell"
Everyone, including Castiel turned their heads towards the person speaking. Foreman stood there, visibly confused.
"Give us a hand already" Chase angrily uttered, and Foreman gave him a disapproving look but still clutched onto the man's right arm, where Chase had his hand too. Castiel raised an eyebrow and swiftly got out of everyone's grasp, and continued to walk. Everyone was quick to chase him, but as soon as they turned around a corner, he was gone.
Dean sat at the bunker's main table, looking attentively at his phone while tapping his finger at a constant rhythm. The phone rang for the third time, showing no signs of being picked up by Cas. It was a simple hunt, just needed to cut some heads off and they were good to go. Even though Dean planned to go alone, Cas insisted on helping him for some reason. And how could he say no to that face?
But now he's getting more worried by the minute, cause while cleaning up the dead bodies they had just killed, the guy vanished. Like, outta nowhere. At first he didn't think much of it. It was Cas, sometimes he just goes, but after 5 hours of driving back home and some missed calls, he started to lose his patience.
Some time had passed since he and Sam had rescued Cas from the Empty. Five gruelling months of constant research, the occasional meltdown, and the hopelessness of never seeing those droopy eyes ever again. His brother was, a lot of times, the only thing keeping Dean afloat, helping him get all the stuff he needed to get Cas back, and basically babysitting him through it all.
He knows that the Empty can't reach them anymore, thanks to Jack's help, but still, he kept thinking — What if? What if the son of a bitch comes, and takes Cas again? And every time that question crosses his mind, the tapping of his finger speeds up, and Dean sighs loudly.
Yup, he's driving back to New Jersey.
Castiel teleports to what he thought was the bunker, and which obviously isn't seeing that he's in the middle of a field. He concentrates a bit to check on his wings, and thankfully they're intact, but he was still confused.
He puts his hands in his pockets to look for his phone. Maybe Dean could pick him up—
"Oh"
Castiel rolls his eyes. Of course they took his phone, AND his trenchcoat, and everything he had on him. Great.
After clenching his fists and focusing for a bit, he still hadn't moved an inch.
He decides that its best and more efficient if he managed to know exactly where he was, and contact Dean. After everything he had gone through — they had gone through, Castiel didn't see this situation as unusual. It sure reminds him of his time as a human.
Observing his surroundings, Cas takes in the view. The sun is setting down, and behind him stands a shed. He quirks up his eyebrow at the wave of nostalgia that hits him.
A Coincidence?
He walks the opposite way of the structure, stepping on the weeds and other plants along the way. A shame, really, but he didn't have a choice. Castiel walked for about 5 minutes until he reached a road, seemingly empty, and stood in the middle of it, curiously looking both ways, in hope of getting a ride to the nearest civilization, but no dice.
Dean.
He had thought about the time that had passed since he was separated from Dean. Maybe 2 days? He was asleep for some time. Probably spent the previous night in that hospital. Dean was certainly worried— or at least he hoped. He should hurry up.
Cas was ripped out of his thoughts as he heard the screeching noise of a car coming to a halt in front of him. The driver looked surprised to say the least, with his hand clutching his chest.
The door opened, and out of the car the man cautiously asked
“Hey, is everything alright?”
Castiel decides the best is if he wipes off the driver's memories, and drives himself to Kansas. Determined, he walks up to him and puts two fingers on the man's forehead—
A hand slaps him off and,
“What the fuck are you doing?”
No powers, of course. What was he thinking?
“..My apologies. Do you know where we're located?” Castiel asked him. The man had both hands on his hips, and looked very confused.
"Um yes. This is New Jersey. Are you sure you don't have a concussion?"
"Yes. Would you mind giving me a ride?"
He sighed and said
“..Sure. Do you know your name?”
“My name is Ca-” He briefly paused “Clarence.”
“Iam Wilson. So um Clarence. Mind telling me why you're in the middle of nowhere in a hospital gown?” Wilson questioned, looking him up and down suspiciously.
“Oh. This is not my usual attire. My trenchcoat and personal items are still at the hospital i was stationed in.”
“..Okay. Come in”
They both entered the car in silence, and Cas sat looking outside with his hands on his lap. But before he could get distracted again, Wilson speaks.
“So, what's the hospital where you were at? There's only one clinic around here and that's where I work.”
Slowly turning his head towards the man, Cas says.
“I'm not sure.”
…
“Okay.”
Wilson starts up the car, momentarily side-eyeing "Clarence".
As long as hes not a serial killer i guess.
Castiel immediately rests his head against the window.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” He asks Cas.
“No. But my… forces have grown weaker." Castiel looks at his hand, now placed on his lap, "And even though I was in a very dangerous predicament months ago, my recovery was swift. I do have an idea of what may have caused this.” Castiel continues “Do you have a phone?” He says, now looking at the man.
“Yeah, do you want to call someone?”
“If its possible, yes”
“Alright.” Wilson answered, uncertainty in his tone.
Nonetheless, Wilson takes his phone out of his pocket and hands it to him.
Cas opens the flip phone and calls Dean's number.
Dean is driving when his phone rings. He stares at the unknown number before picking up.
“Who's this?”
“Dean.”
“Cas? What the fuck?” Dean worryingly asks
“..Yes.”
"I am driving back to New Jersey! Where the hell have you been??”
There's a small pause before Cas continues.
“It seems like I am unable to use my “amenities.””
Dean softly smiles at that before seriously continuing. “Is it your wings?”
“No, they're still intact. I am just incapable of using my normal form of transportation.”
He furrows his eyebrows at the weird choice of words. Weirder than usual choice of words.
“Someone there with you?”
“Yes Dean,",He could almost see Cas rolling his eyes at him "I thought I had made that obvious. Iam-”
“Jeez, snarky” Dean smirks, and to his amusement Cas let's out an exasperated "Dean."
“Alright, alright" Dean chuckles. “Go on buddy.” He says, holding the phone between his ear and shoulder as he runs a hand over his hair.
"i think there's been a disturbance caused by an unknown power." Castiel pointedly explained. "Something akin to what i felt when Jack came into being."
Dean silently pondered before asking
"Okay so what? Is it another nephilim?" He questions, concern clear on his face.
With his head still on the car's window, and bumping against it as Wilson drives, Cas answers. "I really don't know Dean."
Dean switches his phone to his right ear, and holding it with his shoulder again.
"You have no idea? Wait— what about at that vampire's nest, what happened?"
"That's when i felt it. My theory is that the sudden influx of energy affected my teleportation in a peculiar way — I only recall waking up in a bed at the hospital" Castiel sighs at that. "After-"
"Wait, hospital??" Dean continues, startled, as he picks up his phone again. "How did you even end up in one? Any injuries i should know abou-"
"Dean i've told you, iam fine. At least physically" Before Dean can interrupt, he goes on "The only problem ive encountered is power related. There's bigger things to worry about at the moment."
"You're right.. But don't think iam letting you off the hook. Be careful and wait till i reach you."
"You have nothing to worry about." Castiel tries to assure him.
"Okay man sure. Still worried tho. Don't make any stupid decisions— and yeah where are you heading off to?"
Dean hears some noise on the other side, a voice he doesn't recognize and (correctly) assumes its the drivers.
"We're going to the Priceton-Plainsboro Hospital" Dean hears a voice again and Castiel adds, a little bit louder this time, "Teaching Hospital. Princeton-Plainsboro Teachin-"
"I've got it pal." Dean says foundly "Look, I gotta get going but i'll call back when i arrive. Capiche?"
Cas foundly rolls his eyes.
"Yes Dean, 'capiche' "
"Okay man" He lightly chuckles. "See ya"
"I'll be waiting, Dean."
After another 20 minutes the car finally stops at the front of a building— the "Teaching Hospital"— Cas mentally recollects, and both him and Wilson come out of the car. After being in a lot ot hospitals, hes started to appreciate the people who maintain them.
They enter through the front door and are welcomed with a nurse handing some papers to Wilson, which he takes. He was distracted while talking to her, so Castiel took the chance.
He makes his away up through the stairs, seeing that the elevator was right on Wilson's point of view. Castiel briefly remembers noticing what might have been his room number hours ago, before teleporting to that field.
210.
It didn't take more than a few minutes for Cas to find his room. As he walked through the hospital, nobody really questioned his place there— thankfully because of the gown, he perfectly fit in. He strolled over to room 210 and was about to open the door until he noticed one of the doctors who grabbed him sitting on a chair besides the bed.
Cas almost turned around until the man loudly interrupted his train of thoughts.
"You're free to come in you know." House spoke, cranning his neck up.
Cas weighted his options. He noticed from the corner of his eye that his belongings were still there, right next to the doctor. With his hand still on the handle, Castiel slides open the door and slowly walks in. The man had his chin now resting on his cane, seemingly unbothered, and Cas walked up towards where his clothes where.
"Move." Castiel spoke, looking down at the doctor.
"Name's House. You?"
Castiel squints his eyes at House.
"I assume you know my name seeing that you have my wallet."
"Well yeah but i don't know if you know what name you used in this-" House picks up Castiel's badge "-very clearly fake FBI identification."
"I don't have time for this." Cas starts marching in the doctor's direction, determined. "Don't challenge me."
"What are you gonna do? Hit a cripple?" He says, smuggly
"Yes." Cas deadpans "I don't discriminate."
House lets off a small laugh "Just tell me how you did it then"
Castiel tilts his head
"Did what?"
"Your injuries. They're completely cured. How did you trick us? Or even the hospital? Spill the tea, sis." House quips sarcastically
"Iam not a female nor part of your family." Castiel goes on "And there were no "tricks"." He air quotes
Castiel's eyes divert to the floor, before looking at House again. He looks to the door behind him, and closes it, and then separes him a glance.
"Iam not human." He pauses before continuing "And while i've grown to experience emotions like everyone does, iam fundamentally a different species."
A moment of silence takes place "Go on" House says.
"My kind has been observing Earth since its conception. We're messengers of God; Angels."
House stares at Cas. "You're really expecting me to believe that bullshit?"
Castiel looks unaffected. "Do what you please with that knowledge," He walks towards House and takes his bag from the man. "but i won't stay here to try and convice you of the truth."
He hears a rustle of feathers? and before he can even blink, Castiel is out of sight again.
Castiel teleports to the back of the Impala with a loud bang; Not quietly like usual. Dean, startled, swerves Baby brusquely. He sighed before speaking.
"Jesus fucking Christ Ca-"
"I told one of the doctors i am an Angel."
Dean looked at him though the rearview mirror.
"Dammit Cas."
He pauses and continues
"But wait, did he even believe you?"
Cas pauses before answering "…No. Iam not sure. He did seem like a skeptic."
"Should we go back and well. You know. Use the finger mojo." Dean smirks. "He gets to sleep like a baby for a while, and you go back to being the mysterious guy that was once at their hospital."
Castiel responds
"That does seem pleasent to think about, but unfortunately, my mojo is useless right now." Cas looks at the back of Deans head. "Flying to the Impala drained the small amount of grace i had left. I need to recharge."
"Do u wanna go to a motel? I also need to sleep, and i think having you rest for a bit isn't a bad idea." Dean sighs
"If you think so, then yes."
The interaction he had with the receptionist a few minutes earlier was still fresh on his mind;
Him and Cas had found a decent enough motel within their price range to stay the night, but so had aparently every other person on the vicinity.
"Alright, so, i don't think we have a room with two separate beds available — but we do have a room with a couples bed unnocupied if it's good with you guys?" She says, while looking through her computer, before looking up at them.
Dean quickly spares Cas a glance
"Are you, like, absolutely sure that's the only room available?" He asks her
"Yes."
"One-hundred percent sure sure?"
"Unless you want to go look for another motel, this is all you're getting." The receptionist tiredly responds.
Dean runs a hand over his hair.
"Dean." Castiel interrupts
"I know Cas iam sorry—"
"I don't mind, Dean."
"..Are you sure?" He cant coun't the amount of "are you sure"s he has said during this conversation—
"Yes. 'One-hundred percent sure', Dean." Cas lightheartedly immitates.
"Idiot" Dean playfully hits him on the shoulder, with a smile on his face. "Stop being a dork a grab the room key for me. Go ahead while I pay."
Castiel nods and goes to their room.
Dean blushes a little
"I just can't believe this fucking trope is happening to me" He quietly mumbles.