Chapter Text
Tiny legs shuffled down the cracked pavement, each step dragging more than the last.
Where was he going? He didn’t know.
Only that he had to keep moving.
The world around him blurred—until suddenly, he stopped. In front of him stood a scrap yard, its rusted metal arch bearing uneven letters: ‘Singer Auto Salvage.’
-x-
The roof of the school was home to one main playboy. Right now he was with one of his gaggle of girls that followed him around. What can he say? He got the looks and smarts for it.
“Take off your shirt.” The girl in front of him, Jamie? Janine? Who cares… panted through her breath as she removed her blouse, revealing her bra-clad breasts. Nice!
“You’d like that huh?” He chuckled, slowly unbuttoning his shirt, giving the girl in front of him a show.
The sound of footsteps were unheard by the two lost in their kiss and own moans. But the loud booming voice was unmissable.
“DEAN WINCHESTER!!” He heard the teacher yell.
“Shit!” The guy pulled back, buttoning his shirt back as the girl rushed to do the same, getting presentable.
As the girl ran away, Dean was smacked in the head. Hard.
“AAH! That hurt!” Dean rubbed where he was smacked. ”What are you doing here?! Isn’t it time for class?!”
“I should be asking you that.” Sonny chided him. “It IS time for class. SO what are YOU doing here?!”
“What am I doing?!” Dean asked, defensively.
“I take my eyes off of you for just one second and you’re off somewhere else fooling around!” Sonny then sighed, pinching his eyes. “Why even bother coming to school, D-Dog.”
As Sonny asked, Dean sat on the roof stretching and moaning about how bad his head hurt. With a roll of his eyes, Sonny dragged him and pushed Dean into his classroom. Dean, though settled in, pouted and sulked throughout the whole class period.
After school, as Dean drove Sam back home, Sam grumbled and asked, “Couldn’t you be a manwhore elsewhere?”
“Hey, I don’t go after girls. All the girls come to me.”
“You can’t be fixed.” Sam shook his head and went back to reading his book as Dean laughed out loud at his brother’s discomfort.
-x-
“Are you serious?”
“Well…” The older woman shrugged.
“You mean…”
“That’s right.”
“What are we gonna do?” Her daughter asked, turning to see the young boy sitting at their home, holding a tiny angel plushie with him, as he watched the TV in front of him.
The sudden rumble of the Impala indicated the boys’ home return, prompting another woman, younger than the mother but older than the daughter, to run out from the kitchen. She opened the door just in time to see Sam get out of the car as Dean still stayed put.
“Why ain't you getting out?” She asked , walking to the car.
“This girl-”
“Dean Winchester. Get in the house right now!”
“Pamela-”
“If you don’t, I’ll kill you, okay?!”
“Damn, alright… Jeez.” Dean placated, parking his car in the garage as Sam and Pamela entered the house.
“What the fuck did i get into now?” Dean mumbled as he entered the house and chucked his shoe off. “Ok, what’s the deal.”
As he closed the door and turned, he was not greeted by his usual family. Instead, a boy around 8 stood there, clutching his plushie and staring at him with wide blue eyes.
“What the f-”
“Hey Castiel!” The older woman came to the door with a forced smile. “Why don’t you go watch the TV? The commercial is over.”
“Okay!” The little boy - Castiel - ran.
“Who’s the child Ellen?” Dean asked, moving next to the older woman.
“Hmm… come with me.” She said, taking him to the dining table where the atmosphere shocked him to his core.
Dark swirls of seriousness wrought the room as Bobby, Ellen, Sammy, Pamela, Ash, and Jo sat at the table.
“What’s wrong?! Why’s everyone so serious?!” Dean ran to Bobby. “You good, old man?!”
‘Shut up and sit your ass down, ya idjit!” Bobby grumbled, and Dean did as he was told.
Ellen took a seat at the head of the table, as Jo nudged Dean and whispered, “Stay calm and listen.”
Dean, not brave enough to be funny in a serious situation, nodded.
“So you know the new family that moved in, Naomi Shurley?” Pamela said, looking at everyone nodding. “Well, there’s been some trouble.”
“Trouble?” Sam asked.
“She disappeared.” Jo said in an unusually serious tone.
“And not in the fun magic way.” Ash added, getting a smack from Bobby. “Ouch! Anyways, as I was saying. After her husband died, she didn’t have the confidence to raise 8-year old Castiel on her own. So she vanished.”
“Bullshit!” Dean said in anger. “Didn’t have the confidence?! What bullshit!”
“Keep your voice down!” Pamela hissed.
“Anyways, we will have to take care of him until we find his mother.” Bobby said. “Everyone should keep that in mind.”
“Dean.” Ellen called out, and Jo once again nudged him with a silent warning while Pamela looked amused, waiting for what’s going to happen.
“Yes?” Dean asked, gulping his nervousness.
“You will take care of him.”
“What?! Why?!” Dean asked. Out of all the punishments Ellen could’ve thrown at him, she picked this? A kid? Dean watching a kid?
But then he quickly regretted asking as a menacing glare took over Ellen’s face.
“Why?! You are asking WHY?!” Ellen stood up and leaned down, towering over Dean’s sitting form. “Sonny called me about what was going on today! Yesterday, some random girl came to the house and asked me to give something to you and it was her photos!”
“Eh?! Why is that my fault? I wonder who it was though…” Dean trailed off, getting Ash to suck his teeth. That was a bad move from Dean.
“Go baby-sit and learn to behave!” Ellen yelled.
Before Dean could respond, a movement was seen near the entrance of the dining area. The lot turned to find the boy peering in, as if he needed permission to enter the room.
“Ah Castiel!” Jo smiled. “What’s up?”
“I- I would like to use the restroom please.” He said, squirming lightly in place.
“You need the bathroom?” Pamela asked this time. “Well then…” She slapped Dean’s back, propelling him front.
“Pamela!”
“Stop moaning Dean.” Sam rolled his eyes but a hint of mischief tugged at his lips. “Go do your job, babysitter.”
“Don’t take out your frustrations on the child dude. That’s so not cool.” Ash said, shaking his head.
“What?! How dare you say that!” Dean felt frustrated. Not only was he being thrusted a babysitter job, but he also was being accused of being a bad one?! Mind you, did they all forget who raised Sam?!
“Excuse me, but it’s really urgent…” Castiel said, squirming vigorously in place.
“Let them be, boy. I will take you.” Bobby said, getting up from the table.
“Nah, I will do it!” Dean said, running to Castiel. “I will take care of Cas so well that yall will be astonished! Mark my words!”
And with that, Dean guided the little boy out of the room, who was looking at Dean.
The man in front of him looked... safe. Loud, but safe. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Besides, the man had given the boy his first nickname.
Cas.