Missing You

Chapter Four: Chicago Bound

Cas:

He had no idea how to turn off the little notifications that popped up on his screen, and he didn't get enough of them for them to be annoying so when he was just leaving the school after a twelve hour shift and his phone buzzed in his pocket he took it out. Who could have texted him? No one had this new number, not even Claire yet. The icon at the top was not for a text though, it was for an email. He opened his emails and stopped dead in his tracks. The address in the send field was one he knew well. DW_Impala_67. His heart leapt in his chest and he hurried to the first park bench he saw and sat down before his legs could betray him. He was almost afraid to open it. Dean did not generally use email as a form of communication, but since Cas had turned off his old phone and essentially cutting off the only method of communication he had with Cas, he had resorted to email. He tried to picture the reasons why Dean would email him and he couldn't come up with anything. He bit down on his lower lip and opened the email. It felt like an eternity before it finally opened.

Cas, I've been trying to reach you but your phone is disconnected. I miss you. Call me.

He didn't realize that he was even holding his breath until he exhaled and it came out almost as a yelp. Dean...missed him? Was that possible? He wanted Cas to call him. He debated for a moment. Should he go ahead and call? He needed to think about that one for a little bit.

Dean:

Dean didn't sleep much at all that night. He tossed and turned, checking his phone five million times in hopes that Cas had responded, and feeling that pang in his stomach every time he realized that as yet, his email was still unanswered. By four he was unable to even rest anymore, and he got up. He wanted an early start since he was anticipating a lot of traffic by the time they reached the city limits but they made good time. Charlie was tracking activity for the email to a cell phone and it seemed to be in the same general location most of the day. "He has a job. That's why he's not moving." Dean said when Charlie would announce even the slightest movement. "At least he has the phone turned on." He said with a sigh as they drove into the city. He checked his watch. It was a little after one. "Where to Charlie?" He looked over at her and she was again typing, focusing intently on the computer screen. "How are you even online?" He asked. She held up a little black box. "Portable Hotspot." He nodded though he wasn't exactly sure what that was. "Turn left at the next light." She instructed. He made the left and continued following her instructions until they pulled up in front of a school. "He's in there?" He asked as he found a parking spot down the street. "Yep." She was tapping again on the keyboard. "Somewhere on the second floor." "When do classes let out?" He asked. She pulled up a new screen, Double checking the name of the school she was trying to look up. "Three." Dean checked his watch. It was just shy of two. With a groan he settled back into his seat to wait. Charlie chatted away but he barely heard anything she was saying. Instead he was focused on the front doors of the school. His stomach was in a knot, though he couldn't exactly explain why. When the kids started pouring out he sat up, eyes intently watching, scanning the crowds, but he didn't see Cas anywhere. "What do you suppose he could be doing in a school?" He wondered aloud. "Well, what skills does he really have? Besides being a soldier for God and all. I mean marketable skills. Does he have any at all? I don't think he'd be teaching, so what does that leave? Cafeteria work, janitor, maybe a tutor? He was moving all over earlier. I guess when he comes out we can ask." Charlie said. She was watching the door too. "I still don't know what he looks like." She pointedly reminded him. Dean fished his wallet out of his jacket and opened it. He slipped a picture out and handed it to her. Charlie raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she took it. "Oh, he's cute." It was the three of them standing in front of the Impala, Cas in the middle, and all three of them were smiling openly. Cas stood just a bit closer to Dean than he did to Sam, shoulder to shoulder with him actually. They looked so happy. "I can't wait to meet him." She handed the picture back. "That's provided he even comes out." He muttered. The kids were thinning out, only a few stragglers now, but still no sign of Cas. He leaned forward on the steering wheel and put his chin on his hands. It wasn't long before staff began wandering out. Dean was still staring. Charlie wasn't even sure he was blinking. It was nearly six when the doors opened again a familiar form appeared on the sidewalk in front of the school. "That's him!" He grabbed for the door to get out but Charlie stopped him. "Hold up just a minute." She said. Cas was standing out in front of the school staring down at his phone. He rubbed absently at his chin but never took his eyes off his phone. "I'm positive he got your email." Charlie said softly. Dean relaxed, sitting back, content to watch for now. "You think?" "What did you say?" She asked. He shook his head. "Nothing major. I just kind of told him I missed him." He was aware of the heat that began to burn in his cheeks, but if Charlie noticed it she didn't mention it. Cas looked up for a moment and took a few steps as though he was going to move on, but then he stopped, his eyes back on the phone. "He looks good." Dean murmured. And he did look good. Same wild, dark hair and five o'clock shadow but he was dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans, not the typical suit and trench coat he used to wear. Cas started typing on the phone finally. "I think you should check your emails in about thirty seconds." Charlie nudged him. He pulled his phone out just as it buzzed telling him he had a new notification. He stared at the phone for a moment, almost afraid to check and see what the notification was for. Charlie couldn't stand it anymore and plucked the phone from his hands. "Hey!" He yelled and reached over to grab it back. "Oh shut up. You two are frustrating me." She already had the lock screen opened and had clicked on the email app. He was trying to grab it from her but she was too quick and she stopped him with a palm to the forehead. "He emailed you." She held the phone back out to him and he snatched it away. He was relieved to see that she hadn't actually opened it. "You're a pain in the ass." He grumbled. "I wasn't going to sit there watching you stare at the screen blankly all night.' She complained. He looked back at her for a moment before opening the email. He didn't dare admit how scared he was that Cas was goint to tell him to stop emailing him. He took a deep breath and read it.

You miss me? Why?

Dean looked up and realized Cas was gone. "Shit!" He got out and jogged over to where Cas had been standing but he was nowhere to be seen. "Hey, don't worry loverboy, we know where he works, and it's Wednesday which means he should be back tomorrow. We'll get a room and be back here same time tomorrow." She said as she jogged over to where he was standing. "How do I respond to that? I don't know what to say!" He thrust his phone at her and she took it, reading Cas' response. She scrolled down a little further to see his original email. "Ok, this? This is easy. Come on, let's get a room and we'll work on this email. Cause I know he's sitting staring at his phone waiting for you to write him back." She grabbed his hand and dragged him back to the car. This was going to be fun!