On The Flip Side

Chapter 2

They eat their pizza and siphon whatever gas they can find for the Impala. Dean feels the need to triple check the cars they get their fuel from to ensure it isn't diesel they're pumping, fearing he'll cause his precious car to seize and clog up. Castiel trails after them watchfully, dressed in his trenchcoat despite the warm temperature out. 

"Fed and watered! I'll fix you up soon, baby." Dean cooed, patting the top of his car with a big grin. Sam shook his head amusedly at the antics. "You'll be in tip-top shape."

Castiel nodded in agreement, because God forbid he never not side with Dean. To be fair, the Impala was looking a little worse for wear. Dented hood, covered in bits of decay and bloody chunks of flesh. It wasn't a pretty sight, and with as much as the car meant to Dean, Sam was surprised he wasn't freaking out more than he was.

"Priorities, Dean." Sam reminds nonetheless, which earns him a downright offended look. Sam rolls his eyes. "Right, my bad. Car first, solution to the gigantic, life-threatening problem second. Are we ready to go now?"

Cas tilts his head like he's considering something. Sam and Dean both tense, because Cas considering anything is already suspicious enough.

"We are being watched and followed." Is not what either of the brothers expected Castiel to say, but that being said, predicting the next words out of his mouth has never been easy.

Dean opens his mouth only to close it right after, deciding he's got no words for that. Watched and followed implies someone alive, right? That could be good. Or maybe just really bad. Best case scenario they get some information on what's going on, worst case they get shot at. Middle ground they drive away with no problems, maybe? Hell if he knows.

There's an awkward moment where they all just stand there and stare at one another. Castiel seems unperturbed, but that could mean anything from 'they're good people' to 'if we don't move now, they're going to try and murder us', so Dean doesn't put much stock in it. Sam looks as tired as Dean feels. This is really just— not how he wanted to spend his weekend.

"Er... how long have they been watching us?" Sam decides to ask. "Is it one person? Ten?"

"Two adult males. They have been watching us since early this morning." Castiel informs. Dean cranes his head to squint up at the sun and wagers that it's about midday. Great. That's— so great.

Surely they would've killed them by now if they were planning to. Unless they wanted to wait until they slept to try and attack, which was completely possible as well. Maybe they were trying to figure out if they had anything worth stealing? Not a pleasant thought, but a plausible one looking at the state of the world around them.

This could be a good thing. A great thing, even! They needed information. Assuming these people weren't hostile, maybe they could finally get some. This was the first sign of life they'd seen outside themselves. That was cause for hope, wasn't it?

"Wow. Well, thanks for letting us know." Dean tells the angel flatly as Sam begins to slowly, cautiously pivot in search of the men in question. Cas nods easily, evidently unable to pick up on Dean's heavy sarcasm. "Anything else we might need to be aware of?"

"Not that I am aware of." Cas says, then he pauses. He nods. "I checked on the local bee population. You are correct; they are doing well."

Sam sighed again. Dean gave Castiel another few pats on the shoulder.

"Never change, Cas." Dean pulled the angel into a one-armed hug side hug. "Never change."

~~~

"They're literally in that bush right over there to our right." Sam hisses out. They've retreated back into the Impala to discuss things. "I don't even know what they're doing! Are they waiting for something? To see if we'll pull out something they decide is worth robbing us for?"