How I Love Now - A Supernatural/Castiel Love Story

Chapter 7: Reunion and Retrospect

The, unknowingly pursued, woman ran her fingers through her curled hair. Castiel. She sighed as she caught herself thinking about him once again. Picking up her glass that sat on the bar, she gulped down her last inch of coke. She always needed to have at least one caffeine-intoxicating drink before a show to keep her awake, but she admitted that tonight she would rather be hunting a ghoul. She didn't feel like entertaining today; the past few months had been bland and cold compared to that sweet half-year that she had with him.

No, stop it, she shook herself. It must be the sugar going to my head, she thought. Distracting herself, she studied the restaurant that was practically empty, with it being so early in the evening. She had sung in many places over the years, so this restaurant did seem a little bit tacky, like one of those places that try so hard to be posh but their customers let them down.

"Ellie!" Came a call from behind her. "You ready?" The pianist was waiting by his keys.

She always used that name when she was on the road. Although it was originally to keep her hunter identity safe, it was coming to the point where she would prefer to answer to it. She knew it was dangerous, being who she was, to reveal all of herself to everyone she met.

"Yeah!" She called back, ready to do the same 20 billion songs, with smiles and confidence, all over again. Unbeknownst to her, this night would be a little bit different with the appearance of three men she never thought she'd see again.

XXXXX

24 hours earlier...

"So, the few CCTV appearances, and her credit card, traces her movement across the country within the past 6 weeks, ending up in...Connecticut." Sam stated, in his intellectual voice of fact as he continued to tap away at his computer.

"So, what? She's roadtripping across the country?" Dean, confused, stood up from where he had been sitting on his motel bed as Castiel also leaned in closer to listen.

"She's a hunter, Dean." Sam replied arrogantly, already annoyed that his brother had been reluctant to help research, like always. "What else do you think she'd be doing?"

"You're certain she's in Connecticut now?" Castiel was glancing over Sam's shoulder, staring at the computer screen which didn't make much sense to him.

"Yeah, from the CCTV records, it looks like she's working at a restaurant or bar. No trace on her credit card so she must be being paid cash-in-hand,"

"You're sure it's her?" Castiel persisted. The Angel had began to wander around the room, as though he didn't know what to do with his body, before stopping opposite Sam.

"Cas..." Sam leaned back on his chair in boredom. "She matches the description exactly and..." Sam leaned forward again and returned to prod at his keyboard, "And I think we all recognise this dress," He exclaimed, turning the laptop around to show Cas the screen. The black and white CCTV image made everything clear as Dean also bent over to have a glance. Ellie, in her purple frock, which anyone would have remembered, stood just off-centre in the photo of the regular street in Connecticut. On the pavement next to Ellie was the pub, The Shakespeare.

Sam paused, letting his findings sink in. "That was last night, she was probably leaving work at the-"

"The Shakespeare..." Castiel interrupted, as his face concentrated on the image of their next destination.

XXXXX

The restaurant was starting to get full now. Ellie looked up quickly at the clock. 19:35. Oh god, it's still so early, she thought, and still so many songs on the tracklist to go. She began her second verse. The microphone looked incredibly cool in front of her lips compared to her sizzling body. Despite her sleeveless green top, she could feel her arms burning up from the hot lights above her. She envied the audience who probably never had the pleasure of working evenings and could relax and eat chips all night in comfy, air-conditioned seats. Ellie continued smiling and sung;