Set Fire To My Heart

Chapter 5: ...And Into the Fire

Dean closes the screen on his laptop before taking a drink of his coffee. He couldn't seem to get the man he pulled from his first fire, not even twenty-four hours ago, out of his mind. Just hoping and praying to whomever, or whatever would listen, that the man would be okay and make a full recovery. Dean couldn't understand why he hadn't recognized the guy, though. He was sure the man had never personally checked him out at the shop or assisted him. Dean would remember a shade of blue so stunning and that sharp, defined jawline. Scrubbing a hand over his face, Dean lets out a sigh as a hand claps him on the back.

"Bout time you went home, Dean," Benny reminds him. "Your report was the best I've seen in a long time and, quite frankly, made my job a whole lot easier," he let out a low chuckle. "Now go home and get some rest."

Dean nods, letting out a breath. "Yeah, you're probably right," he bites his lip in thought, wondering if he should ask the question that's bugging him. "Did you, uh, happen to hear how the guy is doing?" He asks, almost sheepishly. Dean didn't want to seem too eager, but he was nearly dying to know how the guy was holding up.

"Brother, if you are so concerned with that man, I suggest you haul your pretty ass up to that hospital and pay him a visit after you've rested," Benny smirks. "Name is Novak. Castiel Novak. And from what I've gathered, he's going to pull through just fine."

Dean's eyes widened in surprise. "I... are we allowed to do them?" Dean sputters, backtracking, "that," he corrects himself. "Visit people we've rescued, I mean?" He finally manages, his eyes narrowing at his Lieutenant.

Benny raises a curious eyebrow. "It's not particularly customary, but there are no rules against it, and every so often we come across something, or someone, we just can't let go," Benny shrugs, taking a seat at the table. "It's not uncommon for it to be our first. First rescue. First failure. First close call. So if it will give you some peace to see him with your own eyes, then I'm gonna have to advise it," he smiles.

Dean nods. "Thanks, Benny. I appreciate it," he finishes, pushing up from the table and heading towards the dorm to grab his things.

He starts loading his duffel with his dirty clothes as his mind wanders to the man. Castiel. The man's name, for some unfathomable reason, did something to Dean. It was so unique and fit him perfectly. He allows himself to close his eyes and think of the man's face now that he has a name to put with it, and yeah, it worked. But did he dare visit the guy? Would it seem weird? Should he wait until Castiel is out of the hospital and a little more recovered? Would Castiel even remember him, let alone want to see him? Fuck, was it also reasonable for Dean to feel this worked up after one rescue?

Dean looks down at his watch seeing more time passed than he anticipated and shook his head. He finishes tidying up his area and slings his bag over his shoulder. Dean takes a peek in the dayroom and says bye to a couple of the crewmembers. Dean makes his way towards the lobby, where he hears someone arguing with the receptionist as he rounds the corner.

"I understand, ma'am, but unfortunately I'm not allowed to release that type of information to anyone outside of the person or persons involved." The receptionist informs the young woman, sounding equal parts apologetic and annoyed.

"Listen! It's because of this green-eyed angel that my boss is alive. I have to know who pulled his ass out of the fire. It's the only thing that he's asked of me. Do you know he's going to pay me even though there isn't a store to work at? How can you deny me this?" Samantha rambles, leaning over the desk.

Dean's eyes furrow, thinking the girl looks familiar. "Whoa, hey. What's going on? Everything okay?" His eyes dart between the receptionist and the woman.

"This young woman would like to know the identity of the firefighter who pulled a Mister Castiel Novak from a fire last night." The receptionist narrows her eyes at Dean.

Dean freezes and pales slightly at the sound of the man's name. Had he heard right when he came around the corner? Had Castiel asked his employee to seek Dean out? He clears his throat and looks back to the woman and attempts to say something, but nothing comes out.

Samantha looks at the man. "Hey! You're the guy with the tentacle porn! What are you doing here?" She blurts.

"Whoa, okay," Dean chuckles nervously. "I work here," he rubs the back of his neck and steps toward the door. "Mind taking this outside? I might be able to help you," he motions for the woman to follow as he pushes the door open for them.

Samantha nods, looking up into the stranger's face, then gasps. "Wait!" She grabs his arm, pulling him closer to her. "YOU!?" 

Dean's eyes widen, and he feels a little like a kid caught doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. He swallows hard, blinking a few times before letting out a breath and nodding to confirm the woman's accusation. "Yeah," he manages softly.

"Oh, this is good! The guy my boss was peeping at in the store is also the angel who saved him. It really is fate or some shit," Samantha says, slightly exasperated. "Well, here's the deal. You need to go and see him. Bring him some clothes. The two of you look to be about the same size. I didn't have the heart to tell him that they shredded his outfit. I will report back to him that you are, indeed, real. Hopefully, I don't give him a heart attack with this news," she ponders. Samantha rattles off the hospital address and Castiel's room number. "Go see him later today after you freshen up. You kinda look like hell, man," Samantha says, bluntly.

Dean shakes his head as he tries to follow along with the woman's ramblings. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... slow down," he chuckles, finally pulling her out of the lobby into the parking lot of the station. "Let's back up just a second. What do you mean he was peeping at me?" Dean raises a brow, shifting his bag slightly. "Not to mention you give a lot of orders to someone who doesn't even know your name," Dean challenges, crossing his arms over his chest.

Samantha scoffs as she turns on "Dean." "Listen, my name is not important. I am just the messenger. Castiel is the name you must remember, like it's the last word in the world, and you're the last dictionary. He saw you place that order the other day. My boss was working in the back and happened to see you on the shoplifting camera. I have never seen him so worked up about someone before," Samantha shakes her head, smiling to herself. "The two of you have to become friends," she says. "Or something," she adds under her breath.

Dean rolls his eyes at the woman and lets out a sigh. "Fine. I'm gonna go home, take a nap, and shower. I'll head up there after dinner," Dean relents. He reddens slightly with the knowledge that Castiel was apparently 'worked up,' whatever that meant after he had seen Dean on the security cameras, but tries to play it off as he moves towards the Impala, pulling the keys out of his pocket.

Samantha's jaw drops as she watches Dean walk over to the car. "Is that yours?" She yells after him.

Dean chuckles, opening up the driver's side door and tosses his duffel across the bench seat. "Yes, she is," he beams proudly.

"You're perfect for him," Samantha says, but the words are lost when the siren alarms somewhere in the fire station. "So perfect."