Prison Break (Sequel to "Wanted")

Chapter 7

When Castiel gets a call from Michael, he feels his heart stop. In theory, he knows Michael could be calling to check up on him, but Anna probably would have gotten the wellness check first, so this has to be about the case. He can't exactly pretend he's not home, given that he's practically already admitted that he's not going to leave his house all week, so he answers it with great reluctance.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Cas," Michael says, and it almost does sound like a wellness check. "How are you holding up?"

"Fine," Castiel says, and he actually means it. He thought he'd be more stressed out than this, but honestly, he's just bored. "Hey, Anna's here, too. Want me to put you on speaker?"

Anna looks up from her own phone with an excited smile.

"No, actually, I'd like to keep this conversation between us," Michael says.

Castiel lets out a long sigh. "Not a social call, then?"

Anna freezes, and immediately, Castiel regrets saying anything. He never should have let her know that this was Michael. He should have taken it to a different room the instant he saw the caller ID. Anna's obviously going to assume the worst, and even just the mention of the case could be too much for her to handle. Hearing one side of a conversation is bound to make it worse.

"Unfortunately not," Michael says. "I'm really sorry to do this to you, Cas, but would you be okay with a brief update?"

"I take it it's not a good one, then?" Castiel asks. He'd pretty much assumed that they hadn't caught the guy yet, but he was still hanging in hope.

"It depends on how you look at it," Michael says. "Do you want to know?"

"God, probably not," Castiel mutters. "Hit me."

"The guy's still in California," Michael says. "Or was, as of last night. He left a note in Sharpie, and DNA testing confirms that he used his own blood to sign it."

"Why?" Castiel asks. "That defeats the whole purpose of... well, everything." He doesn't want to say the words "murdering people" in front of his sister, who's doubtlessly listening to every word.

"He said he's done killing people," Michael tells him. "Basically, he's dropping off the radar."

"Ah, I get it," Castiel says. "That's the good news and the bad news, then?"

"No, actually that's just the good news," Michael says.

Castiel raises an eyebrow. "But there is bad news, isn't there?"

"Yes."

"There always is, isn't there?" Castiel mutters. "What's the bad news?"

"He wants to speak with you." Michael says. "He gave us a phone number."

Castiel closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He should have seen this coming. Getting kicked off the case couldn't help him seven years ago. Dropping it can't help him today. The guy just won't take no for an answer.

"Cas?" Anna says nervously. "Are you okay?"

"I'm... I'm fine," Castiel says. "I'm gonna go finish this call in my room. You know, confidential and all that."

He does his best to ignore the concerned expression on Anna's face and heads to his bedroom. He locks his door behind him, possibly for the first time since Anna moved in with him a few years back.

Michael doesn't say a word. He must be able to hear Castiel breathe, or have some sign that he's still there, because he doesn't make a single sound as Castiel heads upstairs. He appreciates that more than he could say. He just needs a minute.

Finally, after lying in bed and staring at the ceiling for a few moments, Castiel asks, "Do you think it would help?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't," Michael says. "But that doesn't mean you have to do it. If you don't think you can handle it —"

"Then I'll do it," Castiel interrupts. "If it'll help get him off the streets, I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" Michael asks. "It might not —"

"I'll do it," Castiel repeats. "So, how is this going to work?"