Prison Break (Sequel to "Wanted")

Chapter 19

"So," Castiel says after a long and awkward period of silence, "is this what you've been up to since your prison break? Waiting tables?"

"Working the bar," Dean corrects him, "and no, just the last couple months."

Castiel nods to show that he's listening, but he's really not sure how to make conversation right now. When push comes to shove, Dean is still a serial killer, no matter how friendly -- or, in this case, non-hostile -- he can be. The logical side of his brain is telling him to be wary of what he says to the guy.

At the same time, seeing Dean in person always throws him off. For a serial killer, he always seems like such a decent guy. He's a little closed off this time, but he's not mean. He doesn't sound like a psychopath -- the courts couldn't even prove he was one to get off with an insanity plea, despite the general public being so willing to believe it. He's just so... normal. It's arguably worse than facing someone who's blatantly a bad person.

"What have you been up to lately?" Dean asks eventually, turning the question around.

Castiel lets out a long breath. "Work, mostly. Legally, I can't really elaborate on that one."

"That's alright; I'll just ask a different question," Dean says. "How's your family doing?"

Castiel feels himself tense at that, and all he says is a terse, "They're fine."

Dean puts his hands up in a mock surrender. "Just trying to make conversation. You got something else you want to talk about, go right ahead."

"What about your family?" Castiel asks.

Dean chuckles. "Ah, yeah, my family... Well, you know my family. Dead mom, deadbeat -- and hopefully also dead -- dad, and my goodie-two-shoes lawyer brother that I'm assuming you've met by now. Now, if you've got any questions, I am always willing to talk shit about them, because, quite frankly, it's what they deserve."

"Even your brother?" Castiel asks skeptically.

"Especially my brother," Dean replies. "I mean, he wouldn't have made it anywhere in life if I hadn't been around to keep him safe growing up. I swung around to see him, and he basically told me to go fuck myself."

"You can't honestly tell me you think that's how it happened," Castiel says.

"And you can't tell me otherwise because you weren't there," Dean snaps. Castiel has to admit, of all the things he had expected Dean to get defensive over, this did not make the list.

"No, I wasn't, but I talked to your brother after your visit," Castiel tells him. "He tried to pass it off like he tried to turn you in, but that's not what happened. You know that, right? Deep down, you know he was protecting you."

Dean scoffs. "Yeah, I felt real protected when he told me to fuck off."

"How 'bout when he didn't shoot you?" Castiel asks. "Or when he gave you a whole night to get out of town before he turned you in?"

"That was the bare minimum," Dean says. "He genuinely could not have done any less."

"He literally could have shot you," Castiel reminds him. "He could have killed you, and he probably would've gotten away with it."

"Well, yeah, but..." Dean trails off. It looks like Castiel finally succeeded in one thing. "Did he really admit to letting me go?"

"On paper, no," Castiel says. "He told me, but that was a private conversation, completely off the record."

Dean raises an eyebrow. "Why'd you talk to him off the record? It's not like a confession was gonna help your case much. Not unless you thought he knew where I was going, but I wouldn't be dumb enough to tell him that, and I'd like to think you knew that."