Crossroad Blues

[CASTIEL]

Castiel blinked at Dean, the terror in his eyes felt wrong, unnatural, he was not a monster designed to bring terror and fear, he was an angel, he was meant to be a sign of good and compassion. Why then was this human begging for his life and clearly so scared of Castiel that he was trembling?

It made no sense and Castiel felt his gut clench at the reality of what he was about to do, still he had no choice, an order had been given and he was to follow it, no matter what.

He stepped forward and raised his hand again, ignoring the gun, it couldn't hurt him any more than the knife could have. He moved ever closer, this was it, he would do his work, smite the heathen, Uriel's words not his, and then return home for his next set of orders.

"I am truly sorry Dean" He whispered, and his voice transmitted just how much he wished he need not do this, "I have no choice."

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel, or rather Loki, as he was known now, and it would stay that way thank you very much, popped up beside the hunter and snapped his fingers, smirking at his brother Castiel, who had no idea who he was of course, not yet, maybe he would some day, though it was unlikely.

With a loud pop the angel disappeared and Loki snapped his fingers again and Dean and himself were sitting side by side in an old movie theater somewhere in New Orleans, an old porno from the 80's was on the screen, right at the good bit too and Loki shoved a handful of chocolate popcorn into his mouth, watching appreciately.

"You're welcome by the way Deano"

He smirked at Dean before turning his attention back to the screen and cringing at a particularly hairy bush. "Ah the 80's, how I miss em" He said, and laughed, the fact that out side the door, it was actually the 80's was a little fact he left out. "So, fight with the boyfriend then? Or did he just really not like you?"

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

Dean cringed, and turned his head away, eyes closed as he willed himself to fire the damned gun. He knew it wouldn't do any good, just like he knew running wouldn't help, but no Winchester would go out without at least some fight in them. "You've always got a choice!" he gasped, and squeezed the trigger just as he landed in the middle of a theatre.

The shot rang out over the clearly faked orgasm gasps of a woman who looked like she'd need a hedge trimmer for some personal grooming, and Dean opened his eyes in shock.

"What the hell just happened?!" he asked, turning wide eyes at the stranger by his side. He gaped at him for a few moments before blinking and going, "Somebody put something in my beer. That's the only explanation for this. And what the hell do you mean by boyfriend? Trench coat showed up out of nowhere and announced he had to kill me because God commanded it! I'm starting to wish somebody actually did put something in my drink, at least then I could blame this whole crazy night on an acid trip!"

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel threw his head back and laughed, "Oh Deano, you say the stupidest things! No one drugged you sweet cheeks."

He stood up and snapped his fingers, suddenly they were inside the porno rather than watching it, the woman and two men who had been involved had gone though, and two very pretty Asian girls were touching each other on the bed and giggling while making eyes at Gabriel.

"Trench coat as you call him, really did plan to kill you, so you know you're welcome... again," He raised an eyebrow and then winked at Dean.

"Now Deano, it's a strange new world out there, go make friends, and try not to die hmm, or my little trick will have been for nothing." He laughed, and then with a click of his fingers, Dean was back in the theater, watching Gabriel do unspeakable things to the two women, while he winked at the hunter wickedly.

"Off you run then, you can thank me late."

Now you might ask, why he'd done it, why he'd risked going so close to exposing himself to one of his brothers, simply to save the life of a human hunter? Well it was all to do with the plan, and Gabriel knew that Dean Winchester was an important key, one that had to survive, no matter how hard some of his brothers upstairs wanted him dead. It would take them a while to find Dean in 1980, New Orleans had just been a present from him to Deano. Because really, who didn't love New Orleans?

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

Dean wasn't sure who the hell amber eyes thought he was, but he wasn't sure he liked him, regardless of how timely his rescue was. He blinked, and next thing he knew, he was standing in the set of the porno they had just been watching. "Oh, dude, sick!" Dean yelped, not comfortable at all with the situation, especially not with how suddenly he was dropped into it.

"Well, thank you," Dean said sarcastically. "I'll be sure to drop you a Christmas card for this."

Another blink, and he was back out in the theatre while Gabriel got better acquainted with the girls. "Dude, sick!" Dean yelled, too upset by the strangeness of the whole evening to appreciate the busty Asian beauties. Instead, he did the only sensible thing he could think of, and bolted from the theatre, only to find that he was in the heart of the Big Easy, and the populace was dressed like a Frankie Goes To Hollywood tribute act.

Dean stared for a while, before eventually shrugging and saying, "I need some coffee." He vaguely remembered where Café du Monde was from a hunting trip a few years back, so he made his way to the famous café for a cup of coffee, and maybe a beignet or two. He figured he'd process the situation better once he got some sugar and caffeine into his system.

[CASTIEL]

*looks around him, his hair ragged, breathing hard, time travel at his pay grade was not easy to get done and he'd been jumping around throughout the 1980's for a week now looking for Dean Winchester, heaven had told him this is where he is, it was just hitting the right day and year in the decade that was hard*

Thank you father

*breaths when he finally spots Dean at a little coffee shop, drinking coffee and looking around like he didn't understand the world around him. Something Castiel could relate too*

Dean Winchester

*says as he stops by the table the man was at*

I found you

*sounds relieved, because he is*

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

*Looks up from a mouthful of delicious sugary beignet goodness and almost drops the coffee he was about to drink*

Oh shiiiit ...

*Can't remember the legality of carrying concealed weapons in Louisiana, so he keeps his gun in his pocket, but feels rather surprised to hear how relieved the angel is*

Yay, you found me!

*Bitch face*

You're just relieved because this means you get to kill me now, right?

*Laughs humourlessly*

Damn, and I was almost pleased to see a familiar face.

[CASTIEL]

*stares at Dean and frowns*

I do not wish to kill you Dean, I am simply following orders

*looks around and sighs, how in the world the hunter had ended up in 1980 he had no idea, he didn't know of many things who had that sort of power*

Who brought you here?

*he asked as he took a step forward and stood over Dean's table*

It took me a long time to find you

*points out, like it matters, because really to his bosses it did*

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

*Puts down his coffee*

You're still going to kill me though, aren't you?

*Raises his hands in a "who knows" gesture*

No freaking idea. Some freak zaps me out of there and into a movie theatre. Blonde guy, weird eyes. Still got no idea who he is, or why he did it.

*Scowls*

If all he did was postpone the inevitable, I'm not sure how grateful I should be to him.

*Holds a beignet defensively, like he's going to throw it*

Woah, easy there, buddy ... Don't make me throw this, because it's delicious, and it's a shame to waste it.

[CASTIEL]

*tips his head to the side*

So you don't know him then?

*wonders who it was, he'd not recognized him*

*must have been powerful, perhaps another angel, but why one of his brothers would try to save who he'd been ordered to smite he didn't understand*

I am a soldier Dean, I must follow my orders

*frowns and looks at the thing in Dean's hand*

That weapon would not damage me Dean

*informs helpfully*

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

*Gives him a hugely confused look*

No, of course I don't! But clearly, somebody doesn't want you to kill me, right?

*Sighs, remembering how Sam had once accused him of being a soldier who lived to follow their father's orders*

But what if your orders are wrong? You ever think about that? I hunt monsters so they don't hurt the innocent, and now you want to kill me! I've never killed an innocent person. I only hunt things that hurt people. Why do you have to kill me? What reason was given for it? Did I piss God off by killing a rawhead before he could murder children?

*Looks from the beignet to Castiel and raises an eyebrow*

It's not a weapon. It's delicious. Want some?

*Hoping to distract him with beignet goodness so he won't kill him. It's a long shot, but hey, Dean's tried crazier schemes in his time*

[CASTIEL]

*is about to answer Dean when he feels a sharp tug at his grace*

I must return to heaven, please wait here, I will return soon

*tells Dean and in a flutter of wings he's gone*

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

*Looks at the beignet in shock*

Either that just worked, or I'm the luckiest son of a bitch in the world!

*Isn't arguing about it, but orders more coffee and a beignet while he hangs out in the café, wondering how the hell he's going to get back to where he should be*

[CASTIEL]

*a flutter and gust of wind and Castiel is standing back where he was a moment ago, though now with a much more perplexed look on his face, as though his world was starting not to make a whole lot of sense*

Dean Winchester

*he greets grimly*

It would appear I am no longer here to smite you

*relays the changes in his mission, clearly somewhat baffled by it*

[DEAN WINCHESTER]

*Startled by Castiel's sudden reappearance*

Dude! Don't do that! Jeeze, a little warning next time?

*Looks at him, raising an eyebrow*

Well ... that's good news, but you don't look like it is.

*Grins*

Mind dropping me back where I was, then?