Chapter Text
“Looks like the northeast is pretty clear throughout at least Wednesday.” Dean Winchester said, gesturing to the map behind him. “But Asheville is looking a little sketchy through the weekend. Nothing big, but there are a few patches here and there.” The map zoomed in on Asheville, showing dots and smudges of red marching across the city. “There is a much larger system moving through New Mexico that we have our eye on. Starting in Durango, Colorado early last week and moving down through Farmington, this system is a doozy.” Dean stepped back from the map the dots and smudges that were marching through Asheville covered most of the northwest block of New Mexico, all but obliterating the town of Farmington. “Farmington is in for a rough weekend, but here’s to hoping that all of you will make through just fine.” Dean Winchester smiled at the camera. “We have our eyes on you, New Mexico. Hope your walls are up, your pantries are stocked and your guns are loaded.” He paused. “Stay safe out there.” He turned back to his right, “Back to you, Sam.”
The camera cut to Sam Winchester behind a desk, a soft smile already in place. He shuffled some papers in front of him and marked something off on them. “Thanks for that, Dean. We’ll be watching out for you, New Mexico.” He turned to the other camera. “In other news, there is a bill in the House advocating for the recently Returned’s-”
Castiel snorted at the new term.
The Returned.
Like they were soldiers back from battle, people that they had been waiting on forever. He straightened his tie and pulled on his beaten leather jacket. On his back he slipped his favorite machete into the holster and his favorite gun and a couple of extra clips into his bag. He shut the tv off as Sam Winchester began to explain the new provision about the bill advocating for the rights of the Returned.
When the dead had returned, humanity had fought back. It was fifteen years ago that Castiel had watched his family die, piece by piece. First his father and eventually his brothers and finally, it had been just him and Samandriel out on the road when Samandriel had been bitten. He had talked Castiel through his own death and asked that Cas kill him before he returned.
Castiel obliged.
That had been in Maine.
Now he was in New Mexico, teaching multiple grades of English. Humanity had won, yes, but there had been a price to pay. People were sacrificed and the Returned still roamed the streets, sometimes in hordes so big that it was warranted special attention.
Dean Winchester’s special attention.
Before the dead started rising, there had been meterologists to predict weather patterns, when to take an umbrella out with them, when to cancel school in the event of something so big, it made the roads unreliable.
Now, they had the Winchesters. Dean and Sam kept most of the nation abreast of what was going on. They bounced signals off what remaining satellites had not been shot down in the ensuing wars and accusations following the dead coming back and actually used them for good. There were informative segments with Ash (known as Dr. Badass) where he taught people how to build their own radios and computers to get their show and what was left of the internet. Garth Fitzgerald IV and Jo Harvelle hosted another segment that showed how to improvise weapons. Bobby Singer and Ellen Harvelle had their own segment of survival tips for the woods. Benny Lafitte had a cooking show, which while it sounded entirely unnecessary in the aftermath of an apocalypse, had saved Castiel’s tastebuds on more than one occasion. They had guest spots and speakers and a man who called himself President, but Castiel couldn’t remember the last time he had voted in an election.
But the people that were mainly on the screen were Dean and Sam. Sam hosted the news, trying to keep people informed. Dean was the man of the hour, every hour. Much like metereologists, he predicted events. The weather was not one of them. Using satellites and Dr. Badass’ skill set, they were able to predict fairly accurately where and when the largest hordes would hit towns. To say that he had saved lives was an understatement.
And if he was kind of hot, well, that was just icing on the cake in Castiel’s opinion.
Castiel jumped on his bike and pedaled towards his school. He passed a few kids and their parents and waved at them. He raced a few of his students and enjoyed his ride to school. He parked near the front and headed into the school and his class. He high fived a few of the students and tossed his bag onto his chair and turned to his whiteboard. He began to write the day’s agenda and whistled under his breath while he did so.
Anna stuck her head in just as he was finishing up. “Did you watch the report this morning?” She asked.
“I did.” Castiel confirmed.
“What do you think?” She asked, tugging on her hair.
“I think we should probably cancel drinks this weekend. Maybe stay in. Order some Chinese food. Watch some Netflix.”
She snorted. Ordering food and Netflix were a thing of the past, a thing they often reminisced about. “I was going to check out my supplies here and at home. I’m going to make a checklist, head out to the general store later. Would you like to come with me?” She asked.
“Love to.” He said with a quick grin. “Balthazar joining us?”
“I think he needs some supplies for his office. You know he likes to stock up before a big one hits.”
Castiel nodded. He looked to the back of his classroom where his stockroom was and made a note to check on it during his lunch break.
Ever since the first attack, the attack that had decimated the human race, it was law to have a stockroom in every room that people worked, lived and learned in. After Castiel and Samandriel had almost died (the first time) from starvation, this was a rule that Castiel took very seriously.
During lunch, he walked the perimeter of his stockroom, writing down what it was he needed, what he should get if there was enough at the store room and then optional items. He chewed on his sandwich and checked his wallet to make sure the appropriate cards and ID were there for the trip later. His students were unusually subdued and Cas knew that oncoming horde was on everyone’s minds. He didn’t mention it though; these students had been through enough without having to be reminded every day that they still had not won the war, that the killers of their families were still there. School was often the only respite some of these kids had.
When school was out, Anna stopped by his classroom, bag over her arm, munching on an apple. She waited patiently while he gathered his things and when they left the school, Balthazar was already loading Castiel’s bike into the back of his monstrous truck.
“Cassie.” Balthazar said with a grin.
“Hey, Balthazar.” Cas said and was swept up into a hug. Balthazar had been the one to find Castiel in the woods, hungry, in shock, starving. He had gently guided Castiel back to the land of the living, as it were, and they helped each other immensely in the ensuing years. In their small village, Balthazar and Anna were the closest thing he had to family. After the thousands of miles they had travelled and the things they had endured, they were family. They were also the only ones that could get away with casually touching Castiel. It wasn’t something he spoke of often, but people learned quickly that Castiel shied away from casual touches.
“Let’s do this.” Anna said and threw her bag into the truck and climbed in. She sat in the middle, Cas sat next to the window and Balthazar drove them in. At the gates of the general store, which was more the size of two very large warehouses, a soldier took everyone’s ID and nodded at them. “Novaks. You are missing one, aren’t you?”
“Gabe had tutoring today.” Castiel supplied.
“Well, hopefully he can get in later tonight. Prepare early.” The soldier said. The three in the truck nodded, the man made a note on his tablet, grabbed three papers from the inside of his small tollbooth, handed them over along with pens and clipboards and sent them through.
Balthazar, Anna, Castiel and Gabe were not blood related. They were known as the Novak family by name only because when they had come together, it had been a bond that was greater than that of blood. It was a bond forged in violence and protection and loyalty and sacrifice. The four of them had protected each other when they had no one else, they had cared for each other when there had been no hope and now, as neighbors and co workers, they were a tighter knit group than if they had all been born of the same parents. Taking the same name and claiming relation to each other had simply been a matter of formality. They received looks of skepticism often, especially with Anna’s flaming red hair, Balthazar’s accent, Castiel’s dark hair and Gabriel’s much lighter looks but no one dared to say otherwise.
Balthazar drove in carefully, watching for smaller children that liked to wander around in the parking lot. Castiel and Anna waved at a few of their students and Balthazar nodded to a few patients and saw two of his nurses already pushing a cart inside.
The idea of people getting rations based on need had come down from the government, one of the very few things that had actually stuck. Everyone, upon birth, was issued a ration card. Each card was loaded up with the necessary credits for the person and, when needed, they headed to the mall that was at the center of town to stock up on supplies Parents or guardians were responsible for their childrens rations until they reached the age of twelve when, along with school, they were issued their first weapon and had mandatory combat training. Castiel hated that the children had so little time to be children. But if it were between that and death, Cas would choose the mandatory training..
Inside, they each got a cart and headed straight for the non-perishables. They each checked how much each of them was allotted and began to load up. Once they were done there they lugged their carts over to the medical supply area. Cas and Anna were only allowed to go so far in, as they were not medical personnel. Once they had their ibuprofen and band-aids, they pushed their carts off to the side and sat down to wait for Balthazar who was allowed much farther in, escorted by an armed guard and pharmacist. By the time he came out, Anna was dozing off against Castiel’s shoulder, having acquired the truly amazing skill of being able to fall asleep almost anywhere and in any position. Cas gently nudged her and she woke up immediately, wiping at her mouth. They made one last stop at the water section where they handed over the IDs once more to the young woman there who scanned it and gave them a time that water would be dropped off at their places of employment and residences.
It was an efficient system, implemented by those that chose to live in their small town.
Once done, Balthazar dropped Castiel and Anna off at the school and despite the darkening skies above them they all quickly unloaded their supplies. They would properly organize them the next day. Anna and Castiel helped Balthazar at his office as well, one of his nurses lending a hand while Balthazar locked up the important medical supplies and narcotics in a safe. Balthazar dropped Castiel off at his apartment and drove down the street to his own apartment, Anna across the street from them. Yes, they all loved each other dearly but they had once spent ten months in a single room together, trying to wait out a horde. They had more than enough quality time saved up.
That night, Cas slipped his favorite machete under his pillow, checked to make sure his front door was locked and slipped into bed. He fell asleep within minutes.