Didn't Run Far Enough

Chapter 16

Work is pretty uneventful. There hasn't been a new (non-gang-related) murder in at least a month so Castiel and Charlie have just been working on older cases, which is remarkably less fun than taking on new cases but equally as important.

Eventually, it's time to go home. Today is Charlie's day to drive, and Castiel spends the car ride staring out the window. He's really glad it's not raining today. That would be a little too cliche, even for his taste. Charlie tries to talk to him a few times, but, as he's done all day, he doesn't give them much of a response.

It takes Castiel far longer than it should to realize that the way they're going is not, in fact, the way to his house. Off the top of his head, he can't think of a single interesting thing that exists down here, short of, like, McDonald's. He gives his friend a puzzled look. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," she says with a smile.

"Charlie..."'

"C'mon, just trust me," they say. "It's gonna be fun, I promise."

"I don't want to have fun right now," Castiel says. "I just want to go home."

She sighs dramatically. "You've been so boring all day. I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I am determined to unboring you."

"I don't want to be unboringed," Casitel whines.

"It's a good thing I didn't ask you, then, isn't it?"

Castiel groans, but they've made it pretty clear that he doesn't have a choice so he reluctantly shuts up. Wherever they're going, he hopes it's somewhere that he doesn't have to do anything. He's really not in the mood to pretend he's having a great day.

"And viola," Charlie says, pulling into a parking space in the middle of god-knows-where.

Castiel's eyes scan the nearby buildings. A bank? That can't be it. Burger King? She knows he prefers McDonald's -- and who parks at a fast-food restaurant, anyway? There's a craft store, too, but that doesn't sound right. There's...

Oh, hey, it's a bakery! He's never been here before. He's never even heard of it. Braedon's Bakery, the sign reads. This is definitely the one they're going to. He can feel it.

Charlie slides out of the car, so Castiel does the same. Within seconds, Charlie is standing next to him, beaming. With a grin, they tell him, "I am going to buy you so many cupcakes, you're never going to want to consume sugar ever again."

"Charlie, you don't have to --"

"Ah ah ah!" She puts a finger to his lips. "I am buying you food and you cannot stop me." She takes her hand back. "Now, follow me. I am about to show you the store of your dreams."

Castiel raises an eyebrow, but he reluctantly follows her inside. There are only two people in the building, both behind the counter full of sweets. One is a woman, probably about their age, and the other is a kid, maybe 10 years old. The boy is at the counter where he's organizing the baked goods, presumably to add the muffins on the counter to the collection. The woman is towards the back, frosting a cake that almost looks too beautiful to eat.

"Hi, welcome to Braedon's Bakery!" the boy greets them. "My name's Ben, and that's my mom, Lisa." He points at the woman in the back with his thumb, and she gives a small wave before turning her attention back to her work. "What can I help you with?"

Castiel can't help but smile. He's such a cute kid. Castiel likes him already.

"Hey, kiddo," Charlie says. "I am here to buy my friend an uncomfortable amount of good food, and you and your mom never disappoint with that. So, what does the chef recommend?"