#pbexchangedriverpicks

Title: Unchanging Channels

Rating: General

Pairing: Dean Winchester/Castiel

Warning: No Archive Warning Apply

Tags: Canon Divergent, Canon Compliant, Divergent from S05E08 Changing Channels, Canon Fix-It, Background Sam/Eileen

Summary:

Trickster is stabbed through the chest, and the TV land shifts to reality -- except that it might be a different reality than they are used to. Where Castiel is the car, literally.

Excerpt:

The smile is frozen on Trickster's face the moment Sam stabs the stake through his chest. The crappy CSI world bursts into TV static before that little brat's body hits the ground. Bloody foam bubbles between his lips, drooping from the corner. The glint in his eyes fades completely as the world morphs back to the warehouse they first entered, before being thrown into that Dr. Sexy hospital world.

Dean thinks he might would have felt a tad sorry for him if it weren't the third time they tried to kill the son of a bitch -- if only this time it sticks.

His flannel and jacket come back, replacing the douchebag-looking uniform and nighttime-sunglasses, that's a plus. Trickster's body lies lifeless on the deserted floor -- for some reason, Dean had expected his body to flash into static just like the rest of the TV land scenes, instead of feeling so solid like this. He regards the dead Trickster's wide-open eyes for a short second -- he might have liked the guy if circumstances were different. But a little too late for that now.

Dean walks out of the empty warehouse, calling behind him, "Time to pop out, Sam."

There is no answer.

Dean frowns, looking around. The dirt on the warehouse floor shows one set of footprints leading outside -- his own.

"Cas? You there?" he tries.

Still no answer.

Maybe they were sent to different spots when the world returned to normal?

Dean sits in Baby's driver's seat, dialing their numbers in turns, wishing at least one of them still has their phone on them.

He curses when both go straight to voicemail.

"Where are you?" Dean murmurs, starting the car's engine without really thinking. He doesn't really have a clue where to go to find them, but at least, keeping the car running is like a default setting whenever there is a problem.

The light around the car's audio panel blinks when the engine comes to life.

"Dean?" Castiel's voice sounds up, somewhere close by. Like, really close -- sitting in the shotgun close.

But Dean is absolutely sure he's alone in the car. He squirms in his seat, checking a third time at the empty seats around him, just to be sure.

"Cas? Is that you? Where are you?" he raises his voice, asking the air.

"I don't know. The vessel doesn't feel right." Castiel answers. The light on the dashboard blinks in the same rhythm as he speaks. Dean notices.

"Crap, I don't think Trickster is dead," Dean mutters, almost punching the wheel, frustrated. On second thought, he knocks on the dashboard with his knuckles, "You in there, buddy? Feel anything when I do that?"

Castiel's voice is quiet for a second, then, "Oh, I see. And, yes, I can feel that."