3 - Why did you disappear in thin air?

Some years passed, from that fateful night. And in 'some years', a lot of things actually happened.
For starters, it had been at least three years since Castiel and Dean had last heard from each other. Why, you may ask? Well. At first, keeping up with chatting and skyping had proven to be almost too easy and good to be real; every night, the two would hear from each other, laugh at stupid jokes, talk about their days and struggles with University and with Dean's newfound job at Singer's Garage. But after a while, things had started to get a bit... dreary. Mostly on Dean's side, maybe, to be honest. When topics started to seem a bit stale to him he would bring up the latest girlfriend he had - bragging about it, and telling a bit too many details to be just polite conversation.
Castiel didn't really enjoy those conversations, and he had told Dean some times already, but to no avail. Their messages started to get more and more scarce and, one night, when Dean had drunkenly brought up Castiel's virginity and laughed about it, had drawn a tight line.
They had stopped talking. Castiel had stopped writing, and Dean, feeling guilty but being the stubborn idiot he was known to be, hadn't tried to call back.
"SAM! Can you pass over that thing over there? I need it to fix the engine!" Dean yelled from under one of the cars currently parked in the garage.

Unknowingly to everyone, someone else's car might have been in need of some repairing. "-I'm sorry Cas, it seems like this really needs some fixing." Chuck threw a sorry glance to his son, that would have maybe been late for something important. "Did you need to go anywhere? We can use my car, and I can ask one of your brothers to bring yours to a garage!"

On the other side, after a couple of weeks of dates and fun where everything had been going more than alright, Balthazar had completely disappeared from the radar. He didn't answer calls, messages. Nobody seemed to know his whereabouts. At home, nobody had any idea of where he was. It was a mystery. And quite the upsetting one.

Dean threw him a bright and insolent smile. "Aw, c'mon - remember who is also helping with your school, and help me out a bit yourself! What about that?" He grabbed the tool Sam was handing him with a cheerful 'Thank you' and went back to work. He seemed to be way, way happier since their own father was not around anymore. "What are you studying, by the way?"

"Are you sure? I could take you to your conference, and then I'd bring your car to the mechanic..." Chuck seemed honestly bummed about the idea of his son skipping that event just to do something like that. He really wanted to be helpful! And he was worried!

And soon enough, somebody had called to request a stable bodyguard for someone who was apparently very rich indeed, and quite well known in finances and business. The man had preferred to keep his privacy and had left no actual name; his secretary had required maximum discretion, and had given to Kalyan's agency a place and an hour where to meet with the client. They had even accepted to pay in advance, so they could make sure it wasn't a scam!

Dean laughed, working a bit on the engine of the car before answering properly to his brother. "Nah. Not really. I just had some flirts lately, but no one I could call 'girlfriend'. It's sad, but I don't think I have the time right now - I mean, old Bobby is bed-ridden with a flu and I have all the garage to myself, see?" He stopped and stared at Sam meaningfully, arching a brow. "And you?"

"It doesn't bother me", Chuck reassured Castiel with a smile. He was happy to be able to be a father. And he needed that feeling. Ever since he had finally asked for that divorce. "You'll call when I can come and fetch you, or you'd rather me follow you?"

The appointment was in a bar, a public place, to make everyone comfortable. If Kalyan, once inside, decided to look around a bit, his gaze would have probably met a pair of blue eyes looking at him. Said blue eyes belonged to a face he could well recognize if he had a good memory - even though Balthazar had changed quite a bit during those years as well. He had grown a bit more muscular, and he had lost that late-boyish charm he had when he was still in the campus, becoming a fully grown man and grown a bit of stubble. He was dressed on point, like always, but a bit more carefully. He did have the same smile, though, and the same glint in his eyes when he recognized Kalyan.

Dean held back a smile, and briefly put down his tool to reach for a small bottle of water and drink a bit from it. "Of course I know her, you nerd", he huffed with a smile. "I was just asking how's it going. If there are any, you know, news. Something!" Truth be told, he suspected there was something his brother was not telling him!

"Sure, I'll do that then." Chuck smiled at him. "I'll come fetch you by that time. Now go, or you will be late!"

Since Kalyan was - rightfully - confused, Balthazar decided to call on all his courage and get up from his seat, to walk up to him. Even though the sight of the katana scared him a bit. After all, he had disappeared for whole years: whatever good reason he had (and he did have lots of good reason for never answering any call) probably wouldn't have saved him from a punch or something close to that. He carefully walked up to the other man, and smiled at him. "Kalyan?", he called him, trying to get his attention.

Dean rolled his eyes, very theatrically, and got up from his hunched position next to the car he had been working on. "Fine, fine", he huffed, cleaning his hands with an already dirty towel. "You're too busy with your whatever-that-is you're studying to go out yourself. But this is not over!", he added, throwing the oily cloth to Sam before swiftly escaping with a grin on his face. He peeked out, to see who was there, and saw a man standing next to a car. Judging by the smoke coming up from the engine, there was a biiig problem going down. "Hey", he called out to the owner. "I think you'd better step away from that - that smoke won't do you any good!"

Balthazar's smile faltered a bit - he hadn't noticed the glint of recognizal in Kalyan's eye, and had mistaken his coldness for something else. Maybe the other man didn't remember him in fact. "Uhm... look who managed to get back to this country", he said, a bit hesitantly this time, but still smiling and making a slight gesture, as if to say 'ta-dah'. Then he got serious. Something rare, to see that expression on his face. "I... I came here because I think I owe you some explanations. If you're willing to listen..." He paused. "And if you remember me."

Dean, on the other hand, didn't recognize the other man right away. Sure, he distractedly thought that he was rather handsome, and familiar - but it was only when he had stepped closer, and said something close to "I think the one who installed that engine knew nothing about this model of car" that something clicked in his brain. His eyes widened. "... wait... are you..." He squinted a bit. And an incredulous chuckle escaped from his lips. "... Castiel?" Wow. He had been right in highschool - the guy had become really a hot piece of ass. ... he hadn't just thought that I swear!

Balthazar seemed suddenly uneasy. He looked down at his own hands. "You're right. And you have all the rights to be angry, and to wish not to see me ever again, or punch my face, but... please. I want to explain, and... and that's why I got an appointment with you, too. So I could have a chance to finally talk to you. And I do need a bodyguard anyway, so I thought, why not get the best I know?" He smiled again at Kalyan. but one could tell he wasn't happy.

"I... well, this is the place I trained in while I was in highschool", Dean explained, not really knowing why he felt honestly glad about meeting the other man. He remembered not parting on good terms... then why was he smiling! "The man who owns this place is basically my father." He hesitated, looking around a bit. "So... how have you been?", he asked a bit awkwardly.

Balthazar sighed. It was clear that Kalyan didn't want to talk to him, outside work. "... I've been threathened. Various times", he said. "I reached a certain kind of wealth, and that puts me in a great deal of danger. I wasn't safe in France, and I am even less safe here apparently. That's why I need a bodyguard."

"You don't need to pay before, no", Dean answered. "I'll just need your contact info, and some papers about your car maintenance. I guess you've got those with you, right?" He made a gesture, inviting him to come into the garage. "It won't take long. Since you are in such a rush, I'll make it quick." He wanted to add 'and since you clearly don't want to speak to me still', but he decided to leave it there. Even though he did look more grumpy now.

"I decided that because nobody wants to meet a stranger in a place where you are alone", Balthazar answered, crossing his arms. "Especially seen as I did think you could decide to stick the pointy end of your katana right into my head, without witnesses." He offered him a bitter smile. Then he sighed. "I've been threatened, repeatedly. Letters, emails. I ignored it at first - but some months ago, the break ins started." He hesitated. "My apartment's door has been forced open. My possessions ruinded. More threatening messages, but on my walls this time, on my pictures and paintings. Two days ago, my secretary resigned, and she didn't want to tell me why - but I am positive she has been menaced as well." He looked up at Kalyan. "I think it's just a matter of time before these aggressions become physical, judging by the last letter I received. That's why I need protection." He offered an envelope to Kalyan. "If you want to look."

Dean proceeded towards the small desk that was placed against one of the walls, and foshed around for some papers Castiel had to sign to leave his car there. He was frowning even more now. That's right, Sam and Cass probably still messaged each other. He had never really asked, and he didn't know why that surprised him - nor he did really understand why it was annoying him so much to think that.

"I thought that as well", Balthazar murmured. He looked around. If at first he could have seemed the usual, old, carefree Balthazar, but to a second glance, he looked just plain tired. Almost older than his age, if we have to be honest. He probably hadn't been sleeping well (or a lot) for some weeks now.

Dean - who was reading the car papers - glanced up at his brother, and threw him an annoyed glare. "Oh, sure. Listen, he even told me he doesn't want to talk - maybe he wouldn't give a shit about my apologies." He looked at the papers again, frowning. "I'm sure he wouldn't. And how to blame him, I've been a complete asshole. I wouldn't want to listen to myself either!"

Balthazar blinked. "Oh. Well, alright, but I'd need to fetch some things at my place." He hesitated again. "Could you bring me there, before?"

Dean hesitated, and threw a single glance to Castiel. "Should I talk to him now, or try to call him tonight?", he asked doubtfully in a murmur, turning immediately away. "If he has no time to talk now, maybe he won't listen to my apologies. And to have a chance that he forgives me, I want him to listen." He seemed to frown again for a second. "What do you suggest, Sam? C'mon you're the expert in being personable", he asked then, almost pleadingly.

Balthazar shrugged to himself and sinply followed Kalyan outside, after leaving some money for the food he had while staying. He seemed a bit more quiet now, maybe resigned to some degree. Well, he hadn't certainly expected Kalyan to greet him back with a smile and open arms, but still. He had thought about him so much, while he was away!

"... I could do that, yeah", Dean mused. He finally pulled a small smile. "Yeah, alright. Thanks Sam", he exclaimed, patting his brother's back and walking towards Cas. "So, I have to take a look to understand what happened", he started, when he was sure the other man had finished signing and reading all the papers. "I suggest you to come over towards seven this evening. So you can check on it." Yeah, Sam was good at being personable, but Dean was good at being casual!

To his credit, Balthazar had not being sleeping lately - and he had literally arrived that night from France. Jetlag was killing him, and he was sure he was looking terrifying right then - the SHAME, being seen around when he was less than perfect! He gave Kalyan the address, and peeked in the front seats, seeing someone else being there too. He smiled and waved his hand.

"Oh, I got even better than 'very good'. I'm the best you can find for miles around!", Dean commented with a large smile, puffing his chest. He was rather proud of his ability. Even Bobby always complimented him. ... well, in his own particular way.

Balthazar let out a small laugh, but he answered without any embarrassment. "I'm surprised you know about that. People who aren't paying attention to Finances, or to magazines talking about that, usually don't really recognize me at first sight", he commented, shaking Garoo's hand. "Are you two working in the same agency?"