Night 52: Stairwell by Waiting Room/Lobby 1

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[From here.]While it was his first time heading up the stairs, Castiel felt no trepidation. Even if he was alone and it was deathly quiet, he was used to unsettling situations and saw no reason to slow his march upward. Though at the sound of footsteps, he did glance over his shoulder for a split second, to see another patient who was taking the

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Maybe it would have been better if Castiel hadn't looked at the man at all, since now the stranger had apparently taken that as some sort of invitation. Nonetheless, he did slow down to let the other patient catch up to him, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye as he worked his way up the stairs. It was difficult to know if the man was trying to ask if he could come along or not.

It was frustrating, when humans weren't direct about things.

With one more glance around to make sure that there was no one else following after the stranger, Castiel nodded to confirm. "You seem to be doing the same." That didn't mean that they had to team up, though. If both of them preferred to work alone and just happened to be going the same direction, was there something wrong with staying to themselves?

On the other hand, if this person knew exactly where the chapel was, it would cut down the time he wasted considerably. Seeing how fast his previous night had ended, it might be worth asking about. But even then, all he needed was directions; not an escort.

So, after a pause, he asked: "Do you know where the chapel is located?"

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"So I am," the Doctor agreed, matching the stranger's pace now as they continued to climb the stairs. "I usually don't-I like having someone around-but I thought I'd give it a try tonight. Being alone isn't that bad, is it?"

He was, in some respects, simply trying to convince himself with his words. He'd never been particularly fond of being alone; even before he'd started taking humans along with him, he'd had Susan. But maybe it would be better for everyone if he were on his own-and not just here.

"Well, even so, it still can't beat having someone around," he continued swiftly, not giving the other man time enough to answer the question posed. He may have set out to have a look around on his own, but if the stranger was trying to head for the chapel as well... If the angel was there, the Doctor didn't want anyone to run into it without knowing what it was. "It sounds like you and I have the same destination in mind; I was headed to the chapel myself. I know where it is; I've been there once before-during the day."

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In Castiel's opinion, being alone was better than having someone with you who didn't know what they were doing. Back when he'd been working for Heaven, it had been different. He'd been paired with other soldiers who knew the rules to follow, and he hadn't minded then. They'd been his siblings, who he'd thought he could trust until everything had gone to Hell in the most literal sense.

But with humans, he didn't know how to deal with them half of the time, and he couldn't rely on them to know how to fight. Dean and Sam were different, but with a random person who started to talk to him in the middle of a stairwell--

They were going the same direction, and more than that, this man knew where the chapel was. Castiel stared at his back for a moment, but he didn't have much time to decide, and so in the end he followed him up.

Despite his best efforts, it seemed he'd be teaming up with someone after all.

[To here.]