"Holy shit."

Castiel and James share a concerned look before turning their attention to Emma, who's gaping at her computer screen as if it just displayed the time and place of her death.

Computers can't do that, right?

"What is it?" James asks. "Did you find a case?"

"A case of humans being shitty ass people," Emma counters. "There have been four mass shootings in Rhode Island this week, and it's only Monday."

James barks a laugh. "How? There are only, like, four people in Rhode Island."

"I'm serious, James, people are fucked up," she says. "They shot up a movie theater playing the new Frozen movie. There were kids in there."

"I don't know why you're telling us that," James says. "We may hunt monsters, but human monsters are a bit above our pay grade."

"I know, but, like..." She sighs. "Fuck America. That's it. Just fuck it."

"Could be worse," he offers. "You could be a politician and be stuck listening to more-gun-control, less-gun-control fights for the next week. At least you can shut your computer and be done with it. And, as a matter of fact..." He walks over and closes her laptop for her. "Voilà."

"That doesn't make the problem go away," Emma says with a frown.

"Maybe not, but, fortunately, it's not our problem, so it doesn't really matter," James says.

Emma looks up at Castiel, as if he'll have any valuable input to help her case. As someone who doesn't know much about guns or politics, and has only been in mass casualty fights when most or all parties involved were fighters and not civilians, he's not sure why she expects any help from him, but he can't let her down.

"Did anyone survive getting shot?" Castiel asks. "Anyone in the hospital?"

She nods eagerly. "Are you gonna help them?"

"Rhode Island is only a few hours away, isn't it? We could look for a new case and help the victims."

"Yes!" Emma pumps her fists victoriously. To James, she says a mocking, "'Not our problem' my ass."

James rolls his eyes. "Fine, whatever. Let's go to Rhode Island."

The two humans pack their things, but, as an angel who only owns his laptop and the clothes on his back, he doesn't have much to do. He awkwardly stands by the door, his laptop tucked safely under his arm while he waits. Fortunately, the two hunters don't own very much, either, and they all head out to the car after a couple minutes.

Emma pauses at the shotgun side door. "You know, I just realized we always shove Cas in the back, and in this fair and equal society —"

"Okay, Lincoln, we get your point," James interrupts, amused. "Cas, would you like to drive or sit shotgun?"

"No, I'm okay in —" He cuts himself off as the words really register in his brain. "Did you just offer to let me drive?"

James nods slowly. "Yes?"

"Aren't you worried I'll crash the car?"

James raises an eyebrow. "I mean, I had just assumed you knew how to drive, but if not..."

"No, I do, I just..."

"Why do I get the feeling the Winchesters would rather have thrown you in front of their car before they let you drive it?" Emma asks.

"That does sound shockingly like something Dean would do," Castiel admits. "I do know how to drive because I've spent a lot of time on my own, but Dean doesn't let anyone drive his car but him -- and occasionally Sam on long road trips."

"Well, fuck him," Emma says.

"As long as you don't somehow stab yourself with your blade, if anyone got hurt, couldn't you just heal them and we're all good?" James asks.

"Unfortunately, my powers don't stretch all the way to saving cars," Castiel says.

"So? Just buy a new one," James says.

"Or steal a new one," Emma adds "Hotwire a new one. Whatever you gotta do."

"But then you don't have your car," Castiel says, confused. "It's just a new car."

"So what? It's a box of metal," Emma says. "Easily replaceable."

"Huh," Castiel hums. Maybe that was just another Winchester thing.

"So, you driving?" James asks, offering him the keys.

He shakes his head. "I'll stay in the back, but I appreciate the offer." The Winchesters never gave him that choice. If the three of them were in the car, he was in the back. That's just how it was.

"Would you like me to sit in the back to keep you company?" Emma offers.

He shakes his head. "I'm okay, but thank you."

He keeps telling himself to stop comparing his new life to the one he had with the Winchesters, but this conversation is just further proof that he can't really appreciate what he has now if he doesn't realize how little he had then.