Watching public transportation doesn't work out. Dean stays in the city for a few days before heading out, because he's not in a rush to kill anyone else. In fact, he doesn't kill anyone for another month. It takes that long for his leg to even start to feel normal, although he knows there's still something very wrong with it — even more so than just the hole going through it.

Logically, Dean knows he should stick it out until he's feeling better, but he's getting too impatient to talk to Castiel. He'll make this one quick. Just a brief murder, in and out. Maybe he'll call and drop an anonymous tip himself, just to get Castiel on the phone quicker. He's getting really eager.

So what's what he does. He followed an old lady home, kills her as quickly as he can, and writes his note on the wall.

"Long time, no chat, huh?"

He follows it with his new phone number, his heart of blood signatures, then gets the hell out. It's a few minutes later that he dials 911.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Hey, some dude just walked into my neighbor's house. You should probably send someone to check it out."

"Unfortunately, walking into a house is not a crime," the 911 operator says. "Do you have any reason to think he —"

Dean groans. "Okay, fuck it. I'm the Bloody Valentine. Get Cas to 67 Lawrence Street, Kansas. I'll be waiting."

Dean hangs up the phone. And now for the boring part — waiting.

~~

"You're shitting me."

Michael sighs. "I wish I were."

"He called 911 on himself," Castiel repeats. "Why would he do that?"

"Well, he asked for you," Michael says. "I'm guessing he did it for you."

Castiel groans. "God, don't say it like that."

"Am I wrong?" Michael asks. "Whatever sick fascination he has with you, it's what's motivating his kills. It looked like that was helping for the longest time, but now... I don't think he would have killed this woman if he didn't want to talk to you."

"You know, this is a really shitty pep talk."

"Good," Michael says. "You already know I don't like this. I've only let you stay because I thought it was helping. If I ever get the feeling you're doing more harm than good here, I'm going to take you off this case for real."

"Wow, you really don't understand what a pep talk is supposed to be, do you?"

"Here's your pep talk: catch the guy before I have to take you off the case."

Castiel rolls his eyes. "Easier said than done, Michael."

~~

"I'm almost afraid to call him," Castiel admits as he drives Hannah back from the airport. Castiel always drives her to and from the crime scene. It's just habit at this point.

"Why?" she asks. "You've done it a million times before."

"I know, but this feels different," Castiel says. "Michael has a point. It looks like he only killed get to get to me. It's a lot harder to think I'm helping when I'm getting people killed."

"Fuck Michael," Hannah says. "He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"I beg to differ," Castiel says. "Michael knows exactly what he's talking about. I'm a liability right now — now, and probably until we catch him."

"Then let's catch him quickly," Hannah says. "We don't have time to waste."