Notes: Here we are at the start of The Impala Series season 2! I'm excited for this story and I'm actually finding it a lot easier to write freely instead of with a set script. Hopefully you guys enjoy the fresh and new stories since for once you don't know the endings! I posted three chapters this time, so enjoy 'em!

Disclaimer: *gross sobbing*

CHAPTER 1

There was no way that they would ever steal enough money to pay for the amount of therapy that it would take to fix the crew members of the Impala. There probably wasn't even enough to afford just treatment of the Winchesters alone but Sam liked to believe that they weren't hopeless cases yet, that there might still be a chance for them to avoid a padded room, but with the amount of crap thrown at them in the last year and a half….well it was amazing that Cas was still the only one that they dubbed "unstable".

Somehow they had come out of their last scrape with the bounty hunter more or less in one piece. Certainly things were a little tense. Chuck was back to normal, if not a bit jumpy. Anna was quiet, but that might have been for other reasons. Bobby seemed just fine and had blatantly refused to have his head injury treated saying "Maybe if it hurts a bit I'll learn how to duck", much to Dean's amusement and Cas' confusion.

For a few days Meg wore her entire armory around on her small frame, smiling like she was strutting out in her new boots. She didn't seem the least bit bothered by what had occurred as she was just happy to have her weapons back. Especially Jane. Balthazar was something of a mystery in that he walked around like nothing had changed, like nothing had happened. They thought perhaps he was in a sort of denial about the shock it was to almost lose both brothers again, but it was the dark circles under his eyes that told another story. A few of them, mainly Sam and Gabriel, had tried to get him to open up, but so far to no success. They weren't about to push though, not until it became a real problem because for now…he was holding his own.

Then there was Sam who had Gabriel doing everything from shining his shoes to who knows what in bed to make up for his almost leaving bit, not that the senior pilot had any qualms about it. Almost losing Sam and Cas had shaken him as well and he was more than happy to wash their dishes for them. Of course, Dean had chosen not to say anything about what he had seen one late night a week before.

Cas had been sleeping hard. Damned hard. Hard enough that he left a crater in the mattress and could have potentially got a concussion from the pillow and it was all from the mass healing he had done for the crew, insisting on healing every last bruise and blemish as an apology for attracting that psycho Gordon in the first place. Dean however had been woefully awake and had decided to head to the kitchen for a small snack after placing a small kiss to Cas exposed shoulder before getting out of bed.

In order to get to the kitchen, Dean had taken the catwalk that brought him right by the cargo hold. That's where he saw Gabriel…punching the metal wall hard enough to draw blood. Dean had stood there shocked, wondering if he should say anything when Gabriel then decided to fall to his knees in an angry growl. That's when he started hitting the floor, leaving bright red drops of blood over the surface.

Dean had never seen the pilot so angry before and the sight truly shocked him, scared him even. Dean had very quickly changed his mind over the snack and ran back to his and Cas' room, like a kid who had been caught out of bed.

The next morning Dean had looked at the pilot from across the table only to see him behaving completely normal. He had even stuck a rubber spider in Chuck's oatmeal and put neon pink food coloring in the powdered milk again. He was making googly eyes at Sam, and Sam was making googly eyes right back, sickening like always. And of course, Gabriel's hands were completely healed up and the hold's floor was very clean.

It took a lot of thought, but Dean had chosen in the end to not say a word. He based it off of how angry he would have been with himself if he had been in Gabriel's very small shoes, and in a way Dean had been. Both Gabriel and him were in a position to lose a brother and a lover that night, and they had both been helpless to stop it. Not too long ago, Dean probably would have been the one taking a crowbar to his own ship in the self-loathing that came with losing or almost losing a loved one. Only reason why Dean's hands weren't bloodied was simply because…well, maybe he had a small bit of self control thanks to his practice reining in emotion to spare Cas. Not to mention, Cas was upset enough with himself that he really didn't need Dean's anger topped on it like some rotten cherry.

A fair bit of shame came in the aftermath of calling himself God, even if it was just in fun and games, and then there was a butt-load of shame that came with almost leaving of his own free will. It was a credit to Dean however that he didn't get angry with Cas or even give him the silent treatment for the threat of abandonment. Still, Cas was trying to make up for his mistakes by doing little things. Healing wounds was just the start. There were offerings of mutilated meals that reminded Dean of gruesome sacrificial animal offerings. There were mountains of clean, practically sterilized dishes. Every linen, cloth, shirt, and sock that hadn't seen their partner in years had been freshly laundered and folded with obsessive precision. Cas had even managed to find a broom and had swept every foot of the ship, but the crew was more curious as to where he had gotten the appliance in the first place. Dean certainly didn't remember ever buying one.

Sam finally drew the line and decided that it was time to end this when Cas had offered to wash everyone's feet and asked if anyone had a recipe on board for "protein pie".

The younger Winchester was a little confused at his brother's take on this whole thing. As the more "touchy feely" or in Dean's mind "girly" brother, Sam took it upon himself to look after Dean's emotional health since Dean had taken it upon himself to look after Sam's physical health. It was just how they had worked since they were kids left alone to look after one another, but things had changed a lot since then. They were no longer on their own, and old habits die hard, so Sam was left concerned over his brother and the odd reaction to Cas almost leaving.

It was no surprise that Dean might have abandonment issues and Sam was more than aware that he was one of the leading causes of that, so that just made this apparent indifference all the more confusing to Sam. He would have assumed that his brother would be livid, sad, depressed, frustrated, and Sam had mentally prepared his "Let's step back and talk about your feelings before you explode" speech. All that was left was cornering his brother.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Simple enough greeting, shouldn't put him on edge. Shouldn't give any hints at what's to come…

"I'm fine, Sammy."

Damn

"Uh, I wasn't—"

Dean snorts, "Yes you were, and still probably are. And don't try to deny it because I know you too well at this point. Walking slowly towards me on the catwalk, two beers in your hands, and puppy eyes already…puppying. You're about as subtle as hippo doing ballet, so spill."

Sensing a battle lost, Sam obediently took his spot next to his brother leaning over the railing to look out over the hold. He used to wonder why they chose this spot as their own and not the control room. Certainly the stars would have been a better view, but he guessed it was just that open and free feeling that you got when you stood there knowing that you were safe, home.

Sam started to fiddle with the beer's wrapper in his left hand, worrying at a small tear there. Both brother's knew that by the end of this, the whole wrapper would be torn off and probably in confetti form on the floor.

"Jesus, Sam. Just spit it out will ya? Don't keep me in suspense."

Sam sighed heavily, "I told Cas that he should probably stop trying to do stuff for us, but I don't think he's going to listen to me. So…I was thinking that maybe you should say something."

"That's it? Dude, I've been trying to get him to chill out for days. What makes you think he's gonna listen to any of us?" Dean snarked and made to reach for the second bottle of beer, but Sam pulled it out of reach quickly, giving Dean a searching look, noting the childish pout on his big brother's face as his favorite beverage was held high out of reach.

"Well, I was thinking that none of the crew in any way blames Cas for what happened. Especially his brothers, and I know that I don't…and Cas can feel everything that we do, so it would make no sense if he still felt guilty over something that he knew no one blamed him for..." hedged Sam hesitantly, but Dean only glanced at him with a somewhat confused expression. Clearly Dean didn't see where he was going with this and Sam braced himself for the punch line.

"…so maybe it would make sense that the reason he still feels guilty is because he can sense that someone is still mad at him. Someone he really cares about. Someone who's opinion means everything to him."

Now Dean reacted, standing up from his slouched position on the railing to face Sam. His whole body screamed defensive, "You think that I'm still pissed at him?"

Now Sam was on the defensive and held his hands up in a placating manner, "I'm just saying, he's still feeling guilty for a reason."

"Yeah, and that reason isn't me or how I'm feeling. He knows that we don't blame him! He's blaming himself."

...blink...

"Oh. That would explain it then…um, anything we can do?"

Dean shrugged and leaned back out over the railing, "Let him wash the dishes tonight and he should be good for a bit. Maybe eat another one of his sandwiches. You and Gabe can dirty up some sheets again so he has something else to wash. Just…let him work through it his way."

And there it was. Dean had become someone that Sam almost didn't recognize. Whatever this makeshift family had done to change Dean's loner ways and couldn't-care-less attitude, well, he was a new man. He had finally beaten Sam at the analyze the emotions game.

Sam sniffed loudly and made a show of wiping an invisible tear from his eye, "Wow, Dean. That-that was beautiful. I'm so proud." It would have sounded somewhat realistic and heartfelt if it weren't for the chuckles that escaped him as Sam finished. The punch that Dean delivered to his arm was totally expected as well.

"Shut up, bitch. Don't go thinking I'm gonna open up my own practice or nothing. I just happen to get Cas, and Cas gets me….Sometimes on a nightly basis," Dean added with a wink. Sam's response was a magnificent bitch face that got them both laughing.

"So you really aren't mad at him? It's not really like you to be okay with someone leaving, or almost leaving."

Dean shrugged, like he was shouldering off a weight like it was nothing. He truly seemed indifferent about it and once again Sam was shocked.

"I should be. I thought I was, but I'm not. For whatever reason I'm not. Probably…probably because I—"

"Because you know that deep down you would have made the same choice," Sam finished, nodding his understanding. It was the same logic he himself was using to not blow up in Gabriel's face.

Dean of course sneered, "Something like that, yeah."

They stood quietly for a moment, letting the hum of the ship take over the conversation for a bit. The beer bottles in Sam's hands were starting to get wet as the water condensed on the surface and a few drops came off and fell the twenty feet to the floor below. They both watched the water fall and splatter on the ground.

Sam fiddled with the wrapper again, "Bet it hurt though."

His brother snorted, "Oh, like stubbing your toe, hitting your funny bone, biting your tongue, hitting your shin on the coffee table, and rubbing hand sanitizer in a paper cut all at once."

And then Sam knew for sure. He had suspected, he had hoped, he had even prayed that Dean might actually feel that way, but now he had his evidence. You only hurt that bad when…

"Yup. You're in love. Have a beer," and he slapped the second bottle into the stunned Dean's hand. Guess Dean hadn't admitted it to himself yet. Now was a good a time as any though.

They fell into silence again, Sam giving Dean plenty of time to absorb his new revelation, but it was comfortable. It took enough time for both of them to be more than halfway done with their drinks for Dean to finally speak again, somehow finding his composure under the floundering of his mind.

"Uh, let's drive this conversation away from you picking out Cas' wedding dress and talk about you and Gabe. I mean, is he doing okay and all?"

Sam frowned, "He's fine. A little shaken at Cas almost leaving, but he's been acting the same as always."

"Oh."

Did Dean look a little worried? Confused? Maybe Sam was just seeing things.

"It's funny you should bring up dresses though…"

Dean pulled a sour face around the rim of his bottle, "Please tell me Anna isn't trying to put Cas in a dress again."

Sam laughed, thinking about how Anna and Balthazar had gotten so close to actually getting Cas into one of the frilly things in her endless closet of clothes. It really was endless. It had to be. No one had ever seen her wear the same thing twice.

"No. It's just weddings really. I guess you should know. Cas knows after all and Gabe and I don't really mean for it to be a secret or anything, but…we're thinking of maybe getting married."

Sam refused to look up and at this point the wrapper was now quickly becoming confetti on the floor, just like he had predicted. He was just waiting for Dean to freak out.

Well, Dean sputtered for at least thirty seconds, "Marriage? Really? Shouldn't he like…ask for permission of something?"

Another bitch face.

"You want him to ask for my hand?"

"Well, no, I just…doesn't it feel a little too soon for you?" Casually leaning on the railing was done with and now both of them were facing each other, but Dean only looked concerned, not mad.

"I've known him almost six years. You've known Cas for only a little more than one year. Can you see yourself ever leaving his side?"

"Well, no, but…you-you want this?"

"Yes."

"…well, okay then I guess. Bobby is gonna love it when you ask him to hitch you guys."

And just with those short words Sam knew that Dean was going to be fine with everything. They were all going to be a family. When did things start going so well for them?

"Oh, shit, Sam! Does this mean I'll be sleeping with my brother in law? Does that count as incest? Maybe we should check that out first, before we get serious about this."

Lol, I had to have Dean react the same way as Cas did, just had to. It was just too cute to pass up. On to the next chapter!