"The table is this way sir" a voice came from behind him
"What?" John turned. He was standing next to podium with a large book on it
"Winchester?"
"Yes"
"Table for three. This way sir" the man turned to lead John into the endless restaurant beyond.
"Four" John held up four fingers. Mary, Dean, Sammy and John. "Four." He all but whispered.
"Sorry sir?"
"Four. The table should be for four" he stated surely.
"No. Definitely three." The host ran his finger down the long list and stopped on Winchester. Party of 3. "You are late, sir. You are twenty four years late, have you any idea what that does to the starters?" he raised his hands to the ceiling. "The chef is most annoyed, and the half portion to whole portion thing? It was most inconsiderate of you to change without ringing ahead"
"Sorry. No signal in hell" John shrugged.
"The lady is already seated. If you will follow me" he turned to go again.
Mary. He felt his heart skip. He could see his Mary. "What about the last seat?" he pushed aside one hurt for another.
"He'll be along presently. We are going to need to swap the chair. Much too small now"
"My other boy. He is coming here right?" John looked at the sea of diners at all the other tables. There didn't seem to be a rule against going to other tables.
"Winchester… party of… hmm…." The host whistled. "Three hundred thousand four. We are going to have to get more ice cream."
"Can I see?" John stole a look at the list.
"Certainly sir" the book was turned so John could read it.
He ran his finger down to name. Then across to the date. "Well, I've got a bit to wait. I'll get a drink at the bar and make my own way to the table"
"But sir…"
"You've got a queue what looks like three hundred thousand napkins to fold." He said, reminding the other man of duty. Something John Winchester couldn't let himself forget.
He had died for his boys. He had climbed out of hell to save them. It looked like he had to escape Heaven's waiting room to save people from his son.
"Very well sir. Your table is number 1983. Just follow the signs for the smoking zone." He waved the next person forward. A table had just opened up.
"Will do"
John took off towards the stairs, to a door marked Authorised Access Only. If someone didn't want him going through it, they should have put a better lock on it.
He wasn't all that surprised to find his wife on the stairway.