A/N I guess this is a sort of tag to Episode 21. I have no idea what is coming in the Season 4 finale, (and I don't want to!) But it sure doesn't look very good, so I felt in need of some hurt/comfort. Warning for schmaltz!
"So."
"Yeah Bobby, I messed up."
"I didn't say nothin!"
"Didn't have to."
Dean's voice came out soft and low - scuffed. His throat hurt.
"Where's he at?"
"We didn't get around to the niceties – too busy remodelling the hotel room."
"And each other's faces."
"Yeah."
"And Ruby?"
"On borrowed time."
"Still alive then. You messed up kid."
"Finally! Here it comes."
Bobby frowned.
"Whaddya mean?"
Dean stared straight at him and Bobby saw love and respect and… something else. Was it fear? Was Dean Winchester waiting to be bawled out? And then it dawned.
"Dean, I ain't John. You maybe coulda handled things with Sam a bit better but none of this is your fault. We just go ahead and try to fix things now. That okay with you?"
Tears ran, unchecked, down Dean's battered face.
"Aw hell."
Bobby sat down next to Dean and pulled him towards him in a bear hug. As ever, Dean didn't resist. Never had as a kid either. Somehow Bobby was the only one who was allowed this. Whatever "this" was. Some things hadn't changed at all.
He thought he should feel strange. Another human being needing him was a rare thing. He'd stopped letting anyone near him since…. well … just since. But with Dean and Sam it was different - they needed him - both of them. Though Dean maybe more. He was a tough, smart, resilient hunter and Bobby couldn't have been more proud of him, but that didn't mean the young man didn't sometimes need some reassurance. And with Sam God knows where, he was probably feeling pretty alone right now. Though his heart ached for him, Bobby felt ridiculously pleased that he was the one Dean turned to.
Although he was silent, Dean showed no sign of wanting him to leave, so he stayed right where he was. They had work to do - an apocalypse to avert – a brother to save. But just for now, that could wait.
Besides, he wasn't quite sure which brother needed saving really - though if he had anything to do with it, both boys were gonna be okay. Because maybe, just maybe, he needed them too.