The hot water felt amazing as it pelted John's scalp.
"Number forty-seven said to number three: 'You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see. I sure would be delighted with your company, come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me.' Let's rock, everybody let's rock, Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone hidin' in the corner weepin' all alone. The warden said, 'Hey buddy, don't you be no square. If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair.' Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block…"
Dean opened the bathroom door, "Hey Johnny, I was wondering…"
John knew the towel on the shower door was hiding his lower half, but he still instinctively covered himself. Thank god for shower steam. "Jesus Christ, Dad I'm in the frickin' shower! Wasn't the door locked?"
Dean said, "Yeah, it was. I picked the lock."
John demanded, "Is this important? If not you can leave."
Dean chuckled, "It isn't anything I haven't seen before. Damn, you grew up on me. I know Sam's about a B cup, but you seem closer to a C. You're definitely tall like him, but you're packing a bit more muscle."
"Dad, what the hell do you want?"
Dean was quiet for a few minutes before he replied, "Um well, I wanted to ask your opinion on something. It's kind of important, and I really wanted to know what you thought about it."
John asked, "What is it?"
"I um… well I as thinking. I was wondering…I wanted to know what you thought of me and Cas. What I mean to say is um…what do you think of me asking Cas to um marry me. I mean be my husband. I don't want a big wedding, or really a wedding at all; I just want um Cas to be um…well you know…"
John laughed, "Dad, Cas already lives with us. You have two kids together, you love him, and you two are already practically married in all ways except the paperwork as is. Of course I'm fine with it. I'd be really awesome. I don't call him 'Father' for nothing. Alright, so how to you plan to propose?"
Dean said, " I wanted to keep it simple. I was going to go on a drive with him in the Impala and I've had a ring for a while now. It isn't anything special, but I thought he'd like it. I just…I just want him to be my husband…"
"You could give Cas a Banana Peel and ask to for his hand and he'd be ecstatic. It sounds good. But did someone hit one him again?"
"Yeah, and if he'd wearing a ring they'll know damn well he'd taken. I love him, Johnny. I love him …a lot!"
John rolled his eyes, "So eloquently put, Dad. When are you going to put this plan of yours into action?"
Dean leaned casually against the bathroom door frame, "I guess when it feel right, and hopefully a time when you aren't stark naked."
John slammed his hand against the shower door, "Okay good talk, now get the hell out!"
"Alright, alright I'm leaving. But first, I didn't know you dug Elvis."
John sighed, "You are such a dork, now go."
Dean was still laughing when he shut the bathroom door. His oldest son John was now seventeen. His other son, Daniel, was still technically a fledgling but ever persistent in keeping up with his older brother and utilizing his grace his vessel was only a year younger than John's. His only daughter Samantha wasn't able to age her vessel due to weak grace, so she aged like a regular human. They all seemed to be growing up so fast. It seemed only like yesterday Danny would climb onto his shoulders and little Jojo was learning how to crawl.
When a sudden realization hit him he ran straight to his and Cas' bedroom. Castiel was still sleeping, but that didn't stop Dean from jumping up and down on the bed.
Castiel groaned, "Dean, what do you want? I'm sleeping."
Dean whined, "Casssssss, I just realized something!"
Castiel sighed, "What did you realize?"
Dean whispered, "John is getting older and that means…I'm old!"
"You're not older than me, and just yesterday you told that one person you were twenty seven."
"You know my real age! I have crows feet and you're eternally young!"
Castiel sat up and rubbed his eyes. Any other attempts to sleep would be futile with Dean's distress, "Dean, you are not that old. I also think the lines around your eyes make you look distinguished, and my vessel isn't much younger than you. You tend to forget I am thousands of years old. Now if that crisis of the hour will end, I had forgot to tell you something last night."
Dean grinned as he wrapped his arms around his angel his age crisis forgotten, "You know it's hard to talk in bed. I get distracted with other activities other than talking."
Castiel turned around to kiss the corner of Dean's mouth, "Not now, Dean. I have something serious to discuss with you. Daniel and Jophiel have both asked when school will be starting up again because they wish to attend. They have been home schooled for some time, but I believe this could be good for them. I wanted to run it past you first before I gave them a definitive answer."
Dean furrowed his brow, "I don't know…Do you think they'd be ready for that? Jojo might be okay, even though she does get sick a lot, she's a bit more…equipped to deal with other people's shit. But Danny's still getting used to the whole knowledge of heaven thing. It affected him pretty hard and I get worried about him. He still has some trouble talking, and even if he knows the story of creation he sometimes forgets his own address."
"Samantha is a very resilient girl, and Danny had been working on his communication skills. He's very bright and eager to learn. John will look after Danny at his school. It'll be fun. John enjoyed school when he first started around Samantha's age."
"Babe, I hate to break it to you, but school isn't a happy fun learning place for everybody."
Castiel said, 'Have faith in your kids."
Dean buried his face in Castiel's neck, "Fine I'll enroll them, but you're going to gave to make it up to me for sending my babies away."
Castiel chuckled, Dean's beard tickled, "Oh, and how might I make it up to you?"
Dean kissed Dean's neck, "I can think of a few options."
Castiel was about to turn around to return Dean's embrace when a knocking interrupted their moment. Samantha yelled through the door, "Papa, Danny spilled gummy worms all over my room!"
Danny said, "Sorry!"
"You're a stupid dickhead!"
Castiel said, "She had a color vocabulary for her age. This is why we implicated the Swear Jar, Dean."
Dean reluctantly got up to open the door as Cas changed into jeans and a Zeppelin t-shirt. Just an hour or two alone with Cas…was that too much to ask? It had been so much easier when he could put them down for a nap and be set. Dean opened the door to meet the hazel eyes and messy hair that belonged to his daughter Samantha Jo. She had her arms crossed as she sat on her older brother's back.
Those two got into so many fights; adamantly they were one-sided by majority. Samantha would always respond a bit too aggressively to her naïve sometimes oblivious brother. Daniel usually meant well, but Samantha didn't always see it that way.
Dean picked up little girl, "Princess, don't sit on your brother just because he does something. I'll clean the gummy worms up. Danny, just stay out of your sister's room. I know you probably didn't mean to make a mess, but Jojo doesn't like it. Cas and I have something to tell you guys. Balthazar's cooking breakfast downstairs."
Samantha kissed her dad's scruffy cheek, "I'm sorry Papa, I promise I'll be good."
Samantha Jo had her uncles and Papa wrapped around her finger. Danny had the ability to flash his trademark dimple smile and all would be forgiven, but Samantha's little girl influence was even stronger.
John's waltzed out of the bathroom shirtless toweling his damp hair, "Uncle Sam and Gabe are back from that hunt in Ohio."
Dean nodded, "Oh yeah, that was a cool one! I wanted to go…"
Castiel said, "Dean, you could not go hunting with Sam. You had to work on that project for that one company. What was that man's name…Tony something? Stork?"
Dean was barely listening to his future fiancé. He could not miss a very important opportune time to embarrass his shy teenage son. He teased, "Johnny, why don't you put a shirt on? You're hurting my self confidence."
John was as red as a tomato when he ran off to get a shirt from his room. Sammy had gotten his heath nut feelers into him. His son may have better abs than him, and the modest kid never gloated, but he was aware. As a father it was his duty to be embarrassing since Cas wasn't going to even try.
It might have taken some time, but Dean was actually, to the surprise of many, an engineer. He really enjoyed it. It had taken even more time to admit it but he loved the science that went with it; mechanics, physics, geometry. He still got to work with automotive type stuff, but he also got to work with other things; things that challenged him. Even though other people had acknowledged his skill, Dean still didn't believe he was a smart as his little brother Sammy. Sam worked at a museum in town while helping out with Hunter's International.
Charlie and Kevin had worked their asses off to create a network for hunters across the globe; with Bobby's guidance of course. Dean missed hunting every now and again, but his new job was enjoyable and he got to spend more time with his children working from home; he still went hunting sometimes, and John and Cas turned out to be great hunting partners when Sam was busy.
As soon as he got into the kitchen Balthazar shoved a stack of blueberry pancakes into his hands, "About bloody time! I can't stick around; heaven stuff to do today."
Gabriel spoke with a full mouth, "Oh shit, I forgot I do too."
He gave Sam a quick peck, "Sorry Sammy-bear, got archangel duties to attend to. You tell Dean-o how the hunt went."
Castiel nibbled on a whole plain pancake, "I do not believe I have things to do today."
Gabriel huffed, "Screw you Cassie, Mikey, Balth and I do…"
John asked, "You guys gank whatever the hell was there?"
Sam wiped his now sticky mouth as soon as Gabriel and Balthazar flew off, "It wasn't much of a case. We got there, and heard all about the killings and bad shit going down, but when we got there —nothing. It was like someone had already taken care of whatever had been plaguing the city."
Castiel tilted his head, "That's odd."
"Yeah, but I guess we don't have to worry about it now."
Samantha kicked her feet back and forth as she sat at the kitchen island, "Papa, what was it you were going to tell me and Danny? Are we in trouble? Cause if we are I didn't do it…maybe."
Dean stroked Samantha's long wavy hair, "No Jojo, you and Danny aren't in trouble. Me and Cas were thinking that you guys could maybe go to school with Johnny when it starts back up."
Danny grinned, "I want to go to school!"
Samantha said, "This school thing sounds kinda cool. I guess I can give it a shot."
Sam gave Dean a look. A look that said 'who are you and what have you done with my brother?' Dean had always been reluctant to let Danny or Samantha be as independent as they should be; not without John acting as a watchdog. Cas must have talked him into it, with what methods he didn't need to know, but he knew how Dean felt. He could always crack when Gabriel asked something of him no matter how much he tried to stay strong and say no. 'No Gabe, we're not going to dress as Willy Wonka and an Umpa Lumpa for Halloween. No, I am not going on that roller coaster. I'll throw up. No, I don't want to piss off the Swedish Embassy. No, I am not going to Build-a-Bear work shop with you.'
John said, "We still have like a month or two before school starts, so we're good for now. Dad, I was going to meet up with Eli and Luis can I take the Impala?"
Dean ruffled John's short hair, "Sure thing just remmeber the rules."
"Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole."
"No dogs in the car." Jojo added.
Castiel stated "I believe one of the rules was that no one else is allowed to have sex in your car except you."
John nearly choked on his juice, "When did that become a rule? It's…It's not necessary."
Dean's said, " You're a young man now and I understand that sometimes things happen and…"
John covered Samantha's ears as his own turned red, "Damn it Dad please shut up…"
Sam chuckled, "Dean, you tease him yet I was the one who had to give him the talk. You weren't able to be mature and do it. You tossed him a box of condoms and skin mags and told him to go at it."
Dean crossed his arms, "Well it's hard to explain! I can't lecture about it. I just do practical stuff ."
Castiel grumbled into his coffee, "It would be nice if you put that practical learning to use sometimes…"
Dean snaked his arm around Cas' waist, "You know , you're pretty hot when you use innuendo."
"Are you implying I am not aesthetically pleasing at other times?"
"No way, gorgeous blue eyes, large meaty biceps, brick house shoulders, thick waist and tan. You're hot all the time, baby.'
At his age now Dean never gave a second thought to giving affection to Cas in front of others; it was second nature by now. They had their squabbles over stupid things like Dean forgetting to pick up his socks or Castiel taking Danny out flying without telling Dean. They still loved each other like hell, and that was great. That didn't mean he enjoyed watching them flirt or discuss their private, emphasis on PRIVATE, activities
John groaned, "You guys are disgusting. I'm leaving. Danny, you coming?"
Dean didn't even have to ask Danny if he wanted to go. He followed his older brother almost everywhere.
Once the boys were gone Sam said, "Johnny's right you guys are disgusting."
Dean rolled his eyes, "You stick your tongue down Gabe's throat every chance you get so shut up, and you don't have kids to look after so…"
Dean noticed how Sam's face fell after that sentence. Dean picked up Jojo and cleaned her face, "Princess, why don't you go play with your hot wheels for a little bit and maybe You can help me fix up that car for Mr. Elliot later."
Samantha pondered it a bit before asking, "Are you gonna wear the tiara?"
"Hell yeah, a tiara is for everyday! Now go, I'll take care of the dishes."
When Samantha scampered off Dean demanded, "Alright spill, what's got you down."
Castiel asked, "Sam, could it be your distressed that you and Gabriel cannot Soul-Bond because Gabriel is an archangel and thus you two cannot procreate due to the vastness of an archangel's power?"
Sam shook his head, "No it's not that. I mean I've already known that for a while, but um well it's just I think maybe I want kids. I don't really know if I like them or even if I'd be good with them, but I kind of want one even if it's not some nephilim. There are other options too it's just I'm not sure Gabriel would want that, or even how I'd be at the whole dad thing."
Dean patted his little brother's back, "You're a great uncle, and you'd make a great dad. If it's really been bugging you for a while then you can just bring it up to Gabe when you feel ready. Don't over think it."
Sam rubbed the back of his neck, "Since when did you become so laidback?"
Dean shrugged, "Might have been after the third kid, but Cas is tight assed enough for the both of us so it balances out."
Castiel pursed his lips, "I am not a 'tight ass' in reference to that being the same as lame."
Dean kissed Castiel's temple, "Well you're ass is pretty nice itself; nice and perky."
Sam rolled his eyes; they were like god damn teenagers. "I'm going to go upstairs and play with Jojo, you guys can go…make out or something."
Dean moved his hand a little lower from Castiel's waist, but then Jojo yelled down the stairs, "Papa, Daddy come play with me and Uncle Sammy!"
Castiel sighed, "You know you can tell her no right?"
"No, I can't."
"I know, Dean. How bout we pick this up later?"
Dean nodded, "Deal."
"None of the archangels are present in the home. One angel is present with the three men and the young girl. The other one is with the human teenager."
The man chuckled as he put the binoculars down, "The angel seemed pretty chummy with the blonde Winchester."
The blonde woman said, "Cael, that is Dean Winchester. He was pulled out of hell by that angel; Castiel."
"Castiel huh, Angel of Thursday. He could be the watcher, but then there's that other angel, and another we haven't seen. My money's on Balthazar. I heard he pawned off heaven's weapons during the last civil war, and pretended to be dead before that so he could party on Earth."
The short haired asked, "Cael, Dez we need to focus. Should we approach the two that left? Or should be follow them in order to gain information?"
Dez, as her companion called her, said, "I think for now we should simply tail them. Alex, you were in the U.S during the apocalypse. What was it like?"
Alex sighed, "It was difficult I'll say that much. I considered leaving, but I couldn't risk it. We can't underestimate the Winchesters. The Winchester brothers may have started the end of times, but they also stopped it. We can't underestimate any of them."
Dez packed up their gear, "We'll be alright so long as we lay low."
Cael ran a hand through his hair, " Boring!"
Alex smacked the back of his head, "Boring…but we cannot mess this up."
They couldn't' afford mistakes or carelessness. They were running out of options. They could not afford to fail this mission. They couldn't fail… no matter what.
Thank all of you who read with my horrendous covers I drew myself. Updates may be sporatic because one my laptop decided to quit on me; motherboard totally fried, and I can't seem to work on one thing at a time. Dean Winchester is Saved and Angel's in America. I have a really good feeling about Angels in America and if your a big archangel fan you might like it.
