Dean gathered up his things, making up for Sam taking his bag, gun, and the Impala. He had to go get to the Braeden's house and fast. He had to make sure that they were okay before he did anything else. He had a strong pull luring him, one that he hadn't felt before.
After double checking he had everything he needed, he overturned ever carpet and checked the ceiling from where he was standing to the entrance. He hadn't tried getting out of the bunker, as it was shielded from demons and other creatures. Of course, they were able to keep Crowley there for weeks. Dean climbed up the stairs and opened the door, but couldn't leave. He looked around, making sure he didn't trap himself again. However, when he didn't find the circle, he laughed at himself. He lifted the door jam and broke the salt line with the barrel of his gun. After he crossed the broken line, he reformed the salt with his boot, in case Sam came back. If demons got into the bunker, Sam would personally kill him.
Dean walked along the road and hotwired a car, parked along the side. Throwing his bag into the passenger seat, he set off to the highway. He looked down at the clock and saw that he was three hours behind Sam. Dean gripped the steering wheel firmly, extremely irritated. He was going to have to go triple times the speed limit if he even dreamed of catching up to Sam.
Sam and Cas pulled into Battle Creek around four in the morning. Cas vanished, thinking he could figure out the street and number faster than Sam could in the Impala. When he came back, he pointed to the street and direction that Sam wanted to go. Within minutes, they found the house and parked just outside.
"What are we waiting for?" Cas asked as Sam looked at him and sighed.
"People don't like normal people knocking on their doors at four in the morning," Sam instructed, reaching to the back, where he kept a spare suit for him and Dean. Cas nodded, understanding what was going on.
"What's our cover?"
"We're conducting an interview of the residents of the area because of some suspicious activity that has taken place. It should satisfy Lisa and give us a chance to talk to Ben," Sam answered before Cas nodded. "Do you still have that badge that Dean got you a few years ago?"
"Of course," Cas answered, thinking that it was a ridiculous question.
Both of the changed quickly and walked up to the door. Sam straightened Cas's tie before ringing the doorbell a few times. Within a few minutes, a very tired and annoyed Lisa answered the door, rubbing her eye.
"What do you want?" she whispered, seeing their uniforms through the peep hole. Sam reached into his pocket to grab the badge before she gasped. "Sam?"
"Uh," Sam answered, looking up at her as she covered her mouth.
"Oh god," she muttered, tearing up. Sam took a step forward.
"It's okay, it's okay," he murmured, hoping to calm her down. Cas glanced between the two, not sure what to do anymore.
"You're not supposed to be real! You're supposed to be a dream," Lisa complained as Sam led her inside and to the couch. "Does that mean that Dean is real, too?"
"Um, yeah," Sam answered, glancing at Cas. Lisa covered her face and took a deep breath. Sam turned around as he heard someone come down the stairs. It was a teenage Ben staring at him. "He-hey."
"Sam?" Ben whispered as he looked at his mom. "What's going on?"
"I'm so sorry, Ben," she whimpered, her face still covered. Sam stood up and walked over. Cas stood where he was, unsure how to help or if he was supposed to do anything.
"Where's Dean?" Ben whispered as Sam sighed. "Is he okay?"
"Look, let me take care of your mom and we'll talk. Us being here is too much for her already," Sam informed as Ben's eyes grew wide. "He is okay, he just has a condition that I need to talk to you about."
"Alright," Ben whispered, relieved to hear that he wasn't dead. Sam smiled as Lisa stood up. "Mom?"
"I… I need to go lie down for a while. Sam, you're welcome to stay, as is your friend," Lisa informed as she walked past Ben and upstairs. Sam thanked her for the invitation as she closed her door and turned out the light.
"Okay, Ben, I need you to listen carefully," Sam whispered as Ben nodded, feeling treated like a child. "Dean is, um, he's uuh."
"What are you trying to say?" Ben asked before Sam looked out the window.
"Cas, can you go make sure I didn't leave the car running?" Sam asked as Cas vanished, startling Ben.
"Dean's a demon," Sam informed, shocking Ben.
"He's a what?"
"A demon. Like the one that possessed your mom and nearly killed you," Sam answered as Ben gaped.
"Dean's possessed?"
"No, Ben, his soul has changed into one. Cas can't know just yet, okay?" Sam whispered with a smile before the angel came back.
"Sam, the car isn't running," Cas answered before Sam sighed, sounding relieved.
"Good. I didn't want to wake the entire neighborhood. Anyway, Dean is on a job right now, taking care of people right now. He wanted me to come right away to make sure you were okay," Sam answered as Ben nodded before pursing his lips. "You said that there was something happening around town."
"Yeah, that was just to try and get Dean back down here," Ben informed, slightly embarrassed. Sam smiled and shook his head. "So, why is he on the trip? Did he need to go? Or did he have a choice?"
"It started with a choice, but one thing led to another and he was stuck with what he got," Sam answered, knowing that Ben was talking how Dean became a demon. "I'm sure he didn't want to go, but sometimes there isn't a choice."
"Do you think he will come?" Ben asked as Sam clenched his jaw.
"If he does, I'll be the first one to know," Sam answered, confusing Cas.
"Who is he?" Ben asked, really confused. "Is he a Supernatural, too?"
"Oh, Cas? Kinda, I guess. Cas, this is Ben. Ben this is Castiel," Sam introduced as Cas gave a light smile. "He's an angel."
"An angel?" Ben repeated, skeptical.
"Yes, why is everyone so surprised to hear that?" Cas asked, staring at Sam.
"Anyway, he was the one who wiped your memory," Sam informed before Ben glanced at Cas. "Dean didn't want to drag you in deeper and raise you like my father raised us."
"You both turned out okay," Ben pointed out, hating that he was treated differently.
"No, we didn't, Ben. We both live a life of fear and terror. We've been involved in apocalypses, massive deaths, you name it. Dean and I have died countless times," Sam informed as Ben looked incredulously at him.
"Dean has died approximately thirteen times, unless you count the Trickster Tuesday incident, which brings the number to around a hundred and twenty six. Sam has died only six times," Cas informed as both of them turned to face him. "What? I've also died multiple times."
"Anyway, Dean didn't want you to be involved. Our father, John, was cruel and manipulative. He treated Dean like second best and I felt like a prisoner. He was the one that introduced us to this lifestyle and it's the only thing we ever knew," Sam added before Ben sighed.
"Shouldn't it be my choice?" Ben reminded.
"It is your choice, but be a teenager first. Graduate high school. Get a girlfriend. Become valedictorian. Life a normal life before you sell your soul to go hunting for monsters," Sam suggested before Ben took a deep breath.
"I really wish you two stuck around, though," Ben mentioned, appreciating the advice Sam gave him.
"Yeah, I'm sure Dean wished that, too," Sam whispered, earning a strange look from the angel. "You probably should go back to bed. Don't you have school in the morning?"
"It's the middle of June. Why would I have school?" Ben inquired, making Sam smile.
"Well, I've been driving all night and I need to sleep," Sam answered before Ben directed him to the guest bedroom down the hall. Ben turned to Cas, who merely shook his head.
"I don't sleep," Cas informed as Ben shrugged.
"Well, good, then we can talk," Ben answered, sitting on the couch. Cas squinted at him, not sure what he wanted him to do. "Come over and sit down. Don't be shy."
"It's hard not to be, um, shy," Cas answered, but sat down on the armchair, facing the couch. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I want to know how come I never met you. Sam seems to know you rather well," Ben asked before Cas pursed his lips.
"I was planning to retake heaven and bring order," Cas explained.
"So you're really an angel," Ben whispered, still not believing it. "Does that mean God exists, too?"
"Well, yes, but he's missing."
"God is missing?"
"Yes."
"How can God be missing?" Ben asked, bewildered and surprised.
"Well, he hasn't been talking to us or been to Heaven in a very long time," Cas explained the best he could.
"What about the Devil?"
"Lucifer is my brother, he exists. He is the reason why Dean came to your home a few years ago. Sam was able to trap Lucifer in his body and drag him back to Hell," Cas began before telling the heroics of Sam and Dean. Ben bit his lip, having no idea that it had happened.
"So, if Lucifer didn't exist, I wouldn't have had a father for a those years of my life?" Ben inquired, knowing he was going to regret the answer.
"I do not know, but it could have been a possibility."
"Do you think that he will ever become good again?"
"I am not sure, but I believe he thinks that he is one the side of good," Cas whispered before Ben nodded.
"But do you think that it's possible?"
"I've seen more improbable things happen."
"Do you… Do you think that demons can become human again?" Ben asked before clearing his throat. "'Cause my mom was possessed by one once, and I kept thinking about it."
"I would not know, but my best guess is no, I don't think so," Cas replied, crushing Ben's spirits a little.
"So, are angels originally human? Or are you just your own separate being thing?" Ben asked, making Cas smile a little, enjoying their conversation.
