The Power of Two:

"I think that I should go with Castiel for a little while."

Bobby stared him, not able to speak this very second 'cause he was sure that he may have been in shock or having a heart attack or an embolism.

Both he and Nathan jumped in their seat when Dean just as suddenly burst through the door.

"No way in Hell in that happening!" he shouted, breathless.

Dean couldn't have helped but ease-dropped; he had been on his way back to the house to clean up, careful not to slam the screen door this time because he knew that Bobby wouldn't let it go. The bathroom was upstairs so he had to pass through the living room where Nathan and Bobby had been; he had heard them talking and turned to leave—but what he heard Nathan say changed his mind completely.

Nathan stared at him wide-eyed for a second before his expression turned back to normal, if not a little defensive. "And why not?"

"Uh, because..." Dean's mouth was open, ready to spit the reason out in a moment's notice, but there was nothing—his brain just kind of froze and he stood like an idiot and feeling like a fool.

Dean knew that job wise it was probably a good idea; but personally, Dean wouldn't have it. He hated the conflicting emotions inside of him, but they were there so he might as well listen to them a little. This was exactly what he had just told Sam; the job just sucks everything in and takes them away. But when he said that it was better if Nathan hated Dean, was because he was going to leave Nathan behind when push came to shove—not the other way around, not like this.

"See?" Nathan sighed as he looked at Dean, his arms crossing over his chest.

"Where's this coming from?" Bobby finally spoke, for the moment ignoring Dean, who he knew had been listening in and that was why he had the great timing for his out-burst as he did.

Nathan turned to Bobby. "I've been talking to Castiel."

"What? When?" he certainly hadn't seen the Angel around in the passed two days.

Nathan made an off-hand gesture. "It's this dream thing that he does."

"Right," Bobby said gruffly, not in agreement though; he couldn't believe that he never even thought about something like that happening, especially when Cas had plainly stated that they were very much interested in Nathan and not in the kind of way that Bobby appreciated. "You're not going anywhere." he said, his voice plainly stating that there was no argument.

"What?" Nathan demanded. "You can't do that, I'm an adult!"

"And I'm your father!" Bobby said in turn, standing up and towering over Nathan.

Dean took a step back, the air ablaze with electricity.

"What's your point?" Nathan stood up as well.

"I'm responsible for you and you will listen to your elders."

Dean had never seen Bobby act so fatherly and protective until this moment; it was odd but refreshing at the same time.

"I'm not a kid and I can make my decision and choices—and I'm making this one." Nathan told him firmly back, not backing down.

"Well, apparently you aren't making this one."

"I am and I will!" he shouted back.

Bobby eyes narrowed. "You don't use that tone with me, boy!" he said back, just as loud if not with more authority than before.

Nathan clenched his jaw for a second, trying to hold back the anger that wanted to boil over. "You can't keep treating me like a kid, dad. Be honest, this is what you wanted in the first place, isn't it? Me and Dean spending time together and getting acquainted with the Supernatural."

"Yes, I wanted you to have a relationship with your brother, but I wanted the Supernatural nothing to do with you." Bobby told him.

"Well, it does have something to do with me and there's no going back now—and I don't want to either." Nathan told him quietly.

"You don't?" Dean blurted, taken aback.

Nathan only spared him a glance before he turned back to Bobby. "Look, I know that we haven't really had a chance to talk about this, but I really think that I do. Looking at those documents helped me decide it and going with Castiel will help to see whether or not I really just fooling myself." Nathan let out a breath. "You said yourself; you gave me the option of whether or not I want to Hunt or live a normal life."

Bobby let out a heavy breath too as he stared at his son. "Are you sure that to you should be doing this?"

Nathan rolled his eyes at the comment; it wasn't a comment about whether or not he knew what he was doing but about something else entirely. "It's fine, dad; I have pills for the pain and I would have only been able to play for a season or two—at least here, I can do something worthwhile with my life."

"What are you talking about?" Dean asked looking between Bobby and Nathan, his eyes worried because he can see the looks that Bobby and Nathan giving each other... as well as the fact that they were talking about pain-killers; that pointed to nothing good.

They were quiet for a moment and that made Dean grow even more worried; because what if it was something really bad and that was the reason why Nathan wanted to join now; so that he could do something useful while he still can.

"About a year ago, I went to the doctor's." Nathan said finally, looking at Dean. "Apparently my back deteriorating." he shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing.

Dean silently stared at him; he may not have been a doctor, but it was obvious that this was bad in the long run. He didn't know what to say, it wasn't like he could make anything better and it wasn't as if Nathan would take any comfort from his words. So he didn't say anything, but instead just continued to stare at Nathan, probably with the deer in the headlights look. And he knew that Nathan hated that even more because Dean could see that little fire in his eyes at the notice of pity.

"Anyway," he said pointedly, that subject ending when he looked back at Bobby. "Castiel said that he was going to drop by before it got dark, I'll be gone by then."