Author's Note: Hey everyone, yes I am on a roll again. The boys are back in full effect and mad as hell. I promise some good stuff in the future and possibly in this chapter itself. *wink, wink*

Disclaimer: As per all the legal mumbo jumbo, I don't own any of Kripke's characters, just mine.

Comin' Home

Chapter Eleven

Dean flew down the highway, the motel and everyone in it getting farther and farther behind him. Sunlight gleamed off the black paint of his baby. She was the one constant thing in his crazy, fucked up world. The only thing he knew that he could actually count on not to change. The familiar low rumble of her big block engine was like a lullaby to him. He had spent a majority of his life in this car. She was just as much a part of him as his own heart. He knew that as long as he had his ride, he could escape all the insanity of his life. Even if it was for just a few hours, that was enough for him. Dean always did his best thinking when he was driving. Hours on the road had taught him that. He had so many conflicting emotions going on inside of him. How in the hell was he supposed to fix this one? He thought of asking Bobby but he was pretty sure that even with all of his books and sources, the old man wouldn't be able to find the answers they needed. He honestly didn't know how much more he could handle at this point before he just lay down and called it quits. And for Dean, that was saying so much. He had never given up without a fight. He was a Winchester. It wasn't in their DNA to give up. But this latest tidbit of information…Sammy was soulless. His soul was still in the cage with those bastards Michael and Lucifer, where they were doing God knows what to it.

Rounding the bend in the road, Dean spotted a bar. As if on autopilot he steered the car into the parking lot, grabbed the keys and went inside. Inside it was dark and stank of stale cigarettes and spilled beer, familiar and safe. He ordered a triple shot of Jack and an El Sol from the bartender and prepared for what was to be a very long night with a lot of alcohol. A couple of what he guessed were regulars glanced his way when he had come in. Obviously sizing him up, but when they say the look in his eyes, they quickly averted their gazes. He wasn't looking for trouble, but if it found him, then he would gladly take out his frustration and pain on whoever was stupid enough to step up.

Throwing back yet another shot, Dean felt the familiar burn of the whiskey in his throat. He was pretty buzzed and feeling no pain when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and tried to focus on the caller id. Not able to make out the number or the name because his vision was so fuzzy he finally just flipped it open.

"Yeah?" he spat into the mouth piece.

"Dean? Hey…you okay?"

It was Andie. His sweet, sexy and stubborn Andie. Dean chuckled to himself. "She's a Triple S Triple Threat," he thought. He took a quick swig of beer and tried very hard to sound somewhat normal.

"Hey babe! Yeah, I'm good, I'm good. How are you?"

"Umm…well, I'm a little concerned if you want to know the truth. Cas said that something may have happened and I should call you." She replied, her voice thick with concern. "Why haven't you called?"

"Shit…" Dean thought, I knew this would happen. "Oh, we've just been swamped with this hunt, ya know. But everything is a-okay." He slurred slightly, but continued on. "I miss you babe."

"I miss you too Dean. Any idea when you might be making it back home?" Andie could tell that he was about four sheets to the wind. She only hoped that Sam was with him.

"Umm…not yet. Ya know, things are just crazy right now. I mean, we actually ran into an old hunting buddy of ours and they're helping us out."

"Really? Who is it? Maybe dad knows him."

Dean pulled the phone away from his mouth. "Way to go dumbass." He thought to himself. "Try explaining this one Einstein. Oh, well her name is Jo and I used to be in love with her, but then she got blown to high heaven, but she's back now and it's totally platonic." "Yeah, that will go over like a shit sandwich." Dean put the phone back to his ear and tried to think of a name quickly and because of his mind being foggy from the booze, he came up empty.

"Umm…the name? Well, I don't think Bobby would know them really. They aren't huge in the business."

"Huh…" Andie replied skeptically. "You sure dad wouldn't know him? I thought he knew pretty much everyone in the business."

"Nah, their small time. He wouldn't have bothered to know them."

That sealed the deal for Andie. Now she knew something was going on and he was doing his damndest to hide it from her. Deciding to play dumb for now, she told Dean she loved him and that she hoped everything was really okay.

"I love you too babe. I really do. You know that right?"

"I know Dean." Andie replied.

"Good. So, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure? What's up?"

"What are you wearing right now?" he said in his sexiest voice. Dean shifted on his bar stool and adjusted himself in his pants. Jesus, just the sound of her voice could make him hard.

Andie chuckled into the phone. "Nice try Winchester, but no phone sex for you."

Dean visibly pouted much to the amusement of the bartender who had been watching the exchange for the last few minutes. "What? Aww…come on Andie. Don't leave your man hanging." He whined.

Andie laughed even harder. "Are you seriously begging? Oh for God's sake Dean, I'm sure you can manage just fine without knowing that I'm wearing jeans and a tank top."

He smiled into the phone. "Gotcha" he thought confidently. "Oh yeah? Jeans and a tank top? What color bra and panties?"

"Bye Dean, I'll call you later. I love you." She laughed into the phone and ended the call.

"No…Andie…wait…" was all she heard him say before she closed her phone. She tried not to let on just how concerned she was. Something in her gut told her to get to him as quickly as she could. And there was only one person, or rather celestial being, that could get her there in an instant.

Turning around, she spotted Castiel in the kitchen with her dad. Taking a deep breath and bracing herself for the inevitable begging that would ensue she headed towards him.

"Cas…I need your help."

Jo was pacing the floor. It had been hours since Sam and Dean had walked out and she was starting to get worried. She had thought that by now they would have returned or at least called. She had thought about going out to look for them but then she quickly realized that she didn't have the slightest idea of even which direction they went. Matthew had asked her repeatedly to just relax and he quickly earned the death stare. About an hour before he had decided to head over to the adjoining room to give her some breathing room.

God, she really wanted her mom right now. She would know exactly how to deal with this situation. In her mind she could still hear her voice…"Joanna Beth, if I have to tell you one more time to sit the hell down…" More tears threatened to well up and she took a deep breath to try to steady herself. She had spent the first couple of hours just quietly crying on the bed. Every time Matthew tried to comfort her, she just pushed him away. She knew it wasn't his fault per say, but she needed someone to blame and he was the closest.

Just as she was about to look out the window for about the millionth time she heard a knock at the door. She knew Matt had a key to this room. Jo ran to the door thinking it was either Sam or Dean and that they had just forgotten their keys. She threw the door up not expecting to see Castiel standing there with some strange woman.

"Cas?" she said in total shock.

"Hello Jo" he replied flatly. So much had seemed to change with the angel. But they were subtle changes that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She moved to give him a hug but was intercepted by the woman.

"And just who are you?" Jo asked incredulously.

"I'm Dean's girlfriend and who in the hell are you?" Andie replied with obvious anger in her voice.

"Umm…just an old friend."

"Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that you're the old hunting buddy?" Andie said as anger flashed up.

"What?" Jo was thoroughly confused at this point "Hunting buddy?"

"I'm going to fucking kill him." Andie spat out as she turned and walked away.