Sam was awake when Jessica rushed into the room. He really didn't need as much sleep as most people so had spent the last few hours just appreciating the soft rise and fall of Dean's chest and pondering what would happen next between them.

Jessica wasn't in the least surprised when she saw her boss and Dean curled around each other in Sam's large bed. The tension between them had been growing thicker over the last few months and Sam had revealed her that they had a date the night before.

"Sam." Jessica hissed, not knowing whether he was awake.

Sam peered up at her with a slight frown, "Jess?" She instantly knew Sam had been awake for sometime.

The hunter was jolted out of his sleep by whispering voices but he remained stock still, not giving away that he'd woken up. He listened carefully and could feel Sam moving to sit up.

"There's an angry man at the door asking for you." She sounded hesitant and unsure of what she should do. She hovered by the doorway, biting her lip.

Sam groaned, heavy and tired. There was a massive list of people that could be mad at him as lots of people were against his work and what he did in the town. He wriggled away from Dean, trying not to shake him too much, before standing and stretching up. Jess made a tutting sound from across the room.

"You might want to put some clothes on first, Sam." Sass dripped from every word.

The tall man glanced down at his naked form and chuckled, "Don't pretend to be embarrassed. I've known you for way too long for this to be awkward."

She sighed, used to Sam's charms, and left the room to continue with her early morning tasks. The room was filled with the sound of material against skin when she left as Sam hurried to look presentable for the visitor.

Curious, Dean silently vowed to find out who was at the door and why he was so angry at Sam. Once the other man was out of the room he would follow and wait at the top of the stairs to discover the truth. It didn't seem as though Sam was going to wake him up anyway.

The door clicked shut quietly as Sam was still trying to ensure he didn't wake the sleeping man. As soon as the sound echoed across the room, Dean was slipping out of bed and tugging on his tight trousers; they'd seemed like a good idea the night before. He stumbled towards the corridor, throwing his shirt on as he went.

A loud voice was coming from the entrance down the stairs. Dean hovered at the top of the stairs, concealed by the corner of the wall.

Sam was genuinely surprised to see who was waiting just inside the door. He looked cautious and mildly out of place with his beaten old cap and work boots. Sam wasn't unhappy to see him though so smiled warmly.

"Bobby?" He called once he reached the bottom of the stairs. He held out a hand in preparation for a handshake as he approached the man. "What a surprise to see you here."

"Where's Dean?" He hissed coldly, turning his body away from the homeowner slightly. His eyes were dark and threatening. Sam was good enough at reading social cues to know Bobby could snap any second if under the wrong conditions. The tall man changed his approach. He could deal with this, he reminded himself, he is a people person after all.

Stopping a metre or so from the visitor, Sam changed from warm to concerned and comforting. He'd always had a good control of his emotions so could easily connect with people, "What's wrong, Bobby?" Sam spoke gently. He gestured towards the stairs, "Dean is-" He was interrupted.

"Dean is right here." Dean spoke, stepping around the corner and down the stairs.

Bobby flushed red in deeper anger. Once the young hunter was close enough, the old man jumped forward to snag the man's wrist and pulled him out of Sam's house, as though he was a naughty child. Sam moved forward to help but Dean waved him off and shot him an apologetic look. If Bobby was this mad then he had to have done something.

Sam stood on his porch way as Bobby encouraged Dean up into the passenger side of his truck before climbing in too and driving off.

The tall man bit his lip and sighed. Something weird was happening here.

Dean didn't dare let a word leave his mouth until Bobby had had a significant amount of time to begin to cool off. He hesitated, planning his words before he spoke. Now wasn't the time to come across as sarcastic or rude.

"Bobby?" He began, "What's wrong?" His eyes bore into the side of his surrogate father's face.

There was a beat when Dean didn't think the man would speak but eventually he did, "Check your cell, Dean."

Not arguing, Dean slipped his cell from his pocket and unlocked it. He winced suddenly understanding Bobby's anger.

-23 Missed Calls: Bobby Singer-

-39 New Messages-

He flicked through a few of the messages even though he knew they'd only leave him full of guilt and feeling absolutely terrible. He started with one of the earlier before skipping his was further into the night. He checked the time stamps.

00:10am -You're heading back soon?- B

...

01:09am -Stop it now. Where are you?- B

...

04:39 -Dean, I'm gunna come looking for you if you don't pick up this call- B

...

05:05 -This is highly irresponsible when that cult is about.- B

...

06:01 - I'm coming to Sam's. I know you're there- B

...

The messages became more urgent as the night went on. He couldn't bring himself to read the longer, more panicked sounding ones. He winced at how selfish he'd been. He promised to be home before 12 but he just disappeared without even a message to the other man.

Bobby sighed and the younger man knew a lecture was on his way, "Dean you're a hunter. That's pretty much a risk anyway considering all the demons and things that want revenge on you but for you just to go waltzing off alone when we know there is supernatural activity going on is just plain stupid. We've been poking around in their business, you think they wouldn't take the opportunity to get rid of ya giving the chance?!" He ranted, "You're on a case, a big one too, and you must remember that you can't just go off whenever you fancy as you put yourself in danger. Not only that but you also put me in danger along with keeping me up all night as I consider which supernatural bastard I'd have to kill to get you back." He finished loudly, lips pursed.

There was silence for a few seconds, "I wasn't alone. I was with Sam."

They arrived back at their motel and Bobby parked up but didn't show any signs of actually leaving the vehicle, "What is Sam supposed to do against a group of supernatural creatures? Out charm them?! He wouldn't know how to deal with them! And you'd be too busy protecting him to save your own stupid ass."

Dean huffed, angered slightly by Bobby's sound logic.

Bobby silenced then engine and clambered down from the truck without another word. He wanted to leave the younger man to consider his actions and Dean really did.

It was a few minutes later that the other hunter was also climbing out of the vehicle and shuffling towards the motel room like an ashamed child. His cell vibrated against his leg as he walked.

-Is everything okay?- S

Now Dean felt guilty about leaving Sam in a sudden rush as well making Bobby worry. He really was screwing up everything around him at the moment.

-Sorry, Bobby mad as he worried about me. All fine.- D

Dean shot the message off quickly before hurrying to meet Bobby in the room.

The old man was hunched over some papers and documents. Dean assumed he'd been doing that most of the night to try and gain some sort of distraction from Dean's absence. Bobby wasn't the kind of guy to pace the floor boards unless he was absolutely desperate. Instead, he busied himself and made himself useful which kept his mind off panicking.

He didn't look up when Dean came in but his eyes weren't completely focused on the words printed on the document. He seemed to be considering asking or speaking about something. Dean had a gut instinct that the older man was still thinking about Sam but luckily, he didn't seem as furious red as he did previously.

Dean was about to find out when Bobby lifted his head and stared at the wall beside the young man.

"So... You really do like Sam?" He breached gently. Obviously, unsteady on the topic at hand.

There was a beat of silence,"Yeah, more than I want to." He didn't dare move from beside the door in case his movement would disrupt Bobby's internal thought process. Maybe letting Bobby ask these questions will allow him to understand how Dean feels about his boss. Maybe it would just make him madder?

Silence filled the space and Bobby sighed, rubbing his face. Dean shuffled uncomfortably. It'd been a long time since he'd last had to stand and have a talk like this; long before his father died all those years ago.

Time was slow and heavy. It dragged its feet as it passed along the clock face. Dean swallowed, his throat dry like a desert.

There was a huff of breath, "Fine, do what you wish with Samuel but don't put yourself or him in danger as a result." He sighed, "Don't risk everything just to save him." His eyes were pleading, begging Dean to be sensible.

Dean knew Bobby was referring to his bad habit of sacrificing himself for those he held close. It wouldn't be the first time that he would nearly die due to him trying to save someone he felt for. He had also put Bobby's life ahead of his several times; much to the older man's disapproval.

The Winchester nodded, accepting the conditions.

It was minutes later that Dean suddenly realised something. He glanced at his watch to make sure.

"Crap!" He cried, jumping up and quickly changing into his black work uniform, "I'm so fucking late!"

It wasn't an overstatement. It was over an hour after he was supposed to show up and that's the latest time he was allowed through the doors. Jess was pretty lenient about what time work started. She let him turn up half an hour later than usual if he had a particularly small list of things to get done but today's list was longer than his arm; it had built up over the week.

It only then seemed to dawn on Bobby that he'd pulled Dean away from his work place, technically, after his hours had started. Although, they didn't seem particularly heartbroken that Dean had been sleeping through some of it. He was in his boss' bed with his boss so surely he is the man to judge what is acceptable amongst his staff. The old hunter was embarrassed that he'd taken Dean away.

"I'll see you later." Dean called, running out the door while doing up the buttons on his shirt. He looked a mess and smelt like sex but he didn't have time to worry.