A/N: I told myself that there would be no Happy Wars until I updated this chapter and it worked! I'm going to shoot for a longer chapter next time, but I think this chapter is a sufficient enough size for right now. I just feel like this fanfiction has a lot of chapters when it really doesn't need them. Tell me your thoughts?Also, once again, many thanks to those who reviewed, followed, favorited, ect. It's very appreciated and very motivating!
While we're on the subject, I was looking through the stats of this fanfiction and I am very surprised by the number of people who read this or have looked at this that are from non-English speaking countries. The internet is so cool!
Castiel was beginning dinner when Loki appeared again. Dean had been sat near the phone since snack time and Sam was lying on the couch, contently playing with his toes. Loki whistled and only Dean really showed he was surprised by the noise, jumping an inch out of his seat.
Castiel turned his attention from a pan of partially cooked meat to Loki. "Hello, Loki." He said formally, nodding his head. Loki crossed his arms.
"I see you managed to hold the fort without me." He said as he walked to the couch. He scooped Sammy up from his spot and laughed when Sammy erupted into a series of pleased coos. "Hey there! Was Cas nice while I was gone?" Sammy screeched happily and Loki laughed some more.
Castiel looked as if he wished to say something to that, but kept his mouth shut. Dean turned his attention back to the phone.
"Wow, you're just a bunch of livewires, aren't ya?" He teased. He set Sammy on his hip and walked into the kitchen.
"Dean has not been in a very cheerful mood since this morning." Castiel said as an explanation and apology. "He really wishes for his father to call." The meat sizzled in the pan and Castiel prodded it absently with a spoon. "I am also cooking meat for the first time." He said glumly.
Loki ruffled his hair and took over cooking. "Go play with Dean and cheer him up, I'll cook." He said, nudging Castiel out of the way with his hip. Sammy who was perched on his other hip made a grab for Castiel's hair and missed, letting out a frustrated screech. Castiel nodded and headed over to where Dean was sitting.
"Dean." He called, grabbing onto his jacket to gain attention. Dean turned his gaze to him and looked altogether uninterested.
"When's Daddy gonna call, Cas?" He asked sadly.
"I don't know…" Castiel answered honestly. "But… I believe the longer you sit and wait, the longer it will feel. Perhaps you would like to come play?" Castiel felt odd asking Dean to come play with him. It felt very childish. He felt Jimmy laugh at him
You are a kid, silly! He said, probably excited about playing, even if he wasn't the one performing the action.
Dean hesitated before getting off the chair, looking to the phone before turning his eyes back to Cas. "Kay…" Dean conceded and allowed Castiel to lead him over to the living room. While Loki cooked dinner, they busied themselves with building a fort out of the many books in Bobby's library. By the time they had finished, the phone was ringing.
"You were right, Cas!" Dean shouted happily as he raced to the phone. He snatched it off of the wall and listened to the other end for a few moments before whispering "Hello?" into the receiver.
"Dean?" John's voice came in from the other end. "I need you to be completely honest with me. Is anyone there besides you, Sammy and Cas?" John sounded urgent and Dean hesitated, looking into the kitchen to see Loki.
"Uh…" He thought for a moment. "I don't think so." He said finally. He didn't want Loki to be in trouble.
"Are you absolutely sure?" John asked, Dean frowned and Castiel gave him a confused look, unable to hear what John was saying.
"Yeah!" Dean said, slightly offended. "Daddy, I wanted to talk to you! When are you coming back?" He switched the subject, hoping to be able to actually speak to his father before he hung up.
"It'll be a few more days…" John said, and Dean's face scrunched up unhappily.
"But I wanna see you now!" He whined. A rush of static on the other end indicated John's sigh.
"Dean… Buddy, you've gotta wait." John said and Dean pouted.
"Fine." He said shortly.
"Dean, you know I love you, right?" John asked. Dean's pout softened slightly.
"Yeah… I love you too." Dean replied.
"Can you give Cas the phone now? I need to talk to him."
"Mm-hm. Bye, Daddy." Dean handed Castiel the phone after that.
"Hello?" Castiel asked, rather confused.
"Bobby says that he heard someone else in the background the last time he talked to you." John stated firmly. Castiel cast a glance over to Loki, who had turned, probably to listen in on the conversation. "He says you didn't hear anything, but to be absolutely sure. Is anyone there besides you, Dean or Sammy?"
"No." Castiel said, his brow furrowed. What had brought this about so suddenly?
"This is serious, Castiel. I need to know. Is Loki there?" John's tone was firm and commanding, and Castiel's stomach tied itself in knots. It was a rather curious feeling.
"No…?" Castiel more questioned than stated. "Why would a trickster be here?" He asked, feigning innocence. Loki snorted quietly and Castiel gave him a severe look.
"He came to our hotel room a few hours ago and told me to call. It seemed like he'd been there." John explained.
"No. There hasn't been anyone here, but us." Castiel stated. "A man named Rufus called earlier…" Castiel said, trying to divert John onto another subject.
He could hear John speaking to Bobby in the background before John got back on the line. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you about that. Bobby's called people to help look after you kids while we're gone. They'll call every once in a while." There was another quiet conversation between Bobby and John before John added. "If any of the other phones ring, don't answer them."
Castiel was rather curious as to why, but didn't question it. "Okay." He said and John said goodbye to him before hanging up. As soon as the phone was put back on the receiver Loki let out a sigh.
"Wooh! That was close! We almost got busted!" He laughed. "Dinner's ready, by the way."
"This isn't funny, Loki." Castiel commented dryly. "Did you go and harass them while you were gone?"
"Hey! That's my business!" Loki said defensively and almost grinned guiltily. "Yeah… I gave them something to help them with their hunt. I don't know why they're so pissy about it." Loki shrugged.
"Loki! Now we have to be twice as careful." Castiel sighed.
"Do you think Bobby knows about you yet?" Loki asked. His tone was a bit more serious. "Or did John keep his mouth shut?"
"He did not seem hostile over the phone. Though I'm sure he has his suspicions." Castiel said. He turned to Dean. "Thank you for not telling you for not telling your father about Loki."
Dean gave Loki a critical look before replying. "I like Loki." He said. Then added "Sammy likes Loki too."
Loki laughed and ruffled his hair "Aw! I like you guys too!" They all got ready for dinner, but despite the light atmosphere, Castiel was very nervous. Bobby was a hunter and it would not bode well for him or the Winchesters if he were to find that Castiel was not human. It would bode even worse should he find out that Loki had been staying here and Castiel had been allowing it.
In the hotel room, where Bobby and John were staying, Bobby was up researching again while John slept. He'd have to schedule someone to go check in at the house, he had a feeling that both Dean and Castiel were lying. They were good kids, but Tricksters had ways to get in and manipulate people. He cast a glance over to the knife Loki had left with them, now sitting on the hotel desk. A blade that killed demons? He snorted. The was a bunch of balls.
TBC (Hopefully next Sunday.)