Chapter Twenty

Familial Piety

After ten minutes of riding with Linda, Sam felt like crawling out of his own skin. She didn't say a word, never looked at him, hell, she acted like he wasn't there. But the animosity was definitely there, but there was something else. Hope. Sam was the one who usually held on the most hope for the team, he simply refused to lose faith and just give up.

He envied the relationship Kevin had with his mom, it was one that he didn't get to have. Then again, his life is so atypical, that at this point, anything unusual, weird and tragic was pretty much the norm for him. Growing up as he did, no real place to call home, no traditional celebrations, his early life was always on the go because dad was a salesman. At least, that was what he was told at least in the beginning. Oh, ignorance is bliss. When he thought about it, it wasn't an unhappy time, it was just all he knew. But the older he got, when the truth got out, he saw that this wasn't the life he wanted to live. So when he could, he escaped to college, earning him freedom but a cold shoulder from his only family.

Yet, while he did miss Dean, and not so much miss his dad, he had a period of time when he was normal. That he could enjoy all the things he fought for other people to enjoy. But it wasn't meant to last though. He eventually got pulled into the hunting world again, first for vengeance, then redemption and now, just fighting to keep the world turning. However, he always held onto the hope that maybe one day, he could have a semblance of a normal life. The trials almost ended that though, he was ready to sacrifice his life one more time for the good for all, but it wasn't to be.

He understood what Raziel said though. If he wanted to be rid of the power he has now, he has to let go of it fully, in no way desiring it. It is true though, it is hard to forgive, and he has had an unforgiving life. However, the more he fought, the more trouble came his way, it was a vicious cycle. So how can be truly rid of this, could he ever be? And who would he talk to? Dean, who is just as damaged as he is? Cas, who is just as lost? Unable to stand the silence, he spoke first.

"I'm sorry Linda that we weren't able to keep you both safe. This past year has been a rollercoaster of…just about everything."

She kept silent, didn't even acknowledge that he tried to start a conversation. Sam continued on though.

"You know, I never really knew my mom. She died when I was really young. All I really have of her is just what I am told from Dean, and whatever my dad and grandfather said before they passed too. One thing I do know though, she was a fighter, and she fought for her family. She was a hunter too, but when she started a family, she wanted out. She never wanted for Dean and me to be hunters. Our dad never knew, and for a while, they had a good life." He paused, remembering the time when they were in Heaven. "In the end though, destiny came knocking, it was unavoidable. Hell, we even tried changing the past. She still died, dad became a hunter and here we are now, thirty years later."

Looking over a Linda, "So I have an idea what you're thinking and what you wanted. You never wanted this. Hell, no one in their right mind would want this life. But it happens, and it sucks ass, but we gotta make do. But I want you to know, that Kevin is ok." He paused, thinking for a moment, "and you know what, I would have been proud to have you as my mom."

That elicits a small smile from her, and the mood lightens considerably in the car. The rest of the drive for them was done in quiet self-reflection.

Garth had way too many questions, tall tales and had questionable taste in music. Raziel was worried about the mental stability of this hunter. As soon as he had the strength, he feigned an appointment with an old friend and flew away to the bunker. Kevin was still up when he politely knocked on the door to be let in. It only took a couple of minutes for him to open the door.

"The night is late, but I come from the field of battle victorious, but weakened. May I enter prophet?"

"Yeah, of course." Kevin opened the door wider to allow passage. When he was inside, Kevin closed the door. "I don't understand, if you help the guys build the place, why have only one key? What if you lost it?"

Raziel smiled. "It was thought best to make just one copy for security reasons. And it wouldn't have stayed lost for long either. The key has an enchantment to find the nearest person affiliated with the Men of Letters. However, the bunker was designed to be inhabited all the time, there would have been someone here to open the door."

"Oh. Seems these guys had a good operation going for a while."

"I hope they can again my young friend." They reached the library, where they both took a seat.

"What do you mean again? You want Sam and Dean to restart the organization?"

"Hopefully yes. They are legacies, and I would almost say they are obligated to do so, but it is their choice. It is also my hope that they are not alone if they choose to do so."

Kevin looked at him puzzled, "alone, what do you mean?"

"I mean, you could be an integral part of this, much as you already are."

"But I don't want to live here all my life, spending it researching and reading arcane knowledge, and I'm no hunter either. I didn't choose this life! I want…wanted a normal life." Kevin sighed, "but the chance for that passed by, best I can hope now is get into community college and, I don't know what anymore."

"Prophet, whoever said you could not?"

"Well, this life doesn't offer a lot of choices," he responded in a downcast voice.

"Perhaps, and perhaps not. The Men of Letters was not a full time job for many of its members. Most lived normal lives outside the order, many of their families never knew at all. And Kevin? If you wish to enter into a university, we can make arrangements to have it happen if you wish. You can study whatever you wished, many past members studied a wide variety of fields from astronomy to zoology. Such professions enriched the knowledge within the Men of Letters."

"You mean, I could be a doctor, or an engineer if I wanted, and still do this?"

"Of course, you're a prophet, it is your task to decipher the tablets. However, you are incredibly talented and resilient, I do not see why you could not do more than for what your intended. It is your choice after all." Raziel smiled his serene smile. "Are you excited to have your mother back soon?"

Kevin smiled faintly. "Yeah, I thought she was dead because of Crowley, in order to get to me. Turns out she gave us all the slip though. I'm just glad that she's coming back though."

"Then I suggest you clean yourself up, and make your mother proud."

Kevin looked down at himself, "what's wrong I took shower and everything!"

"It was merely a suggestion, take it as you will. Now, if you do not mind, I am going to meditate." Raziel walked up and went to down a hall. Kevin tried to follow but it seemed like he vanished. Probably into another secret room like the Elders Suite. That gave him the idea to fix up a room for his mom in there, she certainly deserved the nice digs. And he could stand to clean up.

It was several hours later, in the early morning hours, they all returned to the bunker. Castiel woke up half way through, and when Dean saw he was awake, put in a cassette tape for some music. It was another rock band Castiel did not recognize, but the tempo was sufficient to keep them awake, which he guesses was the intent. His shoulder was bothering him, but it the pain was ebbing away. They rode in comfortable silence, though they kept checking on each other when they thought the other was no looking.

Cas hasn't had a dream since the night before. It was a rather interesting experience, to dream of something entirely on his own. He knew humans usually pulled elements from the world around them, and their subconscious constructs a dream around them. Some dreams a divinely inspired though, and others are torments by other creatures. His first dream was a nightmare, but he understood it now as a reflection of his fear at the time. The second dream, he really can't recall the details what it was about, he remembered that it felt warm, and being embraced and somehow involved Dean.

Since falling, he believes he has gotten a better hold of his emotions. It was better for him to try to understand his emotions, limited as that knowledge may be, than to bury it. That's Deans preferred method, but he knows the hunter better than most. Dean is a deeply emotional person, and he only shares that with very few people. Cas felt blessed to be counted as one of those few again.

Parking the car, Dean got out followed by Cas. Everyone else parked behind the Impala and also got out. Cas stood beside Dean while everyone walked over to them near the bunker door. Cas saw that Raziel was missing, as did Dean.

"Garth, how did you lose an angel?" The tone in Deans voice indicated he was tired and in no mood for any humor.

"He said he had a meeting a couple hours back, flew right out when I was telling him about Mr. Fizzles." Garth sounded rather sad.

Dean turned to Cas with a small smile, "probably an excuse to run away, I don't blame him." Cas chuckled. By then everyone was in a circle around them. Dean turned his attention to Linda, who had Sam carrying all her stuff.

"So Mrs. Tran, this is the Men of Letters bunker. It is warded against, well everything." Cas continued, "You will be safe here, no one can enter without permission or without the key, which we have."

Sam nodded, "I told her guys, I asked Kevin to set up a room for her. And Dean, I got a surprise for you." Dean looked carefully at his brother, with the tone said surprise, Dean suspected a prank.

Just then Raziel opened the door followed by Kevin. Mother and son saw each other and just ran to each other. There were no words, they just tightly embraced one another, Linda kissing his forehead and him silently crying in her arms. The emotion of their reunion was sympathized in everyone, but Cas was nearly overwhelmed by the loving embrace they shared. He reached out and hung onto Deans arm for support. Dean looked over in surprise, but smiled when he realized what was going on, and gently took patted Cas's hand with his free arm.

Sam moved behind them to go into the bunker, followed by Garth. Dean took Cas's hand and lead him down as well. Cas found it strange, it was if the love between the Tran's formed a wave and reverberated itself in him, allowing to share in their happiness. Whatever the cause, he was glad that Dean took charge to keep him from looking like a fool. Dean let go as they entered the war room though, and Cas immediately missed the warm rough feeling of Dean's hand in his.

"So what do want to show me Sammy?"

"Just follow me Dean, you're not going to believe this." Sam was still carrying Mrs. Tran's luggage, and he continued down a hall. Dean, Garth and Cas followed him. They stopped in front of a blank wall. Sam put the luggage down, smiled at all of them and turned around. The tall Winchester held out his arms and chanted in something that Cas recognized as Latin. After Sam was done though, they all blinked and had surprised looks on all your faces. There was door where there was once a wall.

"You telling me we're leaving in Hogwarts Sammy?" Dean sounded incredulous.

"Dude, wait 'til you see the inside." Sam continued and opened the door, obnoxiously inviting them all in. They all stepped into the anteroom, which Cas found to be impressive in comparison to the rest of the bunker.

"These were the Elders residences. Raziel was showing some the hidden things in the bunker. So things are hidden by spells, like this area, some are locked or just hidden behind something else, like the dungeon. This place is far larger than we ever though Dean." Sam pointed to the far left room, "and I picked that one to move into. The rooms bigger, and it has its own study and, check this out…bathroom."

"Holy shit Sammy, we're living inside Hogwarts aren't we? Do we have the Mirror of Erised or like, a Chamber of Secrets? This is so awesome!" Dean looked excited, and that made Cas smile, though he had no idea what Dean was referring to. Sam looked at them both and shook his head.

"Thought you might like it, Kevin and I moved down here already, and I'm pretty sure he set his mom up in one of these rooms. There are two left for you and Cas to pick from."

"Naw, it's ok Sammy, this is nice and cool, but I like my room. Besides, it's closer to the kitchen and farther away from your snoring." Sam made a bitchface at Dean, to which Dean winked back. Sam turned to Cas directly.

"And you Cas? we can get you set up here if you want."

"I will stay in my current location, I feel no different in larger or smaller accommodations." Sam raised his eyebrow.

"See Sammy, Cas knows to stay away from your sasquatch level snoring." Dean turned to Cas and winked at him too.

Sam coughed, "uh, yeah whatever you two."

In that moment, Kevin and Mrs. Tran came into the antechamber. Kevin picked up the bags at Sam's feet after saying thanks to all of them, and helped his mom into the far right room, which was next to his. Sensing it was time for sleep, Sam bid them good night and went to his room. Dean, Garth and Cas headed to back to the main area. Passing the library, they just saw Raziel floating in midair, apparently in a trance.

Cas remembered about all the purchases they made, and Dean and he went to get the bags while Garth shuffled off to a guest room. They also grabbed a med kit and headed back to Cas's room. In companionable silence, they put all of his new clothes away. His room was still empty of any personality, nothing marking it as his own like Dean has done to his room. It did not bother him though, he had not had the time to accumulate mementos or a 'personal taste' as of yet.

"Hey Cas, take off your shirt." Cas turned around and seeing that Dean was getting some items out of the medicine box , he did so. He laid the shirt on the bed and Dean motioned him to sit down. Once Cas was sitting, Dean walked behind him and stretched out his injured arm. Cas hissed in pain, but it wasn't bad.

"I think you're right, you must have pulled something. Just rest it for a while and you'll be good." Dean released his arm and took a tube of ointment and put some of its contents on Cas's shoulders. It was cool, but as soon as Dean was massaging it in, it began to feel very warm…and very relaxing. He was beginning to lose tension he didn't know he had and eased more toward Dean. He was just about pudding when Dean stopped, but he was so relaxed at that point, he was about to fall asleep.

"Thank you Dean, for everything," Cas managed to say before lying down, eyes closed already.

Dean closed the medicine box and got up from the bed. "No problem Cas, it's what families do. G'night now." Cas nodded and began to breath softly. Dean left the door slightly open, he knew Cas preferred it open. Tired himself, and sore he popped a couple aspirin before heading to his own room to sleep.