The living room was dark when Sam and Dean stumbled into Bobby's living room; the only light was Bobby's desk light. It was illuminating only a small portion of the room. Sam was the first to walk into the room; Bobby placed a finger to his lip and jerked his head in the direction of Caden and Laurie, who both in identical positions were lounging beside each other. Caden sprawled out on the sofa on the side his hands tucked underneath him and Laurie next to him on the hard wooden floor.
Silently Sam made his way to them as Dean took off his leather coat and placed it onto the edge of the chair dragging it across the floor to Bobby's desk. Sam reached over the edge careful not to walk the slumbering Laurie, he snaked his arms under Caden's neck and legs. The body was instantly leaning in towards him. No longer was he the malnourished boy, Sam had carried from the pavement after the Impala had hit into him but rather much healthier weight. Dean caught Sam's silent message and nodded his head towards the staircase. Sam wasn't sure when or how Caden had managed to do it but somehow he managed to gain Dean's approval, though Sam doubted Dean would ever admit that he'd grown a soft spot for the kid he couldn't stand a few months ago.
"Mom…," Caden muttered incoherently in his sleep jerking rapidly, Sam not expecting it released him and he landed with a large thud onto the hard wooden stairs.
Now completely awake Caden stared around in alarm for attack, blinking rapidly. The sounds of large footsteps round into the room, Bobby, Dean and Laurie stare with confused expressions at the situation.
Caden was gasping for breathe.
"Are you all right?" Laurie demanded stepping forward for his son.
Caden stared back to Sam, mostly angered that he'd dropped him but otherwise a bit embarrassed that Sam had tried to carry him up the stairs.
Caden stared around pushing himself up, "I'm fine. Perfectly a-ok."
"You jerked so violently," Sam reasoned for himself, "I'm sorry."
Dean coughed, "that sofa can be rough on your back, Sam thought you'd be much more comfortable in a bed."
"Well I can tell you the stairs aren't comfortable." It was a rude comment but he didn't feel like playing nice right now, he turned and very childishly marched up the stairs and into the closest bedroom and slammed the door.
"Teenagers will be teenagers." Bobby sighed, "though I'd wish they wouldn't do the door slamming thing, it's really quite annoying," he turned and walked back into his study.
Sam stared back at the stairs.
"Come on Sam, let's go get something to eat." Dean motions for his brother to join him.
There was something more than just a friendship between them, Dean knew it the minute he got back from hell. Maybe that was a reason why he didn't like the kid right away, Dean instantly tossed the thought away, he'd never slump so low to jealousy.
"Sam don't beat yourself up over it, CJ is probably just embarrassed, he'll be fine in a little bit." Dean tells Sam as he lowers himself reaching for a beer and twisting the cap off.
Caden stared up at the cracked ceiling wondering if all the cracks in the ceiling met would they cave in on him, or would it be a slow moving concrete falling off the ceiling? The caving in sounded much more cooler and a whole heck of a lot more painful for him. He rolled over and the bed creaked under his weight, he faced a picture. It was faded and crinkled. But it was two boys and who'd he guess was Bobby who was about twenty pounds lighter. Bobby stood in the middle with Dean who was standing to the side aloof maybe thirteen or fourteen, slightly grinning, there was little bits of acne it was odd to think of Dean Winchester as a teenager Caden mused to himself none the less dealing with acne, and to their right was no doubt Sam just more midget-like obviously pre-growth spurt ages. He turned the picture over and in chicken scratch was Uncle Bobby, Me and Dean Summer 1993. He placed it back down before tossing over onto his back and closing his eyes.
Laurie swayed back and forth, watching as Bobby and his nephews busied themselves with research. The apocalypse information was slowly gnawing down at him. He felt lightheaded and shaky, as if he was floating rather than being there.
"I'm just gonna go check on Caden."
He scurried two steps at a time up the stairs. The door was slightly adjourned and he could see his son sleeping soundly on the bed. In sleep he looked so untroubled by a life unkindly dealt to him. The bed dipped when Laurie sat at the edge and gravity pulled his son closer to him, with shaky hands Laurie brushed back loose strains of dark hair, when his son's bangs were completely off his forehead he leaned forward placing a lingering kiss onto the forehead.
"I'm doing all of this for you." He whispers into his ear before standing and walking down the steps once again.
His nephews seemed to retire for the night. Bobby was closing the dusty old books and placing them away on shelves according to a numerical system that was only understood in his mind.
"Sofa's ready for you." Bobby jerked his head at the sofa.
"Thanks. Thanks for everything." Laurie took the scratchy blankets pulling them over him, placing his hands together over his stomach, taking in and out deep breathes trying to calm himself to try and go to sleep, but all attempts went out the door when he watched as a figure walked across the window. Loading his gun he stood cautiously walking towards the front door, with baited breathe he turns his gun onto the person.
"Who the hell are you?" he calls out.
The figure turns around, "my name is Ruby, and I believe we're on the same side Laurie. You want the apocalypse and I want it."
Laurie gritted his teeth, "I want my child safe."
"And the angels worked it out, now help me and maybe we can get this down faster and then the two of us could go on living what's left of our lives in peace. Me as being rewarded and you as being safe with your son, what do you say?"
"You're a demon-
"You hunters are all so damn racist, why can't you accept help when you see it? I will not hurt you."
"What makes you say I won't send your ass back to hell?"
She smiled coyly her eyes turning black, "because I'd just crawl my way back up tearing to shreds whoever is in my way, and kill your little boy, I'll leave his guts scattered across the floor-
She didn't finish her sentence as Laurie reached forward and grasped her neck, "don't you even dare finish that god damn sentence, I'll help you."
"You're a lot easier convinced than your nephew." She huffs out as she struggles for breathe before turning and leaving Laurie alone.
Laurie turned and looked to the window, "that's because my nephews are much better men then I'll ever be." It wasn't the first time he thought of doing it, finishing his own life. After Suzette, Amelia and Eliza, mostly who did he have to live for? A crazy mother, a sister so attached to her and his Johnny Daniels? It was the hopelessness that drove him to the depression, until Missouri came along snapping him back into somewhat of a human being, something that could go into the public and somewhat function with people around him.
And then there was Kate, and Adam. Who made him just a bit more whole, but deep in his soul was missing a huge gap. A gap filled by Jane who didn't let him hold his head down, didn't let his depression catch up with him again. Gave him more than one reason to fight and keep going, to save all he could save and never take any day for granted.
Now, now he had a son to keep safe for Jane's sake, for his own sanity and for Caden. He had an apocalypse and angels and demons on his ass. His world was once again spinning out of control and there was a little voice taunting him about how he had no control. No control at all.