Chapter Twenty One

Family Is More than Just Blood

Sam woke up in the new room he had selected for himself in the Elders Suite. The bed was bigger, which was exactly what he needed with his tall frame. In comparison to his old quarters, this room had to be at least three times the size. He had his own personal study space and own bathroom. For Sam, it was almost like living back in the dorm when he was in Stanford. Though something like this was way above anything he could have afforded.

Getting up and ready, he thought on what the plan should be. Now that they have Linda back safe and sound here in the bunker, one of their objectives has been met. However, he did not tell her on the car ride over about having Crowley captive. He was hoping that she would take it as Kevin did, as in not well but not bothering to do anything for him. It was something he could not count on though. Perhaps they should focus on that for moment.

From what he could gather, it seemed that Abaddon was also trailing Linda in hoping to get to him and Dean. That indicated that she had some of Crowley's people working for her now. It was the only explanation on how she knew about the Tran's. That in turn only meant that she was cementing her hold on Hell at this point. Sam had the sinking feeling that they were running out of time. Maybe it was time to bring Crowley into the fold.

Exiting out of the suites, the door faded back in the wall. He had to ask if there was ways to break the illusion spell, it is a bit of a hassle to keep on chanting a spell every time he wanted to go to his room. Heading up to the main room, he found a note by Raziel on the library table. It simply stated that he had to check on some business and would be back in the later afternoon. Looking at his watch, it was already 11 in the morning, so it shouldn't be too long. May as well get something to eat he thought.

Heading into the kitchen, he was not surprised to see that Dean was already in there, but he wasn't cooking. Which is fine, he didn't expect Dean to do all the cooking, though it was nice. He was just looking over a book with a cup of coffee. Seeing Sam enter, Dean put down the book.

"Hey, his highness awakens. Anything you wish or desire my liege?" Sam rolled his eyes at Dean, who thought he was being funny.

"Good morning to you too Dean." Sam grabbed a yogurt and an orange and sat across his brother. "So, Abaddon tracked Linda down, waiting in ambush. How could Garth miss her?"

Dean shrugged, "Hey man, she got past the Men of Letters back in the day, no way we could've seen this one coming."

"Maybe not, but she had no way of knowing about the Tran's unless some of other demons that worked for Crowley are now working for her. That bad news for us." Sam stopped to pop in an orange slice. "If that's the case, we need a way to fight her off. I don't think we can count on Raziel popping in and saving us again. That one attack drained him of everything he had." Looking around, "you see him go?"

"Yeah, gave me the healing touch and flew out. Guys good in my book. But you're right. That was basically a one shot deal. We need to find a way to take her down for good."

"What if you did what Henry did again?" Dean thought about it.

"Maybe, but she'll know what's up this go around. That'll only slow her down though. We need her out of the game for good." Sam nodded.

"You're right Dean." Looking back in the direction to the vault, "maybe there is something in there that can take her out. Like a sword or spell? I mean, we can keep looking. Or…we can try to make a weapon." Dean arched his eyebrow questioningly.

"Make a weapon? Like the knife? Sammy, Kev said that was hard as shit to do!"

"I know Dean! But we have the resources to do it know. Maybe if there is way to juice it up to be more powerful or something. I dunno Dean, we're kinda on a limb on this one."

Both brothers sat in frustrating silence for several moments that they did not notice Linda enter the kitchen.

"So I hear you men need an accountant?"

Both Sam and Dean looked up, startled by her question.

Rolling her eyes, "Look, if I am going to be stuck her for God knows how long, I want to do something other than 'cry my eyes out'." She put up quotation marks on the last part. Sitting herself down at the table, "I am a certified accountant, or have you forgotten when we went to the pawn shop?"

Sam was the first to take up the offer, "Yeah, that would be great. We have no idea on what to do with all of that stuff."

She nodded, "couple of conditions though, I want to invest some of that money for Kevin to go to a university. Second, Kevin and I can go in and out as we please. Third, you have to cure Crowley."

Dean shot back in his chair at the last one. Sam was taken somewhat surprised by the last request as well, he figured Kevin would tell her, but this was damn quick. Dean coughed, and Sam looked over at him, and both their eyes meet. In a quick exchange that somehow they as brothers had, Dean was the first to ask.

"I want Crowley human and defenseless as the next guy, but why would you want to him cured? I figured you want him dead."

Linda gave him you're stupid look, "of course I want him dead. But, I am perfectly willing for him to suffer as a human beforehand." Sam though that Linda was really one cool customer, she was decisive, smart and quick.

Dean just nodded, "yeah, I got that. And we plan too, but Sammy here can't, and Kev and I are no keen on exactly laying healing hands on the bastard."

"Then I'll do it." She sounded so sure about it too, that Sam did not doubt that she would too. Still, Crowley is his responsibility and he wanted to make sure this was in the ex-demons best interest as well.

"You understand, that you'll need to give him your blood, confess and for several hours?" Sam asked in a measured voice, gauging how Linda would take it.

She slowly nodded, "I understand. And that's fine, I want him to know who exactly is doing this."

"I also might want to add then, that Crowley is wanting to be cured." As Sam suspected, this caused Linda to pause for a moment.

"He wants to be cured? How?" She sounded disbelieving.

"Believe me lady, if I hadn't heard it myself, I wouldn't believe it. And I still don't, but Sammy believes he does," Dean added.

Sam continued, "and he has been helping us on how to take on Abaddon and Hell. He has been proving useful." He nearly couldn't believe he was defending Crowley, but there you have it.

Linda was quiet for a few moments, and looked at both brothers with a measured eye. "Would him being human impact his 'help' to you?"

Dean and Sam looked at each other, Dean just shrugged ",'suppose not I guess."

"Alright then, I don't see why we can't do this 'cure' for him." With that, she got up and looked over at the pantry, where she grunted something in displeasure. Closing the door, she went over to the fridge, where she made another disappointing sound.

"What?" Dean asked, looking annoyed and skeptical at once. Sam was curious as well, Dean had been surprisingly balanced in getting groceries for once, not all of it being bad food.

"Oh, nothing." Her tone conveyed that meant the exact opposite though. Dean was already making his angry face and huffing, Sam quickly sought a way to diffuse the situation.

"Hey, Mrs. Tran, want me to show you around while Dean makes us something to eat?"

'Yes, that would be nice." She walked out of the kitchen, evidently waiting for Sam to catch up with her. Sam got up and gave a hands up gesture to Dean, who looked confused as ever.

When Dean was alone in the kitchen again, he resumed his previous melancholy train of thought. The book he has was one that he picked up absently, mostly as a cover. He woke up after only getting his usual four, and he felt tired, but he never let that slow him down. He supposed it's just the leftover adrenaline from the fight before.

He wasn't expecting a fight, but citing Winchester luck, it was always bound to happen. The day was going great too, not that he would admit it anyone else, but he liked shopping with Cas. One thing about Cas, is that he forced you to think about things you take for granted. When he asked Dean about why women wear bra's, he really couldn't answer them, especially after Cas went on for some length about the history of them. All he knew is that kept them up and in place, until he could get his hands on them at least.

But that wasn't what was disturbing Dean though, no, it was the fact that Cas once again threw his life to save him again. He was replaying what Cas said to him in the car, and Dean once again couldn't fault Cas's logic. They were family, and he didn't know when that happened, but he really can't think of a world without Cas in anymore. However, he couldn't shake a feeling that there's something more, something that Dean doesn't know.

When he reached for Cas's hand in the car, or again when leading him back into the bunker, the apprehension he normally would have went right out the door. It's like with Cas, it's ok. And the massage? Dean rubbed his palm onto his forehead. What was he thinking? He was doing it for Cas's benefit, right? The smooth warm feeling of Cas's skin in his was just his imagination right?

Dean let out a breath, these aren't things dudes should be thinking about other dudes he chided himself. Cas is his best friend, like a brother to him. All he wants is for the ex-angel to be safe. He'll admit, he doesn't want to lose anyone else anymore; he's tired of that bull crap. For once, could they not die or be sent to some afterlife?

And things are starting to look up a little, they have Mama Tran back, so that's a big plus. And she'll cure Crowley, which he is still hesitant about, but that's on her and not him. Abaddon was driven off for the moment, so that kinda counts as a victory right? So they haven't found any leads for the angels yet, but they will...hopefully. They'll make this right, maybe even get Cas's wings back.

But does he want Cas to have his grace back? Dean surprised himself at this thought, of course he wanted Cas to be a BAMF angel again! Then again, Cas is still BAMF as anything from last night indicates. He kinda likes Cas as human to be honest, if only for the fact that he can't just up and disappear on him anymore. He thinks Cas wants his wings back, he did basically breakdown a couple of days ago about not feeling them anymore. Why would Cas want to be human? Being human sucks. He chuckled, remembering what Cas said in that fucked up universe Zachariah sent him to, Cas belonged to a much better club.

That stopped Dean for a moment. That was supposed to be in 2014, which was less than a year away. He fought back, and that future is no more, but he can't shake another feeling. Lucifer said something's can't be changed. Castiel confirmed that, though it seems they bucked that trend. But now, here is Cas human and that doesn't seem to changing anytime soon. Is this a good thing, or bad thing? Damn if he should know. Time travels makes his head hurt. Still, that future was…disturbing on so many levels. Yeah, he was a douche and Sam said yes, but Cas was…totally different. Is it possible, if they can't get Cas's grace again, would he end up like an orgy happy hippy who's constantly stoned? No way he promised himself, in that future Cas gave up, and he won't give up on Cas.

Sighing to himself, he stopped there. He didn't know what to think of everything going on at the moment. Waffles would be a welcome distraction, if only for a while.