A/N: I start college in two weeks, so I'm having a stress party. I'm currently taking 18 credit hours and I'm not bad at school, paying attention in class and writing essays, but I'm bad at managing my time. I'm really afraid I'm going to do terribly.
In other news, here's a new chapter. I just needed to get John and Bobby home, so not much happens. There were also a lot of letters missing at the ends of words and I checked my original copy of this chapter to see if they were my mistake and they are not, so if you see anything I missed in the proofread, please let me know and I will do my best to fix them. Regardless, I hope you enjoy.
Thank you very much for your reviews and favorites!
"Cas…?" Dean said cautiously. He approached like he was trying to get to a frightened deer. "I told Daddy about Loki…" He said, expecting Castiel to get angry.
Instead Castiel uncurled from his hunched over position on the floor and wrapped his arms around Dean's neck. Dean stood there for a moment before slowly wrapping his arms around Cas' back and rubbing it.
"Daddy says he isn't mad." Dean said after a few minutes of silence. "He says that Loki was just tricking us, and that we didn't know any better." He looked down at Castiel who was still partially crouched on the floor. "I don't think I believe him though. Loki was really nice and he stayed with us when Daddy couldn't." Dean explained. Castiel still didn't say anything, opting to cling to Dean like he was the only thing that would keep him up. "Cas…?" Dean called, patting Castiel's head.
"I'm sorry." Castiel whispered hoarsely into Dean's neck. "I'm tired, Dean." Castiel said, releasing his hold on Dean's neck.
"Okay!" Dean said, trying to make himself sound cheery. "Sammy's already asleep, so we can go to sleep now too." He grabbed Castiel's hand and led him upstairs.
John rubbed a hand over his face, after hanging up on the phone. "I hope Cas is okay…" He said absently, collapsing onto the bed.
"What happened?" Bobby asked with concern, worry was written all over his features.
"I think he had another episode, Dean had to take over for him." John said, laying down and placing an arm over his eyes. "Damn it, I should have known that would have happened."
"How long has the Trickster been there, did Dean tell you?" Bobby asked, opting to leave the subject of Castiel's 'episode' for another time.
"According to Dean, since we left." John said. "He apparently showed up and started taking care of them."
"Damn." Bobby hissed. "Did he say if Castiel seemed connected to Loki at all?" He asked with notable curiosity and slight suspicion.
"He said that Loki seemed to like Castiel, but it was the same with Sammy too." John said. "According to Dean, he really liked Sammy." He sounded very uncomfortable with this fact.
"We'll need to head home tomorrow and check everyone out, okay?" Bobby said more than asked. Their case was done anyways, so there was nothing keeping them from packing up and leaving.
"Yeah." John agreed. "Are you going to have that psychic you know check them out?" John asked somewhat nervously.
Bobby grunted. "I would like to, but I'll need to call her."
"Why? She doesn't take drop ins?" John asked, partially joking.
"No, she's by appointment. She makes her living off of her abilities." Bobby replied in all seriousness. "Sure, she's usually just giving out relationship advice, but that's what most psychics do nowadays." He said. There was almost a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"Well, I guess, 'do what you need to do', right?" John said, feeling awkward.
"Yeah." Bobby agreed, not helping the situation much. "Anyway, get packed, we're heading out early tomorrow." Bobby said, encouraging John into action. Bobby began packing too, casting a look at the knife Loki had given them, still sitting on the desk. He sighed, they still hadn't gotten to test it. There really was no good way to go about doing it. Still, it may come in handy, if only as a letter opener. He quickly placed it into the bag with all the other equipment, before John could throw it into the back of their truck.
Castiel woke up later than everyone else the next morning. He felt groggy and sick to his stomach and Jimmy seemed to feel the same way.
It's like we got a cold… Jimmy commented as Castiel rose out of bed.
"What time is it…?" Castiel asked no one in particular. He didn't expect an answer, but them Sammy squealed loudly from his spot on the bed across from his. "I see you're doing well." Castiel said with a smile. Sammy let out a coo in response. He seemed to be talking more, something that made Castiel equal parts curious and happy. Baby angels were born and aged slowly, but human children grew up quickly in comparison. He'd notice Sammy had both grown and gained more motor skills in the short time he had stayed with the Winchesters alone.
"Is Cas awake?!" He heard Dean shout from downstairs, followed by hurried footsteps pounding up the stairs as the boy ran up to them. He finally reached the room, a little out of breath, but hugged Cas tightly. "I'm sorry, Cas, I didn't know what to do!" He said immediately. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"I'm alright, Dean. It's okay." Castiel responded immediately, rubbing his back. "I'm sorry about what happened last night." Castiel said, he looked down at the floor past Dean's shoulder.
"That's okay!" Dean said again, hugging Castiel tighter, if possible. "I know you couldn't help it!" He said, he pulled back to look at Castiel in the eyes. Castiel could see that Dean had been crying a bit and felt more guilt pile onto him.
"Everything is okay." Castiel said and Dean nodded. They stood there for a moment, before Castiel seemed to remember the question that had been nagging him at the back of his mind. "What time is it?" He asked.
"It's ten!" Dean said proudly. He had just recently learned how to tell time.
"Have you eaten? Is Sammy taken care of?" Castiel was about to ask more questions, when Dean shushed him.
"I made breakfast, it was just cereal, but it was just for me, so I figured it was okay." He said, addressing Castiel's first question. "And I've been taking care of Sammy since forever; of course he's taken care of!" He said, rather indignantly.
"Alright. Thank you." Castiel responded, he was glad Dean was able to take care of himself and Sammy. He still didn't know how many more times his episodes would occur. He really couldn't cure Jimmy of a natural impulse and he wouldn't be able to ignore it until he took complete control.
"Hey! Are you hungry? Do you want breakfast? I'll get it for you!" Dean asked before bounding out of the room and down the stairs without waiting for an answer. Castiel gathered Sammy soon after and followed him down.
"I can't make anything but cereal, but I'm really good at it!" Dean rambled as Castiel entered the kitchen. He seemed excited to be able to help Cas. "Also, when I was changing Sammy's diaper, he almost peed on me!" He said, turning from his work to give Sammy a look. Sammy merely giggled at the attention and clapped his hands together.
"See? He still thinks it's funny!" Dean said. "Sit down!" He set the bowl in Castiel's normal spot at the table and grabbed Sammy from Cas. Castiel nodded and sat down as Dean rocked Sammy and told him excitedly about his morning. Soon Castiel was finished eating and Sammy was fussy, so they fed him too, before they all settled on the couch.
They stayed like that, with a break for grilled cheese sandwiches at lunch, until early evening, when Bobby and John unlocked the door. Castiel, who had heard them talking on their way up to the door, did not jump, but Dean did, startling Sammy from his nap. The baby in question promptly started wailing.
"What's going on in here?" John asked, setting his bag on the floor and coming over to inspect Sammy. He picked Sammy up from the sofa and he stopped crying almost instantaneously, happy to see his father home. Bobby came over shortly after that, not saying anything, but giving all three of them scrutinizing looks.
"You are home earlier than expected." Castiel said, almost casually, there was still a hint of caution in his voice though.
"We broke a few speed limits." Bobby said in reply. He reached out to Castiel and Cas almost flinched, expecting a hit. Instead he got his hair ruffled, and he regarded the hunter with his head cocked to the side. "Good to see you, kid." Bobby said, he was rather gruff, but Castiel appreciated his lack of hostility.
By the time Bobby had finished greeting Castiel, John was settling Sammy back on the couch. As soon as he did, Dean threw himself at his father, wrapping his arms around his neck.
"I missed you, Daddy!" He exclaimed, nuzzling his face into John's shoulder. John squeezed him and patted his back.
"I missed you too, bud." He said softly. He then set Dean back on the couch and turned to Cas. "Were there any surprised while we were gone?" He questioned, Castiel tilted his head questioningly.
"Other than the one we have spoken on the phone about, none." He said. John nodded, taking Castiel's words as truth.
Bobby had wandered out of the room, and John followed him, leaving the kids to the T.V. again. Dean leaned over and nudged Castiel.
He put his lips next to Castiel's ear and whispered. "Daddy's being all 'spicious. It's like he doesn't trust us at all." He then leaned back into his own space on the couch, crossed his arms and pouted.
"He has reason to, doesn't he?" Castiel reasoned, looking down at his hands. "I would not blame him if he never trusted me again."
"Wasn't our fault." Dean said. "Loki was nice, and he took care of us when Daddy wasn't here." He glanced back into the kitchen to make sure neither John nor Bobby were listening. He noticed that Bobby was on the phone and looked back to Castiel. "Mr. Bobby's on the phone." He reported, pointing behind him into the kitchen. Castiel peeked his head up over the couch and noticed that, indeed, Bobby was on the phone.
"Who's he talking to?" Dean asked Castiel when he had returned to his previous position.
"I don't know." Castiel said distantly. He was too busy focusing his hearing on the conversation to pay much attention to Dean. Sadly, he could still only hear Bobby's end of the conversation.
"Yeah, they had a little visitor." Bobby said, pausing for a moment and then saying. "A Trickster. You know how they can mess with your head." There was another pause and Castiel could hear Bobby sigh. "Yeah, they're all under six years old." Another pause, Castiel could hear muffled yelling from the phone. "I didn't wanna leave em' alone, but we didn't really have another choice!" More muffled yelling on the phone. "It was either that or take them with us!" Bobby almost yelled. The voice quieted on the other end of the phone, so Castiel could not hear it anymore. "Yeah, so when can you get them in?" Another pause on Bobby's end. "Tomorrow?!" He sounded very surprised. "You sure about that?"
"That soon?" Castiel could hear John whisper.
"So, ten o'clock tomorrow, then?" Bobby confirmed, ignoring John's question. "Sounds good, we'll have them there." He paused and let out another sigh. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
"Cas, Castiel. Hey, Cas. Castiel. Cas!"
Castiel came back to Dean saying his name repeatedly with a grin on his face. Castiel turned to look at him with a confused look and Dean leaned into him again.
"Were you eavesdropping…?" He asked, and then giggled.
"I was…" Castiel started and trailed off.
"Daddy says that eavesdropping is bad, but I won't tell him you were doing it." Dean assured. Castiel nodded, glad Dean was willing to keep his eavesdropping a secret. "What were they talking about?" Dean whispered curiously.
"We are going to see someone tomorrow." Castiel whispered back.
"Who?" Dean asked loudly, and Castiel put a finger to his lips, indicating that he needed him to be quiet.
"I am not sure. They seemed upset that Mr. Singer left us alone, though." Castiel whispered.
"What are you guys whispering about over here?" John's voice shouted as he came up behind the couch. Dean screeched and hopped down from the couch, avoiding John grabbing him around his middle.
"Nothing…" Dean said as he cast a nervous glance at Castiel.
"Oh really?" John asked, circling around the couch and grabbing for Dean again. He wasn't quick enough to dodge, and John had him in his arms. He started tickling Dean who howled with laughter. Sammy laughed too and Castiel cracked a small smile to see that despite the recent turmoil, John was still willing to play with his son.
"Oh, right!" John said finally, as Bobby came into the room, curious of the commotion. "We're going to see another psychic tomorrow." He said.
"Another one?!" Dean said unhappily. "The other one said everything was fine. Why do we have to go again?!" He crossed his arms angrily.
"She's just going to check you out." John said, hoping to avoid Dean throwing a fit. "Then we can come back here."
Dean sat and thought about it for a moment. "Okay…" He said finally. He uncrossed his arms and held them out to be picked up. John looked like he was going to protest, but then scooped Dean up off the floor and hugged him.
"Bobby and I are going to go and cook dinner." John said, looking over at Bobby just in time to see him cringe. He ignored him and set Dean back on the couch. "We've gotta get up early tomorrow, so bedtime is early tonight." He said before sauntering around the couch.
"Awwww!" Dean called after him as John wondered away into the kitchen to discuss details with Bobby.
TBC