Chapter 26.
The Impala was going a little too fast with the music much too loud and two Winchesters were enjoying every moment, but neither of them was Dean and Sam was very aware that, if he did anything to the car or got her the wrong kind of attention, Dean would be pissed.
"How much longer?" said Jack.
Sam thought about it. It seemed reasonable that they might have the talismans by now, but he didn't want to rush anything. The timing had to be perfect. Dean must have no reason to start doubting the story, because one doubt would be enough to sink the whole plan.
"Another half hour." he said.
"I'm so scared I'm going to be the one who gets this wrong and ruins the whole thing." said Jack.
Sam smiled at him. "If this doesn't work, we'll find something else. I promise, we won't let Cas leave. But if it goes wrong, it won't be because of you, okay?"
"I am the worst liar." said Jack.
"But you're not lying. I am. All you need to do is say you think it will work."
"I said that to Castiel. He believed me, I think."
"Of course he did." said Sam, "You were telling the truth and he could tell."
"Whatever happens, thanks for trusting me." said Jack.
"There's nobody I trust more." said Sam.
"Even Dean?"
"Especially not Dean." he said.
Jack laughed.
"You know," said Sam, "We could just give them a chance to use the link once more before it goes, to just willingly engage with it and clear up all the misunderstandings in one, perfectly honest merging of minds."
"Sounds good, but they'd both rather die." said Jack.
"Yes, I'm afraid they probably would. Maybe we can get them to consider removing the talismans later, when they both feel less vulnerable. If they'd just stop lying to each other, life would be so much easier."
"Yeah, Sam, neither of them ever picks the easy path."
"I know."
Jack put the two keys on their chains. He held them in his hand again and a faint golden glow showed he was adding traces of his energy again. "These are ready." he said, "The first time Castiel touches one will be the real test. He might instantly know there is nothing but glamoury on it."
"I'd hardly call archangel energy glamoury." said Sam.
"I wish I had the power to give them real control."
"This will be real enough." said Sam, "With the slightest encouragement, they will take control for themselves. I'm sure they control this thing without knowing it."
"Don't tell them that. They already both blame themselves."
"Yes, they do. Guilt comes naturally to both of them."
"It's lucky you're immune." said Jack, with more than a trace of sarcasm in his tone.
"Hey, I earned my guilt. They invent theirs." said Sam, "I started the frickin' apocalypse and I'm the reason Dean went to Hell."
"And Dean's the reason Cas fell and Cas is the reason Heaven foundered."
"Watch it, kid." said Sam, "I'm nothing like those two. If anything, I take too little responsibility for my mistakes.
"Are you going to dance at the party?" said Jack.
"Yeah. We all need some fun. Watching me try to untangle my legs will give everyone a laugh."
"What about Dean?"
"Depends how he's asked and by whom and how much alcohol he's consumed. Enough whisky and he'll do almost anything."
"I don't think I'll be very good at dancing," said Jack, "But I think it's likely to be fun anyway. I don't get why Dean wants to be left out of it."
"Dean's very complicated." said Sam, "And with all the offworlders around, pretty self-conscious. Don't worry. By the time we get to your birthday party, he'll be happy to dance with all of us watching."
"I'm not sure everyone will come to a party for me." said Jack.
"Of course they will. Trust me. Yours will be great."
"Haven't you ever celebrated birthdays before?"
"Here and there." said Sam, "But Sarah's right. We should be celebrating. Things get negative very fast and we're so wrapped up in the dark stuff, we forget there's lighter stuff to enjoy. Dean and I spend too much time in our own heads. Cas too. It's not good for us and it's not something I want you to emulate. Life's short for our kind, but that's no reason not to live it to the full and you're immortal, so you have no excuse."
"Don't worry. I plan to live well." said Jack.
"Good. You deserve a good life. Hopefully, Dean will make the effort because of you. Then he gets the life he deserves too."
"When do you get what you deserve?" said Jack.
"I'm hoping never. The only thing I want is my family. If you and Dean and Cas and Mom are fine, I have everything I will ever need."
"Have you ever thought about the fact that I'm more powerful than Lucifer?" said Jack.
"It's crossed my mind." said Sam.
"Maybe my powers can give you all everything you ever need. Maybe you should all aim higher."
"Jack, we don't think of you as a way of manifesting what we want. You're family to us. You don't have to give us a thing, now or in the future."
"You're the reason I'm here, Sam. You ever need anything, you tell me and I'll find a way to do it." said Jack.
"Do you love us, Jack?" said Sam, "Do you consider us your family?"
"Of course I do." said Jack.
"Well, that's a better gift than anything else you could give us."
"You deserve a lot more than that." said Jack.
"There is nothing more than that." said Sam.