Chapter 38.
It was getting late and most of the bunker folk were grabbing a bit of supper or heading to bed. Sam found more tasks to do than usual, and most of them involved some excuse to pass the door of the Dean Cave, but none offered a legitimate excuse to go in.
He didn't know which one he was most worried about, the angel whose plans for ridding himself of the mind curse were becoming increasingly self-destructive or the human who seemed to have lost hope. The fact that they were not talking troubled him a lot.
On one of his trips past the door, he found Jack outside. "Have you seen either of them since they went in there?" he asked in a whisper.
"No," said Jack, "But I'm trying to be around."
"Me too." said Sam.
"Should we just go in and ask questions?" said Jack.
"How likely do you think that is to work?" said Sam, "We'd just make things worse. At some point, Dean will have to sleep, or we won't know if the talismans work when he's not consciously exercising control."
"What if they don't work?" said Jack.
"Then we need to stop Cas from doing something stupid." said Sam, "Come on, we can take some precautions."
They went to the garage and Sam disabled the ignition on Cas's car. Jack watched. "What about the Impala?" he said.
"Dean will need that to collect Sarah." said Sam, "Cas is the flight risk this time. Dean's priority will be to stop him running to Heaven."
"Castiel may just take another car." said Jack.
"I think he'll just try to fix this one. There are advantages to having an angel to deal with. They're persistent, but rarely innovative." His phone announced a text. He checked it.
The message was from Dean. Two words, "My room."
"Sounds like the movie is over." said Sam.
They went to Dean's room. Dean was on the bed, a cowboy hat beside him and Cas was standing in the corner furthest from the door, holding another hat.
"Was it a western?" said Sam.
"You might say THE western." said Dean, "It was good. It was fun. Even he liked it, didn't you, Cas?"
"Yes." said Cas. The single syllable sounded as if it had been dragged from an unwilling throat and forced to face a public for which it was nowhere near ready.
"And you two are still not talking?" said Sam.
"We're fine." said Dean, "But now it's time to see if this talisman works when I'm asleep. Cas has promised not to go to Heaven, but I need to know you will do anything short of killing him to prevent it anyway. I'm not going to sleep without knowing that. I've already told him, I'll kill every angel that's left if he takes one step heavenward."
The look Cas gave Dean suggested that when they did start long conversations again, he had a lot to say.
"Heaven is unnecessary." said Sam, "We have better options, don't we, Jack. Anyway, you'd better get some sleep, Dean."
"Yeah." said Dean.
"Cas, we should leave him in peace." said Sam.
Dean looked doubtful.
"What's wrong?" said Sam.
"It's difficult to sleep, under these circumstances."
"I could help." said Cas.
"Yeah, but I need to dream or we won't know if it works."
"I can put you to sleep without stopping your dreams." said Cas.
"And if it failed and you went to Heaven or anywhere else stupid ... "
"You don't trust me?" said Cas.
"I want to trust you." said Dean.
"The effects of not talking, Jack." said Sam, "This is why we don't do silence. Dean, just let him zap you."
"Okay." said Dean. He looked at Cas. "Do it."
Cas walked over to stand beside the bed. "No fear this time. Of course, only you know whether that's because it's not there or because I can no longer perceive it." He reached out his hand. He and Sam both saw the look in Dean's eyes. "No," he said, "You are afraid."
"Are you sensing that or seeing it?" said Dean.
"Seeing it." said Cas, "Dean, are you afraid of me?"
"No, Cas, of course not."
"Then of what?" said Cas.
"Talking about it now would not be likely to make my dreams good." said Dean.
"Bad dreams may transmit more easily." said Sam, "Maybe talking about it is a good idea."
"Just put me to sleep, Cas." said Dean.
"Why won't you tell me what it's about? You were going to before."
"I can't. Not tonight." said Dean, I promise, we can talk about this another time, all of us, but not now. It's not about you. Just put me to sleep. Let's ask the one question we all care about and get a complete answer."
Cas hesitated.
"Please." said Dean.
"Okay, sleep. Dream. I hope the keys work." said Cas. His hand seemed to shake a little as he put Dean to sleep.
"Are you okay, Cas?" said Sam.
"Invariably." said Cas.
"Do you think he will talk about the fear?" said Jack.
"Get him to talk to Sarah. She'll get to the truth."
"She may not tell us." said Jack, "Confidentiality."
"Doesn't matter." said Sam, "She'll help him deal with whatever's on his mind. We don't need to know. We just need to know he has someone to help him, right, Cas?"
"Right." said Cas. He looked a little lost.
"Do you have something to do or somewhere to be?" said Sam.
"No." said Cas, "I'll read in the library."
"Haven't you read everything in there by now?" said Jack.
"We can make some coffee, sit with you." said Sam.
"You need your sleep." said Cas, "And the thought of both of you watching me all night is disturbing."
"Fine, but if you need me, I'm only a text away." said Sam.
"Me too." said Jack.
"I'm fine." said Cas. He headed off to the library.
Sam looked down at his sleeping brother. "Don't worry, Dean. I'll make sure Cas is okay, whatever happens."
"Of course, if the talismans do work, Dean will be the one we have to worry about." said Jack.
"Do you ever not worry about both of them?" said Sam.
"No, I don't think so." said Jack.
"Tomorrow, we'll leave Dean in Sarah's capable hands and you and I will take Cas somewhere and distract him."
"He's not easy to distract." said Jack.
"Nothing is ever easy for us. You should know that by now." said Sam.