Chapter 52.
Jack looked anxiously from Castiel to Sam and back. He wasn't sure which one needed him more, but he felt he needed to say or do something to help. He knew that everyone he loved was barely holding it together and whenever one started to fall apart, that sent the others spiralling down. He wished he had the understanding Sarah or Sam had, the deep wisdom that made it so easy for them to help others. All he had was instinct and his deep, protective love of them.
Dean was out of reach and he was with Sarah and Mary and Jack felt they were able to at least keep him from being reckless. Sam and Castiel felt like his concern.
Suddenly, something irrational came into his mind. How would Dean deal with this situation. He smiled at the very thought. Dean couldn't handle his own emotions, let alone anyone else's. He did care, though and he was clever. Dean would distract them.
"I bet I'm the worst dancer tomorrow." he said.
"My money's on Bobby." said Sam.
Jack smiled. "You know they had dance parties to keep their spirits up, don't you? I'll bet Bobby can dance pretty well."
"Where did they get the music?" said Castiel.
"Paul and Greg can both play the fiddle pretty well." said Jack.
"You never mentioned that before." said Sam.
"It wasn't relevant. They both left their fiddles behind."
"I'm not John Winchester's son if I can't finesse the loan of two fiddles in 24 hours." said Sam.
Jack grinned. "Seriously?"
"I happen to know a music store that might let us hire a couple at a reasonable rate."
"Sarah would love some live music." said Castiel.
"Then we should do it." said Jack, "Anything for Sarah, right?"
Castiel sat up straight. "Anything at all." he said, "She has done so much for all of us. She saved me. She's also the least complicated guide I have ever had."
"You mean less complicated than Dean?" said Jack.
"Yes." said Castiel. For a moment, Jack thought he should have steered the conversation to another subject, but then the angel smiled. "I'm not saying complicated is bad. Without Dean, I'd be nothing. Dean and the two of you are the best things that ever happened to me. I know I sometimes seem ungrateful ... "
"No," said Sam, "You never do. This family is a complex web of love and pain and mistakes, but I've never doubted that you are at the heart of it. I've never felt you weren't one of us, probably the best of us."
"A poor fourth." said Castiel, "Fifth, now Mary is back."
"That's not how any of us see you." said Jack.
"It's definitely not how Dean sees you." said Sam, "But you know that, because he showed you."
"He did." said Castiel.
"What was that like?" said Jack, hoping it wasn't the wrong thing to say.
"Strange and humbling and surprising." said Castiel, "Dean really loves me. All the things I've put him through, and he loves me."
"We all do." said Sam, "Tomorrow, you'll see. Everyone's been trying to find the perfect present for you."
"I've told them all I expect nothing."
"Yeah and none of them took any notice." said Jack, "You matter too much. They need to show you how they feel."
"I hope I react appropriately." said Castiel.
"They're your friends." said Sam, "You don't have to be appropriate. They know you're sincere."
"If I say anything stupid, you'll translate it to human for me?" said Castiel.
"Nothing you say is ever stupid." said Jack.
"Dean thinks otherwise."
"No he doesn't." said Sam, "Dean just uses the word 'stupid' to mean a lot of things. Sometimes it just means you said something that goes straight to the heart. What it never means, ever, is that you or your feelings are stupid."
"He has said I am stupid." said Castiel.
"It's Dean. He says dumb crap all the time. Even he doesn't listen, so you certainly shouldn't." said Sam.
Jack saw a faint smile on Castiel's lips and he knew that Sam had said exactly the right thing. He also knew what he needed to say, what both of them needed to hear. "I love you all." he said, "I'm so glad we have each other."
Castiel put a hand on his shoulder and said, "We love you too, Jack. We always will."
Jack didn't miss the significance of that one statement about the future. The only thing Castiel truly believed of the future was that Jack would always matter to all of them. He smiled, looking into the eyes of his first chosen father.