Chapter 80.
"I should go home." said Sarah, squeezing Dean's hand before letting it go.
"I'll drive you home." said Bobby, "See you out there. I'll just get my wheels."
"Walk me out there, boys?" said Sarah.
They all went with her, Jules and Mary with them. Outside, each of them hugged and kissed Sarah, before Dean opened the car door for her and Sam helped her in. Cas leaned in to say, "Thanks for the party, Sarah. It was wonderful."
Jack took his place, quickly, to kiss her fondly on the cheek.
"We'll sort out all the stuff tomorrow." said Sam, "And hopefully, you can take Dean away with you."
"Dean needs to think about that and check some stuff." said Dean, with a glance at Cas.
They waved Sarah off. Mary and Jules began to gather bits and pieces and put them into the garage, leaving the large grills for Mark, Jack and Paul to deal with later.
"What stuff?" said Cas to Dean.
Dean sighed. "I was gonna deal with this tomorrow."
"Now is better." said Cas.
"I need the truth, Cas, "Not what you think you should say or what someone has told you to say."
"Well, that should be easy," said Cas, "Nobody has told me to say anything. I often wish they would. There are times when a script would be useful." He glanced at Jules, then returned his attention to Dean.
"Do you need me here?" said Dean, "There's so much going on for you right now and I know you may need me around."
"I always need you here." said Cas.
"Right, I'll tell Sarah tomorrow that I can't go to the farm right now."
"Why not?" said Cas.
"You want me to stay here."
"I don't." said Cas.
"You just said you did." said Dean.
"No, I said I need you here. I do. I always will, but you need to be there, with Sarah and I need you to do that."
"Screw what I need. I have responsibilities."
"So do I. I have a responsibility not to stop you from getting Sarah's help, which you need, by the way and which could transform your whole life."
"Cas, you said you need me, so that trumps anything I might need."
"I have enough regrets to live with." said Cas, "Don't make me be the reason why you don't get healed."
"Not everything can be healed." said Dean.
"You hear that? That's you making excuses not to try. It's my birthday. Don't make me into an excuse."
"I don't wanna leave you here, unsupported, with ... " he tried not to look at Jules, "With everything that's been happening."
"I think I'll be fine. Maybe, I'll even come with you. It's only for a few days. Maybe you need support. Maybe it's time you stopped pushing friends away at times like this."
"That's not what I'm trying to do."
"Good. So, tomorrow, you go to the farm and you devote all your time and effort to making some real changes and healing some of those wounds even an angel can't fix."
"And what about you?"
"Tomorrow, I have things to do, but after that, I might go to the farm. I promise, if you need me out of the way, I can just go watch the bees. You'll barely know I'm there."
"What about you and Jules?"
"I'm not sure there is a me and Jules." said Cas, "If it's just friendship, a few days apart won't damage it. If it's something else, she needs time to think it through."
"Don't talk like that, as if you're a mistake."
"You're telling me she can't do better?" said Cas.
"You're telling me our multilingual genius doesn't know what she wants?"
"I'm telling you I need to know that she won't regret any involvement with me."
"It's not supposed to be this complicated." said Dean in exasperation, "Why are you afraid to have or want anything good?" He realised he was sounding like Sarah.
"Sorry." he said, "I just want you to be happy."
"Then get better, Dean. Seeing you happy is the best way for me to become so."
"You deserve more. Give this thing with Jules a chance."
"Give this thing with Jules some space." said Cas, "I'm not clear-headed around her."
"That's because love screws you up."
"And you're advocating it?" said Cas.
"Yeah, I am, for you."
"But you won't ever risk it?"
"No, not again, but I don't regret that I once did."
"With Lisa?"
"No, with Cassie. Long before your time."
"I've literally been around since the beginning." said Cas.
"I mean your time with us, dumbass."
"Jerk." said Cas.
"Yeah. Look, just don't run away from happiness and definitely not because you think you don't deserve it, because nobody deserves it more."
"Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?" said Cas.
"I need you to, but I don't want you to." said Dean.
"Is that yes or no?"
"See how hard it is to work out?" said Dean, "See how things go with Jules. You may have good reasons not to leave the bunker."
He watched Cas walk back to the open garage entrance. Jules went with him. She took his hands and said, "It was a great party."
"Yes." he said.
She moved closer and said, "Hey, Cas."
"What?" he said.
She kissed him, a simple, very innocent kiss that seemed to stun him completely.
"Happy birthday." she said and then she walked away, giving a little wave before disappearing into the garage.
"Tell me you got that she likes you now." said Dean, going over.
Cas looked at him, looking oddly intoxicated. "The evidence is building." he said.
"Are you gonna go after her?" said Dean.
"No." said Cas, "I don't think so. It's been a wonderful night so far. A perfect ending shouldn't be tampered with."
The End.
Next Story: Better Together.