Chapter 31.

It was a tense little group that gathered at the Impala. Sam tried to keep things as easy as possible, directing Cas and Jack to get into the back and where possible, keeping Dean's attention on him. as he loaded up kindling, food and a cooler full of beer.

Dean was trying not to be irritable, but failing. That was okay. He could be as difficult as he liked with Sam, as long as he was more successful in his efforts to be good to the others.

Cas was distant. Jules had been unhappy with the idea of him going off with them, but she understood that something needed to be done and she had agreed, making it very clear that if he came back in a worse state than he left, she would blame Sam. Sam had assured her that he would blame himself.

In the car, Cas was staring out of the window as if admiring a view that wasn't there yet. He had been offended by the fact that Jules assumed he needed protection or consideration, but he was also clearly afraid and trying not to look it. If Sam had asked him to cut his own throat for Dean's sake, he wouldn't even have hesitated, but asking him to spend an evening with them when Dean might be cold or angry towards him was too much. Sam couldn't kick the feeling that he was making a big mistake, but he had several ideas to make the situation more conducive to progress.

Jack, tender-hearted creature that he was, was looking at each of them with concern for their well-being. He was the one at greatest physical risk. Dean could kill him without breaking a sweat. Yet he seemed untroubled about himself. He just wanted his family to be happy again.

"Who's driving?" said Dean, waving the keys at Sam.

"You are." said Sam, "Unless you're too tired." Not being the driver never helped Dean to relax and having the road to think about would hopefully keep him from those intrusive thoughts about angels and why he hated them.

They joined the other two in the car. Dean looked back at the celestial passengers and said, "Jack, you okay?"

"Yes!" said Jack, "Can I help with the campfire?"

"Of course you can." said Dean, "Vital survival skill."

Sam was relieved to see genuine warmth in his glance, but then, it was easier for him to forget Jack's nature, when he had none of his original powers and posed no possible threat.

When Dean looked at Cas, the tension in the car increased. Sam realised he was holding his breath as he waited to hear what Dean would say and how Cas would react. "Cas," he said and when Cas neither looked at him nor responded, "Cas?"

Cas turned from the window and looked into his eyes. "Yes?" he said.

"Thanks for coming."

Cas nodded an acknowledgement.

Dean looked from Cas to Jack. "Is there something I don't know? Has Jack been telling tales?"

"No." said Sam quickly, before Cas could get angry at the accusation, "Jack refuses to say anything, but he's not so great a liar we don't know something happened."

"Great!" said Dean, "Thanks, Jack."

"Jack lied to me for you!" said Cas.

"Well, this is gonna be a fun night." said Dean.

Sam got out of the car. "Dean, a word."

Dean got out too. They walked a short distance from the car. "What?" he said.

"You know what. You're tired, you're paranoid and you're already getting angry. You wanna tell me what happened with Jack?"

"Let's call this off." said Dean.

"We all know something happened, so let's just get it out in the open. How bad was it?"

"Bad, okay?" said Dean, "I yelled at the kid. I got angry because he was touching my car. I threatened to drive over him at one point. I lost control, because all I could see was the spawn of Lucifer, tampering with my Baby."

"Cleaning it. He's cleaned it every week since you went away."

"Yeah, I know. We can't do this, Sam. I can't do this. I can't pretend everything's fine."

"Just pretend we're on a roadtrip with Dad." said Sam.

"I'm not joking."

"Neither am I. You were always the peacekeeper. You always put family first."

"I'm out of my mind." said Dean, "I'm a liability. I'm a danger to both of them.

"Away from the bunker, just the four of us and a fire, things may be easier. You may think a little clearer."

"Or I may lose what's left of my self-control."

"Do you trust me, Dean?" said Sam.

"You are the only one here I trust."

"Okay, then get in the car."

They both did. Sam looked into the back seat and said, "Ground rules. Any time Cas wants to leave, I'm bringing him back here. I promised Jules. Any time anyone gets angry or feels any urge to aggressive action, I want that person to just walk off alone for a few minutes to regain control."

"You mean me." said Dean.

"He means any of us." said Cas.

Sam went on, "We've all been through a lot together. I believe that our friendships ... our brotherhood, have more power than this Michael mess. I believe in us. I believe in each one of you. I am the one person here who can think rationally at this point and I am saying this can work. Whatever happens tonight, whatever angry thoughts come to mind, I want you to remember the way things were before Michael got in the way. Dean, you are stronger than this thing. Cas, you know this friendship is worth fighting for."

"Just don't ask us to shake hands." said Dean.

"No, I won't ask that yet." said Sam.

"Leaving me with Jack if you have to take Cas home would be a bit of a gamble." said Dean, "Like that puzzle Bobby made us do, crossing a river with a goose, some corn and ... "

"Are you saying I can't trust you with Jack?"

"I'm saying I don't trust me with Jack." said Dean.

"Well, then maybe don't make Cas so uncomfortable he wants to go home early." said Sam.

"You know, that could seem manipulative, to a paranoid mind." said Dean.

"Couldn't anything?" said Sam.

"Touché!"