Chapter 1.

"You're supposed to be in bed." said Castiel, looking up from his book as Jack came into the library.

Jack turned to leave.

"Not a command." said Cas, "A concern. Come here." He put his book aside to give Jack his full attention.

Jack sat opposite him. "No need for concern. I just don't need much sleep. I stay in my room a lot longer than I have to, because I know it makes people uneasy when I make the differences between us too obvious, but at this time of night, there's usually only you and the Winchesters still awake, so I thought it was okay."

"It's always okay." said Cas, "And don't worry about hiding your nature from anyone here. They all owe their lives to it."

"That doesn't seem to make them feel any better about it." said Jack.

"Has anyone said anything?" said Cas, already beginning to get angry with the hypothetical bigot. He was aware of a certain lack of affection for angels and he accepted the looks he got from some of their guests, but he would never tolerate any unkindness to Jack.

"No." said Jack, "It's just something I feel."

Cas smiled. "Perhaps you just feel out of place here. Perhaps they don't harbour any bad thoughts about you at all."

"I just want to fit in." said Jack.

"I know that feeling." said Cas, "But, much as I love our new friends, remember that you will always fit in with us and our old ones. You're just Jack to us."

"I like them all." said Jack, "I just feel like some of them watch me a little too much. Remember when Dean thought I was a monster? He watched me the same way."

"Before you came along, I thought nephilim were abominations." said Cas, "We all make mistakes in ignorance."

"Now you don't see an abomination? Not even sometimes?" said Jack.

"Never, now. Now, I just see my son."

Jack smiled. "I know you've done more for me than anyone." he said, "Nobody ever had a better father."

"Nobody ever deserved more than you." said Cas.

Sam came in with his laptop. "Sorry," he said, "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"Do you have a good reason for not sleeping tonight?" said Cas.

Sam put the laptop down on a table. "Yeah, two teams of hunters out and active. I'm just waiting to hear both teams are safe and successful."

"Well, as one team is Mary and Dean, I think we can be almost sure." said Cas, "But if you're going to be awake anyway, be awake with us. We like company, don't we, Jack?"

"We do." said Jack, "I'll make some coffee." He got up.

"You don't have to do that." said Sam.

"I like to do it." said Jack, heading to the kitchen.

"I really hope he doesn't think he has to be useful." said Sam.

"It's more that he likes the fact that he can be." said Cas, "Jack is feeling a little out of place right now. He just needs some family time."

"He's okay, though?" said Sam.

"Yes, just a kid, working out what his place in the world might be."

"That's a kid with a lot of complications."

"It isn't easy, being a Winchester." said Cas.

"I meant the nephilim stuff."

"That's only a problem to other people." said Cas, "He worries that they don't trust him because of it."

"The others or us?" said Sam.

"The others."

"You want me to talk to them?"

"No, it might not be a real problem. Let's not put it into their heads if it isn't already there."

Sam's phone rang. He answered it, "Dean, I'm putting you on speaker. Cas is here. How's the hunt going?"

"Lone vamp, which is weird in itself. But it's also a dumb lone vamp, who has left too clear a trail. Didn't Jules mention something similar?"

"Yes, she did." said Sam, "It's becoming a pattern. Vampires are changing their behaviour, becoming less connected, leaving newly made vampires to figure things out for themselves."

"Makes sense," said Dean, "When it was their interconnected nests that allowed the Men of Letters to almost wipe them out. They're trying to eliminate that weakness and build their numbers as fast as they can."

"Is the vampire dead?"

"He will be, by dawn." said Dean, "We'll call when it's done. We're heading to the beheading now. Just wanted to keep you in the loop."

"Thanks." said Sam.

"Hey, Cas," said Dean, "We need to give Jack some angel blade training. Maybe when I get back, we could start on that."

"I think he'd like that." said Cas.

"He should have an angel blade. I'm guessing there's no nephilim blade."

"No, Heaven's approach to nephilim was to kill them as quickly as possible, not to arm them." said Cas.

"Well, we have a spare blade and I think he'll figure it out fast." said Dean.

Jack came in with the coffee. "What did he say about a blade?" he said.

"Dean thinks it's time you had an angel blade." said Sam.

Jack's eyes widened. "That's great!" he said.

"Lots of work involved. Lots of training." said Dean.

"Yes." said Jack, "I can do that."

"I know you can, kid. That's why I think it's time." said Dean.

Distantly, they heard Mary say, "Dean, phone down, mind on the job. Or I'm driving."

"Gotta go!" he said.

Jack was grinning. So was Sam.

"Never thought I'd see Dean take orders from anyone after Dad died." said Sam.

"He doesn't seem to mind taking orders from Mary." said Jack.

"He waited a long time for that." said Sam.

"He really doesn't like letting her drive, though." said Jack.

"He never likes letting anyone else drive his Baby." said Sam, "Not even Mom."

"Having seen how she drives," said Cas, "I think he may be wise not to let her."

"She drives like he does." said Sam.

"Exactly."