Chapter 70.

As soon as they arrived at Sioux Falls, Bobby came in from the kitchen. He gave Dean the same gruff look of welcome he'd always given him and he said, "It's about time you paid me a visit. I've been back a while."

"I figured you had your hands full, with Meg and Crowley."

"Yeah, don't get me started." said Bobby. He came closer. "Considering how well things are going, you look rough, kid." he said.

"Not a kid anymore." said Dean.

"Well, you always will be to me." said Bobby. He looked at Cas. "Cas, they're arguing about who gets to order Samandriel about. You may wanna say something. They're out back."

"Where's Samandriel?" said Cas.

"Meg sent him out with a list. He will not say no to her. She told him not to use his wings because apparently, that's cheating."

Cas sighed. "I keep hoping everyone will get along."

"Demons." said Dean.

"But Meg and I are friends and Crowley and I are ... able to work together. They both respect Bobby."

"Not sure I'd call it respect." said Bobby, "And I can't get them to work together today."

"I'll see what I can do." said Cas. He turned to Dean, "Excuse me."

"Yeah." said Dean. When Cas had gone outside, he said, "Any chance of a beer?"

"Help yourself." said Bobby, "This place. being a mental construct and all, has some of the best beers I've ever tasted."

Dean went to the refrigerator and finding his favourite, from the little Austin brewery, took and opened a bottle. "I would've come sooner." he said.

"You've been busy. Sam's wedding, for a start."

"No excuse." said Dean.

"Well, you don't need an excuse around here. And don't look so worried. I know better than to start asking about your feelings."

"Good."

"Plus, I don't really need to ask, do I? The better things get, the more you're gonna stress, because the stakes are higher and you don't know how to let go." He saw the look on Dean's face and said, "Don't worry. I didn't turn psychic while I was away. It was the same for me, that's all. When it all hits the fan, I'm fine and dandy. Cool in a crisis? You bet! When things get good ... "

"You're just waiting for the gut punch." said Dean, "Because nothing ever stays good for long."

"Exactly." said Bobby.

"So how do you do it?" said Dean, "How do you let go?"

"Do you think I know?" said Bobby, "You don't think, if I knew that, I'd be enjoying my eternal reward right now?"

"Good point."

"I only make good points." He gestured to the other room. Dean followed him in there. He took the couch. Bobby sat at his desk. "You've been looking out for that kid since the day he was born. Of course you can't just switch that off. Cas too. He gave up Heaven to help us and even now he has it back, you feel like you owe him. And your daddy didn't help, always making you feel like everything was your responsibility."

"Turned out, it was."

Bobby chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it did."

Dean drank some of his beer. "That's good stuff."

"We live pretty well here. Makes up for all the demon drama."

"You think I should go and try to help?"

"No, it's nothing. They bat that angel kid around like a table tennis ball, but it's all just to get attention from him."

"From Cas?" said Dean.

"It's like a third grade classroom in here sometimes. Best just to let him give them a little attention and then they'll settle down until next time. They actually work well, when they decide to work."

"I think if he separated them, they might do better."

"So, which one are you volunteering to take into the bunker?"

Dean grinned. "Not gonna happen. We're full."

"He's come a long way, our angel." said Bobby, "When I ... " He must have seen Dean flinch and he didn't finish the sentence. "Before now," he said instead, "He seemed so awkward and lost. Now, he walks in here like a five star general."

"It's about time. Since then, he's been our MVP."

"Meaning I was before?" said Bobby.

"You gonna argue that with me?" said Dean. There was no response, so he continued, "I think it's the fact that Jules and Jack believe in him. There's also Sarah. She understands psychology, even his. She has a way of just cutting through the crap and making him understand stuff. He's changed a lot and only for the better in the time he's known her."

"Any chance of her working that magic on you?" said Bobby.

"I think I'm beyond help, don't you, Bobby?" said Dean.

"There were times I'd have said the same about him." he said "That Jules is quite a lady."

"Quite a hunter too." said Dean.

"Yeah, we've talked over some of her bright ideas, like mixing sugar and salt so fairies have to sort 'em before they can count 'em. She's good and when she's with him, he has so much confidence."

"Yeah, I could never instil any. All I ever seemed to do was beat him down."

Bobby looked at him with troubled, too-perceptive eyes.

"Don't, okay?" said Dean, "I already have Cas and Sam treating me like I'm fragile."

"I wonder why the two people who know you best think something's wrong." said Bobby.

"Maybe they're waiting for the bad stuff too."

"Maybe." said Bobby, with a shrug.

"Sam wants me to pick the music for his wedding. How am I supposed to pick for him?"

"What would you pick for yourself?"

"Sam isn't me. He's very different." said Dean.

"So, what would be meaningful to him? Nobody knows him better than you do."

"True." said Dean.

"You know, Sheriff Mills has been here a couple of times. She texts first, make sure Crowley's not around. It's been good, seeing her again. She's not thrown by the whole death thing."

"Jody Mills isn't thrown by anything." said Dean.

"And she's training the hunters of the future, I hear."

"And doing a great job."

"On the subject of which, I'm not hearing much about your new angel."

"Not mine. Just passing through." said Dean.

"Cas is not very forthcoming about her. He can't even give a good description. He says all humans look alike to him and I wouldn't be able to visualise her angelic form."

"You'll see her at the wedding."

"Is she attractive?"

"Her vessel is."

"That means she's very attractive, but she's pissed you off."

"Something like that."

"What happened?"

"She tried to kill us."

"Everyone and his mother has tried to kill you."

"It's not even that. Anael is very much an angel. She doesn't get jokes."

"Your jokes or any jokes?"

"Any." said Dean, mildly wounded by the question, "She's on a constant disconnect with all of us and she's overly literal and socially inept and ... I just don't like angels, okay?"

"She sounds just like Cas when we first got him."

"You make him sound like a puppy."

"Yeah and we trained him and taught him not to chew slippers and poop on the rug and he turned out fine. You might wanna give the new angel the same time and guidance."

"Did Cas tell you she wants to be human?"

"Can your buddy Jack do that?"

"No, of course not."

"Shame. Seems like an elegant solution to everyone's problems."

"Yeah, well, it's not. Look, there really are no problems. I find her a little irritating, she finds me arrogant. We work around it."

"If you get tired of doing that, we could always take her here. A third angel might settle the demon issues once and for all." aid Bobby.

"I'll bear it in mind." said Dean, though it felt like a bad idea.