13 - Relationships

When Jimmy showed up at the kitchen table for breakfast the next morning sans his splint, Dean, Sam, and Bobby did their best to out-shout each other. Jimmy simply took it, sitting unhappily and quietly eating while he waited for them to shout themselves out. It was only then that they finally realized he was fully moving his arm, even twisting his badly sprained wrist without pain.

Maybe Sam was right about Dean being just a little over-enthusiastic about kissing his boyfriend at the breakfast table to celebrate, but Dean couldn't be bothered to care.

Dean was all for getting an x-ray of Jimmy's wing, hoping that perhaps the cast could come off, too. After ten minutes of Bobby and Sam calmly explaining that broken bones heal at a much slower rate than a sprain, Dean finally relented, reluctantly agreeing that Jimmy needed to be seen at a clinic, but only to make sure that his wrist had healed properly.

Dean rushed his boyfriend to the clinic, waited impatiently until they could be seen, and scowled at everyone who pointed or stared. "Yes, he's got wings!" he finally snapped. "And you've all got asses, and right now your heads are jammed up them pretty far. Read a magazine or watch the TV!"

He felt good about the fact that everyone immediately looked away. Then he noticed the frown being directed at him from the next chair and cringed. "What? They're being douchebags!"

The frown lingered, followed by a head shake before Jimmy's disapproving eyes returned to the magazine. Dean felt he was being seriously hard done by.

At least the visit was uneventful. The clinic doctor expressed surprise at how quickly and completely Jimmy's arm had healed, considering the severity of his sprain. She was also surprisingly cool about the fact that her patient appeared to have wings, but was just as willing as everyone else to accept the mutation story. She admitted that this kind of mutation was far beyond her limited expertise. But she was also quick to say that a broken bone, with a break as bad as what she was seeing on Jimmy's x-rays from the disc Dean had brought along? Well, that would naturally take some time to heal, especially since there was no way to properly cast it. Even so, the doctor who had initially treated such a bad injury had done an incredible job. What had Dean said the doctor's name was again?

Dean managed to blow that question off by saying it was another clinic they'd visited as they'd passed through. He got a prescription for non-narcotic pain meds for Jimmy that wouldn't make him so drowsy and they were on their way to the drug store. Keeping one eye on his curious boyfriend as he poked around the items in the pharmacy, Dean filled the prescription. He also managed to slip a pack of condoms and some lube into his purchases. Keeping them out of Jimmy's sight, he pushed them across the counter with a wink. This earned him a slight smile and nod of approval from the clerk, who rang him up and quickly bagged the items. Mission successful, Dean pried Jimmy away from his intent inspection of the bee products in the nutrition aisle and into his favorite watering hole to celebrate.

The plate glass window, Dean noted with approval, had been replaced since he'd thrown someone through it last time he was here. Dean had been informed that if he set foot in the bar before the glass was repaired (courtesy of Dean's check), he'd be hopping out with a ball bat shoved up his ass. Even now, the bartender was giving him the hairy eyeball as Dean entered the bar with Jimmy. "Break so much as wind, Dean Winchester," she told him, "and I'll have your nuts for ash trays."

"Missed you, too, Ellen," Dean called cheerfully. "How's Jo?"

"Still mad. Don't sit in her section because she'll probably spit in your food."

"I'll keep that in mind." Seeing Jimmy tense at this, Dean rolled his eyes, took Jimmy's hand, and led him to the bar. "Have you met my boyfriend? Jimmy, this is Ellen Harvelle. Ellen, Jimmy Novak."

"Boyfriend, you said?" Ellen's face dissolved into a rare friendly smile. "Someone finally landed this fool? Well well! That's about the best news I've heard all day long. Jimmy, sit down, friend, and have a drink on the house." She tilted her head back to yell into the back. "Joanna Beth! Get out here, there's someone you need to meet!"

Jo quickly came out. Dean was pleased to see that, beyond a widening of her eyes at the sight of the great black wings, Jo didn't react except to smile at Jimmy. "Jimmy, right?" she called. "I've been hearing about you."

"Jo, Jimmy here is Dean's boyfriend," Ellen explained smugly.

"Boyfriend?!" Jo's eyes widened comically. "What did he do, Jimmy, hit you over the head?"

"Well, I do have a head injury, yes. Two, in fact."

"Oh, shut up, Jo!" Dean groused, putting an arm around his boyfriend's waist as the younger girl snickered. "Jimmy and I have a good thing."

"I say it's about damned time," Ellen declared. "Maybe having someone to anchor him will finally settle Dean's ass down. God knows nothing else has worked. Jimmy, what's your drink?"

Jimmy squinted at her before indicating the empty bar in front of him. "I don't currently have a drink."

"We'll have a couple of beers," Dean chuckled. He pulled his boyfriend in for a kiss, which brought a smile to Jimmy's face. "Go sit down over… Where's your section, Jo? We'll be avoiding it."

"Oh, don't worry," Jo scoffed. She took Jimmy by the arm and led him to a table, placing a menu in his hand. "I'll take good care of Jimmy."

"It's not Jimmy I'm worried about," Dean grumbled, cautiously approaching the table. He eyed Jo. "You're not still upset I defended your honor, are you?"

"When I need my honor defended, Winchester?" Jo declared. "I'll gift wrap it and hand it to you. I still cannot believe you fought Dennis and his idiot friends, threw one of them out the window, and got yourself arrested again just because he called me a stupid whore."

Dean shrugged. "He had it coming."

"He sure did, and I was about to give it to him," Jo retorted, giving Dean a look that could kill. "Why do you always have to get involved in my business? You know damned well I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, I do. And I'm still going to bust the head of anyone who calls you that." Dean hooked an arm around Jo and gave her a gentle kiss on the head before taking his seat. "Jo here's been under the protection of the Winchester brothers since we were kids, no matter how much she protested. She's practically my little sister, Jimmy."

"More than you know!" Jo leaned closer, her eyes twinkling as she lowered her voice for a juicy bit of gossip. "You'll never guess who mom's been dating!"

Dean stared blankly at her. Then his eyes widened as it hit him. He turned, gaping at Ellen, who was once again scowling as she scrubbed at the bar. "Ellen! You and Bobby?! Is that where he's been running off to?"

"Yeah, what about it?" Ellen growled. "Ain't hardly any business of yours, Dean Winchester! Joanna Beth, if you have this much time on your hands, why don't you use it to wash up some glasses? Why are the dishes so backed up anyway? Where the hell is Ash? Ash! You better not be smoking weed back there again!" Still yelling, she went stomping into the back to yell at her other long-time employee.

Jo huffed dramatically. "You want your usual, I assume, Dean. Jimmy, do you know what you want to order?"

Jimmy had turned his chair around backwards to accommodate his wings and was studying the menu. He shrugged. "I'm fine with whatever Dean has, thank you."

"Well!" Jo beamed. "Cute and polite! You obviously have a head injury if you're seriously dating this jackass."

Dean snatched the laminated menu from Jimmy's hands and swatted at her rear with it. She laughed and scurried off, ducking under her mother's withering glower as Ellen returned to the bar.

"Jo may be practically your sister, but your relationship with her seems far more adversarial than the one you have with Sam," Jimmy noted.

Dean chuckled. "Yeah, but she knows I love her. Hell, I've busted more than one head for her. Most people know by now that the Winchester brothers will go gunning for anyone who so much as says boo at her. I'd go to Hell for that girl."

"It would seem she fails to appreciate your efforts." Jimmy had picked up the menu again and was frowning at it.

"You know you can order something else?" Dean suggested. "You don't have to have what I do."

"I can't taste it," Jimmy reminded absently. "I'm simply curious about what they serve. Perhaps next time we come here, I'll have something else."

Dean smiled fondly at him. "I'm really glad you're getting better," he offered. "Even if, you know, you never get your full mojo back."

Blue eyes regarded him over the menu. "My mojo, as you call it, doesn't exist, Dean. We've had this conversation."

"And yet you can't taste food," Dean pointed out smugly.

"Yes, and it's very unfortunate, considering how much you obviously enjoy eating." The eyes had gone back to the menu.

"Anyway, I don't really want to discuss your mojo anyway." Dean paused while Jo brought them each a glass of ice water. He took a sip, then played a bit with the ice in the glass using his straw. "I have an apartment here in town. When I'm here, I don't like imposing on Bobby too much."

"Bobby doesn't appear to mind," Jimmy pointed out, still studying the menu.

"Bobby raised us since our dad drank himself to death when I was ten," Dean explained. "Our mother died when I was four and dad never recovered. We bounced from town to town, living out of motels or the Impala. When dad finally died, Bobby was the only one I could think to call. Bobby was a detective dad used to work with, the one who usually bailed our dad out of jail and cared for us until he was sober enough to take us again. Bobby tried hard to get dad to leave us with him long ago, but dad wouldn't let us go."

Jimmy had looked up during the narrative. "I'm sorry."

Dean shrugged. "I was ok. Somehow, we never ended up hurt when dad ran off the road or got into fights. Guess I had an angel on my shoulder, huh?"

Jimmy eyed him for a moment before his eyes returned to the menu.

Dean cleared his throat. "Anyway, I was talking about my apartment. I'm thinking it's time I went back to it. Of course, until Bobby and Sammy decide I'm not going to self-destruct, I doubt they'll let me out of their sight too long. But I was thinking maybe we'd stop by, see what we need to make it fit for two?"

That made Jimmy put his menu down. He tilted his head to one side, squinting at Dean. "Why would you need to make your apartment fit for two?"

"Because there's two of us." Dean reached out, threading his fingers through his boyfriend's. "I'm asking you to move in with me, Jimmy."

Jimmy tilted his head in the other direction, as though comparing the view from a new angle. His eyes widened. "This is a significant step for you."

"Yeah, it is." Dean took another sip of water, needing moisture in his suddenly dry mouth. "I want us to be together, ok? I'm crazy about you, straight-up crazy. As in, I literally cannot imagine my life without you in it. I want you to live with me, see just how far this goes."

"Ah. And this arrangement usually involves sex, doesn't it?"

Dean choked on an oxygen molecule, requiring another drink to clear his throat. "Would, um, that be something that, you know, you'd be interested in?"

"With you?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "No, with three Mexican wrestlers! Of course with me, dammit, I'm not sharing you with anyone."

Jimmy sat up straight. "I would be interested."

"You would?" Dean suddenly felt shy.

"Yes. I think I would like that very much."

Fingers had tightened on his own. Dean looked hopefully at his boyfriend. "So you'll move in with me?"

Jimmy smiled. "Of course."

Dean felt as though his heart might burst. But then a shadow seemed to pass before Jimmy's eyes. "What is it?"

Jimmy shook his head. "I want to be with you, Dean, more than you can imagine. This is… I've never wanted anything so badly for myself. I wish I could just be Jimmy Novak and stay with you, see where our lives take us. But with my past, who I was before now? I suspect that sooner or later, I'll have to pay for my sins. And I can't hide easily." He shifted his wings for emphasis, leaning dejectedly forward against the back of his chair.

"That so?" Dean studied his boyfriend. "That's what you meant, isn't it, when you said we had so little time together. You think someone is going to come after you?"

For a moment, Jimmy looked like he was going to argue. But then he sighed and nodded. "I didn't want to worry you, but I think it's more than possible. Sam suggested that I had a partner, someone who was giving me orders that I can't quite remember. If that's the case, then he won't let me go forever. He'll come for me, Dean."

Dean couldn't help but glance up. The idea that the other angels might decide enough was enough and drag Castiel back to Heaven had already crossed his mind. But now, hearing that Jimmy the human might be in just as much danger filled Dean with dread. It was confusing. Even with his feelings for Jimmy, the so-called ordinary man, Dean could never forget his powerful angel.

That was another problem. As a human, Jimmy was obviously capable of having feelings for him, maybe even a future together. But what about Castiel? If Jimmy healed, would he revert back to being Castiel, the invisible presence Dean constantly sensed but never saw?

The idea was terrifying. No matter who or what his boyfriend really was, there was a chance Dean could lose him.

Jimmy, it seemed, was lost in his own dark thoughts. He'd rested his chin on his arm on the back of the chair, his eyes on their clasped hands as they rested on the table. When Dean squeezed his fingers, he looked up.

"What can we do?" Dean asked softly. "Tell me how I can protect you."

Jimmy shook his head. "This isn't your fight, Dean, not any more than Jo's issues are your fight. You need to stop trying to fight everyone's battles for them."

"If there's any chance that anything could take you away from me? It's my fight." He brought his boyfriend's hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles. "I'm not letting you go."

Fortunately, Jo broke the moment by bringing them their food. They ate in silence, communicating primarily with long looks. But by the time they'd finished, Dean had made up his mind. "Come on," he urged, leaving some money for Jo on the table. "I want to teach you something."

Dean was well acquainted with the old billiard tables in Harvelle's bar. Unfortunately, most of the locals were just as well acquainted with him. He rarely found someone to hustle at Harvelle's anymore, but the tables were still a great place to keep his skills up. "Come here," he instructed once he'd set up the table. "I'm going to teach you how to play."

Jimmy caught on to the gist of the game easy enough, although he was extremely clumsy with the pool cue. It didn't help that his wings somewhat got in the way, even when Jimmy tried to hold them back. Dean didn't care. He praised his boyfriend every time he sank a ball and encouraged him to try again when a shot went bad. Jimmy, it was clear, would never make a pool shark. But he seemed to enjoy the game.

"Let's try something else," Dean encouraged, relinquishing the table to the next player. "You any good at shooting?"

"I don't believe I've ever held a gun."

"Seriously? Ok, tomorrow you and I are going out in the back of Bobby's scrapyard and doing some shooting." He paused, seeing that Jimmy's eyes had lingered on the dart board. "You throw darts?"

"I've never tried it before." Jimmy was watching the end of a game with obvious interest. "The object is to throw the darts into the center of the board?"

"The center of the board is for suckers, honestly," Dean explained. "You'd only go for that if you're seriously good. The object is to score the most points." Dean explained the scoring system, moving up to wait the finish of the game.

Jimmy listened intently, nodding to indicate he understood. When the other players finished, he accepted the darts and prepared to throw.

Dean moved to stand behind him. "Ok, buddy, here's how this works. You need to… Whoa!"

In rapid succession, Jimmy had thrown his darts to sink into the very center of the dart board. A hush had fallen around the board, which was quickly broken by a chorus of cheering and clapping. Dean, stunned, shook his head as Jimmy collected the darts. He waved at the board. "Ok, forget the game. Let's see you do that again."

Jimmy did it again. He accepted Dean's darts, landing each one dead center of any point Dean called. A crowd had gathered. Soon, Jimmy was being encouraged to move back. Bets were being made. Over and over, the darts sailed through the air, landing perfectly on target. By the time Jimmy was standing at the far wall with everyone cleared out of his way, Dean was practically bouncing on his toes with excitement. He'd emptied his wallet on the bar, betting everything he had on his boyfriend's skill. Jimmy didn't seem to notice. His face was set in concentration, darts in hand. An extremely foolish man had used another dart to pin his wedding ring to the board, centered directly over the bullseye. Dean did not want to be around when his wife found out her drunk of a husband had just bet his wedding ring on a dart game, especially when the dart landed directly in the center of it from the other side of the bar.

Dean considered giving the ring back, but figured a lesson needed learned. He'd get it back to Ellen to return to his wife after the poor woman had her chance to fully express her thoughts on the subject.