Chapter 7:

The trip to Erconsky was smothering. John was still in whatever daze he had fallen into while Mary was still upset if the slightly pinched expression on her face was any indication. Dean suppressed another shudder. Just what exactly had he missed that everyone else had picked up from that revolting murder scene? He shook his head and took a deep breath. The tension in the car was suffocating him. How was Sammy able to be that carefree when he couldn't even breathe properly, as though someone forgot their pet elephant on his chest and didn't come back for it? The bitch was actually humming some peppy song. Was that Barbie World? Why is that moron humming Barbie World of all things? Calm down Dean, calm down. Sure, your Dad's catatonic, Mom's most probably pissed off at something [most probably at Dad by the look of things], Sam's too cheerful today and Cas was dating someone but that doesn't mean the world is ending, now does it? We stopped the bloody apocalypse remember? And since when is Cas actually dating someone? That angel looked terrified that time I took him to that brothel. How does someone like that start dating a woman, an actual flesh and blood woman? It looked like Sam knew about it and he never bothered to tell me? Wait a minute! Why am I so bothered by the fact that Cas was dating someone? It's none of my business! But then why did he look like he would rather be elsewhere than deal with me when he showed up? He looked rather happy to meet Mom and chat with Sam, whom he had called an abomination when he had first appeared on the scene. Wait a second! Why am I so bothered about Cas? Uh, I'm starting to sound like a teenage girl in love. Nope, no, no, no, and no! I am not in love with Cas! He's a guy, for God's sake! And I'm straight! What is wrong with me?!

Sam suddenly started cackling, not laughing, not chuckling, but outright cackling all of a sudden. Dean was so startled by the sudden sound that he accidently swerved the car. It took a few terrifying moments and a good deal of swearing from Dean's part to gain back the control of the Impala. He pulled the car towards a side and once they were safe and away from a nasty death, he swivelled around in his seat, face contorted with anger. Sam was still cackling arms wrapped around his middle as though he was trying to hug himself.

"What the hell was that?"

"What was what, Dean?"

"You just suddenly started cackling like mad! Were you trying to kill us?!"

"I wasn't aware that laughing was a crime. Besides you were the one driving, Dean. You lost control of the car, not me. I am sorry I startled you but that doesn't give you a right to take out your frustrations on me. What exactly are you upset about any way? The fact I laughed or is it because I startled you or is it because your Dad's pretending to be comatose or is it because you are still pinning after Cas but didn't have the guts to make a move before he got engaged?" Sam asked with a polite smile.

"Wait what? He got engaged? When?" Dean's face suddenly flushed and he said "I am not pinning for Cas! I am straight, man!"

Mary curiously watched the proceedings while John was still completely out of it. Sam was right, she thought. Her eldest totally had the hots for that angel.

"Yeah, right. You do realise that angels were created well before gender was a thing, don't you? It's his vessel that's male. If he had been in a female vessel, you would have been trying to get into his pants since day one. You, big brother are going through a gay panic phase. In fact you've been going through one since I've been old enough to recognise stuff like that, at least. De Nile is not just a river in Egypt, Dean. Remember that."

Mary almost burst out laughing at that. Instead she said "Why don't we stop for an early lunch?" Both of her sons turned to face her. Dean was confused but Sam seemed grateful.

"Why?" Dean asked.

"We've stopped in front of a diner and the waitress keeps looking at us. Plus, I'm hungry. If we finish with food now, we can deal with the hunt as soon as we can. So what do you say?"

"Fair enough."

"Okay." With that Dean slid out of the car and banged at his father's door. John stumbled out of it and followed Dean in a subdued fashion into the diner. Sam helped Mary out of the car and they too went into the diner.

When did Castiel get engaged?

Ten minutes ago.

Oh, how did it go?

They went to a movie, the latest instalment of Terminator, I think. He asked her during the intermission and she said yes.

That's cute. Do you think we'll get invited to the wedding?

Totally.

Sounds fun. The last wedding I went to was mine.

Mom?

Yeah.

I don't know if that's what you were doing but thanks for interrupting us before the fight got out of hand.

You're welcome.

A/N:

1. I apologise for the late update. I was busy dealing with real life. I can't assure you that I will update regularly. Updates will be sporadic at best. But that does not mean that this story is abandoned. I will finish it eventually. Thank you for your understanding.

2. That aside, special thanks to i-didnt-lose-sammys-shoe and aut189.