2

The return

"Hello... Dean."

How many times had he listened to those words? Dean couldn't even remember it, but never before he had felt what he was feeling in that moment. Everything went back to his head, kicking him as he was the monster of the week: the initial shock, the endless pain... Nothing had ever caused so much sorrow as that farewell. Dean would never say it aloud, but he had been having nightmares about that fateful moment.

In Heaven. Nightmares.

It seemed absurd.

After taking a deep breath, Dean turned and, then, saw him. Castiel. Cas. Tall, dark haired, incredible blue eyes, blue tie and long coat. Nothing had changed, although everything was different now.

Castiel smiled at him. He was nervous.

Dean was worse.

"Cas?"

Yeah, he was a bloody genius. He was about to slap himself, when Castiel talked:

"I'm sorry to bother you, Dean. I shouldn't have done it, actually, but... Well, I think I don't have another choice." Cas wasn't moving, he looked like a statue, and Dean didn't know how to act. "There is something–"

"Are you ok?"

Castiel frowned, confused.

"Yes."

"But you were, you know, in the Empty. It should have been... eh... awful, at least."

"Oh... I see. Well, I've been through worse Hells," Cas shrugged. "And Jack set me free, so you don't have to worry about me, Dean. Instead, you should do it for Sam's family. They are in danger."

It was Dean's occasion to frown. Everything was going too fast. Suddenly Cas was there and, shockingly, he wanted to talk about Sam's family. His family. Sam's son was his nephew, even though he hadn't though a lot about that. Dean messed up his own hair, while he was trying to get some clarity.

"What's wrong?"

"I've been taking care of them–"

"You what?"

"It's what I do: I look after the Winchesters," Cas seemed a little awkward and Dean couldn't help notice. Was he feeling uneasy? He didn't want that, he just... just... Well, he didn't know exactly what, but not that. Castiel shook his head and, next, he fixed his blue glaze in Dean's eyes. "The thing is that in the last two years, Sam's granddaughter has been under supernatural vigilance."

"Sam's got a granddaughter?"

"Yes. Samantha. Personally I think that you, Winchester, have an issue with originality in names, but–"

Dean interrupted him with an honest laugh and Cas answered raising an eyebrow.

"You have a point, yeah..." Dean smiled, he was feeling more comfortable. It was a case, family business; he could deal with that, so he sat down. "Ok. So, Sam's family is in danger because something is watching them, right? What creature is it?"

"Do you really think that I would bother you in Heaven just for a vampire or a werewolf?" Castiel rolled his eyes, obviously irritated. He took another chair and took a sit, near him. Dean surprised himself thinking that it wouldn't be that bad that the angel were closer. "I haven't figured out what is going on and that's what is worrying me. By now, I should have been able to guess so. I'm not precisely a novice hunter."

"And you want my help."

"Yes."

"What do you need, Cas?"

"I can take you out of Heaven... for now. It would be something temporal, of course. So, you could come with me and investigate this case... if you want. I... I assure you, Dean, that I wouldn't do that if there were another option–"

"Yes."

He hadn't even doubted for a second. He didn't know his nephew but it wasn't important. It was Sam's child and that was all that mattered. Furthermore, the idea of going back, of hunting again, was... too much attractive. Just as attractive as the idea of being with Castiel again.

What was wrong with him?

Not even in the fucking Heaven could find peace.

"Ok. We should leave, then." Cas got up and took a step in his direction, but then he doubted. "Do you want to say goodbye? They aren't probably going to miss you, because of Heaven's time, but you're noticing it."

"No, I don't want to worry Sam. He is so happy now."

Dean was going to add that it wasn't his own case, but he stopped. Instead, he frowned and asked:

"Will I have to take another person's body?"

"It won't be necessary."

"Wait... Am I going to be a ghost?"

"No."

"That's a relief. I don't want to go anywhere with a sheet over me." Dean smirked, before he remembered that sense of humor wasn't Castiel's strongest quality. "It's a joke, Cas."

"I get it."

"Of course, I didn't mean that you're stupid... Why the hell have I just said that?" Dean closed his eyes, annoyed with himself. He would swear that he hadn't been as nervous ever.

Castiel looked at him. His eyes had never seemed that blue. Dean's heart stopped and his breathing did the same. That was the power of that intense gaze. Cas' face was stone, but his voice... his voice was a fucking whirlwind of emotions, like the day he said goodbye.

"I know this has to be awkward for you, Dean. And I'm sorry."

"It's not..."

"Maybe this isn't a good idea–"

"No! It's a good idea. I swear, Cas. It is, okay? I don't know, probably Heaven is affecting me. It seems that retirement is not for me," Dean sighed. Then, he got closer to the angel. "Shall we leave?"

"Are you sure–"

"Come on! Are you going to open a portal or something?"

"No. It's as simple as this."

Castiel put his hand on Dean's arm. It wasn't the first time. Actually, it was the way they met, so many years before. He felt something hot for a moment and, then, he heard the traffic noise. The air smelled different, dirtier than Heaven, which made him happy because it felt real. It was happening. He was going to hunt one more time... with Castiel. That was the important part.

They had appeared next to a little blue car which was parked in front of a place called Sally's. Dean smiled at the sign and the known red sits. How many times had he been having lunch in a café like that? He opened his mouth in order to ask Cas if he wanted to eat something, but then he remembered that Sam's family was in trouble.

"Do you want to drive?" asked Castiel.

"No, not really," Dean shrugged. He had been driving Baby a lot in Heaven, so he thought that be the passenger sometimes wouldn't be that bad. In front of him, Cas was staring at him, surprised. "Don't look at me like that, Cas! It wouldn't be the first time. I trust you."

"You've changed."

"Well... I died. That changes things, isn't it?"

"I guess so."

They both went into the little car and Dean discovered that they were so much closer than ever. His shoulder almost touched Cas'. That possible contact made him so nervous that he felt compelled to say:

"Have you stolen Barbie her car?"

"I don't know the previous owner... Oh, sure, you mean the famous doll."

"Wait, do you know Barbie?"

"I've been taking care of Dean's kids. I've learn something."

Dean's kids.

It was something weird to listen. He would never have children. There was a time when he desired a family, be a regular guy with some kids and a garden, even a barbecue. But when he tried with Lisa, it didn't work and, since then, he had barely though about that. Maybe he never wanted that, maybe it was an imposition... Dean didn't want to mull over that, because it didn't have any solution, so he decided to turn on the radio.

"Do you mind?"

"Go on," said Castiel, busy with the driving.

"Wow, is that Taylor Swift?"

"Yes, she's still the Country Queen," Castiel should notice his surprise, considering that his lips curved. "I told you I've learnt some things. It's Dean favorite singer."

"At least he has better taste than Sam."

The rest of the trip, which wasn't long, passed quiet and Dean made the most of the time observing Castiel. The angel had never been talkative, but he seemed more quiet than usual. What would be he thinking? Would be waiting for an answer? Because Dean didn't say anything when Cas confessed his love, just the previous moment in which the Empty took them apart.

"It's there."

Castiel drove until the suburbs, where a pretty little house –just as identical as the others– was raised in a corner. It had everything: the porch, the swing... Sam and Eileen used to live in a similar one. It was funny... He didn't miss the opportunity to experience something like that.

"Ok. Let's go." Dean said, taking the door's handle.

"Wait. We have to think how face them."

"Well, I think it's easy. We go there, we knock and we say: ey, nephew, I'm your handsome uncle Dean. I'm back, like Terminator, in order to save your family."

"Dean..."

"Wait. Doesn't he know Terminator? Come on! Sam couldn't fail to me in that way."

"It's not that. They don't know, Dean. Probably they will suffer an heart attack if they see you."

"So... Sam didn't tell him the truth."

"No."

"Peachy. What are we going to do?"

Hello, everyone! I hope everybody is ok! And merry Christmas, by the way!

Thanks to Josette and Leann Nickerson for the reviews! Thank you so much! And thanks to my friend Deb, the nicest person ever and the one who reads this first and, then corrects it.

Next chapter: Slipped away.