Chapter 18: Visit and Home

As the Impala wound through the Dakota wilderness, Dean was becoming increasingly nervous. While he and Sam had informed Bobby of a few things-namely the impending seals and their new positions in the Center-there were more matters that they hadn't. For one, Bobby didn't know about his relationship with Cas. And while the older man did know about the fight he and Sam had had, as well as their agreement to be honest moving forward, the specific details hadn't been shared beyond the fact that Dean knew now about Sam's abilities (which he still hadn't seen in their full effect). So, understandably Dean was nervous as they neared their remaining father figure's residence, not only for fear of judgment on his romantic inclinations, but moreover that he was involved with an angel.

It was evident that the others were picking up on his mental distress. "Hey, look, when we get to Bobby's you don't have to tell him about everything, right?" Sam coughed as he rubbed his neck and glanced out the window at the passing scenery. You've got enough shit to deal with on your own, let alone possible reactions of the closest thing we have to a father figure to your sexuality.

"I know, but if we're telling him about all the other bullshit…" Dean paused, "…it makes sense to be honest, I guess."

"If you are certain you want to we will support you." Cas nodded from the backseat.

"Thanks." Dean muttered, trying to stay himself for the reveal.

**SPN**

The junkyard was as it always was, full of half-rotted jalopies and rusted-out scrappers packed into the yellowed grass surrounding the tall green house in the center of the maze of decaying metal. Before Bobby had bought it the land had belonged to a hunter-in the conventional sense of the word-who had made it as a private lodge during deer season. After he passed without an heir (aside from a few illegitimate children who weren't in the will) the house was bought by Bobby. Unfortunately his hopes of raising a family there had been dashed early on and soon after the man who'd been a second father to the Winchesters as children had established it as a base of operations and reasonably priced auto repair facility.

Dean stopped the car about twenty yards from the front door, knowing full well that the second he opened his door he'd be greeted by Bobby's two dogs.

"Don't tell me you're still scared of Rufus and Dulles…" Sam chuckled as he grabbed his books from the backseat then leaned over to open the door.

"No!" Dean immediately denied, "But you've never been knocked over by a 120 pound mutt whose breath smells like the inside of a dumpster."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Come on Cas, Dean'll join when he isn't chicken of a few overgrown puppies."

Dean huffed and opened his door, only to be near immediately thrown off balance by both dogs barking and pouncing on him, then slobbering all over his face as they licked at his stubble. "Gah! Get off me you…"

Cas and Sam watched from in front of the car, Sam holding his sides as he tried to stop laughing and Cas appearing to half-smile at the sight of his beau gallivanting (in his own way) with the clumsy creatures. I suppose it makes sense that they are often called "man's best friend".

"Alright you two! Leave 'im alone!" Bobby called from the porch as the two dogs retreated slightly, allowing a dusty and slobber-soaked Dean to stand back up.

"Thanks Bobby." Dean said as he wiped his face off with his sleeve.

The three visitors walked up the ramp to the porch and followed as Bobby gestured them into the house. With the wheelchair Bobby had had to reorganize a bit-which is to say actually clean his house for the first time since the Hoover presidency-and the stairlift that he'd had installed took up a good part of the entry. While it was a familiar feature it still brought up some uncomfortable feelings for the visitors.

"I can attempt to heal you again." Cas commented as he noticed the further changes made since the last time he'd been at the residence-namely a few modifications to the lift that Bobby had been working on.

Bobby sighed, "If it didn't work last time when you were at full power, chances are it won't now." He glanced at the chair, "Besides, at this point I'm almost used to it. It's been over a decade, after all…" And if that idiot Rufus hadn't shot that bastard while I was trying to bargain I wouldn't even be in this mess… "It isn't like I'm planning to go back into the field any time soon." He wheeled into the kitchen, "Everything should be done in a few minutes, I'll call you when it's done."

Twelve minutes later the men were sitting around the table in Bobby's dining room. The brothers sat across from each other with Cas at the end opposite Bobby. The cooking was a marked improvement over when the brothers had to make their own meals-not that either Sam or Dean was a bad cook, but trying meal prep in a hotel room is challenging at best-the potatoes were fluffy, the ham wasn't dry, and the peas were so soaked in butter and salt that even Dean asked for seconds.

"So, before we get into everything I have to share, let me just make sure I understand everything else you two idjits have managed to do in the last few months…" Bobby stated, listing on his fingers as he spoke, "You were recruited by a top-secret government task force that sanctions hunting, realized that demons were plotting to break the 66 seals, got kicked out of heaven, had a fight and made up, recruited angels to join your agency, figured out where the demons are planning on going next, then realized that it might be a good idea to call me only when you figure out that the same yellow-eyed bastard from before is somehow involved with all of this and planning to open a literal portal to release the actual devil!" Bobby pinched his forehead, exasperated.

"Um, yeah, pretty much." Sam remarked.

"Well, I guess that means we'll get you back training again." Bobby muttered as he glanced off to the side in thought, "Because I suppose you're planning on going after this bullshit portal on your own-despite being part of a secret government taskforce…"

Sam and Dean exchanged a quick glance, knowing that even if they didn't want to do it chances are the universe would screw them over and force them to anyway. "Yeah…I think it'll be a bit easier at first this time, even if I'm out of practice, I at least know what it's supposed to feel like."

"Here's hoping, I don't want you bursting another blood vessel in your nose and ruining my new table cloth again." Bobby chided while attempting to mask the concern in his voice over the real concern he had over Sam overexerting himself while trying to tap into his powers the first time.

"What exactly did you have to do anyway?" Dean asked, glancing between his brother and Bobby.

"Honestly, a lot of meditation and a bit of some herbal junk every once in a while. It's just a lot of focusing inward…" Sam shrugged.

"Sounds like some beatnik crap." Dean frowned, "But if it works, what am I to judge?"

After a blueberry pie and a round of beers Bobby pulled out a deck of cards. "After all, the world isn't over yet. Training can wait 'til morning."

The four moved to the living room, with Bobby moving from his wheelchair to the recliner, Sam sitting in the faded leather upright, and Dean and Cas sitting on the worn blue sofa. As the hands wore on and the men continued chipping in Dean's hand slid habitually toward Cas' until he realized that the two were resting their hands on each other. Cas never had understood personal space, but despite this it always seemed that he was closer to Dean than Sam, even before the two had started seeing each other.

As Dean rubbed his palm over the back of Cas' hand he inhaled slightly and silently counted to five, readying himself for what he was planning on saying. "Um… Hey, Bobby, there's something else I need to tell you about what's happened since the last time you saw us."

"That you somehow got even worse at poker?" Bobby smirked as he dealt a new hand to each of them.

"Well, maybe, but, um…" Dean bit his lip for a moment as Sam gave an ever-so-slight encouraging nod and Cas rotated his hand to squeeze Dean's palm in a show of acceptance, "I'm a homophile."

Bobby blinked.

"And, well, I'm with Cas…" Dean confirmed, nodding slightly.

"Shit." Bobby muttered, "I owe Ellen $5."

"Wait, seriously? That's your reaction?! I've been afraid of telling anyone for years about this and that's all you have to say?" Dean was dumbfounded at the nonchalance.

"Well don't get your knickers in a twist." Bobby huffed, as he rolled his eyes. "I'd suspected something was going on between you two-I mean, last time you were here you took a damn long time in that shower…"

Dean blushed a deep scarlet.

"Look, I could care less who you're with, so long as you're happy. You're happy, right?"

"Yeah…" Dean looked at Cas, both nodding.

"Then great. So long as I don't walk in on it, I don't care." Bobby replied, "Just remember though that most aren't as charitable toward it." He warned.

"I'm aware." Dean nodded.

Bobby looked at Cas, "Keep that boy safe, he's an idjit sometimes, especially when it comes to people he cares about."

"I will." The angel nodded.

"Good. If you don't I won't hesitate to use holy oil-these boys are the closest things to relatives and I know the universe has some strange fixation with the Winchesters." Bobby harrumphed. "Now let's see if one of you three can actually manage a decent bluff, I'm tired of winning."