The drive back to the bunker was uneventful. The sky was black and full of rain. It looked like one of those random downpour kinds of days.
D2 and Cas-two were in the kitchen when they returned. The five of them sat around the high table in, updating the others only took a few minutes. The decision, after some growling from D2 was that Cas-two should go and check in with the Angels. When Angels were mentioned, Dean noted that his doppelganger got a stress frown. Especially when his Cas went to check or speak to them. There was definitely more to the story than they'd mentioned. Cas-two vanished into the ether and D2 was on edge, twitchy.
Sam left to go do some research on Nephilim, curiosity getting the best of him. Which left the Dean's and Cas to wait it out.
"Which diner was it?" D2 asked. It was casual but slightly hostile. As if he didn't want to ask but he was trying. Most of Dean's conversations with D2 had that tone.
"Janice's?" Dean replied, "You know it?"
"Oh yeah, great burgers," he said grabbing two beers out of the fridge when Cas declined.
Dean explained to Cas about the Demon truce and the Angel stilled. "...and the Demons abide by this?"
"Apparently…" Dean replied.
"Well, that is...interesting."
"Yeah, it is." Dean smiled, "This place is better and worse huh?"
"Yes Dean, better and worse."
D2 chimed in, addressing Cas which he always seemed more comfortable with. "How?"
Cas exchanged a look with Dean and Dean answered despite D2's clear preference for the Angel. "Mom is alive in ours…"
D2's choked on his beer and Dean smiled. Points for him, yes!
"How is that possible?" D2 asked disbelieving, "Didn't she die like ours did? When Sammy was a baby."
Dean nodded, "Yeah but when the Darkness came, she left us a gift. Mom."
"The Darkness?" Sam asked as he walked in hitting the fridge for a drink.
"God's sister? Oh yeah, ask Chuck about her when you get the chance." Dean scoffed, "It was a whole thing."
"His...what?" D2 exclaimed, "I think we'll definitely have to raise that"
"So what's she like?" Sam asked.
Dean went into the story, everything that had happened so far. It was an interesting conversation on both sides.
Cas-two returned about an hour later with some news. Declaring that one of his contacts had intel. Jack had been seen in a motel on the outskirts of town. Cas-two was frustrated. He was sure something was being kept from him but he was scared to push, just in case they did have Jack and they hurt him. He didn't want to tip anyone off until he knew what was happening but Cas was pretty sure the Angels had him.
"We should go," Dean said.
"Yes, we should." Cas agreed.
The others looked at them both and nodded, it was worth the risk of taking Cas. Cas-two's suspicions escalated things. With the information from the Demons on Jack, there could only be trouble brewing.
"Sam go with them, scout it out and if you find him, check in." Other Dean instructed. "...And Sam? Keep them out of trouble."
Sam nodded and no one argued.
The rain hammered steadily as they left the bunker and it didn't show any signs of easing. They took the Impala and the ride became quickly awkward. This is becoming the theme of the day.
"Dean, Are you mad at me?" Cas asked getting his attention from the back seat.
Dean didn't turn but answered casually, "What? No, why would I be?"
"You've been avoiding me, that's all," Cas added.
"No, I haven't."
Sam shot Dean a look, which said he had been.
"Don't you start."
Sam smiled, trying not to laugh.
"Cas I'm not avoiding you, okay. Are we done now?" Dean huffed and slid down into his seat.
"Yes, Dean," Cas replied sounding sad. Dean thought it was over then Cas added,
"I know it's making you uncomfortable thinking about the two of us being intimate, but I assure you…"
"Jesus Cas, for the love of god, just stop okay. I'm not avoiding you. We do not have to talk about that, ever" Dean cut him off.
"But Dean…"
"Ever. Cas. Ever." Dean emphasised, "I don't like this universe. I need to get out of this universe." The last muttered under his breath.
Sam was howling with laughter, there were actual tears.
"And you can shut up too," he added.
The roar of the engine was the only noise for the rest of the ride, well that and Sam's occasional mirth.
The motel was generic, beige and two stories high. The rain had slowed to a fine drizzle. They avoided it by standing under the cover of the second story balcony. The huge purple sign read 'Life and Dice Motel' but it was hard to make out the words as they'd faded with time. Sam went to speak to the Clerk at the reception desk. Cas tried his best to sense Jack, a slow grimace appearing on his face. Dean stuck with him but created some distance while he worked. He drifted into his own thoughts while keeping a lookout. Why was he having such a tough time with this? They'd been in weird places before, awkward situations but this was...different.
"Dean. I'm not sensing Jack. If he was here, he isn't anymore." Cas advised. They'd figured out that Cas and Jack had this connection, like Angel GPS. It usually came in handy, but apparently not so much today.
Dean was so far inside his own head that when Cas touched him he jumped a mile, to make matters worse he almost fell over.
"Shit Cas." he jerked backwards and regretted it. The hurt was visible in Cas's confused expression. Those big bright eyes did not understand the issue, he touched Dean all the time and usually, it wasn't a problem.
Come on Dean pull your shit together.
"I'm sorry Cas." Dean apologised and moved closer to his friend.
"I Understand. This is...difficult." Cas replied, and Dean felt like even more of a dick, he usually did when Cas was so being understanding.
This universe was affecting them both. Cas seemed to have regressed a little, he was really quiet.
"Cas are you okay? Dean was pissed at himself for leaving it this long to ask.
"This universe is, itchy. I'll be happy to find Jack and get home."
"Itchy, yeah that's one word for it."' Dean smiled and rolled his shoulders.
Sam ran back towards them with his 'nothing to tell' expression and shook his head.
"They haven't seen him in a few days." he added, "Doesn't mean much though.'
"Did you get his room number?" Dean asked.
"What do you think this is the amateur hour?" Sam scolded but added a smile then started walking across the lot to room number eight.
The room was quiet, he tried the door the handle and it turned. Pushing it slowly Sam took out his gun, Dean joined him. They stepped in and a guy was rummaging in Jack's draws, he back was to them so they moved quietly.
"Stop, turn around slowly," Sam ordered the man wearing blue flannel.
"Balls…" The man cursed and Sam let his gun fall to the side.
"Getting slow Bobby." he scolded with humour.
"I have a gun you know."
"Bobby?" Dean froze, stunned.
A confused Bobby glanced at Sam, "Is he okay?"
"Bobby, this isn't our Dean and Cas. They're from a different reality." Sam explained,
"Seriously?" He took a breath and let it out slowly, "Another reality...?" then he stared at Dean like he was playing spot the difference. "...and I thought I'd had too much whiskey last night…"
"Yeah and apparently you bit the big one over there…" Sam added, shifting on his feet.
"Ah. Well, that's just great." Bobby moved over to Dean to shake his hand and Dean just stood there dumbstruck. He knew that Bobby was alive and kicking in this reality, it was another thing to see him in the flesh. His Bobby, not an alternate. It took him a minute to adjust.
"Cas." Bobby took the angels hand.
"What are you doing here?" Sam asked.
"The guy staying here is some kind of monster, haven't figured out what yet. You two hunting this thing?"
"Jack is not a thing." Cas spat out.
Dean was getting concerned by Cas's mood swings.
"Whoa, okay let me explain.'" Sam interjected.
So Sam did the rundown and Bobby's eyes got wider and wider as the story progressed.
"Well that's some of the weirdest shit I've ever heard but yeah, I'll help you find him. That's what I was doin' anyway."
Dean became uncomfortable as Bobby stared at him. Cas though didn't flinch under the examination.
"It's just eerie ain't it?" Bobby said addressing Sam.
"Oh yeah," Sam replied, nodding.
They decided, after looking around, that Jack hadn't left much behind. There wasn't anything useful that could help them find him.
Driving back to the bunker they picked up take-out. Pizza was the food of choice and as they ate a comfortable banter started.
Dean was asked questions about his universe, Cas was asked some about Jack and it was less weird than before. Dean had ended up next to his double, not really sure how that had happened. Cas was to his right, Sam was next to Cas-two on the opposite side and Bobby at the end of the table.
The D2 cuddled Cas as they ate and at one point Dean watched his Cas watching them. The expression was one he couldn't put his finger on.
Bobby interrupted his thoughts by asking for a box of pizza and that sucked him back to the honeymoon talk. The newlyweds were supposed to be going to Canada to ski. Cas's idea obviously and Dean had actually agreed to get on a plane.
"You don't like flying either huh?" Dean asked D2.
The man shook his head, "No, I don't."
"Then why not just zap there?" He asked.
"In case something goes wrong and Cas has to run for some reason."
"Prepare for the worst huh?" and D2 nodded.
"Why Canada?" Dean added.
"Cas loves snow." The answer was dead-pan with an accompanying frown.
Dean's Cas grinned at the idea of skiing. The things he didn't know about the Angel still amazed him. His heart throbbed and Dean decided this universe was broken. All this mushy stuff was seeping into his skin like a virus. Yes, he decided, this universe had weird lovey chemicals or something.
The subject had changed while he'd bee pondering.
"Bobby was my best man." The other Dean said.
Cas was leaning forward chewing on a slice, engrossed.
"My speech was brilliant," Bobby added.
"Your speech was short." Sam laughed.
Dean was curious, "Yeah, what was it?"
Sam coughed, clearing throat. "He said, 'I've known these two boys for a long time and I love'em like my own.' Then turns to them and says 'It's about time you two eejits made it then finished with 'Now let's get to celebratin' and downed a shot."
They all laughed. Yep, sounded like Bobby.
"Jody gave me hell for it when we got home." he moaned, "Said it wasn't deep enough, I was like, what do I look like Dr Phil? I said the boys didn't wanna hear me yammerin' on about my feelings."
Everyone at the table laughed.
"You're with Jody?" Dean asked wide-eyed and Bobby grinned.
"Sure am, three years now. Claire and Alex live with us at the yard."
"Wow, that's great." Then he thought of something, "Wait...How come Sam wasn't the best man?"
"He was mine." Cas-two said, "My first choice was Anna but she was been detained last minute so Sam offered."
"Ahhh, okay."
As they chatted it became clear that things were very similar but things were different as well. They compared and contrasted for hours. Then Sam mentioned Chuck.
" Chuck came out as God ages ago?" Dean asked.
"Yes," Cas-two replied. "It's about ten years now."
"Wow." Dean stretched his hands out on the table, "So he gets more involved?"
"Yeah, when he wants too." D2 started, "Sometimes he likes to watch it play out. Something about balance…"
Dean cocked his head, "Balance?"
Cas-two picked up the conversation, "Light and Dark. Good, evil. He can't always step in."
"I get it."
Dean wasn't sure if he did get it. However, even with the 'drama' as Bobby called it, they still seemed to have more people than in Dean's universe. It made him angry but it was like he couldn't hold on to it. Weird.
They ended up speaking for hours. It was nice and relaxed. Cas and his doppelganger disappeared for a while. It made Dean a little nervous but they returned no worse for wear. The evening with whiskey and pie then Dean slunk off to bed around one.
Sleep came quickly. It was deep and consuming which made sense; it had been a long day. It was the first time he'd slept without drowning in whiskey since Michael and it was... different. He wouldn't remember this but he dreamt, not of the usual horrors but of a dark-haired angel playing in the snow.
