I don't own Supernatural.
Chapter 22
Dean parked behind the rusted orange GTO in Bobby's salvage yard and turned the car off. Castiel was sitting besides him as usual, and Sam and Amber were in the backseat. Amber was laying down, stretched out across Sam's lap. She was still sleeping off her burger hangover.
"Um...you want to go in?" Dean turned to look at Sam.
"What about you?"
"I'll be in soon." Dean said, and Sam frowned. "You're not thinking about bailing out, are you? Is this about Bobby? You need to tell him eventually."
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." Dean said quietly. "Just go in with Amber and I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Okay, whatever." Sam shrugged. He gently nudged Amber's shoulder. "Wake up, we're there."
Amber sat up, blinking and stretching her arms. "So I'm gonna meet the famous Bobby, huh?" she asked, yawning.
Sam opened the car door and got out. "Yeah, I think you'll like him."
Amber followed Sam, and Dean watched them head over to the house, talking and laughing.
"I believe that Sam and Amber are falling for each other." Castiel commented, also watching the two. He glanced at Dean when the hunter didn't answer. "What's wrong?"
Dean shook his head, and ran a hand through his hair. His hands were actually trembling. He felt like he was glued to the seat, like he wouldn't be able to get up even if he wanted to.
Cas scooted closer to Dean, sensing his nervousness. He wrapped his arms around the hunter's torso and rested his head on his shoulder. "Why are you afraid, Dean?"
Dean leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes and holding Castiel tighter. "Bobby might not approve of us being together. Sam was cool once he got used to it, but Bobby... I don't know."
"Are you referring to the fact that Bobby is old fashioned and might not be in support of two men being together? Or that you are a human and I am an angel?" Castiel asked as Dean opened his eyes.
"Probably both." Dean sighed and looked toward the house. There were lights coming from the windows, shining through the dark of the night. "I think we should get this over with. Like a band aid, you know? Rip it off quick."
"Would you like me to stay out here?" Castiel offered. "Would it be easier?"
"No, I need you with me." Dean kissed the angel's forehead. "Let's go before I lose my nerve." He got out and opened the passenger door for the angel. It was crisp and cold outside and Cas shivered against Dean as the hunter held him close.
"Are you cold?" Dean frowned and Cas nodded. "But you've never been cold before."
"It probably has to do with the pregnancy." Castiel said, although he too was surprised by the feeling of being chilled.
Dean took his jacket off and threw it over Cas' shoulders, wrapping his arms around the angel. "Better?"
"Yes, thank you."
They walked through the yard, cutting a path through the weeds that grew in the spaces between the cars. The front door loomed ahead of them like the scariest monster that Dean had ever seen. Dean took a deep breath to steady himself; he felt like he was going to thow up his last meal. Castiel made to button up his coat to hide his bulging stomach, but Dean grabbed his hand to stop him.
"No, Cas. He's gonna find out sometime, right?" Dean gave a nervous chuckle and climbed the front steps, the angel following in his wake. He opened the front door, holding it for Castiel.
Voices were coming from Bobby's office/study room, so that's where Dean headed. Bobby, Sam and Amber looked up when Dean came in. Bobby grinned and stood from his seat. "How are you doing, boy? Sam said you were getting some stuff from the car."
"Yeah." Dean said. He could feel Castiel standing close behind him. The angel placed a hand on his back encouragingly, and Dean stepped further into the room, leaning against a bookshelf and letting Castiel take the last seat.
"Castiel, I almost didn't see you there," Bobby said warmly as his eyes roamed over the angel. He froze as he saw Cas' swollen stomach. "What happened to you?" Bobby's eyes scanned the other's faces. "What did you idgits do now?"
"It was not their fault." Cas said shortly, offended by the tone Bobby was using. He hestitated before continuing. He knew Dean had to be the one to tell Bobby they were together, so he would spare the details and just give the older hunter the bare facts. "The angel mating season occured this year. I am with child."
Bobby stared at the angel, completely nonplussed. He had seen stranger things, that was for sure...but this was pretty weird. "Don't you think this is a bad time for a kid to come into the world? We're in the middle of the Apocalypse if you haven't noticed."
Three pairs of eyes swiveled to Cas to see how he would respond.
"I was not able to control it." Cas snapped, sounding annoyed at the question. "It was not my decision. The mating season just happened to fall at the time of the Apocalpse."
"Alright, fine. No need to get touchy." Bobby said, a little surprised by the angel's attitude. The hormones probably had a lot to do with that.
He cleared his throat, a bit unnerved at the nasty glare Castiel was shooting him.
"It's okay," Dean said quietly, touching Castiel's arm lightly. He knew that Bobby wasn't trying to criticize, he was just being Bobby. Cas' gaze softened immediately at his mate's touch. He looked away from Bobby, choosing to gaze at the floor instead.
Bobby gave Dean an odd look and he let go of Cas' arm right away. "Did Sam catch you up on everything that's been happening?" he said quickly, changing the subject. Sam frowned at his brother, and nudged his foot. Why did he change the subject? It was the perfect time to just spit it out and tell Bobby. Dean kicked Sam back, and Sam bit his lip to prevent himself from crying out in pain as his ankle began to throb.
Amber kept silent, just a spectator of the proccedings. She didn't know the Winchesters well enough yet to interfere in their personal affairs.
"Yeah, he told me." Bobby said slowly. "About the rings, and Amber. He forgot to mention the fact that you have a pregnant angel on your tail, though."
Bobby's eyes pierced Sam, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat as if he were a child guilty of stealing candy. "Spit it out, one of you. Something happened, something's going on you didn't tell me about. I'm not an idjit, you know."
Sam and Amber kept quiet, waiting for Dean to answer, but there was only silence as a response. Everyone stared down at the floor awkwardly as if they were all school children in front of the principal.
"This is ridiculous!" Sam said finally, breaking the deafening silence. "Just tell him!"
Dean shot his brother a glare that could have frozen Hell over. Bobby slammed his hand on his desk, making all four of them jump.
"Sam, Amber, get out." Bobby said. Obviously whatever was happening with Cas involved Dean as well. The other two didn't need telling twice; they were gone from the room in the blink of an eye.
"Now, you tell me what's going on so I can help." Bobby said to Cas. The angel scrunched himself up in his seat, lips sealed tight. He was not going to say anything until Dean wanted him to.
Dean took Sam's recently vacated seat. His legs felt like jelly; they would not support his body weight for much longer. His heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest; either that or he was going to pass out from anxiety. Why was this so damn hard?
"Cas," Dean half-whispered, and the angel sat up; he knew what the hunter needed. He reached out a hand, touching Dean's and entwining their fingers together. Dean seemed strengthened a bit by the angel's touch, even though he still looked deathly pale. Even Bobby looked worried now; he was so concentrated on Dean's face he hadn't noticed that they were holding hands.
"Dean, tell me." Bobby said gently, and Dean swallowed before replying.
"Bobby, me and Cas..we're together. The kid is mine."
Silence. There was only silence and Dean quickly glanced up to see Bobby eyeing him confusedly. Suddenly Bobby's face broke into a grin. "You're joking."
Dean shook his head slowly. "No, I'm not."
Bobby looked at Castiel to confirm this, and the angel nodded, squeezing Dean's hand tighter. The smile fell from Bobby's face as he frowned.
'Here we go, he's gonna tell me to get out, that he never wants to see me again-' Dean thought, panic taking over. He couldn't lose Bobby; the older hunter was the closest thing he had to a father.
"I don't understand." Bobby said quietly, studying Dean's face. Dean mistook his expression for something different and bristled immediatedly. Even though he didn't want to lose Bobby, he would not let anyone tell him who he could love.
"What, how this happened? Yeah, was a little fast, but we're bonded; we're mates. It can't be changed." Dean said defensively. "I love Cas-"
"Dean, calm down." Bobby shook his head, putting his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "I just meant that I don't understand why you didn't tell me when it first happened. Judging by how far along Castiel is, I'd have to say you two got together a while ago."
Dean opened his mouth, but he was speechless. Cas gave an explanation instead. "He was afraid you would not approve, and you would reject him."
"You idjits should know better then that. Dean's like a son to me. I would never push him away." Bobby smiled at Dean. Dean's relief was clearly visible; his shoulders relaxed and the color quickly returned to his face as he gave a small smile.
"Thank you, Bobby," Dean said, his voice rough as he tried to control the tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes. It felt like everything was okay in the world now; Bobby was on their side.
Bobby stood up, coming around the desk and threw his arms around Dean, releasing him after a few seconds. He clapped Dean on the shoulder, and said gruffly, "I guess this calls for a toast, then."
He pulled a bottle of some kind of alcohol from the drawer in his desk, followed by two glasses.
"Sorry Cas," he said as he filled the glasses. "None for you."
Dean glanced at Cas as Bobby prepared the drinks. All his apprehension was gone and he felt light headed with happiness. Cas smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze.
Bobby handed Dean his drink, and picked up his own, raising it. "To you and Cas." he said, clinking glasses with Dean.
"To your grandson," Dean grinned, back to his cocky self, and Bobby got a little teary eyed at the statement. The two men downed their drinks in a few gulps, and set the glasses back on the desk at the same time.
Bobby cleared his throat, voicing a question that had been on the tip of his tongue for the last few minutes."I don't mean to pry or nothing, but have you two thought about what you're gonna do when the baby comes? I mean, you can't take a newborn on the road."
"I know. We've talked about it, Bobby." Dean said, fingering hid empty glass. "I want to settle down. I don't want to be a father like Dad was, always dragging us around and leaving us alone."
Bobby looked a little doubtful, and he opened his mouth to reply, but Cas cut him off. Excitement filled his voice and his eyes sparkled as he spoke about the future.
"We will get a house that has a big backyard and we will grow a variety of vegetables and flowers. Dean said he will build a swingset, and we will get a dog and have BBQ's."
Bobby watched Dean as Cas talked; he eyes were kind of glazed over as if he was imagining living in that place right now. Sympathy for the couple coursed through him; they didn't realize how hard that would actually be. Trying to live a normal life after hunting since you were a kid was no easy change. That and all the demons and monsters that would try to kill you.
"Once we defeat Lucifer, everything will be alright." Cas said, and Bobby nodded slowly.
"If we can defeat Lucifer."
"We will." Cas said fiercely, not willing to lose his grasp on their perfect future.
Bobby gave Dean an odd look. What had the kid been promising Cas? Filling the angel's head, and his own, with bright visions of the future which might never come.
"You still need two rings, and then we need to trap Lucifer. No telling how hard that's gonna be." Bobby pointed out. "I'm just saying, it might take longer then you think, if we can do it. The baby might be here before then. You need to plan now for every possible situation, especially since there's a kid involved."
Cas' face had fallen, and Dean felt guilty. How could he have been so stupid to think that everything would work out like they planned? Of course there might be a chance that Lucifer would still be around when Cas had the baby. His due date was drawing nearer. Dean could have smacked himself in the head.
"It's not just you that's on the line-" Bobby said, but Dean quickly cut him off. He could see Castiel was getting upset. They would settle everything later, between the two of them.
"Listen, Bobby, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?"
Bobby nodded, although he wanted Dean to understand that life was not perfect and it never goes according to plan.
"It's late anyway. We still need to set Sam up downstairs."Dean glanced at Cas. "Why don't you take Sam down and start getting him ready, and I'll be there in a minute?"
Cas stood, nodding, but he still seemed troubled by Bobby's words.
"Hey, it's okay," Dean said quietly, standing to give Cas a quick hug. "Go ahead, I'll be there."
Cas left the room and Dean closed the door behind him.
Bobby quickly took advantage of them being alone. "Dean, I don't want to be a pessimist, but you need to know that all that stuff you've been talking about might not happen."
Dean fell back into his chair, rubbing his eyes. "You think I haven't realized that now? I know my life will never be completely normal. Hell, my mate is an angel. But I can't give up, for Cas' sake. He deserves a life."
"I'm not going to pry anymore, but If something happens and Cas and the kid need a safe place to stay, they're welcome here." Bobby said, glancing down at his hands.
"Thanks, Bobby." Dean said gratefully. "For everything. I keep thinking of what Dad would say if he was here..I don't know if he would like it."
"Listen here, boy, your father loved you more then anything. I'm sure he wouldn't have cared."
Dean nodded, trying to control his emotions as he felt his throat burning again. "Yeah."
Bobby smiled at Dean encouragingly. "I'm sure everything will work out."
They sat in slience for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Dean finally spoke, remembering about Sam.
"We should probably go set Sam up so he could detox again."
Bobby grunted in agreement, and they both stood, leaving the study to tend to Sam.
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Sam was screaming his head off down stairs, and Dean was going crazy. It was late and he was pacing back and forth in the kitchen, a cold beer in his hand. Bobby and Amber had gone to bed some time ago, Amber taking the spare room upstairs. Neither seem troubled by Sam's screaming, and there was no reason to be, of course. Sam wasn't in danger. But for Dean it was different. Every yell pierced through him and he fought the urge to run downstairs and let Sam out. They had tied him to the cot in the bunker and removed anything sharp or breakable from the room just in case.
Dean leaned on the counter, closing his eyes as Sam screamed again. He should have stopped his brother from drinking the blood in the first place. He should have been watching more carefully.
A warm hand on Dean's shoulder made him look up and then he smiled when he saw who was there. Castiel smiled back, if not a bit sympathetically.
"Dean, you cannot do anything for Sam right now. You are exhasted. Why don't you sleep?"
Cas wound his arm around Dean's, pulling him to the sitting room.
"I guess you're right," Dean said, looking troubled as he glanced toward the downstairs door. He wished that he could stay in the room with Sam, but that would probably be unwise.
"Dean," Castiel tugged Dean's arm again and this time he moved, following the angel. "I have a surprise."
"What?" Dean asked, his curiosity getting the better of him, but Cas just gave a smile. He followed Cas to the couch and the angel motioned that he sit down. As Dean sank into the soft cushions, Cas plopped down next to him, taking off his trenchcoat and suit jacket. He began unbuttoning the buttom of his shirt to reveal his swollen belly. When he was finished, he took Dean's hand and placed it on his bare stomach.
"Feel your child," Cas said softly, leaning against Dean and snuggling into him. The baby kicked suddenly, and Dean felt it moving under his hand. His heart pounded with surprise, and Castiel looked up at him, wearing a proud expression.
"Wow," Dean breathed as the baby kicked again. "That's amazing."
"I know." Cas smiled, and sighed in contentment. " I never thought this would ever happen to me, Dean. I assumed I would alone forever."
"Well, you're not." Dean ruffled the top of Cas' hair affectionately. He slid down on the couch alittle so he was laying down, and Castiel got comfortale on top of him, resting his head on Dean's chest. Dean grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and threw it over them both. "Are you warm enough?"
"Yes." the angel said sleepily and snuggled closer to Dean. The hunter smiled and stroked Cas' hair lightly. The screams coming from downstairs weren't bothering Dean anymore; he had blocked them out entirely. He felt himself relax with Cas' wamth and presence near him.
Dean rested his head on the armrest of the couch, listening to the angel's breathing, which was changing as he began to drift off. Cas was sleeping, eating, showing emotions now...he was becoming human. Dean wasn't sure if he would stay that way after the baby was born, but he kind of enjoyed having a humanized Castiel around. It was always disconcerting to wake up in the middle of the night and find Cas awake and alert, staring at him. Now when he woke up, the angel would be asleep in his arms.
The baby moved again, and Castiel wriggled in Dean's arms. "Did you feel that?" he asked drowsily.
"Yeah." Dean said; he hadn't removed his hand from Cas' belly.
"Good."
"Cas," Dean said hesitatingly, staring up at the ceiling. "Are you happy?"
"I am, Dean." Cas answered. "You are not?"
"No, I am. I just wish we had met under different circumstances, in a different world. If I wasn't a hunter, and you weren't an angel-"
"Then we would not be us." Castiel pointed out. "We wouldn not be the same."
Dean smiled at the angel's logic. "I guess that's then we wouldn't have to deal with all this crap with the Apocalypse."
"Yes, but there would be other 'crap' to deal with." Cas yawned, shifting in Dean's arms. Dean was quiet, pondering this, and was startled from his thoughts when Cas sat up suddenly, looking alert and awake.
"What's wrong?" Dean asked, alarmed as Castiel stood quickly, glancing out the window.
"The angels are looking for you and Sam. I need to go. They are scanning this area."
"Wait," Dean said, reaching out, but the angel was gone. "Cas!" Dean screamed, jumping up and making his way to the front door. His hand was inches from the knob when a strong grip on his shoulder pulled him back.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bobby said as he pulled Dean away from the door, holding onto him with both hands now.
"Cas..he said the angels were coming and he left. I need to find him." Dean said, trying to push Bobby off of him, but the older hunter would not relent. "Get off!"
"Dean, you have to calm down. Obviously Castiel knows something we don't-"
"The angels could kill him!"
"Stop!" Bobby shook Dean so hard his head snapped back and forth. "Now you're gonna go sit down and shut up and we'll wait for Castiel together. I'll go get a few beers. Don't leave." Bobby let him go, and stared at him warningly until he went back to the sitting room. Bobby was back with the beers before Dean had even sat down.
Castiel's tan coat drew Dean's eyes, and he picked it up. "He forgot his coat. He's gonna be cold." Dean said quietly, fingering the material.
Bobby watched amusedly as Dean folded the angel's coat and jacket up neatly, placing it on the end of the couch before sitting down. Dean kept one hand on the coat, as if he were reassured by its presence.
"I can feel that he's scared, Bobby." Dean said, head in his hands with the cold beer against his forehead.
"What do you mean you can 'feel' it?"
"We have a bond now. Whenever he's gone, it feels like a part of me is gone, too. We can feel each other's emotions as well."
"That's interesting." Bobby raised his bottle to his lips, taking a swig as Dean murmured something. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Dean slammed his hand on the table, startling Bobby. "Why did he leave like that?"
Bobby placed a reassuring hand on Dean's shoulder, which he was surprised to find was trembling. "He'll be okay, boy. He's an angel."
"What if he's not?"
"He is." Bobby's face split in a grin, and Dean looked angry. Did Bobby think that this was all a game? Hadn't they had enough run-ins with the angels to know the damage that they could cause?
"How do you know?" Dean snapped, slamming his botle down on the table so hard that some of the contents splashed out.
"Because he's standing right behind you," Bobby pointed and Dean whipped around to see Castiel, who had just appeared. Dean grabbed his hand immediately and pulled him around the couch. Castiel sat beside Dean, and the hunter kissed him fiercely before gathering him in a hug.
"What is wrong with you? Don't do that." Dean whispered into his ear.
"The angels were coming," Cas explained as Dean let go of him. "They can't find you two because of the symbols on your ribs, but they would have been able to sense me. I had to leave. We need to cloak this house, paint warding symbols on the doors and windows to prevent the angels from finding us."
"I'll do it now," Dean stood quickly. He was not going to chance Castiel disappearing again. "Bobby, you have any paint?"
The older hunter shook his head. "I can do it. I know what Enochian warding symbols look like. You sleep; you look exhausted."
"Bobby, we can do it quicker if-" Dean began, but Bobby cut him off.
"Don't argue with me! My house, my rules. I'll take care of the damn symbols." Bobby said firmly, and Dean knew there was no arguing with him.
"Fine, but I won't be able to sleep anyway until it's finished," Dean grumbled as Bobby left the room. Cas leaned against Dean again, and the hunter put his arm around the angel, his tone softening as he spoke.
"You were afraid." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "What happened? They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Cas looked up at Dean and shook his head. "No, I am fine."
Dean rubbed a thumb across Cas' cheek. "Then why?"
"I was afraid they would find you even after I left." Cas pressed his face into Dean's chest, holding on to Dean as if terrified that he would ripped away. "But everything is fine."
Dean stroked Cas' hair absently as he thought."They're gonna keep coming after us, aren't they?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll just have to kill Lucifer faster, that's all, and end this thing."
Silence for a minute..three..five.."Cas?" Dean looked down at the angel, who had fallen asleep. He smiled and threw the blanket over them again, pulling it up to Cas' chin.
"Night, angel," Dean whispered softly and kissed his forehead.
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Bobby finished painting the symbols quickly, having only the sitting room left to do. He expected to see Dean still awake, the idgit, just to spite him. But when he came around to see the occupants of the couch, he found they were both fast asleep. Castiel's head was tucked under Dean's chin, and he was snoring softly, the hunter's arms around him.
Bobby smiled as he walked quietly around the room, finishing the symbols. To be perfectly honest, he hadn't expected either one of the Winchester boys to ever have a kid or a serious relationship. But this seemed like the real deal, even if it was far from anything Bobby could have ever predicted.
He took one last glance at the two before leaving; Dean had turned onto his side, the angel curled up tightly against him. Bobby flicked off the light, memories flooding his mind of himself and his wife snuggled up on that very couch.
"Good night, boys." Bobby said quietly and headed back up to his own room to get some sleep before the sun rose.