I don't own Supernatural.

Chapter 27

The rest of the drive passed uneventfully. All drivers and riders were quiet. Sam switched with Bobby, driving the last few hours, but Dean remained in the driver's seat in the Impala. The sun was just starting to set by the time they reached the town next to River Pass.

Dean pulled into the next motel parkin glot he saw, the Blue Field Inn, and parked in an empty spot. The glare of the Chevelle's headlights followed him. Nudging Castiel gently to wake him up, as the angel was still fast asleep, he then got out of the car to confront the others.

He had been thinking about what had been said in the bathroom, and realized that he shouldn't have been so rough with Bobby. The older hunter couldn't understand; he just wanted to beat War and end the damn Apocalypse. There was no reason he couldn't show a little compassion, but Dean understood why he said the things he said even if he didn't like them.

Bobby looked a bit guilty as well when they met behind the cars. "Look," he started. "I'm sorry about-"

Dean nodded at the hunter, knowing how hard it was for him to apologize. "I know Bobby. Don't worry about it. I'm sorry too."

Bobby nodded in relief and gestured to the motel, all too happy to change the subject. "What's the plan? Wait until tomorrow and go over to River Pass?"

"Yeah. I figure we don't know what we're up against and it wouldn't be good to find out in the dark."

"I'll get a room then." Bobby turned to Sam and Amber, who were standing behind him. Shoving the car keys at Sam he added, "Go get us some food, boy."

Sam rolled his eyes at the rough command but obeyed, getting back into the car. His legs protested loudly; they were stiff from behind cramped up for hours; he was alot taller then the other men and it was harder to get comfortable for long periods of time in the car. Amber quickly jumped into the passenger seat beside him, and to her surprise he didn't argue with her.

Bobby went to the office to pay for rooms, and Dean watched the Chevelle back up and then pull back out onto the road to search for something edible for dinner. Dean was starving; he hoped Sam had the good sense to pick up some burgers.

"Dean?" Castiel was suddenly standing next to him and he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Jeez, I keep telling you not to appear like that-"

"I did not." Castiel frowned. "I still am unable to use my powers. I simply walked up behind you. You were too distracted with the Chevelle to notice."

"Oh. Sorry." Dean tucked arm arm around Cas' waist, pulling him close. He noticed that Cas was still holding up the broken pants. "Hey, why don't I do some shopping for you while you relax inside? Bobby's here and Sam and Amber went to get food. They should be back soon, though."

"Why can't I come with you?" Cas asked, looking at Dean with those eyes that could melt even the coldest person. Dean ran a hand over Cas' swollen stomach.

"Baby, don't you think you would draw attention? That's one thing we don't want." Dean gave him a light kiss on the lips. "I won't be long. Just gonna grab a few things and then I'll be back before you know it."

Cas nodded, a bit sullenly, but said, "Fine. I'll wait here."

Bobby was waving to them from in front of the office, a room key sparkling in his hand.

"I'll bring you up and then I'll go." Dean offered, holding the angel tight and walking to Bobby.

"I got one room, hope that's ok. I figured it'd be better to stick together with all this crap going on." Bobby explained as they neared him. "It has two beds and a pullout couch, so we should be good. One of us can bunk on th floor."

Bobby started down the row of rooms, the other two following. "It's room 211...here." The red paint on the door was fading and peeling away in long strips. Dean sighed. It might be wise to invest in a small rv..that way it would be clean and new, as opposed to the filthy motels they were always sleeping in. But the outside was quite deceiving; Bobby unlocked the door with a sharp click, revealing the room.

It wasn't a five star motel, and it was a little shabby, but cleaner and newer then they were used to. Bobby closed the door behind them and flicked on the lights.

Dean helped Cas take off his coat and led him to the couch. Handing Cas the remote for the TV, he warned, "Here, but don't let me catch you watching porn again."

"That was an accident!" Castiel protested, and Dean laughed, ruffling his angel's hair affectionately. "I'm joking, Cas."

Placing a tender kiss on the disgruntled angel's forehead, he said, "I'll be back, babe." Then he turned to Bobby, telling him quietly, "I need to get some new clothes for Cas. His old ones..well he outgrew them. I won't be long."

Bobby grunted in reply as Dean left. He eyed the angel, who was sitting on the couch looking thoroughly uncomfortable, his shirt stretched tightly over his belly. Cas was flipping absently through the channels, daydreaming about wearing clothes that actually fit again, when Bobby came over.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked and the angel shook his head. He could feel Bobby was a little uncomfortable and glanced at him curiously. He had never really talked to the older hunter before...expect about supernatural creatures of course. Not how he talked to Sam and Dean, and even Amber, who was quickly fitting into their little band of misfits.

"Listen, Cas." Bobby said, not looking at the angel. "I didn't mean what I said before."

"It's quite alright." Cas rubbed his stomach absently and the baby gave a sharp kick. He winced, and Bobby noticed.

"You alright, kid?"

"Yes. The baby just kicked." Cas relaxed against the back of the couch, and concentrated on the TV, where he had finally found an old movie to watch.

"What's going on with you, anyway?" Bobby prodded curiously. "Everything okay between you two?"

"We're fine. It's everything else that isn't." Cas said shortly. He hadn't expected Bobby to ask such personal questions. To be truthful it felt odd. He had no problem talking to Amber and Sam, and Dean of course,but Bobby felt almost like...an outsider. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to talk to him.

"The apocalypse?" Bobby asked.

Castiel nodded then added hesitantly, "And other things."

Cas kept his gaze on the TV, but felt Bobby's eyes on him. He knew the older hunter wanted to know the 'other things'.

"I am having a hard time adjusting." Cas said quietly. "I didn't realize it would be this difficult. As an angel, I never had to deal with so many emotions at once...now it seems every five minutes my mood changes. Being pregnant is humanizing me; eating, sleeping, urinating..all things I am not used to. Now I seem unable to harness my grace to use my powers. I can still feel it inside me, but I cannot use it. The baby is draining my energy. It's difficult to get used to being human." Cas played with the lip of his broken pants, which Bobby had been wondering about.

"Before...the buttons on my clothes popped. I couldn't fix them, so Dean gave me his shirt. Something so simple as that caused me to have a breakdown. It seems like one thing snowballs into another." Cas sighed quietly. "I don't like being like this any more then you do. Dean is... extremely patient with me, and I am grateful for that. I can only hope that I don't bother anyone too much."

Bobby hesitated before reached out and squeezing Cas' arm. The angel's explanation made him feel guilty for the way he had acted earlier. "It's fine, Cas. Don't worry about it."

The angel gave Bobby a warm smile and then turned back to the TV. "Thank you, Bobby. I'm glad you understand."

"Yeah." Bobby patted Cas' shoulder before releasing him. "And don't worry about Dean; he loves you too much to get too annoyed with you."

Cas' body warmed all over at those words; yes, he knew how much Dean loved him. He loved Dean even more.

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Dean scratched his head as he surveyed the multitude of men's clothing for sale in the department store. He was tempted to just grab the largest size of the nearest thing...but then he got to thinking what Castiel might want.

An extra large suit set caught his eyes and he reached for it. But then he pulled his hand back. Cas had been wearing those same clothes for who knows how long..since he entered Jimmy's body, probably. Maybe it was time for something different. More comfortable as well. How Cas could stand being in a monkey suit twenty four hours a day, Dean could not understand.

He thought about Cas in his sweatpants and t-shirt the night he came back from his search for God. Damn, he had looked good.

Dean found himself fingering a pair of black sweatpants that were folded on a self. They would certainly be comfortable then dress pants, and there was no need to worry about buttons popping. Pulling the pants off the shelf and stretching them out, he eyed them critically trying to think if they would fit Cas. He grabbed the next size up, just in case, and then took a blue pair and a grey pair as well.

A rack of tshirts with band logos caught his eye and he went over. There was Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Metallica, ACDC...Dean was in love. He took a grey ACDC and a black Metallica, both extra larges, and grabbed a few plain t-shirts from a rack nearby.

Nodding in satisfaction at his choices, he went to the checkout line. Finally Cas would look like a normal person instead of a stiff accountant. Except for that the fact that he was pregnant, of course.

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Sam turned into the parking lot of a burger joint, Amber humming along to a song on the radio in the passenger seat. He felt like they were on a date or something...going out to eat. But they were only picking up food for the others. He pulled the car into the drive through, contemplating the menu before ordering.

The car was full of the smell of burgers and fries on the way back, and Sam found that his stomach was growling in anticipation. He was starving.

Amber reached into one of the bags and took out a fry, chewing thoughtfully. "Not bad," she said before looking at Sam. "Want one?"

Instead of waiting for an answer, she pulled out another one and held it out to him. He took it, their fingers brushing against each other. Their fingers stayed entwined for a minute, the fry getting squashed in the middle and then Amber blushed lightly, letting go.

Sam ruefully took the fry, missing that warm touch.

They pulled back into the motel lot, parking in an empty spot. The Impala was nowhere to be seen and Sam wondered if Dean had left. Amber waited for him after getting out and grabbed his arm to stop him as he went past with the bags.

"Sam," she looked up at him with those wide blue eyes, and he couldn't resist. He really couldn't. He leaned down, touching his lips against hers, and she closed her eyes, pressing back. It was like magic, lighting up every part of his body.

"Alright." Sam said when the kiss was broken. His heart pounded as he continued. "I give up. You win."

Amber smiled slyly and took his hand as he held it out. "What got you?"

"You." Sam replied with a grin. His heart felt lighter now as Amber walked beside him, hand in hand. He knew he wouldn't be able to push her away forever, especially if she was going to stay with them and become a hunter. She was too unique to let her get away. And too beautiful, especially when she looked at him with such love like she was doing now.

Amber blushed furiously as he stared at her, and he felt heat creeping up his cheeks as well. The last time he felt like this had been with Jessica. His Jess. Amber really did remind him of her, the boldness, the passion...all the things he had loved most about Jess.