Round 'n Round We Go

~Part Four~

"Shit."

Dean doesn't reply to that, but he knows Bobby is irrefutably correct. He does look like shit.

"What happened in here?" Bobby continues, looking around, the smell of vomit making him cover his face with his sleeve―which makes Dean cringe.

"Mornin' sickness." Dean manages to mumble, to which he earns a knowledgeable 'ah'.

The silence is lasting, but it's not tense, not as Dean had expected it to be.

"Sorry, Bobby." He whispers, still hanging over the sink with the subtle scent of embarrassment wafting off him. He hadn't meant to wake Bobby, or even for him to see Dean like this. Ever. God only knows what would happen if he was in his dad's house right now and not Bobby's.

"Oh kid," Bobby replies, softening as he comes over to rub circles on the younger's back, an uncharacteristic move by the usually unapproachable, gruff old man. "You don't have to be sorry."

"But I threw up in your sink…" His voice is smaller and far to akin to that of a child's than Dean would like. He sounds pathetic.

"Forget it. I'll wash it down later. Focus on yourself right now. Are you gonna throw up any more or do you wanna sit down?"

He wasn't sure he'd be able to make it to the living room without hurling his guts up again, but he sure wasn't loving the smell in the sink either.

"I'll…sit." He says, lifting away from the kitchen sink, Bobby soon making a grab for him and helping his pregnant ass into a dinning chair.

"I guess breakfast is out of the question, huh."

Dean grimaces and cringes internally. He hadn't meant to be such a bother, but he was so short sighted that sometimes Sam joked he couldn't see his hand even when it was in front of his face.

"Sorry…" he apologises again, to which there is a long, pregnant pause as Bobby stares at him with an unreadable expression.

Eventually, he can't take the inquisitive look anymore.

"What?" He asks flatly.

With a small sigh, Bobby turns from him.

"Nothin'." He mutters, heading for the fridge. "It's nothing."

Dean immediately fires back.

"Don't you give me that!"

"Look," Bobby huffs, a new frown on his forehead as he faces Dean again. "I'm just wondering if you should call Cas, have him come pick you up…"

Dean lets out a mildly feral growl.

"I told you I don't wanna see him right now!" He barks defensively. "If you won't have me here then―"

"You're right, Dean. That's totally what this is about!" Bobby hisses, unable to take 'Mr.-angry-and-pregnant anymore, pausing the Omega before he realises that Bobby is being sarcastic. The moment is past before Dean can get a word in edgeways, and Bobby is barrelling on, voice full of fire.

"Listen, I seriously think you'd be better at home―and don't think for one-damn-minute that I think you're weak, I know you could give a few Alpha's a run for their money―that's not what this is about. You're pregnant and away from your mate, not a good combination for either of you or that sqee-ball you've got in your oven. I know you don't want my advice, but: go. home."

Dean grinds his jaw, glaring furiously at the floor.

"Dean…" Bobby sighs a few seconds later, falling into the chair opposite him and grabbing the half empty bottle of whiskey on the table. "I know you're mad at him, but think of the stress you're putting on that kid. You know it's not good to be away from your mate at a time like this."

"I know." He whispers, furious anger melting away.

Bobby stares at him hard for a moment, giving him one long look which makes Dean tense uncomfortably. However, the silence is eventually punctuated by the older's gravelly voice.

"I'll go pack your stuff." He says quietly, making a quick exit from the room and leaving Dean alone to ponder by himself.

He knows Bobby's right, that he's putting undue stress on his unborn baby, but Cas is just so… frustrating. Why is it always him that has to go back and apologise? Just because he's an Omega. He hasn't done anything. It's all Cas, all his constant watching and looming, making him feel like he's useless and stupid and weak! He doesn't want Cas to think of him like that, but his being pregnant has simply given his Alpha a reason to stop him from contributing to their marriage, or even his own life. Cas wants so badly to be in control that Dean can hardly stand it. What's even worse is his own deep rooted fear that perhaps Cas is right. Maybe he is just as useless as Cas―and society―views him to be.

When Bobby returns, he dumps Dean's duffel on the table and pulls Dean up into a quick bear hug, wishing him a safe drive home as he ushers him through the living room.

He thanks Bobby, mostly for smacking at least a little bit of reason into him and not putting up with any of his shit like Cas and Sam would've, and Bobby gives him that trademark chuckle and tells him to get the hell outta there with a grin on his lined face.

Dean twirls the car key round his finger and, followed by Bobby, marches out of the old man's house before giving a salute and climbing into his beloved Chevy Impala.

He honks as he pulls out of Bobby's driveway and the old Beta gives him a wave as he leaves dust in his wake.

Riding out onto the open highway, he drives for a few miles before the real guilt starts to eat at him. Cas is probably mad at him, still. After all, the guy hung up on him last time they'd talked…

Dean shakes his head. He should clear the air now, before he gets home.

Pulling his cellphone out of his pocket he holds one and dials Cas' number, which rings once before he's greeted with a tired and worn "Hello".

"Hey Cas." He smiles. It makes him feel better simply hearing his mate's voice and he can only imagine how much better he'll feel when he can actually smell him.

"Dean!" The voice on the other end of the line immediately perks up and he can hear Cas straightening himself, sitting himself upright. "Where are you? What's going on? What's happened?"

The questions fire rapidly and he has to wait for Cas to stop before he can even think about contemplating his answer. In the end, what he says is relatively simple.

"I'm coming home."

There's a long pause on the other end of the phone and he's quickly realising that long pauses are going to be somewhat of a thing today.

"Why?" Cas asks, suspicion in his tone. For half a moment, Dean feels rightly offended, but Cas continues on before he can voice this. "What changed your mind?"

"Honestly?" He chuckles, feeling like it's the first time he's even come close to cracking a smile in ages. "Some throwing up in Bobby's sink and the old grump himself is what did it."

He can almost hear the break of happiness in his Alpha's voice and the relief that's hidden there holds nothing but thankfulness.

"Sam said you just needed time but… I was really worried, Dean. I…"

"Hey, hey, hey," He mumbles, sensing Cas is close to tears, even though he can't actually see him. He doesn't quite understand why for a moment, but then he realises that Cas is also suffering by being away from him. It isn't just Dean and the babe, Castiel is also stressed by the distance between them―must be some freaky bond thing. "It's okay. I'm coming home. We can talk about this some more then, alright?"

On the other end of the line, Cas sounds suspicious again, even though all Dean can actually hear is silence.

"Cas?"

"Alright," he replies curtly, before adding more gently: "Hurry home."

"I'll be there soon."