Thanks for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it. I'll respond to your reviews on chapter 21 as soon as possible but I thought I'd post this before I leave work. The boys are going to head to Bobby's a bit early due to Dean's arm injury. Enjoy the chapter!

Sam knocked on the door to Bobby Singer's house not knowing what kind of reaction he and his brother would receive this time around.

Upon leaving Bobby's house those few months ago, the older hunter seemed to come around a little bit. He had said goodbye to Dean and actually looked him in the eyes.

Then there was the matter of Bobby calling Dean and inviting the brothers over to his place for Thanksgiving. That had to show that he at least was feeling a little bit better about Dean being a demon.

But they were a few weeks early. Dean still couldn't move his arm and he even woke up in the middle of the night yesterday screaming in pain. Sam had panicked and tried to give him some Aspirin, hoping that it would work even though Dean was a demon.

It hadn't, Dean's demonic blood fought against the drug, much like it did with alcohol, leaving no affect on his body. It was as if his blood canceled the medicine out, making it ineffective.

That was the moment when Sam had hauled a grumbling Dean into the Impala and booked it to Bobby's place. If anyone knew what to do, it was him. And honestly, Sam figured this was the safest place for them both to be while Dean was down for the count.

"Bobby's not going to know anything," Dean grunted. "If that idiotic angel couldn't do a damn thing, neither can he."

Castiel couldn't heal demons and was unsure of what to do. He didn't stick around long enough to help the brothers research and Sam couldn't blame him. As soon as the angel had walked into their motel room he was pinned against the wall by a snarling Dean asking 'What the hell did you do to my baby?'

Castiel could have easily escaped Dean's hold but had instead tried to give a logical long answer about why he had driven the Impala. Dean didn't have the patience to listen to Castiel's ramblings and had pushed him away to storm outside. There he was greeted with a nice long scratch on the Impala's passenger side.

Castiel was long gone before Dean even began his loud cursing.

The scratch was fixed now. Even with a throbbing arm, that didn't stop Dean from gathering supplies to fix the paint. However, Sam could tell that Dean was still bitter about what Castiel did. Sam tried to tell Dean that having a clueless angel driving a car for the first time could have turned out much worse. However, that got Sam a flying boot to his face, so he kept quiet from then on.

Even though Dean had screamed and threatened Castiel, a few days later a very nice cushioned sling was sitting on their table when they woke up in the morning.

And now they were here, standing in front of Bobby's door for help.

Sam heard the sound of footsteps and braced himself for whatever reaction Bobby may have.

"Bobby was able to keep your soul hidden from demons' senses wasn't he? Maybe he can help you again, it's our best bet," Sam told his brother as Bobby opened his front door.

There was confusion on the older man's face that changed to fright as he saw Dean's black eyes. Even though he knew it was Dean, Bobby wasn't used to the eyes like Sam was.

Reaching into his pocket, Bobby threw some holy water out of a flask….on Sam. He didn't even try to hit Dean.

When Sam just blinked, Bobby spoke. "Is that Dean? You sure?" he asked, wanting to be positive and trusting Sam's judgment.

"A hundred percent," Sam smiled and Bobby broke the salt line to let them in.

Well, that was a lot more pleasant than last time.

Bobby gave Sam a quick hug and then turned to Dean, eyeing the sling with a questioning glance.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"My arm doesn't work," Dean stated, still looking grumpy.

"I can see that, you idjit. Care telling me why?"

"A demon stabbed me in the arm with Ruby's knife. Now it hurts like hell but I can't move it. Happy now?"

Bobby's expression changed from annoyance to a look of concern. "Sit down; let me take a look at that."

"That's why we decided to hop by early," Sam informed their friend. "Dean's been in a lot of pain and even if you can't fix it, I thought we'd be safer here."

"How long ago did this happen?" Bobby asked as Dean plopped down on the couch.

"A week ago," Dean shrugged.

"How many times do I have to tell you boys?" Bobby sighed, seemingly forgetting for the moment that Dean was a demon and not the boy he remembered. "If something happens to ya, you get your asses over here right away."

"You really want a demon staying at your house?" Dean challenged him, bringing Bobby back to the here and now.

Bobby snapped back to the present, taking in Dean's black eyes and swallowed. "I…I'm sorry for what I did last time. I know…I know you're different and I probably should be wantin' to kill you, but I don't. I told you I'm giving you a chance Dean, and you haven't given me a reason to doubt you. When either of you are in trouble, I want you to come here first, you're both welcome in my house."

Bobby sighed and looked down as he said his next words. "I've been thinking a lot these past few months. I just wanted you back for the longest time boy, and now you are. You're not exactly how I wanted you to be….but it's still you. It will take a while for me to really trust you. But… I wanted my boy back and although this isn't what I wanted, I'm going to take what I can get and be damned happy I could get any version of you at all." Bobby cleared his throat. "Now let me see that damned arm."

Sam sat down next to Dean and helped his brother remove his bum arm. Dean actually didn't flinch when Bobby touched him, although he was watching the hunter's movements carefully as Bobby removed the bandages.

Bobby grimaced and his face grew pale as Dean's open wound was revealed. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but the skin on his bicep wasn't healing at all, leaving a pretty gruesome sight.

"It's been like this for a week?" Bobby asked in horror.

"Yeah, pain comes and goes but it gets pretty damn bad," Dean answered.

Bobby knew just as well as Sam that if Dean was actually complaining about his pain, it just be something horrendous.

"So you can feel it but not move it," Bobby eyed the wound closely for a while before wrapping up Dean's arm and placing it back in the sling. "Which one of you has the knife?"

"I do," Sam replied, pulling Ruby's knife out of his boot and handing it over to Bobby.

"As far as we know, this knife is one-of-a-kind. I'm going to research these symbols engraved on it and see if I can find anything. I doubt I'll be able to fix it, but I'm sure I can find something that stops or lessens the pain."

Dean suddenly spoke up, shocking both Sam and Bobby.

"Thanks," he muttered, staring at the ground.

Bobby cocked his head to the side, studying Dean. Once he seemed certain that Dean was being sincere, he nodded. "Not a problem, boy. You two go ahead and make yourselves comfortable."

But before Bobby could stand up, Dean spoke again. "Do you want me to change them?"

Bobby gave Dean a confused glance, but the older Winchester was still staring at the floor, so Bobby turned to Sam for clarification. When Sam could only shrug, Bobby was left flustered.

"Change what?"

Dean huffed, finally looking up, black eyes locking with Bobby's. The older man looked uncomfortable but didn't look away.

"My eyes, alright? Do you want me to change my damn eyes?"

Sam understood right away, Bobby had shown Dean respect and was giving him free reign of his home. In return, Dean was offering to do something that might make Bobby feel more comfortable.

It showed that Dean cared more about Bobby's acceptance than he let on.

Bobby seemed to understand this as well and he looked touched by Dean's words.

"Nah, that's alright. Sam told me that changing them human gives you a headache. And besides, how am I going to get used to them if I never see them?" Bobby then stood up but before he walked over to his desk he placed his hand on Dean's good shoulder and squeezed, offering the demon a small smile.

Sam had helped Bobby research while Dean stretched out on the couch and ended up falling asleep while watching football. The atmosphere in the house was much more relaxed than last time and now when Bobby looked over at Dean, it was to make sure he was okay rather than to see if he was doing anything wrong.

They had found some leads but both of them were exhausted and it would make more sense to follow up on the information tomorrow when they were feeling more energized.

"How about I make you boys something to eat?" He glanced over at the sleeping Dean. "You think he's hungry?"

"When is he not hungry?" Sam laughed. "Besides, if it's your cooking, he'll clean his plate even if he was stuffed."

Bobby shook his head with a smile and Sam closed his laptop as he went over to the couch. He nudged Dean awake by shaking his good shoulder.

"Hey, lazy ass…" Sam smirked when Dean opened tired black eyes. "Move over so I can sit too."

"Get your own damn couch," Dean grumbled, closing his eyes again without budging from his spot.

"You might want to wake up; Bobby's making us some dinner…"

Dean's head snapped up. "Bobby's cooking?"

Sam laughed. "Yeah, and being the wonderful brother that I am, I decided to wake you up so you wouldn't miss any."

Dean held out his good arm and Sam grabbed his hand and helped hoist him into a sitting position. Sitting down next to his brother, Sam grabbed the remote, turning up the volume of the game.

"Hurry, the hell up in there Bobby, I'm starving," Dean called out as he stretched out his legs, resting them on Bobby's coffee table. That wasn't going to go down well.

"You better shut your trap, smart-ass or I'm not making any pie for dessert."

Dean didn't bother Bobby for the rest of the night.

Sam woke up feeling extremely well rested. When he glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand between his and Dean's beds, he understood why.

It was noon.

Sam looked further to his brother's bed and it looked like Dean had been up for quite some time. His bed was a mess, his sweats that he had slept in were tossed on the floor and his boots were gone.

Sam actually appreciated that Dean had let him sleep.

Getting up and stretching, Sam inspected the salt line that Bobby kept at their door. Dean had been angry when Bobby stated he would still put one there.

"It's not about keeping you locked in, boy. It's about keeping things from getting in and attacking you two," Bobby had explained.

"So you'll let me out whenever I want?"

"Of course. Just call for me and I'll break the salt line for you."

It looked like that's what happened. Dean had woken up and Bobby let him out, reconnecting the salt line to keep Sam protected.

Sam grabbed a change of clothes from his duffle and stepped over the salt line to get to the bathroom. After showering and changing, he checked the living room and kitchen only to find them empty. He was about to panic but he could sense a demon nearby, and he knew that demon was his brother.

Sam looked out the kitchen window where he saw Bobby chatting it up with one of his customers. Out of the corner of his eye, Sam saw the hood of a car close and a green-eyed Dean sauntered away from it. He wiped grease from his good hand off on his jeans and was wearing a very nice looking new brown leather jacket that Sam had never seen before. The left sleeve was empty as Dean had his sling hidden under the jacket.

Dean walked over to stand next to Bobby and the older hunter smiled. Bobby reached up to clamp Dean on the shoulder, looking proud. After saying a few more words to the customer, Bobby shook his hand and then the customer did the same to Dean. During the whole exchange Dean had a cocky smirk on his face, he knew he did a good job on the car and was making it obvious.

Fixing cars was always something Bobby and Dean did together. Bobby always lit up when Dean would come outside to give him an extra set of hands and ears to help discover whatever the problem may be.

Sam wasn't sure how Bobby had felt when Dean first started helping him this morning, but from the looks of it, they were getting along pretty damn well now.

Bobby reached into the cooler he had placed outside and opened a beer for Dean, handing it to him. The older Winchester looked relaxed, which was something Sam couldn't say during their first trip here.

It looked like Bobby had gotten over his major prejudices against Dean. Thank god.

After grabbing Dean's old leather jacket and slipping it on, Sam ventured outside.

Dean smirked when he saw Sam. "And I thought I loved my sleep. What is it…three o clock?"

Sam shoved at Dean. "It's twelve thirty. I'm not the one taking naps throughout the day. I deserved that long sleep."

"Whatever you say." Dean rolled his eyes which were black once again.

Bobby came out of the shed and smiled at Sam. "Good morning boy…or should I say afternoon…"

Dean cackled and Sam huffed.

"Alright, we get it; I slept for a long time. What were you guys doing? And where'd that jacket come from?"

"Dean was helping me out with some problems on these cars I was having trouble with. As for the jacket…well, I noticed that Dean must have given you his. So while Dean was determined to figure out the car problem himself, I went out and bought him a new one." Bobby shrugged. "Winters coming, it's only gonna get colder."

It touched Sam that Bobby was willing to give Dean a gift like that. Maybe it was the fact that Dean had wanted to work on cars with him, or that Bobby felt guilty about the handcuffs, or perhaps the man was just learning how to treat Dean once more like the son he had always been to Bobby.

"Fits me a hell of a lot better than the old one ever did," Dean said smugly, obviously he was pleased by how he looked in the jacket.

"Yeah," Sam admitted. "It looks good…if you can ignore the fact that you have one sleeve empty just hanging there at your side."

Dean glared at Sam. "I may have one arm but I could still fix that car faster than this old man." He pointed his thumb at Bobby.

"Yeah, by using those freaky damn powers of yours," Bobby grumbled and walked past the brothers. "I'll make ya somethin' to eat Sam."

Sam thanked Bobby and then turned to Dean. "Dude, I wouldn't be using your powers in front of him."

Dean huffed. "Yeah, I realized that after he blew up and started bitching how dangerous they were and how I'm around fuel and could blow something up."

"I'm surprised he let you work on the cars with him so soon."

"Hell, he asked me to. Came into the room and said he had an early customer. Asked if I wanted to help. I figured why the hell not. We worked on a few cars, not too much conversation but he didn't poison me or anything. He even gave me this." Dean held out his right forearm, motioning for Sam to roll up his sleeve.

Sam did and came into view with a strange marking on Dean's inner forearm. It was burned into his skin and didn't seem to be fading, much like Meg when she burned the seal mark onto Sam's skin.

"What the hell is that? Is it to help heal your other arm?"

"Nope, actually it allows me into that panic room thing Bobby built. He carved the same symbol in the room and apparently that lets me walk in and out of the area unharmed by any of the protection charms."

"Wow," Sam gasped. "I can't believe he did that."

"And apparently he's known he was going to do this for a while because he had that poker custom made into the symbol, had it ready for when I came. Guess he doesn't hate me anymore."

Sam nodded. "I guess not. Although you do have to earn back some points after freaking him out with your powers."

"Nah, he didn't seem too freaked, just cautious. I think he knows I only have one working arm and I'm gonna use my powers to compensate for the shit I can't do. I'm not gonna be asking you to help me with every single thing."

"Hey, fine by me," Sam held his hands up and laughed. "Just don't do anything too freaky with them that might make him uncomfortable."

"I don't think it's my powers we have to worry about, it's yours. We can't let him know about them or the demon blood. Keep those bottles under your bed. Did you have one this morning?"

"Yeah, I did. Bobby's never been one to snoop in our bags, so I don't think we'll have to worry."

"Okay, good." Dean nodded but jumped when he heard Bobby yell his name. "What, Bobby?"

"How about you get your ass in here and help me make some food for your brother?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "I'm the injured one here; Sammy's completely capable of making his own food."

Sam nudged his brother. "What happened to being a great big brother? Are you really going to let your poor little brother go hungry?"

"Quit using that damn puppy dog look, it doesn't work on demons."

"Sure it doesn't. But it does work on my brother."

Dean let out a long sigh. "Fine, but I'm going to make you a huge meal. You've got more meat on your bones but you're still not in top shape. You better eat every bite that I put on your plate, you hear me?"

Sam understood this as being Dean's way of saying he was worried about Sam not eating enough. "Fine," he smiled. But only if it's good."

"Oh, it will be damn delicious, I promise you that."

"You better get your ass in here boy," Bobby's voice carried from inside. "Or I'll have to…"

"I'm coming, I'm coming." With one last roll of his eyes, Dean hurried off into Bobby's kitchen.

Dean and Bobby's cooking couldn't have been described as anything other than excellent. Dean had nothing to bitch about because Sam had finished his entire plate and then some.

The younger Winchester hadn't been used to eating so much food, let alone good food, that he was stuffed full.

He and Dean were lounging on Bobby's couch watching some D-list horror movie while Bobby looked into more information on healing a demon.

Dean was laughing so hard at the horrible death scene that he began choking on his stupid black licorice that he insisted on having. Sam gave him a hard pat to the back, mostly just to tease his brother and that was when the TV's picture began to fade in and out and the lights in the room started to flicker.

At first, Sam assumed it was a reaction that Dean's powers caused from him choking.

"Dean, are you doing this?"

The alerted look on Dean's face was answer enough. His brother jumped up and stood in front of Sam, protecting him from whatever this force might be.

The air suddenly got cold and Sam noticed that he could see his breath.

"Demons can't make the temperature drop Sammy; you know what makes that happen…"

Bobby stood up as well; grabbing a gun on his desk that Sam knew was full of rock salt.

"Ghosts…" Sam stated and as soon as he spoke he felt a presence next to him.

Sam turned to see the faces of two women he never thought he'd see again. Two women that he loved.

"Jess…Madison…." Sam stuttered and Dean turned, his black eyes going wide at the sight.

"Hello, Sam…" Jess spoke, her voice odd and cold. "Surprised you remembered me at all, after you left me that weekend…the weekend you let me get killed."

Madison reached over to put a hand on Jess's shoulder. "Don't worry, Jess. I know exactly how you're feeling. This sad excuse for a man actually shot me in the head, isn't that right Sam?" Her face looked dull and gray, nothing like Sam remembered.

"Every girl you love dies." Jess shook her head sadly, her face getting closer to Sam's. "You just bring devastation and death everywhere you go."

There was the noise of a few guns being shot and Sam watched as rock salt flew over Jess and Madison, making them disappear….for now.

Sam looked up to see Dean and Bobby standing side by side. Each of them were holding a rocksalt shotgun, pointed at where the ghosts were just moments ago.

"Dean…Bobby….you…" Sam was torn between devastation and relief.

"That's not really them, damn it," Dean told him grimly. "I think I know what's going on here and it's not good."

"We have to head to the panic room, now," Bobby ordered while surveying the room, keeping watch.

Dean didn't waste any more time as he handed Sam the gun and used his now-free good arm to grab Sam's shirt and pull him up. "Come on, hurry up."

But Sam was frozen to the spot; his mouth fell open in shock as a figure formed out of thin air behind his brother. Dean seemed to realize that the three of them weren't alone anymore by the look on his brother's stunned face.

Dean spun around, coming face-to-face with another ghost.

"Hello, Dean," the ghost of John Winchester smiled coldly as he looked at his eldest son in disgust. "So this…this is what I sold my soul for?"