"You guys gonna be alright?"
"Cas, we'll be fine. We're having a guy's weekend, not climbing a mountain."
"Can we climb a mountain, Papa?"
"Just don't tell, daddy." Dean winked at Kale who giggled while Cas gave Dean a stern look. "Really, Cas. It's okay, we're just a phone call away. You and Sammy have your bff bonding time on the way to Bobby's and we'll just hang out all weekend. "
Castiel frowned at Dean as Sam walked gingerly over to them, "Ready to go?"
"Yeah, bye Dean, bye Kale." He gave them both a kiss.
"Kale, say bye to Uncle Sam."
"Bye Uncle Sam! You're going to teach me to play basketball next time you visit right?"
"Sure thing, little man." He gave him a high five, his hips were still too sore from the surgery and therapy to kneel down to hug him, but the child seemed more than pleased with the high five.
"Seeya, Sammy!" Dean waved and led his son into the house, "What do ya' wanna do first?" His eyes were bright with mischief.
"Blanket fort!" Kale's voice rang out as he ran off towards his room. Dean grabbed extra blankets from the hall closet and helped Kale hang them from the top bunk and drape them over chairs from the kitchen to make a pretty sweet hide away, complete with tunnel entrance.
"Can I sleep in here?"
"Of course, we're not gonna tear down this masterpiece until daddy comes home. But first it's reading time. Go pick out a book."
Dean was never a reader growing up, Sam had been, and he was on his way to law school. He wanted to make sure Kale understood the importance of books and knowledge, Dean refused to let Kale be dragged into the world of hunting. They'd begun rewarding Kale's learning exercises and chores with a sticker chart, when he got twenty stickers he got to buy a new book. So far it had been working like a charm. Dean had even built him his own book shelf, and now that Sam was gone, Kale had a new one to fill up.
"Can we read this one again?" He held out Bony Legs. Dean wasn't fond of this book, he thought it was too scary for Kale, but Kale loved it and Cas thought it was alright.
"You're not going to have scary dreams if we read it before bed time?"
"Nope."
They settled into read the book, Dean making Kale help him read the words. He could practically read the whole book by now, the kid was smart, and Dean was proud. He tucked the sleepy boy in and said goodnight and crawled out of the blanket fort.
It was a nice cool night so he opened the screen door on the back porch and sat down on the couch to work on his hunting book. He was done with hunting for good, he'd decided, but Sam wasn't, and they new plenty of people who weren't. So he'd resolved to turn the journal Castiel had given him into a monster guide of sorts. He'd work on it when he couldn't sleep, or after Kale went to bed and Cas was studying. It kept him occupied. Castiel had an interview at the local high school next week for a history teacher position. Dean liked to watch Cas study. His human eyes required reading glasses and Dean found it ridiculously sexy. Sexy to the point where he'd asked Cas to wear them in bed more than once. Life had settled into a routine. Dean worked at the garage and still did the odd handy man jobs around town. Cas stayed home with Kale and Sam and they all studied and played. He'd be starting kindergarden in the fall and both fathers and son were excited. Kale already picked out his backpack and lunch box. They were both superhero themed. Cas had taken him to see Captain America at the local drive in and the boy had been hooked on superhero movies ever since. Life seemed to be going well for the Winchesters. No money problems, no family drama. For once everything was as sweet and simple as cherry pie. Dean fell asleep with a smile on his face, and tonight was no exception.
It sounded more like a fly buzzing than a screen door being sliced. Fabric screening had been a big bonus to thieves. People thought it was secure, but all it took to breach it was a sharp knife. He'd had his eye on this house for a while. With the shiny black vintage car in prime condition and the two well dressed guys inhabiting it. He saw the car pull away with them earlier, and the only light on was a small lamp in the living room. Surely just to deter people like him. His sneakers made no sound on the linoleum kitchen floor as he crept towards the living room. He could see the nice new TV from here. He kept his knife out just in case they had a dog he somehow hadn't seen.
Even though he'd quit hunting, his keen senses never dulled. The urge to protect even stronger now that he had Kale to look out for. He laid still on the couch as the dark dressed man slunk into the room. Suddenly he was glad for the ugly throw blanket Jodi had knit for them that he'd pulled over himself in his sleep, concealing him to the burglar. He barely breathed as the man moved closer, no doubt eyes on the silver protector statue Dean kept on the table next to the couch to ward off any unnatural evil from the house.
It looked expensive, he didn't know what it was, but that didn't matter. As he reached out for it, a hard hand seemed to shoot out from the couch itself and throw him onto the coffee table. The wooden legs leg out a loud crack as the broke under the force.
The tell tale glint of a knife caught Dean's eye, but not soon enough. He felt the hot pain of it slicing across his arm. He punched the man harder and tried to dodge the slashing arm. He kicked the arm with the knife and sent it flying across the room. Dean lunged for it but the man on the ground caught his leg and pulled him down. Dean pinned his arms, and swiftly and silently twisted the man's neck into an awkward angle. The life left the violent eyes.
"Papa?"
"Kale, go to your room and stay there until I come get you, okay."
Shit, he knew Kale had seen it. He wanted to save his son from this kind of stuff. From violence and killing.
"Pa—"
"Now, Kale!" he felt guilty at his harshness, but he needed the boy out of the room. He picked up the phone and dialed 911. Soon the house was swarming with lights and activity in the previously peaceful night.
"Well Mr. Winchester, the preliminary evidence agrees with your story. It was self defense and we won't be pressing any charges," drawled the sheriff.
"Thank you, Sheriff. I really didn't mean to hurt him so badly. It was just…"
"No need to explain, soldier. I was in a war myself, I know the instinct."
Dean had forgotten his fabricated background and cover story of time in the army. He nodded gratefully to the policeman.
"You just take care of that little boy of yours. My granddaughter plays with him in the park and my daughter-in-law is sure fond of that partner of yours."
People in the small Kansas town hadn't had any problem with two attractive, intimidatingly strong men in a relationship. If they did, no one had said anything. In fact most people loved the Winchesters. "Well hopefully this won't cause them to miss any play days. I'm glad Cas was gone, he's gonna be mad and worried enough as is."
"He's a big boy, he'll get over it," the sheriff winked, "I'll get my men outta here now so you can get some rest. Or try to at least. Thank you for the honesty, Mr. Winchester. Goo'night!"
"Night, Sheriff."
He walked back to the boy's room. He's come to talk to him before the police came but only to calm him down. Now he had some explaining to do.
"Papa, did you hurt that guy?"
"I did," he said regretfully, more for the boys sake than his own, he didn't regret killing someone who was trying to hurt his family, but the boy didn't need to know that. "But he was trying to hurt is Kale. He hurt me first." He held out his bandaged arm for the boy to see. "You should never hit anyone, or try to hurt them unless they're trying to hurt you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, papa."
"Good. You were brave, I'm proud of you." He hugged the boy and kissed the top of his head.
"Does your arm hurt?"
"Yeah, I had to get stitches. Do you know what those are?"
"Mama had to get stitches a lot. Can I kiss it and make it better?"
Dean held out his arm and his son gently kissed the bandage, Dean let out a showful "Ahhh! All better! Thanks, buddy."
"will you stay with me tonight?"
"No doubt."
They snuggled up and Dean held his son close all night. Tomorrow he'd have some serious explaining to do to Cas, but for now all was safe and well again.
author's note: For those of you wondering about Kale's name, it actually means "uncertain." I thought it was fitting giving his parentage and the nature of the relationship. it was purely a coincidence it relates to gishwhes haha. Also I think there are going to be two more chapters and then it'll be over. but you'll have to wait and see what they are ;)