We Can Go Sit on Your Back Porch Relax

Toby started pulling out every book that he could think of out of the library which had deemed would be even remotely helpful. He had told his Mom and Pop that he wouldn't be coming straight home from school because he had a research project that he needed to complete as soon as possible. He knew that he would feel too guilty to concentrate if he had flat out lied to them and this way he pretty much told them the truth. It wasn't his fault if they assumed that he was going to a classmate's house instead of riding his bike to the Farm House. It also wasn't really his fault that he had taken off for school so quickly that he didn't give them any chances to ask follow up questions.

The previous night, he had made a list of different things that he would need to research to get to the bottom of what had happened a couple of nights ago. Before going to bed, he went over the list and started crossing off things that he knew for sure weren't viable leads (but were added to the list to ensure that he let the brainstorming flow). At first he thought that maybe she could be some kind of an astral projection, but that idea got quickly tossed away along with any theories of her being any type of spirit. For one, she stepped over the salt line and then she wrestled her knife away from him. He had woken up with a faint bruise (that kept blossoming into today) that he knew she had given him when she finally got the knife out of his hand.

She WAS corporeal, that was for sure. In his gut he still kept feeling like she was a demon or at least some sort of shape shifter. But the evidence told him that there was no way that she could have been one. He had confirmation that she could bleed, so she was made of flesh, but why didn't the wound react to the silver blade? Could it have tricked him? Made him see something that wasn't there? Or kept him from seeing something that had actually happened?

He slammed down his last book in frustration because of these texts were telling the same thing over and over; she had passed all of the tests, but in the back of his mind he thought that there was no way that she wasn't some type of creature. He knew that he should call Bobby to ask for his help because he might have a few theories that Toby hadn't thought of, but he didn't want to say anything to anyone until he had more details. He was worried that if he told Bobby then Bobby would tell Dean. And if Dean found out then he might rush back here which Toby knew would be completely fruitless. She wasn't actually here anymore, so telling anyone about her visit would have to wait. He could refocus his energy to find her after he figured out what she was. If he knew what she was, then he might have some idea of what brought her back, which would eventually help him to finally find her.

His frustration was becoming incapacitating, so he decided to change his tactics for a bit. Well, he figured that he should take a break. He picked up a couple of books that he thought were his Mum's journals to help to momentarily take his mind off the fact that she had in fact died at all. Since he had inherited them, Toby had habitually fallen asleep while reading her thoughts from when she was pregnant with him. He felt that her words were more than just her jotting down her thought and feelings, instead he felt like every word had been written down just for him. He knew that she had edited the content of some of them just for him, but when he and his Dad had packed up her belongings, Toby had found some of the original texts. He put a few of them aside hoping that Dean wouldn't notice and so far it appeared that he didn't and those journals gave him the same impression.

He wouldn't have admitted it to anyone, but some of his favorites to read were the ones from when she was hunting completely on her own. She had always told him about the hunts that she had completed, but back then he knew she hadn't told him all of the details. He didn't blame her for that because he probably would have had more nightmares that he did during his youth if she had, but having those details now could only help him in the future. He wanted to take each one of these on at some point, so having her descriptions of what they were, where to find them and how to kill them in these volumes was the best gift that she could ever have given him.

He opened the journal thinking that he would continue the story that he had started the last time that he was here. His Mum had been hunting something, but she hadn't figured out what it was yet. He had been trying to figure it out along with her from her case details and he was eager to find out if any of his theories were correct. He had his money on it being a shape shifter, but there wasn't any absolute proof as of yet.

He quickly flipped to the page where he remembered leaving off and frowned when the first words he read were 'Dean', 'Hell', 'Angel' and 'Perdition'. The journal looked identical to the other one, but this one was newer. Without having to read through the whole thing, he knew it was from when his Dad's deal came due nearly four years ago. Dean had already assured him that there was no way that his mother's death could have been the end result of a deal with a demon, so he knew he didn't have much need for any knowledge of how to retrieve a soul from Hell at this time.

Toby could see the frustration and anger she felt back then by how her writing changed. I hear ya Mum, he thought to himself with a sad laugh. The long and short of everything she found boiled down to three words that she wrote out in very large capital letters with a Sharpie across one page: ONLY AN ANGEL!

He laughed despite himself and held onto his St Hubert medallion thinking, Thank God we have Castiel.

Toby put that journal back into the box then rooted around until he found its twin. In the book that he had actually been reading, he had remembered to dog ear the page where he had left off, so it was easy for him to pick up from there. The narrative started to shift from reading like a storybook to some more clinical notations about the new details she had uncovered.

When he finally got to the conclusion, he cursed out a soft, "Oh fuck!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he quickly checked around the room with a look of guilty remorse. Even though he was alone, he still felt like his Mom would hear him curse and that she would punish him for it. The first (and only) time that Maureen heard him utter a forbidden four lettered word, he had been grounded worse than the punishment that Addy had set out as result of his one and only fight at school. Maureen had walked him to and from school every day for a week, he wasn't allowed any TV and the computer was only turned on so that he could type out an assignment. When Addy or Dean had called him, Maureen called them back on the house line so that she could easily end the conversation after her allotted ten minutes.

To say that Toby was worried about how his Mom would increase the severity of his punishment for a second offense would be putting it mildly. He knew she didn't take being disobeyed lightly and he would willingly admit that he was a little bit afraid of her.

His eyes swept around the room one more time to reassure himself that he was in fact still alone before continuing on. His Mum had been similarly frustrated because her foe had covered its tracks beautifully. In the end she found out that it wasn't a shape shifter, but a witch she was hunting. This particular witch could use a glamour to look like anyone or anything she desired, which was what caused Addy's confusion.

Witches weren't something that he had helped either his Mum or Dean with, so he knew he would have to do some more research on them. Luckily, his Mum had had the same thought pattern and had noted everything she had learned about them over the next couple of pages. He learned that witches were humans that had sold their souls to a demon for absolute power. There really wasn't any way to tell a witch from a regular human because most used powers to alter their appearance. They usually went after people that they had marked as 'deserving' punishment and hex bags were their weapon of choice to place a target on their victim's back.

"OH CRAP!" Toby gasped when he realized that when he was trying to find any evidence of his Mum in his room, he really hadn't looked thoroughly for something like that.

Toby quickly jumped up, leaving the journal discarded and open on the couch, to grab his jacket and peddle home as quickly as possible.

******
Back at Bobby's
******

"… You know instead of bringing home some random girl from the bar and making her sneak off before morning."

Dean had to spit out his coffee so that he could ask, "You… You heard her?"

"Son… Despite the acres of scrap yard between us, I'm pretty sure the neighbors heard her," Bobby answered with a mildly sarcastic tone and pointedly didn't look at Dean in the face. As he played with his food Bobby continued, "It's not that you being with anyone bothers me… It's a free country… But I just don't think it's wise having a stranger in the house when Sam's out of commission like this."

Dean's cheeks were burning hot with embarrassment, so he quickly stood up and carried his dishes to the sink to avoid looking at Bobby.

No! No way! I only DREAMT that Lay was here. There is NO way I picked up some random chick so I could replace her, he thought stroking his wedding band. No way! Hell… Did I even leave the house yesterday?

"No Bobby, you're wrong," Dean finally replied aloud without much conviction behind it.

"Dean… Son…I know what I heard," Bobby solemnly stated while patting Dean on the back. He noticed the item that had held Dean's attention and added, "Son… It isn't like you're cheating on her… She would have wanted you to be happy."

Dean's hand suddenly flew out to smack Bobby's comforting hand away as he turned to face the older man. Bobby took a couple of steps back in response and held his hands up in a sign of surrender. If Dean wasn't willing to admit the truth, then Bobby wasn't going to push. He knew that the younger hunter had had his heart ripped out and stomped on over the past couple of months and he didn't want to cause Dean any more pain. Bobby didn't really remember much about the last six months that followed his own wife's death, so he wasn't about to play the moral superiority card with Dean right now.

"No Bobby it was a dream," Dean started in a low, malicious tone. "I don't know what you think you heard, but you're mistaken. It was just a dream."

"Son," Bobby replied sadly. "Just because a girl gives you a name like 'Candy' and lets you do whatever you want to her body, doesn't mean that you get to write it off as a dream."

"NO!" Dean shouted as fire and violence rose into his eyes. He gripped his ring tightly as he continued angrily, "I haven't been with anyone since… Since… Her. I don't care what you think you overheard, but I didn't even fucking leave the house yesterday! I was by Sam's side all fucking day! So if you're hearing things, that's your problem, not mine!"

They both stared at each other and once Dean appeared to have calmed down a bit, Bobby opened his mouth to speak.

"IT WAS A DREAM!" Dean interrupted as he walked towards the basement door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check on Sam."

Bobby stood there, too stunned to move. He and Dean had had a few shouting matches over the years, but he knew that Dean was never this passionate when he was lying. Maybe Bobby had been mistaken; maybe he hadn't heard what he thought he heard. Maybe Dean had just finally moved that TV to his room like he kept saying that he was going to.

Dean stomped towards the door of the Panic Room and opened the peep hole to check on his brother. He was still lying there with his eyes closed with a familiar serene look on his face while he remained in a coma.

"You don't think he'll know, do you?" Dean heard her voice echo as he turned away from the door.

He kept telling himself that that was the only bed where he and Addy had had sex at Bobby's house. He started twisting his wedding ring thinking, Yeah; last night was just a dream. A fucking hot, steamy, wet dream, but still just a dream.

Dean leaned over, bunched her hair together to toss it over her shoulder and kissed a spot in between her shoulder blades.

"I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish and apparently I'll be your fantasy," he whispered as he peppered her upper back with soft embraces.

"You are such a dork," Addy laughed into her pillow before looking over her shoulder towards him.

"It woke you up though… Now come on, I don't want you to disappear on me again, so you have to wake up," Dean instructed as he knelt in between her legs.

Addy pushed herself up onto her elbows so that she could see better in his spot behind her and asked, "You're already prepped to go another round? Are you sure that's wise Dean? I mean, didn't you just prove that I've already fucked you stupid? If we keep going you might not be able to remember how to aim your Colt properly and then where would we be?"

He slowly wrapped his arm around her waist to coax her into a kneeling position as he pressed up against her back saying, "Well I would make love to you until I've forgotten my own name if it means that you'll stay here with me."

She shuddered in a sigh as he penetrated her and she leaned forward to grip the headboard for stability. There were so many things that she wanted to tell him right then, but she just focused on the feelings of absolute bliss that were coursing through her body at the moment. She yelped with surprise when Dean bit down on her shoulder to stifle his climatic cries then nearly fell onto her stomach as his weight blanketed her body.

Before she could register what he was doing, Dean flipped her onto her back and kissed her deeply. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in closer.

"Holy shit Dean, what are you on?" She asked through bated breath as he plunged into her in one smooth thrust.

"You tell me and we'll both know," he replied in a staccato fashion that matched the beat of his thrusts.

After they each worked through their… Well by this point they'd lost count how many times they had climaxed, Addy snuggled into Dean's side. He squeezed the arm he had wrapped around her and maintained an almost uncomfortable grip on her body.

"Dean?" She asked softly with her head resting on his shoulder.

"Hmm?" He responded sleepily.

She pushed herself up to look down at him. When she saw that his eyes were closed and that he had a contented smile on his face, she just placed her head back on his shoulder without another word spoken. He rolled over onto his side in what she thought was his sleep and wrapped his other arm around her and she settled herself in his arms with her head at an awkward angle so she could still breath.

"Just give me a minute Lay and then we can go another round. You get to choose the position this time."

She chuckled softly then kissed his tattoo. "I wish I could just lay like this forever," she commented softly against his chest.

He squeezed her, kissed her head and then said, "Now who's the one that's been fucked stupid?"

Dean was brought out of his reverie about the night before when he heard the rustle of wings and could feel that he was no longer alone in the basement.

"My apologies Dean… I didn't mean to interrupt your daydream, but Bobby called and said that you urgently required my assistance," Castiel apologized in his deep monotone while avoiding eye contact.

Dean could see the pink blush that crept from the angel's cheeks to his neck and realized that he must have seen everything that Dean had been thinking about.

Serves you right, perv, Dean joked telepathically.

Castiel's eyes shot up to Dean's face and he visibly relaxed after they shared a friendly smile.

"So Cas before you head in there, can I ask you something?" After a firm nod from the angel, Dean continued, "I know things are really hectic in heaven and all, but I was wondering… Have you seen…? I mean is she…?"

"I'm sorry Dean, I haven't been able to sense Adelaide's soul in heaven," Castiel cut in knowing that Dean had wanted to ask him that question for some time now.

"Oh… So does that mean… Is she…?" Dean's face scrunched up in distressed confusion as he tried to decide if he wanted to ask his question. Even worse, he wasn't sure that he wanted to know the answer.

"It means that heaven is in turmoil and I haven't been able to sense her. It takes a great deal of concentration to find one single soul in heaven and right now I haven't had an opportunity to have the solitude required to achieve that," Castiel mercifully interrupted once again. "Now, Bobby said that something has happened to Sam?"

Dean swallowed hard and nodded. "Death… He uhh… He got Sam's soul out of the cage…"

Castiel's jaw clenched into a hard line as he shot Dean a steely glare that forced the hunter to take a step away from him, but remained completely mute. The angel had already voiced his disapproval of this course of action on numerous occasions, although he knew that he shouldn't be surprised that Dean Winchester went and did the exact opposite of his wishes… Again. Castiel thought that they had reached a mutual understanding of respect, but now he realized that even though he was willing to make drastic compromises for his friend, the feeling was not reciprocated. Dean Winchester seemed to prove to the angel on daily basis that with his stubbornness and self-righteous attitude that he truly was Michael's perfect vessel.

Castiel knew that admonishing the hunter would yield nothing more than frustration, so he silently turned and entered the Panic Room rolling up his sleeves.

************
Change of POV
************

When I woke up, I still had Dean's scent in my nostrils. Before opening my eyes, I foolishly allowed myself to believe that I was still at Bobby's and not at the Bed and Breakfast. I stretched slightly and inhaled a deep breath, which resulted in my nose being filled with the scent of fresh cut flowers. Today Ariel had filled the room with roses of every shape and color. The room looked absolutely beautiful, so I took a moment to take it all in with reverent appreciation.

Today was the first day that I had woken up alone, so I sat up on the bed and looked around the room with an expectant eye. I was sure that Ariel would pop into the room at any moment, so I tried my best to brace myself for her 'surprising' arrival. When that didn't happen, I eased into the routine I had started since arriving here without skipping a beat: Find a fresh change of clothes, shower and then find something to eat because I always woke up famished.

When I emerged refreshed from the hot shower, I stepped back into my room where I was met by my angel. I placed my laundry in the hamper and smiled brightly, asking in a light hearted tone, "G'day Ariel. Please tell me you've been an absolute angel and brought me a big juicy steak. I have the hugest craving for red meat right now."

She scowled solemnly and shook her head and then suddenly there were two men in suits on either side of me. Other than the night when she had let me check on Toby, I hadn't been allowed to see anyone (other than Dean in my wildly realistic dreams), so the presence of anyone else close to me immediately put me on the defensive. When one of them stepped closer to me I started itemizing all of the defensive moves I could use if either of them grabbed me.

All three laughed a little too loudly and I felt myself visibly shrink back.

Fuck! They can hear my fucking thoughts.

Ariel lifted a well-coiffed eyebrow and finally spoke, "Yes, we can Adelaide. You know that. Relax... We just need to do a quick examination. Now, your behavior during it will determine which meal you will receive to nourish your body."

I looked beyond her and saw that on one table there was a perfectly prepared Kobe beef steak dinner, complete with mashed potatoes and chocolate cake. On the other table there was a meal with steamed vegetables and a plain chicken breast. It resembled something that my Mum had forced me to eat while I was pregnant with Toby because, in her words, it would help to ensure that I would have a healthy baby. I still think she secretly did it as a form of punishment for my disappointing her because my Mum was slightly devious that way… And I loved her even more for it.

I nodded softly and then whispered, "Okay."

Ariel jutted her chin in the direction of each of the males and they grabbed my arms roughly. As soon as they touched me, my skin started to crawl so I instinctively started to struggle against them. As I wriggled in their grasp, their grip constricted so tightly on my arms that I thought my bones might break.

The female angel stepped forward and for a brief moment I thought I saw her sneer as she placed her hand on my abdomen.

"Just relax Addy and this won't hurt… much."