Dean had got Bobby all cleaned up, dressed in a new plaid shirt with a clean pair of trousers. Bobby just couldn't keep his hands off his chest. He never stopped fidgited with the newly healed skin. It was so smooth, so soft, like a baby. His heart had been healed and the bullet vapourized.
Dean wheeled Bobby into the main room, where awaiting Castiel and Melinda were stationed, waiting for orders. "Take Cas, go downstairs and lock the door. We'll be down later." Dean's voice empty and cut off. Melinda nodded, then turned to Castiel, taking him by the hand and leading him to the basement. They stepped down the creaking wooden stairs into the darkness, fumbling their way to the panic room. Melinda unlocked the large rusted door then peeled it open, stepping inside cautiously, looking around the room. She turned to Cas.
"Lock this door, then come join me." She barely smiled. Castiel nodded, then slowly shut the door, leaving Melinda alone in the silence of the room. From the other side of the door, Castiel locked the oom back up, then stared at the '1927' written on the iron door. He then closed his eyes, and in seconds, he transported himself into the room with Melinda. She smiled as he appeared, but then let it fade as she turned away, walking over to the bed. As she sat down, the bed spring creaked under her weight. Melinda drew her legs together then rested her elbows in her lap. Her cheeks lay in her palms as she let her head hang.
She said nothing. Castiel said nothing. Instead, he just went to her, standing beside her, his arms folded behind his back. He watched the walls emotionlessly. Melinda lt her fingers slide down her face as she tilted her head and looked up at Castiel. With her right hand, she patted the bed beside her gently, inviting him to sit down. Melinda moved her hand as he took a seat. She turned away from him again. Silence, again.
"What are they going to do with Sam?" Melinda asked shyly. She continued to look straight ahead. Melinda fell deep into her own world, overtaken by the loss of her brother. She hadn't felt this way since Dean went to hell.
"Sam is Lucifer's vessel, they cannot kill him." Castiel looked at the side of Melinda's face.
A tear slipped from Melinda's watering eyes. "They can tortue him, brainwash him into saying yes." Melinda answered.
This time, Castiel stayed quiet. She was dead right.
Melinda let her head hang again. "He's going to say yes, I can feel it," she wiped the tiny river off her face, "If they world hasn't ended already, it has now." Melinda sobbed grimly.
Castiel, again, said nothing. He looked away from Melinda, and stared off at the wall. "Dean is still with us," his rough voice told her. "As long as he doesn't give himself over, Heaven and Hell will remain at a stalemate."
Surprisingly, this gave Melinda no comfort. Sam was gone, and who knew when they'd meet again... if they meet again.
Melinda let out a breath, then looked up, her head rolling back on her neck. She looked at Castiel for a moment, then looked away. "Cas, I'm scared. I'm scared for Sam. I'm scared for all of us." She faced him.
"What's going to happen when Lucifer and Michael fight?"
Castiel looked at her. His expression hardend. "The earth will change forever." He didn't lie. Melinda just stared at him. She felt sick and looked away from Castiel.
He raised his hand and placed it gently on her shoulder. "Heaven and Hell along with it."
Melinda took a painful berath. It wavered as she let it out. Her eyes closed. "So, home isn't where the heart is, huh?" Melinda said with sad sarcasum.
Castiel threw her a look. "My home is with you." Was all he said.
This made Melinda open her eyes and smile. Together, they stayed in the silence alone, seizing the day the best way they knew how. Until Melinda's cellphone rang. It was Bobby.
Melinda gave her phone an awkward look, then turned to Cas. She quickly answered it. "Bobby?" she asked nervously.
Her jaw dropped. Her heart sank. Melinda couldn't breathe. "Oh no." She mouthed. She hung up the phone, and dropped her hand into her lap. Melinda's gaze was hurt.
"What is it?" Castiel asked her. Melinda continued to stare at nothingness. She tried to find the words.
"Dean," she managed to slip out, "he left. He went to find Sam." She closed her eyes tightly, wishing he'd come back.
Castiel looked away. His eyes kept to the ground.
"We have to find him," he turned to Melinda. She was confused. "What?"
"Before Michael does."