Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 3

Dean sat beside Sam behind the salt line as Sam ate, happy that Sam would now let him close while he was eating. But he knew it wasn't because Sam knew who he was. Despite the fact that Sam had two childhood memories he didn't seem able to grasp that the person with him was an adult Dean. But at least Sam was no longer as afraid of him, obviously the fact that he wouldn't hurt him had finally sunk in to a point and it had only taken what? A year? Not that Dean was really paying any attention to the time passing in the outside world.

"Sammy?" Dean called and Sam looked over at him, more curious than fearful now.
"Hey kiddo, can you understand me?" He asked like he did every few days but Sam's expression remained blank and Dean sighed, slowly reaching out to him. Sam didn't flinch but watched his hand very closely as it came to rest on Sam's shoulder. Sam tensed but didn't try to pull away so Dean gently tugged him into his arms.
"That's it Sammy, you're okay." He whispered, rubbing Sam's back. Sam was tense and his breathing had picked up a bit but he didn't scream as Dean continued to whisper to him. Dean froze as Sam raised a shaking hand to touch his face but then smiled and leant into Sam's touch, letting him explore his features.
"It's me Sammy, its De." He whispered, using the name Sam had given him when he was little, hoping it would connect with Sam's memories. Sam frowned as he stared at Dean and Dean sighed, gently grasping Sam's hand and softly kissing his fingers, making Sam's eyes widen in surprise.
"Love you Sammy, please understand that." Dean pleaded and Sam's fingers moved to touch the single tear that fell. Dean took his hand away, staring at the moisture on his fingers before licking it off. Sam frowned again, tasting the salt in the water, staring up at Dean. Sam opened his mouth, his lips moving like he was trying to talk and Dean's heart leapt into his throat.

"Urg….uh…." They weren't words but they weren't screams either so Dean so it as an improvement.

"You're getting there Sammy. It's okay kiddo." Dean whispered.

Dean stroked a hand through Sam's hair, grimacing at the length but he wouldn't try to cut it until Sam could understand, he didn't want the kid to freak out. He made sure Sam would stay asleep and then vanished from the house, deciding it was time he see what was going on outside their little bubble. He reappeared in Bobby's living room, invisible to human senses. He looked around fondly, searching for the hunter.

"People don't just vanish you idjit! Even if….even if he's dead there'll be a body somewhere." He heard and walked into the kitchen to find Bobby on the phone. He looked upset and a lot older than Dean remembered. He watched as Bobby slammed the phone down and took a drink from a bottle of whisky.
"Damn it!" He muttered angrily and Dean could feel the grief and rage coming from him.
"You better be alive Dean." That made Dean freeze. Bobby was looking for him? Dean shook his head, of course he was. Dean took a deep breath and then appeared.

"Bobby." He called softly and the man spun around, going white.
"Whoa, easy Bobby, it's me." Dean assured him, keeping his hands in sight. Bobby scrambled up, backing away from him while searching for a weapon.

"What are you?" Bobby growled out, backing away as Dean took a step closer.

"Bobby it's me, it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you, I just came to see you." Dean told him as Bobby finally grabbed a knife.
"Want to test?" Dean held out his arm steadily.
"I'm not a shape shifter or a revenant. Christo, so not a demon either." Dean explained, staying still as Bobby swiftly made a cut in his arm, red human blood seeping out. Dean had managed to keep his body functioning at a mostly human level so unlike when they'd shot Castiel he would bleed, if only for a very short time.

"Dean?" Bobby whispered and he nodded.

"I'm sorry Bobby, I should have called. A lot's happened and….." he trailed off with a shrug and then he was wrapped up in a tight hug. Dean hugged Bobby back, subtly scanning him and healing the liver damage he found from the amount of alcohol he'd been drinking the last few years.

"Damn it boy! Where the hell have you been? Castiel showed up last month and even he didn't know!" Bobby yelled at him and Dean sighed, moving to sit at the table, Bobby following him.

"Bobby I never meant to worry you. I'm sorry. I've been really busy and…..everything else just sort of fell by the side."

"Busy with what?" Bobby demanded and Dean took a deep breath.

"Looking after Sam." Dean answered and Bobby stared at him.

"Sam? How? What did you do!" Bobby demanded fearfully.

"I got him out, no deal." Dean answered.

"So where is he?"

"Safe. He….Bobby he's….you know how I was done there for decades?" He asked and Bobby nodded.
"Sam was even deeper in, time flowed even faster. He's not a demon but he's not Sammy. He's getting better but at first…..he was like a wild animal. He can't talk; he doesn't understand anything I say. But he's calmed down a lot, he'll let me touch him now as long as he sees it coming." Dean explained and Bobby closed his eyes in pain, remembering Sam from before.

"Dean what did you do?"

"I went in after him." Dean told him, unable to tell him the whole truth yet. He was scared he realised, scared that Bobby would no longer care about him if he knew the truth of who, what Dean really was. Bobby went white and clutched at the table.

"You…..Dean explain right now!" Bobby demanded and Dean stared at the table top.
"Dean, son…..what have you done?" He asked in a near whisper and Dean looked back up at him.

"Don't be afraid, please." Dean whispered as he stood and Bobby stared in shock as the shadow of massive wings appeared behind Dean.

"Who…who are you? Get out of him!" Bobby demanded and Dean walked over to him, wings once more totally invisible, dropping to his knees beside Bobby's chair.

"It's me Bobby, I'm still Dean." He swore as Bobby stared at him, taking in the features of the man he knew and trying to work out who was the one in the drivers' seat.

"I don't…" Bobby trailed off.

"Please Bobby, you're the closest thing we have left to family." Dean told him and Bobby reached out with a shaking hand to grip his shoulder.

"The wings…..you're an angel." He whispered and Dean nodded, eyes focused on Bobby and the hunter was surprised to see fear in them. An angel wouldn't have any reason to be scared….but Dean would.
"How?"

"I…..it's complicated. But I guess you could say I pulled the same trick Anna did, just a long time before she did." Dean explained and Bobby's eyes went even wider.

"Are you…you were an angel….before?" He stuttered out and Dean nodded, watching him closely.

"Archangel actually." Dean admitted, waiting for Bobby to put it all together, not wanting to have to say it himself. Bobby frowned, staring at him and then it seemed to click, only one archangel was unaccounted for after all.

"Michael?" He breathed and Dean nodded.

TBC….