Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 7

Dean held Sam as he thrashed in another nightmare, knowing that since Sam was more stable he had to remember the bad along with the good, no matter how much it hurt them both. But he made sure to only let the nightmares through once or twice a month to keep from overwhelming him. Sam jerked awake with a cry, eyes staring around wildly. "Shh Sammy, I'm here, you're safe." He soothed and Sam latched onto him, trembling and sobbing. "You're okay, I've got you." Dean whispered as he rocked Sam. "Shh, come on Sammy, calm down."

Sam whimpered, hands shakily pawing at Dean's shirt and he frowned but pulled it off and Sam's hands wandered over the revealed skin, searching. "No…no…hurt…." Sam stammered, looking up at Dean, confused.

"No Sammy, I'm not hurt." Dean reassured him. "You had a nightmare."

"D…dogs barking." Sam whispered and Dean closed his eyes.

"They were hellhounds Sam." Dean explained and Sam frowned.

"Hell'ounds?" he asked and Dean nodded. "Dead? Not dead." Sam looked so confused and scared so Dean hugged him gently, running his fingers through Sam's hair and Sam cuddled against him.

"Yeah Sammy, hellhounds….I died but was brought back, do you remember?" Dean asked and Sam stared at him, obviously not fully understanding. "It's okay Sam, it doesn't matter." Dean told the physically eighteen year old in his arms and Sam nodded, relaxing gradually and falling back to sleep.

"Hey Sam." Bobby greeted, not sure if Sam would react to him today but Sam smiled at him.

"Bobby." Sam responded and reached out to him so Bobby moved in, hugging him gently.

"You good?" Bobby asked and Sam nodded, bouncing impatiently and Bobby chuckled, giving him the candy bar he'd brought, Sam tearing into it happily. Bobby watched, seeing how happy something so simple made Sam these days.

"Hey Bobby." Dean called as he walked into the lounge room, ruffling Sam's hair and making him laugh, reaching for Dean. Dean grinned and sat beside him, letting Sam cuddle against him. Bobby smiled as he watched them, Dean doing what he'd always done, looking after Sam. He prayed that Sam would continue to heal, that Dean would truly get his brother back but he knew the odds weren't good with Sam still not speaking properly and only reading children's books. But there was always hope.

Bobby looked up at the sound of wings but it wasn't Dean in his kitchen, it was Castiel. "Well where are the boys?" He demanded and Castiel frowned.

"I do not know. Sam is no longer in hell." The angel answered.

"So where the hell is he?" Bobby asked and Castiel frowned, staring at him. Something about the hunter was different…Castiel moved closer and Bobby moved back. "Personal space angel." He demanded but Castiel grabbed him, scanning him, finding the healed liver damage…..angelically healed. Bobby meantime was mentally panicking. Dean!

Hearing Bobby's panicked call Dean appeared and pulled Castiel off him, moving defensively in front of his third father figure. Castiel froze and stared in confusion. It was Dean, but he looked younger and….

"Michael?" Castiel whispered in awe.

"In a way." The other archangel answered. "Bobby you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little disturbed."

"Good."

"Michael." This time Castiel stated it.

"I'll deal with you in a second." He snapped. He turned back to Bobby since he was honestly unsure how to deal with the younger angel.

"Honestly Dean, I'm not hurt." Bobby assured him.

Castiel watched curiously. This was Michael and yet Bobby called him Dean. And the hunter did not seem surprised to see him. Where had Michael been all this time and why would Dean agree to be his vessel now?

"You sure?" Dean asked worriedly and Bobby rolled his eyes.

"Idjit." The hunter teased and Dean relaxed before taking a deep breath and turning on Castiel, thunder crashing in response to his anger.

"We need to talk young one." Michael demanded and Castiel felt a flash of fear.

TBC…..
Their little 'talk' is giving me issues so suggestions are welcome.