Catching Up
Chapter 9 – Bugs

A/N: Hey guys, I just wanted to take the opportunity to address a couple of comments I saw about the format and how much of the shows I put in. If you notice, I do my best to link all of their comments about the show to what they would be watching and pace the conversation accordingly. I realize it can be a bit vague at times so I will try harder to ground it in the show. That being said, I'll be sticking to my current style because I think it's the best one for what I envision with this series. Hopefully that's okay with you guys, now on with the story!

The next morning, Sam and Dean awoke to the most delicious smells in the air. They came out to hall, exchanging confused looks as the scent intensified. Knowing full well that Castiel could not cook a piece of bread to save his Grace, there was only one person who could pull this off. Sure enough, Mary was in the kitchen, Castiel at her side, creating a veritable mountain of pancakes. "Morning mom," Sam greeted.

"Morning boys," Mary threw them a smile from the stove. "Castiel and I are almost done, have a seat."

"Did you get any sleep last night mom?" Dean asked.

"Some. I had tea with Cas, got a couple hours then woke up around 7 and decided to make breakfast," Mary turned from the cooker and brought the stacks of pancakes to the table. Castiel added a platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and separate plate of toast. "Oh I almost forgot the fruit," Mary remembered. "Cas told me Sam is the most likely one to eat that but I want to see some on your plate as well Dean."

"Yes mom," Dean eyed the bowl of cut-up fruits disdainfully.

"You didn't have to go to all this trouble mom," Sam said.

"Nonsense, I don't mind." Mary batted a hand. "Castiel you sit and eat too."

"Yes Mary," the angel sat down and began filling his plate.

Mary bustled away to get the juice and water and Dean leaned forward, "So…what? Are you and mom BFFs now?"

"Something to that effect," Cas shrugged. "Do not worry our bond will not be compromised unless you'd prefer to keep my company to yourself."

Dean spluttered, "I – I didn't mean –"

Sam nearly choked on his eggs, "I said it before, I'll say it again, I love you Cas."

"I am still very fond of you as well Sam," Cas returned just as Mary came back and took her seat.

"So what's the plan for today? More episodes?" she asked.

"Probably, I don't want us going out too soon with the Men of Letters hanging around," Sam's eyes involuntarily flicked up to the ceiling.

"Yeah but I was thinking we should take mom shopping to get some clothes, she can't keep wearing our stuff," Dean gestured to Mary's current outfit, standard Winchester plaid and jeans.

"Okay later on we'll see," Sam acquiesced. They finished up their meal and congregated in the study once more. "So what do we have next…" Sam started the TV and DVD player and scanned the case. "Did Skin…Did Hook Man…so the next episode is Bugs."

"Oh fantastic," Dean grimaced. "Chuck still owes us big time for that."

"I'm sure my Father was not ill-intentioned," Cas said and Mary jumped.

"Your Father? But you're an angel unless…you don't mean…" Mary looked at all of them.

"Yeah God, THE GOD but he prefers Chuck," Dean confirmed. "You'd think being on first name terms with the Creator would make things easier for us but nope. Mom you were brought back by his sister."

"You called Amara 'the Darkness'," Mary settled back into her seat. "You never mentioned she was the sister of God or that you knew the Lord personally."

"Well there's name-dropping and then there's name-dropping," Sam loaded the next episode and backed up to sit on the couch with the remote in one hand and DVD case in another. "Description says, Sam and Dean investigate a town's history and find that a new housing development is being built on sacred Native American land. Here we go."

The show opened on a construction site and a worker falling into a sinkhole where he is attacked by a swarm of beetles. Despite his friend's best efforts, he dies from the bug attack and Mary cringed, "That is no way to go."

"Tell me about it," Dean agreed.

The episode moved to Sam sitting on the Impala outside a bar, "Well it doesn't get more typical than that," Sam chuckled. "Me waiting outside while you or Dad went in to hustle at pool or something."

"Please tell me you're joking," Mary asked with no hope.

"Afraid not," Dean shook his head.

At that moment, TV!Sam appeared to join the conversation with the line, "How we were raised was jacked."

"Couldn't agree more with myself," Sam ribbed as TV!Sam ran down the case. "Still watch Oprah Dean?"

Dean scowled, "It went off air five years ago idiot and thank you for making me feel even older." He nodded to screen where the TV!Winchesters were talking to the other man from the construction site. "Uncle Dusty? Damn we really milked that young card, now it's all FBI and DHS." After listening to the witness's account, TV!Sam and TV!Dean went to the housing development to examine the hole where the man died.

Cas interjected, "Is no one seeing this? Surely you can't barge onto a crime scene?"

"Probably didn't consider a crime scene anymore since they thought the guy had a disease," Dean reasoned. "Could explain why people wouldn't come near the thing."

"I can't believe you chickened me into that hole," Sam muttered grumpily. Suddenly there was a tap on his hand before he heard, Why does that sound vaguely sexual? "With you, anything is sexual and thanks for the heads up," he whispered. He added to the group, "Can't believe I had to explain how cases work to Dean."

"I know how it works," Dean argued. "And I can tell you now, I'd still take our family over normal any day."

"That's because you have," this surprisingly came from Cas. "Many times over."

"And regret nothing buddy, I swear." Mary frowned, Dean's complete rejection of a normal life struck a chord with her. Once again she was forcibly reminded that her sons were seasoned hunters, thoroughly tied to the business. It was a fact that was becoming less and less bitter to swallow but the aftertaste was still unpleasant.

"Could you imagine what dad would have said if he heard that old crack?" Dean snorted.

"He would have absolutely shot me on spot," Sam laughed with a clap. "Better than being married to you though."

"I'm hurt Samantha, I really am," Dean rolled his eyes.

"Why do all these people believe that you and Sam are sexually involved?" Cas queried.

"Ask the internet," Sam shrugged and Dean made a strangled noise.

"DO NOT ASK THE INTERNET!" Dean shook his head frantically. "There are just some roads you do not want to go down!"

Sam smirked, "Funny considering where the internet thinks Cas should go do-"

"YOUR MOTHER IS RIGHT THERE!" Dean exclaimed but even Mary cracked up at Dean's manic expression. Cas was naturally perplexed while the voice's invisible laughter echoed in Sam's ears.

"Dude mom is going to find out about all of this anyway," Sam reasoned, coughing back into seriousness. "Why not just get it over with?"

"I realise you boys are grown men," Mary chimed in. "I had no doubt sex would come up eventually."

"Still it's weird," Dean made a face.

"I'm not judging baby," Mary soothed him. "Regardless of race, religion, gender, or apparently, species." Sam had to bite his hand to keep from laughing out loud again and even Cas chuckled once. Sadly, the jovial mood was brought down by TV!Sam and TV!Dean's discussion about their childhood. No one commented on it but one could sense the good humour draining from the room. The TV!Winchesters decided to squat in one of the empty houses and they watched the Head of Sales get attacked by a swarm of spiders. Mary cleared her throat at last, "God that is awful. So the kid is involved?"

"Well that was the theory," Sam and Dean shared a look, bracing for the awkwardness to come and it did not disappoint. Their onscreen counterparts tracked down Matt and discussed his problems at home. Sam winced when he suggested college as a way out and Dean rubbed his neck at his own comment. This was no longer a sticking point for the brothers, now understanding the other's side, but it didn't help hearing their old grievances aired out like that. Cas wisely chose not to say anything and Mary took a silent deep breath.

Dean was simultaneously grateful and peeved when they got to the burial ground scene and his television self stuck his hand down the worm-infested hole. "Like an episode of Fear Factor, thanks Chuck. I hate you."

Once again the scene changed and TV!Sam and TV!Dean finally hashed things out about John. Sam teared up, "I wish he would've come to me, even just once. I wish I called him."

"He knew you loved him," Mary said with absolute certainty. "You and John sound like me and my dad. I remember we argued a lot and one time I really thought he hated me and my mother said, that in a family, 'hate' is just another word for anger born out of love."

"Thanks mom," Sam smiled. On the show, they learned what happened to the Native Americans and the curse placed on the land.

"From heartwarming family moments to horrific acts of violence, sounds like the Winchesters to me," Dean commented.

"And no investigation would complete without a disbelieving idiot who refuses to listen," Sam added as Larry was confronting their television selves. "If he had just gotten out of dodge, we could have dodged several thousand bug bites."

"The bees were the worst," Dean flinched at the bugs descended and they were forced to wait it out. "Termites were a pain in the ass but at least they didn't bite."

"Not to complain or wish you boys ill, but that was an awfully short night," Mary observed.

"Perhaps my Father decided to end your sufferings early?" Cas suggested with a hint of a smile.

"He better have," Dean remarked.

"So is the land still cursed?" Mary asked.

"Yeah, there was an article about it," Sam said. "The government officially declared it Native American tribal land and gave it back to the Occhi. I think some of them moved into the remaining development since the curse didn't apply to them."

"A rare happy ending," Cas sighed.

"For the most part," Dean allowed.

"Well let's get going on the next one," Sam looked at the case and his face fell. He looked at Dean with a foreboding expression, "Home."