Dean kept his promise and called Lily when he stopped for the night. He still had a long trip ahead of him, driving by himself. Lily made him promise to stop if he needed to, but Dean managed to get to the cabin without another long stop. He called to let her know he was there and to check on her and Kevin. Everything was going okay.
"Listen," Dean said, "I'm gonna get some sleep, then start going through these books. I'ma try to bring back just the ones that have information on demons, so it might take me a day or two. I'll head home when I'm done."
"You're driving me crazy, you know... leaving me so soon after you came back."
"I know, sweetheart. Trust me, I'd much rather be with you, but Kevin needs this stuff, and you two need to stay safe."
"Well, go get some sleep. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Two nights later, Dean called with a tone in his voice she hadn't heard since he had been back. A mixture of anger and pain.
"Guess who showed up here today," he said.
"Who?"
"Sam."
"You're kidding?"
"Do I sound like I'm kidding?"
"No, you sound like you wanna kill him."
"Yeah, well, he left me for dead, so why not?"
"Dean..."
"No. You didn't tell me he never tried to look for me... at all."
"Well, I thought him quitting would be painful enough."
"You would think. He's decided to help us after all. He'll be driving your car back... now that I have my baby."
Lily could hear the smile in his voice. He loved that car. She almost hated to let Sam take it when he left, but it wasn't her decision.
"When are you guys heading this way?"
"We're leaving tonight. In a few hours, before it gets dark so we can get some driving in before we stop for the night."
"Okay. Call me."
She didn't expect a call until late that night, but Dean called just a couple of hours later.
"Hey, I know you were expecting me home in a couple of days, but something just came up that I have to take care of. It's out of the way by about half a day."
"Dean..." Lily couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice.
"I'm sorry, baby."
"What is it?"
"I have to help out a friend."
"What friend?"
"Nobody you know. I'll just be a few more days, okay?"
"Not really. But who am I to tell you that you can't help out a friend? How awful would that make me?"
"That's my girl. I'll be home as soon as I can... with Sam."
"Whatever you're going off to do... be safe."
"Of course."
"Call me if you can. I love you."
"Love you, too, Kitten."
The next call she got was from Sam. At the sound of his voice, she felt awkward. The way they parted wasn't ideal. But all that got pushed aside quick.
"Have you heard from Dean since he went off on his little errand?" Sam asked. He sounded frustrated and angry.
"No. He said he'd call if he could. What's wrong?"
"I've called all of his phones and he's not answering any of them."
"Well, maybe he can't get to them, or he left them in his car. He said he was going to help a friend, but he didn't say with what."
"He didn't even tell me that much," Sam said. "What friend?"
"He said I didn't know the person."
"And you just let him go?"
"Like I could stop him? And what about you? You're there with him physically... you couldn't stop him?"
"Dean wouldn't listen to me right now if I told him his hair was on fire. He doesn't like me very much at the moment."
"Gee, I wonder why?" Lily didn't hide the anger in her voice.
"Are we really gonna do this right now?"
"Sam, I'm sure Dean is fine. Just give him some time. Have him call me when you hear back from him."
Lily hung up before Sam could say anything else. She was worried, but she wasn't back in a place with Sam where she was prepared to be open. Just because he was willing to help now... that didn't erase his leaving when she needed him most. When Dean needed him most.
She didn't even try to go to sleep that night. She knew she wouldn't be able to until she knew Dean was safe. The call came in the early morning hours.
"We're headed home," Dean said.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"Something's wrong. You sound upset."
"It's just this mess with Sam... and I have some things to tell you when I get back."
"Why don't I like the sound of that?"
"Nothing you have to worry about, just something I need to tell you about Purgatory. Look, I've been up all night, and I need to focus on the road. We're gonna stop in a while and grab a few hours sleep. Should be back tomorrow."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Lily heard the rumble of the Impala early the next morning. She ran outside and straight into Dean's arms. Her hands pulled his face to hers, and she kissed him deeply.
"Where's Sam?" she asked. He still hadn't pulled up in her car.
"I got out ahead of him. I wanna talk to you before he gets here and we really get into it."
"You're fighting?"
"He's pissed at me. Let's get inside."
They went into their bedroom. Dean sat her on the bed, but stood in front of her.
"Does this have something to do with the friend you helped?"
"Yeah. His name is Benny. I went to help him because I told him he could call me if he needed help... and he needed it."
"Okay."
"The reason I told him to call is because I owe him."
"For?"
"He helped me get out of Purgatory."
"He was in Purgatory with you?"
"Yes."
"Then he's..."
"A monster?" Lily just nodded. "Yeah," Dean said "A vampire to be exact."
"And Sam knows... and doesn't understand, right?"
"Right."
"Okay... make me understand. What happened?"
"Benny was the one who told me about the portal in the first place. He said he would show me where in exchange for getting him back top-side too. He helped me find Cas... helped me fight my way through Purgatory. When we got out, the first thing I did was go to Louisiana and resurrect him."
"Why didn't you call me, first?"
"Because I knew if I got in touch with you, you either wouldn't believe it was me, or you'd wonder why I couldn't get to you right away. I had to take care of Benny. Dude was in my arm until I released him."
"In your arm?"
"Yeah, the spell... It took him into me. I had him rolling around in my arm until I got to his grave in Louisiana."
"Okay, so, you're with Sam, supposed be on your way home to me, and he calls."
"He went after the vamp that turned him. He was attacked by a bunch of them and they left him for dead. He needed blood, but he couldn't get to his truck."
"Speaking of blood..."
"No, hang on. I got him patched up and I helped him get to his maker. We took out the whole nest."
"Dean, we both know the important question here is, where is he getting the blood?"
"Black market. Stolen from blood banks. All of it donated. He's not a killer."
"And you can be sure?"
Dean sat on the bed next to her and took her hand in one of his.
"He told me that, before he was killed... the reason he was killed... he saw something in humanity. He fell in love, with a woman named Andrea. His nest attacked ships. Yachts, mostly. Stole the goods, drained the people, burned the boat. He was supposed to report Andrea's boat, but he didn't. He sailed on it with her. Left the nest behind, stopped drinking people. I saw this woman when we went to the nest."
"Wait. She was there?"
"His maker turned her after having Benny killed."
"Oh my God."
"I saw it... he loved her. And I believe him."
"He killed her?"
"I did."
"And he was okay with that?"
"He didn't seem mad at me, if that's what you mean. He knew it had to be done. He told her she wasn't the woman he fell in love with."
"That's sad."
"It is. And I know how the love of a good woman can change a man." Dean smiled at Lily when she looked into his eyes. "So, I believe him. He's not a killer."
"And I believe in you. That's all I need."
Dean put his hand behind her neck and pulled her into a kiss. He began to kiss down her neck, while unbuttoning her shirt. They separated when they heard the front door slam, and Sam's angry voice.
"Dean!"
Lily grabbed Dean's face to make him look at her.
"I know you're angry with him, and I think you have the right to be. I'm angry with him, too. But talk... don't yell."
"I'll do my best."
He kissed her once more and they walked out into the living room, hand-in-hand.