Cas was never happier to reach a destination. Bobby's house loomed up just past a sea of broken and discarded vehicles. The myriad piles of wrecked vessels lay in neat rows in varying degrees of rust and ruin. The late afternoon sunlight sparked off of the windows in a magical way. Bobby lumbered out onto the porch at the first sound of the truck pulling into the driveway. He was a gruff looking man with a filthy ball cap on. His clothes had seen better days too. It looked as though he had been wedged under a leaking oil pan. He had smudges and grime all over his overalls.
He raised a hand to his eyes as Dean shut off the car and hopped out. "Hey Bobby. I got your baby back safe and sound."
Bobby walked over to his truck and said, "I sure hope you treated him the way he deserves. They don't make these trucks like they use to." He patted the side of the truck then.
"See, Cas, I'm not the only one that treats my vehicle with respect." Dean turned to Bobby and said, "By the way, Bobby, this is Cas. Cas, this is Bobby."
Cas walked up to Bobby and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you. I have heard a lot of high praise for you from Dean and Sam both."
Bobby seemed to feel awkward with the praise. "Well, then, nice to meet you too." He shook Cas' hand and then directed them to the house. "Why don't we get you boys settled. You can toss your bags inside. Then I want to see this bike Dean's been going on about."
Dean was already at the back of the truck grabbing his duffle out. He slung it over his shoulder and then reached back in for Cas' small rolling suitcase. He hefted it out and set it on the ground at his feet. Cas stooped to retrieve it and said, "Maybe I over packed. I probably didn't need a suitcase." He looked at the thick layer of dust that had settled over the whole thing and wondered how he was going to get it clean.
Dean beckoned Cas up the steps of the porch. Cas walked through the creaky screen door and let it slam a little too loudly behind him. There was a large dog sprawled out on the floor that seemed in no danger of moving. Dean stepped over him and Cas followed. "That's Cheney." Bobby called back. "He's part moose. Hope you don't mind dogs."
"Dogs are fine. Did you say his name was Cheney, like the former vice president?"
"Yep." The house was a cluttered mess of books and items with no thematic connection. There were car parts and hunting paraphernalia. The place was likely not visited by delicate women as it screamed I have guns and a basement, run while you can. There was a piano though. Cas saw that it was covered in a fine layer of dust. A large empty vase sat on top of it.
He walked over to it and gave it a gentle touch. "Do you play?" Cas asked as Bobby was about to start climbing the stairs.
"No. That belonged to my wife. Hasn't been played since she died some years ago. I just keep it out of sentimentality." Bobby started up the stairs. "Come on. This way to your suites."
"Well, there's one way to describe our rooms." Dean laughed.
"I better not hear you complaining. The price is right and the company is five stars." Bobby deadpanned back at Dean.
"You have a lot of books." Cas said as he climbed the stairs behind Dean and Bobby. The books were even stacked up in little piles along the stairs.
"Yeah, I read quite a bit. Don't really clean up so well though." Bobby let out a brief chuckle as they reached the top of the landing. Dean brushed past him and went down the hall. Bobby opened the first door and directed Cas in.
The room was small and had a sloping roof that turned into a straight wall just four feet before the floor. There was a wide window with a built in seat covered in crushed cushions that had seen better days. The wall on the left had a number of small recessed shelves that held books and trophies. A few pictures were also there staring out at him.
Cas set his suitcase on the bed and smiled back at Bobby. "This is really nice, Bobby. Thanks for letting me stay here."
"Well, it ain't the Ritz, but I suppose it'll do. Ya got fresh sheets and the bathroom is right there. You and Dean will share that one. He has the room on the other side of it." He pointed to the other door in the room on the left. "I'll be downstairs. Come on down once you're settled."
"Thanks." Bobby left and Cas walked over to the window to check out his weekend view. He could see the vast expanse of cars stretched out under the setting sun. In the distance was a small warehouse structure that he imagined was used as a repair shop. There were a couple of newer cars parked there.
He wandered over to the bookcase and looked over the books on the shelves. Teen boy adventure stories like the Hardy Boys were on one shelf. Higher up there were some old college textbooks covering everything from art to law. He ran his fingers along these as he took a few steps to the middle.
There was a picture of Sam, Dean, and their father standing together in Bobby's yard. Dean's face was young. He looked to be about 17, maybe 18. He was squinting a little at the sunlight that was full on his face. He and Sam framed their father. Sam was already a tower stretching out over them both. His hair an untidy mop about his face. He was facing Dean in the picture and grinning a cheshire cat grin. He looked so young too. He couldn't be more than 14 or 15 Cas thought. Their father stood in the center smiling, but not in the same unreserved way as his boys. There was something else too. Cas noticed the uniform. The father, John was it, appeared to be dressed as an officer. Did Sam ever mention that his father was a police officer? He tried to remember back, but could not recall any conversations about it.
He made his way along the shelf to the wall and saw another picture. This one of just Dean and his father. This time though, Cas was shocked even more. Because not only was the father wearing the officer's attire, so was Dean. They stood side by side in front of the Impala, serious expressions blanketing their faces. Why is Dean dressed like that? He turned from the picture and made his way down the hall to what he guessed was Dean's room. He tapped a tentative knock and then opened the door.
Dean was sprawled out on the bed staring up at the ceiling. "Hey, Cas. The room working for you?"
"Yeah, I was looking at the pictures." Cas paused for a second, looking for a response on Dean's face. "You were a cop?"
"Not exactly." Dean replied.
"What do you mean, not exactly?"
"Well, there is no were about it. I am a cop." Dean sat up then and propelled himself off the bed. He walked over to the far wall that was a mirror image of the one in Sam's room. the window seat had the same kind of crushed cushions on it. Dean sat there and stared out the window. "You understand that what I tell you here has to stay here, right?" He glanced over at Cas.
"Of course Dean." He walked over to the seat and sat next to Dean.
'Well, I didn't lie about being a mechanic. I do that on the side. My uncle works me like a dog, so don't think for one minute that I lied about that." Dean looked into Cas' eyes lending gravity to his words. Cas didn't get why this was being shared so intensely.
"I didn't think that you lied about that. I am a little shocked that you are a cop."
"Well, I was pretty worried about telling you since you have such clear feelings about what constitutes a lie. I kind of figured that having a whole other life would be a bit of a deal breaker for you."
"How long have you been a cop?" Cas asked.
"'Bout ten years now. I have been doing undercover work for a few years. That is why I don't share much about my work. It really isn't safe. So, I meant it when I said that this all has to stay here. There are only three, well now four, people that know about this. Bobby, Sam, Jess, and now you. You can't talk about it with your friends or anyone else."
"I think you have made your point. My lips are sealed." Then Cas took on a mischievous look. "Wanna check?" He leaned forward then bringing his lips close to Dean, but he did not give them contact.
"I'll take you at your word, Romeo." Dean stood up then, leaving Cas on the window seat.
"So do you work here or in the city?" Cas asked.
"I work in the city. I never worked out here. The case that I am working on keeps me on the fringes of the city though. My parents worked with the local law enforcement."
"Both of them?" Cas looked at Dean with surprise.
"Yeah, that is how they met. My mom was amazing. She taught my dad everything he knew." Dean beamed with pride at the memories of his mom.
A cranky, gravely voice poured up the stairs in a good-natured holler, "You boys gonna take all day settling in or what? I aint getting any younger down here."
"Ah, enough story time, Cas. Let's show the old man the bike." Then he called down, "We're coming ya old grouch, keep your panties on."
They went downstairs and Cas tried to process all of the new information. He wasn't sure if it changed anything. It did give him a moment's pause though when he thought of Dean in that uniform. I do like the uniform.
Review, Fav., Follow. I love the attention that my email box gets from you all. Thanks. Next up is dinner at Sam's with Bobby, Jess, Cas, and Dean.