Being called back to the mansion was an uncomfortable situation at best. Dean, Sam, Charlie, Jet, and Nikki all walked in with armed escorts following each of them around. The safety precautions were through the roof, albeit necessary considering what had happened to them while living there. Dean tried to pack what was important and leave the garbage. Anything he hadn't touched while staying there would probably wind up being left.
He did it as fast as humanly possible, he wasn't sure he liked the silent, non-talkative dude that was shadowing him. It'd be fine if Dean hadn't tried to say hello once or twice, but the guy just gave a nod and stood by watching him. It was unsettling.
Dean stood outside the front door waiting for the others, he had two large duffle bags with him and that was about it. Charlie was out next, she didn't have a lot of stuff with her either.
"They're a little paranoid, huh?" She laughed as she leaned against the wall next to him.
"Yeah, though I guess I can't blame them." Dean looked up at the front door where Jet was walking out, carrying a bag while his mom carried a box. Hell, even their guard was carrying something for him.
"Right," Charlie added awkwardly as she watched them. "You got everything, Jet?"
"Yeah I think so," he looked at the others, "Mom's a wizard at packing."
"What can I say? I had to move a lot in my years." Nikki smirked and put the stuff down, "So where's our U-Haul? Shouldn't they be here by now?"
"My bet is that they took a detour," Dean mused as he glanced down the road, "Or Michael remembers some stuff we missed."
The others were in charge of getting the trailer, bringing it to the Novak's, packing their stuff, and bringing it to the mansion. Dean had left it up to Bobby, since Bobby also had a car to hook up the trailer to and all that. He had half a mind to call them, part of him worried that Cas had freaked out and didn't want to go anywhere, part of him assuming they were just dawdling along.
"Probably getting lunch," Jet grumbled.
"Maybe," Dean agreed in the same tone, both ready to get pissed off if that was the actual case. His phone rang seconds later, the call display reading 'Bobby.' "Hey," he answered it immediately.
"Dee, sorry we're taking so long!"
"Hey Cas," Dean's tone changed the instant he heard Cas' voice on the other end, "What's holding you guys up?"
"People saw me on the street and wanted to talk and look at my wings and stuff. We're on our way to the mansion now, you guys done?"
"Almost, Sammy's not here yet."
"Okay, good. Sorry to make you wait so long, did you want me to fly ahead and see you?"
Dean considered it, imagined Cas in Bobby's car with Desirae and Michael and how cramped that might be. "You know what? Yeah, if you don't mind hanging around outside."
"I'll be there soon." Cas hung up, leaving Dean with the dial-tone.
"Cas is on his way to wait with us." Dean looked at the others with a grin, "Seems he got some attention and that's why they're late. Not even famous and already getting held up."
"Well he looks like a depiction of an angel hanging around in the Bible-Belt of the US," Jet raised an eyebrow at him as if it were the most obvious conclusion.
"Shut up, you didn't think about that either." Dean griped, making Jet laugh.
It only took a few minutes but Dean heard the familiar sound of Castiel's wings approaching. He'd forgotten how fast his boyfriend was, but ultimately he was very glad that he'd been unconscious when Cas carried him to the hospital all those days ago.
Cas landed and immediately went to hugging Dean, "Hi Dee, sorry I took so long." He said after leaving a quick kiss on Dean's cheek.
"You're like the wind," Dean chuckled and returned the gesture, "How're things with the others? Everything going smoothly?"
"Well as smoothly as it can," Cas glanced back and noticed that Desirae had taken a ride with Cas, hiding behind his wings and clinging.
"I got bored," Rae stated and hopped down, she ran right up to Jet to greet him.
"Not as uncomfortable being near this place as you thought, huh?" Jet smiled and lifted her up with one arm, "Or you just missed me, maybe?"
"Both," she admitted as she hugged him tight.
Cas hung onto Dean as they waited, kissing his cheek and smiling to no one in particular. Dean held Cas' hand wherever it lingered, still in awe of how little time it had taken for him to fall so hard. "I love you," he muttered softly, a voice no one but Cas or maybe Desirae could've heard. Castiel turned and pecked his cheek again.
"I love you too," he whispered back.
Sam finished packing about the same time Bobby pulled up with the trailer of stuff. Dean picked up his boxes and moved to the back as soon as they'd stopped.
"Have any trouble?" Dean asked when Bobby walked around to unlock it.
"Nah, just nosy people."
"That can be trouble," Sam added as he approached with some of his crap too. It was a bit of a game of Tetris to get everyone's things into the smaller-than-expected space, but they managed it. It took Cas to suggest placing things in the trunk of the car, but they managed.
"So that's it," Jet said afterward, all of them looking at the two vehicles. Dean switched places with Bobby, hooking up the Impala to the trailer.
"Did you get my clothes too?" Desirae looked at Jet as if she'd just remembered she had a few items. Dean felt awful knowing that she was used to having nothing, but he didn't say anything about it.
"Yep," Jet didn't skip a beat though, he ruffled her hair and that seemed to be enough.
Dean looked to Cas who stood away from the group in the grass, eyes fixed on the mansion. Dean could see the wheels turning in Cas' mind, but he could only imagine what was going through his head. The time that Cas spent inside was terrible for majority of his stay, aside from the moment that Dean had found him and after.
The world had changed in four years, but Cas changed more. Dean walked over to him and carefully took his hand. There was a small, startled twitch but that was all before Cas' fingers closed around Dean's.
"It's over," Cas whispered, "MacLeod's hold on me, his influence over my life, it's gone." He smiled as tears ran down his cheeks, "I'm free."
Dean squeezed his hand gently and Cas turned to him, that smile practically glowing. "Yeah, you are."
"Hey," Jet walked over to them, Bobby right on his heels. "The rest of us wanna fly there, but I'm not sure taking Rae is such a good idea yet."
"Probably not," Cas agreed though Dean could tell he really didn't want to. "He can join Dee and I, we don't mind the company."
"Thanks," it looked like a bit of stress had left Jet's face when he said that, Dean imagined that little worry was plaguing him for a while.
"You know you can just ask, bro. I mean we're practically related already anyway." He said with a light nudge to Jet's side.
"Yeah I know," Jet nudged back playfully, "I just feel like I've hit my 'favours' limit, you know what I mean?"
"Not at all," Cas touched his shoulder reassuringly, "trust me, the friends you've surrounded yourself with are more generous than you think. Remember when I couldn't even speak?"
Jet opened his mouth to reply but stopped, that realization dawning on him. "You know what? You make a very good point," he laughed genuinely and looked at Dean, "I've been bitching about this not even thinking about it."
"Just because my experience might've been more intense doesn't make yours invalid," Cas reminded him and Jet just waved it off.
"Yeah, I know." He grinned at Cas, "But thank you, I really appreciate that."
Bobby gave Dean's shoulder a squeeze, "Hey boy, figured I'd say good luck to ya before everyone gets goin'."
Dean didn't hesitate and hugged him, "Thanks for everything, Bobby. You're gonna visit, I hope."
"Well, like you guys said, just gotta fly there." Bobby smiled and pat Dean on the back, "Have a safe trip."
"You too." Dean didn't want to see Bobby go but he knew that Bobby had a home, a home that he liked so why try to drag him away from it? He watched Bobby's goodbye to Jet and Sam, Desirae and Charlie, but most of all he watched Cas'. There were tears on Cas' part, he hugged Bobby and thanked him profusely.
"I didn't do anything anyone else didn't," Bobby was rough around the edges as always but he didn't refuse Cas' hugs.
"You're like a dad I never had," Cas said softly and finally let Bobby go, "Thank you for caring about me, and thank you for taking care of all of us."
Bobby bashfully adjusted his cap and huffed, trying to find a way to react to that. "Well, you're welcome kid. You take care of these idjits while I'm gone, okay?"
"Can do," Cas assured him.
Dean kept reminding himself that Bobby's decision to go home and relax was entirely alright. Even if once in a while Bobby thought maybe he wanted to join them and see the new mansion, changing his mind was always an option. Dean knew he'd see Bobby again soon, probably after Bobby got his life back on track. Heck, maybe Dean could just drive over and visit in South Dakota. He could bring Cas and show all the places he loved growing up.
Bobby waved one more time before getting into his car and driving off. Dean watched and rubbed his eye before anything was even tempted to fall.
"He'll visit," Cas' voice was comforting as he rubbed small circles on Dean's back. "It's okay, Dee."
Dean smiled, "I know, thanks Cas."
He knew the next step would be to say goodbye to everyone else that'd be flying. Dean walked over and hugged Sam first, to which his brother made no objections and returned the hug as seriously as Dean gave it.
"It's alright, I'll see you in LA."
"You better," Dean tried to pass it off with a smirk, knowing full well that the others could see right through him.
"Take care of her," Jet hand Desirae over, "I better not find you got into a car accident along the way."
"When have I ever?" Dean just kept right on grinning as Rae climbed onto his shoulders. "You guys are the ones doing the dangerous thing."
"Car accidents are way more likely," Cas pointed out and got a glare from both Dean and Jet. "Sorry, but it's true."
Jet laughed softly and looked at Desirae, "Be good, sweetheart."
"Have fun flying!" Desirae waved, "Bye dad! Bye dad!"
Jet waved and elbowed Sam, "She said 'bye dad.'"
"I heard?" Sam raised an eyebrow, "She's called you that before-"
"Not me, you dumbass." Jet grinned as Sam's eyes widened a little.
"Ohhh...kaaayyy…" Sam muttered slowly, "Oh! Oh you meant me!" He quickly waved back at her, "See you soon, Desirae!"
Dean tried not to laugh, it was cute seeing Sam so excited about that. He always wondered which of them would have a kid first, apparently he just got his answer. "I'm such a proud uncle," he claimed as he looked up at Rae. "They're not even married though, you know."
"So? I can call him dad." Desirae pouted and Dean shrugged.
"I dunno," he said playfully, "Might have to convince them to do something about that."
"Hmm…." Desirae's tone slipped into a low growl, a sound Dean was so used to already that he nearly missed it. "Maybe…"
"Dean," Sam's warning voice wasn't often a pleasant sound.
Dean grinned sheepishly and headed for the car, "Have fun at the airport!"
Cas finished up his hugs and 'see you laters' with his brother and Charlie. "I'm coming, Dee!" He chimed as he flew the short distance to the Impala. "Can I sit in the back by myself? There's more room for me there."
Dean shrugged, "Why not? Rae and I can jam in the front."
"Take care of him, Winchester!" Michael commanded and Dean stuck his thumb's up out the window. Charlie returned it while Michael just gestured the 'watching you' sign with his fingers.
"Road trip!" Cas cheered and kissed Dean from the backseat, "We gotta hit up a drive-thru or something."
"The best first stop." Dean agreed and started their trip by pulling off that drive-way for the last time. Cas and Desirae leaned out the windows to wave at the others until they couldn't see anymore.