Chapter Eighteen: Tired of the Games

A few hours later, their car stopped in a small town where Cas had asked them to meet him.

"Cas says he's meeting us here in ten minutes. Want something to eat?" Reina nodded and followed Bobby into the diner.

"Hey." Cas slipped into the third chair at their table, just as their orders arrived.

"What's going on, Cas?" Reina asked. "Did you find Ishim?"

Cas shook his head. "Benjamin. He's here, in this town." Cas said. "He didn't know anything about Lily Sunder's child, no more than I did back then. However, he does know where Ishim is right now."

"Uh, Cas? What did you say to Benjamin?" Reina asked. "Did you tell him what I told you? All of it?"

"Not everything; just asked him whether he knew, about Lily Sunder's child being Nephilim. Or where Ishim is." Cas replied.

"He didn't ask you why you want to all of a sudden dig up an old case?"

"I told him I heard Lily Sunder was alive. I didn't mention you, but I had to warn him she might come looking for him. I – couldn't –

"I understand." Reina smiled. "It's okay. Ishim is the real culprit anyway. I get that you need to make sure of my story, and of truth."

Cas looked a little apologetic, but he nodded, nevertheless. "There could be a variation, from your knowledge to this timeline," Cas pointed towards Bobby. "We should ask before we shoot, as they say."

"I agree," Bobby said, taking the last bite out of his burger.

"Once I know where Ishim is, I intend to ask him the truth. In the past, I would ask that I should do this alone, but – things are different now. So, would you both like to come with me?"

Reina and Bobby looked at each other and then at Cas. "Of course. We didn't drive all this way for nothin'." Bobby said, wiping his hands on the napkin.

"Okay. Let's go talk to Ishim. But Cas?" Reina said, leaning forward, looking directly at him. "If my timeline proves to be the truth, you have to promise me, you'll be ready for anything. Even now, if it is the truth, if he thinks you're there to confront him, he might get aggressive. He, uh…" She stopped.

"What?" Bobby asked

"Look, I'm sorry Cas. You might feel that you've worked with Ishim, and known him, and I haven't and it's true. All I'm asking is caution."

"I understand. And thank you, Reina," Cas nodded. "For what?"

"For caring - about me."

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Dean was silent all the way to Ohio. Sam wondered if he should get Dean to talk – but sensed it wasn't the right time. Instead, he discussed the details of the case.

They parked in front of the curiosity shop and walked in, flashing their badges. A quick look around confirmed what they already knew. "We should go – it's the girl we're really looking for." Sam stood by the door, holding it open.

Dean walked out, lost in thoughts. "Girl?"

"Hitler's bloodline. Reina told us about the girl whose blood The Thule intend to use as an ingredient. We need to locate her."

"Right. Hmm." Dean nodded as he got back in the car.

"You can't still think Reina's lying, do you?" Sam asked.

"I don't know. It's not – not easy, trusting somebody." Dean spoke slowly, avoiding Sam's intent gaze on him.

"I – lost control back there. I didn't mean to say those things like that to her, but I can't help but feel like the other shoe's about to drop. No, I don't know why," Dean raised a hand to intercept Sam's question. "I don't know why, but her appearing here gives me a sort of feeling that something's coming for us, for her, round the corner."

And I'm tired, Sammy, of waiting for danger around the corner. Tired of the goddamn guessing games, and puzzles and riddles to solve.

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Bobby and Reina drove silently, following Cas's car. The sky was darkening, a glorious sunset visible on the horizon.

"Did uh, Dean say something to you?"

Reina was surprised by Bobby's question. She let the book in her hands fall close. "Nothing much, really. I guess he's just confused by my case, is all."

Bobby could sense she wasn't sharing it all. Just like Dean, the irony making him smile.

"What? Why are you – smiling?" Reina caught Bobby's expression.

"It's just, you and Dean." Bobby took a pause to take a turn when Cas's car disappeared and reappeared as they turned a corner. "Just tell me that Dean didn't – didn't say anything – because he can be a little –

"I – it's alright, Bobby. I understand where he's coming from. I just wish – I wish I hadn't shouted at him." Reina groaned and put her face in her palms.

"You what?"

"I may have ranted at him. I don't know why, I just got so angry about – you know what, Bobby, let's just leave it at this. I don't want to talk about this. Is that okay?" She rubbed her temples.

"Okay," Bobby watched her leaning towards the window, opening her book again.

What could have Dean said for the kid to shout at Dean? Bobby could clearly see that she worshipped Dean – who had been nothing but blunt to her since day one. It was John's influence coming out in Dean, thought Bobby. Bobby had never approved of how John treated the boys sometimes – with Dean, it made him reluctant to accept any admiration or appreciation. Oh sure, he pretended to love it, in the roles he played for his job – but the boy was never himself with anyone outside of Sam.

Bobby leaned back into the seat, relaxing into the drive a little, wondering what this girl would change for them.

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Dean walked with a spring in his step; Sam smirked as his brother nearly skipped like a little kid toward the Impala. "I killed Hitler. I killed Hitler. Entitles me for free drinks for the rest of my life – I'm going to get T-shirts made."

"Yeah, right. No one's gonna believe you." Sam laughed.

"You do. You were there." Dean got in the Impala.

"I was." Sam got in, and his phone rang.

"Hey Bobby, guess what," Dean spoke with excitement as Sam put the call on speaker.

There was whispering on the other side when Bobby asked, uncertainly. "You killed Hitler?"

"Damn right, I did! – wait, how did you know?" Dean asked.

"Guess there's one more person who believes you," Sam commented. "Hey, Reina."

"Hi, Sam. Congratulations on killing Hitler, Dean." Reina's voice came through. "This calls for Pie."

Dean responded after a slight pause, unnerved. "Yeah, yeah. We should definitely get some pie."

"Well, seems like you had a good hunt. I'm proud of you." Bobby spoke with emotion. "You killed Hitler!"

"Yeah!" Dean's voice returned to its jaunty mode, "Did you meet Cas?"

"Yes, He's here." Bobby handed the phone to Cas, and the angel's voice came over. "Congratulations, Dean."

"Thanks, Cas. How did your thing go?"

"It's uh, it's still going. Haven't seen Ishim yet. We're still waiting for him." Cas replied.

"Well, I hope it all goes well. Meet us at the bunker for a party, okay? It's an I-Killed-Hitler-Party." Dean all but jumped in his seat.

"Of course. We will see you there."

Cas hung up the phone, and Reina looked out the window, seeing a movement. Ishim was here.

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