Catching Up
Chapter 10 – Chew On That

Dinnertime was surprisingly peaceful in the Winchester bunker. Mary once again called in Cas to help her cook while Sam and Dean set the table. Crowley produced some vintage bottles of red wine and Rowena made polite conversation with Mary and Cas from her chair at the table. The brothers had never heard or seen anything that could classified as supernaturally domestic but here they were. "It's surreal," Dean muttered to his brother. "The king of hell, an all-powerful witch, an angel, a recently resurrected woman and two hunters sit down for dinner, frig it's not even a good opener for a joke."

"Just wait for the punchline," Sam commented, thinking about the voice. "I don't know Dean, I kind of like it. No shotguns, no salt, just us, our mom, and our friends. I thought you'd be all over this."

"I am – I want to be," Dean grimaced. "Guess I'm still on edge. What with Lucifer and our undercover friend in the Men of Letters. Plus dredging all this stuff up in the show. Bobby, Jo, Ellen…I don't want to think about when we get to Lisa."

Sam was startled. That was the first time he'd heard Dean say her name in years. His part in the destruction of that relationship would forever be one his greatest regrets. He couldn't help but hope that confronting all of this now, years later, might convince Dean that it was time to move on and make peace with his demons, the proverbial ones. "There's still some good times in there."

"Not enough," Dean cast a wary glance at Castiel. "And we still have to talk to Cas about Meg. How the hell are we going to break the news to him, I don't know."

"We've got time," Sam sighed.

Don't keep in him the dark for too long. He deserves to know.

Sam turned away with the pretense of going into the pantry. "I know that. I don't want him to lose the fantasy just yet. That's all I had for a while too."

I know, I saw.

Sam flushed at that, "How much do you see?"

Nervous Winchester?

"I haven't really thought about it in a long time. I'm still not sure what my answer is."

Fair enough, you don't have to be afraid of me Sam.

"I'm not. I have a lot of other things to be afraid of."

I'm fine. I promise. Go have dinner with your family. Sam sighed and returned to the table where the meal was laid out and everyone was pulling up a chair.

"You cool?" Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah just checking in with our friend abroad," Sam shrugged.

"Who?" Castiel asked.

Dean made an offhand face while sitting down, "Doesn't matter man, just a contact who's been keeping an eye on the Men of Letters for us." Clearly years of practiced perjury had served Dean well even with a mind-reading angel.

"Any news on them?" Mary slid into her seat.

Nothing. Lady Toni has been excommunicated as it were. Not dead, but not in great shape. They have sent to guys to track you but so far you've flown under the radar.

"Not much. Lady Toni is out for now and they've got people trying to spy on us but no luck since we really haven't left the Bunker much."

"All the more reason to keep watching the show," his older brother said unenthusiastically.

"Yeah sure," Sam mirrored his tone.

"They'll be back. We can't stay hidden forever." Mary added.

"Maybe not but if you have an inside man that will go a long way in keeping you and your boys out of trouble," Crowley insisted. "Perhaps you can convince your friend to create a diversion within-"

"No." Sam said coldly. "Absolutely not. They're doing enough."

"Sweetheart-" Mary began.

"No mom," Sam softened a little when speaking to his mother. "I wouldn't dare – I couldn't ask someone to die for me – us – just like that."

An awkward silence reigned following Sam's pronouncement. The family and friends shifted uncomfortably for several tense moment until Rowena laid her napkin on her lap. "Well then, shall we say Grace?"

That cracked the ice and the group chuckled. Dean began piling his plate, "With everything we've done for this world, God should be thanking us. This is backpay."

"Well his sister did," Mary pointed out.

Cas gingerly chewed on a roasted potato, "No offence intended Mary but I'm not sure that was entirely out of gratitude."

"Really?"

"Oh yes, Mrs. Winchester. A long and fanciful tale that. But tell me Dean how does it feel knowing you had a chance with God's sister?" Crowley queried

"About as good as you did thinking you had a chance with a reaper." Dean shot back and Crowley feigned being wounded.

Christ help me, I can't believe your lives. "Let's not talk about it."

"Sure Sammy, so how's your sex life?" Dean asked baldly.

Sam choked and the voice cracked up. "Non-existent Dean, much like yours. Haven't heard any power ballads coming from your room in ages." Power ballads? Is that what they're calling them now?

"You just wait, you're not exactly safe yourself Sammy boy. All shall be revealed." Dean promised.

"Satan I hope so," Rowena winked at him.

I'm with the witch.

"As long as there isn't a cheesy musical backing I'll be fine." He held up his glass to his mouth to his muttering, "And you behave."

Never.

"I suppose I've lived through watching one son get it on onscreen," Mary mused. "I'll survive seeing the other."

"And then there's Cas too," Dean added.

Mary fell back, "Aw dammit Cas too! Apparently I'll have to stomach all my boys doing the deed…minus John since he's gone."

Sam and Dean shared wide eyes, they'd forgotten about Adam! You do that an awful lot don'cha? Great chalk that up to another uncomfortable conversation they'll have to have. With that thought the boys hunkered into their meal, ready and willing to chew on something other than their own tongues.

A/N: Hey guys, I keep apologizing for the disappearing act. I promise to at least return to once monthly updates if nothing else. Feel free to come at me in the PM and make sure I stay with it. ENJOY! R&R PLZ!