Chapter 13.
Sam and Eileen came in smiling, faces glowing after their morning run. Dean bit back a question about whether such taxing exercise could be wise for a pregnant woman. Eileen was tolerant, but he knew his mother hen act impressed no-one. Instead, he said to her, "You look hot, in every sense and you," he turned to Sam, "Just look hot."
Sam pulled a face at him, but didn't stop smiling because he was happy, because the beautiful wife of his had made life good for him. Dean wanted to kiss her for that, but Sam was large and might get jealous. "Good run?" he said.
"Steady, but good." said Sam.
"Steady's great." said Dean, "Can't expect Eileen to ..."
"Sam was the one taking it slow today." said Eileen.
Dean looked at Sam in feigned disgust. "Wuss."
"How come I'm a wuss, but Eileen isn't?"
"She's pregnant ... and hot."
Sam looked at her appraisingly. "Fair enough."
"So hot." said Dean, dodging Sam's half-hearted blow easily.
"You may wanna shut up, in front of Anael." said Sam.
"Anael isn't the jealous type." he said.
"Only because I know Eileen wouldn't be interested." said Anael.
"A little harsh." said Dean.
"Then don't flirt with my friends." said Anael.
"I was joking, of course." he said. To his relief, Cas appeared before he could get deeper into trouble.
"Jack sends his love." he said.
"How is he?" said Dean.
"Still God." said Cas.
"Is he happy?" said Dean, a little exasperated.
Cas's stern look softened. "He's fine. Knowing all is well here is important to him. He's excited that he's going to have a sister."
"We all are." said Sam.
"Did he ... " Dean began awkwardly. He changed his approach, "Does he ever say anything ... He knows about us, right?" He gestured to Anael.
"Yes, he does." said Cas, "He's happy for you, for both of you."
Dean hadn't realised how much he needed to hear that. He had no real respect for the whims of deities, but Jack mattered and he didn't want to have to choose between Anael and a beloved son. "He's a good kid." he said, hoping they didn't hear the catch in his voice. He was trying to be more open with his feelings, but there were oceans of feelings he wasn't ready to explain, even to himself.
Anael was looking at him and he wondered whether he should have kept quiet. She liked Jack now, but Heaven was Heaven and she had issues with Heaven. The last thing Dean wanted was for her to think he saw their relationship as subject to divine approval. He ventured a smile, hoping it would reassure her.
He took his keys from his pocket and put them down in front of Sam. As I'm taking Angel Air, you can take the Impala when you come to Sioux Falls."
"Are you sure?" said Sam.
"Yeah. I don't want Eileen making the trip in a cramped car and my niece should travel in style."
Sam seemed about to argue in defence of Eileen's Toyota, but he didn't. Clearly, he understood the gesture and he loved driving the Impala. "We'll see you there, then." He said
"Ready to go when you are." Dean told Cas, "Anael?"
"Ready." she confirmed. She didn't seem uneasy, either about the trip or about their relationship, which was a good sign. However, angels could be deceptively calm on the surface and in emotional chaos underneath. He planned to remain alert.
The four of them appeared in bobby's kitchen. Bobby hugged Jules, then turned to Anael. "Well, this is a treat! Two lovely ladies to class up the joint." He looked at Dean, "Good of you to bring her. We don't see her enough."
"Who?" said Crowley, coming into the room. He looked at Anael and said, "Oh, that."
"Anael, meet Crowley," said Bobby, "Crowley has no manners."
"Crowley has no reason to love angels." said Crowley.
"Well, Crowley had better learn to respect this one." said Dean.
"Because she's the latest notch on your bedpost?" said Crowley, "There'll be another one along in a minute."
"What's your problem with Anael?" said Cas.
"Jealousy." said Meg as she entered the kitchen, "Crowley is so immature. Hey, Anael, nice of you to come. Sorry about Crowley. he's a dick."
"Meg's worse." said Crowley.
"I like Anael." said Meg.
"You don't even know Anael." he objected.
"No, but you hate her, so we're best friends already. Right, Anael?"
Anael looked doubtful, but nodded.
"It's fine." said Meg, "I get it. We're hardwired to see each other as enemies, but I don't think blind obedience appeals to either of us."
"True." said Anael, "I hate being an angel."
"It beats being a demon." said Meg.
Bobby intervened. "Here, everybody's just themselves. That's the whole point of everything we're doing. Hell's not for demons. heaven's not for angels, Purgatory ain't even for monsters, in the end. We're all just intelligent beings, doing what we can."
"I can never decide if he's inspirational or annoying as Hell." said Meg.
"He's Bobby." said Crowley and there was reluctant affection in his voice.
"Anael is with me." said Dean firmly to Crowley, "I don't need your approval, I don't need your permission."
"You need your head examined, mate." said Crowley, "If you wanted an angel, you should have gone for Cas."
Dean resisted the urge to punch him, worried that he would take satisfaction from that. "I never wanted an angel." he said.
"I never wanted to be an angel." said Anael.
"So everybody's settling. Does that seem healthy in any way?" said Crowley.
"She's not an angel," said Jules, "She's my sister. She's Anael. If you can't accept her, I'd be happy to send you back to Hell."
"Where your mother would doubtless have a lot of fun at your expense." said Cas.
"I tolerate Meg," said Crowley, "I can tolerate another bloody angel, for the brief time before Dean moves on."
"Not gonna happen." said Dean, seeing the troubled look in Anael's eyes.
"What, this is love?" said Crowley, "She's the one? A bloodless angel, a celestial celibate? You prefer fire. Always have, always will. This is a novelty, that's all."
"Are you missing Hell?" said Jules, threateningly.
"I just feel someone needs to mention it, that's all. This can never work. We all know it. Oh, I'll play along, for Dean's sake and for the angel, even, because reality is going to be brutal, but nobody in this room thinks this is more than a phase." He looked at Dean and added, "And I'm including you in that."
He was clever and persuasive and he knew all Dean's insecurities and Dean hated that and he hated the reason for it and how close they had become when his mind had been warped by the mark of Cain. Well, more warped.
Mostly, he considered Crowley a friend, although not one he entirely trusted, but at times like this, he hated that he had ever given the demon a chance to sink his poisonous barbs under his skin. He wanted to beat the smugness out of him, stomp that smirk off his face.
Then Cas said, very quietly, "Why are you so afraid, Crowley? Do you think loving her will mean he stops caring about you?"
"Who says I care about him now?" said Dean.
"well, you didn't kill him, just now." said Cas. He turned back to Crowley and said, "I understand. I was afraid too, but she's not competition, for either of us. She makes Dean, our friend, very happy. We should love her for that."
"Should we?" said Crowley but the smugness was gone and Dean could see that Cas was right. The demon felt threatened by her.
He made an effort to smooth things over. "The only thing that has changed is that I'm with someone. You became family when you died for us. Don't ask me to choose you or her. I actually value your friendship." It didn't feel that way right now, but it seemed to be what Crowley needed to hear.
"She's still an angel." said Crowley, reluctant to back down.
"So am I." said Castiel.
Crowley shrugged. "Please yourselves."
Jules looked at Dean. "I think that's the best we're getting, for now."
"Anael is part of the family," said Cas, "And Crowley will respect that."
Crowley scowled at him, but said nothing.