Chapter Forty-Three

Puppies and Plotting

Bobby's House: July 28, 2010 - Morning

Garth showed up at Bobby's around 10:00 am, and paused when he heard the noise coming out of the house. In all the time he'd known Bobby, the man wasn't one for company. Heck, he didn't even like people stopping by unannounced. Well, with the exception of Rufus but he tried not to think too hard on that. Too much like thinking about how his parents met, if he were honest. He knocked on the screen door and waited for a response. The noise rose an octave before a woman pushed the door open.

"Oh, you must be Garth. Come on in, we're having breakfast."

Garth was about to agree when he met her eyes. Their dark blue color reminded him of the kid he'd run into months ago. To the point where he was pretty sure they had to be related. She must be one of the non-humans Bobby mentioned being here, which would explain the vanishing act the little girl had pulled on him.

"Have I met your daughter or little sister?" Garth asked.

Her lips twitched. "Please ask that inside," she requested. "But no, you haven't. It's a complicated story."

"Uh, okay?"

She chuckled and moved to wave him inside. Garth made his way toward the kitchen and it became clear just how busy the house was. All the seats at the table were taken and some people were standing. He glanced toward the living room to see Bobby at his desk, skimming books and moving them into different piles.

"Hey, Garth!" Dean called from the stove. "Pancakes or eggs?"

"Don't put yourself out on my account," Garth objected.

"Ain't an issue man," Dean said firmly. "Pan's still hot and I'm sure some people will want seconds."

"Bobby still needs firsts," the woman who let him in said.

"Course. Give me a second to finish the bacon and I'll plate something up."

She nodded and walked into the living room to sit with Bobby. Garth looked around the kitchen again, trying to see who he knew. Besides Dean, there wasn't anyone. He was pretty sure the older blonde girl was Jo, but couldn't be positive. He'd never actually met her or Ellen face to face.

"Jo, right?" he asked the older blonde.

"Ya, heard a lot about ya," she said. "You're gonna be sticking around?"

"Yeah, seemed the right thing to do." Garth took the plate Dean offered.

"I'm getting dragged off to France," Jo muttered. "Mom didn't give me a choice."

"Guilt tripped ya, huh?" he asked sympathetically.

"Ya. Not much for it. The guys and Bobby were dead set on me going as well."

Garth hummed and took a bite of food as Jo wandered off, followed by the younger blonde girl who gave a small wave. Dean glanced over, and gestured to Jo's now empty chair.

"Take a seat. I've still got a shit ton to do."

"If you're sure?" Garth sat down and continued picking at his plate.

"I am. Things are a bit chaotic with everyone trying to pack up. The first group of people are leaving tomorrow morning."

"Really? I didn't think it would be that soon."

Dean snorted, scraping one of the plates clean. "The sooner everyone's safe, the better."

"So who's going first?" Garth asked before taking a bite of food.

"Jo, Claire, and Rowena. The second group is Balthazar and Rufus. The third group, though they are kinda doing their own thing, is Rowen, Sue, and their kids."

"Shit, all of them are going?"

Dean hummed at the surprise in his voice. "Yeah, but again kinda doing their own thing. Still not entirely sure how that's happening logistically. We have enough headaches here, if that makes sense?"

"Totally," Garth said. "I mean, he's got like 20 kids right?"

"Yeah." Dean paused. "Anyway, glad ya got here in one piece. You sure you don't wanna come with?"

Garth shrugged, glancing down at his food. "I gotta stay, Dean."

"Yeah, figured you'd say that. Just don't do anything stupid, ya? Bobby will kick your ass."

Garth chuckled and focused on finishing his breakfast. The woman from earlier walked back in, dragging Bobby with her.

"You're a pain in the ass," Bobby said. "I don't have time to sit down and eat."

"Then make time," the woman said before shoving Bobby into a chair.

Bobby huffed as Dean set a plate down in front of him. "How ya doin', Garth?"

"Doing good," Garth said. "How bout you, Bobby? It's been a while."

"Eh, besides the world ending things have been decent." Bobby shot the woman a dirty look. "Minus someone takin' over my house."

"He acts like I'm the worst offender," the woman whispered loudly to Dean.

"You're the one that's here," Dean said in amusement.

She snorted, and looked ready to argue when another man walked in the room. He had the same dark hair as the woman, and eyes that were a few shades lighter. He was dressed in jeans and a loose AC/DC shirt. He walked up to Dean, pressing a kiss to his temple as he took the offered plate of food.

"Sap," Dean said.

"Only for you," the man said as he sat down. Garth raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two. Bobby cleared his throat, making the man glance toward them. "I didn't realize another person had arrived."

"Ah, to be blinded by love," the woman sang.

"Sister, are you truly one to talk?"

"Enough you two," Bobby cut over the pair. "Why not introduce yourselves?"

The man hummed. "My name is Castiel. I've heard a good deal about you, Garth."

"All good things I hope," he said with an easy smile.

Castiel's lips twitched in amusement, but he didn't bother to respond as he dug into the food. Garth turned toward the woman who was nursing a cup of coffee as she leaned against the counter.

"So, sister, huh?" Garth asked. "Guess you're another angel?"

"One of four currently in the house," she teased. "My name is Azrial."

"It's nice to meet you both." He glanced at Bobby, trying to smother his amusement. "So you let an angel take over your house?"

"Watch it." Bobby gestured his fork threateningly and Garth laughed.

"I've ruled far larger homes in my day," Azrial pompously proclaimed.

Dean let out a choked sound, fumbling with his spatula for a moment. Bobby shook his head, his lips twitching in amusement as well.

"And what a wonderful job you did." A deep, amused voice cut in.

Garth glanced toward the steps. The man standing there had to be some kind of body builder. He was wearing a t-shirt that strained around his torso and biceps. Even the jeans seemed a bit tight. He had an aura about him that Garth had learned to associate with senior hunters. It was strange to get that vibe from someone who couldn't be more than a decade older than himself.

Azrial laughed, setting her coffee on the counter. "You're making me blush."

"And making the rest of us look bad," Bobby said. "Garth, this is Marcus. For the sake of brevity, he's one of the oldest people in the damn house. Only the angels are older, so don't let his pretty face fool ya."

"Oh, you think my face is pretty?" Marcus asked.

Garth was surprised how non-pulsed the man was at being called pretty, considering how buff he was. Most guys who looked like him would get offended, but Marcus actually seemed flattered.

"I'm old, not dead," Bobby said.

"What is that your motto now?" Dean asked.

"Don't be a brat. Also, the bacon is burning."

Dean cursed, turning back to the stove at Bobby's warning. Garth shook his head, glancing around thoughtfully.

"So, where is everyone else?"

"Spread around the house," Azrial said. "I'm pretty sure Gabriel, Sam, and Rowena are in the basement. Balthazar is..." she paused, glancing at Castiel. "Where is Balthazar?"

"Liquor store," Castiel said.

"Why?" she asked. "We're moving to a vineyard."

"I do not pretend to understand his thought process," Castiel said drily.

Azrial rolled her eyes. "We need to curb your sarcasm. Anyway, Rufus is upstairs taking a shower."

"Claire and Jo are both on the porch," Bobby said as he laid his fork down. "Think they were feelin' a bit overwhelmed."

"Fuck," Azrial muttered. "I'll go check on them after this. I should have known this would be a bit much."

Bobby stood up, walking toward the sink. "You've got a lot going through your mind, princess."

"Still, they are so young," Azrial said. "I should have kept that in mind."

"You can't blame yourself for not thinking of everything," Bobby said firmly. "There are a dozen of us here who could of thought of it."

"He's right," Dean added. "That's on me too, considering that I was always alone with Sam as kids."

Azrial hummed, but still seemed annoyed with herself. Marcus cleared his throat, pulling Garth's attention away from the archangel.

"Crowley said something about - I think he called it - external storage?" the man sounded confused and Azrial snorted.

"About time he went to pick it up. Think of it like a missive scroll," she clarified for Marcus. "Except this one item can hold thousands of scrolls."

Marcus looked startled, though it quickly melted into a thoughtful frown. "Such things have truly become possible?"

"Technology and time march on," Bobby said. "Fuck, I can barely keep up with all the shit that's come out in the past decade."

"And it just keeps coming," Dean said. "If you're sticking around after all this shit, we gotta get you an IT crash course, man."

"IT?" Marcus asked.

"Dean, no abbreviations," Castiel said. "IT stands for information technology."

Marcus hummed at the explanation, but he still seemed confused. Though that made a lot of sense given how old Bobby said he was.

"Dean, I need you and Cas to get up close and personal later today."

Garth snorted his coffee, choking back tears at the lewd way Azrial made her request. Dean made a tiny sound like a dying cat, dropping a plate in the process.

"Must you, sister?" Castiel asked.

"You give Crowley shit all the time," she accused. "He told me how you described our relationship to Rowena!"

Castiel clucked his tongue, clearly unimpressed. "And why do I need Dean as a vessel?"

"For emotional support." Azrial's voice was void of any teasing now. "Crowley is bringing his pack to the vineyard, and I want Dean to have the chance to acclimate to a hound one on one before he's in close proximity to a dozen of them."

The silence was heavy, though Garth didn't understand why. Dean was gripping the edge of the sink tightly, and he could see the veins in the man's arms standing out against his skin. Castiel shot him a concerned look and went to get up, but Bobby placed a hand on his shoulder. Azrial approached Dean, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"If there was another way-" she began.

"There isn't," Dean gruffly cut her off. "I understand that. Crowley raises the damn things, and he got torn apart just like me. I can do this."

"Dean, that's not a fair comparison. Crowley was an asshole while alive. He knew from the start he was pit bound, with or without his deal." Dean turned to her and looked ready to argue, but Azrial continued. "You're a good man, as I'm sure Castiel has told you. You're also a child compared to Crowley. He's had far longer to process that trauma, and I feel horrible for having to rush you to confront this."

"How will we do this?" Castiel tensely asked. "I don't want Dean overly stressed."

"Luckily nature made a neat, and admittedly adorable, solution for us." Azrial lightly butted her elbow against Dean's arm. "How do you feel about puppies?"

"Puppies?" Dean asked drily.

"What, did you think hell hounds appeared out of nowhere?" she joked. "Juliet just birthed a litter, which is why Crowley is up my ass about moving the pack with us."

"How...big are they?" Dean finally asked.

Azrial smiled and held her hands about shoulder wide. "About this big. Think about the size of a mastiff puppy. Juliet will be in eyesight, but she'll stay at least half a football field away at all times."

Dean seemed to mull over her words. Garth shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to handle the emotionally charged room.

"May I join?" Marcus asked. "I am curious about these dogs."

Dean shot the man a grateful look as Azrial nodded eagerly.

"Of course! I'm honestly curious if you'll be able to see them. Dean will need Castiel to actually see them since most humans can't."

Bobby cleared his throat. "I'll come too, if ya want."

This seemed to relax Dean even more and he smiled at the room. Garth could tell it was forced, but knew better than to call the man out.

"Guess I'm meeting a puppy. Just let Cas and I know when."

Line Break

Dean wasn't sure what to expect. There were times he woke up in the middle of the night screaming, the feeling of teeth and claws tearing his flesh apart making his heart race.

"Oh they're as cute as I expected!" Azrial squealed as Crowley gently handed her a black shape.

Dean shot a skeptical look behind Crowley where a hellhound sat with its head on its paws, seemingly content for Crowley to monitor the situation. He still couldn't believe the bastard had named a hellhound Juliet, but that seemed the least of his worries.

Do you still want to do this? Castiel asked softly in his mind.

I have to, Dean thought back. I just have to.

Besides, maybe this would help him get over his fear. Azrial turned toward him, arms full of what looked to be a pile of black fur.

"Are you ready?" she asked, keeping her distance.

"I think so? Not sure how that thing in your arms could be a hellhound."

She snorted, and came closer. The pile of fur shifted, pulling its black snout out of Azrial's armpit to look at him. Its eyes were red, but compared to Juliet they weren't as bright. Dean hesitantly held out his hand, and the little guy practically fell over his front two feet to sniff it.

"Careful!" Azrial laughed, moving a little closer. "Don't need your momma to give me the cold shoulder because you fell."

Dean took a deep breath and ran his fingers between the hellhound's ears, surprised how soft the fur was.

"It...looks so normal," Dean whispered. "Even Juliet doesn't look how I remember."

"When you're pit bound it plays tricks on your mind," Crowley said. "The human mind can only handle so much stress."

"So how I remember them...isn't true?" Dean breathed out. "I've been afraid for nothing?"

"No, you should be afraid," Crowley flatly intoned. "A pissed hellhound is not something you want to mess with. Would be like pissing off a bear."

"That is to say," Azrial cut in after shooting Crowley a dirty look. "You should treat them with the same respect you would any other predator."

Dean frowned, but couldn't argue that logic. Just because the pup in Azrial's arms was cute and lapping up the attention, didn't mean Juliet would be anywhere near as affectionate.

"Also, how you remember them is what your brain assumed a hellhound would look like." Crowley paused, placing out a hand to stop the puppy from stepping out of Azrial's arms. "With Azrial's description and Castiel buffering your memories, you're seeing what was described: a pup around the size of a mastiff."

Dean hummed, pulling his hand away from the puppy's soft fur much to its displeasure. "Huh...so your mind is your own worst enemy when they come after you."

"So these are hellhounds?"

Dean glanced to his side as Marcus walked closer to look at the puppy before turning his attention to Juliet.

"Will she bite my head off?" Dean quietly asked Crowley once Azrial was fully distracted by Marcus.

Crowley raised an eyebrow. "That would imply she doesn't listen to me. Juliet is not a threat to you, Dean. None of my dogs are."

What are you thinking? Castiel asked.

Dean could feel his heart beating against his ribcage, but he took a deep breath to slow himself. This was a controlled environment. He didn't want to risk having a panic attack mid-battle just because a hellhound came too close to him or one of Lucifer's attacked him.

"Can I get closer?" he finally asked.

Crowley nodded. "Come."

Dean was left to follow the demon, who approached Juliet without any hesitation. He moved slower, practically dragging himself the last few feet toward the lounging hellhound. She wasn't even bothering to look at him, still focused on Azrial with her pup.

"She's big," Dean finally said.

"The second largest in my pack," Crowley gloated. "Hence the litter."

He sounds far too proud of that, Castiel drawled.

Juliet's form blurred and Dean winced. For a moment he could see the skeletal thing that had torn him apart. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, Juliet looked just like her pup but with brighter eyes.

"I'm gonna have to stay focused during the fight," Dean muttered thoughtfully.

"It becomes second nature with time," Crowley said. "But you do have to actively work at it. I suggest when we arrive at the vineyard you do just that."

"Yeah, will do." Dean glanced toward Azrial, and noticed the warm look Marcus had. "That doesn't bug ya?"

Crowley followed his gaze and snorted. "I may be possessive, but I'm not a fool, squirrel. That isn't a fight I will win."

"I mean...you're probably right," Dean said.

"Besides, having one partner was never my style. We both know Marcus is sex on legs, and I'm looking to get in his pants before he goes back to Heaven."

Dean choked back a laugh, though he was a bit mortified at Crowley's forward musings.

"I don't wanna hear that from you," Dean wheezed.

"You'll live," Crowley said. "Now I need to go steal back my pup before Juliet decides to do it herself."

Dean glanced down at Juliet, noticing her claws were kneading the ground and she was hyper fixated on Marcus who was holding her pup.

"She didn't act that way with Azrial."

"No." Crowley sighed. "That's because Juliet's mate is attached to Azrial's hip. She reeks of him. So to Juliet, Azrial is pack. Marcus is an unknown."

"Better go stop him from getting pounced on then. I'm gonna head inside."

Crowley hummed and walked away. Dean took one more look at Juliet, memorizing her form. Shaggy black fur, bright red eyes, a gray nose, and pointed ears. Just an overly large dog. That's it.

He took another deep breath and headed back toward the house. He'd made progress, and that's all he could ask of himself.

Line Break

Claire fidgeted with her passport, trying not to overthink things. She was out on the porch, waiting for Rowena and Jo to finish saying their goodbyes. Rufus and Balthazar had ended up leaving before them, the two complaining the house was too full for them. They would be arriving in France shortly, if she remembered their flight time correctly.

"You okay?"

Claire glanced up at the soft voice. Azrial looked tired, but she seemed less tense than the day before.

"I'm just worried about what's coming next," Claire said. "I've already lost my mom and dad...and everyone I've met here is really nice."

Bobby was a bit gruff, but he radiated this fatherly energy that Claire was used to feeling from her dad. It made her feel safe, and she wasn't thrilled about the older man staying behind for now. Each person in the house brought a unique warmth that her life had been lacking since her parents had died. The idea of losing it all again was nauseating.

"Hey, we'll be there in less than a week." Azrial sat next to her on the swing, turning to take her hands. "We'll be okay until then."

"Promise?" Claire whispered.

Azrial hesitated, but squeezed her hands after a moment. "I promise we'll see you at the vineyard. Marcus will throw a fit if anything happens to him between now and then."

The joking tone at the end helped ease her worry, but not erase it.

"I just don't want to see anyone else die," Claire said.

Azrial sighed, releasing Claire's hands and pulling her into a hug. "I know, kid. Trust me. But I can't promise you that won't happen, you know that right?"

"I know," Claire muttered into her shoulder.

"When you get to the vineyard, can you do me a favor?" Azrial asked.

Claire pulled away from Azrial's shoulder. "What is it?"

"Try and enjoy your time there," Azrial requested. "There is a lot to do and see, and it's a self-sufficient community. If you can relax, I think you'll find yourself enjoying it despite the circumstances."

Claire slowly nodded, taking a moment to process Azrial's words. It had been a long time since she'd stayed in one place. Her time at Bobby's had been the longest her and Jo had stayed in one place, and before that...well, she didn't like to think too much about it.

"I'll try," Claire said. "But like you, I can't make any promises."

Azrial brushed a loose strand of hair out of Claire's face and smiled softly. "That's fair. When we get there, I'll take you to one of my secret spots. You can tell me how you enjoyed the week."

"I'd like that," Claire said.

The door opened, Jo and Rowena stepping onto the porch followed by Sam.

"Alright, everyone who is going get in the car," Sam joked. "I'd like to get you there before rush hour."

Rowena snorted, shifting her purse. Sam had her suitcase in hand, though Claire doubted that was everything the witch was bringing. Boxes had been leaving Bobby's at a rapid pace, and the house was slowly thinning out of people and stuff.

"Then lead on, Samuel," Rowena said. "I'm sure the girls would like to get food before the flight as well."

Claire was about to say she didn't have money when something slipped in her hand. Azrial stood up, pressing a kiss to her forehead before turning to the others.

"Safe travels, and we'll see you in a week. I need to go help Bobby pack up the last of the books he insists need to come along."

She went back into the house and Claire looked down at her hand. There was a debit card with her name on it and some cash along with a small note.

Remember you aren't alone, we're always watching over you.

Claire blinked back tears, running her thumb over the note. She'd been so worried about being alone after her dad left. Then her mom had left too...and things had spiraled from there.

"Come on Claire, we've gotta go!" Jo called from near the Impala.

Claire shook her head, grabbing her suitcase and heading toward the car. There'd be time to think about this new family she found herself a part of later. Maybe once she was settled into their new safe-house.