Chapter Fifty-One
Lazarus Rising
Valerius Estate: August 10, 2010
Bobby yawned, half awake, as he entered the dining room. Breakfast was laid out like always, and he snagged some fresh bread and jam. He was about to pour himself coffee when someone cleared their throat.
"Got something to tell us, old man?" Dean asked as he sat down.
Bobby snorted, pouring his coffee and offering the pot to his boys. "Crowley said you all already know what happened."
Castiel took it, pouring for the three of them. "Rowena just went on a rant about Crowley finally settling down and not actually telling her he planned to," Castiel explained.
"So, care to explain?" Dean hedged. "Because it sounds like you three ran off and had a Vegas wedding."
Bobby laughed, unable to stem his amusement at the comparison. "It's a bit more complicated than that," he said softly. "It's more…a promise."
"Uh-huh," Sam said slowly. "Cas, put him out of his misery."
Castiel shot him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Bobby, they cornered me about this. I told them that the three of you bound yourselves to each other permanently."
"We did," Bobby said. "Is that a problem? I thought you boys were okay with the relationship?"
"It's not that," Dean said. "It's just, well, we kinda feel uninvolved, ya know? You went and got all soul married and didn't even mention that it was a possibility."
Bobby relaxed back against his chair, nodding. "I understand. It was very much a spur-of-the-moment thing, a way to show each other that there's something on the other side of all this shit."
"So not a wedding?" Sam asked.
"Ain't nobody asked for my hand," Bobby joked. "And I think they'd need your permission at this point."
"Damn right," Sam said with a grin. "Need to know you're provided for."
Bobby chuckled, taking a moment to spread jam on his bread. He noticed Dean's thoughtful look and raised an eyebrow.
"Somethin' wrong, Dean?"
Dean shook his head, grinning a bit. "Nah, but when you walk down the aisle, make sure we're invited. It's rude to keep family out of the loop."
"I promise you'll all get to see Crowley in a pretty white dress if we ever get there."
He was glad to see the joke land as all three boys began laughing. It was good to see, especially with all the shit that was going on.
Heaven: August 17, 2010
Thanatos entered Heaven again with the same ease he had the first time. The only difference was the increased sick feeling as he passed through the veil. He navigated to Pamala's paradise, depositing a newly passed soul as he went. Best to look like he was working, after all.
"Thanatos, welcome back!" Pamala greeted warmly as he stepped into her paradise.
"Good to see you too," he said. "How are things-?"
"Stop badgering me!" Ash snapped, shoving a man away from his computer. "Look, there's Thanatos, go bug him!"
Thanatos raised an eyebrow as the middle-aged man turned on him, wondering what had Ash so on edge. He realized there were others in the bar as well now that he looked around. A flash of brown was the only warning he got before someone crashed into his chest, halting the middle-aged man from approaching.
"Than, how I have missed you! You must tell me how Marcus is. How is Azrial? The children? Oh, there is so much we must discuss!"
He recognized the woman vibrating in his arms immediately and took the brief respite to tightly hug her back.
"There will be time enough for that, Aeliana. Where is your husband? He will want to hear the news I have brought."
Aeliana looked up, her soft honey eyes shining with curiosity. "Marcus agreed for me to come back?"
"Did you truly see Azrial losing that fight?" Thanatos asked in amusement.
The brilliant smile and tight hug he received made it clear she was more than pleased.
"Love, please unhand Thanatos. He seems to have an unruly mortal to deal with."
Thanatos didn't bother to stem his smile when Felix approached, gently pulling Aeliana away from his chest. She pouted, shooting an annoyed look at the impatient middle-aged man frowning at them.
"How times have changed. To try and demand answers from a god without even a polite greeting!"
"I think he may be one of my comrades' parents," Thanatos admitted. "Let us give him a chance, at least."
Aeliana huffed in annoyance but allowed Felix to guide her away. Thanatos watched them wander over to an empty table, already picturing Cassiopeia's reaction to seeing her great-how-many-times-grandmother.
"It seems you have me at a disadvantage," Thanatos said by way of greeting. "You know of me, but I don't know you."
Before the man could answer, Pamala was at his side. She was gripping his shoulder tightly, an unspoken threat burning in her eyes.
"He'll wait if he knows what's good for him," Pamala said. "I've been sitting on pins and needles for three days to call everyone else in."
"I'm surprised Aeliana and Felix already found you," Thanatos admitted.
"I zeroed in on them first," Ash said from the bar. "Seemed as good a way as any to find where the souls from that time period could be found."
Thanatos hummed, glancing at the man who was scowling at the three of them. "And this one?"
Pamala snorted. "Thanatos, meet John Winchester. He's here because Ash can't keep his mouth shut."
"I've apologized multiple times!" Ash snapped. "I was looking for their mom, not this asshat."
"Watch it," John snarled in annoyance.
"Bite me," Ash growled back, surprising Thanatos. "I know all about you, John Winchester. I lived with Ellen Harvelle long enough to hear about what type of man you are."
Thanatos raised an eyebrow as John flinched at the pointed comment. He decided to ignore the man in favor of Ash and Pamala, knowing whatever was going on was personal.
"So, are things in a place to proceed? Gabriel wants to ward the property as soon as possible but we have two tasks to finish first, this included."
"I almost want to come just to see all that happen," Ash said wistfully. "I'm gonna stay put, though. Not much of a fighter, ya know. That and I'll still be able to pass messages if it becomes necessary."
"I'll be staying as well," Pamala said. "I have the best control over manipulating my paradise due to being psychic while alive."
Thanatos nodded, shooting them both a grateful smile. "It seems you've both been thinking rather hard about this."
"Well, not much else to do in this glorified Matrix," Ash said. "So, where's that list?" Thanatos handed over the bound list. Ash opened it, grinning as he looked over the first page. "Oh, who started getting a hard-on for Excel while I was gone? I know it wasn't Sam or Dean; they ain't this organized."
Thanatos laughed. "Believe it or not, it's someone who just learned about computers a few weeks ago. He's a bit obsessed now, according to Bobby."
"Well, he made my job a lot fucking easier." Ash ran a finger down the page in thought. "Names, birthdates, ranks, place of birth—I was worried we'd accidentally contact someone unrelated since names were reused so often, but this eliminates that."
"That sounds like a military record," John said gruffly.
"It was created off one," Thanatos admitted. "The Centurion who transcribed those records is the one who originally made them all."
Ash blinked owlishly at the bound notes before glancing back up. "I want to meet this guy," he said. "That's my reward for helping save the world."
"I will let him know, though if it's any measure, you have met his twin." Thanatos gestured toward where Aeliana and Felix were seated.
"Damn, he's probably hot," Ash muttered. "Well, let's get this party started. They didn't happen to give you a flash drive with this info, did they?"
Thanatos pointedly ignored the dirty look John shot at Ash and handed over the flash drive. "It should all be there. The master list was just in case the data ended up corrupted in any way by passing through the veil. This is new to all of us."
Ash plugged the flash drive into the computer with a thoughtful frown. A few tense seconds passed, and after a few clicks, he grinned. "Well, let's get you an army, man!"
Line Break
Azrial sat in one of the trees overlooking the field west of the vineyard. The large space was going to be filled with people soon, and she was trying to get a mental lay of the land. There were several tables set out so they could keep a record of who was coming back for the war. She wasn't worried about Marcus' men, but rather the more recently dead that may try and use this to stay on earth. Cassiopeia and Orion were manning desks on opposite sides, and Sam was at the center table. That meant two people could communicate with everyone, and one person would be familiar to those who'd died semi-recently. She spun a black key in her hand, trying to calm her mind. The ruby inset at the top of the key caught the morning sunlight, and she shut her eyes.
"Damnit, please let this be what you meant," she whispered.
"Do you truly think I'd have allowed things to get this far if it wasn't?"
The dry question made Azrial crane her neck, looking for the voice. She didn't see anyone but could still feel someone watching her. She shut her eyes and reached out her senses. For a moment, it felt like a gentle hand was placed on her head, and Azrial took a deep breath.
"You're right, as always," she said to the wind.
She felt the amusement in the air before the touch on her head vanished. It wasn't a lot, but she'd take the small reassurance Death offered. He wouldn't risk their end game by doing anymore, and she respected that.
"Are you done lurking in the shadows?"
Azrial looked down, grinning slightly at Sam. "If I'm not?"
"You told me to get you when it was 10," he said.
"Ah, then no more lurking for me," she said solemnly. "Is everyone ready?"
"Seems so. This isn't gonna kill any of us, right?" Sam asked.
"That would be counterproductive, so no."
He snorted, and Azrial vaulted down from the tree. Sam didn't even look fazed at the action and turned to start walking back toward the tables. Azrial followed at a relaxed pace, feeling a bit more at peace with her choices. It was funny, really, that no matter how old she got or how much time passed, she still sought Death's approval on things of large importance. She shook her head, walking to the center of the field. She spun the key in her hand a final time before sticking it into the air in front of her. The teeth disappeared, and the air rippled for a few moments before settling.
"Well, here's hoping we don't break reality," she muttered before twisting the key firmly to the right.
Line Break
Dean sat at the tree line, watching person after person walk through the glowing door Azrial had created. She had changed into her raven form and sat perched atop the semi-translucent portal. At first, she'd been attentive, watching every person with a sharp eye, but now, she had covered her face with a wing to shield from the strong afternoon sun.
"How's it all goin'?"
Dean glanced up at Bobby as the man leaned against the tree, watching the procession of people being directed by Gabriel to the three waiting tables.
"Seems to be going fine. Azrial's napping, I think."
Bobby snorted, nodding in the raven's direction. "It seems so. You'd think she didn't sleep last night."
Dean shot the man a look. "Did she?" he teased.
Bobby glared slightly but didn't seem overly upset. "None of your business."
Dean shook his head and looked back to the portal. He hadn't seen anyone he knew, and Sam's table hadn't been visited yet. His brother was reading a book while waiting for someone other than a Roman to step through the door.
"It's been about an hour, right?" Dean asked curiously.
"Yeah, about that that long," Bobby said. "Crowley and Marcus are going to come down to switch with the twins in another hour."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Crowley knows the language?"
"Yeah, he had to work his mojo when we got thrown into the past."
Dean hummed and was about to comment further when a scream ripped through the clearing. He couldn't make out the two people approaching Sam's table, but Azrial had dive-bombed one of them and was pecking furiously at their hair as their partner tried to wave her away. Bobby was ridged at his side, staring at the interaction in shock.
"Sonuva-" Dean hissed, getting to his feet. "Just when I thought everything was going our way."
"Go get Crowley, Castiel, and Marcus," Bobby ordered. "I'll try and calm her down and figure out what the hell is going on."
Dean nodded, shooting a worried glance back at Azrial, who'd shifted forms again. The now she-wolf was standing between Sam, who'd shot to his feet, and the pair who'd exited the portal.
"On it," Dean muttered as Bobby took off toward Azrial, already shooting an SOS prayer to Castiel. The angel was at his side in a second, his eyes drawn to the chaos in the clearing.
"Crowley and Marcus?" Castiel asked.
"Sooner rather than later, for that poor bastard's sake," Dean suggested.
"Dean...you should go over there," Castiel said softly. He shot his lover a strange look, and the angel sighed. "It's your mother and father, my mate."
The words washed over Dean like an icy shower, and he ran toward his family just as Azrial lunged at his father's throat.
Line Break
Azrial kept her power close to the surface though, passively taking in everyone who entered through Death's Door. No one had put up a fuss, and she'd heard a few people call greetings to her and made sure to give a croon or caw in response to each one. She was about to get down from her lofty perch when an unwelcome scent hit her.
Sulfur. Fresh sulfur. Worse yet, there was a dark coiling of Alastair's power as well. Warning bells went off in her head. She knew Crowley wasn't nearby, and the demon rarely, if ever, smelled like sulfur.
The source of the stench was making a beeline for Sam's table. Azrial let out a furious screech as she spread her wings.
Protect the flock. Protect the pack. Keep them safe.
Over and over again, it circled her head. She didn't even realize she was attacking the source of the stench until she heard screaming. Her talons shredded soft skin, and she could taste blood in the air. A hard slap connected with her wing. She snapped harshly in its direction as she dove toward Sam. Her body shifted. She hit the ground with four paws and a furious growl.
It was a man. A man who looked ready to fight her. Sam was saying something, but Azrial couldn't focus on him. This man smelled of Alastair. He smelled of sulfur. He was in her home, near one of her young packmates. That made him a threat. She growled loudly, hunching her back and leaning into her hind legs. A clear warning to step away from Sam.
The man didn't obey, trying to step closer despite his female companion attempting to pull him back. Azrial launched at him, intending to put him down with force if needed.
She yelped as a harsh hand grabbed the scruff of her neck, halting her attack. It was only the scent of parchment and car oil that stopped her from biting the offender's hand off and returning to her task. Her mate's scent and his lack of attack stopped her from struggling against the grip too harshly. She still snarled furiously at the man in front of her, happy to see his cheek bleeding from where her talons had cut him.
"Enough," Bobby ordered. "As much as I'd like to see you maul off the bastard's face, you need to calm down."
She growled in discontent but let the fight slowly bleed from her body as she tried to push down her instinct to gut the threat to her pack. Bobby didn't let go of her scruff, but he did loosen his hold as another of her packmates ran into the area.
"Oh, thank fuck," Dean wheezed out. "I didn't think you'd be able to stop her."
"Not that it would matter based on Marcus," Bobby said drily. "She could've ripped his throat out, and the bastard would still be standing here."
Dean looked sick at the thought. Azrial whined as she pulled against Bobby's grip to go comfort Dean.
"Sorry, princess," Bobby said. "Not letting ya go until your higher reasoning returns. Dean's a big boy. He doesn't need comfort right now, just to catch his breath."
Azrial didn't agree. Dean smelled worried, and he looked like he wanted to throw up. Sam cautiously took a step toward his brother.
"She was protecting me?" Sam asked, a touch of surprise in his voice.
"Well, yeah," Dean said like it was obvious. Azrial certainly thought it was. "Cas made it clear in this form that she's all instincts. Well…" Dean shrugged but wouldn't look at the man who Azrial still wanted far away from her pups. "Something about Dad set her off."
Dad? Azrial eyed the man and realized he did look like Dean and Sam. The woman also shared some of their traits.
"John," Bobby said tensely. "Sorry 'bout that. She's overprotective."
Her mate hardly sounded sorry, and Azrial wondered if she should break free and finish the job. The sound of feathers made her glance toward Dean again, and she was glad to see her fledgling move to comfort Dean.
"Did you really grab her like an unruly mutt to stop her rampage?" Crowley asked. His voice was laced with no shortage of amusement and respect as he and Marcus approached.
"It worked, didn't it?" Bobby asked. "Can you try and talk her out of attacking John?"
Crowley kicked up an eyebrow, glancing toward the man who looked annoyed at being ignored.
"Ah," Crowley muttered. "I see why you reacted as you did."
She barked in appreciation, happy someone finally saw the issue with the man as well. At least Crowley saw the threat to their pack. That meant she'd have help protecting them. Crowley held a hand in front of Marcus to stop him from getting closer.
"I will only call her off once I know why this man reeks of Hell and Alastair," Crowley said. "There is no reason he should be coming from Heaven. Not even Dean still carries those traits."
Bobby dropped her scruff without warning. "Pin him," he ordered coldly.
Azrial launched at John without hesitation, ignoring his wife's shout to stop. He tried to block her, but she pushed her whole body into her front paws and slammed him to the ground. She planted her front paws against his chest and hovered her fangs warningly at his throat.
"Bobby, what are you doing?" Sam asked frantically.
"If both Azrial and Crowley agree that John reeks of Hell, I want to make damn fucking sure he ain't a threat to you boys." Bobby paused, glancing toward Marcus. "I'm sorry. I know this is your home."
"He was in Heaven with me the whole time!" John's wife shouted before Marcus could respond.
"Mom, I'm sorry, but that doesn't mean anything," Dean practically whispered. "The angels may have planted him as a spy."
The woman continued to try and argue with Sam and Dean as Marcus slowly approached Bobby's side.
"How do we determine if he is a threat?" Marcus asked. "I am inclined to allow Azrial to return him to Heaven."
Bobby let out a dry laugh, shooting a worried glance at Sam and Dean. "Normally, I'd agree, but I'd rather her not rip his throat out in front of the boys and their mother."
"I'm right here!" John yelled, pushing against her chest.
Azrial growled, scrapping her teeth against his jugular in warning. The man froze, clearly realizing she would follow through with the threat.
"Angel, truly look at his soul," Crowley suggested. "I'm struggling to get an actual read on it."
Azrial growled in acknowledgment and did as he suggested. John was a human soul, that much she could tell. Looking further, though, it truly didn't appear he should be in Heaven. His soul was stained and scarred far deeper than it should have been. This wasn't the normal amount of sin that someone could be exposed to.
Then she found it. The mark of a demon deal. There was no reason at all for this man to be in Heaven without divine intervention.
She turned toward Crowley and briefly connected with his mind to share her thoughts. He let out a low growl, his eyes flashing red in annoyance.
"You should belong to me, John Winchester," Crowley spat. "It appears you failed to pay for the consequences of your actions."
"The hell you on about?" John snapped.
Crowley rolled his eyes and turned to Bobby and Marcus. "The bastard isn't a threat, but he has cheated the system somehow. He should be rotting in Hell right now for the demon deal he made. Let me guess, you snuck out when the gates opened?"
John didn't respond, but Azrial didn't doubt Crowley's assessment.
"Let him up then," Bobby duly ordered. "We've scared his poor wife enough."
Azrial whined, not happy with the order. She didn't like the smell of this man at all, and the fact that Dean was still edging away from the group worried her.
"Obey," Marcus said gently. "You can discuss your misgivings later."
Azrial growled loudly in objection but removed her teeth from John's neck. She slinked away to sit near Bobby with a warning snarl. John glared at her as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Bobby gently scratched behind her ear, letting her know he wasn't mad at her.
"That how you welcome people who come to help you?" John asked as he got to his feet. His wife darted over to join him, worry clear on her face.
"Next time, don't skimp out on a demon deal and come into an angel's home reeking of Hell's top torturer," Crowley suggested.
"That's rich coming from a demon," John snapped.
"John, stop," his wife hissed in warning. "We're here to help them, not fight."
"Listen to your wife, Winchester," Bobby said. "Come on, princess. I'm gonna take over for Orion."
Azrial reluctantly followed Bobby, shooting Crowley a worried look. He tilted his head, glancing toward Sam and Dean before giving a slight nod.
Her king would look after them. That was good. Then she could focus on the souls still coming through despite the scene they'd made. She gave one last warning growl to John, and she swore Bobby laughed half-heartedly at her threat.
Line Break
Dean didn't bother to approach his father even after Azrial and Bobby walked away. Crowley stepped closer to him as Sam cautiously greeted their parents.
"I won't leave you alone with him," Crowley muttered. "Azrial would have my balls for a chew toy if I did."
"He's my dad," Dean said emotionlessly. "He isn't going to hurt me."
Crowley gave him a blank stare, and Dean felt like the demon was staring straight through him.
"Whatever you say, squirrel. I'd still like to get laid, though, so I'm staying right here."
"You're acting like Cas," Dean said offhandedly.
"Don't insult me like that, Dean," Castiel said as he stepped up to his other side. "I'm standing right here."
"Fuck you too, feathers," Crowley said nonchalantly.
Dean couldn't help the ghost of the smile that pulled his lips at the bantering and reached out to curl his fingers around Castiel's hand. The angel squeezed back, and Dean felt some of the tension bleed from his back. Sam glanced back at him, where he stood next to their parents, the question clear in his eyes. Are you okay?
Dean tilted his chin, noticing his father glanced his way as well, frowning. He snorted and turned away. He may want to see his mom, fuck did he want to see her, but he wouldn't put up with his father's bullshit. Not after he tried to kill Castiel.
"Come on, Cas," Dean said, tugging him away from the field. "Orion said he'd help with my swordplay when he got off intake duty."
Castiel hummed, giving his hand another squeeze. "As you wish, mate."
"Oh, gag me," Crowley muttered.
"If I have to hear you fu—" Castiel started to say. Dean pulled him harder, trying to stop from laughing.
"Play nice, or Azrial will kick all our asses when she finally decides to look human again."
Crowley rolled his eyes, making his way toward Cassiopeia's table where she was talking to Marcus. It seemed the demon thought he was safe enough with Castiel, which Dean wholeheartedly agreed with.
Line Break
Bobby sighed, scratching down another name. He was happy Marcus let him take over the check-in table because if he was left alone with John, the man would end up hurt. Or dead again. He looked down when Azrial let out a tiny whine, though she didn't move from her spot under the table. She'd curled up at his feet to stay out of the sun and still seemed mopey about not being able to kill John.
"You and me both," he muttered to the she-wolf.
She snuffled her nose in acknowledgment, butting her head gently against his foot. He was about to say more when a couple walked up to his table. They looked familiar in the sense he swore he'd met them before. Something about the man's jaw and the woman's hazel eyes caused a strange sense of déjà vu. He was about to greet them when the table jolted up and he had to brace it as Azrial shot out at the couple with a sharp bark. Bobby was about to grab her again, expecting a repeat of the John incident, but the woman opened her arms in greeting. Mid-sprint, Azrial shifted back to her human form and collided with the shorter woman. The archangel was hugging the woman tightly, her face buried in her neck. Bobby slowly walked around the table, glancing at the man who was smiling softly at the exchange.
"I have missed you as well, sister," the woman whispered as she carded her fingers through the ends of Azrial's hair. "I am so glad to be here with you."
Bobby's eyes widened, realizing quickly who the pair were. He looked to see where Marcus was, but the man was dealing with a well-built redhead who seemed intent on annoying him. Marcus didn't seem to mind too much if the amused twitch of his lips was anything to go by.
"My name is Bobby," he said by way of greeting to the man who was observing the tear-filled reunion. "I'll get you both checked in so you can go up to the house right away."
The man glanced at him, his green eyes sizing him up curiously. "Pamala spoke of you. Said you were a well-learned and honest man."
"That may be the nicest thing she ever said about me," he joked. "Am I right in saying you're Felix?"
A small nod. "I am he, and that is my wife, Aeliana Valerius."
"She looks just like Cassiopeia," Bobby said softly.
"I look forward to meeting our descendants, but it seems I must rescue my old friend from our shield brother before he ends up back in Elysium."
Felix walked toward Marcus, seemingly content to allow Bobby to watch over the two women. That, or he just trusted Azrial that much. Probably that.
"My hunter." Bobby looked toward Azrial, whose eyes were still shining with tears despite her bright smile. "This is Aeliana, Marcus' twin sister."
"It's nice to meet you," Bobby said. "Seems your husband went to rescue your brother."
Aeliana laughed, and Bobby almost wished he could bottle the sound for the effect it had on Azrial. She'd been so tense and hyper-focused lately, and now it looked like she was floating on air.
"The redhead is Cassius," Aeliana explained. "A good man, but he can be overwhelming."
Bobby nodded in understanding and made a mental note to keep Cassius away from Rufus for his and Marcus' sake. Azrial was vibrating and looked ready to dart over to where the three men were now talking as they checked others in.
"Go, princess," he said softly. "You've waited a long damn time for this."
Azrial smiled brilliantly at him, rushing up to give him a quick kiss. She grabbed Aeliana's hand and practically ran over to the trio of men. An older-looking man had just walked up to the trio when Azrial and Aeliana reached them. He was greeted with as much fanfare as Cassius and Felix had been.
"I was told to announce myself," a voice said. Bobby turned back to the table, ready to greet the new soul. As much as he wanted to watch the warm reunion, he had a job to do. He was sure everyone in that group would be up at the house later.
Line Break
Sam was exhausted by the time the last soldier was marked down. All around him, tents were being put up in the large space with unexpected speed. He shouldn't be surprised, though, almost everyone here was an experienced legionnaire and used to this type of setup. Besides his mom and dad, only a handful of hunters had come back. He didn't really know any of them, though he'd seen Bobby greet a few. Speaking of his mom and dad… They hadn't gone far, choosing to stay in eyeshot while talking to each other.
Azrial had disappeared with a group of people that Sam guessed were her family from Marcus' time. They'd all headed for the house, so he suspected they'd be staying there. He wasn't sure if his dad would be welcome, especially with Jo being there.
"Well," Sam said, drawing his parents' attention, "that's everyone."
As if to underline his statement, Thanatos walked up to the portal and slashed his hand through it. It slowly began to disappear, a key falling into Thanatos' open palm. He tossed it in the air, and it disappeared as well.
"Isn't that the death god?" his dad asked warily.
Sam gave an easy-going smile. "One of them. That's Thanatos. I haven't talked to him much, but he seems very relaxed."
His dad looked ready to say something, but his mom cut him off. "And he's been helping with everything, right? He was in Heaven to get us."
"Yeah. Azrial can't enter Heaven right now since she's supposed to be dead, and Thanatos can come and go as he pleases since it's his job."
"I'm glad you boys have had so much help," she said warmly. "I'd love to meet the others...and see Dean."
Sam had to suppress a wince, knowing his dad probably wouldn't be welcome based on Dean's behavior alone.
"Let's head toward the house," he suggested. "I'm sure there's some food and drinks laid out by now."
He led the way to the villa, hoping there wouldn't be a blow-up. It really depended if Jo was around or if his dad started on Dean and Castiel. Damnit, he hoped his dad wouldn't harp on that. Dean being happy was still a new thing, and he wasn't about to let anything ruin it. They made it to the front steps of the villa, and Sam was surprised to see everyone lingering outside and talking. Sadly, he didn't get the chance to really take in the homey scene.
"What the hell is he doing here?"
The comfortable atmosphere fell apart at Jo's furious question. Azrial looked up from where she was talking, frowning at his dad but not getting up to interfere.
"He came back to help," Sam said softly.
"Oh, like he helped my dad?" Jo spat. She turned toward Marcus, fury burning in her eyes. "If you know what's good for you, keep that bastard away from your men."
Marcus raised an eyebrow from his place next to Azrial. Bobby slowly got up from his place amongst the group and walked toward Jo, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"What do you need?"
The question seemed to break something in Jo. Angry tears were threatening to fall, and she spun back around to look at John.
"Stay the fuck away from Claire and me! If you come near us, I'll...I'll kill you myself!"
Bobby sighed, gently pulling Jo back toward the group.
"I don't even know you," John said flatly.
"Dad," Sam hissed. "Stop."
Jo shot forward with a speed Sam didn't know she possessed. Before he could stop her, she slapped his dad hard across the face. John took a step back, staring at Jo in shock. She was breathing heavily, tears rolling down her face.
"Fuck you," she hissed. "You killed my father, you fucking bastard!"
That made Azrial stand up, but Marcus grabbed her wrist to stop her from getting involved. Sam was watching his dad's reaction, hoping the man would drop the subject. He looked furious at the assault, especially since it was the same cheek Azrial had clawed up earlier. Jo's words seemed to catch up with him, though, and he paled.
"Joanna," he breathed. "Bill's daughter."
"Don't say his name!" Jo screamed, her voice cracking with emotion. "You don't have the fucking right!"
Claire looked ready to rush to Jo, but thankfully, Castiel had a firm grip on her. Sam really didn't want anyone else involved with this, especially when he caught the sick look on his mom's face.
"Jo," Dean called softly. "Come here. He ain't worth it."
John's face had become impassive at Dean's words, but Sam doubted this was the end of it. There was an anger in his eyes that Sam had learned long ago indicated a fight was coming. Sam shifted his gaze to Jo, wondering what she'd do.
"Stay away from us," Jo finally said. "Just…stay away from us, or else." Clarie immediately hugged her and guided Jo back into the house.
Marcus cleared his throat, breaking the silence left by Jo's exit. "It may be best for you to stay in one of our guest houses."
Sam waited for his dad to object, but his mom spoke before he could.
"I agree," she said. "That young woman has been through enough. I don't want to cause her unnecessary stress."
Dean smiled weakly at their mom, and Sam let out a breath. Good, it was settling down now.
"The girls don't eat every meal with us," Azrial said carefully. "I'll make sure word is sent to you if Jo isn't joining us if your sons would like to share a meal."
Sam could read between the lines well enough to know his dad wasn't likely to be invited to any meals. Dean didn't want to be around him and would likely seek out their mom when she was alone. Truth be told, Sam didn't want to sit down with his dad either. Especially when Rowena and Gabriel were in the same room. The offer, though, would go a long way to soothe his father's temper, and he appreciated Azrial trying.
"Thank you," his mom said. "Could someone show us to the guest house?"
Orion stood up, brushing his hair out of his face. "Yeah, follow me. I'll also make sure the kitchen knows to send down meals."
Sam watched his parents go, wishing things weren't so complicated. He noticed the dark look in Bobby's eyes before the man was dragged back into a conversation with Marcus. The fact is his father wasn't well-liked. He'd always known that. Their only saving grace in all this was the lack of people who knew him.
Somehow, that wasn't a comforting thought, given the anger still rolling off several people present. Including Dean. He'd have to talk with his brother before they went and saw their mom. They really needed a game plan moving forward.