Disclaimer: I don't own, duh. A. N. Hope you enjoy!
Inviting Benny home had been...honestly, a test. Not for the vampire - they wandered together for months in Purgatory, and Dean knows there's nothing too obnoxious in him. It's not like having him stay means he'll suddenly figure out that, back when Sam had demanded they cut ties, he'd been right...because Benny squeezes his toothpaste wrong.
No, that's the point. Sam. If his brother is actually capable of being civil to Benny? Dean wants to see it with his own two eyes. Sure, the vampire wouldn't lie to him about it. Probably. Still - and despite the fact that Benny did, technically, die to save Sam's ass - it sounds so farfetched, he couldn't resist.
So far, Sammy is passing with flying colors. Not a sneer, a glare, or a hint that they really should be more suspicious. He doesn't even walk around with a machete, just in case. Frankly, Dean would have been annoyed but not blamed him if his brother did.
Sam's so damn polite, in fact, that if Jack himself hadn't brought the two of them back home Dean would have tested him. But there's no way their boy/god wouldn't have noticed if his brother had been switched with a shifter or possessed or something.
And yes, it's nice to have something to distract himself with when he's nervous about not having yet received a reply to their barn question. Even if it's just how weird it is when Sam isn't at Benny's throat.
Then Sam tells them, "Ok, we should go to Illinois. They didn't want a random wedding on their property, but they're amenable to selling."
And honestly it's so like his brother, to keep secret anything Dean would have been unhappy about. But hey, this time Sam actually fixed it, so Dean won't complain.
"Could I stay behind?" Benny pipes up. And okay, that's a 600 mile trip, plus meeting with a notary, that's not most people's idea of a fun outing. Besides, Benny needs to get organized himself. Maybe talk to old contacts, locate the closest blood bank. Look, Dean hasn't been a vampire long enough to know all the details of the life, and definitely not when one tries to be a decent one like Benny does. The nest he was in...he's happy he destroyed it.
Still, he expects some pushback at that. Or maybe for Sam to say he'll stay behind, too. Keep an eye on him. The bunker is the bunker, with all its mystical contents. Leaving a bloodsucker he doesn't really know to house-sit...his brother should balk at it, really. Never mind that Dean does know him. (Benny is not Rowena. He wouldn't even know what a lot of that is for, and he's lonely enough that he doesn't have people who'd use him to get into the bunker. )
Instead, Sam turns to him, with a searching look. Like if Dean's okay with it, his brother is going to take his assurance and be in the car before you can say "Illinois." It's so different from the past that Dean wonders for a hot minute if this is his wedding present, and Sammy just forgot to mention it. Or...wait, he didn't revive any of his girls. His brother isn't planning to move back in with Amelia, is he? One wedding at a time. There's gotta be a rule about it or something. Maybe that British dude can confirm.
"I have some people to see anyway, so. If you want to keep the key," Benny continues, with a shrug.
"You sure?" Sam asks.
"Yeah. I'm getting out of my duties as is. And it's a place way too big to stay in alone."
"Okay, well. I don't think we'll take too long, but if you change your mind, call. We'll figure something out," Dean says.
"Sure, brother," Benny drawls.
Fifteen minutes later they're all gone. Benny borrowed one of the Men of Letters' cars. Dean can't help but smile imagining what the original owners' reactions if they were there to see. The three of them, of course, are packed into the Impala. It should be a nine-hours-something drive, but Dean bets he can shave at least a couple off, probably more.
He knows it's not like that, of course. But the idea of having their place feels like they'd be halfway done on this whole wedding thing. Even if they manage to make a mess of literally all the rest, the ceremony itself will happen.
If more time-travel shenanigans happened, a Dean from the distant past might be surprised at his being so eager to say yes to an angel. But hey, Cas is different. And even if Dean definitely wants his angel inside him, as often as possible (which turns out to be very), the nuance matters.
When they're finally in Pontiac, again...well, first they actually have lunch. There are no more demons in the diner (yep, Dean went to the same one, almost by accident), and their pie is still lovely. Besides, negotiations are better done when he's not starving. Not that he plans to actually haggle - bless Charlie and the infinite funds she gave them.
Then, Sam texts the owners that they're in town and would like to finalize the deal.
They're invited to see the place again first. Dean's so not going to refuse. "Try to go easy on the lights this time, will you?" he says to his fiancé, with a grin.
"I'll do my best," Cas huffs.
The owners meet them there. They're an old couple - must be 70 at least - and, most of all, they seem baffled by their interest in the place.
Dean steels himself just in case they might end up objecting to the nature of his relationship, but the old lady just asks, "So...you're from Kansas, right?"
"Yep."
"I assume there are barns there."
"We moved a lot. And I met Cas in this area, so." Dean shrugs.
He can't exactly come out and admit "here". For one, he'll be admitting to breaking and entering. For another...of course all the sigils and symbols Bobby and he had painted are gone by now. Which might even be good in case Crowley decides to come, after all. Dean won't admit, not even under duress, to lowkey missing the atmosphere the two of them had painstakingly created for what turned out to be his first meeting with the love of his life. But normal people tend to make mistakes about these things. Nevermind that they were all protective symbols. They probably assume some satanists or witches or similar shit broke in back then. (As if.) Dean wouldn't begrudge them wanting to forget it, much less aiming to hide it.
"Oh." The old lady is placated. "That's...sweet."
Dean doesn't have to look at him to know Sam's grinning, and will tease him about it in the future. Especially since he's even sweeter, apparently, than she can know.
He's not. He's...superstitious. There, that's it. After all, Cas and he started here on this plane, and - ups and downs notwithstanding - Dean's very, very happy with the results. So, if they are to have a new beginning of sorts? They have to do it here. For luck. It's no different than having a lucky pair of socks, is all. He's pretty sure people who weren't uprooted every other month (if they were lucky) have their own place-related superstitions, even if there's nothing actually mystical in it. Anyway, it can't hurt, can it?
"So, how did you meet?" the old lady's husband asks, with a little smile.
"I offered him a job. In the fashion industry. Dean declined. And, well, I've since seen that my company, despite its claims, wasn't as entirely ethical as they'd want you to believe," Cas replies.
Dean's almost startled. When did Cas learn to lie so well? On the other hand...maybe he isn't. There's a reason that what an angel calls vessel, a demon would define as a "meatsuit". At the start, his poor angel still assumed that Dean would save the world...as Michael's sword. Being offered a job as one of the most coveted ensembles of the season counts as working in fashion, if you squint.
"I ended up following him in his next endeavours." Cas' arm sneaks around Dean's waist, pride in his voice.
"Which were?" the old man asks.
"I thought we were here for the barn?" Dean retorts.
"I thought we'd see you a lot more in the area, so..." the old man huffs, miffed.
"Oh, no, we're not moving back here. Visiting more, sure, probably. Well, possibly. Never know what life'll throw at you next, do you? " Dean shrugs.
"Let the man have his little romantic moment, Wyatt. We agreed on a price, he clearly doesn't have issues after checking the place. If he wants to burn it down afterwards, hey, it's an old barn. Not like it was much good to you either, was it?" the man's wife chides.
"Mildred..." the man groans.
"If it helps, there's definitely no arson in the plans," Cas points out. "It'll stand for a long, long time."
"Maybe we could move this to your notary to finalize things?" Sam says, and they agree, Mildred dragging her husband just a little.
Okay, it's happening. And if this happens, that can happen, and - this is real. No djinn dream, and with Jack on their side, presumably no apocalypse starting this month. Part of Dean is still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Dean is given the directions to the notary's office, and fifteen minutes later they're all knocking on the man's door. There's some small talk that Dean personally finds unnecessary - about the man's dear old dad, who he inherited the job and these clients from. Look, Dean's the first to appreciate continuing family tradition, but he'd like for this to proceed.
Finally, though, the notary manages to wrangle them all to the reason they're here for. A few questions, including whether they're married. Dean's not sure why it's relevant to the contract, but Cas chimes in, "Not yet," and he can't help the grin splitting his face.
He's all for signing on the dotted line, when Sam, from behind him, hums, "Give me a second," and steals it off him. Sammy does speed-read through it at least - a skill he's had to learn in countless hours of research - before giving it back with a, "Perfect."
Dean signs with a little huff. Really, as if they'd get scammed or something. Personally, he thinks his brother just wanted to dot his t's. Or maybe show off that he understands legalese.
The other couple signs too, they are handed a cheque, and they're officially done. He'll have to thank Charlie for that one infinite credit card again whenever they see her next. Which they will. There's no way that she would refuse to come back, is there? Sure, they technically got her killed too, but she has to know they'll do better this time.
Everything is better this time. You know what, maybe he will take Jack up on that offer to come round if they ask, because the kid has always loved fantasy and scifi, and Charlie needs to talk his ear off too about every single book, show and movie in existence, their respective merits and flaws, and...maybe they can play a little, too. That'd be so fun.
Though here's to hoping that Amara has helped Jack have a little more control, because having god roleplay could cause all sort of awkward accidents.
Part of Dean wants to go right back to the new property and start working on it immediately, but maybe knowing a few more details about what they actually want to do with it first would be better. Streamline the project, if nothing else. They have time. Besides, now that they're in the area, maybe they should take advantage of it to look into other things they need.
Sure, they can move anything from anywhere, but it would be easier if they didn't have to transport everything 600 miles, or maybe even more if they decide to go looking for something out of their area.
Besides, they're not gonna have all the guests go back hundreds of miles for the after-wedding meal. Technically it would help to decide if they want a morning ceremony or a later one, too. Details, details. At the very least, they need to scope out the best places to eat in the area.
Mmm... That sounds like a nice way to spend their time.
"I know it wasn't the plan, well, there wasn't a plan, but what do you say to staying here for a bit longer? There are a few more details we could straighten out, since we're already here."
"Sure," Cas agrees.
"Text Benny though. It's one thing to not want to stay alone in the bunker for a day, day and half, but depending on how long it takes... He might change his mind. Or decide to join us here after all," his brother says.
Dean throws him a quick bitchface. "Course. " As if he needed to be told. Besides, he's gotta ask. Vampires definitely can drink more than blood if they want to blend in, but can they eat? Dad said the garlic thing was nonsense, but maybe they have other allergies or something? He isn't the one who reads lore books for fun. And why should he, when he can just ask the person involved?
Oh well. They've figured out more complex issues. He should text Jody too; sure, they were normal last time they were around, but girls and food. Worse than Sam, he bets. If there's some fad they jumped on, Dean wants to know. Everyone should be as happy as possible, and in his experience, good food always helps with that.