Unexpected Destinies Chapter 48
Title: Unexpected Destinies
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU, slash
Word Count: 2,990
Summary: Bobby mulls over what he's learned and regrets his past decisions.
PRESENT
It had been two hours since he'd returned to his motel room, but Bobby was still as restless as when he'd gotten out of the car and separated from Sam and his family. The events from earlier that day kept running through his mind and he just couldn't forget the way Dean had looked at him with such betrayal and hurt clear in his eyes. That boy had never been able to disguise his emotions from those who knew him well. It was those damn expressive eyes of his and this time they'd spoken volumes, of pain and broken trust and he just couldn't get it out of his head.
He had been the one to put it there. Well, both him and Sam, but right now all he cared about was his own involvement. Bobby knew he could be an idjit himself at times, but he'd always tried to do right by those two boys. From their very first meeting when John had needed help dealing with a case and a secure place to leave them, the two had wormed their way into his heart, Dean in particular. He just couldn't help it, there had been something especially vulnerable and wounded about him despite all the strength and resolve he presented to world.
It had taken several encounters with John before the stubborn hunter had felt safe enough with him to tell Bobby the full story. He'd known that there had been a demon attack, but he hadn't realized that it had happened in their home and that Dean had been old enough to remember some of it. John had never been quite clear on exactly how much his eldest had seen and he could partially understand the other man's inability to ask. To know that your firstborn had seen his mother pinned to the ceiling, bleeding and burning, was something no father wanted, but he was quite sure that Dean had seen that and he was pretty sure John had known it as well, deep down.
After hearing that, Bobby had found his fondness for Dean deepening though he'd always tried to be fair with the boys. Not only was it not Sam's fault that Dean managed to tug at the heartstrings he'd long thought dead, but Dean would have taken it the wrong way, thinking he was slighting Sam. The thought would normally have been enough to tug a reluctant smile from him though it had always been tinged with remorse. Dean had always been such a brilliant big brother, taking care of Sam, but it had often been to his own detriment and the lack of self-worth behind that was something that had always bothered and worried him. He'd tried to do what he could to show Dean he was wanted in his own right, but he wasn't sure it had ever been enough.
All of which made the contrast to what he'd seen today that much greater. Bobby was well aware of how deeply Dean cared for his brother, it was what had led him to making that trice damned deal of his. The mere thought of it, and of how he could have prevented it if he'd only acted differently, was still enough to pain him greatly, but he pushed it aside. The point was that Dean cared far more for Sam then was either normal or healthy, so the fact that the boy had not contacted his brother earlier and acted so coldly to him today spoke volumes for how deeply he'd been hurt by Sam's decision to not contact him when he'd gotten out of Hell.
Given that he'd gone along with Sam's decision, had allowed the younger Winchester to convince him that it was a good idea, that meant that he'd also hurt Dean that badly. And the worst thing was, they'd only been trying to make Dean happy. He never should have agreed to keep the truth from him, Bobby saw that now but he'd never thought it would lead to this. In addition to the evidence he'd seen with his own eyes, he couldn't forget Castiel's words either, about the state he'd found Dean in. Although the boy had cut the angel off, he had no doubt what Castiel had been saying, Dean had a habit of forgetting to take care of himself when stressed and that included not eating much which, given how much he usually wolfed down, was always bad.
Finally unable to resist any longer, Bobby picked up his cell and scrolled down to Dean's number. The worst that could happen was that Dean would ignore his call and he'd just have to deal with that if it happened.
The phone rang once, twice.
"What do you want, Bobby?"
Dean's voice was anything but welcoming, but he'd picked up and for that Bobby was thankful.
"Dean, can I talk to you, please?"
"About what?"
"About what happened." A pause. "About what I did wrong and I'd like to apologize."
"Where are you?"
"What?"
"Where are you right now, Bobby, and is Sam there?"
"No, I'm alone in my room at the Sundown Motel."
"What room?"
"Seventeen, why?"
"Because if we're going to do this, we might as well do it right," Dean stated from behind him, making Bobby start in surprise.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack, ya idjit?" Bobby clutched at his chest as he closed his cell and looked around. "How'd you get here?"
"Angel air."
"Yeah, but there's no angel here."
"Cas dropped me off on his way elsewhere."
"They can do that?"
"Zachariah plucked both me and Adam from yours that way."
"Right, I'd forgotten about that."
"What do you want, Bobby?"
"I'm sorry," Bobby blurted out.
It wasn't what he'd intended to say, but it might be for the better. Of the three of them, Dean had always had the greatest dislike for so called chick flick moments. Though he himself wasn't quite as bad as Sam, he was more prone to them then Dean as he knew how much talking could help at the right times.
"For what?"
"For not telling you about Sam's return and for thinking that I knew what was best for you."
Dean was watching him closely now, probably trying to assess if he was being honest. Bobby could only hope the boy could see the truth in his eyes.
"How did you find out about Sam? Was it Castiel?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, he found me on the road and asked where Sam's stuff was as he couldn't see it in the room."
Bobby winced at that. It was a horrible way to discover the truth and he could only imagine how betrayed Dean had felt, learning about it like that from someone who'd clearly expected him to already know about it. But, wait a minute.
"On the road? You were already away from Lisa?"
"Yes."
"Why the hell didn't you come to me then?"
"What did you expect me to do? Just pick up the phone and say 'Hey, Bobby, I fucked up my one chance at an apple pie life and Lisa's kicked me out, mind if I swing by and be moody?' Come on!" Dean snapped. "I needed some time to deal with it all on my own, you know me. Or at least that's what I thought anyway, now I'm not so sure."
"No, Dean, I-"
"I needed time, Bobby, but I was planning on returning to yours eventually, I really was. Right up until I heard about your betrayal anyway."
"Dean, please."
"Please what?"
"Just let me explain."
Bobby almost couldn't believe how hard a time Dean was giving him. The older Winchester brother was normally far more easy going then this and was known for being far too forgiving. On some level, he'd always thought that seemingly bottomless well would run dry some day and apparently now it had. He just hoped there was enough forgiveness left for one more trespass.
He took Dean's silence as permission to continue.
"See, from the way I saw it, you were finally able to have the life you'd always wanted. You were settling down with a family you cared about and who we thought cared for you."
Dean snorted and Bobby could practically feel the pain behind it. He knew the boy and knew that he'd tried as much as he was able to with that woman and her child. The fact that it hadn't worked out was sure to have left its scars on his already battered psyche and suddenly he wanted nothing more then to head down to Cicero himself and give Lisa Braedon a piece of his mind.
"No, that is the life you and Sam wanted," Dean countered. "And you superimposed it on me."
"You had mentioned it."
"I had been thinking about it and thought I wanted it, there's a big difference. Unlike you and Sam, I'd never had that, not really, so I had no real idea what I was asking for."
"But Sam said-" Bobby cut himself off, already regretting it.
"Sam said what?" Dean asked and the older hunter hesitated. "Bobby."
"Fine, he went by Lisa's after he got out and said that he saw you with them, that you looked happy and settled."
"Apparently I'm good at pretending, it's one of the things Lisa accused me of."
The bitterness in that tone made Bobby wince, not only for the sentiment, but also for drudging all of it up again.
"I just wanted you to be happy for once instead of constantly being on the road, hunting and dealing with all of this Apocalypse stuff. I realize now that was wrong of me and that we should have told you about Sam's return, but you have to believe that I did it thinking it was best for you."
With a sigh, Dean sat down in one of the room's chairs and Bobby took it as a good sign.
"You know what, Bobby? Everything seems to be going to hell in a hand basket: the Apocalypse has been restarted, Lucifer is out, I can hardly look at Sam without wanting to strangle him and yet..." Dean shrugged. "I don't know, in some odd way I'm happier now then I ever was with Lisa."
Bobby stared at him in surprise. "How?"
"I dunno. I guess it's 'cause I know that Sam's not being tortured in Hell and that I'm not helpless to do anything about it. And, yeah, while I really thought that I wanted the normal, apple pie life, it really wasn't for me. I was bored out of my skull and all but wishing for something supernatural to come to Cicero just so I'd have the excuse of hunting it. Not to mention that it really didn't work between Lisa and me, we're just too different I guess."
"Still, to be happier now, with everything that's going on, is a little strange even for you."
Dean shrugged loosely at that and it made Bobby smile to see it. There was something so light and almost carefree about it that he couldn't quite pin down but knew was there. Actually, now that he thought about it, Dean looked good, like really good. There were no bags under his eyes and he looked well rested, he looked to be a good weight and not suffering from the weight loss he sometimes got when he was stressed, and his skin had what his wife had always called a healthy glow.
"Yeah, well, what can I say?" Dean said, ducking his head slightly before giving Bobby that little boy smile that he hadn't seen in years and which made his heart leap in his chest. "Let's just say things sometimes happen for a reason."
The boy had found someone, Bobby realized in amazement. Despite having been kicked out of Lisa's and picking up hunting again, Dean had found someone. Who or how he didn't have the first clue and though he wanted to ask, he didn't feel it within his rights to pry just now. He was simply glad that there was someone and it explained a lot, not the least of which was Dean's otherwise bizarre confession.
"Okay, that's good, no, it's very good and I'm glad for you."
"Thanks, Bobby."
He was just trying to decide what else it would be appropriate to say and ask about when the air to his left shifted and suddenly Castiel stood in the room with them.
"Hey, Cas," Dean greeted, getting to his feet. "You done already?"
"Yes."
Almost inevitably, the angel stepped closer to Dean, as if drawn by some invisible magnet. Bobby had always wondered what it was about the boy that drew Castiel in the way that it did. He'd never meant that in a negative light, it was just pure intellectual curiosity. He'd always been drawn to the classification side of hunting and just wanted to know what it was that angels liked so much.
"Still haven't managed to teach him about personal space, I see," Bobby teased as he looked back at Dean.
At those words, Castiel apparently noticed exactly how close he was standing to the boy and backed up to a more appropriate distance. Dean seemed to war with a decision for a moment, looking at him and Bobby dearly wished he could read minds just then, before reaching out, grabbing a handful of the angel's clothing and dragging him right back, even closer then before.
The hell?
"Dean?" Castiel questioned.
"I think we should tell him, what do you think?" Dean asked.
Castiel looked up and considered him for a moment and though he didn't move from Dean's side, Bobby could almost feel him peeling back the layers and looking at his very soul itself. It made him swallow and want to fidget, but he resisted the temptation, letting the angel do what he felt necessary. It had been Castiel and neither himself nor Sam who had been there when Dean had needed someone the most, so letting him see his sincerity now to stand by the boy was the least he could do.
"No," Castiel finally replied and Bobby felt his heart drop for a second. "I think we should show him."
"Show me what?" Bobby inquired, noting how Dean's eyes widened in surprise.
Then, before he could do or say anything else, Castiel's hand closed around Dean's neck and pulled him down into a kiss and all rational thought abandoned Bobby. Instead he could only stand there and stare in disbelief at the two of them kissing without the slightest hint of hesitation on Dean's part despite having been caught off-guard. His first thought was that it wasn't possible, that he had to be hallucinating or something, but then things started to click into place. Dean and Castiel's behavior earlier during the confrontation, the angel's complete inability to respect Dean's personal space in the past, the boy's earlier confession that he was happier now then before with Lisa, Dean's apparent good health as if someone were clearly looking after him and the way Castiel had seemed prepared to ruin old friendships in Dean's defense.
"You've been waiting to do that in front of someone other than your family, haven't you?" Dean accused when they separated.
"Perhaps," Castiel replied, but Bobby could see a hint of smugness and self-satisfaction in his eyes when the angel looked back at him. "Will this be a problem for you?"
"A problem? What, the fact this idjit finally has someone who seems to be looking after him right?" Bobby stated, pleased to see Dean scowl at that. "No, of course not."
"Good."
"I can take care of myself!" Dean protested.
"No, you can't."
The fact that both Castiel and himself said the same thing at about the same time, making Dean huff and scowl at them healed something inside of Bobby that had broken at Dean's abrupt and cold greeting that morning. He wasn't stupid enough to think that things would smooth out between them immediately, not after what had happened and how long Dean had probably been nursing the betrayal for, but it definitely looked like he was going to be given the chance to make it up to him and that was already more then he'd hoped for.
"We need to go," Castiel said.
"Wait, I'll see you again, right?" Despite his earlier thoughts, Bobby need to be sure.
"Yeah, you will," Dean reassured him. "You have both mine and Cas' numbers and we know where you live."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, get the sasquatch prepared for the ritual. He'll need to go through a complete cleansing before we can start in earnest, so you might as well get that started now."
"Okay, I'll do that."
He'd been hoping for a bit more, but realized that he probably had to earn back some more trust before he was given any further information on what Dean and the angels were working on. And wasn't that something? Bobby would never have thought he'd ever be thinking something like that. Dean and the angels. It wasn't that he didn't know the boy had a heart of gold buried beneath all of his bluster and macho bullshit, but Dean also dearly loved two of the seven deadly sins and had never been anything but scornful towards religion. Although it was probably just the one sin these days given his new relationship status, and wouldn't that take a while to really sink in?
When Castiel raised his fingers to Dean's forehead, Bobby expected to be alone in the room within a fraction of a second, but instead found that only the boy had vanished.
"If you hurt him again, I won't let you close enough to try a third time," Castiel warned before vanishing, leaving an astounded hunter behind.
A.N.: I just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm going to be snowed under in every possible meaning of the words the next few days and thus most likely won't have the time to write. As it is, I didn't have time since the last update, this chapter just happened to be ready, which was lucky. I'll get the next one up as soon as I can.
Chapter 49
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU, slash
Word Count: 2,990
Summary: Bobby mulls over what he's learned and regrets his past decisions.
PRESENT
It had been two hours since he'd returned to his motel room, but Bobby was still as restless as when he'd gotten out of the car and separated from Sam and his family. The events from earlier that day kept running through his mind and he just couldn't forget the way Dean had looked at him with such betrayal and hurt clear in his eyes. That boy had never been able to disguise his emotions from those who knew him well. It was those damn expressive eyes of his and this time they'd spoken volumes, of pain and broken trust and he just couldn't get it out of his head.
He had been the one to put it there. Well, both him and Sam, but right now all he cared about was his own involvement. Bobby knew he could be an idjit himself at times, but he'd always tried to do right by those two boys. From their very first meeting when John had needed help dealing with a case and a secure place to leave them, the two had wormed their way into his heart, Dean in particular. He just couldn't help it, there had been something especially vulnerable and wounded about him despite all the strength and resolve he presented to world.
It had taken several encounters with John before the stubborn hunter had felt safe enough with him to tell Bobby the full story. He'd known that there had been a demon attack, but he hadn't realized that it had happened in their home and that Dean had been old enough to remember some of it. John had never been quite clear on exactly how much his eldest had seen and he could partially understand the other man's inability to ask. To know that your firstborn had seen his mother pinned to the ceiling, bleeding and burning, was something no father wanted, but he was quite sure that Dean had seen that and he was pretty sure John had known it as well, deep down.
After hearing that, Bobby had found his fondness for Dean deepening though he'd always tried to be fair with the boys. Not only was it not Sam's fault that Dean managed to tug at the heartstrings he'd long thought dead, but Dean would have taken it the wrong way, thinking he was slighting Sam. The thought would normally have been enough to tug a reluctant smile from him though it had always been tinged with remorse. Dean had always been such a brilliant big brother, taking care of Sam, but it had often been to his own detriment and the lack of self-worth behind that was something that had always bothered and worried him. He'd tried to do what he could to show Dean he was wanted in his own right, but he wasn't sure it had ever been enough.
All of which made the contrast to what he'd seen today that much greater. Bobby was well aware of how deeply Dean cared for his brother, it was what had led him to making that trice damned deal of his. The mere thought of it, and of how he could have prevented it if he'd only acted differently, was still enough to pain him greatly, but he pushed it aside. The point was that Dean cared far more for Sam then was either normal or healthy, so the fact that the boy had not contacted his brother earlier and acted so coldly to him today spoke volumes for how deeply he'd been hurt by Sam's decision to not contact him when he'd gotten out of Hell.
Given that he'd gone along with Sam's decision, had allowed the younger Winchester to convince him that it was a good idea, that meant that he'd also hurt Dean that badly. And the worst thing was, they'd only been trying to make Dean happy. He never should have agreed to keep the truth from him, Bobby saw that now but he'd never thought it would lead to this. In addition to the evidence he'd seen with his own eyes, he couldn't forget Castiel's words either, about the state he'd found Dean in. Although the boy had cut the angel off, he had no doubt what Castiel had been saying, Dean had a habit of forgetting to take care of himself when stressed and that included not eating much which, given how much he usually wolfed down, was always bad.
Finally unable to resist any longer, Bobby picked up his cell and scrolled down to Dean's number. The worst that could happen was that Dean would ignore his call and he'd just have to deal with that if it happened.
The phone rang once, twice.
"What do you want, Bobby?"
Dean's voice was anything but welcoming, but he'd picked up and for that Bobby was thankful.
"Dean, can I talk to you, please?"
"About what?"
"About what happened." A pause. "About what I did wrong and I'd like to apologize."
"Where are you?"
"What?"
"Where are you right now, Bobby, and is Sam there?"
"No, I'm alone in my room at the Sundown Motel."
"What room?"
"Seventeen, why?"
"Because if we're going to do this, we might as well do it right," Dean stated from behind him, making Bobby start in surprise.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack, ya idjit?" Bobby clutched at his chest as he closed his cell and looked around. "How'd you get here?"
"Angel air."
"Yeah, but there's no angel here."
"Cas dropped me off on his way elsewhere."
"They can do that?"
"Zachariah plucked both me and Adam from yours that way."
"Right, I'd forgotten about that."
"What do you want, Bobby?"
"I'm sorry," Bobby blurted out.
It wasn't what he'd intended to say, but it might be for the better. Of the three of them, Dean had always had the greatest dislike for so called chick flick moments. Though he himself wasn't quite as bad as Sam, he was more prone to them then Dean as he knew how much talking could help at the right times.
"For what?"
"For not telling you about Sam's return and for thinking that I knew what was best for you."
Dean was watching him closely now, probably trying to assess if he was being honest. Bobby could only hope the boy could see the truth in his eyes.
"How did you find out about Sam? Was it Castiel?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, he found me on the road and asked where Sam's stuff was as he couldn't see it in the room."
Bobby winced at that. It was a horrible way to discover the truth and he could only imagine how betrayed Dean had felt, learning about it like that from someone who'd clearly expected him to already know about it. But, wait a minute.
"On the road? You were already away from Lisa?"
"Yes."
"Why the hell didn't you come to me then?"
"What did you expect me to do? Just pick up the phone and say 'Hey, Bobby, I fucked up my one chance at an apple pie life and Lisa's kicked me out, mind if I swing by and be moody?' Come on!" Dean snapped. "I needed some time to deal with it all on my own, you know me. Or at least that's what I thought anyway, now I'm not so sure."
"No, Dean, I-"
"I needed time, Bobby, but I was planning on returning to yours eventually, I really was. Right up until I heard about your betrayal anyway."
"Dean, please."
"Please what?"
"Just let me explain."
Bobby almost couldn't believe how hard a time Dean was giving him. The older Winchester brother was normally far more easy going then this and was known for being far too forgiving. On some level, he'd always thought that seemingly bottomless well would run dry some day and apparently now it had. He just hoped there was enough forgiveness left for one more trespass.
He took Dean's silence as permission to continue.
"See, from the way I saw it, you were finally able to have the life you'd always wanted. You were settling down with a family you cared about and who we thought cared for you."
Dean snorted and Bobby could practically feel the pain behind it. He knew the boy and knew that he'd tried as much as he was able to with that woman and her child. The fact that it hadn't worked out was sure to have left its scars on his already battered psyche and suddenly he wanted nothing more then to head down to Cicero himself and give Lisa Braedon a piece of his mind.
"No, that is the life you and Sam wanted," Dean countered. "And you superimposed it on me."
"You had mentioned it."
"I had been thinking about it and thought I wanted it, there's a big difference. Unlike you and Sam, I'd never had that, not really, so I had no real idea what I was asking for."
"But Sam said-" Bobby cut himself off, already regretting it.
"Sam said what?" Dean asked and the older hunter hesitated. "Bobby."
"Fine, he went by Lisa's after he got out and said that he saw you with them, that you looked happy and settled."
"Apparently I'm good at pretending, it's one of the things Lisa accused me of."
The bitterness in that tone made Bobby wince, not only for the sentiment, but also for drudging all of it up again.
"I just wanted you to be happy for once instead of constantly being on the road, hunting and dealing with all of this Apocalypse stuff. I realize now that was wrong of me and that we should have told you about Sam's return, but you have to believe that I did it thinking it was best for you."
With a sigh, Dean sat down in one of the room's chairs and Bobby took it as a good sign.
"You know what, Bobby? Everything seems to be going to hell in a hand basket: the Apocalypse has been restarted, Lucifer is out, I can hardly look at Sam without wanting to strangle him and yet..." Dean shrugged. "I don't know, in some odd way I'm happier now then I ever was with Lisa."
Bobby stared at him in surprise. "How?"
"I dunno. I guess it's 'cause I know that Sam's not being tortured in Hell and that I'm not helpless to do anything about it. And, yeah, while I really thought that I wanted the normal, apple pie life, it really wasn't for me. I was bored out of my skull and all but wishing for something supernatural to come to Cicero just so I'd have the excuse of hunting it. Not to mention that it really didn't work between Lisa and me, we're just too different I guess."
"Still, to be happier now, with everything that's going on, is a little strange even for you."
Dean shrugged loosely at that and it made Bobby smile to see it. There was something so light and almost carefree about it that he couldn't quite pin down but knew was there. Actually, now that he thought about it, Dean looked good, like really good. There were no bags under his eyes and he looked well rested, he looked to be a good weight and not suffering from the weight loss he sometimes got when he was stressed, and his skin had what his wife had always called a healthy glow.
"Yeah, well, what can I say?" Dean said, ducking his head slightly before giving Bobby that little boy smile that he hadn't seen in years and which made his heart leap in his chest. "Let's just say things sometimes happen for a reason."
The boy had found someone, Bobby realized in amazement. Despite having been kicked out of Lisa's and picking up hunting again, Dean had found someone. Who or how he didn't have the first clue and though he wanted to ask, he didn't feel it within his rights to pry just now. He was simply glad that there was someone and it explained a lot, not the least of which was Dean's otherwise bizarre confession.
"Okay, that's good, no, it's very good and I'm glad for you."
"Thanks, Bobby."
He was just trying to decide what else it would be appropriate to say and ask about when the air to his left shifted and suddenly Castiel stood in the room with them.
"Hey, Cas," Dean greeted, getting to his feet. "You done already?"
"Yes."
Almost inevitably, the angel stepped closer to Dean, as if drawn by some invisible magnet. Bobby had always wondered what it was about the boy that drew Castiel in the way that it did. He'd never meant that in a negative light, it was just pure intellectual curiosity. He'd always been drawn to the classification side of hunting and just wanted to know what it was that angels liked so much.
"Still haven't managed to teach him about personal space, I see," Bobby teased as he looked back at Dean.
At those words, Castiel apparently noticed exactly how close he was standing to the boy and backed up to a more appropriate distance. Dean seemed to war with a decision for a moment, looking at him and Bobby dearly wished he could read minds just then, before reaching out, grabbing a handful of the angel's clothing and dragging him right back, even closer then before.
The hell?
"Dean?" Castiel questioned.
"I think we should tell him, what do you think?" Dean asked.
Castiel looked up and considered him for a moment and though he didn't move from Dean's side, Bobby could almost feel him peeling back the layers and looking at his very soul itself. It made him swallow and want to fidget, but he resisted the temptation, letting the angel do what he felt necessary. It had been Castiel and neither himself nor Sam who had been there when Dean had needed someone the most, so letting him see his sincerity now to stand by the boy was the least he could do.
"No," Castiel finally replied and Bobby felt his heart drop for a second. "I think we should show him."
"Show me what?" Bobby inquired, noting how Dean's eyes widened in surprise.
Then, before he could do or say anything else, Castiel's hand closed around Dean's neck and pulled him down into a kiss and all rational thought abandoned Bobby. Instead he could only stand there and stare in disbelief at the two of them kissing without the slightest hint of hesitation on Dean's part despite having been caught off-guard. His first thought was that it wasn't possible, that he had to be hallucinating or something, but then things started to click into place. Dean and Castiel's behavior earlier during the confrontation, the angel's complete inability to respect Dean's personal space in the past, the boy's earlier confession that he was happier now then before with Lisa, Dean's apparent good health as if someone were clearly looking after him and the way Castiel had seemed prepared to ruin old friendships in Dean's defense.
"You've been waiting to do that in front of someone other than your family, haven't you?" Dean accused when they separated.
"Perhaps," Castiel replied, but Bobby could see a hint of smugness and self-satisfaction in his eyes when the angel looked back at him. "Will this be a problem for you?"
"A problem? What, the fact this idjit finally has someone who seems to be looking after him right?" Bobby stated, pleased to see Dean scowl at that. "No, of course not."
"Good."
"I can take care of myself!" Dean protested.
"No, you can't."
The fact that both Castiel and himself said the same thing at about the same time, making Dean huff and scowl at them healed something inside of Bobby that had broken at Dean's abrupt and cold greeting that morning. He wasn't stupid enough to think that things would smooth out between them immediately, not after what had happened and how long Dean had probably been nursing the betrayal for, but it definitely looked like he was going to be given the chance to make it up to him and that was already more then he'd hoped for.
"We need to go," Castiel said.
"Wait, I'll see you again, right?" Despite his earlier thoughts, Bobby need to be sure.
"Yeah, you will," Dean reassured him. "You have both mine and Cas' numbers and we know where you live."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, get the sasquatch prepared for the ritual. He'll need to go through a complete cleansing before we can start in earnest, so you might as well get that started now."
"Okay, I'll do that."
He'd been hoping for a bit more, but realized that he probably had to earn back some more trust before he was given any further information on what Dean and the angels were working on. And wasn't that something? Bobby would never have thought he'd ever be thinking something like that. Dean and the angels. It wasn't that he didn't know the boy had a heart of gold buried beneath all of his bluster and macho bullshit, but Dean also dearly loved two of the seven deadly sins and had never been anything but scornful towards religion. Although it was probably just the one sin these days given his new relationship status, and wouldn't that take a while to really sink in?
When Castiel raised his fingers to Dean's forehead, Bobby expected to be alone in the room within a fraction of a second, but instead found that only the boy had vanished.
"If you hurt him again, I won't let you close enough to try a third time," Castiel warned before vanishing, leaving an astounded hunter behind.
A.N.: I just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm going to be snowed under in every possible meaning of the words the next few days and thus most likely won't have the time to write. As it is, I didn't have time since the last update, this chapter just happened to be ready, which was lucky. I'll get the next one up as soon as I can.
Chapter 49