Chapter Text
Dean waited with Benny at the edge of the forest, squinting against the midday sun as they watched the gaggle of people from Lawrence head towards them. Trade goods were piled at their feet - mostly candles, mead and fresh fish. Dean had finally met the elusive Cain whilst they were putting stuff together. The dude was intense but Dean had rather liked him. Not least because he’d agreed to show Dean how to make mead sometime.
Jo came bounding up to them first and gave Dean an unrestrained hug.
“Oof, get off’f me, you maniac!”
She grinned, stepped back and held out a hand to Benny. “You must be the guy Mom was talking about. The one with the drink I apparently have to try.”
Dean made introductions whilst Bobby and Cesar caught up and put down their bundles with a sigh. Cesar eyed the final fading marks of Dean’s bruises warily.
“No offence taken, I hope?”
Dean shrugged. “If I remember right, I broke your nose first.”
Cesar laughed and gave an exaggerated wince. “Yeah, you did. So we’re square?”
“Sure. Don’t make sense to come to this with any old scores we can wipe off.” He looked down at their goods. “What you got?”
Bobby nudged one of the bundles with his foot. “Wool, which is heavier than it oughta be. Cheese, some dried herbs.”
“Oh, thank fuck. Seriously, stew without herbs gets old real fast. Can you bring cuttings next time? I’mma start a garden.”
Jo stuck a finger in her ear. “Think I’m going deaf. I could’ve sworn I just heard you say you’re becoming a gardener.”
“Swords into plowshares, sugar,” Benny said with an easy smile. “Ain’t that what this little exercise is about?”
Suddenly Bobby frowned at Dean’s hands. “You lost your momma’s ring, boy?”
Dean felt the heat in his cheeks and coughed awkwardly to clear his throat. “Not lost. Given.”
“Oh my God,” Jo said, after a moment, eyes going wide. “Dean Winchester. I don’t believe it.”
“Shut up,” he snapped, rubbing the back of his neck.
Bobby folded his arms. “This’d be that Cas fella, I’m guessing.”
“Castiel. Yeah.” Dean risked a look at his face. “You ain’t pissed?”
“I will be if you’re already hitched and didn’t invite me to the party.”
Dean laughed with relief and pulled the old man into a brief hug. “I know better than that.”
“I’m real pleased for you,” Bobby said gruffly into his ear. “You been lonely too long.”
“What’re you talking about?” Jo said, bouncing up and down waiting for her turn to hug. “He’s always had Sam.”
“Ain’t quite the same,” Bobby said, with a glance at Dean. “You want I should tell John?”
Dean shrugged, trying not to care. Almost succeeding. “He ain’t invited unless he can be civil to Cas in his own home. Which, I should warn you now, Bobby, is a bit of a climb.”
Bobby scowled at him. “The day I can’t walk up a hill is the day you put me out to grass.”
Dean pictured Bobby on the rope ladder and decided right then not to give any more warnings. That was a joke worth waiting to see in action.
“Where is Sam, anyway?” Jo asked, looking around as if expecting him to materialise out of thin air.
“He’s being taught better control of his powers, he’s fine. Sent his love.”
“This place suits you,” Cesar said abruptly. “You are much more relaxed about everything.”
Dean thought of Lawrence - the house full of tension and pain, the friends he always had to hide things from, the life that was nothing but duty and endurance. He thought about Sammy, who walked tall under the trees, no longer afraid. He thought about Castiel, who had seen his soul and loved him anyway. He smiled at Cesar, knowing the hunter would tell others about him and hoping the story would help this cooperation to work, to be the start of something bigger.
“Out here, I’m free.”