That's The Hunter's Life

Chapter 11

Nova walked out of the bathroom and noticed Dean staring out of the window.

"You okay? That storm is something huh?" She spoke quietly because Sam was still asleep.

"I don't know. I just thought I saw something."

"Besides the lightening?"

"Yeah.. Cass."

She walks over to him, "Cass?"

"He was right there. And earlier on the road. I feel like I'm seeing him."

"But how? I mean you said you made it out but he didn't."

"I tried so damn hard to get us the hell out of there." He walks away from the window and she follows.

The whole time they were talking it was only in a whisper.

"You know, I could have pulled him out. I just don't understand why he didn't try harder."

She grabbed his hands when she seen he was upset, "Hon, you did everything you could."

"Yeah but why do I feel like crap?"

"Probably Survivors guilt." She rubbed her thumbs back and forth on his knuckles, "You can't let this keep messing with you because it will if you let it. You just have to walk past it."

She wraps him in a hug and he sighs hugging her back as he lays his head in the crook of her neck.

"I understand that it was all hard on you guys but you're strong Dean. You can get past it. Granted it may take some time because no one gets over something tragic in a snap of fingers." She rubs her hand down the back of his head, "And I'm here for you and you know Sam is there for you despite the differences you guys have had."

"Yeah, yeah I know." He whispers.

She kisses the side of his head "I love you Dean and I want to be there every step of the way for you." She broke the hug.

"I know and thank you."

She patted his cheek then kissed the edge of his mouth, "That's what friends are for."

"What's going on?" Sam asked sitting up in the bed.

They both look at him then Nova patted Dean's cheek again.

"I'm going to let you two talk." She walks over to the bed and lays down.

~~~~

"So what's the word Cass?" Dean asked as he brought him, Sam and Nova a beer.

"It's a shortened version of my name."

"Yes it is." Dean said as Nova giggled at Cass' answer. "So what's the word on the word? Any tablet chatter on the angel radio?"

"Oh I couldn't say. I turned that off."

"Wait,you can do that? Turn off the angel chatter like it's an actual electronic?" Nova smirked.

"Yeah it's a simple matter of blocking out certain subsonic frequencies. I could draw you a diagram of you want."

Dean shook his head, "No, thats- we're good. Why'd you flip the switch?"

"Because it's a direct link to heaven. And I don't want anything to do with that place. Not anymore."

"So what now? Move to Vermont, open up a charming B&B?" Dean said sarcastically.

"No. I still want- I still need to help people. So..I'm going to become a hunter." When he said that everyone raised their eyebrows in surprise.

Sam scoffed "Really?"

"Yeah. I could be your third wheel."

Nova threw her hands up, "Excuse me, what am I chopped liver?"

"No, you're a human, and I hope your liver isn't chopped. It's an essential part of you."

Nova shook her head with a giggle, "Cass, it's just an expression. I said it because you called yourself the third wheel when I'm right here so you'd be the fourth wheel."

"Oh, right."

"Regardless, you know those aren't good things right?"

"Of course it is. The extra wheels adds extra grip, greater stability. I even found a case. Oklahoma City, a man's heart jumped 10 feet out of his chest. Sounds like our kind of thing, right?"

Dean just looked confused as Sam popped off "He's got a point."

"See you there." Castiel turned around to leave but Dean stopped him.

"Hold up, Cass, Cass. If you want to play cowboys and bloodsuckers that's fine but you're gonna stick with us okay? None of this zapping around crap. Capuche?"

"Yeah, I, Capuche."

"All right then."

"Can I uh, at least ride in the front seat?" He asked as both him and Sam got to the passenger door.

"No." Both Sam and Dean said and they got in.

Nova giggled as Cass got in and she patted him on the shoulder.

"Good luck sitting up there when they're both together. I've been trying for a while and only succeeded one time."

"How?"

"I got into the front without asking, when Sam hadn't planned on getting in yet."

"Nova, don't give him any ideas." Sam chuckled.

"Sorry." Nova chuckled with him.

"You've had devastation not too long ago."

"What? Me?" Nova asked and Cass nodded, "What are you talking about? How can you tell?"

"Because that's part of who I am. I can sense stuff about people."

"Oh right. So why would you bring up about devastation."

"Because it helps talking about it."

"Well I don't want to talk about it Cass."

"But-"

"Cass, dont." Dean looked in the rearview mirror at Cass and shook his head at him.

"I'm just trying to make conversation. Isn't that what hunters do on the car rides to the next case?"

"Not always, sometimes it's good to just sit in the quiet. Depends on who's driving, the others take the time to catch some up on sleep." Nova shrugged.

"I don't sleep."

"Oh, right." Nova nodded once.

"How about some music." Dean turned in the radio. "How about you sing for us Nova. You are amazing at it."

"What?" She giggled shaking her head.

"Dean is right. Show Cass that beautiful singing voice you have." Sam smiled at her.

Just then 'Hotel California' by The Eagles came on.

"Woo, well this is a good song." Nova exclaimed and she couldn't fight the urge to sing along with the song.

The three guys listened to her with smiles on their face. Then once the song was over Cass nodded.

"They were right about your voice."