Falling Shadow: Dean's Battle (Supernatural Fanfiction Book 3)

Sacrifice

Bobby and Castiel walk into the room, their presence immediately pulling Sam and me from our moment of shared relief. I'm still riding the high of finally getting everything off my chest, but I can tell from Bobby's expression that something's up. He's got that look on his face, the one that says there's a new hunting job on the horizon, something we've got to deal with. But when he notices Sam and me smiling, the confusion that crosses his face is almost comical.

Castiel, on the other hand, has a look of knowing in his eyes, like he's been waiting for this moment. He doesn't say anything, just watches us with that unreadable angel expression of his, but I can see the slightest hint of approval.

"Uh... everything okay in here?" Bobby asks, his voice gruff but tinged with concern as he looks between the two of us. It's like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop, half-expecting something bad to follow our unexpected smiles.

I glance at Sam, who gives me a small nod, and I know what I need to do. Turning back to Bobby, I let the smile fade slightly, replacing it with a more serious expression. There's still a lot to process, but I can't let this go unsaid, not after everything that's happened.

"I told him everything," I say, my voice steady despite the gravity of the words. "Including about that day you saved me."

Bobby's eyes widen slightly, and he shifts his weight, clearly caught off guard. "You mean... the bridge?" he asks, his tone softer now, almost cautious.

I nod. "Yeah. He knows, Bobby. About how I almost jumped, about how close I was to just... giving up." The weight of that memory presses down on me again, but this time, it's different. It doesn't feel as heavy, not with Sam sitting next to me, not with the truth finally out in the open.

For a moment, there's silence. Bobby's eyes flick to Sam, then back to me, and I can see the emotions warring in his gaze—relief, worry, maybe even a bit of pride. He clears his throat, trying to mask whatever he's feeling, but I can tell he's relieved that it's no longer a secret.

"Well, damn," Bobby finally mutters, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't think you'd ever tell him."

"It was time," I reply simply, and it's true. Keeping it bottled up wasn't doing anyone any good, least of all me.

Castiel steps forward, his expression unreadable as he looks between us. "This is a good thing," he says, his voice calm and almost gentle. "Secrets like that only fester in the dark. Bringing them to light helps to heal."

I nod, appreciating his words, even if I'm not entirely sure I'm healed just yet. But it's a start, and that's more than I've had in a long time.

"So, uh, what's the job?" Sam asks, changing the subject and giving us all a chance to step back from the heavy conversation.

Bobby shakes his head slightly, as if trying to refocus. "Right. We got word of some strange deaths over in Greenfield. Looks like it could be our kind of case—something supernatural."

"Just like old times, huh?" I say, forcing a bit of my usual bravado back into my voice. It feels good to have something else to focus on, something familiar.

Bobby nods, though there's still a hint of concern in his eyes. "Yeah, but you sure you're up for this, Dean? After everything?"

I stand, feeling steadier on my feet than I have in days. "I'll be fine, Bobby. We'll handle it."

Sam stands beside me, his presence reassuring. "We'll handle it together," he says, and there's a determination in his voice that makes me believe it.

Castiel gives us a small nod, his approval clear. "Then let's get to it," he says.