Supernatural Death Note

Chapter Twenty-Three: Leaving the Hospital

Summary:  Dean and Near begin their road to health.

Time passed as it always does and soon, the doctors had deemed Dean healed enough to rest and finish healing at home. L had sent a car for both patients and Near was resting on one seat when the older Winchester came down.

Dean's smile lit his face when he saw the white head through the window. He slowly climbed into the rear seat, careful of the bandages and sling he wore. He leaned over and leaned his forehead against Near's. "You okay? I've been worried about you."

"Near is steadily improving. Dean saved Near's life so Near thanks Dean a great deal," came the soft answer.

"I put your life in danger in the first place, Near. You should never have been where Ruby could hurt you."

"Near would have been in a dangerous position regardless if Dean was there or not."

"Ruby wouldn't have been here if I hadn't brought her down because of Sam. Thanks, though."

"It is unknown whether or not Ruby would have shown."

"Maybe. I don't know anymore."

"Near does," came the logical response.

Dean looked at the young man sitting next him, and smiled. "Do you?"

He nodded. "Near does."

A whisper asked, "What do you know, wise Near?"

"Dean carries too much on Dean's shoulders because Dean has not allowed anyone else to share the burden. Near knows that had L not brought Dean into this, the casualties would have been far greater. Near also knows that the future will be more solid with the alliances made."

"We have alliances? What was decided on that, because I don't remember deciding anything, not that I wouldn't. It's a good idea actually."

White hair brushed against pale skin when Near tilted his head. "Alliances were formed when L agreed to shelter and aid Sam Winchester. Alliances were formed when Dean became Near's friend."

"I never thought of them as alliances, Near. You and I are much more then an alliance. What happened between us was not an alliance made of necessity. It was made because we liked each other."

He nodded. "Near understands. So does Dean?"

"Yeah, Near, I do now. We did need each other, didn't we? Just never thought of it as an alliance before. I do now."

"Alliances can be based on a great many things or so Near understands it."

"Yes, I guess they can."

He gave a pleased nod.

"You got any idea where we're going?"

The limo pulled up into a heavy looking building that had high security.

Dean tensed a little wondering what he was getting into.

Watari was there to open the door and help them out, bracing both until they were steady on their feet. "It's good to see you both."

"Watari! Man, it's good to see you. Sam and Cas are here, then? How are they both doing?

"Sam is doing well for the most part. It's been interesting cracking through his defenses. L has been helpful for that. Castiel..well..that one has been an unusual guest."

"Yeah, well, about that...Cas doesn't eat or sleep, he refuses to show that he cares about anything, then, suddenly, he'll do something completely out of character that you know there's really something special in there, but he's hiding it. I'm determined to bring it out of him."