Supernatural Death Note

Chapter Sixty-One: Repercussions

"I believe you could ask him right now, L. If I'm not mistaken, he was cussing behind that door."

"Hmm..indeed," he answered, not sounding surprised. "Come in, you two."

"Shit," Dean's voice could be heard. The door opened and in walked the two Winchester brothers.

L's eyes held the usual expression but to those who knew him as well as Watari and the trio did, there was an undercurrent of mirth.

Dean started talking as soon as he entered, and Sam knew it was nerves. "L, I'm sorry. I never thought for one moment that Near would be monitoring us today. I would never have said any of that in front of the kids. I swear. I am so sorry."

The detective said nothing, simply gesturing at the seats in front of him.

Dean looked almost sick, and Sam heard, "Damn,' slip out of his mouth in a whisper.

A moment later, a stuffed cat was dropped into each of their laps with gauze bandages over the crotch areas.

Dean stared for a moment, totally uncomprehending what had just happened.

Sam blanched for a moment until he heard snickering from the duo behind them who had dropped the cats into their laps. "We have just been had."

Dean had been heartsick over Near hearing what he shouldn't have heard. He looked at the cat and then at Sam , hearing what he said, but still not focusing. "What?"

"We've just been had...they just scared the shit out of us to play a joke."

Dean stared at Sam in disbelief. "That...wasn't...funny." He could hear laughter after he said it.

Even L was giving a small smile while Matt and Mello were laughing very hard.

Dean just sat there looking at the cat. He knew in his mind that it was funny, but he couldn't laugh right then. He thought he'd hurt Near. It wasn't funny to him. He forced a smile so everyone would think he was okay, and waited for a moment to get the hell out of there.

Near went to him, removing the cat and looking into his eyes. "Dean is well?" He'd seen the smile was forced.

Dean looked at him. "Are you okay? Were you part of this joke? Just need to know if you are okay?"

"Near is fine. Dean has not answered Near's question."

"Yeah, I guess I am. Whose idea was this, anyway?"

"Matt's I believe. Near was not really focusing on the discussion."

"What were you focusing on?"

"A case that has come in," he answered.

"You weren't listening to us in the garden?"

"About the neutered and gender changing feline? Yes, Near heard it. Near did not understand the humor behind it."

Sam heard a sob escape Dean, then he murmured "Damn it!" He was up and out the door before anyone knew what was going on.

Near blinked, then went after him. Dean was not in the hallway, and Near could hear the elevator. The hunter had gone to his room and locked the door. He sat on the floor in the dark, tears going down his cheeks. He considered Near an innocent and he'd done this without thinking.

The teenager went after him, tapping on the door. "Dean?"

Dean's voice sounded more hoarse then usual, and it was very soft. "I can't right now, Near. Please."

"Dean, open this door or Near will retrieve the master key."

"Near, I will be all right. I am not going to hurt myself. Okay? I need to be alone right now. Please."