Supernatural Death Note

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Aftermath

Everyone rushed to clean up so they could beat Dean to the big floor where Sam, Near, Ben, and the women were told all about the misadventures Dean had had.

Near was curled up on a seat, listening to the tale with a somewhat curious expression on his face. Sam, however, was cracking up.

Sarah looked surprised. "He stripped naked in a car wash? In front of a bunch of strangers?" She looked at Lisa. "Did you know he was like this?" Sarah was grinning when she asked.

Lisa was giggling. "I knew he could be brave but that is something I hadn't expected at all."

Sarah looked at Sam, wondering. "Lisa, I'd like to talk brothers with you sometime, if you wouldn't mind. Maybe this afternoon?"

"No problem," the woman answered softly.

She grinned at her after that.

"At that moment, Dean entered, cleaned up, hair combed, and clean shaven. Both women stared wide-eyed. He looked nice. Dean gave them one of his big smiles and Lisa almost trembled.

He stood there and stared at everyone, knowing he had to have been the topic of conversation. He was just too tired to egg it on at the moment. He walked over to the two women, leaned down and gave Lisa a gentle kiss. "I love you." He went to check on Near, to make sure he was all right.

The teen was somewhat isolated from the others, not too far from L. "Dean has had a bit of an adventure," he murmured to the man.

Dean smiled, "Yeah, I guess I did. Are you okay? I wanted to apologize for this morning. I shouldn't have done that. I just wanted my two families to meet. It won't happen again, Near, until you say so."

"Near is unused to such groups," he told him, looking into green eyes.

"I knew that. I was so excited I didn't think about it. I'm sorry."

"Dean is right to feel excited. Dean's family has grown and Dean now has a child to raise. This is something for Dean to feel happy for."

"Near, that doesn't change anything between us. Do you understand that? I still think of you as mine. I still want that relationship with you."

"Near understands," he answered softly.

Dean knelt down to where he was eye to eye, looking into the gray eyes. "I love you like a son, Near. I know you don't understand that, but you are important to me. You always will be. The only change is my family has grown larger. I hope, when you are ready, you will spend time with all of us. I still plan on us doing things together. We still have a steak house to visit, when L will let me."

He nodded, large eyes meeting Dean's. "Indeed," he answered softly.

Dean gently pulled the teen into his arms and held him. "I love you, Near. Even if you don't understand, don't ever forget that."

Near responded with a light hug as well. "Near has no intention of forgetting, Dean."

"Good, because I'll hold you to that and I'll remind you quite often." Dean started to get back up and found that it wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. He had overdone it. He sighed, put his hands on either side of Near's chair and pushed with all he had left and managed to get up. He winked at the teen and walked over to where the women were talking.

"Hey, Sam. Have you guys eaten lately? I thought we might go out into the gardens and eat lunch." Sam had seen his difficulty in getting up and realized he'd have to take the lead in this. Dean needed a light meal and sleep desperately. He was still healing physically as far as rebuilding strength goes.