The Year of Redemption

Chapter 67: Baptized

"Are you sure he'll be ok?" Cas asked nervously, holding Sal Teh in his arms close to his face.

"God, Cas, your puppy dog eyes are worse than... well, the actual puppy dog's eyes," Dean commented, throwing a duffel in the back of the Impala. "It'll hardly even be a day, he has plenty of food, plenty of water... plenty of places to pee," he added under his breath. He walked up to Cas.

"He'll be fine, I promise," Dean told him. "Now put him inside and get out of here."

Cas gave Dean a pouty face and turned around, walking towards the house and muttering things in a "baby-talk" voice to the puppy.

Dean followed him in, satisfied that Cas had set the puppy down and was now just watching him run. Dean walked up beside his angel, sliding his hand down Cas's arm and intertwining their fingers. He let his head rest for a moment on Cas's shoulder.

"You're adorable," he murmured. Then he stepped in front of Cas. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, baby."

"Or I could just fly us there and back tonight."

Dean shook his head. "Too obvious. I want everyone to think I honored Sammy's last request and got back with Lisa, not that I hooked up with some gay angel," Dean explained, a touch of humor lilting his voice at the end.

"Angels have no sexuality."

"Sorry, some sexy-ass asexual angel," Dean clarified. Then his smile faded. "Baby, really, you don't have to... You can stay here with Teal," he offered.

"No." Cas shook his head. "Wherever you are is where I want to be," he said, laying a hand lightly on Dean's waist.

Dean pecked him on the lips. "I'll see you tonight then?" Cas smiled and lunged forwards, pressing his lips against Dean's passionately, prying the hunter's mouth open and sliding his lips, teeth, tongue along it.

Then, in an instant, he was gone. "I guess I'll take that as a 'yes,'" Dean decided. He checked to make sure the puppy had everything it needed again, then gave Teal a stern lecture about peeing on the pads, not on the furniture. He kissed the puppy's head. "See ya, buddy," he said, setting Teal down. "Be good."

Then he went outside and climbed in the Impala, starting the almost 7-hour trek to Singer Salvage Yard near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Bobby had invited Dean to a New Year's Eve party he was throwing. Dean said he'd show up early to help set up. He mentioned inviting Cas, but there was no way he was ready to tell Bobby - or anyone - about them. Instead, he'd delivered a silver-tongued lie about Ben having a soccer game that Lisa had to bring him to, and so they couldn't come.

Jodi was already there when Dean arrived. "Hey! Long time, Dean," she greeted warmly, giving him a hug. "How's the missus?"

"Fine... great," Dean replied. "Things are settling down at work, so it's nice to have some time with... her and Ben."

She threw him a smile and led him inside, where Bobby was cleaning off the table. He looked up as Dean walked in and took a swig from his beer. "Great!" he exclaimed. "You can clean the grill." He opened a beer and handed it to Dean, along with a bristle for the grill, then motioned towards the back door before looking down at the table again.

Dean helped them finish getting ready and then spent the evening meeting friends he didn't even know Bobby had and grilling patties for everyone and waiting for Cas to show up. His angel came - right on time, of course - and Dean hugged him just as Samandriel appeared behind Cas. "I see you brought a friend," he mumbled beside Cas's ear before pulling away.