Please Don't Leave Me

Chapter 21

(One month later)

Bobby POV

Things were strange in the house. It felt like things were going too smooth. The young boys were not getting into trouble, food wasn't getting burnt, the house was clean. There were just too many things going well that Bobby couldn't relax. Especially when Dean and Castiel were getting closer and closer, but also pulling away from everyone else. He didn't mind the two boys were close. He didn't mind it in any sense of the word (don't think he doesn't catch Dean sneaking into Castiel's room every night), but he didn't want them to become codependent on each other. Two unstable people leaning on each other was just leading for a fall and he didn't want either of the boys to hurt more than they already were. However, he had put the two boys in therapy (different session times). The two had approached him together and asked about the topic. Bobby would be lying if he said he was not surprised. Castiel especially had surprised him. 

Bobby is not stupid. He had noticed the boy regressing and getting worse little by little. He was ready to address the topic when Dean had popped into the equation. As happy as Bobby was that Dean moved in, it did add a few more gray hairs to his head, and beard as well. The other boy brought in a bad vibe, even if he didn't mean it, and for someone still recovering from past abuse, it was no help. He had felt helpless as he watched Castiel draw in on himself and begin eating less and speaking quieter and less. 

Then, like something changed. Castiel was attempting to crawl out of the hole he had originally been burying himself in. Dean was eating more without Bobby having to force it down his throat. The most apparent change, though, was the fact that neither of them flinched as much either. It was like they realized they were safe and nothing was going to hurt them anymore. Bobby couldn't help but wonder what it was that had changed, but he didn't want anything to mess up the progress the two had made in the last month so he kept his mouth shut. Good things like this didn't happen often and he didn't want to mess up something that he had been hoping for. His boys were getting better and things were running smoothly for once. 

Sighing, the old man rubbed his hands over his face trying to clear out the thoughts that racked his brain day and night. He looked at the clock to see that the two younger boys would be home soon. He needed to get his shit together before they got home. They were young and he didn't want them to miss out on that. He knew their older brothers would want them to act their age given neither of them ever had a chance to live out their childhood. He had spoken to Ellen about what to do with the two and she seemed to agree to leave them be for the time being. If they needed to talk to someone, he would have to trust that they would come to him when they were ready. In the meantime, the best he could do is make sure they knew he would be there for them no matter the situation. 

Like clockwork, he could hear the two of them come busting through the door like they did every day after school. He could hear them mumbling about the day and something about "Jenny really needs to get her heard out of her own ass." That comment was a bit of a surprise because normally they were whining about school work, never other students. 

"Now, why would Jenny have her head up her ass?" He asked the two boys as they came into the kitchen. 

"Well," Gabriel started off his own rant about how she got a better score on some test and now thought she was some "badass hoe." The entire time Gabriel was speaking, Sam nodded his head and added in some "Yeah's" and "Can you believe her's." 

"To me, it sounds like maybe you should study more Gabriel and not worry so much about what Jenny does." Bobby really was trying to be a voice of reason and parent the kid, but it seems Gabriel was wound up.

"Or maybe, Jenny can learn to be a nice human being and accept that not everyone understands math."

Bobby just sighed and decided he wasn't going to win this argument. Gabriel was going to do what he wanted and all Bobby could do is ground him after he did it. He could only hope that Samuel would somehow talk him out of it, but for some reason, he got the inkling that Sam was going to help the other boy do what he was planning. The worst that could happen is the two of them suspended for a week or so, but other than that he wasn't too worried. He watched as the two went up to Sam's room "to plan revenge" with a bowl of ice cream because "revenge is best served cold." Bobby didn't question it and just accepted that he would never understand.

He got up and went to the kitchen to begin making dinner when he heard Dean and Castiel was in the front door. The two boys typically got home later than their siblings because of therapy sessions one or the other had. Neither of them was talking, which was not unnatural. They just came in and went straight to their rooms to put up their stuff. It seemed that therapy took a lot out of both of them emotionally and physically, but at least they were going. 

"Bobby." 

Bobby turned to see Dean entering the kitchen. The boy had put on some weight in the last few weeks and was finally starting to fill out some. He had noticed that he had also taken up a weight lifting class the school had. 

"What ya need kid," Bobby always made sure to acknowledge Dean when he came to him. He had picked up how hard it is for the kid to ask for anything ever, or even start a conversation. 

"Do you need help?" Dean was looking at his feet when he asked the question. He looked nervous and Bobby couldn't help but wonder why.

"Sure. Could you start to make the hamburgers?" Bobby hadn't needed help, but looking at how jittery the kid was he knew something was bothering him. So having him close gave the other an opportunity to address what had him so riled up. 

Dean just went about making the burgers not speaking just working. It wasn't until everything was almost that Dean opened his mouth.

"I'm gay," Dean blurted it out as if he had been building up the courage for the last few hours. 

Bobby almost started to laugh until he looked at Dean and saw that he was ready to run at any sign of anger or annoyance. The news itself was not a surprise, but Dean standing there almost like he was ready to be beaten within an inch of his life did.

"I know Dean, and I don't care. As long as you are happy, I am happy." Bobby wasn't sure if that is what Dean wanted to hear, but he said it because that is how he felt. If his boys were happy, nothing else mattered. 

"Thank you," Dean had tears running down his cheeks and was looking at Bobby like he had given him everything he had ever wanted. And maybe he had because all Dean ever wanted was acceptance.

Unable to take it, Bobby wrapped Dean into a hug. He knew the boy didn't like to be touched, but he couldn't help it. He felt Dean tense up and was about to let go when he felt the young boy wrap his arms around him and bury his face in his shoulder. Bobby sighed because he felt like maybe things really were getting better.