The Angel, The Hunter and The Nephilim (Destiel x Daughter)

13. Nerves

Baggage is checked in, and the three Winchesters are standing in the long line for the security check. Leah seems pale and nervous and Dean notices and he keeps putting his arm around her, telling her it's not gonna be as bad as she thinks.
The line of approximately fifteen people in front of them ceases fast and the time comes for Leah to put her carry-on bag containing her book and a bag of her favorite candy Cas got her earlier. All three of them go through the security check with no trouble and they come out in the enormous hall with the one wall consisting of windows so they can see the airplanes outside. Leah reacts by grabbing Cas' hand and Cas leads them over to a bench area near the windows. A voice on the speaker announces the last call for the 3:50 plane to Los Angeles, and the name of a person who's yet to come to the gate.
Leah looks around and admits to herself that the place itself doesn't look as terrifying as she pictured. There's a long stretch through the building with big shops where they can buy anything from food to books to toys and cosmetics, and there are groups of people around them chatting with smiles on their faces, she can hear them talk excitedly about the plane ride to wherever they are traveling.
Maybe it's not gonna be so bad after all, she thinks for a brief second before Cas, whose hand hasn't let go of yet, looks up at the big screen overseeing the boarding schedules.
"So, we've got half an hour until boarding," he says. "How about we go check out the stores?"
Her dads both smile to Leah and she nods nervously, grateful for having something else to think about than the huge planes out there. She follows them mutely.
"You want something to eat?" Dean asks and gestures towards the cafe outside one of the shops. They're selling baguettes and burgers and bagels, but Leah shakes her head. She hasn't eaten anything since breakfast, but she can't get anything down now. It's just gonna come right up again later and she doesn't wanna throw up on the plane and add to the horror that she's already destined to face.
"Leah, you ate half a stack of pancakes for breakfast," Dean says as he walks up to his daughter and puts a hand on her arm. "You need to eat something."
Cas is standing a short distance away looking at a book, totally unaware of the discussion his husband and daughter are about to have.
"I should just wait to eat until I get to Sioux Falls?"
"Why?"
"Because I throw up when I get nervous."
"Okay, but-"
"And I'm gonna panic," Leah interrupts. She already looks uneasy and Dean, from his past experiences, knows exactly how she feels right now. He puts a hand on her shoulder, leading her over to the little cafe, sitting her down by a table for four. Cas walks further into the bookstore, leaving his family behind to sort out their problems.
"Listen, sweetheart," Dean starts, reaching for her hand, and she takes it with a puzzled look upon her face. She starts looking even more nervous, thinking that something has happened.
"If I could, if it would make anything better, I'd board that plane with you. I'd take the trip right back home again afterwards just so I could see you get there safely and would know that you were okay. But here's the thing. The last time I was on an airplane, years ago, something happened. And ever since then I've been pretty nervous myself. Even scared. Yeah," he says as he sees the look of disbelief on his daughter's face.
"Yeah, scared. And if I had taken the trip with you, I'm sure that I would upset you when I freaked out myself. So you're alone on this one, kiddo, but I'm gonna make sure someone looks out for you. Okay?"
Leah nods and bites her lip and Dean's grip around her hand tightens.
"You okay?"
"But what if something happens?" she asks, and he can still make out the anxious tone in her voice as the words slip out of her mouth.
"Nothing's gonna happen, I promise. I know it's cliche and that you're probably tired of hearing this, but a plane crash is one in a million. Nothing bad is gonna happen to you up there."
It's in times when Dean sees his daughter like this - vulnerable and afraid - that he desperately wishes she knew that her father is an angel and that he can get her to Sioux Falls safely. But none of them want to take that risk. So much can come from it, and he's encountered enough bad to know it's gonna complicate everything good they have. He doesn't wanna make his daughter experience the trauma of knowing that there's so much more to be afraid of out there than spiders and clowns and plane rides. It's bad enough that Sam knew when he grew up, but Dean has another chance with Leah.
"Don't you worry. Sam is gonna be the first person you'll see when you get there, and he promised to take you out to eat." Dean smiles at his daughter. She still doesn't seem at ease with it, but it seems like he made it at least a little better, and that's what matters.
"How about we go see what Cas is doing?"
She breathes out thankfully and accepts Dean's suggestion as a way to keep her thoughts away from her trip. They walk into the shop where Cas is checking out a book and he excitedly holds it up right on front of his daughter's face when he notices their presence.
"I think you're gonna love this."