Angel Wings and Demon Pitchforks

27. Memories Of Last Year

"You're not mad or anything?" Sam asked Michael on their way home.

"No. You're cute together and honestly, it's great that you've found someone like Gabriel," Michael replied and he meant it. He wasn't as afraid of Sam getting a boyfriend anymore. He was impressed and proud of his brother for putting the past behind him and moving forward. He needed to take notes. "You're really growing up Sam."

Sam beamed.

"Alright, this calls for celebratory music," Michael decided. Dean went to turn the CD on but Michael slapped his hand away. "What's the rule, Dean? Driver picks the music and technically here in South Dekota you're not the driver yet."

"But Michael--"

"Ah, ah," Michael tutted and his eyes flicked between his phone and road. He quickly pressed shuffle on his playlist - the one that could be considered "illegal" according to the rules of their father but Michael was on a high from rekindling his friendship with Lucifer and dinner with his brothers so he didn't care - and the opening to Right Hand Man from Hamilton started playing.

"Yes!" Sam cheered.

"You have a musical playlist?" Dean asked his brother in disbelief. Never in a million years -- actually that was a lie. He could have imagined it, especially since their dad died.

"It's a guilty pleasure of mine," Michael smirked. "And besides, it's a new era now that Sam has a boyfriend."

And he let himself believe it. They were really going to change. And it started with a twenty-minute jam session to his musical playlist.

---

"Have you got Mamma Mia on there?" Sam asked after Popular finished. Michael unlocked his phone and Dean scrolled through the playlist before his finger landed on Money Money Money.

"I work all night I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay," Sam sang.

"Ain't it sad," Dean and Michael chimed in, causing Dean to crack up.

"Don't leave me to do backing vocals on my own!" Michael said as Sam kept belting out the lyrics. Dean leaned against the window and didn't stop laughing.

"In my dreams, I have a plan. If I got me a wealthy man," Sam sang. "I wouldn't have to work at all I'd fool around and have a baaaaaaaaaaaall"

"Money money money," Michael joined in, chuckling at how bad Sam was at singing.

--

Zero to Hero had just finished by the time they pulled into the Singer driveway. It was late, so Michael cut the engine quickly and the three of them quietly made their way into the house through the back door, making sure the door didn't slam. Ellen and Bobby's voices could be heard coming from the kitchen. Jo was sitting on the stairs half-way up, her knees brought up to her chest. Michael went around her, but Bobby's voice got louder.

"I should have done something, I should have helped them even before Michael was hospitalised last year!"

All three boys froze.

"I know Bobby."

"You should have seen him this morning, El, I just -- I just wish..." Bobby trailed off and it took Michael a second to realise a horrifying fact: Bobby was crying.

"They didn't want you to help," Ellen was saying. "You can't blame yourself for that."

"You should have seen him this morning, asking me and making sure that John was dead."