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One thing you can always count on (hearts change)

Summary:

Sam can barely tear his eyes away from Dean. The refugees have an obvious reverence for reunions and don’t bother the family as they embrace in the war room. Bobby and Mary are quietly explaining what happened to the new hunters on the other side of the room, and Sam tunes it out.

Eventually though, someone says “Chief” loud enough for him to hear it and he’s jerked out of the bubble they've made. He knows that Cas and Jack need time with Dean just as much as he does. More so, even, because he got to stare at his returned brother for the entire drive back from Duluth, whereas Jack and Cas had to settle for an eight hour phone call filled with heavy silences. Jack clearly needs to be in the presence of his newly returned dad and Cas needs to be as close as possible to his unspoken significant other. Jack’s other fathers also seriously need to have a conversation about who they are to each other, based on the long stares between the two. 

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Sam can barely tear his eyes away from Dean. The refugees have an obvious reverence for reunions and don’t bother the family as they embrace in the war room. Bobby and Mary are quietly explaining what happened to the new hunters on the other side of the room, and Sam tunes it out. 

Eventually though, someone says “Chief” loud enough for him to hear it and he’s jerked out of the bubble they've made. He knows that Cas and Jack need time with Dean just as much as he does. More so, even, because he got to stare at his returned brother for the entire drive back from Duluth, whereas Jack and Cas had to settle for an eight hour phone call filled with heavy silences. Jack clearly needs to be in the presence of his newly returned dad and Cas needs to be as close as possible to his unspoken significant other. Jack’s other fathers also seriously need to have a conversation about who they are to each other, based on the long stares between the two. 

Sam squeezes Cas’ arm, ruffles Jack’s hair, and gives Dean one last hug before joining the refugees in the library. He overhears Dean muttering something about a shower and Jack begging for a movie night before he starts fielding questions from the hunters. 

By the time he’s weighed in on the last hunt and all the refugees have called it a night, he’s seriously missing his family. 

He makes sure his laptop is charging before shutting off the lights to the library and quietly moving to the Dean Cave. 

The door is cracked open slightly, which is surprising, but he supposes that he did smell burnt popcorn earlier. Cas has probably been moving in and out, allowing Dean and Jack to get some much needed father-son time. 

Through the opening, Sam can see that Jack is asleep, head resting on Dean’s right shoulder. Dean’s got his arm wrapped around the boy and his thumb runs over the edge of Jack’s t-shirt seemingly unconsciously. It’s a huge relief to see Jack so peaceful beside Dean. Sam knows their relationship hasn’t been easy, but Jack values it so much, as does Dean. Having his son and his brother so relaxed with each other feels like a weight off his shoulders. One he didn’t know he was carrying until it was gone. 

Cas is to Dean’s left and they’re holding hands. The movie—some Western that Sam doesn’t care to identify—is still playing, but it’s been muted. Cas is looking at Dean, but Dean’s staring straight ahead as he speaks. 

“And while I was- While Michael had me, the one thought that kept me fighting was knowing that when I got out, if I got out, I would see you and Jack and Sam again. Even if it was just for five more minutes, it would be enough. So I made myself a promise. That if I did get out, I wouldn’t let another day go by where I didn’t tell you that I…” Dean closes his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. 

“Dean,” Cas whispers, clearly preparing to let Dean off the hook. 

Surprising Sam completely, his brother pushes forward. “No, just let me- I have to.” He looks down at their joined hands. “You’re everything to me. Everything. I thought I knew what life was before I met you, but I had it all wrong. I can’t keep going on without you knowing how much you mean to me. I don't see a way forward without you by my side. Don't see any version of my future without you in it.” Dean smiles self-deprecatingly, losing his confidence. “We don’t have to do anything, obviously. Change anything. I just thought, you know, I care a helluva lot about you and I don’t see this-” Here, Dean lifts up their hands. “-ever ending. And…”

Cas hums indulgently, but there’s an undertone of pure warmth in his voice. “And?” Cas prompts softly. 

Sam realizes far too late what he’s witnessing, but once he does, he can’t make himself leave. 

“And I- I love you. I’m going to keep loving you and I’m pretty sure you love me too, so I thought we could- Well, ‘boyfriends' is a bit juvenile and I don’t think we could get married with the whole being legally dead thing, but maybe partners?”

Cas is practically glowing when Dean finally faces him. Sam presses his back against the wall to keep from being spotted. “I would want nothing more.” 

“Hell yeah,” Dean answers, genuine happiness in his voice. A moment later, he continues more somberly. “I don’t ever want to be away from you again. Not you, not Jack, not Sam. Hell, Sammy’s just in the other room and I’m still itching to check on him.” 

“I think all of our separation anxiety is going to be high for the next few months,” Cas agrees. Sam risks looking back into the room and thankfully neither of them notice him. “The thought of parting with you…” The angel shakes his head. “I would raze the Earth before I let that happen again.” 

“Same here, buddy,” Dean sighs. “Same here.” He stops holding hands just long enough to clasp Cas’ knee, jostling it slightly as if in reminder that they are both there, both real. 

Sam is… incredibly proud of his brother. For as long as he can remember, he's known that Dean's feelings toward Cas are something other than platonic. He didn't think Dean was truly aware of it too, and he certainly never expected his brother to do anything about it. Maybe, just maybe, Jack would have three emotionally available dads instead of two. 

Well, one and a half. Cas is growing just as much in that respect as Dean is. He's just been more willing to start. 

Reflecting on that, Sam starts to feel truly guilty about eavesdropping on their private moment. 

He silently moves back to the entrance of the wing before consciously forcing his footsteps to make noise as he approaches the Dean Cave again. He forgets to put in the effort to warn others of his approach more often than not. He would’ve thought by now that startling the very dangerous refugees would have worked him out of the habit, at least in the Bunker, but his survival instincts always win out. 

By the time he's returned to the entrance, Dean and Cas are no longer holding hands, but they are still pressed up against each other with their typical lack of personal space. Jack is awake too, rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other clutches at Dean's flannel. The TV has been unmuted. 

For good measure, Sam knocks on the door. “Hey guys,” he greets. 

Jack gives a sleepy “Hello” and his other dads just nod to him. 

After removing the stack of blankets that have been relegated to the armchair on the far side of the room, Sam settles back, at ease with his family. Cas has gone back to watching the movie and Jack has practically gone back to sleep. 

Dean fidgets around for a while, doing his best not to disturb either of his couch mates until Cas rests a hand on his knee. 

Sam pretends not to see it, content to let Dean decide to tell him about his relationship with Cas on his own time. Instead, he wonders about how their new relationship might affect Jack or how the three of them parent. If Cas and Dean will take on a greater share of the responsibility as a couple or if they’ll leave Jack to Sam while they figure themselves out. 

He’s not sure which concerns him more: being forced out of a parental role or being forced to broaden his current one. He cares deeply about Jack and feels uniquely fulfilled whenever Jack goes to him for something, even in distress. He can’t imagine his late nights researching without the boy stumbling in; his nightly phone calls on hunts learning about the happening of the Bunker through his eyes; his early morning runs with Jack patiently waiting for him to return with a poorly blended protein shake. 

Jack has become enmeshed in every aspect of his routine, just like Sam imagines happening for any parent. The idea of the boy being ripped from him aches, reverberating through him with each quickening heartbeat. 

At the same time, Sam can’t do this on his own. He’s come to rely heavily on Cas. They consult with each other about everything from what sorts of fruits to introduce to Jack, to when best to approach their son about Bobby’s concerns about some of the things Jack says in training. 

And before Cas, Dean—begrudgingly at first—had been there too. Ensuring that Jack was fed and clothed, yes, but also cared for in ways that Sam wouldn’t have thought of. Dean taught Jack to cut his nails, to read a clock, to wish on a dandelion. 

The balance Sam and Cas have found, the balance he hopes Dean will complete, is what Jack needs. Sam is certain of this. 

All his worries disappear when the climax of the movie, a shootout at a saloon, begins. Jack fell back asleep soon after Sam’s return, leaning comfortably against Dean’s side. 

When the gunfire starts up, Jack immediately wakes, panic in his eyes. He starts pulling away, clearly trying to get safe, but Dean urges the boy back to his chest, shushing him gently. 

Sam and Cas glance at each other over the other two, and Cas appears to agree with Sam’s assessment that holding Jack in place before he recognizes his surroundings is a mistake. 

They’re quickly proven wrong however. “Shhhh,” Dean murmurs, holding Jack tight to himself. “It’s okay. Cas is going to mute the TV, yeah? That’s all it is—a movie. Nothing’s going to get you here, I wouldn’t let that happen.” Jack continues to cry, but stops struggling when Cas finally turns off the television, setting the remote aside. “Sammy, can you grab me one of the blankets?” Dean requests in the same gentle voice. Sam complies, picking up a large blue quilt that he’d set on the floor earlier and handing it to his brother. Dean immediately wraps it around Jack’s shoulders, further enclosing the boy in their own little world. Dean rubs Jack’s back firmly, continuing to speak quietly. “I’ve got you,” he promises. “Nothing to worry about when I’m here.” 

With that, Jack’s tears peter out. He wraps his arms around Dean’s waist and his newly returned father cradles the back of his head with the hand not holding him close. 

Sam relaxes back into his seat, content in knowing that if he were to speak or to move now, it wouldn’t be an intrusion because he’s a part of this moment, this family, too.

Notes:

Title from Howl’s Moving Castle

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