Blue Eyes

Chapter 10: An Unexpected Visitor

"Dad is home." Those three dreaded words managed to make Dean's stomach turn in one simple second. It felt as if everything came crashing down. Dean was finally happy, content with his life and now everything was ruined. His dad is going to take both his brother and himself away from this town to never return. Of course, his dad had caught the monster he was fighting in only weeks, because he's John Winchester and John Winchester never fails.

Dean knew this day would come eventually, that's the whole reason why he never wanted to start something with Cas in the first place; knowing that he was going to break his heart. But Dean was mesmerized by his eyes and grown attached to his personality. He couldn't help but falling. He tried to create some distance between them, actually flirting back with Lisa, but nothing worked. He still felt butterflies, even it was just a mention of his name. God, he's got it bad.

And now it was time to say goodbye, to never see him again. The one person that made him happier than he ever was. The hardest part is that there is nothing he could do about it. He's just slipping through his fingers and Dean can't hold on.

Dean nodded and followed Sam into the kitchen where John was seated in one of their kitchen chairs. The entire table was filled with various books and old looking papers, scattered around the table. It looked like a mess without any structure, but John probably knew what he was doing.

"Hey dad, I didn't expect you." Dean tried, but no avail, John turned the page of a large book he was holding without noticing Dean standing in the doorway. Maybe he just pretended to read, or planned to ignore him long enough so he would go away. It was no secret Dean wasn't his favorite, although Dean still tries to be.

"Don't just stand there, help me with research." John's voice called, booming through the room. Dean flinched, hesitantly making his way over to the dinner table and taking a seat.

The relaxed state Dean had been in from his date with Cas was replaced with some sort of anxiety. Dean forced himself to focus on the task at hand, making sure he did everything perfectly how John expected him to be, too afraid to make a mistake.

"Five children in six weeks are brought into the hospital," John started, Dean jumped up from his dad's voice and listened intently.

"Parent's find them in their beds, seriously sick out of nowhere. The doctors said that their immune systems are giving out. Also, there was this handprint on the sill outside their windows."

Dean nodded and returned back to research, now knowing what he was looking for. Dean held in a smile, because he knew what research meant, John had not found the supernatural being yet and was leaving again soon. Maybe, after all, his relationship with Cas wasn't ruined yet.

****

After multiple hours without finding anything, Dean was exhausted. They had worked through the night and it was currently almost four o'clock now. But he mustn't give up now, the sooner he found out who did this, the sooner John left and he could see Cas.

Dean turned the page of a current book he was reading, when his eyes fell on the description of some sort of witch. It's an Albanian witch whose legends dates back to ancient Rome. They feed off "Spiritus Vitae" also known as "Breath of Life". They can feed off everyone but prefer children because they have a stronger life force. They take vitality and usually appear as an old lady. They're called "Shtriga".

Dean grinned and quickly told John everything he knew about this monster. John nodded with thoughtful eyes, trying to piece everything together. Once he was convinced this was in fact the thing he has been hunting, he pushed his chair back and walked to the hallway. Dean followed him only to see his dad putting his leather coat on. John turned to Dean and said only one thing before walking out of the door, "Keep Sammy safe."

Dean grimaced, staring at the door long after John left. No "thank you" or "good job". It's not that Dean wasn't used to this already, however, it still hurts every time. If it was Sam who found out what kind of monster it was, John would praise the hell out of him.

But not Dean, never Dean.

****

Sam poked his head around his bedroom door, checking if it was okay to come out yet. He found his brother still in the hallway, hands in his hair.

"Are you okay, Dean?" Sam asked, cautiously stepping forward until he was standing next to his big brother.

"Yeah, Sammy, why do you ask?" Dean replied, not looking at Sam, instead he was having a staring contest with the closed door.

"Because you look sad." Sam replied bluntly. It was quiet for a while after that, the only sound that could be heard was the ticking clock in the living room. "Where's dad?"

"Dad left again, I don't know for how long." Dean replied as if he was a robot with no emotion, like he was on autopilot.

"I hope he stays away for a while. I'm starting to like it here." Sam mumbled, knowing he shouldn't think this but he was relieved anyway. He liked the school and the people and he actually had friends. Sam was enjoying himself and didn't want to leave it all behind.

"Me too Sammy, me too."

****

Dean woke up from a ringing sound beside him. He checked the alarm clock next to him and saw that it was around two in the afternoon. After John left in the early hours, Dean made breakfast for both him and Sam. When they were done eating, Dean told Sam to go back to bed, it was Sunday anyway, so they had plenty of time to get some shut eye. Dean didn't even take his clothes off, but fell on top of his bed and snoozed off in a matter of seconds.

Dean checked the caller ID, Blue Eyes, it said. Dean smiled and picked up instantly feeling a lot better.

"Hey Cas." Dean answered with a grin stretching his face, but it fell when he heard a, "Hello Dean," which sounded colder and more distant than usual.

"What's the matter Cas?" Dean asked concerned, his heartbeat picking up speed.

"Do you regret what happened Friday?" Castiel asked in a brittle voice, like he was about to burst into tears.

"Wait, what?! No, of course not! Why would you think that?"

"Because you didn't answer any of my text or calls and I thought you regretted it. I apologize." Castiel said in a small voice.

"Shit Cas I'm so sorry, my phone was off and I didn't check." Dean started, he wanted to say more, explain the situation. But maybe it was better if he didn't, in that way he could protect Cas; from both his dad and his hunting life. "I'll tell you what," Dean continued. "Come over to my house after school and I'll make it up to you."

"Okay Dean." Castiel responded already sounding happier than before. Dean sighed in relief, he never wanted to upset Cas but he knew John wouldn't accept it if he was texting instead of researching.

They continued to talk for a while, but eventually it was time for dinner and they had to say their goodbyes. Still, even after John came home, which wasn't pleasant in any way, Cas could make him feel a lot better by talking and making Dean smile even if he thought he couldn't. He managed to turn his mood around with a few simple words, but they were enough and Dean smiled instead of his usual smirk. Cas doesn't even know he was slowly changing Dean for the better. But Dean noticed it and Sam did as well. Of course his nosy little brother would notice, he deduced people on a daily basis. So when Dean sat down and Sam smiled knowingly, Dean couldn't help but smile back, knowing he's got his little brother's full support.