Chapter 27

Dean pulled into Jody's driveway and parked the Impala. He turned to the others before they got out and spoke seriously to them.

"Look, no one mention what happened to me, got it?" he told them sternly. "No need upsetting Jody with it, I'm okay now."

"You sure?" Sam questioned not sure if he liked Dean's decision.

"Yeah," he said getting out and opening the back door for Sky cutting off any further discussion among them.

"Boys!" Jody called from the porch as she waited for them to approach her.

"Hey Jody," Dean said with affection stepping into her hug.

"Dean, good to see you," she greeted and turned to Sam who had stepped up beside his brother. "Sam, I'm so glad you're safe."

"Hey Jody," Sam grinned wrapping her in his arms for a warm hug.

"Come on don't be bashful Castiel," Jody told him holding out her arms for him.

Castiel stood unsure, but allowed Jody to hug him knowing this was how humans showed affection for one another.

"Sis!" Cole called to her as he came out the door. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. How about you?" she questioned holding him out at arm's length to give him a once over before pulling him into her embrace.

"Jody, this is Sky, my sister," Cole introduced her.

"Hello," Sky greeted holding out her hand.

"Nice to meet you finally," Jody replied. "Thank you for helping my boys."

"I should be thanking them, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have found Cole," she said stealing a glance at Dean who was looking at her with a slight smirk on his face.

This didn't get pass Jody as she herded everyone into the house. The girls were waiting in the living room to greet their brothers with hugs and teasing. They had been cooking since Sam had called letting them know how close they were.

"Come on guys, we've got dinner ready," Krissy told them heading for the kitchen.

"Yeah, we make your favorite." Alex added. "And there's pie for dessert."

"Lead the way," Dean exclaimed taking Sky by the elbow and pulling her with him.

"I know you don't eat, but wanna join us?" Claire asked Castiel glancing up at him and away quickly. "You can try something if you want."

"I'd like that," Castiel told her following her to the dining room. His heart beat faster when he realized Claire had asked him to join her, that she actually talked to him. Maybe she was finally accepting him into her life even if he did look like her Dad. He knew it was hard for her to forgive him for what happened to her Dad and Mom. Hopefully this was a step in them becoming friends.

spn

Dean and Sky were talking quietly to themselves in the corner of the kitchen while everyone else was scattered about in the living room and dining room. He looked up when Sam walked in with some dirty plates. They stepped apart but still held hands as he placed the dishes in the sink.

"Sam, you mind hanging here for a few day?" Dean asked as he sipped his coffee.

"No, why?"

"Thought maybe I'd take Sky and we'd go down south for a few days. It's a little crowded around here right now," he shrugged his shoulders.

"Down south hm-m," Sam smirked knowingly. You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know why Dean wanted to get away and he couldn't blame him, Sky was hot and she knew how to handle Dean.

"Yeah, figured everyone could use a few days down time after everything that's happened."

"I'll be fine, I'll just hang with the girls and maybe Cole'll stick around. We could go catch a movie or something."

"I'm sure he won't mind, think he's taken a shining to Krissy."

"You noticed too? Alex said they've been inseparable since they got back."

"I'll tell Jody we're leaving," Dean said putting his cup in the sink and heading to the other room to find Jody.

"I'll go tell Cole, let him decide what he wants to do," Sky said following him to hunt down her brother.

spn

"Hey Cole can I talk to you?" Sky asked when she found Cole and Krissy together talking to Alex and Claire.

"Sure Sis, what's goin' on?"

"I'm going with Dean for a couple of days, I wanted to give you my keys and let you decide what you wanted to do," she told him handing over her keys.

"Where ya going?"

"Down south, Dean knows a place he wants to take me to."

"Okay, call Uncle Jethro just so he knows we're okay or he might send the Marines out for us."

"I will, Sam's staying here if you want to hang around," she told him eyeing Krissy and looking back to him.

"I just might do that, hate for Sam to be the only male around, no wait, I forgot about Castiel. He staying too?"

"No idea, I'll call you when we get where ever we're going."

"You sure of this? I mean you've just met him."

"I am, he's...he's not like anyone I've ever met. I really want to get to know him better."

"I'm happy for ya Sis, stay in touch."

"We will, you take care too."

"I plan on it," he answered looking back at Krissy and smiling.

spn

"You ready?" Dean asked Sky as he walked back into the living room carrying a bag.

"Yep, Cole's going to hang out here with Sam, Castiel and the girls. I gave him my keys in case he needed a ride," she replied picking her bag back up from the couch.

"You two be careful," Jody told them as they headed for the door pausing to give her a quick hug.

"Always," Dean assured her, kissing her forehead. "Try to keep the kids out of trouble while I'm gone."

"Like I could do that," she laughed at him. "You take care of him," she told Sky squeezing her hand. Jody liked this woman and she seemed good for Dean. She had not seem him this happy in a very long time and she was happy for him.

"I will," she smiled back giving her a knowing look.

Choruses of good byes and take care were heard from the others sitting around the room as Dean and Sky headed for the Impala.

Dean looked over at her as he settled behind the wheel and asked one more time.

"You sure 'bout this?"

"Hell yeah!" she exclaimed sliding closer so she could award him with a gentle kiss and a snuggle. "Now drive, times a wasting."

"Yes ma'am," he grinned broadly cranking the car and pulling away from Jody's. Oh yeah, the next few days were going to be very interesting if he had anything to do with it, very interesting indeed.

THE END