canon au } { post-1410: nihilism

[hasperkynipples]

Dean: [so after they settle everything with Michael and Dean has his conversation with Billie, he starts getting some stuff in order. One of those things is Kaia. He gets in touch to see where she's laying low, before putting in a call to Jody to say "hi, I'm okay" that leads to him giving Stiles a call. ring ring ring Stiles phone]

Stiles: [and he will be on a break, drinking some coffee when the phone rings. He sees the name and answers] What part of the time space continuum did you break now?

Dean: .... I do not do that that often that that's how you greet me, kid.

Stiles: Didn't you break into another universe and allow that Michael to take control of your body, bringing him into this world and getting traps for almost six months?

Dean: [a long silence] Yeah about that. I need a favor.

Stiles: Depends.

Dean: On what?

Stiles: How much trouble it's going to get me in with my boss and or Cora.

Dean: Cora, probably none. Your boss I hope'll be in on it, so also probably none?

Stiles: You want to go to the parallel universe.

Dean: No. I need your help getting someone back to hers.

Stiles: The doorway here doesn't work like that. It only goes to one place.

Dean: Could you guys ... maybe help her figure it out? Her ticket here can't send her back anymore so I'm trying to figure out our options.

Stiles: [sighs] I can talk with my boss, see what she says. But I don't know, Dean. Part of our job is to make sure people aren't doing this.

Dean: Yeah. Yeah I know. [he runs a hand over her face] Just ... let me know. I can drive her out to you, but I promised her I'd help get her home.

Stiles: I'll see what I can do.

Dean: Thanks, man. My phone's on.

Stiles: No problem. You doing alright otherwise?

Dean: Who me? Yeah, I'm fine. [he is not fine] Just been a weird couple days.

Stiles: Well, hopefully it'll chill out for awhile.

Dean: Yeah, fingers crossed. How're things in Boston?

Stiles: Cold. So cold.

Dean: [laughs] Well, that's what you get for moving to Boston. At least you're marrying a space heater.

Stiles: Just one of the many benefits. [chuckles] You hear about Liv and Hal?

Dean: I did. Sam told us when he got back. Good for them.

Stiles: Yeah. They are way too adorable.

Dean: I heard she's been doing some work for your boss too. She can probably fill you in on Kaia and her situation.

Stiles: I'll ask.

Dean: Good. [he's so tired already with holding Michael back, but he knows he has to keep going, at least until the box is made] Good. Thanks.

Stiles: I'll call you back tomorrow with the answer.

Dean: Sounds good. I'll be here.

Stiles: You better be. [and he'll hang up]

Dean: [will do the same, rubbing his eyes as he leans back into his seat. He could start driving, heading towards Kaia so that he can at least start taking her to Boston - he trusts that Stiles will be persuasive enough to at least find a way to help her, but right now he just feels tired. He has a feeling the tired isn't going to be going away for a while]

Ben: [and he will finally reach the bunker after almost a day and a half of no sleep and straight driving. He had received the note that Dean was back and in his right mind from Mikey, but he wasn't turning around until he saw it for himself. And that is why a scruffy, energy drink high Ben enters from the main bunker door and jogs down the stairs]

Dean: [he hears the feet on the stairs and he looks up, frowning at the state of Ben] Where did you come from?

Ben: [yeah, he's not even going to answer. There's relief in his eyes, but fear, real fear, as well. This is how Dean looks anytime he finds his brother after being taken, but now it's his son. He may just get to register that before Ben wraps his arms around his father and just holds him tightly, needing more than just his eyes to confirm that Dean is alive and safe]

Dean: [yeah, he'll take the hug. he hugs him back, patting Ben on the back lightly] I'm fine, Ben.

Ben: [give him a moment longer, and he'll back up. His eyes are totally not wet] When Mikey called... I had to be here.

Dean: Hey. I'm okay. No need to work yourself up. Sam and Cas were prepared for the worst.

Ben: Prepared for the worst? What does that even mean?

Dean: We brought the angel cuffs.

Ben: That doesn't sound like a long term solution.

Dean: It wasn't. But I'm in control now.

Ben: But he's not gone? [because being in control is not the same as being free]

Dean: Not yet.

Ben: Alright, so what do we gotta do to drag his ass out?

Dean: Right now? Nothing. Because he's just going to hop into someone else and keep trying to bring about the monster apocalypse. So for now he stays here. [he taps his temple] Until we can figure out something better.

Ben: Yeah, but that can't be good for you.

Dean: When has anything ever been good for me. [he shakes his head] I'll be fine.

Ben: No you won't. We both know that.

Dean: That's where you're wrong. I'm always fine. [and with that, he's going to go finish getting his stuff together to head out]

Ben: Oh bullshit.

Dean: [does not respond to that, as far as he's concerned this conversation's over]

Ben: [growls, and so if Dean is going to ignore him, he'll go put himself where he can't ignore him. So Ben grabs his bag and heads directly to the Impala and sits in the passengers seat. Because Dean won't leave the bunker in anything except his baby]

Dean: [yep, he sees that, and he rubs his eyes because damnit, he is too tired for this] Get out of the car, Ben.

Ben: Nope. I called shotgun.

Dean: You don't even know where I'm going.

Ben: You can fill me in on the way.

Dean: No. You're not coming.

Ben: [and he's just going to buckle himself in] I already used the bathroom and I have snacks, so I won't even need a break for awhile.

Dean: [rolls his eyes and goes off to find another car]

Ben: [aaaaand he might have taken all the other car keys and stuck them in the fridge in the kitchen]

Dean: [and now he's pissed] Are you serious right now?

Ben: Let's see - you've got an asshat archangel trapped in your head after fighting to get control from him... again.. and now you're sneaking out in the middle of the night while Sam and Cas are nowhere to be seen with a go bag. [gives his father a look] You're off to do something either stupid, self-sacrificing, or both. I know the look. I've worn the look.

Dean: I'm going to Omaha to pick up Kaia and take her to Boston so that Stiles and the nerd squad can see if they can get her back to her world. Sam and Cas know about it.

Ben: Oh, you mean the same girl that Michael has legions of monsters hunting?

Dean: Not anymore, because her staff is destroyed so she doesn't have the thing that can kill him anymore.

Ben: But she has the knowledge on how to make one.

Dean: Does she? We don't know how she got hers. [he rolls his eyes] In order to get the spear from her, I made her a deal that I would get her home. I'm just holding up my end.

Ben: And if it's an alternative but parallel world, who says there isn't already one here somewhere, or the components. Anyway, there's more than enough room for the three of us.

Dean: No. Because you're not coming. [and he's going to go and try and hunt down the ...]

Michael: Why are all the car keys in the fridge?

Dean: [lifts a finger, before turning and heading towards the kitchen]

Ben: [leans out the car] Because Dean's skirting around the fact he's not fine and won't talk about it, and instead using Kaia as an excuse to leave and do something stupid.

Dean: No, Ben just can't handle that I'm done with the conversation, and don't want to drive sixteen hundred miles with him trying to keep having it. I'm fine. I'm taking Kaia to Stiles, I'm gonna stop and visit Mom, and then I'll be back.

Michael: [just lifts and hands the keys over to his uncle] I'm not getting in the middle of this. You two have a good time.

Ben: You know I know the way to Stiles' place and I have my own car. [he'll slide out of the car and lean in the doorway, arms crossed.]

Dean: Then feel free to drive yourself to Cambridge if you really want to waste the time. We're still done with this conversation.

Ben: So that's it. That's how you want to dictate this, even after everything we talked about in trying to actually find a father and son balance between us? I drove here straight from the Hills because I was scared Michael was going to drive you insane. I was scared I'd be too late and find you catatonic or dead. And you're just going to put up the I'm fine wall to your own SON? [yeah, he's pissed now. and not sounding like Sam yelling at John AT ALL]

Dean: Yeah, I am, because I am fine! There's nothing to talk about. Just because we're trying to find a balance doesn't mean I don't get to have boundaries.

Ben: Boundaries are one thing. But you're outright--

Sam: [and yeah, the yelling got his attention and he's in the doorway] Ben. Leave it.

Ben: [snaps his head to look at Sam, shocked and frustrated] But he--

Sam: You've been on the road almost two days. You're exhausted and it's affecting your judgement. Get some rest.

Ben: Sam, I-- [but Sam's got his business face on and Ben'll sigh, snatching his bag from the back of the Impala and storming out]

Dean: [reaches up to rub his eyes again before glancing back to Sam] Thank you.

Sam: It's fine. But he does have a point, you know.

Dean: What do you want me to say, Sam?

Sam: [shrugs] Maybe tell him that things will be okay, and that you love him? That you'll check in so he can worry less.

Dean: He didn't even give me a chance to get there. It was attack from the moment he walked in the door.

Sam: Was it an attack, or a worried son extremely exhausted and afraid of losing his father? I mean, you do know we all see through your I'm fine act, right?

Dean: Yeah, I figured that was obvious, but you don't keep poking me with a stick and expect a different answer.

Sam: Like father, like son. [smirks]

Dean: [rolls his eyes] Can I go now?

Sam: You sure you don't want company? It's a long trip back on your own.

Dean: [he shakes his head] Nah, I'm gonna drop in and see Mom and Bobby on the way back. I'll be fine.

Sam: [nods. He knows something's up, and he's worried Michael might get free somewhere along this roadtrip, but he'll step back from the doorway] Sure. But yeah, go. I'll hold down the fort, convince Ben to go back north instead of following you. But he's your kid, so you know better than I do on what he's thinking and going to do.

Dean: [nods] I'll give you a call when we hit Cambridge.

Sam: [nods and he's going to turn to go, trying not to worry that this could be the last time he sees his brother in control of himself]

Dean: [and he's trying not to think about that, before hopping in the car and heading off to pick up Kaia]