"Offerings and Takings"

By: Tidia

Beta: Household Six

Dean would have to prod Caleb to make the lunch date sooner rather than later. He wanted to be present so he could tease his friend about being eye candy for Joshua's assistant. For now, he was just going to bask in the camaraderie and family. "So Mac, are you going to make an honest woman of Esme?"

"What?" Mackland was startled. He had closed his phone after calling someone in The Brotherhood clean up department. Dean didn't even know it existed; then of course, there was a great deal about The Brotherhood that was still a mystery. There was a lot he wasn't going to get the chance to know, but he didn't miss the way his brother was soaking up every revealed tidbit. Sammy would have to learn for them both.

"It would be nice to have a wedding in the family," Sam picked up where his brother had left off.

Dean saw Caleb frown. "Dad, really, is this thing with the coven going to be a problem?"

Dean covered his grin as his friend had willfully changed the subject.

"I trust Esme's discretion. It will be fine." Dean recognized the tone; it was Mac trying to convince himself.

"And Joshua?" Sam asked, gesturing to the other bed where Agatha was wrapped up in a sheet, waiting for pick up to be planted under a pine tree. Dean had watched Joshua; he had been uncomfortable with what he had done to Agatha Hennings.

Mackland rubbed his chin. "He's always had divided loyalties—his mother and father, Griffin and Jim. This is no different."

"Griffin and Jim?" Dean snorted. "No contest — Jim was the man." That fact had been proven over and over again.

"For you, Caleb and Sam — he spoiled you." Mac smiled, his eyes looked past them until he returned to the present. "It wasn't the same with other hunters of your generation. You saw how cordial Griffin was to Joshua."

Mac was referring to the meeting at the Boonedocks. Joshua had been speaking to Griffin, and it had looked like an amicable conversation. That particular memory had Dean bristling again. Any momentary sympathy he'd had for Joshua was stuffed back down where it belonged.

"How about getting them out of the deal?" Caleb asked, always full of hope of finding a way out.

Dean shook his head. "There are one too many of those around here, don't you think? We should concentrate on the one with the expiration date." He pointed to himself. "Plus, I was there—I may not be a crack legal mind, but it seems airtight."

Dean realized his mistake in being flippant. Sam gave a worried glanced at Caleb.

Caleb, as usual, had to find something to hold on to. "Maybe they can help us get you out of your deal."

"Now who's into the PR business?" Dean smirked.

"Moving on," Sam said, his facing showing some relief.

Dean couldn't help or know what they were doing because then he would jeopardize Sam. Today didn't feel like the day to be risking anyone or anything.

The attention returned to Caleb, who was trying to stifle a yawn. "So what did I miss? What was the coven like?"

Dean rubbed his hands together. There was so much to tell, especially about Josh being put down by Esme. He started with the witches. "It was like Red Dawn. They were like the Wolverines."

"Cheesy 80's movie," Sam commented, looking at Mac.

Dean rolled his eyes. Mackland deviated from pop culture — it was what they always teased him about. They used to joke with Pastor Jim about being too straight-laced. It led to good memories.

"Well, at least it isn't The Godfather," Mac commented with a grin.

Dean felt secretly Mac must have seen the Mafia movie, if only to satiate his curiosity. "It's better. If we're taken over by Russia, we'd be prepared by watching that movie. Could so happen," Dean stated, giving the idea more thought that the movie could be a training video for hunters.

"Not," Sam replied with a shake of his head.

"First movie to be rated PG-13. That says something," Caleb defended the movie.

"I could see about renting it. You hungry? I think we could all use some food. There was a 24 hour diner down the street, plus the movie?" It was a bonding session too late in coming. Dean wondered why he got these ideas with less than one year to live.

"Sounds like a good idea. I'll go with you." Mackland pointed to the door.

Dean was surprised, and judging by Sam and Caleb's reaction, they were, too. Mackland didn't make food runs. "Don't trust me to bring back healthy food?"

"There's that."

"Why don't we just order from the take out menu and have it delivered?" Sam opened the nightstand, pulled out the menus and held them up.

"Said the runt with the brains," Caleb added. He tiled his head, studying his father. "You wanted to speak to Dean alone?"

Dean glanced back and forth between the two men. Whatever Mackland wanted to talk to him about, he wanted it to be away from Caleb and Sam.

"I did," Mackland affirmed with a sigh.

"Damn, you're starting this all up again!" Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose. "Did you know about Ruby and Bela, too? I thought we'd all agreed to no more secrets?"

Dean shook his head. Mackland was trying to give him some privacy. "Hey! Don't speak to your dad that way, especially after we just went through Hell with you." Dean made his decision, licking his lips. "Go ahead, Mac. I think I know what this is about."

Mackland looked at Caleb, then Sam. He went to his bag, pulling out an expandable folder. "I have a file that I have been carrying around for you on the off chance we would see each other soon. I did the research personally."

Dean accepted the file, tucking it under his arm without looking.

"Research on what?" Sam asked, stood, and strode over to his brother.

"Hell," Dean answered.

"Oh, Hell," Caleb said, as he moved from the bed.

"You wanted to know." Dean put his hand out. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Can't be laying around here. . . " Caleb shifted his legs.

"Yes, you can." Mackland put a hand on his son's shoulder. Caleb seemed to resist but then sighed and sat back. Mac let his hand linger just a personal moment longer before explaining to Dean, "I tabbed it according to religious beliefs, secular, mythology and personal accounts."

"Thanks." Dean took a look inside and saw the colored tabs, neatly marked.

"Can I read it?"

"Sammy, I don't think that's such a good idea. . ." For as long as possible, Dean would protect his brother. This would only add to Sam's imagination. In this case, he didn't need to have full disclosure.

"I think we can safely say that you are not the one to judge on what's a 'good idea.'" Sam pulled the folder from his brother's hand, and Dean allowed it, crossing his arms.

Sam didn't notice the vivid anger on Dean's face, too entrenched in examining the contents of the folder. He paced a few steps in front of the foot of the bed. "I want everyone to drop the attitude. I'm sick of it. We've got a year to plan — better than we had with Sam." Dean felt mention of his brother's sudden death would end the conversation.

Sam closed the folder. "Dean – I didn't mean – I never thought-" That was the problem. His brother fed him a guilt trip, but didn't recognize the one positive outcome of time together.

"Seven months," Caleb amended, interrupting Sam while plucking at the bedspread.

"My fuckin' seven months. I was always ready to give up my life for you and Sam." Even when he was a kid, Jim had to have seen his self-sacrificing nature. "The only surprise is that I have some time for the two of you to give me shit and go off on your own crusades." Dean grabbed his car keys from the top of the television.

"Where are you going?" Mackland asked, taking a step closer to him.

Dean searched for an excuse to leave. "To get some food." He opened the door but was called back. "I'll send Esme back in. I think we've done enough guy bonding."

"Deuce, wait. I'm sorry."

Dean would have kept on going if Caleb's voice hadn’t cracked; reminding him they had almost lost Caleb not even an hour ago.

"It's my fault," Sam interrupted. "I didn't want to tell you about Ruby."

Dean crossed his arms, confused if the apologizes were about him or Sam and Caleb bonding.

"What about Bela?"

Dean closed the door, stepped back in. "She's a skank — not much to say about her. But next time we cross paths, I'll tell her to look you up."

"You do that. I don't know who's worse: her or Drew." Caleb laughed. Dean grinned in response, in his mind envisioning a smackdown between Bela and Drew. It was no contest. Drew had her KO'ed in ten seconds flat. "Are we good?"

"For now, but I'm watching you two." Dean brought his fingers to his eye then pointed at Caleb and Sam. "This is about respecting me, trusting me."

Caleb snickered, picking up a pillow and tossing it at Dean. "Dude, you know The Guardian isn't The Godfather, right?"

"And there, my son, is the reference I have been expecting. I believe Jim said the same thing to you on many, many occasions. . ." Jim's name wasn't said with Mac's usual pained tightness. It was a sign they were healing from those losses, readying for the next ones.

"I think I'm in the mood for Italian." Dean threw the pillow back. "What about you, Sam?"

"Your choice, man." He fanned out the menus. "Looks like this place delivers."

Dean snatched the red, green and white menu. "Should we get Esme's opinion?"

"We'll give her a few more minutes with Joshua. I can order for her."

"Honest woman, Mac." Dean chuckled. The fact that Mackland knew what to order for Esme showed how deep of a relationship it was. "Is this place going to be up to your standards?"

"I would rather we were in New York City, but in this case it is more about the company than food quality." He sat down next to his son again. Caleb shook his head.

"I'll take that." These months were about giving and taking. Dean would take what they were offering: the willingness to stand by his side through it all and give them some patience to find a way out for him.