Episode: Season 8 - Torn and Frayed Pt. 1 

I sighed as I raked a hand through my very disheveled ebony hair, the blonde tips now completely washed out, leaving the growing strands to cascade down my back in waves. With a quick glance around the room, my eyes only briefly landing on the lump of blankets there on my bed, I exited the small house. The events kept replaying in my mind as I climbed into the beat-up old Chevy I had hot-wired but I shut them out, willing them away. I needed to get back to Dean, clear my head. He was currently on a quest to find Kevin along with Cas while I had opted to head back to Texas to retrieve a spell-book I had forgotten at the old house that - thank goodness - hadn't been sold yet. And again, Charlie was playing babysitter while I was away.

My thoughts kept going around in circles in my head as I sped down the freeway at break-neck speed that I barely heard the flutter of wings from beside me.

"Hello, Parker," a monotone voice spoke suddenly.

A shriek ripped free from my throat and I swerved, narrowly missing another car.

"Cas! You can't just do that to people!" I grumbled as I regained my steering.

Geez, would this angel ever learn?

"My apologies, Parker. But you need to come with right away," he said, solemn as usual.

I frowned slightly, about to protest, "Cas, what are you talk-"

But before I had even finished my sentence, there was a snap, a quick flutter of wings and suddenly, I found myself in a dingy little room scattered with scribbled on pieces of paper littering the floor, with Sam standing to my right.

"I got what we need," Cas announced proudly to no one in particular as he began to rummage through some papers on a desk.

"About time," Dean said, turning around to face the three of us, "Where have you two been?"

I chewed my bottom lip but said nothing and eventually, Dean got the hint and shrugged in response before we got back to the matter at hand. Apparently, Dean and Cas had located Kevin so now, he was helping us out as well. I also found out that my father had been torturing information out of an innocent angel, one who was a friend to Castiel. We thought we'd saved him when it was all over though after rescuing him from the abandoned warehouse he was locked up in. But he died anyway after the battle that had ensued. It was sad but moreover strange, considering Cas was the only one there when he passed. Not to mention that he was still acting strangely around me once more.

Well, he was before he disappeared on again, anyway. The three of us headed back to Montana then, but not before picking up Yasmin from Charlie's place along the way.

"Okay. That should do it. Cas can't see or hear us now," Sam announced as he finished angel-proofing the cabin.

"Okay, what in the world?" Dean said angrily.

"I know," Sam agreed with his brother.

"I told you something was off with him since he got back from Purgatory," my boyfriend stated plainly.

Just then, from my perch on the bed with Yasmin sitting comfortably on my lap, I noticed Shawn flip his hair back on the screen. Smirking, I made a hum of approval as I admired his good looks. Watching Boy Meets World re-runs just never got old. Suddenly, I angled my head to watch the boys as their conversation veered away from Cas.

"You know what, man? I got this. You go," Dean told his little brother.

"What?" Sam asked, confusion etched on his features.

"Don't you have a girl to get back to?" Dean questioned.

"I honestly don't know, um... But since when do you care?"

"I don't know," Dean admitted, side-stepping Sam to get to the fridge in the corner of the room, " I'm just tired of all the fighting. And...it's time you were happy,"

A moment of silence passed between the brothers before Sam broke it, " She does make me happy, and she could be waiting for me if I went back. I'd be a...very lucky man if she was,"

I glanced down at my shoes then, looking away from the brothers a moment.

"But now...I don't know. And with her life and mine, all the obstacles in the way... I just don't know if either of us would be ready for the aftermath of it,"

"Well, I do know this," Dean said honestly as he took a step closer to Sam, "Whatever you decide - decide. Both feet in or both feet out. Anything in between is what gets you dead."

Sam nodded to him before saying something about taking a walk. I bit my lip as the door slammed behind him. I hoped he would be okay. Suddenly, and before my thoughts could travel too far, Yasmin squealed happily. Curiously, I glanced down at her to see her making grabby motions with her hands...in Dean's direction. My boyfriend stood there, furrowing his eyebrows in a mixture of confusion and surprise.

The next words out of her mouth left us both speechless.

"Da-ddy. Da-ddy! Daddy! Daddy, daddy!"

Dean's beautiful green eyes, mirrored in his daughter's face, were widened in shock. Finally, a laugh burst free from my throat just as Dean broke out of his stupor, swinging his little girl up into his arms. Yasmin hummed happily before pressing a childish, sloppy kiss to Dean's cheek and snuggling into the collar of his dark green over-shirt. I could feel my heart melting in my chest. This is what he'd always wanted - ever since he got back. It almost brought tears to my eyes to watch two of the people I loved most in the world, together like this.

Dean caught me staring then and with a hand, beckoned me over to where they stood. Rolling my eyes playfully, I let myself be brought into Dean's warm side in a family hug. And as our gazes met, I let my lips crash into his, feeling butterflies erupt in my stomach as fireworks went off in my head. Life was perfect.

Or...it was until Sam came back.