Title: Into The Woods
Chapter 3

~~~~~~~~~~

Dean woke to a painful foot in his groin and his son’s urgent whisper of, “Daddy, I gots to pee. Wake up!”

“Mm-hmm.” He removed Jack’s foot from that delicate area and waited for the pain to recede.

“Daddy, come on!”

He gritted his teeth and slowly sat up, trying to breathe. “Okay. Don’t wake mommy.”

“Too late,” came Jo’s whisper back. “He climbed all over me to get to you. I offered, but he says I can’t take him. Has to be you.”

Jack bounced on the inflated mattress that seemed to be losing air with each bounce. “Hurry up, daddy! I gots to go bad!”

Dean pulled his boots on, but didn’t tie them, and grabbed his jacket. “Let’s go.”

Outside, he found the sky just beginning to lighten and knew Gwen would be up any time, if she wasn’t already. He shuffled along after Jack, trying to wake up and wondering if there was any way in hell Jack would let him go back to bed for awhile. From his chatter, it was apparent that wasn’t going to happen, and Dean resigned himself to being up at dawn. Maybe they could get to fishing a little sooner than he’d planned?

Returning to camp a few minutes later, he found Sam out of his tent and crouching before the fire. Sean was bundled up against the morning chill and was in his carrier, kicking his feet and looking all around. When he saw Dean, Sean smiled, his feet kicking faster.

Dean sat in the chair near the carrier and stretched his legs out, drawing his jacket around him a bit tighter and waiting for Sam to get the coffee ready. This was a vacation and he was savoring every minute. He couldn’t wait for a relaxing morning fishing, then a campfire lunch followed by more fishing and perhaps a nature hike with Jo. It was good for them to be away from everything for awhile

~~~~~~~~~~

Sam woke to Gwen feeding Sean, her hair loose about her shoulders. “Morning.”

She smiled. “Hi. You slept right through his diaper explosion.”

“Sorry I missed that.”

“You were really asleep this time, too.”

He’d found they both did the same sort of tactics Dean and Jo had with Jack’s smelly diapers, though they had yet to resort to rock-paper-scissors to decide who got the change job. “I was tired. Long day of driving, setting up camp, and humiliating myself in song.”

“Finish feeding him and dressing him while I take a walk?”

He unzipped his sleeping bag and sat up. “Sure. I’ll get coffee ready if you’re not back.” She was back to running every morning, or walking in this case.

As he emerged from the tent awhile later, ready to make coffee and read, Dean and Jack stumbled from their own tent and made a beeline for the pee pit.

Dean yawned wide and didn’t seem to notice Sam until he came back. “You getting coffee going?”

“That’s the plan.”

“You’re a good man.” He dropped into one chair. “I mentioned that lately?”

Jack returned to the tent and Sam heard his loud cry of, “Wake up, mommy! It’s morning! We go fishing today!”

What she responded to that joyous cry was inaudible. As soon as the coffee was ready, he handed Dean a cup and got himself one. “How’d you sleep?”

“Fine until my son stepped on my crotch a few minutes ago.”

“You like the mattress?” He was thinking he might get one for himself and Gwen for the next camping trip.

“It’s okay. Seems to have lost a little air during the night and by a little I mean most of the air. It’s about flat.”

“You could patch it.”

“It only has to last the weekend because you and I know damn well I’m never getting Jo camping again unless it’s her version of it.”

They clinked coffee cups. “We all know it.” Actually, Sam wouldn’t mind Jo’s version of camping. They could all go to the cabin and spend a week or so there. He recalled Ham saying something to Gwen once about good fishing in the lake that hadn’t been far from the property.

He sipped at his coffee. He and Gwen had gone back to the cabin a couple months earlier, sorting more belongings and donating items to charities. Gwen had found a battered women’s shelter and taken the bulk of Ronnie’s clothes there. Going back was still an emotional thing for her. Her vote for tent camping instead of using the cabin made sense to Sam. She wasn’t ready to stay in the house her grandparents had died in. While she hadn’t known them long, she’d grown attached to them. She might never be ready to actually stay there.

Sam finished his coffee and set the cup down, turning his thoughts to the present. The plan for the day was for Sam, Dean, and Gwen to take Jack and Sean fishing while leaving Jo to do whatever she wanted here at the camp. She could join them if she wanted, but Sam was pretty sure fishing wasn’t her thing either. She was being a good sport so far though.

Jo came from the tent. Her hair was tangled and she had a blanket wrapped around her. “For once, it’s morning and I’m not nauseated beyond belief.”

“Just wait until we start breakfast.” Dean sipped at his coffee. “It’ll come.”

“True.” She tossed the blanket back into the tent and headed down the path.

By the time Gwen returned, Dean had eggs and toast made. Jo still hadn’t had any nausea, but ate dry toast just in case. She wasn’t taking any chances. Sam helped himself to another slice of toast.

“So, when do we want to fish today?” He took a bite.

“Now!” Jack stopped rocking Sean’s carrier. “I wanna go now! Can we go now?”

“Someone’s excited,” Gwen observed. “I don’t have a problem with going now, but we need to do some clean-up first, okay, Jack?”

Sam helped Gwen with clean-up. He almost couldn’t wait to see what was inevitably going to go wrong here. After all, it wouldn’t be a Winchester vacation without one thing going wrong. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too much of a doozy.

~~~~~~~~~~

Gwen was in her element, keeping the fire going and making more coffee and cocoa for the thermoses. Jo let her go about it by herself, not moving to help her. Gwen was one of those people who enjoyed camping and all the tasks associated with it. Not once did Jo remember ever enjoying it.

Sam angled one chair near the fire, then went into his and Gwen’s tent and brought out a blanket and paper sack. “Here, Jo.”

Taking the sack, she looked into it. “Books?”

“Dean, Gwen, and I are taking the boys fishing.”

“Ahh, yes. It’s all you guys have talked about the past hour. The big fishing expedition. You know your boy isn’t old enough to fish,” she pointed out. “He’s not even a year yet.”

“We’re taking him anyway.”

“Sure.”

“There’s a chair,” he pointed at it, “and here’s a blanket and reading material. Have a relaxing morning reading by the fire -- or sleeping in your tent.”

She blinked in surprise. “No one expects me to go with?”

“Nope.” Gwen set a thermos and mug on a camp table beside the chair. “Here’s some decaf tea. It’s that mint stuff. Should calm your stomach and if that doesn’t do it, there’s another box of crackers in the food boxes.”

Sam set the blanket on the chair. “If you don’t like the books, blame Dean. He’s the one went to the used bookstore and bought them.”

Jo smiled. “Oh, you guys…. I’ll gladly stay here and have a real vacation.”

“Keep feeding the fire, okay?”

“That I will do.”

With only herself at the campsite, Jo could almost pretend this was a real vacation. The view on one side of the camp was lovely, the lake framed by green foliage. She slouched a little in the chair, the blanket tucked around her, and poured a cup of the tea. Gwen had made it nice and strong and she gave it an appreciative sniff before reaching for the bag of books to see what Dean had picked out.

There was a novel about a weather witch, two about a female zombie, one about shape shifters, a haunted house story, and a final book that caught her attention immediately from the first sentence of the back blurb.

Jo began to read, sipping at her tea.

Time passed.

“Well, hello campground neighbor!”

Deep in an engrossing plot that involved a murderous creature rampaging a small college town, Jo let out a startled gasp. She did what her first instinct was: she threw the book (the heaviest item in her immediate reach) at the intruder, who turned out to be the angel Uzziel.

He caught the book. He was in jeans, a thermal t-shirt, and red plaid flannel (all so new they looked crisp), and looked like a caricature of a lumberjack. “Interesting choice of a weapon, Jo.”

“You startled me,” she told him as he came close and handed the book back. “What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to stay in heaven for your work.” Mainly, she’d come to find out, so he’d stay away from her mother. He had something of a weak spot for Ellen and needed reminding he was a holy angel of the Lord whenever he was around her. Castiel said it was a constant struggle for Uzziel and keeping him in heaven was the best way to deal with him.

“We’re on a team-building exercise.”

“A what?” She knew what one was as she’d said it herself as a joke when proposing a group outing, but why would angels need a team-building exercise?

“An exercise in trusting teammates and bonding with them. Did I not use the correct term? I thought I had it right this time.”

“No, you got it right. I just don’t see how angels need it.”

“Oh, Jo, after our previous behavior, you know, before the war, we need reminders of why we’re here. I know you remember Zachariah.” He did a theatrical shudder at the name.

Ahh, yes. Zachariah. The douche bag angel who’d tried to turn her and Ellen into weapons against Dean and Sam. He’d brought them back from the dead and messed with their minds. She was glad he’d died at Dean’s hands. Her only regret was that she hadn’t helped. “I do remember him.” She also remembered that Uzziel had been the angel who’d partially fixed her mind, then led Castiel to her so Dean and Sam would ultimately find her and her mind would be fully fixed. As comical as he was sometimes, Uzziel had been instrumental in her and Ellen being saved in the end. He was another angel who had a good heart. Heaven was now full of such angels. With Raphael’s defeat, the bad angels had been killed. “Unfortunately.”

“So you agree? We do need a team building exercise. Plus, it’s good for the lower levels to see management doing things together. It keeps them uplifted. When we get back, I plan to give a slideshow for each department on what we accomplished.”

“Slideshow. How…fun.” She could only imagine how that would turn out.

“It’s Jael’s job to put it together. This is going to be a fun weekend. You know, I had to practically and literally twist Castiel’s arm to get him here.”

“Wait, Cas is here?”

“Yes. Of course he is. He’s management.”

This she had to see. “Who else? Lead on.” She got up. “Talk as you walk. I want to say hello.”

“Me, Castiel, my assistant Jael, Abigael, and Balthazar, though I’m not sure where Balthazar is.”

“Balthazar is management now?”

“Not technically, but I needed another yes vote for camping to counteract Castiel and Abigael’s no votes.”

“Oh.”

“He said he was going hiking the second we arrived and hasn’t returned. To be honest, I think his disappearance has something to do with Atropos. He’s dating her, you know.”

No, she hadn’t. It hadn’t really been that long since they’d gotten back on good terms completely with both Abigael and Castiel. Abigael didn’t gossip unless asked specifically about something and Castiel didn’t seem to know how to gossip. “Isn’t Atropos one of the Fates?”

“She is. The youngest.”

“She’s here, too? She’s camping?”

“Yes, but from what I understand, she’s on vacation. It’s not a work thing, so you’re all fine. Her sister, Lachesis, is pulling double duty for a week while Atropos…has a vacation.”

Popular vacation spot. Somehow she didn’t think it was a coincidence that they all showed up here. It was never a coincidence.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dean had barely gotten his chair set up when he heard Castiel’s voice from behind him.

“Hello, Dean.”

“We’re off the clock.” Turning, he found Abby standing there with him. “Hey, Abby.”

“Abby!” Having spied Abigael, Jack ran to her, raising his arms so she’d pick him up. She obliged him.

Sam glanced at Dean and stopped taking his own chair from it’s case. “What’s wrong, Castiel?”

“There’s nothing wrong.” Castiel’s expression indicated strongly that he was lying in some way.

“Liar.” Gwen crossed her arms. “You two rarely come around together anymore unless something is wrong. I’m starting to feel like we’re Batman --”

“--and you two are the commissioner,” Dean finished for her. “I’m Batman, Gwen. You’re Supergirl.”

“Who are Sam and Jo?”

“Not playing your stupid superhero name game.” Sam finished putting his chair back in the case the rest of the way and slung the strap across his shoulder. “Lay it on us, Castiel. What, uh, big evil do we have to go after now? Big boss demon escape hell? Werewolves running wild nearby? Fan girls on their way? Tell it to us gently. Did Becky find a way to track us?”

Fan girls? Becky? Dean wasn’t sure where Sam got that, yet from the glance he exchanged with Gwen, there was some sort of story there. Interesting. He’d have to get it out of them later.

“None. There’s no big evil, boss demon, werewolf, fan girl.” Castiel sighed. “Uzziel has brought us camping.”

“It’s a team building exercise.” Abigael shifted Jack in her arms. “You’re getting heavy, Jack. Are you having fun on this trip?”

Castiel’s proclamation actually had Dean speechless for about twenty seconds and he completely missed Jack‘s response to Abigael’s question. Camping? And angels? The two words didn’t exactly mix. “So you just happened to decide to camp here at the same time we are, huh?”

Castiel put his hands in his pockets. “It was Uzziel’s idea. I was against it, as was Abigael, but Uzziel insisted we vote. Him, Jael, and Balthazar against me and Abigael. Funny how he insists Balthazar is management when he needs a vote to win. I see no need for a team building exercise. We are a team regardless of engaging in this exercise or not. It has no point other than --”

“To annoy you,” Gwen asked with a lift of her brows. Sean was twisting in her arms, leaning towards Sam. “Sam, you take him. You’re the one he wants right now.”

“It does annoy me and he’s well aware of the,” one of Castiel’s brows lifted, “buttons to push, I believe is the phrase.”

“Yet here you are.” Bending, Dean began to pack up his chair.

“Yes. We are here. I apologize in advance.”

Castiel was still wearing his usual suit and coat, but Abigael was in jeans and a sweatshirt. Dean wondered if anything would get Castiel to change clothes. Once the chair was in the bag, he slung the bag onto his shoulder. “Well, let’s go say hi to everyone and then we can come back and fish while you angels do your team building exercise in peace.”

They began to walk along the path, following Abigael. She walked with Jack, holding his hand and talking to him in a quiet voice, leading them all around the Winchester camp and to the west.

Behind Dean and Castiel, Gwen and Sam walked, Sam carrying a suddenly fussy Sean.

“I should have known he was up to something when I mentioned camping and he had to think about it. I do apologize for this interruption.” Castiel slowed his pace a little.

“Can you quite apologizing?”

Castiel glanced at him. “No. I can’t apologize enough.”

He meant about everything, not just this. Dean could read it in that single glance and the weight to those words. “We’re even, Cas. We got it all worked out, remember?” Castiel had to look at the big picture and do things like work with Death and the Fates on a regular basis. There were always going to be things he and Dean didn’t see eye to eye on, sometimes big things. Dean accepted it now even if he still didn’t like it. He hated how Death had used and manipulated Castiel and probably would again some day.

“Yes, it’s all worked out…until the next thing that I can’t tell you. This, however, I can share with you. We’re here camping and Abigael and I felt we should tell you before Uzziel popped in to your camp as a surprise. Is Jo with you?”

“She was at their campsite,” Abigael supplied over her shoulder. “She was fine when I checked.”

They tromped along the path for a few minutes, Dean thinking of all the different ways their appearance was going to disrupt the wonderful weekend he’d had planned for his family.

“She’s not there.” Sam pointed as they stepped into the angel’s camp. “She’s right here in the angel camp. Hi, Jo. Guess you didn’t get to read very long?”

“Long enough to be really startled when Uzziel showed up.”

“Hey there!” Uzziel grinned and waved an arm. “There’s the rest of the group.”

Jo was sitting in a chair much like how they’d left her only without the thermos, books and blanket. She smiled. “Cas…. Way to get in the camping spirit by not changing clothes.”

He stepped closer to her. “I saw no need to. Our clothes repair and clean themselves moments after becoming soiled in any way. It’s an angelic matter.”

As Dean walked into the camp, Jack pulled away from Abigael and stared at Uzziel.

Uzziel’s welcoming smile widened. “Hello young Winchester child. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Jack’s eyes grew wide and he screamed the same sort of scream he used when he saw an ant. “Daddy!” He ran to Dean and grabbed on to his leg.

“Hey, buddy what’s wrong?” Bending, Dean rubbed a hand on Jack’s back.

Looking at Uzziel, he screamed again.

“It’s just Uzziel. He’s an angel. You know, like Castiel and Abigael?”

Jack buried his face in Dean’s jeans leg.

“Okay. He’ll get used to you,” Dean said with an apologetic shrug of one shoulder as he stood. What about Uzziel had Jack scared?

“Like he’s gotten used to ants?” Gwen reached out and took Sean from Sam. “I recognized that scream.”

“I think we all did.” Jo wiggled a finger in one ear. “Somewhere near, glass has shattered.”

Yup. The weekend was definitely going to be in tatters now. Goodbye relaxation.