Chapter Text
Focus, Kat. These problems aren't fixed with simple solutions.
Katherine leaned back in her office chair, setting down the order forms for her bar, Lore, on her desk. Dean was due to back home in two days, and she dreaded the argument that would follow. Their marriage was deteriorating around them, the fights becoming more frequent as his absences became longer. Their time at the bunker with Sam and his girlfriend, Novalee, had helped them communicate more, but only about subjects her husband wanted to discuss.
Arts school had stemmed their newest battle. The school would cost Dean and Kat a significant amount of money, and he was hesitant. He feared the money would be wasted when Lyla couldn’t find a job later in life. Kat spent hours deliberating how it could be worthwhile, but Dean’s reluctance persisted.
She raked her fingers through her hair repeatedly, trying to clear her mind and conjure a solution that would benefit everyone. Closing her grey eyes, she let her mind wander as memories of their marriage flooded through her.
“Fucking Heaven,” Katherine murmured to herself. That was when their fights went from trivial to overblown. Two years after she was restored, they had a huge argument that seemed like the end.
She let her mind wander back to that day, trying to fit the puzzle pieces of their marriage together.
...
Katherine raced through the hidden stairwell, calling out. “I’m coming! Hold on!”
The knock at the door sounded again as Kat touched the door handle, eyes glancing at the shotgun positioned beside the door. The firearm’s mount rattled as the person on the other side of the door thudded against the wood.
She growled under her breath, pulling the door open and hissing, “This had better be good. I’ve got three kids all begging for attention, and,” she paused, a smile stretching across her face as the man on the other side softly smiled.
“Well,” Castiel chuckled, his hand falling to his side. “We can’t upset the Winchester offspring, can we?”
She grabbed his arm, pulling him into the house and slamming the door shut behind him. “Why didn’t you pop in like usual?”
He glanced down at his shoes, and his head tilted when he looked back at her. “I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?” Kat’s eyebrows knit together, her hand loosening on his arm.
“Heaven is closed off,” Cas whispered. “The falling stars last night?” Kat nodded, her eyebrows raised. “Those weren’t stars. They were angels cast out of Heaven.”
Katherine’s breath caught in her chest, and she pulled him into a tight hug, her hands clutching the back of his dirty shirt. “Oh, no! I’m sorry, Cas!”
His hands shook as he hugged her to his chest, his forehead resting against her shoulder. “It was Metatron. He used the trials to close Heaven. He used me.” He pulled away, his blue eyes dull as he looked into hers. “It’s all my fault.”
“What do you mean?” She cradled his head in her hands, her voice soft and her eyes locked on his blue eyes, “You said you were helping him to seal Heaven and make your siblings talk?”
“I thought that was what we were doing,” he murmured. “Metatron lied to me. He expelled everyone, and stole my grace.”
Kat closed her eyes, pulling the new human into her arms and hugging him close. “I’m so sorry, Castiel.” She stepped back, taking in his grubby shirt and jeans. “Is that why you’re wearing this?”
He shrugged. “I was thirsty and hungry. I could either clean my clothes or buy food and water.”
“I understand,” she whispered, leaning up and kissing his cheek. “Dean’s not home, he left on a case in the middle of the night, but you’re always welcome here. Find some food and a drink in the kitchen. I think we have some clothes that’ll fit you, too.”
A loud crash sounded from the back hall, and Kat groaned as small voices rang out. She rushed down the hallway, throwing open a door and stopping in her tracks as a block flew across the room.
“ROBBY,” Dawn screamed. “I told you no! You turkey!”
Dawn reached over, grabbing the small boy by the front of his shirt and pushing him to the floor. Robby fell onto his backside, a cry wrenched from his lips as his bottom hit the floor. He curled up on his side, sniffling. Katherine rushed in, scooping up the boy and cradling him to her chest.
“What are you doing, Dawn,” she hissed, her fingers combing through her son’s raven hair. “Why did you push him?”
Dawn huffed, her green eyes narrowing on her little brother. “He knocked over the tower we built!”
“He did, Mama Kat.” A small voice chirped. Kat glanced over at her newly adopted daughter. Lyla hugged her middle and explained, “Dawn, and I were trying to make it reach the ceiling, and Rob came over, and knocked it down.”
“You two,” Kat sighed. “You need to remember he’s still little, Lyla.” She turned her attention to Dawn. “And you, young lady. You know your brother. He’s only three, and he wants to play with you. Be kind, and give him a couple of blocks.”
Dawn flipped her dirty blonde hair behind her, stomping her feet. “You don’t understand, Mommy! I want Daddy! Where’s Daddy?!”
Katherine held her son tighter, her chest aching. “Dawn, I wish I could tell you. I don’t know what he’s doing right now, but you know Daddy always calls you and talks to you at bedtime.”
Her youngest daughter sniffed and raced over to hug her sister, her voice shaking as she grumbled, “He didn’t call last night or the one before. Sometimes he doesn’t call for days now. You are both liars!”
“He’ll call, Sunshine. I don’t know when, but I know he tries.”
Kat carried her son into the living room, wincing as the door slammed behind her, and Dawn screamed, “I hate you! I want Daddy, NOW!”
“I hate me too, sometimes,” Katherine whimpered into her son’s hair, sitting down on the couch and cradling him. “I wish your dad was here too.”
A large hand landed on her shoulder, and she swiped the tears from her cheeks before glancing at Castiel. “I’ll be fine. Dawn always gets like this when Dean leaves suddenly.”
Castiel frowned, removing his hand and disappearing down the hall. Kat listened to the rumble of his voice as he joined the girls in Lyla’s room. She kissed her son’s hair, leaning back and staring into his eyes.
“So, wanna tell me why you knocked over their tower?”
Rob sniffled, his small hands clutching the front of her shirt. “Dawn said Daddy won’t come back. She says Daddy doesn’t love us anymore. Lyla said he runs away because we’re bad. It made me angry, and I pushed over the tower.”
“Your dad loves you to pieces, Bruiser,” she sighed. “But he also has to go out and save people from the bad things.”
“I want Daddy to come home. I miss Daddy cuddles.”
Katherine smiled softly at the boy. “I miss that too. How about tonight we cuddle on the couch and watch a movie? Maybe we can call your daddy and Uncle Sam before the movie and tell them all about your day? You can pick which show to watch, and the girls can join us, but you get lots of snuggles with me.”
“Not without Daddy,” Robby whined, his head buried in her chest.
“I know it’s not the same, but we can try,” Kat murmured into her little boy’s hair, closing her eyes.
A throat cleared in the hallway, Kat gazing up. Castiel smiled triumphantly at her, his hands gentle on the two girls’ shoulders as he led them into the room.
“I think these two would like to say something.”
Lyla’s blue eyes stared at her toes as she mumbled, “I’m sorry for saying Dad left because we were bad. It’s not true.”
Dawn huffed, scuffing her feet on the wood floor. “Sorry, Robby. Daddy does love us, and he'll be back.”
Cas’ hands gave the girls’ shoulder a quick squeeze, and Robby turned and smiled at them. “It’s okay. Mommy said we could cuddle and watch movies tonight, and she says we can call Daddy and talk to him too!”
...
The kids were playing quietly in Lyla’s room as Katherine sat back on the couch. Castiel leaned back on the chaise, his eyes drifting closed as he rubbed his stomach.
“I didn’t know cheeseburgers could taste so good.”
Kat giggled, messaging Dean as she replied to Cas, “Well, it depends on where you get it. McDonald's burgers are good, but my homemade ones are almost always better.”
“Is Dean answering?” He peeked over at her, crossing his ankles and sighing.
She set her phone on the arm of the couch, grumbling, “Does he ever answer me?”
“Sometimes.”
“Exactly,” she snorted. “Dean answers when he wants, comes home when he wants, and leaves when he wants.”
His warm hand gripped her wrist as he spoke softly, “It’ll be okay, Kat. I know he’s busy now that the angels have fallen, but he’ll come home to his family.”
Kat’s phone went off, and she snatched it up, reading the message.
Dean: I didn’t call last night because I was busy with Sam. I’ll call tonight and talk to the kids.
Kat: Dean, the kids were hurt because you left suddenly. You didn’t tell us you were going.
D: I didn’t have time to tell everyone! I have to leave right away sometimes. You know that!
K: You’re right, I do, but you could have at least kissed them goodbye or called ASAP!
D: You know what, I’m done with this shit. I’m doing my best here. I need to scrape up the money to fix Baby, and I can’t do that while arguing with you.
K: You have the money to do that! Use your damn bank card!
D: That’s your money. I’m not using that. I’ll do this on my own.
K: That’s our money. Use it! I know how much that car means to you, and I want you to fix her.
D: Fine. So what’s going on with you guys tonight?
K: Cas is here, and we were having a movie night with the kids.
D: What are you doing after that? I could use some us time, even if it’s over the phone. ;)
Kat groaned and tossed her phone on the coffee table. Castiel’s head tilted slightly, his eyes on her phone as it chimed.
“What’s wrong?”
She rolled her eyes, listening as her phone went off again. “Dean is absolutely ridiculous. We argue about something, and then he wants me to,” she paused, glancing at the angel next to her. “Nevermind. He’s just infuriating.”
Cas chuckled, “I know. It’s not much better when you’re on a case with him, but he gets the job done.”
She snorted a laugh, her mind playing back clips of her and Dean. “Yeah, he does, but it seems to me that he doesn’t see the bigger picture.”
...
Katherine looked up as the door opened, Dean’s head peeking in before he loudly announced, “Daddy’s home!”
The house filled with squealing children as their four kids rushed to welcome him. Kat sighed, finishing the dishes before drying her hands on a hand towel. She made her way into the living room as Dean picked up their son, ruffling his hair and kissing his cheek.
“Mom’s turn,” Dean chuckled, grinning at Katherine.
She smiled back, leaning in and kissing his cheek. “Welcome home, Honey.”
His arm snaked around her waist, pulling her against his side as Robby wiggled out of his grasp. “Thank you, beautiful.”
Isadora groaned, “Are you two going to start making out? If you are, I’m out of here. Kaylee is having a party at her house, and I want to get there before everyone else.”
Kat frowned at her oldest daughter. “I told you, you’re not going to that party, especially now that your Dad is home.”
Dean squeezed her waist, chuckling, “Oh, we can let her go this one time. She’ll be in college soon. Might as well let her enjoy her last year of high school.”
“Dean! I said,” Kat began, glaring at her husband as he interrupted.
“Have fun, Issy. I’ll make sure your mama’s in a better mood when you get home.”
Isadora gave him a disgusted look but rushed to her room to grab a small purse and ran out before they could change their minds. The other three kids shuffled out of the room as Kat turned a glare on Dean.
“Dean! You just sent our seventeen-year-old to a possible keg party! Issy already told me the parents wouldn’t be there.”
Her husband pulled out his phone, quickly typing a message to Issy. “Okay, home by 10 pm, no alcohol, and she better not lose any clothing. Oh, and any boys should know her dad has a gun, and a bullet moves faster than they can.”
“Only takes fifteen minutes to screw, dress, and reapply chapstick, if I remember correctly.”
Dean groaned, her husband waiting for the kids’ doors to close before pulling her against his body. His hands traveled down her sides, one gripping her backside as the other slid under her shirt. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her jaw before he kissed under her ear.
He nipped at her neck, Katherine startling and letting out a small gasp. “Let’s not worry about Issy. She can handle herself.” Dean kissed her neck, his tongue darting out to taste her skin. “Can I get a real welcome home?”
Kat hung her head, her forehead resting on his shoulder as she rolled her eyes. Her fingers traveled down his spine as she leaned back, kissing his jaw and painting a false smile on her face.
“Maybe later, Dean,” she mumbled.
Dean helped put the kids to bed that night, each child getting a bedtime story before lights went out. Katherine grabbed his duffle bag, heading down to her and Dean’s room to clear out his dirty laundry. She threw his clothes into the washer, starting the cycle as Dean trotted down the stairs. He grinned at her as he walked into the laundry room, coming over and backing her up against the washer.
“Hey, gorgeous. I missed you.”
Kat smirked, fingers tracing over his arms as they caged her in. “We missed you too, Honey.”
Her husband chuckled, leaning down to kiss her shoulder. “About that welcome home? I need a shower, but afterward, I’d love for you and me to crawl into our bed.” His hips pinned her against the washer, his arousal pressing against her lower stomach. His lips grazed Kat’s neck as he whispered, “I think we haven’t seen each other in a week and I’m hoping you can do that thing with your hips that drives me wild, or I can try this new thing I heard about last night.”
Sighing, she kissed his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Dean. I’m not in the mood. I’ve had a rough week with the kids and the bar, then Wings stopped by and told me about Heaven and Azrael. I just,” She paused, pressing her forehead to his chest. “I just want to cuddle tonight.”
“Oh,” he huffed, backing away, his lips pulling into a thin line as he glanced around the room. “Yeah, that’s fine. How’s Cas doing?”
“He’s okay, trying to deal with life as a human,” Kat mumbled, watching Dean kneel and clear out the rest of his duffle.
“It’s gotta be tough on the guy,” He shoved his stuff against the wall, standing up and combing his hand through his hair. “I guess I’ll take a shower before we go to bed.”
Grabbing his arm, she stopped him on his way out. “I’m sorry, Dean.” Katherine wrapped her arms around his waist, nuzzling into his chest. “I’m trying to deal with the loss of Az and the crap that’s happening here.”
His head rested on hers, and Dean mumbled, “I know, babe. I thought it would make you feel better.”
Kat shook her head, arms tightening around his waist. “This makes me feel better. Having you here with us.”
His hand massaged her shoulders, and she sighed, burrowing her face against his chest and inhaling the smells clinging to him. She smiled softly as his gunpowder and leather scent filled her nose, the scent comforting her after their years together. His hands smoothed over her back, and she hid her face in the crook of his neck as he rubbed her lower back.
She took a step back, smiling softly as he dropped his hands to his sides. “Thank you.”
Chuckling, Dean shrugged. “Yeah, it’s fine. I was thinking about going to Lore tomorrow night. Garth said he stopped in after the renovations. He said the place looked awesome.”
“Yeah, he did. He came to check in with me. He stayed here for a day, then left. Wings showed up later that day and stayed for a couple of nights. I don’t know where he went, but he said he couldn’t stay. I’m worried about him.”
“You and Cas seem to be getting very close lately.” Dean frowned, stepping away from her and leaning against the door jam.
Kat’s eyebrows knit together. “Dean, we’ve always been close. After I came back from Heaven, he’s been the one checking on us for you. Cas’s one of my dearest friends, like Liz or Sam.”
“You sure that’s all,” he grumbled, his arms crossing over his chest.
“Dean Winchester, what are you implying,” Katherine growled, backing away from him.
He shrugged, his lips pursed. “I’m saying you are spending a lot of time with other men. I’m gone a lot, so I don’t know what you do in our room when I’m working.”
“Only two males are allowed in our bed.” His eyebrows raised, and she continued, “YOU and our SON!”
She turned around, marching into their bedroom and sitting on the edge of the bed. She could hear something hit the wall, and she shook it off, laying on her stomach on her side of the bed. Loud footsteps sounded in the room as Dean stomped over to the bed. The mattress dipped, his body crashing down next to hers. Kat glanced over, watching her husband settle on his back in the middle of the bed, his arms tucked under his head.
“Dean,” she whispered, her fingers reaching out to brush his arm.
He closed his eyes, his voice gruff as he replied, “Forget it. Let’s go to bed.”
“Honey, I would never cheat on you.”
He threw an arm over his face, grunting.
...
Dean left the next night to spend time with their friends at her bar, Lore. Katherine struggled to get the kids to bed after he left, finally getting Isadora to turn out her lights, and Rob and Dawn to stop climbing out of their beds to try to cuddle up with Lyla. She went about her nightly rituals, cleaning the kitchen and living room before going to her basement rooms to go through research for another hunter.
She gave up waiting for Dean to come home at midnight, crawling into bed and plugging in her phone. Kat was falling asleep when her phone began ringing. She pulled it off the charger, checking the caller ID before answering.
“Hey, Ashlyn. Whatcha need?”
Ash’s voice could barely be heard over the sounds of the bar, finally becoming clear as a door slammed shut. “Here?”
“Say again?”
“Did you know Dean was here?”
Kat rolled onto her back, brushing her hair back. “Yeah, he said he wanted to check out the renovations and see his friends. What’s up?”
“Oh, okay,” her friend sighed. “I just saw him talking to some woman, and was worried.”
“Some woman? You didn't recognize her?”
“No. She's tall, tanned, and a brunette. She introduced herself as Monica before I had to get backstage.”
Kat frowned, racking her brain for anyone she knew by that name. “I don't know any Monicas. Is she still out there?”
“Uh-Uh. She and Dean went outside about five minutes ago.”
“That's weird. Maybe she's a friend of his or a hunter I’ve never met.”
She heard Ash snort. “Maybe? It just felt weird. He also wasn't wearing his wedding ring, which I thought was really fucking weird. Did you two fight?”
A heavy weight dropped into Katherine's stomach. “Not really. Maybe he washed his hands, and forgot to put it back on afterward?”
“That's a lot of maybes, Kat. Anyway, I just thought I should tell you. How's home?”
“Huh?” Her brain caught back up to the conversation, and she huffed, “Everything as usual. Sam is still at the bunker, and Cas is doing his own thing.”
The other woman's voice dropped, “How is Sam? You know, since our break up?”
“He's Sam,” Kat sighed. “Quiet, reserved. He's not coming here as often, but he stops in when he can to see his nieces and nephew.”
“Oh. Well, I better get back to the floor. I'll talk to you later.”
The line went dead before Kat could respond. She plugged her phone back in, laying back on the bed and thinking about Dean.
She tried to piece together Ashlyn’s story, her mind halting before reaching for the worst. Her stomach ached as she forced herself to ponder it. The pieces fit, but Kat had a hard time believing he would pick up a woman at her own bar. He'd never be that blatant.
Dean came home two hours later, quietly entering their room and rushing to the bathroom. She heard the shower turn on before the door swung closed. Kat's stomach rolled, her mind replaying Ash’s call. She burrowed into her blankets, trying to hide from her own fears in the comfort of her bed.
He took his time in the shower, finally emerging after almost an hour. Kat waited for him to crawl into their bed, peeking her head out as he settled onto his side of the mattress.
“Did you have fun?”
He startled, his eyes wide as he glanced at her. “Hey, babe. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No,” she mumbled. “I haven’t been able to sleep.”
“Oh,” he grunted, rolling over to face her. “Everything okay?”
“Rough night with the kids. Then Ash called,” she whispered, watching in the dim light as his eyebrows knit together.
“What did she call about?”
She noticed his tone change, his voice hard. “She said she saw you there.”
Dean rolled onto his back, his arm falling over his face. “You knew I was going to Lore.”
“I did. I told Ashlyn I knew. Then she asked if I knew Monica.”
His arms tucked behind his head. “You probably don’t. I met her tonight at the bar.”
“No, I don’t.” She picked at the blanket, trying to hold back her anger until she knew more. “What did you two talk about?”
“Cars. Monica recently bought a classic car and was talking about the repairs she was trying to get done on it.”
Kat mulled the information over, something not feeling right to her. “Oh, okay. What kind of car? Maybe we can help her fix it?”
Dean’s arm fell over his face again. “A ‘69 Oldsmobile Cutlass. I gave her Eddy’s info, and told her he could help.”
“Why? I could help with an Oldsmobile.”
He huffed, rolling away from her. “I figured you were too busy. Weren’t you telling me last night that the kids and the bar kept you too busy?”
Katherine glared at his back before turning away with a sigh. “I still find time to fix our cars, but okay. Just thought I’d offer your new friend some help.”
She heard Dean throw off the blankets, and his feet hit the floor. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
She sat up, scowling at him. “Nothing, Dean! I meant what I said! I wanted to offer your friend some fucking help. Why do you always think I’m picking a fight?!”
Dean threw his hands up, stomping out of the room while calling back, “Fuck this! I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Kat groaned, laying back down and pulling the blankets tight around her. His story made some sense, but something inside her screamed that he was lying. There was something more to the story. She didn’t want to think of her husband cheating, but it was the only thing that made complete sense. Dean was loving, though, he cared about the kids and tried his best for them. She couldn’t tear the family apart on suspicion alone.
FLASHBACK END