"It's Hell, Dean," Runa said. "There's nothing safe about it." She was quiet for a moment. "I saw John, you know. Few times now."

Dean nodded. He didn't ask, though. He'd long ago gotten used to the idea that his father was in Hell.

"Stay as safe as you can manage, then."

Runa nodded.

"As much as I can," she promised. She quirked a bit of a grin. "Now I have to go back and help your brother amass an army of the damned."

Dean snorted and nodded. "Good luck," he said, pulling her in for one more hug.

"Thanks," Runa said, returning the hug. She gave him a quick kiss and then turned to Cas, doing the same with him.

Cas held her for a few moments longer than Dean had before he let her go. He didn't want to, but he knew he had to.

Once they let her go, Runa made sure she had her knife on her hip before heading out the door. Time to get back to work.

The four ended up staying in the same motel for a while. They figured it was best to just stay put so Runa at least knew where to contact them when things were stable in Hell and she came back up.

Finally, Runa managed to get a message out to them. She couldn't go herself, but she did send a messenger out. She made sure it was a messenger they could afford to lose, though.

The low-rank demon (wearing the body of a waitress from the diner) knocked on the motel room door at about noonish.

Dean pulled the door open and looked at her. "Can I help you?" he asked, his voice bland. He wasn't even bothering to flirt with the waitress.

"The Lieutenant sent me," the demon said, flashing black eyes briefly. "Got a message, and I'd really like to ditch this meat suit as soon as I can."

Dean made a face but moved aside to let the demon in.

"Talk. Fast." He stood with his arms crossed while Cas loomed threateningly behind him.

"Lieutenant says to go to Bobby's," the demon parroted. She made a face, although she did send a wary glance at the looming angel. Everyone had heard of Castiel by now. "Wherever that is, she didn't give any details. Just go there, they'll meet you."

Dean nodded. "Right, message received, back you go. And if you hurt the lady..." He let the sentence trail off. He didn't need to finish it.

The demon snorted.

"I'm expendable enough to be a messenger to the Winchesters," she deadpanned. "You think I'm going to risk my neck any more than that? No thanks."

"Good." Dean nodded once sharply. "Cas, let them know we're heading out in an hour."

Cas nodded and went next door to tell Gabe and Kyra while Dean made sure the demon vacated.

The demon left without a fuss, escaping the meat suit as soon as possible. The waitress seemed confused to be in another part of town, but left quickly enough.

Gabriel was the one to answer the door when Cas knocked.

"What's up, little brother?" he asked.

"A messenger was sent to tell us to go to Bobby's," Cas said, looking at Gabriel. "We will be met there." He knew he didn't have to explain beyond that.

"Bobby's?" Gabriel asked. "Never met the guy. He's a hunter though, right?"

"Yeah," Kyra agreed, emerging from the shower all wrapped up. "I know where his place is. We'll be ready soon, Cas."

Cas nodded and left, heading back to his and Dean's room.

By the time they made it to Bobby's, it was obvious that they weren't the first group to arrive. Even from outside, Bobby's voice could be heard.

"Are you out of your mind, boy?!"

Dean grinned. Yup, that was Bobby. Good to see they were on the same wavelength.

He did let himself in, though. "Bobby?"

"You're here too," Bobby said, turning around. "Maybe you can talk some sense into your brother!" He waved an arm over to where Sam was standing. Rather than jeans and a plaid shirt, Sam was wearing dark slacks and a white button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. Runa was standing behind him, and there was a scuffed demon circle peeking out from under the rug. Sam looked over when Dean let himself in, and he seemed to relax a bit.

"Hey, Dean," he said.

"Hey Sammy." Dean had to swallow, looking him over. "You look good. Although you always did pull off the monkey suits better than I did." He managed a brief grin.

"Feels like I haven't seen you in ages," Sam said, grinning a bit. He stepped forward and gave his brother a hug. "Everything go alright up here?"

"Do you have any idea what this idiot went and did?" Bobby asked Dean, still fuming.