Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or its characters.

Warnings: AU. Slash, het. PTSD!Dean. Substance abuse (alcohol), violence and swearing. Mentions of war and abuse.

Pairings: Dean/Cas. Sam/Jess. Mary/John.

Summary: They are all ready to welcome their son and brother home after years of absence, but it isn't long before they notice that this isn't the same boy that left for battle. This is a grown man that no one really knows.

Titanium

Written by oneofyourfrenchgirls

The night air is cool and calming. The sun, slowly disappearing from the orange and pink sky, is the only proof that daytime consists of nothing but heat and sweat. Right now, Sam Winchester has a hard time remembering the blaring sunrays and the exhaustion from the afternoon hours. He doesn't mind forgetting; doesn't mind not thinking about anything important. Out here, on the small balcony of his new apartment, he feels allowed to drop it all.

Just for a while, he thinks, while Jessica is in the shower.

He thought about joining her for some fun, but he can't really imagine having sex right now. He is still nervous – has been tense all day – and his mind has been smothered by pictures of his brother since last week. Questions have been racing through his skull, back and forth – what will he think of Jess, what will he say about Sam's diploma, what will he think of Sam's apartment? Will he notice how tall Sam is now, will he notice how many hours his little brother put into building muscles?

He can't concentrate on anything but the thought of seeing his older brother again. He wants to show him everything – girlfriend, apartment, diploma and everything. It has reached the point where his boss told him to take the rest of the week off, but Sam doesn't mind. For once, he can't find a valid reason to go to work.

Not when Dean is coming back to Lawrence tomorrow.

The taste of decaffeinated coffee usually sets her off, but Mary Winchester knows better than to drink regular coffee right before bed. It smells the same – bitter, warm and calming – but just the knowledge that it isn't regular normally makes her cringe.

As it is, Mary barely remembers her middle name.

She glances at the clock and finds that it has barely moved since last time she checked it. Ten minutes past nine, and she curses every single minute that stands between her and her boy. Ever since the Winchester household received a letter from Afghanistan, both she and her husband have been walking on eggshells. One thoughtless word sets both of them off.

Mary spent the first few nights after the letter crying herself to sleep, while John grimaces every single time someone hints about what is going to happen tomorrow. She can't help herself, blinking away tears of joy, but she just feels so right.

Even though she spent the whole day manically cleaning and preparing everything for her oldest son's return, she doesn't feel exhausted. She hopes that Dean won't mind the new sofa, in which she is curled up now, and that he will find the new plasma TV as much of a pleasure as John does.

She can picture them there – John, Dean and Sam; her boys – with a beer and easy smiles on their faces. It's a great picture.

The Winchester Automobile Shop is nothing fancy, nothing special. It's a normal garage, mainly visited by locals. John Winchester can fix up about any car – truck, kombi, sports car – but he lives for the classical ones. The guttural purr of lovely V8's and the wideness of the hood. There is nothing not to love.

In the far left of the garage, separated by a heavy rubber curtain hanging from the high ceiling, sits the perfect car. It might be the love of his life, save from his wife (who is much a like a classical car: strong, stubborn and leaving quite the impression). He loves touching the black lacquer, brushing his knuckles over her trunk and marvel about her polish.

He is sitting inside of her, right now, running his hands over the steering wheel and imagining the low sound of her engine. She runs like a dream – he should know, since he just came back from her second test drive. It is a miracle that she runs yet again, after a rough crash a year ago when he and Mary drove to California to pick up Sam and Jess, but John is known to be stubborn for a reason.

He is close to say that she runs better than before, but he knows that she won't be complete until her destined driver is behind the wheel. She won't be perfect until the one who loves her the most is taking her out on the road.

John closes his eyes and thinks of his son. His little boy, always so eager to try her out. Dean, since the age he could talk, had always expressed his affection of the Impala.

It only made sense that he got the car as a welcome home-present.

The water is chill and soothing against her sunburned body. She runs her fingers through her long hair, twisting out the last of the shampoo. She watches the soap buds swirling down the drain absent-mindedly. She is jumpy and giddy at the same time. Even the relaxing water flow is enough to calm her down completely.

Tomorrow is the day Jessica Moore meets Dean Winchester for the first time.

For some reason, she is even more nervous about this than meeting Sam's parents. While John still scares her with his gruff voice and stern eyes, she knows that Sam would dismiss his father's opinion of her if the older man found her inappropriate. She knows that Sam would manage to convince Mary to come around, if Mrs Winchester had decided to dislike her when they first met.

Jess is afraid. She is sure that Dean is everything and more that Sam has told her – loyal, compassionate and brave underneath all that cocky bravado and ego – but she is also certain that Dean's view of her is the most important opinion she will ever receive.

She knows, that if Dean finds her unsuitable, Sam will toss her away.

To Be Continued