Though Ozzie kept right on singing, Dean ceased tapping his accompaniment on the steering wheel of the big Impala. Shooting the pricing signs a disgusted, disgruntled glare, he steered his big Detroit monster into the gas station lot.
Shit! Another 8 cents a damned gallon! Sam and I are gonna have to switch to motorcycles soon and put you in storage for special occasions, Baby, if this price keeps heading skyward!
Naw, Baby, ain't gonna happen. I'll take a friggin' job before it comes to that!!
Reaching out he patted her wide dashboard lovingly, mumbling softly, "You're family, sweetheart."
Backing up to the closest pump, he popped the driver's door open with a loud comforting creak and shooting a loving glance at his 'lady' went inside to pay for gas and snacks.
Standing in line behind a young overweight, overwrought mother with three whiny, grabby kids in tow, Dean found himself growing impatient, sighing softly. He wished the clerk were a little more efficient.
"Maaaaa, I want candeeeee!" The dirty-faced, smallest child demanded loudly.
"MEEE TOOO!!!" yelled the other two, just as obnoxiously.
Exasperated the mother slapped their little greedy paws away from the candy shelf at the checkout. Pushing the unruly bangs of dark unkempt hair out of her eyes she shot them all a totally threatening "mom" glare.
"No! That's final! We need to get home so you can put on your costumes. You'll get plenty of candy in a little while. Remember?"
With that the little monsters began jumping up and down, squealing and cheering at the top of their greedy little lungs, "Yayyyyy! C'mon!! Let's go!"
Awww, shit!! Halloween! I forgot about tonight! I gotta get the hell outta here. Sammy had damned well better be done at the library by the time I get there!
I want to be long gone and well on the road before all those friggin' rugrats hit the streets!
The noisy quartet was barely away from the counter as Dean shoved his way forward dumping a large bag of chips, Sam's sunflower seeds, Dean's economy size bag of Peanut M&Ms, and the six-pack of Coke in front of the clerk.
"See that big, black car out there, I need $45 in gas too!" he blurted out breathlessly, fidgeting anxiously as the non-descript little man behind the counter slowly bagged his snacks and rang up the purchases and gas. Come on, come on!
Rushing out to the pump he tossed the bags on the seat, pumping the gas as quickly as the hose would allow. Cursing as the last twenty-five cents worth switched into that hated "trickle" mode they always used on pre-paid pumps, he grumbled silently about how gas stations just kept adding insult to injury with prices, pre-pay and the slow fuel delivery. Gas was a necessary evil, but that didn't mean he had to like this kind of treatment.
Cruising quickly towards the library he hoped that Sam hadn't been hit with some geek urge to do more 'digging and research' than they had previously discussed. Wasn't like they had to rush anywhere on this hunt. Werewolves were already past the lunar cycle so they had twenty-three more days to prepare.
Approaching the library slowly, he scanned the big front granite steps for any sign of his favorite resident geek. Nothing. He slowed even further, glancing at the sidewalk. No Sam. No available parking out front either so this was going to get ugly.
Come. On. Sammy! Where the hell are you? We gotta get going here.
Don't make me come in there!! 'Cuz this won't be pretty! Gotta get on the road and away from these damned kids!!
Coasting around the entire block where the building was situated, Dean detected no sign of his errant brother. Looking for an empty parking space only increased his level of frustration, as it became painfully obvious the entire town must have suddenly developed a craving for printed matter.
Nothing. Zip. Nada! What was he going to do? Finally Dean spotted an open spot on the street at the rear of the library, with of course, no entrance/exit on that wall for some insane reason!
Punching the gas, he got up close, maneuvering the big car into the spot. Putting the lever in Park, he shoved the big door open and popped into the street almost landing in the path of an oncoming SUV, whose driver laid on the horn and gestured rudely. Leaping up onto the curb, he momentarily marveled at a huge red 'X' spray painted on the sidewalk. Go figure!
He barreled down the sidewalk and around the corner towards the closest library entrance. Hoping the library was laid out easily so he could find Sammy quickly, he pushed his way through the big glass doors. Seeing the long line at the front desk he decided his time would be best spent just taking a quick tour and locating Sam on his own.
Lake City had a surprisingly large and active public library for only having 28,000 residents. Dean would have been impressed if he weren't feeling so pissed off. He became more pensive with each corner he turned. About eight minutes into the tour of the library he finally spotted Sam leaving the bank of copy machines located along the back wall.
Sam waved happily when he saw Dean approaching and then looked apprehensive as he saw his big brother's dark look.
"Sammy, what hell!! I've been waiting and driving around the block forever!" Dean struggled to keep his angry voice at a whisper. "What took you so long?"
"Sorry, man, must be a lot of school projects or something!" Sam sighed turning apologetic puppy-dog eyes in Dean's direction, hoping to diffuse the situation. "I just hafta pay for these copies…"
Incredulous, Dean hissed, "You didn't just shove coins in the damned machine?!"
"I'm sorry, man. Their machines aren't coin-operated."
Dean glared at his sibling, "Dammit, Sammy! Have you seen that checkout area?"
"Well, maybe you can get in one line and I'll get in the other and
the guy that gets to the desk first can pay," Sam stammered.
Dean spun on his heel heading for the checkout with Sam and his giraffe legs in hot pursuit.
Sam tried to brighten Dean's mood with a few quick smiles but Dean just looked away scowling.
Nothing's worse than the start of a road-trip with Dean in a foul mood. Life gets crappy enough without that!
Dean hissed in his direction, "Did you forget what day this is?! I wanted to be on the road before all the little monsters hit the streets!"
Neither of the hunters had ever really liked that holiday, but for Dean it was worse. Maybe it was the in-your-face idea of seeing children dressed as the creatures they hunted regularly.
One theory of Sam's, and his real favorite, had to do with the year the Impala was quietly parked, minding its own business, and was attacked with eggs and toilet paper.
Thank God it hadn't ruined the paint job or Dean probably would have 'hunted' the pranksters.
Five minutes later Sam shoved some money at the little old librarian and impatiently told her to keep the change as a library contribution. He had to rush to catch up with Dean, who was already shoving through the front doors. Hurrying down the sidewalk and nearly flying around the block, Sam was surprised to find Dean standing stock-still in the middle of a huge red "X" on a bare patch of curbing.
Breathlessly, Sam inquired, "Wassup?!"
Dean turned slowly looking stunned as if he just been kicked in the stomach, eyes wild, mouth gaping.
" What the Fuck!! The Impala!! She's. Gone!!!"