Hi everyone, here is my first try at a SN story. I'm imagining this part as an opening scene, maybe even before the main title. Set up and all that.
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The noon sun glints off the hood of a familiar Impala as it drives through another sleepy main street of another nondescript town. Slowing to find a spot to park they pass an overcrowded antique store, a bustling café with a sign advertising an 'open mic night' and smoothies, a tiny bar with 'Foxtrot' in neon lights above its door and on the corner, a pizza parlor. A few teenagers on skateboards race past on the sidewalk as Dean backs the Impala into a spot.
Sam opened his door first and stepped out. He tugged on his shirt and ran his hands through his hair fastidiously trying to get it to cooperate. The all night drive left him feeling a mess but at least he could try to look presentable. Gazing past his reflection he looked into the pizza parlor and his empty stomach rumbled loudly, 'how long has it been since they had a meal that wasn't purchased at a 'Gas and Go?'' he wonders.
A waitress rushing past the window draws Sam's attention. She stops at an elderly couple at a small table holding hands. Watching as they lean over to each other and share a gentle kiss he is momentarily drawn to their obvious affection. 'It will never be you', turning away sharply his stinging eyes betray him, 'it will never be you'. His mood is thankfully brief as Dean bowls past him to open the door to the pizza parlor. "No olives this time" he bellows. "I hate olives. I'm not playing Sam".
"Woah" Dean say spinning about as he sees the hustle and bustle all around them.
"Hea-vy" Sam replies smirking earning him a eye roll from Dean.
The decor is a haphazard attempt at a 1950's theme complete with fake vintage posters advertising Coca-Cola and Lucky Strike.
A boy behind the register, who couldn't yet be 18, notices them and holds up his fingers to signal '2'. Dean nods and boy comes around the counter, grabbing menus on the way. Following slowly behind they cross a red and white tiled floor that has seen better days. As they pass an empty booth Dean spots a newspaper left behind and quickly snatches it up.
Sam slides into the booth and nods politely to the server as he hands them their menus. Waiting for him to be out of earshot he turns to his brother, "Dean this doesn't look like a town being terrorized by demons. This barely looks like a town."
"Well looks are deceiving Sammo". Dean flashes the headline of the paper to Sam, 'Missing librarian makes 5 this month'. Turning the paper over he begins to read the main story. Eying the upside down headline Sam studies the faces of the five missing people, two women and three men. 'Different ages, different races, different jobs, no obvious connection between them.'
Drawn by the sound of clicking heels Dean looks up as a petite African- American waitress walks over. Her natural hair has been pulled into two pom poms, which makes her look much younger than her age. " Welcome to The Pie Zone, I'm Rosie, what can I get you?"
Dean's flirtatious mind can't help responding, "What do you recommend?"
'Another one…' Rosie tilts her head to consider him. "Why pizza of course". 'The tips the thing Rose, and…' she thinks as she looks him over 'I've had worse'.
Sam, not in the mood to humor Dean's flirting right now, pipes up with "We'll have the vegetable harvest pizza and".
Turning swiftly back to Sam with a look that could peel paint, Dean interrupts. "HALF-vegetable harvest and haaaaalf….". Holding up his hand in Sam's face he blocks his attempts to interrupt. "Meat-eaters Heaven, oh and two Colas"'
Dean smirks at Sam as Rosie retreats to place the order.
With scarcely a sound, but the shuffle of a trench coat to announce his arrival, Castiel walks over to their table.
"Nice of you to show up." Dean grumbles, moving over to make room.
"It took longer than I expected to find this town, it's not on my map and I had to stop for directions three times." Castiel replies flatly before taking the seat offered to him. "However I met a very nice cashier two towns back who offered me a discount on DVD's."
He slides a DVD in an innocuous black unmarked case across the table to Sam. Sam opens it and blanches before passing it across the table to Dean who looks over and cracks a smile at the title scrawled in marker on the blank DVD, "Disco Sexcapade II".
"I'll take that for later" Dean says as he stashes it behind him.
With an extra strut in her step Rosie returns with their drinks but stops a moment before putting them down to address the newcomer. "And you sir, can I get you anything?"
Casting a side eye towards Dean as she hands him his drink she is only half listening to Castiel when he asks for a coffee. Before she can suggest anything more Sam quickly interjects. "He's full, big breakfast".
"Yes, I'm full" Castiel reiterates looking from the Sam back to the waitress. He then pats his stomach mimicking a large man at the table across from them.
"O-kay then." Rosie mumbles under her breath as she walks away casting a wink at Dean as she turns.
Grinning ear-to-ear Dean notices both Sam and Castiel staring dourly at him. "What?"
Ignoring Dean as he blows the paper from his straw at his face, Sam turns back to Castiel. "Any word on Lucifer's kid?", but by Cas' expression he already knows the answer.
"No they have proven… elusive" Castiel replies, his eyes downcast. Studying the table he finds a sudden interest in the Formica. 'Invented in 1912 it was…he blames me, he should blame me, they trusted me' the familiar mantra repeats.
He closes his eyes, but it doesn't help, he can still feel the weight of Sam's piteous look. 'Worse still', and yes there it is waiting for him when he opens his eyes, 'another fake smile'. Looking down at the hands of his host's former body he reflects on his behavior.
'Is this what the actors in those prescription drug commercials call 'depression'? Or is this feeling disappointment due to my lack of progress and limited abilities? I have so much to learn. How do you tell the difference? Should I ask Dean or'
Noticing Castiel's mood Dean picks up the paper; 'gotta get his head back in the game'.
"Hey, read this." He swats Castiel in the arm with the folded paper and drops it in front of him.
A genuine smile spreads slowly across Dean's face lighting up his eyes as he sees Rosie returning with their food and Castiel's coffee. "Now that is a thing of beauty" he whispers under his breath.
"Demons. " Castiel mumbles to himself as he scans the front-page story.
Rosie raises her eyebrows at this and catches Dean's eye.
Smiling back, with a little extra enthusiasm to cover up the mistake, Dean captures Rosie's attention. "I'm thinking we are gonna need a place to stay tonight." Leaning as far forward as he can without landing in Cas's lap he says "Beautiful, what do you recommend?".
Placing their orders down Rosie pauses to think a moment before replying, "This time of year all you've really got is the old lady B&B half a mile down that way" she points "and Kings Motel on Lincoln. Third left off Main, can't miss it."
"Kings huh…sounds like my kind of place."
"Maybe I'll stop by later" Rosie says as she absently plays with her necklace. As she leaves the bill she slips him a small piece of paper, it reads 'for your eyes only'.
As Dean watches Rosie saunter away he bites his bottom lip and turns to his brother. "Mmmm I love this town Sammy".
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Thank you for reading, I welcome helpful critiques and reviews. Massive thanks to my beta Etimere T whose story Alone Together is beyond awesome.
I love the show and this is my way of being part of that, so don't trash me too much.
Next chapter coming soon.
XOXO
