Title: Inadequacies and Stolen Memories
Summary: Dean shows he's got a soft side that Autumn is weary of. Darcy and Sam find that werewolves are a little on the romantic side. Will decides to woo Athena by recreating an event from their past the meant something to him.
A/N: Hmm well I did promise this even though I hate it and think they've completely gone out of character. The next chapter it Darcy/Sam if anyone has ideas for Will/Athena I'm TOTALLY open here. If someone wants another pairing just e-mail me and tell me who you want and I'll write a little oneshot for you. Major thanks to Poisonchik and Seer who've talked me through this fic.
Autumn rolled over pulling the warm bare body next to her closer. It was only a matter of seconds before the alarm went off and they were forced to rise and shine. But these were the most precious moments of the whole day. Not awake or asleep. Not night or day. Dean kissed her hair, running his fingers through red locks when she nestled her head into his chest. They both soaked up the perfection of right now, because as soon as the alarm went off they'd be hunters again.
"I'm going to shoot that thing some morning." Dean threatened getting up and turning off the nuisance. He shuffled off toward the bathroom invoking their morning ritual. Autumn lingered in the bed for a few minutes before joining him in the shower. It seemed like no time before they were on the road again they'd get home after midnight if they kept a decent pace.
While Autumn wrote in a notebook on her lap and made phone calls, Dean went over his plan again. Sam and Athena would keep Aut busy all day, Teenie would prod her into dressing up for dinner, all while he got things in order. He even had real cash to pay for this venture. He knew how much she hated the money scams. How he'd landed a girl wild enough to keep up with him and tame enough to keep him in line was beyond his thought.
Dean was up and gone before she'd woke up but she didn't waste thought on it. The Impala needed an oil change and wax, their supplies needed refreshed, things needed done. John-dog was gone too so the two were probably close by. She brewed a pot of coffee, making breakfast. The aroma drew Athena and Sam from their room and out to the kitchen.
"Where's the dork?" Athena asked sitting down.
"He went out," Sam yawned. "Early too."
"Hmm." Autumn put the plates in front of the younger two before sitting down with her own making sure there was extra on the stove in case Will showed up, as he often did.
"Yes, sir." Dean nodded. He fully understood how much he was asking this late.
"If something opens up I'll call." The manager promised accepting the twenty Dean slipped him.
"Thanks." Dean turned on his heel and returned to the Impala. That was the third restaurant he'd tried and only had two more on his list. The fact that there were five to choose from at all shocked him. They were in the nowhere Montana they had no right to even hope for such a selection. He checked his list against the map and headed in the direction of his next stop picking up his cell to reserve a hotel room. Even if they could make the drive home tomorrow night he wouldn't want to. Call him selfish but once he had Autumn without restrictions he didn't want to return her.
The plan was a perfect Valentine's day. Not hunter perfect but perfect. The cheesy restaurant, expensive over done hotel room, and SHIT! He still had to acquire the flowers, lilacs her favorite, and the bracelet. There were three pieces of jewelry his mother always wore. Her wedding ring, a cross necklace, and a bracelet his father had given her when they were dating. The ring and necklace were buried in her plot. But Mary's bracelet was in a safety deposit box nearby. John had sent him the key, only after they'd shared a long conversation. Longer than any talk he remembered with his father. Dean wasn't aware they had so much to say to each other or how much the Daemons meant to both of them.
Tomorrow was going to be a big deal. He felt as if his life hung in the balance which scared him. Dean Winchester is many things but romantic and needy don't make the list and now he was acting down right girly. Autumn had better appreciate this even if it were the worst night she ever had. Not that it would or even could be. Dean knew even the smallest gesture would suffice, which might be why he wanted to go all out. Tomorrow had to be big because it was his first attempt at this sort of thing. It had to be big because he had a lot to make up for.
"Where is it!" Autumn's growl was followed by a lot of swearing and the sounds of her room being torn apart.
"I should check that," Athena told Will peeling herself off his lap.
"Just leave her be," Will instructed but before he could add anything else Autumn stormed in mad as a wet hen.
"Have either of you seen my bullet?" She asked her fingers clutching at the silver bullet that was no longer there.
"No." they both responded. Autumn growled again returning to her room. She had to find it, there were only two reasons she took it off, showers and sex. It freaked Dean out and though he wouldn't say it he preferred her without it. He was more prone to cuddling when she didn't wear it to bed. Autumn chewed her lip ripping into the sheets on her bed . She couldn't remember the last time she took it off, she hadn't showered since they got home, so that meant she took it off when they got in at the motel. She ran for her phone and keys.
"Where are you going?" Athena asked worriedly.
"Back!" Autumn shouted over her shoulder clearing the porch steps and nearly getting taken out by a sleek black Impala.
" Good way to become a speed bump." Dean teased getting out of the car. "Where's the fire?"
"Rafe's necklace, I've lost it." Autumn said once again reaching for the amulet against her emotions.
"Oh," Dean looked her over. "I'm just picking something up from Jen, then I have to run some errands I'll be a hour or so away from the motel I'll stop and check. Why don't you stay here?" She looked unsure a moment before nodding.
"Okay, but soon as you know if its there you have to call." She demanded. Dean took several steps toward her to take her face in his hands.
"Of course, Aut. I've got this." He kissed her soundly before going to retrieve the key from Jenny. Autumn didn't think to ask to go with him until he'd already left, a fact he was pleased with. There was no way he'd have been able to come up with a lie she wouldn't see through. He still wasn't sure if he liked that she saw through his lies or not. It could be helpful on the job but off it was only going to get him in trouble. Like when he lied saying Billy-Jack hadn't called while she was in the shower, he was doing it for her own good. That man was only going to pull her back in and that wasn't good for her or his girls.
Autumn couldn't sit still so she did what she always did when she couldn't sit still, she trained. Running until her legs felt like rubber, shooting until her arms couldn't hold the gun any longer, a hot shower to ease her aching body before taking Scarlet in for a full body work over. The Mustang was polished, waxed, tires rotated, oil changed, cleaned out, and tuned up all before time for dinner. Dean still hadn't called and she wasn't all that hungry so she tucked her cell in the pocket of a tight and roughed up pair of jeans before going to take a shift at the bar. If nothing else the other hunters would distract her.
"Excuse me?" Dean called walking in the door of the motel office. The clerk was the same as when they checked in and gave him a slight grin. "I was just here and my girl left"
"Used silver bullet on a rope?" the little foreign man inquired.
"Yeah, do you have it?"
"One of my cleaning girls found it, you'll have to talk with her." He reached for a walkie-talkie and called for Resa. A Hispanic accent replied and he told the woman to come to the office. Rather promptly a brown eyed woman came into the office.
"Si?" She inquired of her boss.
"This man is looking for the necklace you found."
"You said I could keep it," she nearly pouted.
"It belongs to my girlfriend, it was a gift from her brother." Dean lied. "He died a few years back, and when she realized she'd lost it she just fell to pieces. I had to drive all night to come back here and get it."
"I don't care mister, if she was careless enough to leave it behind she doesn't really care." Dean's blood boiled, where the hell did she get off talking like that about Autumn? "Tell ya what, I'll give it back," she paused a cruel smirk playing across her lips. "For a price."
"What do you want?" Dean nearly growled. The man behind the desk scurried into the back out of the line of fire.
"Fifty bucks." She said flatly.
"Ten."
"Fifty."
"Fifteen."
"Forty-five."
"Twenty." Dean said roughly. He didn't like this game, ever, and it was really starting to wear on his nerves. He shouldn't have to pay for Autumn's necklace at all but fifty bucks was way too much, not that he wouldn't pay it.
"Thirty and that's as low as I'm going." Dean forked over the cash and she handed him the necklace from in her pocket. He checked it over making sure it was in tact before digging out his phone and calling Autumn on his way to the Impala.
"Did you find it? Where was it? You okay? Nothing happened? Dean? Why aren't you answering?" Autumn asked all in a rush as she answered her phone.
"I found it, you forgot it at the motel, no problem." Dean chuckled.
"Thank you." She sighed in relief.
"You can thank me when I get home to you," he teased.
"Of course! There will be plenty of thanking." She agreed a sly mischievous tone to her voice that told him she was smirking. He could practically see her leaned against a wall, boot lifted off the ground so she could bounce it against her prop. He knew exactly how her long vibrant red locks fell by memory.
"We have a hunt yet?" He asked to distract his own mind.
"Not really, I've talked with a few people, things seem quiet right now. A little too quiet honestly, something will happen soon. You want I'll get on finding us something so we can take off when you get back." she offered. A beep told him he had another call coming in and he checked it to see it was his number one restaurant calling him back.
"Nah, lets sit still a little longer. The kids could use the rest." He told her. "Aut, I've got to go another call coming in."
"Okay, be careful, Dork."
"Always am. See you in a few hours babe." He switched over to his other call. "Hello?"
"May I speak with Mr. Mackey?" a timid female voice asked.
"This is him." Dean responded.
"Hello, Mr. Mackey." The voice smiled. "This is Cherri from Isabella's. I was just calling to confirm your reservations for tomorrow night."
"Yeah?"
"Yes, sir. Two for seven o'clock. You may want to arrive a few minutes early it takes a moment to get seated. We're very busy on Valentine's." Cherri offered him a piece of advise.
"Sounds great." He agreed triumphant.
"Good, we'll see you then."
"Thanks." Dean snapped his phone shut dropping it on the seat next to him. This might all turn out well.
"Hey Dork." Autumn greeted soon as he walked in. She was half asleep on the couch a book propped up on her chest and eyes lazily flicking over the words.
"Hey babe." He smiled moving to kiss the top of her head dangling the necklace in front of her face. She eagerly snatched it up tying it on before turning to him and dragging him into a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
"It wasn't a problem, Aut. Now lets go to bed, I'm beat." He didn't dare say she looked tired, Will had made that mistake with Athena who informed them all that tired and old were one in the same.
It didn't exactly take begging to get Autumn to bed and the rest of the night, even the next morning was uneventful. It was just after lunch when Jen approached with a hunt. Werewolf close by, seeking immediate attention, usually would have sounded great. Autumn insisted on discussing the matter with both Jen and Dean in depth before Dean explained that they had plans and someone else would have to take care of the hunt. Darcy and Sam jumped on it, any chance to skip out on the love fest that was the Daemon-Winchester cabin was well worth the risk. The younger duo left as quickly as they could pack Darcy's car leaving Dean to explain his plans.
Autumn had been abnormally quiet all day. She seemed so lost in her own thought that it was cause for worry. Dean was used to her slipping off into her own little world, she'd come out with some insight or saying something that made no sense to him. It was part of her writing process as far as he understood it, but this as a different sort of lost in thought. There was a pain in her eyes that made him want to go back to Ohio and beat the tar out of Billy-Jack because surely some Valentine's incident with the man is what caused her heart ache today.
"What'd you mean we have plans?" Autumn asked as she trailed him back to the cabin.
"You trust me?" Dean asked only to receive a 'duh' look. "Then do as I ask." Autumn looked as if
she'd refuse his simple request a moment before nodding. "Go get a shower and put your hair up."
"Ponytail up or fancy up?"
"That bun thing you did with the little curl thing down the back of your neck." She was obviously even more confused at this but obediently went for the shower. While she was in there Dean pulled out a dress he'd seen in her closet, and imagined her in more than a few times. Then came the fun of pressing his suit.
"Let me," Athena stopped him as he swore at the iron who'd once again burnt his fingers. She showed him, though he barely paid attention, how to iron a suit. "Here, I've stolen one of Will's ties." She said offering him a silk tie that matched Autumn's dress. "Its more fitting and a change from that black one." she shrugged her explanation. She hovered a moment before turning, "I'll assist the make-up department."
"Go easy on that junk." Dean warned causing the younger girl to laugh. "I'm serious Teenie."
"Yeah, yeah. Has anyone told you you're adorable lately?" She asked leaving him to change.
"Am I allowed to ask questions yet?" Autumn asked as she found Dean waiting for her in the living room in a suit.
"No," he answered taking her in. She was beautiful and didn't even realize it. "Come on we're going to be late." He urged holding out his arm to wrap around her as they made their way to the Impala. On the back seat was a bag he'd already packed with their things and it didn't go unnoticed by her.
"Is this why we couldn't take that hunt? You wanted to drag me off?" She asked clutching that stupid silver bullet.
"Autumn, that's a question." She rolled her eyes sinking into her seat as he pulled out. Dean hid a smirk as he drove along. "You may as well get happy its going to be a drive." Autumn didn't respond other than to turn on the radio, in full sulk mode. He wondered what else was going on, usually one missed hunt wouldn't be such a problem for her which meant she wanted a distraction. He flipped through all the recent events trying to spot one that would be the cause of her distress and came up empty. It took a hour to get to town and another fifteen minutes to find the restaurant when he parked Autumn just stared at the glowing lights of the 'ISABELLA' sign in wonderment.
"What've you done?" She muttered getting out of the Chevy.
"I thought, it might be nice to celebrate Valentine's this year." He told her awkwardly. She glanced in his direction and he caught the mixed emotions there. He'd learned to read her nearly as well as she could read him. "Is that okay?" She smiled at him, the sort of 'I'm going to be daddy's brave little girl' smile he only saw her use when near the Mortons.
"Yeah, its great." She nodded and allowed him to lead her inside. A willowy woman seated them by a window overlooking the 7th hole of the golf course next door. She offered them menus before leaving and Autumn studied it for a long moment before looking up to see he wasn't having much luck with much of the French on the page. "McDonalds is easier." She teased.
"Aut," He warned he really wanted to pull this off without a hitch but she didn't seem as up for it as he'd expected.
"Here," she came around to lean over his shoulder and translate what little she could. She knew more about these types of restaurants from her dinners with the publishing companies and such that she dealt with for her 'real' job. It didn't take them long to settle on the most innocent sounding dishes on the menu and move to the wine not that either liked the looks of that either. "Bottle of Jack would be nice."
"I was thinking more like a long neck." She laughed.
"Dean, you know this wasn't all necessary. We could have stayed home and done something."
"By something you mean research or train or played under the hood?" Dean prompted and she looked away from his eyes as she so often did when she thought she was being scolded.
"I don't do romantic Valentine's days, Dork." She admitted and before he could question the waiter came to take their order which Autumn easily reported to the man. "So at what point tonight do I break out the holy water?"
"Aren't I allowed to do something normal?"
"Sure, but this isn't normal this is the product of watching 72 straight of romantic movies." She argued.
"What do you have against Valentine's day anyway?" He asked. Autumn chewed at her lip her knee bouncing under the table. "What did he do?" She must have been reliving some memory of Billy-Jack the way she was acting.
"It wasn't him." She told him as if she could read his mind. "I told you about my dad right?"
"You mean killing himself?" She didn't meet his eyes again but nodded.
"On my parents anniversary. They were married on Valentine's, Dean." Suddenly all his plans sounded horrible. He should have taken her on a hunt, or teased her as she bloodied her knuckles under the hood of one of the cars.
"I'm sorry, I didn't-" She looked up with a bright smile he hadn't been expecting and stole his words from him.
"You thought you had to make up for Billy-Jack didn't you?" She asked with a teasing tone to her voice. She seemed to truly enjoy how tortured he'd become over all matters Morton. He averted his eyes this time playing with is napkin and she laughed leaning over the table revealing more of her cleavage than he liked to be revealed when they were in public. When it was just the two of them clothes were entirely optional in his opinion but when his eyes weren't the only ones who could see her he wasn't so impressed, he knew what was on other men's minds. "Oh Dean, never think you have to fix his mistakes." She reached for his hands stopping their fidgeting.
"What you said in Georgia, with Teenie's runt, though," he finally looked into her face finding those hazel eyes waiting for his. "About being afraid of me. Being afraid I'd turn into him."
"It's a completely irrational fear, you and I both know that." She assured him not that it helped. He had this drive to prove he'd never be her first love, that he would never hurt her like that.
"But its still there." He mumbled and she squeezed his hand.
"Its like any other scar. It'll always be there to remind me of where I've been and what I've done. Its there to teach me what not to do next time, long as your patient with it I won't let it get in the way." Patience wasn't his strong suit, he'd lost his patience so often with Sammy and it got him in hot water on hunts too often, least before Autumn showed up to keep the waters manageable.
The conversation took a lighter turn then and soon their meals arrived and he found they were both enjoying themselves. She attempted to regale him with tales of previous suitors go's at this perfect Valentine's thing. He hadn't been aware that while she was at college there'd been a man who had been rather persistent that Kit ended up dispatching of. For every story she'd tell he'd add one of his own, dates and random hook-ups leaving out the rather obvious endings of any that took place after high school. When the check came he paid without hesitation promising her there was still more to their evening.
The hotel room reminded him of their room in Vegas, the same heart shaped bed with red silk sheets. It was over done and the blood red of everything was enough to drive the sanest vampire mad. The bellhop saw them in and Dean tipped him while Autumn wandered toward the widow her slight gasp alarmed him but soon as he saw what lay beyond the curtains he understood her reaction. They had an amazing view of the mountains, definitely breath taking and despite the frosty nip to the air Autumn threw open the balcony doors and stepped out to better take in the moonlit sights.
For a moment Dean was caught between slipping up behind her, taking he in his arms, or he could present her with Mary's bracelet. The later idea was more fitting, he'd have all night to hold her however he pleased. He'd kept the velvet jewelry box inside his jacket all night waiting for the right moment and here it was. He checked to be sure it was still there riding against his chest before striding out to her. She looked up at him and he was stunned briefly by the way the starlight reflected in her eyes.
"You know you've not done half bad, just promise me next time you won't repeat the date."
"That I can promise." Mostly because he never planned on being in the dog house so badly as to need this sort of night and it wasn't very Autumn-like to want it. "Aut," he reached inside his jacket and she went wide-eyed with fear backing against the railing.
"Dean Winchester that had better be a gun you're about to pull on me." She warned.
"What?" he couldn't have been more confused.
"Winchester, if that's a certain piece of jewelry that comes with a particular question you'd best save us both the trouble and leave it in your pocket."
"No! No. No. No. Aut, that's not what this is. I don't want to marry you." He clarified had realization dawned on him.
"Yeah that's so not a kick to a girls ego." she muttered and he gave a flustered sigh.
"That's not what I meant either."
"So you do want to get married?"
"Yes…No!…Would you shut up for a second here? I'm trying to do something." folded her arms over her chest and fell silent as he pulled the box out. "See too big for a ring." He showed her. "Mom never wore much jewelry, but she used to wear this all the time." He opened the box to reveal the thin gold tennis bracelet. "Dad says you're much as daughter to him as he ever expects to have, and I know gold isn't your thing. You like silver better. Its definitely more useful in our line of work and-" His rambling was cut off by her lips against his.
"Would you shut up for a second?" She asked with a laugh.