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Welcome to Sam and Dean's
YELLOW BRICK ROAD-TRIP
Prologue
-oOo-
It all began with the note. No one knew how long the note had been there, on the floor. The best anyone could figure was that it had been delivered at some point within the previous three weeks. That's how long it had been since anyone had any reason to pass that way. The paper that the message was written on was tissue thin, possibly once white, but now coloured various shades of brown. And when the note was, at last, spotted and retrieved from the dusty floor, there could be absolutely no doubt at all that the note was extremely important. The giveaway was in the first word which, in large, hurried looking, hand written lettering, simply read:
HELP!
-oOo-
C1
-oOo-
Whistling happily over the smell and sound of plump sausages sizzling in a pan, Dean Winchester, fearsome Hunter and sausage sizzler extraordinaire, didn't hear the hurried footfalls signalling the imminent arrival of his younger brother Sam Winchester, also fearsome(ish) Hunter and most definite worry wart extraordinaire (according to Dean anyway). Entering the kitchen, Sam had to raise his voice above the sounds of breakfast being prepared in order to gain his brother's attention. When Dean glanced back over his shoulder towards his over-sized brother he was smiling. A smile that fell away when he saw, first, the angst on Sam's face and then a thin sheet of something rather like tissue paper clutched tightly in his hand. Dean turned back to gaze fondly at the sausages, silently making them promise to wait for him, as he turned the heat down under them in order to focus on whatever it was that had somehow managed to get Sam's boxer's in a knot this time?
"Ok, I'll bite. What's got you so wound up Sammy?"
Sam waffed the delicate sheet of paper in Dean's general direction.
"It's a note. From Charlie and Dorothy. They need help. They're in a tight spot, and they need us to go get them out."
Without a word, Dean held out his hand for the note. Putting it down on the kitchen counter, Dean smoothed over the crinkles in the paper as best he could without tearing it, and began to read.
HELP!
We're in trouble. We're being held prisoner in the tower
of the Magenta Mage (No really, that's what he's called)
I know it was dumb to get caught but hey, even you two
screw up sometimes! A brave little squirrel is carrying this
note to you. If he has made it, please give him some nuts
and then come get us. He'll show you the way.
Your friend, Charlie xx
P.S. Bring chocolate. xxx
-o-
Dean turned to his waiting brother, his expression in neutral, his tone casual.
"You've read this?"
Sam nodded.
Dean scanned the note again, then returned to overseeing the sausages.
"You ok goin' to see if Squirrel Nutkin want's to join us for breakfast?"
"Um...Sure."
Sam hesitated, then thought better of saying anything else, such as How am I supposed to open the door? Dean seemed to need some time alone to think. Sam duly wandered out of the kitchen again and began making his way back to the door where they had once stood saying goodbye to Charlie as she left with Dorothy, now an adult, when the woman returned to whatever life she lived in the land of Oz.
-o-
Arriving at the end of the corridor, Sam's pace slowed to a standstill. Shoving both hands in the pockets of his jeans he gazed down at the fairly innocuous door. He hadn't got the vaguest idea how he was supposed to get it to open up into the Land of Oz, and he couldn't quite believe he was even having to worry about it. Yes, he'd waved goodbye to Charlie when she left, but even so...Oz? This had to qualify as one of the most bizarre things he'd set out to do in all his long Hunting career so far. Although, he decided, playing Prince Evenmore Charming in the Trickster's pantomime probably ran a very close second.** With a sigh, Sam began to walk slowly down the hallway.
(**Oh no. We're not? Oh yes you are! Multi-chap in canon case fic.)
-o-
As Sam got closer to the door, he heard a sound that was suspiciously like the snick of something being unlocked. He paused, staring at the door and waited, frowning when nothing else happened and sincerely wishing he'd thought to bring a dagger with him at the very least. Cautiously he began moving again, until he was finally standing uncertainly directly in front of the closed door. Holding his breath he listened carefully. Hearing nothing, his hand cautiously reached out to grasp the doorknob.
-o-
Dean plated the sausages and popped them in the oven to keep warm whilst he began to poke around inside various cupboards, hoping he could find something suitable to offer a small furry guest should they find themselves having one come for breakfast. He did feel a little concerned and uneasy about how matter of fact he realised he was acting towards the possibility of having to feed a squirrel. Did that signal that, for him, the abnormal had finally become normal and, if it had, what did that mean other people's normal everyday life was to him now? Feeling the beginnings of a headache, Dean tried to stop thinking, only to find himself thinking about not thinking, and his headache grew slightly worse.
"Dammit Charlie! You're gonna be the reason I go grey!"
The sound of running footsteps growing louder as the runner got nearer had Dean heading out of the kitchen doorway, and immediately throwing himself against the nearest wall to avoid the rat that was racing straight for him No, squirrel, not rat. Jeeze! Dean stayed flattened up against the wall as, feet pounding, Sam ran past and on into the kitchen where, already there was the sound of a plate shattering as it hit the floor.
"I got it!"
-o-
"No! Don't go in there! Come out you little..! Watch it, watch it..Crap. Get down here...Ha, now I've...buggerit...No, no, that's...Oh well, that'll teach you Oi! Gerroff! No nuts for you my friend if you don't...Stop that! Crap, crappity crap...Dean?...Comeback down here now! Oh...Well, that's just awesome! Oh...Ok...You like that do you? Good. Stop that, I'm getting you some...Right, are you goin' to behave now, Stinky?...And the same to you I'm sure...Here. Try eatin' out of a freakin' bowl and stop behaving like an animal...Oh Hell...Look at the freakin' mess you made!...Dean?...Dean? Youstill there?...Dean...?"
Sam's voice grew quieter the further away Dean took himself from the kitchen. It wasn't very long since he had been whistling happily over the sound of plump sausages sizzling in a pan. Now Dean Winchester was trying to figure out exactly why life so frequently decided to take the piss out of him? And why, when the Gods were bored, did they all decide to amuse themselves with him every time? And even more importantly, why hadn't he thought to bring coffee and a sausage with him? Dean quietly shut the door to his room and stood massaging his temple. I'm sooo gonna thank you for this Charlie, I swear!
-o-
A quiet knock on the door sounded whilst Dean was sat on his bed oiling a keen edged, not one for the tourists, eighteenth century Samurai sword, made and signed by one of the master swordsmiths, that Dean had gifted into his own care not long after moving into the bunker.
"If you're on your own Sam, come in."
Sam pushed open the door and Dean straight away glared at the floor area around Sam's feet.
"I hope Nutkin's still in the kitchen? This room's strictly off limits to all furry tailed rats, ok?."
Sam smiled.
"Ok. He's back in the kitchen having cereal. Not sure how much of an appetite squirrels have normally, but Brad sure was hungry. I brought you coffee and a sandwich."
Dean paused in his task.
"Brad?"
Sam shrugged.
"I thought he should have a name so I started at A and threw some at him, when I got to B, he seemed to like Brad."
Dean stared at his brother.
"Sammy. Look, I know you've always wanted a pet but, you do know you can't keep it, don't you?"
"Eat your sandwich. I'm not planning on keeping him. Dean, we're about to go to Oz. He's our squirrelly sat nav to the girls. If he wanders off I just thought we should be able to call him back. We stand in the middle of that place just yelling squirrel, who knows what could happen? You've seen the movie, I remember you watching it with me."
Dean shook his head.
"Dude, I think I saw the chick with the mop head style dog trillin' on about rainbows an' blue birds. Slept through everthin' else though...So, breakfast, pack and go?"
"I guess. I'd better get back to Brad, see what he's up to."
"You do that. Um, Sam? When this' over? We ever spend time with any other Hunters, The time I Went to Oz is not somethin' to share, right? I'd like us to keep what small amount of respect we've still got left amongst the rest of 'em. Agreed?"
Sam laughed. Dean got the distinct impression that his brother was looking forward to this.
"Agreed."
-oOo-
A.N. Those who know my stuff also know that I post new chaps quickly. However, this fic won't be a daily post as I'm also co-authoring another multi chap case fic with the wonderful and awesomely brave (for putting up with me) ncsupnatfanat the same time (whilst also stuck having to go to work & stuff). The joint fic is entitled "FREAKIN' FRIDAY" being posted by ncsupnatfan. Drop by and join us if you can :) Chick xxx