Mandatory Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. I do own Tyler and Ron.
Dean felt a distinct sense of déjà vu as he watched an angry Lisa march away from his park bench, dragging a reluctant Ben. He let out a deep, shaky breath and dropped his head into his hands. He could still see the look in her eyes, but as much as it haunted him, he couldn't take his words back.
"Hey, uh," a hesitant voice startled Dean out of his pity party. He looked up to see Peter Pan, who was apparently on break, holding out a piece of pie. "I don't know what you got yourself into, man, but I remember you talking about this pie earlier, and I figured it might help a little."
The man had a slightly awkward air that reminded Dean of Castiel, but considering the circumstances, he figured that was appropriate. He smiled ruefully and accepted the pie, but just to be safe, he muttered, "You're an angel," and watched for a reaction.
Peter Pan laughed. Yeah, not an angel then. That was probably for the best, although Dean couldn't help but feel disappointed. He really was all alone now.
"No, I'm a lost boy," Peter Pan was saying. Dean vaguely remembered something about the movie that meant that this was funny, so he laughed along with the other man.
"Uh, do you want to sit down?" he offered, motioning to the rest of the park bench.
"Absolutely! Do you know how hard it is being on your feet all day?"
Dean nodded. "Of course, I'm pretty sure I'm not welcome back to her house, or even on the car ride home, so that might be changing."
Peter Pan nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean, man. I'm Tyler, by the way." He held out his hand, and Dean shook it firmly. "I came here when my parents kicked me out, but there was no love lost there, you know? I'd been living with them since my high school girlfriend dumped me, in college, for this new kid. I guess they decided my time for mourning was over," he laughed.
Dean laughed too. "Nice to meet you, Tyler. I'm Dean, and my girlfriend just dumped me at Disneyworld, taking my son away with her. I dropped out of high school, so, you know, I guess that counts for something."
Tyler laughed again. "You know, if you're really looking for a job, I could put in a word with my manager. You see Jackson over there?" Dean looked where Tyler was pointing and saw a very tired looking Captain Hook.
"You mean Hook?" He wasn't sure whether to be repulsed or attracted by the role.
"Yeah. He's, um, on his last leg, so to speak."
"Pirate pun?" Dean guessed.
Tyler winced. "Unintentional, I assure you. The truth is, he just doesn't really like kids, and he's not good with them at all."
"That's why he's Captain Hook then, right?" Dean asked, not seeing the issue. "I mean, that's sort of part of his character, isn't it?"
"That's the part they aren't supposed to see unless they ask for it, though. There are very specific rules, you know. It's not all make-up, sunshine, and wishing on stars. We have contracts, we're supposed to be likable people, you know!"
Dean shrugged. "I mean, if you ask Lisa, she'll tell you just how likable I am. I really don't think you want to do what you're implying, man."
Tyler smiled. "He's honest, intelligent, and funny! It just gets better and better! I mean, tell me, Dean, what do you know about keeping kids happy and comfortable, or making them feel safe?"
Dean stiffened. This was not something he wanted to discuss with a random stranger! "Are you sure your 'Peter Pan' isn't influencing your opinion of, uh, Johnson, was it?"
"Jackson," Tyler corrected, "and of course not. You're missing the point of being Captain Hook. He's not there to scare kids. Half the kids who meet him are already scared out of their minds! Villains are here to help children face their fears, to prove that the evil in this world can be defeated! Don't you see? There's so much more to being here than just playing a part. You are an influence on a child's life. You are the first fear they faced, or the worst thing they've encountered. You are that first trial they overcame, or that memory they'll reflect on for a third grade writing prompt. Sometimes, you're the one who can look at the teenager and tell them, 'Don't go there.' This place isn't just for kids, Dean."
Dean sat for a moment, absorbing everything he'd just been told. "But why me?" he finally asked.
Tyler smiled. "You avoided me earlier when I asked about your experience with kids, which tells me that you have some, and that it was very important to you. Am I right?"
Dean nodded, then realized that it was his turn to contribute to the conversation some more. "I have a little brother," he started, then stopped. This was still far too fresh, and besides, what else could he say? I've really missed him since he was possessed by Lucifer, beat me to a bloody pulp, and then took control and jumped into a pit of Hell? I took care of him while our dad killed vampires, demons, and angry spirits? "He's, uh, he's gone now. Accidentally got in the middle of a fight that wasn't even his, and I was too late." It was so close to the truth that Dean felt his throat tightening as he tried to say the words. He cleared it forcefully and looked at his sympathetic listener, hoping his eyes weren't giving away his current emotional status.
"I, um, our dad was never around much when we were kids. Our mom was killed in a, uh, house fire when Sammy was just a baby, and he never really got over it. We moved around from motel to motel, you know, and he was usually gone, so I took care of Sammy. That was always my job, you know? Keep Sammy safe. Take care of Sammy. But in the end," his voice cracked, and he shoveled a bite of pie into his mouth to hide his tears.
Tyler sat there quietly for a moment, giving Dean some space. When Dean glanced back up, he smiled. "What's a villain without a tragic backstory? Seriously, though, you could have such a huge impact on so many kids just because you understand the inexplicable weight of having too much responsibility, too young."
"Inexplicable? Is that even a word, college boy?"
Tyler smirked. "I wouldn't know. I dropped out, remember? It sounded good, though, so I'm going with it. My point is, you're relatable, Dean! You're approachable, but you could also be intimidating and scary and everything that Captain Hook is. Just think about it, okay?"
Dean nodded and swallowed another bite of pie. "Where would I live, though? I'm not exactly local, and even if I were, I just got kicked out, remember?"
Tyler smiled. "And now, to unleash my secret agenda all along! I'm actually looking for a roommate to help split the rent on my apartment. You could stay with me. As a matter of fact, you can even crash there tonight, regardless of your decision. I get that it's a totally crazy time for you, so don't rush your decision."
Dean stood up slowly, stretching his legs. "Actually, I think I'll take the job. I'd rather be working than looking for work, even if it means I have to wear a permed wig and a ton of guy-liner. You're a good guy, Tyler."
Tyler smiled. "My break's almost over, but I'll introduce you to my manager before I head back. I'm glad you agreed, Dean, you'll fit right in here!"
"Alright, just let me toss this plate, and you can lead the way," Dean agreed.
As Tyler led them down a path, Dean took a minute to process what had just happened. He, Dean Winchester, hunter, had agreed to work at Disneyworld. As Captain Hook. He was going to be an actor. "Sonuvabitch!" he muttered.
"What?" Tyler asked, chuckling a little at the random expletive.
"It's just, I always used to tease Sammy about wanting to be an actor, or doing a school play, and look at me now!"
"Fate, am I right?" Tyler smirked innocently.
"Oh, don't get me started," Dean muttered. "She's a bitch if there ever was one, but she gets the job done."
"That's why people don't mess with her, man. Just let it all play out, you know?"
"What, unless you're some uber-powerful, supernatural being that can change history?" Dean asked sarcastically.
"Exactly," Tyler laughed.
Wow, Dean thought, this is going to be interesting! "So, how much farther to this office?"
"Not far," Tyler assured him. "Hey, besides your girlfriend and son, what would you want to have with you here? I know, it's random, but there's just been too much heavy stuff already, so I wanted to have a chance at a semi-normal conversation. It's kind of the equivalent of what do you like to do, I guess."
Dean shrugged. "I mean, I'm going to have to go get my Baby, of course. Yeah, I'll have to tell this manager of yours that I can't start until next week. I can't stay here without Baby. Hell, Lisa barely managed to convince me to vacation without her in the first place!"
Tyler stared him. "Uh, who is 'Baby'?"
"My car, man." At Tyler's visible sigh of relief, Dean decided that he didn't want to know where Tyler's mind had gone. "She's a beautiful, sleek '67 Chevy Impala. Honestly, man, nicest car you've ever driven, you know? Not that I'd let you drive Baby, of course. Nothing personal, but Sammy always said I was too overprotective of her."
"I can understand that, man! Do you do all the work on her yourself?"
"Ain't nobody else touching my baby!" Dean shot back indignantly.
Tyler smirked lightly, then nodded. "So you're a mechanic too, then?"
"I guess you could say that. I mean, I know my way around a car."
"This gets better and better, Dean! It's going to be awesome working with you!"
"I don't have the job yet," Dean reminded him, laughing, as they finally came up to the door of the office.
"You can stop worrying about that, then," came a new voice from just inside the door. "Come on in and introduce yourself. If you've got Tyler's personal recommendation, there's not much else to even talk about. I'm assuming you're here to take over the job of Captain Hook?" he continued as Dean stepped into the dark office and let his eyes adjust to the light.
It was a small room, he noticed, but for a "bare necessities" kind of person, it worked out alright.
"Yes, sir," he answered the shadowy figure behind what he was pretty sure was a desk.
As his pupils dilated, he could tell that it was, indeed, a very cluttered desk. The person coming around the desk, however, was a middle aged man in a button-down shirt. Dean got the immediate impression that this man belonged at a law firm rather than an amusement park, but then he realized that he was actually getting a "nice" vibe from the man and dismissed that thought.
"I'm Ron Myers. Good to have you aboard," he held out his hand, letting his welcome trail off slightly.
"Dean Winchester," Dean gripped the offered hand, "and thank you, sir."
"Please, call me Ron!" he insisted.
"And call me Dean, of course," Dean returned.
"Wonderful," Tyler interjected, "you guys work out the boring things and I'll go make some afternoons magical. Meet me when the park closes and I'll show you where we'll be most of the time before we head back to my place, alright, Dean?"
Dean nodded. "Sounds good, Tyler. Thanks a lot, man!"
Tyler nodded and ran off, his red hair glinting in the bright sunlight.
Ron motioned toward the chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit. There isn't much to go over, really, but we do need to cover some basics. Like I said, a personal recommendation from Tyler Newman is pretty much a guaranteed job."
"He seems like a pretty great guy," Dean agreed as they both sat down, "and I'm glad he'll be around while I'm trying to figure this place out!"
Ron nodded. "Okay, down to business! Can you start in two weeks? I'd like to give Jackson that much notice, and you'll need to learn some basic lines." They talked through all the boring details, and agreed that Dean would start two weeks later. After a few signatures and another handshake, Dean found himself wandering the park again.
He was hoping to run into Ben, just to get a chance to say goodbye, but he knew Ben and Lisa were long gone. He replayed their fight in his mind, trying to understand, but there was no understanding.
For a moment, as he watched a young family laugh and pose for a picture, he felt completely and utterly alone. Sammy was gone forever. Bobby reminded him too much of being with Sam. Lisa was gone, and Ben with her. Cas had disappeared and hadn't been heard of since that awful day. Hell, even the demons were avoiding him. Was he really that bad? Was it really his fault that everyone left him?
Then he shook his head and pasted a smile on his face. This might be Disneyworld, but chick flick moments were still strictly prohibited.
He looked a family with all grown up kids instead, and the smile completely vanished from his face as his heart dropped clear out of his chest.
"Sammy?" he whispered, cursing his emotions. "Sam!" he called out a little louder.
The family stopped walking. "Sam?" the oldest man asked, "Do you know this guy?"
Sam looked at Dean and smiled. "Yeah, he's my brother. This is Dean, everybody. Nice to see you and all," he added in Dean's direction, who stood there completely shell-shocked, "but we're busy right now. Catch up later?"
Dean shook his head, trying to wake up from his stupor. "Yeah, sure, of course," he answered emptily, knowing even then that it would never happen. This couldn't be possible, could it? He watched Sam walk away carelessly, feeling like he was losing his brother all over again. The pain was ten times worse, and he found himself falling onto the next park bench he came to.
Even though he knew it was futile, he found himself talking aloud. "Hey, Cas, if you've got your ears on, get your ass to Disneyworld right now. Sam's back, kind of; I don't know how, but if you had anything to do with it, you better fix what you messed up! Something's wrong, Cas. Come on, man, you have to help me out here."
He waited, but nothing happened. He shook his head. "I guess this is just another part of my 'tragic backstory' then. Man, they have no idea what they're getting into."
He stood and began to walk away when he heard a tell-tale rustle of wings.
"Dean."
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