Old Wounds Cut Deep
The sun rose over the trees as they drove into town. Sam's snoring and the coffee were the only things keeping Dean going as the lack of sleep was weighing down on him. Sam had offered to drive for a while so Dean could rest, but he was too stubborn to agree. Leftover fast food containers sat in the back of the car. Luckily, Sam hadn't asked for such a pricey breakfast, but they had fast food for each meal on the way there.
He squinted as the light entered the car. Dean flipped down the visor so the light wasn't as harsh. Dean could hear Sam move his head as his hair rubbed against the seat. He raised the cup of caffeine to his lips and took a big gulp. It had already gone cold hours ago but was still working which was more than Dean asked for. The last drops slid into his mouth and he tossed the cup out the window.
Cape Girardeau came alive as they drove through. Buildings rose up on either side of the vehicle and people started leaving their homes for work. It was a nice town with plenty to offer. The perfect place to raise a family. Dean shook his head wondering why the thought even crossed his mind. The sun hit Sam's face rousing him from his slumber. "Mmmm where are we?" he said drowsily. Though they didn't have any more coffee, Dean handed him a soda hoping the caffeine inside it would help wake him up. Even though the thought of drinking soda in the morning wasn't a welcome idea, Sam still gulped down some of the soda.
"We just got into the city," explained Dean staring ahead. Sunlight warmed up the car causing Sam to roll down his window. It was to be a warm summer day. Unfortunately, they had both packed nothing but clothes meant for late fall and winter. "A good morning welcome, isn't it?" joked Dean as his brother was blinded by the sunlight.
Coming up on the right of them was a small cafe. The smell of fresh bakery wafted into the car causing both of their stomachs to stir. As much as Dean wanted to get to Cassie's, they couldn't fight off evil on an empty stomach. Furthermore, they were due a reprieve from the confines of the car, and the smell was too enticing to ignore. Sam could read his brother's mind and quickly pulled out one of their many credit cards. Dean pulled over to the side of the road and Sam leaped out from the hot vehicle. Dean dispensed some change into the parking meter and the two headed into the building.
The smell was more powerful inside and caused them both to start salivating. Everything from pastries to donuts to muffins and pies filled the menu and there were plenty of drinks to choose from. They waited in line for their turn. Once at the counter they were greeted by a young girl, most likely still in high school. Her name tag said, Brooke. "What would you two like, we have a special drink just for couples." The two of them sighed. It was unbelievable how many people thought that they were a couple.
"We're not a couple, we're brothers," said Sam just as exhausted of this occurrence as his brother. Her face went red with embarrassment and she was quick to apologize to the two. They both ordered coffee then Sam ordered a pastry and muffin while Dean ordered an apple pie. "Go figure," mumbled Sam. The two picked a table to wait for their order. "So where should we look for her when we're done?"
Dean thought for a moment before answering. "Well she's dedicated to her work more than anyone I know so it's possible she's at her work, but it's equally as possible that she's at home resting since she tends to work late nights," said Dean. Their food was brought to the table and Sam started nibbling at his muffin while Dean dug into the pie.
"We should try her home first and then head to her work," said Sam. He agreed. The two continued to enjoy their meal while Dean grew more agitated. There was a possibility that she wasn't at either and instead out chasing a story. If they didn't find her, he didn't know what he'd do. The only thing he could do was pray.
After a few minutes, Dean pulled his car into her driveway. It was a small, one family home perfect for her tastes. Dean was relieved to see her car in the driveway indicating that she was both home and safe. The duo climbed out of the car and walked up onto the porch. "How come I have a feeling that she won't believe us?" said Sam in a sour mood. He was still moody from the being woken up the other night and the car ride all but made it worse. On top of that, the car was an uncomfortable place to sit and sleep for extended periods of time. Dean feared that he was right but knocked on the door all the same.
They were met with a pair of brown eyes staring at them. Curly dark brown hair stuck out every which way indicating that she had just woke up, which probably wouldn't help them much. "Sam! Dean! What a surprise!" At least she wasn't irritated with them. She leaned against the doorframe. It had been a while since they saw her. After they last saw her, she readily believed in their job. Hopefully, she'd be more willing to believe them. His heart pounded in his chest when he saw her.
"We have something important to discuss with you, may we come in?" asked Sam. She smiled and let them both in. Sam nudged Dean in the ribs to get him going. He had forgotten how to move his feet for a moment in the happiness to see that she was alright. They stepped into the house and went to the living room. Cassie followed them and took a seat in an armchair. It was worn down with age, but clearly, it was her favorite. No doubt, it's where she stayed when she got home from work.
Dean took a deep breath. "A few nights ago I had a dream where you were in danger, something had attacked you." Cassie chuckled. It didn't faze him since Sam had a similar disbelief.
"Well as you can see I'm fine you two, you don't have to worry about me." She said standing back up. They both looked at each other worried which caused her to sit back down.
Sam continued from where Dean left off. "The place where you were was the Dennis Scivally park, the same place where all those disappearances lead to." Her eyes widened and she seemed a bit concerned.
"You think that those disappearances could be something to do with your work?" she asked worriedly. Sam nodded and she leaned back in her chair thinking. They waited for her to think about it before she gave her reply. "Even if those incidents do have something to do with your work, there's a good chance that I will be fine so you don't need to worry about me."
Dean opened his mouth to protest, but the look she gave him stopped him in his tracks instantly. She was too stubborn to believe in them. She stood up and walked to the door opening it for them. "If you'll excuse me, I do need to get ready for work now, but I'll be happy to help you investigate the disappearances." The two walked out of the door and Dean turned back to her.
"Can you at least be more cautious, I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." Cass's eyes widened at his sincerity and, to his relief, nodded in agreement. She shut the door and Dean turned to Sam who was already leaning against the car.
"So we can go home now right?" asked Sam. Dean glared at him and he smiled knowing that there was no chance of them leaving with the disappearances still an issue. Sam slid into the car and Dean did the same. "We can keep an eye on her while following up on the disappearances," said Sam as Dean turned the key in the ignition.
"Before we do anything, we need to get a room and some rest." Sam couldn't agree more. The drive had been strenuous on both of them and if they were tired, their performance would suck. He headed off to the closest motel. A soft bed filled his mind. The first thing that night they would begin their investigation.
