Chapter Two.
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They exchanged a solemn glance before exiting the Impala and making their way across the yard to where Bobby's front door had been.
The last time they had seen this place the wisps of smoke had been rising like spectres from the wreckage but now with the ulterior damage done by the weather and abandon of the last few months, the sight before them was truly a pitiful one.
There was nothing left of the building apart from some black carbonized sticks of wood grasping at the air like black fingers, and a pile of rubble.
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Dean avoided looking at his brother knowing that Sam's eyes would be wide and moist and he had no wish to let his emotions come to the fore; Sam did that enough for both.
His little brother was no longer so little; in a few days he would be twenty-nine if Dean was gonna go by Earth years but neither he nor Sam really knew how to count those years any more. Did one add in Hell, deaths and resurrections? He wasn't sure, all he knew was that Sammy was born in 1983; this was 2012, so for him Sam in a few days would be twenty-nine and he himself had not long ago celebrated his thirty-third birthday.
They had never really talked much about the future for why bother if your life was on the line practically every day.
Sam had asked him once if he thought they would ever grow old.
His answer had been no, that they would die young blasted away by a random monster but deep in his heart Dean had hoped maybe that one day something good might come along for them, that maybe he and Sam would get to be brothers without anyone on their tail, just the Winchester boys and Baby.
At his tired sigh, Sam turned towards him.
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"Dean.." was the only word he managed to get out.
"I know Sammy. I know, " Dean cut in, clapping a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Come on man, let's take a quick look round although there's not much to see apart from the piles of old car carcasses."
Dean made his way across the wreckage of the house, his eyes now and then catching a glimpse of some metal object that had resisted the searing heat of the fire.
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"Dean," Sam called out excitedly. "Do you think the panic room is still intact?"
"Maybe. It was made of iron. It might have resisted the blast. Let's take a look," Dean replied.
They called up the lay-out of the old house in their minds.
"It should be around here, What do you think, Sam?"
"Yeah, there's about right. Gimmi a hand to clear away the wreckage, Dean," Sam said as he began to pull at the pile of rubble.
Before long the familiar fan that had been on the ceiling of the room came into view and the brothers peered down into the darkness below.
"We need a torch here, Sammy," Dean declared.
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The light allowed them to see down into the room.
"It seems intact," Dean announced as he moved the torch around. "The last piece of wood we pulled away covered the opening and kept most of the other rubble from falling in on it."
"Yeah,"Sam agreed. "But we're gonna have to dig out all the stuff that's fallen into the basement to get down and open the door."
"Well, that can wait, dude. Jodie's expecting us for dinner. We gotta find a motel and freshen up," Dean answered wiping his hands on his jeans. He looked over at Sam whose hands and jacket were covered in grey ashes, knowing that he was just as dirty.
Sam made his way over to the water-pump that Bobby had dug in the yard and washed the dust from his hands wiping them dry on his jeans.
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"Dean,you wanna read this now?"Sam asked quietly, referring to the letter they had received from the lawyer.
Dean pursed his lips and stared down at the ground."I don't know, Sam. I don't know if I want to hear what Bobby wrote."
He knew that whatever it contained would probably initiate another emotional moment and the sight of the burnt house had already affected him enough.
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"Dean," Sam replied softly, understanding his brother's resistance. "He left it for us. We have to respect his last wishes."
"If you say so , Sammy." Dean acquiesced unconvinced.
"Come on!" Sam added, his hand curling round Dean's forearm, pulling him towards the Impala. They slid up onto her hood and sat side by side. Sam opened the envelope, pulled out the folded sheet of paper covered in Bobby's neat handwriting and began to read.
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"Sam, Dean, if you're reading this it means that some critter finally managed to gank my ass. I hope you two boys whupped him real good for that!"
The brothers exchanged looks.
Dick Roman was still on the loose but it was only a question of time before the Big-mouths got what was coming to them. Roman had killed Bobby and he was going to pay.
Two pairs of green eyes hardened into slivers of ice as they contemplated that sweet inevitable moment!
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Sam lowered his head and continued to read.
"You'll know by now that I left you boys the house, the business and some cash in the bank.
Karen and I had started to put some money by when we married and over the years I added what some of the people whose lives and families Rufus and I saved back in the day, insisted on giving us.
Then although the spare parts business doesn't seem like much, it gives you a good enough living. I'm sure if the day ever came you two could make a real go of it. Well. It's all yours now. Do what you want.
I know that not many hunters get to retire but you boys are special. Never know what's in store for you. Maybe growing old gracefully is in the cards for the Winchesters after all!
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I never told you this but just before Karen got possessed and I had to kill her, we had a flaming row because she wanted kids and I didn't. If I'd known what was going to happen to her I'd have promised her a houseful."
Funny how things work out; Karen who wanted children so much never got to have them and I got to have two great ones. Yeah, I'm talking about you two idjits!
The first time John brought you here Dean was about six and Sam was this little tyke clinging on to him like a limpet. When John dumped you both on me I hadn't a clue what to do. Good job Dean knew all the ins and outs of child-care and well, old Bobby's a quick learner too!
All I'm gonna say is that you boys changed my life, turned me from a miserable old drunk into a happy one!
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Oh, it hasn't been all plain sailing. Two more stubborn and pig-headed idjits I've never met, always bickering and then ending up hurting each other when that was the last thing you intended to do, for I ain't ever seen brothers as close and loving' as you two chuckle-heads.
You boys need each other. Any fool can see that and as I'm no longer around to kick your dumb asses into line when you insist on doing something stupid, you just think on old Bobby and what he'd tell ya!
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Well, that's me said my bit.
God knows where I'll have ended up when you read this letter but I think Crowley's gonna be the lucky one that gets my ass. I did something when I was a kid that'll send me straight to Hell.
Well whatever. If that's the case I hope I never see you boys down there. There's been enough Hell in your lives to last for all eternity. If anybody deserves Heaven it's you two and don't you dare deny it Dean! I never met a person who thought so little of himself!
Your destiny is in your own hands boys and I don't have to tell you to do me proud, for I know you will.
Love you both,
Bobby.
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Sam hadn't bothered to wipe away the tears that had trailed down his face while he was reading and when he glanced at Dean he saw that his brother's eyes were filled with moisture, before he quickly passed a hand over his face.
"Dean.." Sam whispered as he folded up the letter.
Dean sniffed back a tear that threatened to slip out and pursed his lips before answering.
"What do you want me to say, Sammy? I loved the old guy too." he raised his eyes to meet Sam's. "We both did and he knew that. I miss him Sammy, I always will."
Sam just nodded , too choked up to speak. Dean turned to slip his feet to the ground but Sam's hand on his shoulder made him turn.
"Dean. I..."
Dean sighed as he pulled his brother into his arms. "I know we don't always see things the same way and we're both pig-headed like Bobby said but I'm always gonna be here for you Sammy."
He felt Sam pull on his jacket. "Promise me we'll go out together Dean. I don't want to be left on my own ever again!"
"I promise Sammy." He had no idea if he could keep his word, but he would try his damnedest.
He gave his brother one last squeeze then pulled away.
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"Come on Sasquatch. I've a feeling that if we're late Jodie is gonna be madder than a wounded bear. We don't want to keep her waiting."
Sam gave him a watery smile and folded himself into the passenger seat.
The brothers took one last look at the burnt house before setting off down the drive-way.
They would be back and they would dig out the panic room but first they had a date with Dick Roman and the Leviathans.
Dean pulled out Bobby's old flask, took a slug and handed it to Sam who took it almost reverently and drank.
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