As soon as Dean arrived back, they packed up their stuff and started driving to their next stop, he didn't really have anywhere in mind for them to go but he wanted to drive, it helped keep his mind off everything else that was happening in their lives right now. The car trip was full of tense silence that had been constant around them lately, even his usual loud music didn't help.
Watching Sam out of the corner of his eye he was concerned. Sam looked miserable, he hadn't looked this miserable since Jess died. He knew that probably most of that was his fault, the way he had been acting lately was really taking its toll on Sam and while he hated to seem Sam upset, he didn't know what to do to fix this. He was hesitant to get close to Sam again before he was sure that Sam would stay.
Each time Sam abandoned him the hurt got worse, last time had almost been physically painful watching Sam walk away from him and the life, and he didn't know if he could handle that type of pain again.
Watching Sam this miserable though was having a similar effect, he had never done well seeing Sam in pain or unhappy and now was no different. He had to do something to fix this and start opening up to Sam again but coming to that conclusion and knowing exactly how to fix it was two very different things.
Finally, they arrived at a nice enough looking town that Dean pulled over, it was only a little after mid-day, but he was sick of the tension in the car. The town was big enough that the would be able to get supplies and stock up the truck which was desperately needed.
Pulling into the motel dean went inside to pay for their room leaving Sam in the car. He booked them in for 2 nights so that they would have enough time to stock up and hopefully find a new case.
Sam had grabbed their stuff out of the trunk and was leaning on the side of baby and had a sullen look on his face. Opening his mouth dean tried to find the words that would make Sam feel better, he would do anything to wipe that look off his face, but Sam sensing his presence looked up expectantly. The only thing he managed to force out was the room number which he promptly turned towards trying to leave the awkwardness behind.
Opening the door for him Sam walked inside and deposited their duffels on the beds. Dean set about warding the room and laying down salt lines still trying to think of something to say to Sam. Sam was sitting on the furthest bed looking more and more dejected with each minute that passed in silence. They were both shocked out of their thoughts when deans phone rung loudly disturbing the silence.
"Bobby?" dean asked as a way of a greeting.
"Dean, is Sam there with you? I need to talk to you boys" he replied.
"yeah he's here" Dean replied as he walked over to sit next to Sam on the bed angling the phone so that they could both listen in at the same time. They sat with their arms and legs lightly touching and for the first time in weeks he felt himself relaxing. They had been this close since Sam had left, and he missed it, being close to Sam had always been the way that he reassured himself that Sam was safe, he hadn't realized how much he depended on touch for that. Sam also relaxed into the position letting go of some of the tension in his shoulders and pressing closer.
"I've been chasing the creature for years now. It settles into an area kidnapping people and keeping them alive for weeks feeding off them but first sign of a hunter in town and it kills everyone and leaves no trace behind. I can't go after it, the second I show up in town it will leave. I need you undercover, find the creature and kill it."
"Yeah sure Bobby, you know we would do anything for you" Sam replied but bobby continued like he hadn't heard Sam's reply.
"Given everything that's been going on with you guys lately I wouldn't have bothered you with this but given its current location, there is no one else with even the slightest chance of getting by unnoticed. So at least hear me out before you say no." sick of the cryptic messages that Bobby was feeding them Dean replied curtly
"where is it, Bobby?" There was a long pause followed by a sigh.
"it is holed up in couples retreat a day's drive or so from you boys." Bobby finally responded.
"couples retreat?" Sam questioned blankly "but surely there is someone else better suited to take the case. Neither of us has anyone to take to a couples retreat let alone a good cover for being there." Dean was confused, why would bobby want them to go undercover at a couple retreat. Maybe he wanted them to go in as activity mentors or guides or something.
"Bobby" he prompted when they nothing but silence from the phone.
"Alright, alright. It's couple retreat that is exclusively for gay couples. You two are the only hunters I know that could believably pass for a gay couple." Dean doesn't think he had ever been this shocked in his life. Bobby wanted them to do what?
Before he even had time to contemplate the question fully his answer left his mouth. "absolutely not" he shouted dropping his hold on the phone and leaving the phone to pace around the room. There were so many thoughts running around his mind that he couldn't make sense of any of it.
