Dean guided the Impala into the lot of the only grocery store in town, after parking he sat for a moment hands gripping the car's steering wheel. He looked out the window and noticed the rotting pumpkins and scarecrows that still lay scattered outside many of the storefronts. It had been a week since Halloween had ended and nearly two months since they had come to this town.
Dean had started school in his new town, expecting the same old shit. Not fitting in, boring classes and most of all having to bail Sam out of trouble. This year though things had actually gone pretty well. Sam had filled out some and was growing taller by day, this seemed to make people pause before, trying to mess with the youngest Winchester.
The other plus was that it had quickly become known that Sam and Dean were brothers, and the message was clear mess with Sam and you get Dean. There were very few at the school that were willing to take on Dean.
Yeah, over all things were okay. Sam was happy and god knows that made Dean and John happy. John was hunting, confident that Dean at seventeen was able to handle anything that might come up at home. And Sam was making friends and growing more confident every day.
Yep, all in all it had been a good move for the Winchesters. Until two days ago that was, that was the day that Dean and Sam had come home from school and found the message from their Dad saying he had found a hunt and would be gone a couple of days.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, this time though the wad of cash that usually accompanied such notes was missing. Dean had a small stash set aside for gas money and that was it. This was the second day in a row that Dean had spent eating nothing more than a bowl of Ramen Noodles, having left the rest of their meager supplies for Sam.
This morning Sam had complained after a small bowl of Cocoa-crispies, Dean knew he needed to find the money to buy more groceries. So he had left the apartment this evening with the intention of finding a pool hall or a game of cards somewhere. Unfortunately, in this one bar town, no one was playing for money.
So here he was in front of the store with exactly five dollars and twenty cents in his pocket, this was after ransacking the apartment and going over the floor of the Impala with a fine tooth comb. The worst part was that the Impala's gas gauge was edging ever closer to empty so Dean wasn't even able to buy five dollars of food. On things that were important to Dean, gas in the tank ranked above food in their bellies.
The Winchesters could go a while without food, but without fuel they were stranded and unable to get out if needed. So Dean mentally took his total down to two dollars. Two dollars to feed the frickin' bear he currently lived with. What would that do, a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter, God Sam would have that gone tonight.
Dean sighed and got out of the car, stalling wouldn't increase the money in his pocket. As he entered the store he grabbed a basket and began going thru the aisles. He found himself hoping to find something more substantial than bread and peanut butter.
As he turned down the last aisle he noticed a young girl pushing a cart full of food in front of him. She looked to be about Dean's age, and seemed somewhat familiar. He took in her neat appearance and her long honey colored hair; her skin still held a summer tan and her eyes were a deep brown.
She turned as Dean was checking her out and smiled a little nervously at him. Dean felt a moment's contrition; this girl didn't deserve to be leered at everything about her screamed good girl. From her long black skirt to the grey sweater she wore, including her body language everything screamed stay away. Dean simply nodded and moved on, not looking to make her uncomfortable.
As Dean made his way to the check out with his jar of peanut butter and loaf of bread, he noticed the girl get into line behind him. As he paid and the check out girl took his money, two dollars and thirty-nine cents, Dean quickly fumed; the girl behind him spoke to him.
"Hi, you go to Lake Park High don't you? You're new right, I've seen you around." The young girl stood slightly to the side of Dean.
Dean turned to face her and smiled "Yeah, I thought you looked familiar."
The girl smiled again and said "How do you like it here so far?"
"It's been good I guess my kid brother's in heaven here. Apparently, he's been searching for geek central for years and it turns out they've all been hiding out in this year's freshman class." Dean said with a slight grin.
The girl smiled more broadly, all traces of fear gone from her eyes. "Yeah, I'm a junior myself and I've made it a point to avoid the freshman class this year." The girl nodded towards the clerk that was waiting to give Dean his change. "Well, it looks like you're all set."
Dean nodded and accepted the change from the cashier, as he picked up his grocery bag he found himself smiling again at the younger girl "I'll see you around." He gave her a small salute and headed out the door.
Dean got into the Impala, stashing the brown paper bag on the seat next to him, as he looked back towards the store he noticed the girl exiting the building. Dean waited for a moment as she loaded her groceries into an old Nissan Sentra, he waited a moment longer for her to start her car and leave the lot. It was only then that he started the Impala and headed back to the apartment.
As Dean entered the apartment, he called out to Sam and laying the bag on the table he headed for the bathroom intending to wash up. Minutes later as Dean left the bath he noted Sam standing over the grocery bag, that Dean had brought home.
Sam was pulling items out of the bag one by one, Dean could only stare in amazement. "Dean, you got cheese and salami, Man I haven't had a sandwich in ages." Sam said as he began gathering the necessary items to make one. Sam stuck another hand in the bag and pulled out a plastic bag of apples, he quickly untied the bag and added one to his plate. As Sam sat and began eating Dean couldn't help reaching into the bag to see what else was in it.
On top of the Cheese, salami, and apples, Dean removed a box of spaghetti and a small jar of sauce. At the very bottom, though was the oddest item of all, it was a bag of peanut M&Ms, Dean's favorite candy of all.
Dean stared in confusion at the food spread before him; he would have assumed it was some kind of mistake except those M&M's kept tripping him up. What were the chances that the girl behind him in line also, likes the small colored candies? It couldn't be charity, the girl didn't even know him, and there was no way she could know that he was down on his luck and hungry.
Dean finally shrugged, oh well it beats trying to steal the food, which had been his next idea. This way Sammy got to eat and child services didn't get to send Sam to a group home. Yep, thought Dean as he finished his sandwich. No reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Sam sat at the diner's table and waited for Dean to return from the bathroom. As he did he noted a bottle of Jose's finest hot sauce at the table. An evil grin alit Sam's face when the waitress brought out their order. What the hell thought Sam; he can only kill me once.
Dean returned the table and noticed that his food had already arrived. "Thank God, I'm starving." Dean said to Sam as he sat. Dean noticed that the waitress had made a mistake and given him a bacon burger instead of the plain one that he had ordered. Dean grinned, nothing like a little bacon to bring a burger to life. He would have said something to the waitress but hey, there was no reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.
As Dean raised his burger to take a bite he noticed Sam's wide grin, Dean patted himself on the back for making Sam so happy. Dean was glad to see that Sam was looking forward to reaching their destination.
As Dean took his first bite, the heat in the sandwich didn't even really register. It was only after he chewed for a moment that he realized his mouth, lips, and throat were on fire. He quickly swallowed, and grabbed for the soda that sat in front of him. His eyes were pouring tears and his nose was running, as he coughed and tried to drink away the pain, he noticed Sam doubled over with laughter.
Dean swore in that moment that vengeance would be sweet.