There was something up with my FanFiction Net last night so sorry this chapter got delayed.

A/N: Sam should have known patience and Dean don't mix. We'll start with Dean POV.

Love Express (Chapter 3) by frostygossamer

After ending his call with Jo, Dean noticed the time on the display. It was getting close to noon, and his stomach immediately took the hint and started to grumble. How much longer was Sam going to be? He could die of hunger. He really could. Was he actually going to go be with a guy who didn't care if he starved to death? He glanced at the junk he had piled around the steps. He could go get something to eat, only he would have to leave all his crap right there.

"Hiya, Dean."

He wheeled around at the sound of the woman's voice behind him. It was the super's sister in coveralls. Her brother sometimes put a little cleaning work her way.

"Hey, hot stuff," he quipped.

She was a cheerful, plump woman in her early sixties and she appreciated the hyperbole.

Scanning the junk on the sidewalk, she asked him, "Honey, you moving out or something?"

"Uh-huh," he agreed. "Heading off to sunny California."

"Ooh," she responded, with a grin. "Sun, sand and senoritas, huh?"

Pretty much what the guys at the repair shop had said when he handed Luis his notice. They couldn't have been more wrong. Dean had to snicker a little.

"Something like that," he answered, as she waddled inside.

Dean's stomach gave another angry rumble. He really had to get something to eat. It was going to be a LONG ride and he didn't want to have to stop for food too soon. They needed to get rolling.

"Dammit, Sam." Dean came to a decision.

Nothing on the sidewalk really mattered much to him, except one thing. He picked up his Dad's box and headed off briskly, anxious to find himself some take-out for the long drive.

As he hurried around the corner, he took out his phone and send Sam a text:

SAM. FOOD RUN TO REUBENS DELI. BACK IN 5.

~X~

Reuben's Express Deli was a favourite stop for the denizens of that part of town, a friendly family place owned by a single Jewish family for three generations. They produced the best kosher burgers Dean had ever tasted and some amazing subs.

"Hi, Dean," the current owner greeted his loyal customer.

"Shalom," Dean replied. "Your mom in today?"

The old woman came bustling in from the back of the deli.

"Shalom, Dean," she greeted him with a wink. "What can I do for you today, honey?"

Like all the women Dean met, this elderly matron had succumbed completely to his boyish charm.

"Sweetheart, can you make me up one of your extra-special sandwiches. I got me a long drive ahead today. You know everything I like."

The old woman grinned. "So I do, darling," she answered, smiling, and began putting together an enormous man-sized feast between two slices of freshly baked bread.

"Oh, and can you also throw together something awesome for a near-vegetarian health freak with an unnatural salad obsession?" he asked hopefully.

She chuckled good-humouredly. "I got some beautiful cheese, and homemade relishes you would sell your soul for. Don't you worry, darling."

After a minute, Dean began to fidget in front of the counter. She shot him a quizzical look.

"Need to be getting back," he explained.

"To the salad lover?" she asked, as she wrapped up his order.

"Uh-huh," he nodded. "We're going to California." There was something about this kindly old woman that made him want to come clean, at least to one person. "I'm, uh, we're gonna go live there... together."

She smiled as she placed his order in a paper bag with 'Reuben's Express' on the side and handed it over.

"Well, I hope you'll both be very happy, darling," she said.

Dean grinned as he settled up, and turned to go.

Just before the door closed the old woman added, "Tell her 'Gute mazl' from me."

"'Her'," Dean thought. "If she only knew, she'd throw a freakin' conniption."

~X~

Sam opened the door to Bar Barian's and walked in. The place was almost empty because it didn't serve food and, so near lunch, most people were someplace else that did. He approached the bar and perched on a stool.

"Can I get you something?" the barman asked, throwing his glass cloth over his shoulder.

"You seen a guy in here today about yay tall, spiky hair, green eyes, cheeky grin?" Sam asked.

The barman chuckled. "Sounds like Dean," he guessed at once. "And, no, he hasn't been in today."

Sam should have known that the local bars would be on familiar terms with Dean. He had already noticed that the guy drank way too much. It was a problem Sam was going to have to address in the future, as a loyal partner with his beloved's welfare to think about. Looking out for Dean's health was a responsibility that was going to come with the territory.

Sam sighed and stood back up slowly. The barman watched him, looking a little concerned.

"I'll tell him you were asking after him, if I see him. OK?" he offered.

Sam nodded and moved to the door.

"And you are...?" the barman asked.

"Sam," Sam supplied.

Then the barman had an idea.

"If you need to find him sooner, you might try Reuben's Express Deli along the block," he suggested. "I've seen him with their lunch bags."

Sam walked outside and exhaled loudly. OK, the deli was worth a try, but if Dean wasn't there he was going to have to assume the jerk-ass was in the wind.

"Goddamn ass-hat," he groaned.

Sam was learning that Dean could be a thoughtless jerk sometimes.

~X~

When he came out of the deli, Dean all but walked into a woman climbing out of a taxicab with a bunch of yelping yorkies. The tiny animals swirled around Dean's feet, almost making him drop his combined burden of John's box and take-out. Dean and little dogs didn't mix well.

"Hey, lady," he complained, attempting to keep his take-out above the reach of their snapping jaws.

The immaculately groomed brunette smiled at him ruefully. "Oh, I'm SO sorry," she exclaimed.

"No problem," he assured her, shooting her that sexy smile he hardly even knew he was using.

Dean couldn't help it. He was just so effortlessly charming around attractive chicks. It would get him in trouble one of these days. She giggled as she unwound her hungry little pets' leashes from around his long legs. Time was Dean would have given that hottie his number, but he had done that for the last time.

"See you around," she threw over her shoulder coyly, as she walked away.

Dean smirked. "Time was," he commented to himself.

Then he had an idea. Jo's place was only a couple shakes from there by cab. He could be there and back in no time. Sam would have to hang on till he showed up. Anyways, if the guy couldn't sit tight for 30 or even 60 more minutes, then maybe he shouldn't be even going with him to California.

Before he had a chance to second-guess himself, he jumped in the cab with his stuff and gave the driver Jo's address, the address that used to also be his.

In the back of the taxi he keyed in and sent Sam a second text:

SAM. QUICK DETOUR. BACK IN 15 TOPS.

~X~

Sam came out of the bar and cussed. He should have known Dean would get cold feet if he didn't have his hand held the entire time. Dammit, he should have spent the night with the guy, kept him sweet and on program, but he had had so many last minute crises to handle at WinchesterTech. He wasn't the kind of guy to just clear his desk and walk out dumping everything in Rachel's lap. They hadn't finished up till late, by which time Dean would have been asleep anyways.

Where was Dean and what was he playing at? He strode along the street in the direction of this Reuben's Deli. When he got there he grabbed the doorknob and stormed into the store. The owner and his mom hugged each other in fright. Seeing their shocked faces, Sam calmed down and held up both hands in appeasement.

"It's OK," he said. "I'm just looking for someone. Tall guy, not as tall as me, short hair, cocky attitude, face like an angel?"

The two nervous people sighed and let go of each other.

"I believe he must mean Dean," the owner commented to his mother.

The old woman nodded. "Dean was here, just now. In fact, you only just missed him. He seemed a little jumpy. He got in a taxicab outside and whoosh he was gone." She waved her hand.

Sam felt like tearing out his hair. Dean had gone who knows where and he probably wasn't coming back. He sank defeated into a chair and leaned on the table, head in his hands.

Feeling sorry for him, the owner's mother came around the counter and sat down across from him. She patted his shoulder soothingly.

"It's alright, darling," she said. "I think he only went to meet some woman."

Sam started to sob.

TBC

A/N: Poor Sam. He thinks Dean has split. If he'd just waited by the car... More tomorrow.