"Dean, I really don't think this is necessary. I told you everything looks good. Every spell and protection symbol we put in place is working just fine." Sam rubbed his eyes, as the ache behind them intensified. All the way back to the motel he'd struggled with the decision to tell Dean about Sara's apparent Romeo. The last thing he wanted was to cause Dean more pain. Regardless of how much his older brother professed to want Sara to 'move on' Sam knew it was crap. His brother could deny he was hurting all he wanted but in reality, all it took was a single glance at his thin face and his shadowed eyes to know otherwise.
"Sam, just do it. I'm asking you, please? I need to be sure."
It was the 'please' that got Sam. Nodding his head, he dropped down at the small round table the motel provided and opened his lap-top. "I just don't get what I'm going to find that you didn't. You said you already looked into the town and it came up clean."
Dean shook his head as he paced the close confines of the room. It took his brother thirteen steps to go from the far bed to the one closest to Sam. Thirteen steps, Sam was certain because he'd counted the first thirty times Dean had trod that same path. His brother had been unable to settle to anything ever since they'd arrived back at the hotel.
"No, Sam. Dad always said you were better at research," Dean's words were said with conviction.
Sam rolled his eyes as he began his search. "He was full of shit," were the words he muttered, though, he was careful to keep his tone low. Dean didn't do well with any type of criticism aimed at their father, not even when the words rang true. Or maybe even more, Sam decided, when the words were true.
As he settled, scanning all the usual sites for anything out of the ordinary, Dean became more and more agitated. At last, unable to concentrate Sam snapped, "Dean, just go. I don't care where. Just give me some time to do what you asked."
Dean nodded in agreement as he grabbed his keys and his coat from the nearest bed. "You're right, I'm gonna take a look around town. See if I hear anything of interest."
Before his words were completely out, Dean was half-way out the motel room door. As he listened to the familiar roar of the Impala, Sam said a prayer of thanks and returned his attention to the screen in front of him.
888
Dean put the gearshift in park and sat for a moment. At last, with a sigh he removed his keys and reached for the door. The familiar creak sounded too loud in the quiet night of the parking lot. As he walked toward the hotel room, he found himself wondering if they should just leave. Just take off and put the call into Bobby that would send the older man racing here. He could take care of whatever Sam had found and it would allow Sara to continue with her life.
Continue with her life, well that hadn't taken long. Although he knew it was selfish he couldn't believe that she was already dating someone else. Regardless of the fact that he wanted her to be happy, the thought of Sara with someone else was enough to make him physically sick. He should be able to find some happiness in the thought that she was moving on, but that seemed impossible at the moment.
At least it explained why Sam had acted so off tonight. His kid brother must have seen Sara and the guy together and was wrestling with his conscious as to whether he should tell Dean. Little did his brother know that Sara's uncle had been only too happy to make it known when Dean had made a stop at his bar. At first, the older man had nearly run Dean off with a baseball bat when the hunter had first walked through the door. It was only Dean's assurances that he wasn't planning on contacting Pat's niece that kept the older man from taking a swing. After listening to Pat describe just how devastated Sara had been after he left town, Dean almost wished the old man had taken the bat to him.
He had never considered how hard it would be on her. So intent on doing the right thing, he hadn't allowed himself to think of the consequences. Now, here he was showing up in town just as she was getting her feet back under her. Dean blanched at the thought of what seeing him would do to her. His own pain he could and would accept, but he couldn't stand the idea of hurting Sara anymore. They needed to leave town and they needed to do it now. Dream or no dream, his being here was a mistake. Decision made, Dean put his game face back on and opened the door to the motel room.
As he walked into the dimly lit room, he sent his brother a grin. "So what'd you find?"
Sam who still sat in front of the computer held his hands out and shrugged. "Nothing. I told you I wouldn't. I checked the morgues, no unusual deaths, I checked the police reports, no unexplained accidents, I checked the hospitals, there's no mysterious illness or cases. I even went so far as to check the schools, Dean. There's nothing going on in Haycock, or any of the surrounding towns."
"Good, let's get going then," Dean said as he moved to the bed and began gathering up his bags. This was just perfect, on top of everything else he was going crazy. He'd really thought his dreams had substance, that he wasn't just suffering from leaving Sara.
The sight of Sam's eyebrows shooting up under his thick, dark bangs was nearly enough to bring a smile to Dean's face. "Come on, dude, haul ass."
"Dean, wait, I really think we should at least stay the night. It's after two in the morning, no one knows we're here and at least we can get some sleep."
Though Sam's argument was a good one, Dean ignored his brother. He couldn't stay here another hour let alone another night. He knew if he did, he'd seek her out, it was inevitable. Like a moth drawn to a flame, Sara and her family called to Dean making him ache to return to her. Now, in such close proximity knowing she was only a couple of miles away, that ache had grown. He didn't know how much longer he could stay strong. "Now, Sam."
Bags in hand Dean didn't bother to wait for his brother, he just headed out the door. He knew Sam well enough to know that he'd give in.
888
Sam cursed his stubborn brother as he struggled to get his shoes back on. He'd been expecting Dean to want to leave, but not in the middle of the night. He had yet to tell his brother about the strange man he'd seen and now he was out of time. Part of him hoped that if Dean knew there was another man he'd be able to find the closure he needed to get on with his life. Even though, that would mean leaving the Power's family behind, Sam could deal with it if it gave him his brother back.
The problem was, he couldn't decide if what he'd seen was real. If this guy was someone special to Sara or just another one of her mother-in-law's offerings.. The fact that she was being polite wasn't exactly a big scarlet A on her chest.
Then there were the dreams, what if whatever was causing Dean's dream was real. Sam's own experience made it hard for him to dismiss his brother's nightmares out of hand, despite the lack of evidence. He would never forgive himself if there was something supernatural going on and he simply hadn't been able to figure it out.
"Argh," he groaned as he gathered his duffle and headed out the door. All in all, the only thing he could do is buy himself more time. Problem was if Dean was determined to leave then leave he would. There was little Sam could do to stop him. Maybe though, Sam thought as he dropped into the passenger side of the Chevy, maybe he could stall him.
"Dean, lets stop and get a bite. I'm starving."
Dean turned toward Sam, one eyebrow raised and asked, "You're hungry."
"Yeah, what, I can't get hungry? You're hungry all the time."
Dean nodded and put the car in gear, pulling out of the spot he said, "I could eat."
888
This twenty-four hour diner was Sara's favorite place to eat. Sam tried not to think about it and he was sure his brother was doing the same. After ordering coffee and breakfast, Sam settled down to try and guilt his brother into staying for just a bit longer.
"You know, I was thinking."
"Should I alert the media?"
Sam blew out a breath and ignored his brother. "I was thinking that it was possible you're dreams might be signifying something that's about to happen. What if we're too early, what if whatever's wrong is still out there and headed for Sara.?"
The slight smile slipped off Dean's face as he nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I'm gonna call Bobby and get him to come on out here. He can keep tabs on 'em."
Sam nodded unsure of what else he could say. The more he thought about it the more he felt they should stay. Sara had seemed so completely devastated in that one unguarded moment, that Sam felt certain she wanted Dean back. His brother's scruffy beard and shadowed eyes were a testament to just how much Dean wanted to be with her. God knows Sam would do nearly anything to have his family back.
The brothers continued to eat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until Dean picked the check up off the table that Sam finally had an idea. Standing up, he grabbed his coat and said to his brother, "I'm gonna use the bathroom, I'll meet you in the car."
Not bothering to wait for a response, Sam took off toward the back of the restaurant. Luckily the bathroom door was near the kitchen access. His need for urgency over road any doubts. He'd worry about what he was about to do later, for now, he just needed to stop his brother.
888
Sam walked back through the restaurant surprised to see Dean still sitting. Actually, he had to admit he wasn't all that surprised. The brothers had learned they didn't do well when separated, in fact usually it was a recipe for disaster as it had led to Sam's abduction more than once and Dean's capture by Gordon. No it, really wasn't surprising at all.
Not bothering to comment on the fact that his brother had waited for him, Sam asked, "Ready?"
"More than, let's hit it."
They were halfway toward the car when Dean exclaimed, "No, no, no, no, no. Oh, god no."
"What's wrong?" Sam asked squinting a bit in the dim light.
"What's wrong, oh, god, baby," Dean said as he ran his hands over the glossy black hood. Dropping down on one knee, he reached a hand out to touch the obviously flat front driver-side tire. "Who the hell would do such a thing?" Dean questioned out loud as he looked at the rear tire which was similarly flat.
"It's probably just kids letting the air out of tires," Sam said trying to put things in perspective for his brother.
Dean's forehead came to rest on the deflated tire. "No, they stabbed the wall of the tire. It's ruined," Dean said as he ran a finger over the ragged cut.
"Well, you can plug them and have them filled right?" Sam asked trying not to sound too worried.
"No, if they'd punctured the tread I could have repaired it, but now I'm gonna need to get two new tires." Dean stood and turned from the car, his hunter's gaze seeking out every shadow as if to find the person that had done this.
"Huh, I didn't know that," Sam said rather weakly as he stared down at the ruined tires. Both wheels on the driver side had been obviously slashed.
"We're gonna have to start walking, Sam. There's no driving her." Dean's actions suited his words as he gathered his belongings out of the car.
"Aren't you gonna call for a tow?" Sam asked as he grabbed his jacket and his bag out.
"No way am I calling in some country bumpkin to tow my baby. I'll call Brian in the morning and have him flatbed it to the shop. Damn two tires, man." Once Dean was assured the doors were all locked, the two brothers began the walk back to the hotel.
"Why Brian, can't you have anyone tow it?" Sam really would prefer to keep Dean and Brian apart from each other. He didn't want the mechanic and long time friend of Sara's talking out of turn about Sara and the man Sam had seen.
"He's the only one in town with a flatbed. No way am I gonna risk having a wrecker pick it her up."
"What's the difference?" Sam asked as he followed his brother through the parking lot to the store lot that was attached to it. He really couldn't say that he cared about the answer. Except they had a four mile walk in front of them and it had gotten cold. Sam figured the wrath in Dean's voice, as his brother expounded about all the ways his car had been abused, would help to keep him warm.
"What's the difference? I'm telling you, Sam, some days I really have doubts we're brothers. A wrecker only lifts the front tires off the road, leaving the rear tires on the ground. Now with one of the back tires slashed that would ruin the rim. Replacing the tires with the mount and balancing costs is gonna run us over a hundred bucks a tire as it is. If I had to replace the rims that would set us back another $ 250.00 at least. And I could forget getting my hands on the originals, I'd have to sell you in order to afford a pair of those."
The tone of Dean's voice let Sam know he would consider doing just that if it were to come to it. "All you needed to say was it would ruin the rims, Dean," Sam muttered already bored with the 'Auto Shop for Dummies' lesson that Dean was giving him.
Dean threw his hand in the air and practically growled, "Ruin the rims? That's the least it might do, Sam. The Impala's an automatic, if I were dumb enough to have a wrecker tow her I run the risk of ruining the transmission. Do you know how much a new tranie would run us…"
As his brother continued his rant, Sam picked up his pace a little. He was beginning to realize just how much they were standing out. In a small town like this, two guys walking down the street at three in the morning were bound to draw notice. This was especially true when the shorter of the two men was now throwing his arms up in the air as he debated the differences between original and worked transmissions.
"Dean, quiet. It's three in the morning."
"I can't help it, Sam," Dean said his whisper closer to a heartfelt cry. "I've never just left her like that before, sitting in some parking lot, broken and abandoned. I'm gonna go back and wait in the car till morning." Dean had actually turned around and was walking the other way before Sam registered his words.
"Dean. No, you can't. Just get back here, we'll go to the motel and figure it all out."
"You two boys about done with your lover's spat. Cause some of the neighbors would like to get back to sleep."
Sam closed his eyes at the unfamiliar voice and dropped his chin to his chest. Shit, this was so not working out as he planned. At last, Sam turned and faced the officer that stood about six feet away. The man held a flashlight in one hand and was shining it at the Winchester's feet, his other hand was resting on his gun holster.
Hands held lightly in the air, Sam said, "Sorry, officer, we didn't realize we were being so loud."
Dean stepped up beside Sam and groaned softly, his hands were also held slightly in the air. "Car broke down, we were just headed for the hotel."
"And where did this supposed car break down, over at the Wagon Wheel?"
"No, sir, we were at the diner. Came out of the restaurant and someone had slashed her tires," Dean replied.
Sam could hear the effort his brother was putting into being polite, but he found himself wincing at Dean's use of 'her'.
"Her, huh? Well now, why don't you two go ahead and get into the squad car. We'll head on over to the station do a little breathalyzer test and then I'll take you to the motel myself if your story checks out," the officer's easy tone belayed the underlying steel in his voice.
Dean's voice matched the officer's, tone for tone. "We weren't doing anything, if you wanna play twenty questions and do a breathalyzer I've got no problem with that, but there's no need to take us down to the station."
"I'll take you wherever the hell I want, you got that, smart mouth?" the officer's voice was beginning to rise.
"Officer, please, we haven't had a drink all night," Sam lied knowing that his brother had probably downed a couple beers at the Eagle, Sara's uncle's place. "We were just passing through town and ran into a bit of bad luck."
"Okay so you're not drunk, you wanna tell me what's in those duffels? We've been plagued lately with a rash of robberies. You boys don't know nothing about that do you?"
Sam could see his brother tensing and he knew Dean was formulating a plan. A plan that would leave the policeman unconscious and Sam and Dean no longer able to show their faces in this town. Out of desperation Sam said, "Listen, in the morning we're gonna have Brian Reed tow the car back to his place. We'll be back on the road in an hour."
"Brian Reed, huh? You mind telling me how you boys know Brian?"
Sam saw the tension leave his brother's body and he took a deep breath. "We've visited this town before. My brother's done some work for Brian." Sam gestured toward Dean hoping he would remain cool. He shouldn't have worried. Dean was leaning slightly back on his heels, his hands resting at his sides, his expression calm.
"You know anyone else here in town? Anyone that would vouch for you?"
"Brian would—"
The officer interrupted Sam, "That's all well and good buddy boy, but Brian's away on a hunting trip. So, like I said can you give me any other reason not to haul you two down to the station until we sort this out?"
"We're friends of Sara Powers."
Sam's jaw nearly hit the ground in shock when Dean answered the man. His brother had done the unthinkable.
"Sara, now, you wouldn't be trying to put one over on me would you? Cause I'm gonna be checking your story and I wouldn't want to find out I called that poor woman and woke her up for no reason."
Dean waved a hand gesturing toward the squad car and said, "Have at it, the name's Winters."
As soon as the officer backed toward his squad car, Sam sidestepped closer to his brother. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, come on, Sam. What else can we do? We're stuck here if Brian's away. What'd you wanna do, escape this guy and then take a bus out of town, leaving my car and all of our weapons parked in the lot of the local diner? We're better off just facing Sara." Dean shifted uneasily before he muttered, "At least I hope we are."
"Alright boys, in you go. I spoke with Sara and she's gonna claim you." The police officer opened the rear door of the cruiser and gestured toward the car. "I was feeling gallant so I offered to drop you off, that way the poor little thing doesn't have to wake up those kids of her's."
"Shit," Sam breathed as he followed his brother toward the car.
