Drastic Measures
Finding a car to hotwire had been the easy part, facing Porter would be the hard part. After trudging through the cold Sam had settled on a decent looking 2002 Ford Rancher left all alone in Rusty Tin Inn. Fiddling with the heat knob Sam decided that some people needed to work on their business naming skills. Sam let out a sign of relief as the heat kicked on, and began throwing trash into a plastic bag and depositing it in the rusted trashcan outside room 227. The Ranger was a grey with white and red stirpes. A combination Sam was actually quite pleased with. As the doors closed he rolled the windows down despite the cold deciding he would rather chill a little longer than deal with the lose of his senses. Taking a breath Sam turned onto the highway, hand out the window, radio on FM country, bathed in the glow of a setting sun. He chuckled to himself at the freedom he felt knowing it would not last long. As he hit his grove Sam's mind drifted back to the first time he met Porter…
He had just left Stanford hitching rides and hopping on the greyhound bus having decided to find Dean and Dad. Finals had been particularly bad and support was no where in sight. In fact, he felt as if he was suffocating and knew the only one who could save him was Dean. So, on the spur of the moment he made the choice to hunt them down and beg on his knees to be able to come home. Yeah, school had not been going well at the time. Jess still had not angelically stepped into his life. Too many nights of crying alone had finally lost their luster. Therefore, he ended up sitting at a two-bit gas station in the middle of nowhere twenty bucks to his name having no clue what to do next.
A cracked sign above the gas station declared 'Cordova Rampart Petrol'. Cordova Rampart? What kind of name was that? Straightening his very rumpled jacket Sam took a look around. He was clearly on main street which consisted of the gas station, bar, inn, and a few little shops - looking worse for the ware. A few streets marched off lined with small clapboard houses, almost like a trailer park. Carefully maintained flower pots adorned every available corner, and a stained grain elevator rose toward the sky only a few blocks in front. Most of the 'towns' population must live outside in the country.
First, he needed to get more cash, and hustling pool was not a great idea in such a small community. He would be rated out before he could walk out the door, plus his escape could not be made quick enough. So, he needed to get money the honest way. Someone around here had to be willing to pay him for a job- just enough to get some crackers or bride a ride with. The moon was making its appearance and the bar would be his best bet. In a town like this it was bound to have every inhabit inside. Slinging his bag over his shoulder Sam headed for the bar his shaggy hair and tall frame swaying in the wind. His hazel eyes peeked around him taking in the shadow's, hackles rising at an odd uncomfortable feeling as his hand slipped over the doorknob and pulled. Letting laughter and a golden glow chase them away.
Sam almost rolled his eyes when every head turned at his entrance. Muttering sarcastically under his breath he said, "I so did not expect that…" as he slid onto a bar stool in the corner.
The customers casually went back to their drinks eyeing him warily as if he was somehow dangerous. Many of them were clearly old farmers who had seen better days. The place was small consisting of the bar, the couple working behind it, and five tables in front. A door behind the bar led to the kitchen, the one behind Sam to the bathrooms. After a moment, chatter heightened once more about the corn prices and what little sally was up to now. An older woman her brown hair speckled with grey above her oddly cheery smile and emotionless eyes headed Sam's way.
"Whatcha be wanting son?" She leaned against the bar absentmindedly cleaning a glass.
Sam took a moment to compose himself with the most responsible look possible, "Actually, mam, I was wondering if I could earn my drink," she raised an eyebrow, "I am on my way home from college to visit my father, but all I had went to tuition and his care. So, I was wondering if there were any jobs I could do for a few days just to earn some cash for food and a bus ticket or paying someone for a ride." He looked at her sweetly praying she took him as innocent and sincere. He noticed the man behind the bar had sidled over at the women's beckoning. He had grey hair and a beard covering scrutinizing eyes. The mans big and burly arms leaned on the bar eyeing Sam as if testing the truth of his statement.
Carefully she set down the glass and folded the rag eyes never leaving Sam, "Well, aren't you a gentlemanly fellow. Seems to me your scrawny enough to be harmless, and your too academic looking to play us. Very well, you take an apron and work the rest of tonight and all day tomorrow and I will pay you. Tonight, after the jobs done you come with my Frank and I to our place outside of town. I set you up in the loft. How does that sound?"
With a smile of relief, I took her hand, "Deal Mrs.…"
"Margret, hon, names Margret." She grinned and handed me an apron. Tying it on and placing himself back behind the bar Sam got to work. They watched him carefully as he worked his legs off. More town people arrived and all of them took a large interest in him, but Sam chalked it down to small town gossip.
…Sam turned off the engine as he pulled up outside Fernando's Café for a bite. He still cringed a little at how naive he had been back then. As he thumped into a chair he pondered what might have happened if he had continued trying to get back home. Jess would still be alive, even after all the years her death still stung. Placing his order Sam drummed his fingers on the table ignoring Deans call- he will call a million more times anyway. Besides, it was peaceful to just sit alone with no guilt trips or distractions. Just him and the open road. Sam might have been a bit drunk on the feeling, but he refused to be pulled down. As the food was set before him and his fork was raised Sam remembered the meal at Margret's that night and a certain shy little boy who barely said a word…
