Enjoy the read. nc

Chapter 4

Dean saw Sam and stopped next of him. "You can get in the back now kid." he told her as he got out to open the trunk. Riley got out of the car and climbed into the backseat.

"And buckle up, don't need to be stopped by any cops."

"Here, I brought you some clean socks and your shoes." Sam told her handing them over the seat. She smiled slightly accepting the offerings.

Dean pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the interstate and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He decided the closest and safest place to go was Bobby's. Bobby was like a second father to them, he was who they turned to when they needed help. He hoped Bobby could help them sort this out.

"I got you some breakfast." Sam offered handing her a breakfast sandwich and carton of milk. She accepted the food from him laying it on the seat beside her. "Here Dean." he said handing him a sandwich and cup of coffee.

"Thanks, does it have extra meat?"

"Yes."

"Did you get meds?"

"Yes, I've taken some."

"Good." Dean ended taking a bite out of his sandwich.

Dean moved the rearview mirror to watch the girl. She slowly unwrapped the sandwich, looked it over very carefully, smelled it and then took a small nibble. She looked like an orphan in the wrinkled, oversized clothes. Her hair was coming loose from the braid and framed her face making her look even younger.

Sam glanced back at the girl and watched her nibble again at the sandwich before carefully folding the wrapper back around it. She laid it down beside her and sipped her milk seeming to enjoy the flavor. Sam watched her check how much she had drunk and resealed the bottle. It was like she was afraid to drink it all, that she was saving some for later. Dean looked over at Sam and Sam glanced at him, both wondering what her story was.

"If you want to eat and drink it all, you can, we can get more." Sam told her softly. She looked up into his face with suspicious eyes. "It's ok, really, go ahead finish them, they won't be good later."

She looked at the food and back at Sam before opening the milk to take another sip. Riley picked up the sandwich and unwrapped it to take another small bite. Sam shrugged at Dean and continued to eat his food while keeping an eye on the girl.

"We need to stop for gas soon." Dean commented glancing at the fuel gauge.

"Ok, there should be some stations up ahead." Sam said checking the map.

"Good, I need some fuel myself."

"Dude, you're a bottomless pit."

"So I'm hungry." he stated checking the road signs. He spotted gas at the next exit and signaled to exit. He pulled into the station and up to a pump. "Take her to the bathroom and Sam, don't let her out of your sight." he ordered.

"You want the usual?" he asked hoarsely.

"Of course." he replied getting out to pump the gas.

"Come on kid, you need to use the restroom?" Sam asked opening the back door. Riley got out and looked around quickly checking out the surroundings.

"Don't even think about it Little Sister." Dean said to her from behind the car. She glanced his way noting the frowning, sour expression and decided not the chance it.

"Come on." Sam whispered taking her small hand in his huge one seeing she didn't offer any resistance and guided her to the store. "He's not as mean as he looks or sounds." She looked up at his smiling face and twitched the offering of a smile to him.

He called her Little Sister, Riley thought. Why would he do that? They just met her, didn't even know her, but yet they were helping her. Her thoughts raced around in her mind as she tried to sort them.

Sam found the bathrooms and checked out the women's for escape routes before letting her go in. Riley started to lock the door, but Sam stopped her with a shake of his head. She sighed and went to a stall closing the door behind her. He heard the flush and water running in a sink. She opened the door and found him leaned against the wall waiting trying to control his coughing. Dean came in quickly searched out his brother and headed toward the back of the store.

"You go first, I'll wait with her." Dean told Sam as he guided Riley over to the side of the hallway. He made sure he was between her and the exit.

"Ok." Sam said going into the men's room. He was back out in five minutes nodding to Dean. "Come on, let's go get something to drink and munch on." he told Riley. Dean nodded for her to follow Sam watching to be sure she did.

Riley followed him over to the coolers and watched as he picked out a couple of drinks.

"Go ahead get whatever you want." he nodded to the coolers. She looked at all the selections and finally shook her head no and turned away. "Come on, you must be thirsty, now get something or I'll get it for you." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes and finally opened the door to get a bottle of juice. Sam smiled reassuring to her.

"Ready?" Dean asked coming up beside him.

"We're just getting something to snack on." Sam told him holding up some nuts, power bars, two apples and a box of Kleenex. He snagged a couple of pies for Dean and looked to see what Riley was picking. She started to pick up a small bag of chocolate chip cookies looking at Sam for permission first. "Do you want anything else?" She quickly shook her head no.

Dean headed for the car while Sam took the items to the cash register to pay. Riley trailed along behind Dean and got in the back seat without being told.

"Here you go." Sam said handing Dean a soda and the pies as he slid into the passenger seat.

"Great, pie!" he cried happily. Sam turned and handed Riley her food plus an apple. She accepted the food and curled up in the middle of the back seat to enjoy it. Dean looked in the rear view mirror watching her check the apple before taking a bite. Sam smiled weakly at her as he coughed into his hand.

"Buckle up Little Sis." Dean reminded her as he started the car. She looked down and found the end to pull across her lap and latched it. There it was again, Little Sis, she thought.

"Is she asleep?" Dean asked him quietly.

"Yeah I think so." he said looking back at the girl who had slumped over. Sam took off his jacket and folded it for a pillow. He slipped the juice out of her grasp and laid the jacket down in the seat for her head. She jumped in fright as he carefully pushed her down. "It's ok kid, just making you more comfortable." She laid her head on his jacket taking in his smell and went back to sleep.

"Is she acting strange to you?" Dean questioned his brother.

"Like hording food? I had to force her to get a drink and snack, she's skin and bones."

"You think she was starved, maybe mistreated?"

"Or maybe not enough money for food?"

"I don't know, maybe she'll tell us after we get to Bobby's and settles down. Did you notice her eyes?"

"What about them?" he yawned.

"I don't know, it's like they can look right thru you into your soul, I swear I saw a glimmer in them." he said shaking his head. "Probably just the light."

"She seems so alone and vulnerable."

"Wonder if there's any one out there looking for her?" he mumbled more to himself than Sam. She looked so innocent laying in the back seat he thought glancing back at her.

"How long 'til we get to Bobby's?" Sam slurred slightly.

"Couple of hours or less."

"Want me to drive?"

"Nah I'm good, had my caffeine and pie fix, besides, you're in no shape to drive my Baby. Did you take drugs?"

"Yes." Sam huffed and blew his nose.

"You sure you don't need more?"

"Bite me." he grunted. "Think I'll try to nap." Sam coughed slipping down in the seat and getting comfortable. He started snoring softly, letting the familiar motion of the Impala rock him into slumber like it had so many times before.

Dean checked Riley again thinking back on the times the back seat had been their bed too. The Impala, his Baby, had been their home while growing up. The green army figure was still stuck in the ash tray in the back and he could still hear the leggos rattling around in the vents. He was sure Sam was going to cut a finger off when they carved their initials on the ledge in back. And it still was, he didn't think that would ever change.

Thanks for the reviews, I hope you like the road so far and will continue the journey with me. I'm still working on chapter division, hope it's not too confusing. NC