I do not own Supernatural
Chapter Four: Good Old' Home Comforts
They sped off into the night, leaving the flaming home and truck behind them. Sam drove carefully, fully aware that Dean was watching him from the back seat. Wrapped in Dean's arms, Cody stared into space, grateful for the chance to let go and grieve. He rubbed his hands up and down her back, underneath her loose sweater. Look down at her; he admitted to himself that he was really worried about her. Sam looked back through the mirror, trying to figure out a way to loosen the tension. "Hey there, Cody girl, when did you get a hair cut?"
She looked up at him, slightly confused. "Um, a couple of weeks ago. I felt like a change. Dad said I was getting to emotional with the hunting, so I decided to change my look to change my attitude." Sam gulped as Cody's shoulders shook with silent tears. Dean threw him a glare as she buried herself further into his chest. Deciding to stay silent, he tuned into his own thoughts.
He couldn't help but feel guilty. After all, what was the point of having uber psychic powers if he couldn't help the ones that he held close? After all, the demon had got his mom, Jess and now Cody's father. How many more deaths were going to be on his hands because he couldn't save them? And Walker, god, Walker, His father's friend and occasional partner, killed by the one thing they lived to hunt. Were the deaths and the killings ever going to stop?
"Sammy?" He looked through the rear vision mirror at his brother. Cody lay sprawled on Dean's chest, her pain hidden from her expression. Sam enviously looked at the gentle hold that Dean had on her sleeping form. "We need to get a room at the closest hotel. Cody needs a decent night's sleep, not to mention that we haven't had a break in a while."
"Do you think it's wise that we take her with us?" Dean looked at him fiercely.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Sam gulped at the low deadly tone.
"I just think that maybe Cody needs a bit of a break with the whole Hunting thing. I mean her father was killed in front of her just a few hours ago." Dean's expression grew steadily blacker as Sam continued with his explanation. "How do you think she's going to cope with this job? How long do you think she'll be able to hold up?"
"Don't you think that should be up to her?" Dean defended quietly, not willing to wake Cody with their argument. "At least with us, she has someone to watch out for her, not to mention a shoulder to cry on." He sighed gruffly, rubbing a hand through her hair. "I'd rather her be with us than on her own. The Demon has plans for her, with us, she has a chance to fight him, keep herself safe. I'm not going to loose her, not again." Sam gave him a confused look but Dean lowered his head back to Cody's. Shaking his head, he began to look for a sign for a hotel. He was going to get an answer, no matter how long it took.
Rain pounded against the parked car. Dean didn't want to get Cody and he out of the car until Sam had gotten them a room. Cody hadn't woken up for a while and was thankfully sleeping fairly peacefully. With all that had happened he didn't envy her need for sleep. Running a coarse finger down her button nose he smiled at her irritated scowl. A light tap at the window caught his attention.
"Room 25," Sam mouthed before moving to the trunk. Dean wrapped his jacket around her as much as he could before opening the door. Lifting her out of the car was awkward without help. Sam had already gone up to the room with the bags even before Dean had even gotten to the bottom of the stairwell.
"You alright?" He looked at his younger brother, a slight smirk on his face.
"I'm always alright." Sam rolled his eyes. "Turn down the bed would ya?" The room was dingy, like all the other hotel rooms were, with faded lime green wallpaper that would have suited the '40's and horrid mustard flower quilt covers on the beds. Sam had gotten the room with two double beds and a rotted old couch the colour of pea up chuck. Dean grimaced at the couch. "You can have the other bed; I'll sit up and keep watch."
"We all need our sleep, Dean," Sam replied, horrified at the state of the room. "Maybe I should get a refund. This place sucks."
"I am not carrying Cody back down to the car. She isn't exactly a feather you know!"
Sam smirked suddenly. "You know if she heard you say that, she'd kick your ass."
"Shut your mouth up and turn down the bed already," Dean glared at him and shifted Cody to a more comfortable position. Sam smirked and looked at the two beds.
"Which one do you want her on?"
"The one furthest from the door." Pulling down the covers he moved back to let his older brother in. with gentle hands, Dean placed her on the bed and began to pull off her boots. "Don't cry over the fact she gets your usual spot, Sammy." Tossing Dean the finger, he moved over to the little kitchenette and started to make a cup.
"You want one?" he turned and saw Dean undoing the snap of Cody's jeans. "What the hell are you doing?" He glanced up at Sam, slightly confused before looking back to Cody.
"Dude, do you know how uncomfortable it is sleeping in a pair of jeans? Besides, Cody always pranced around in her underwear." He gave a little grimace. "Funnily enough, it freaked the hell out of Dad."
"But not you," Sam stated. Dean gave him a cocky little grin.
"Why should I miss out on a free show?" Giving his brother a disgusted look, he turned back to his coffee. Tugging gently on Cody's jeans, Dean pulled them down her long smooth legs. "I have to admit, Sammy, she's got the best legs I've ever seen."
"So what the hell is going on with you and her? You guys were never that close before I went to college." Sam glanced at the couch, coffee mug in hand. Shaking his head in disgust, he sat on the other bed."
"Exactly, Sam, you went to college. You left leaving Cody, Dad and me to pick up the pieces. Having Cody watch my back lead to a closer friendship." Dean said defensively, confusing Sam. Pulling out his wallet, Dean straightened. "I'm gonna have a shower." Dropping his wallet on the bedside table he walked into the grungy bathroom. Shaking his head, Sam shifted, only to pause, staring at the wallet. It had fallen opened when it landed on the cheap bedside table, Dean's licence slipping out. Picking it up, he stared at the younger version of Cody puckering up for the camera.
"Why would you have a picture of Cody in your wallet, Dean?" he murmured before placing the license back into the card slot. Deciding against confronting him, Sam resolved to wait awhile and mention it in passing.
"Cody, my little sweet, I'm not going to kill you," he grinned as Walker screamed in agony. She whimpered, tears slipping down her cheeks as she turned away from the man. His grin turned smug as he moved closer into her personal space. "No, I have plans for you, great plans. But for now," he began to stroke her cheek, forcing her to look at him. "Now I'm going to have you watch your father die, knowing that you couldn't save him, that you weren't strong enough to fight me off."
She woke suddenly, a terrified cry ripped from her throat. Dean snorted awake, falling off the couch. Jumping up, he held a wicked hunting knife in his hand. Cody pulled the covers up to her chest, tears brimming in her eyes. Not seeing a physical threat, he put the knife down and looked at her concerned.
"I'm having a hard time dealing with this, Dean," her whispered confession broke through her lips. He nodded in understanding and sat back down on the couch.
"I know, Kitten, and I'm sorry that you had to go through that," he broke off, unsure of what to say. Cody pushed the covers off and walked over to Dean. Touching his cheek softly, she took in his soft grey green eyes.
"Remember when we used to hunt together? I'd always be able to handle the things we see until we got back to the hotel room," she smiled sadly. He slid his knee in between her legs and pulled her down so that she straddled his waist.
"You used to rush into the bathroom, puking your guts out. Dad would have to put the kettle on so that you could have a cup of tea," pulling her close, he kissed her temple. "Then when you knew Dad was asleep, you'd creep into my bed."
"You always did give me the chance to rebuild my confidence and face the next day." She rested her head against his shoulder, fiddling with his buttons on his green shirt. "I really appreciate you coming for me."
"I'd drop anything if you needed me, Cody, you know that," Dean declared in a rare show of feelings. She gave him a small tender smile.
"Thanks for treating me like a fragile doll, especially when I feel like one. But I think I need to get back hunting. Put my focus and energy into doing something productive." He looked at her, frowning.
"Are you sure? Do you think you could handle it?" she looked at him sincerely and nodded.
"I think I even have an idea on where we can go. Dad and I always plan hunts in advance and I pulled out a file and his journal from his bag." She made a move to get off his lap. Holding her waist tightly, he pulled her back down.
"Whoa, whoa, princess, don't you think you should slow down a little?" she bit her lip and looked down.
"I know that Dad died only a few hours ago, Dean, I am very well aware of that fact. After that nap, though, it doesn't seem as real or as raw. It will hit me hard, but I don't want to sit around and wait for it to happen." He gave her a proud smile.
"That's my girl," he whispered softly, rubbing his hands in her hair. "I have to admit, I do quite like the hairstyle." She gave him a grin. They sat there in silence, listening to Sam sleeping.
"Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"This couch smells, share the bed with me like old times?" giving him her patented vulnerable puppy eyes, she smiled in triumph when he gave a disgusted sigh and carried her over to the bed.
"Let's get some sleep, Kitten. We'll talk about what we're going to do tomorrow." He pulled off his button down top and jeans, leaving him in a pair of black boxers and grey undershirt. She watched as he slipped under the covers then settled herself into his arms.
"Do you miss the old times, Dean?"
"More than anything." Smiling softly, she slipped easily into sleep. Dean waited until her breathing evened out before following her.
Hey guys, sorry about the wait, this chapter was easy yet hard to write as it is the chapter that begins to get things moving. Just like to say thanks to Insane for being my bouncing wall of ideas LOL. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy it, and please feel free to leave a review. Have a great one!!