What's My Name Again, Sam?
Apologies for the heresy of my musical choices but remember this is Dean after a head injury and anyway I adore it! Thanks as always to my friends and betas Lou and Kirsty without who's help i'd never get off the starting block! Oh and Lou...that last line...the eyebrow remind you of anyone? And Kripke, I so want your boys for my own!
Chapter Four Alternative Music and sweet potato fries!
Sam woke slowly from a peaceful and refreshing sleep and stretched his long body, popping joints pleasantly as he propped himself up on one elbow turning his gaze to his brother.
Dean was seated at the small table surrounded by the familiar paraphernalia of death and destruction. Their hand guns were drilled in neat order in front of him gleaming with a new coating of gun oil, as his skilled hands methodically honed the blade of his favourite hunting knife against his Arkansas oilstone.
His face was relaxed; his pale eyes hypnotised by the repetitive sweep of his own fingers as he worked the blade to a lethal cutting edge. His head was nodding in time to his actions, and Sam could hear the soft melodic hum of whatever tune was the beat of his unconscious backing track.
It was so usual a picture that Sam was ready to believe that the last few days were a bizarre dream, but then it occurred to him that it was not the norm for Dean to rise before him, and certainly not so far ahead of him that he would be almost finished with his lengthy weapons cleaning rituals before Sam emerged.
"Morning, Dean"
Sam smiled as he watched Dean start at the sound of his quiet greeting. Dean was the only person he knew who could trip out so totally on the smell of gun oil and powder residue.
"Hey, Sam, was beginning to think you were gonna sleep forever there!"
Sam yawned, placing his huge feet on the cold floor as he reached for his watch.
"What time is it anyway?"
Sam answered his own question.
"Hell, Dean, it's a quarter after 1pm! Why didn't you wake me?"
Dean shrugged, testing the large razor sharp blade against the pad of his thumb.
"You looked comfortable, seemed like you needed some rest."
His face turned wistful, his words, apologetic.
"I guess you didn't get much sleep over the last few days huh? I'm sorry, Sam!"
Sam rose and padded to stand by the table, dropping his hand to Dean's shoulder.
"Dean, you don't remember how you came to get cracked on the head do you?"
Embarrassed green eyes dipped to the table at Sam's question.
"No. I thought it would all have come back to me when I woke up, but it's no different!"
Dean raised his chin to look up at his brother, and Sam could see the beginnings of gentle panic in his expression.
"It's OK, Dean. Remember Dr Anderson said it would take a while to get it all back? It's less than 24 hours since you woke up, you gotta be patient."
Sam was relieved to see the edge of panic dissipate as Dean nodded; pulling strength from Sam's calm reassuring tone.
"And anyway you are remembering things..."
Sam nodded his head to the vast arsenal before Dean, and winced as Dean flipped the lethally sharp knife, catching it again in the same hand with a casual surety.
"Yeah. I guess"
"And I see you got your boots laced today."
Both brothers looked down at Dean's neatly tied boots.
"They comfortable, Dean?"
"They're OK, Sam. Why d'ya ask?"
"They're on the wrong feet, Bro!"
"Crap!"
Dean leaned down and set about righting the footwear related screw up as Sam turned for the bathroom.
"OK, so I'll grab a quick shower and then we'll go eat, OK?"
Dean looked up, smiling his approval for the proposal.
"Great Hurry up, Sam. I'm starving!"
SNSNSN
Sam emerged from the bathroom, to find Dean sitting where he'd left him, the guns however were all neatly packed away, and Sam's cell phone was now lying on the table.
"It keeps ringing."
Dean jabbed his finger at the phone his expression somewhere between annoyance and unease.
Sam started to laugh but thought better of it.
"Why didn't you just answer it?"
"Didn't know who was ringing?"
Sam raised his eyebrows.
"Well no! But you would have if you'd answered it!"
He reasoned, watching as Dean's face fell.
"What is it, Dean?"
Sam moved to sit on the foot of the bed next to his brother.
"What if I didn't...you know...like know who it was? I mean...What if it was somebody I know... but I didn't know them now, like this?"
Sam bit back his earlier rather insensitive retort, seeing how dented Dean's confidence really was.
"Sorry, Bro. Here, give me the phone I'll call 'em back"
He flipped open the cell and scrolled to the call register, smiling as he speed dialled the last caller.
"Sam!"
Bobby's worried voice burst from the small handset as Sam flicked to speakerphone, and waited to get a word in edgewise to the tumble of questions that followed each other in rapid succession, as Dean listened in.
"How is he, Sam?...Any change?...I was out of range, finishing up that vampire nest in the back of beyond so I didn't get the message till late yesterday, but I'm on my way in to ya now, should be there in a couple'a hours now at most..."
Bobby paused for breath and Sam took the opportunity to leap in.
"Bobby!"
Sam could hear their old friend start.
"Dean's doing much better, he's awake and outta hospital, in fact we're just gonna go eat."
Bobby's relieved laughter drifted down the air waves, filling the motel room with tinny good humour.
"Damn, that's sounds more like your brother! That's good to hear, Sam. Is Dean there? Put him on...gonna rail that boy good and proper for scaring me half to death..."
Sam looked at Dean, who was leaning away from the proffered cell phone, his hands raised before him in a gesture of nervous decline. Sam met his brother's sad eyes and saw a regretful lack of recognition for Bobby there. He nodded his understanding.
"Well, he's just gone to put the gear in the car, Bobby and then, as I said, we're gonna hit the diner. He hasn't eaten for days and you can imagine..."
Sam tailed off as Bobby's laughter pealed from the cell.
"Yeah, Sam, hell I can just imagine! Best feed him or he'll be unmanageable! Where shall I meet ya though? I guess you'll need some help to finish the job?"
"Yeah, Bobby. Meet us here at the motel; I gave you the address didn't I?"
"Yup, got it programmed in, Sam. Go eat and I'll see ya shortly"
Sam clicked the phone off, and looked at Dean's downcast face. He didn't need to ask whether Dean could remember Bobby, it was written all over his face that he couldn't. Sam stood and tossing the battered old leather jacket to his brother said.
"Come on, Bro. Let's go eat, I'm starving."
SNSNSN
Sam had anticipated a row in the parking lot about who was gonna drive to the diner; he still felt worried that Dean should take it easy for a while and so not drive. But he was surprised, and if he was honest saddened, when Dean simply slid into the passenger seat without argument.
The journey was not a long one and they settled comfortably into watching the scenery as the radio played softly in the background. It was some local station that played principally country music and Sam was amazed after a few miles to realise that Dean was softly singing along to the so out of character tune.
Easy Silence
When the calls and conversations
Accidents and accusations
Messages and misperceptions
Paralyze my mind
Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving
Burning fumes of gasoline
And everyone is running
And I come to find a refuge in the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay
The tune was soft and lilting, and Sam dwelt on the words wondering if Dean realised how appropriate they were to the role he so unconsciously accepted every day of his life. He glanced at his brother watching him sing, admiring his tuneful, harmonious voice.
Monkeys on the barricades
Are warning us to back away
They form commissions trying to find
The next one they can crucify
And anger plays on every station
Answers only make more questions
I need something to believe in
Breathe in sanctuary in the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay
Dean caught Sam's glance from the corner of his eye and he looked across, his singing dropping to a hum as he tried to work out if he was irritating his brother.
Sam nodded at Dean, needing him to feel able to sing at the top of his voice if he wanted to, and was rewarded with a louder more confident third verse.
Children lose their youth too soon
Watching war made us immune
And I've got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for
The way you keep the world
The song ended and for a few seconds there was silence in the cabin of the Impala. Finally Sam glanced across at his brother, incredulity written across his laughing face.
"How do you possibly explain being tune perfect and knowing every word to a total chick flick country song, Dean?"
Dean laughed sheepishly.
"Not what we normally groove to, Sam?"
"So far from it, Dude. You're a Led Zeppelin, AC/DC man!"
Dean laughed out loud at that.
"Mullet rock? You are kidding me? Don't I have any taste, Sam?"
Sam joined in his brother's easy laughter thinking how much fun it was going to be to torment and humiliate Dean with this once his memory was restored.
"They were called 'The Dixie Chicks', dude!"
Sam watched as Dean searched for the just out of reach but achingly familiar response, and bit back his sigh as nothing came. Needing to hear it Sam prompted his lingering amnesiac sibling.
"Say, 'Bitch! Dean"
"Why, Sam?"
Sam's eyes sparkled with near tears as he choked out the words.
"Just say it! Humour me!"
Dean's epithet was enthusiastic in its delivery, though confused in its necessity.
"Bitch!"
Sam's response was a wistful sigh.
"Jerk!"
SNSNSN
The diner was small and homely and there was a smell of food that might actually be nutritious. It made Sam's stomach growl in time with Dean's as they made their way over to the counter.
"Hi, boys!"
The waitress was in her 40's and was an exceptionally fine looking woman. Her long auburn hair was swept off her face in a lustrous pony tail accentuating her high cheek bones, and the small apron and tight uniform shirt she wore showed off her slim waist and voluptuous breasts. She smiled all white teeth and sparkling blue eyes as she took in the Winchesters and Sam knew immediately that the smile was entirely for Dean, and he might as well be invisible.
He glanced to his left expecting to see his flirtatious brother revelling in the woman's lustful admiration, and was surprised to see that whilst Dean clearly recognised the woman's appreciation of him, he seemed a little embarrassed by the attention. In fact Sam would go as far as to say he looked downright uncomfortable, which Sam found touching yet bordering on hysterical.
"What can I get ya, Hunny?"
The question was innocent enough but it was accompanied by a look which said 'anything you want, especially me!' and Sam watched in increasing amusement as Dean looked anywhere but into those pretty blue eyes.
"What's good today?"
Sam spoke as he glanced up at the chalkboard menu over the counter, as Rita, according to her name tag, continued to stare playfully at his suddenly reticent brother.
"Well from here it all looks fine to me, Hun!"
The auburn haired flirt licked her lips slowly as she answered Sam without ever shifting her eyes from the now squirming Dean. Sam almost laughed too until he saw that Dean was at the point of bolting for the door, and he relented and said to his very grateful and suddenly bashful brother.
"Why don't you get us a table, Dean, I'll order the food, OK?"
Dean didn't need telling twice and they heard his grateful "Thanks, Sam" as he retreated across the diner, affording Rita a prime opportunity to study his fine ass as he departed.
Sam slipped into the booth seconds later having ordered their food, and took his place opposite a Dean who was doing his best to appear nonchalant and unruffled.
It was clear that Dean didn't really want to talk about what had just occurred and even though it was severely tempting to get back his cruel older brother for the agony he had given a sometimes gauche younger sibling as they had grown up, Sam decided it would be more fun to store this one to torment 'proper' Dean with when he finally returned.
"So, Dean, maybe we should get you up to speed with what we do?"
Sam cast his eye around the near empty diner as he spoke, reassuring himself that there was no one to overhear what was gonna be one hell of a potted history.
"OK, Sam."
"Where do you want me to start?"
Sam watched Dean weighing up his answer, wondering how on earth he was going to explain some of the things they had seen and done to a man who could barely remember his own name.
"I think I need to know how I got my head busted!"
Dean raised his hand self consciously to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail track of sutures that decorated his forehead, and Sam nodded, even though his heart rate had just notched up a few BPM's remembering how near a miss Dean had had yet again.
Sam was just gathering his thoughts to start as plates descended onto the table before them, born by the smiling Rita.
"Here you go boys."
She smiled the full teeth and tits showstopper for Dean as she placed burger and sweet potato fries, meatloaf and fresh green beans and coffee mugs on the table.
"Coffee, Hunny?"
She slid the mug towards Dean, her words sweet with the promise of her barely concealed desire and Sam watched as his usually confident and flirty brother transformed into something resembling Bambi before his amused gaze.
Rita jiggled the coffee pot, her eyebrows raised in question at a squirming Dean.
Dean shook his head and pushed the mug carefully away from his place setting as Sam watched on in amazement. He had never known his brother refuse a cup of coffee, even really bad coffee and this didn't smell bad, in fact the rich, bitter black brew was making his own taste buds quiver in happy anticipation.
"No?"
Rita sounded disappointed, and placing the steaming glass jug down on the table she crouched at Dean's side, her hand resting seductively on his thigh. Dean pressed himself against the back of the booth his eyes locked onto Sam's in a desperate unvoiced plea of 'Help me!'
"Well maybe I can get something else for you, hunny? You look..."
She paused and ran an appraising eye over the decidedly uncomfortable Winchester, searching for a suitable word as she licked her upper lip and pouted.
"Thirsty!"
Dean's wide green eyes fled from her blue ones and back to the safety of Sam's gaze as he answered
"Milk!"
Dean spluttered.
"Can I have milk?"
Rita smiled, squeezing his thigh as she grinned sweetly as she rose to her feet.
"Sure you can, Sweetie! With those pretty green eyes you can have anything your heart desires!"
She reached over and patted Dean's twitching cheek, and pausing momentarily to fill Sam's mug with steaming java, then departed to get Dean's obscurely preferred beverage.
SNSNSN
The coffee was indeed good and Sam savoured the rich brew as Dean took the proffered milk from the lovely Rita and drained half the glass as the predatory waitress sighed and departed. The older hunter was suddenly aware that he was starving and his stomach growled and rumbled in agreement.
"Dig in, Dean!"
Sam gestured with his large hand to the delicious smelling plates of food and watched in utter amazement as Dean ignored the juicy burger and heavy fries in favour of the lean meatloaf and fresh vegetables.
Sam had silently observed as Dean had ravenously consumed at last 4 or 5 fork full's of the appetising homemade dinner before he spoke.
"That good, Dean?"
"Yeah, Sam it's delicious. You not hungry? Your burger's going cold."
Sam nodded and shaking his head softly in wonder lifted the plate containing Dean's usual life blood nourishment of choice onto his place setting.
"You know something, Sam?"
Sam raised a greasy sweet potato fry to his mouth as he looked into Dean's earnest eyes.
Dean raised a fork full of green beans and gestured towards Sam's plate.
"You should have more respect for your digestive system, that's stuff's full of cholesterol and saturated mono tri glyceride doodahs!"
Dean wriggled his eyebrow for emphasis as he swallowed his vegetables and all Sam could do was pop in another fry as he nodded in bemusement at his happily munching big brother.
Chapter ends.
Hey how about a little review to keep my strength up??