Sorry, no early post this time but at least I managed to update on time. Hope you will enjoy this one. Thanks to all of you, you really keep me going.
The next few days were unusually cold and a slushy mix made working outside extremely uncomfortable, if not impossible. It wasn't until a week later, when the morning dawned with beautiful sunshine and blue sky. Even the temperatures rose above normal for this time of year and for the first time in several weeks Dean Winchester was out of bed before ten in the morning. After a quick breakfast he took his second cup of coffee outside and started to work on repairing the damage to the Impala's body.
For several moments he stood beside the black car, his hand gliding down the uneven surface of the banged up chassis, his mind once more going back to everything that happened since that fateful day.
"Dammit, it's just not fair. Why…, why did you have to do this to me? No explanation, just a cold hearted command - you bastard…"
Throwing the coffee cup against one of the salvaged cars, he bent over, both hands were cupped over his face and slid up into his hair. Finally he straightened out and facing heavenwards, a loud scream of anguish escaped his throat. At last his arms fell to his sides and he opened the eyes he kept shut tightly till then.
Astonished he looked at the figure in front of him, "Bobby…?"
The older man took a gulp from his own coffee cup then answered the question without it ever being asked, "I got here right when you threw the cup. Wanna talk about it?"
For just a split second the expression on Dean's face changed and Bobby thought he was going to talk, yet without warning he pressed his lips together and shook his head.
"Nothing to talk about!" He said tonelessly.
"What about your brother?" the grizzled hunter tried again.
"What about him?" Dean leaned against the Impala.
"Damn boy, get your head outta your butt. The kid is having a rough time. He lost his daddy too."
"Oh yeah, maybe he should've thought about dad a little sooner instead of always arguing with him. What he is trying to do now is too little too late. His grieving won't do dad any good. He doesn't need me to get through this." The older Winchester stated bitterly.
"Dean, you don't mean that." It wasn't a question, rather a statement.
"Oh yeah, just watch me!" He turned away and started to work on the car.
"Dean…" Bobby tried one more time.
"No, Bobby, I'm not doing this. If you wanna wipe his snotty nose, be my guest."
Putting the tool down he just picked up, he said, "I'm gonna go to town, pick up some parts, I won't be back until tonight or maybe tomorrow."
SN SN SN SN SN
The salvage yard owner spent the day doing repairs on the vehicle of his oldest customers, in the actual sense of the word, as Jim McGregor was 97 and drove a 1940 Chevy Convertible Street Rod, which he let no one but Bobby touch. As soon as it started to get dark he prepared dinner, deciding to go for grilled chicken, rice and a salad in the hope to entice the youngest Winchester into eating. He was glad to see his plan worked at least partially, when the kid ate half of his chicken and rice and all the salad.
Even though, Sam continued to be quiet, but agreed to a game of cards with the older man after helping with the clean up. A few hours and a couple of beers later the junior hunter excused himself and went to bed, leaving a musing Bobby behind. An experienced observer, he didn't miss the frequent glances in the direction of the door by the young man. He only hoped Dean would get home before it was getting too late. The experience from a few weeks back still stuck with him and although he knew it was unlikely Sam would fall down the stairs again just because his brother was gone, it still left him with an uncomfortable sensation. At least the kid was already downstairs now and so there was no need for him to climb the stairs.
The demon hunter spent a few more hours reading an old journal written by a 16th century Greek monk, who devoted his life to hunting down supernatural entities. Finally he gave up waiting and went to his room.
Usually not having any trouble going to sleep, he found that it evaded him tonight. After several hours of tossing and turning he finally gave up. Taking a look at the clock, it was almost two in the morning; he threw on his robe and walked down to the kitchen. Pouring himself a glass of milk and grabbing a few cookies, he made his way out to the living room and settled down on the couch. He picked his book up and started to search for the page he left off at, when the noise of an opening door made him drop it. He jumped up and turned at the same time.
"Dammit kid, you have to stop sneaking around like this in the middle of the night." He said, looking at Sam, who was coming out of the downstairs bathroom.
It took him a moment to take in the younger man's appearance. Naked, except of the towel wrapped around his slim waist, his dark hair a wet mess, it was obvious he'd just come out of the shower.
"A little late for a shower, or maybe it's a little early." He stated, chuckling slightly at the confused look on Sam's face, "Guess you couldn't sleep either? Why don't you get dressed and sit down, I get you some milk and cookies."
He walked off into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with the late night snack, almost dropping it, when he noticed Sam sitting on the couch, still wearing nothing but the towel. After a moment he caught himself and set the items down in front of the younger man. Taking a seat again, he looked at the younger man. From the way his ribs were sticking out it was clearly visible that the kid lost weight. Still, this wasn't the skinny boy, whose limps were way to long for his body, who sat in the same spot seven years ago. The boy in front of him was completely grown up. He was lean but muscular and his expressive face with the green-blue eyes and the chocolate colored fringe hanging into it assured Bobby he had probably just as many girls swooning over him as his older brother. The difference was that Dean knew and used it, while Sam couldn't care less. The kid blushed when a girl just gave him a suggestive look and even around here he would usually make sure he was dressed before leaving his room, which made the older man wonder even more about the kid sitting across from him at this moment.
"Why don't you drink your milk?" Bobby tried to encourage his friend. After a few moments he added, "Look Sam, I know Dean isn't making it easy right now, but maybe he really just needs some space."
Looking for a reaction from the quiet young man, but finding he just stared at him, he continued, "I know there isn't a lot I can say, but this is difficult for me too. You boys are like my own and I can't just sit by and watch you not talk to one another."
For a second he thought Sam wasn't going to answer, but suddenly the younger man cocked his head and said, "Dad didn't talk to me, he just left. Too little to late, can't do anything to make it better."
Bobby never thought he would hear these words come out of Sam's mouth just hours after Dean had said the same thing. It made him wonder, if they were really Sam's words, or if the older Winchester had said them to him. It broke his heart that it had gotten this bad between the two brothers.
"Sam…" The older hunter started but was interrupted when the kid threw his head back and started to laugh out loud. After a moment he straightened and said, "Remember when Rumsfeld was a puppy and chased the skunk into the house and it took you two weeks to get the smell out of the living room?"
Bobby remembered the occasion well; he had to throw out the rug on which the dog finally caught up with the odorous animal. Yet he was taken aback that the kid would bring this up now and laugh the way he did. It was clear Sam didn't want to get any further into the conversation about his father and brother, probably regretted already about opening up this far. He would have to have a lot of patience; if he went too fast he would probably just make things worse.
"Probably should call it a night and try to get at least a few hours of sleep, what d'ya think?"
Instead of answering, Sam stood up, the towel slipping of his slender hips and gliding to the floor. Without being deterred, he walked into his current sleeping quarters.
Although surprised by the sudden lack of shyness, the older man couldn't help but grin, being suddenly reminded of a toddler Sam running around this same living room in nothing but his birthday suit.
SN SN SN SN SN
Although he went to sleep fast, it took the grizzled hunter only about two hours before he was awake again. For a few more hours he tried to get back to sleeping then he decided to get up and take a shower. By the time he was done and dressed it was almost seven and he went downstairs to make coffee and work on breakfast.
He was just finished frying the bacon, when the front door slammed shut. A second later Dean appeared in the doorway. His nose slightly up and sniffing the aroma, his eyes closed and a dreamy expression appeared on his face.
"Ah, breakfast, guess I came just right."
"Yeah, just right to wake your brother," Bobby said, taking in the longsuffering look that appeared on his face, he added, "be nice though, kid didn't sleep well and neither did I."
"Alright, I promise, I'll kiss him good morning really nicely." The older Winchester stated with sarcasm coloring his voice.
Making his way to the library, he found the door wasn't closed all the way. Pushing it open, he walked into the room and looked around. Sam's clothes were strewn all over the floor, the rollaway bed empty except of the pillow and a crumpled up blanket. Turning around, he expected to find his kid brother sitting at either the table or in one of the arm chairs, but realized he wasn't there either.
"Guess he must be in the bathroom."
Walking up to the door, he stopped for a moment, listening for any noises. Hearing nothing, he knocked, "Sam, you in there?"
He waited for a response, but when none was forthcoming, he said, "I'm not gonna play games here, I'm gonna come in. If you don't want me to, say something now." Again there was only silence, "Alright, you asked for it!"
Dean turned the knob and opened the door. This time he really was surprised to find the room empty. Turning around, anger laced his voice as he yelled, "Okay Bobby, where is he? Did he and you set this up to get back at me?"
The older man came out of the kitchen, confusion written all over his face, "What the hell you're talking about?"
"I'm talking about you and Sam setting me up, because you're mad at me."
"Boy, I still don't know what you're talking about, I told ya earlier to wake up your brother." Bobby growled.
"That's what I was trying to do, but he isn't in his room and he isn't in the bathroom either."
Bobby stared at him for a moment then tore up the stairs and into the room the two Winchesters used to share until almost two weeks ago. Finding it empty also, he went through each of the other rooms, although he knew they were filled with so much junk, it would be almost impossible for the kid to find refuge in one of them. After he searched the last room, he turned around and found himself face to face with Dean.
"Okay, you wanna tell me what's going on here?" The older brother asked
"In a moment…" The salvage yard owner left him standing in the middle of the hallway, hurrying down again and into the library.
By the time his friend caught up with him, he could hear the swearing coming from his mouth.
"Dammit…"
"I think I have a right to find out what's going on. Where is Sam?" Dean suddenly started to have a strange feeling rise up within him, leaving him with a sense of dread.
"I wish I knew. He is gone", Bobby turned to face the firstborn Winchester, "but I don't think that's the biggest problem."
"He probably is just taking a walk." Dean tried to calm the clearly upset older man, not quite sure if he was really doing it for Bobby or if it was more meant to quiet his own fears.
"Not likely, he wasn't wearing any clothes!"
TBC
So that's it for today. Wonder what happened to Sammy. He is out there somewhere without clothes. Doesn't sound like much fun. Let me know what you think. All your reviews keep me going. This is so much fun. Hugs, Vonnie
