Disclaimer:Supernatural is not mine. More's the pity. They belong to Kripke Enterprise and the CW Network. I am not making any money from this; I am simply playing in the fantastic sandbox that Kripke created with these two characters.
Synopsis: Samuel Campbell (Sam) is called home from Palo Alto, CA when his father is killed in an accident at the ranch. His sister Gwen remained in the family business, though it was always his father's intention that Sam should run the family business. Her husband Christian has taken over running the business, but the ranch is losing money and since Sam is the sole executor of the estate he is forced to return. Upon returning home, he finds his family's business is a wreck; an unknown corporation is trying to buy them out.
After interviewing several men to take the spot of one of the hands, Sam's foreman Bobby Singer eventually settles on Dean Winchester. This is after the man saves Sam's life in a bar one night. The cowboy brings his own baggage including a small son. He is also running from something in his past that he desperately wants to keep buried.
Warnings: This is an unrelated AU story with Male/Male pairings. If you don't like that sort of thing, DO NOT READ THIS STORY. There is also foul language interspersed throughout the story, so be on the look out for that. Dean and Sam are unrelated in this story, since I don't really write Wincest. But I do like the dynamic between these two characters. ALSO IF YOU READ MY OTHER WINCHESTER STORIES…YOU MAY NOT LIKE THIS ONE. PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS.
Chapter 9
First Encounters
The wind was picking at his hair and he could feel the grime from the river as he ran his fingers through it. Gross...God I need a shower. The dirt was mostly mud and his boots were caked in the sticky stuff. And damn did the desert smell after it rained.
Dean's eyes flickered over to the horse, which looked up in innocent curiosity. He then looked over at Sam's general size. "Uh…neither of us are small guys…you get that right?"
Sam's look said. And your point is?
"I just…it might be hard for him to carry two of us…that's all." Dean wasn't sure why he needed to explain their relative size to Sam. His head hurt…damn did his head hurt…
"We'll go slow. And you can't exactly walk back…If someone needs to walk, it'll be me." Sam was so serious about the whole thing that Dean kinda wanted to laugh. But this wasn't a very funny situation. The sun was starting to heat up the area and he new that it was going to be pretty unbearable if they didn't get moving soon. And damn…did a bed sound good tonight. His bruises had bruises.
"What about the cattle?" They'd come out here to get the cattle over to the drop off point…and now they were leaving them to God only knows what fate.
"We'll come back for the damn cattle. You need a doctor." Sam thought about it for all of one moment. He twisted and the jab of pain in his side made him wince. "I need a doctor."
Dean's gaze was instantly penetrating Sam as he moved toward the other man. "Sam, are you hurt? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm fine, Dean." He started toward the horse and missed the whispered response.
"That's my line."
XXXX
Dean was shifting uncomfortably. His stomach was bothering him and his head was spinning as he bit back the desire to groan. He could feel the muscles of Sam's back bunching beneath the shirt. And that was activating a whole new part of his brain.
Typical of Texas, the weather had taken another turn…the sun was beating down on both of the men and the horse was moving at an easy pace. Dean decided that he needed to take his mind off the pain. Some of the discussion from the night before was a little fuzzy. He knew they'd talked about sex…he just couldn't remember if it was so they could have it? Or if they wanted to go out and get it?
Dean opted to trying to learn more about Sam. "So did you grow up here in Texas?"
Sam inhaled. He could continue to lie to Dean…or he could come clean about the whole ranch. Although, he had no intention of telling Dean about Law School, he thought he should probably tell him about who he was. He still didn't know if he was going to return, so why set them both up. "I grew up here…my dad owned a ranch."
Dean's brain seized on that bit of information and some puzzle pieces fell into place. He swallowed. "You own the Bar S…don't you?" The way that Bobby had talked to him…the way the other hands had steered clear of Sam? It all made sense if he was the owner of the place.
"It's complicated…" He was stalling and they both knew it.
Dean blew out a breath that ruffled the fine hairs on Sam's neck and caused a shiver to run up and down his spine. "Sam, stop the horse."
"What?"
"Stop the horse." Sam barely managed to halt Doc before Dean was sliding off the back end. His legs buckling slightly as he landed on his feet and pain shot up through his entire body in a bolt of electrical impulses. Dean was walking away before either of them knew what was happening. He stumbled once, and caught himself before he fell.
"Dean?!" Sam called as he dismounted and rushed to catch up with the other man.
"Hey…wait up. Are you mad at me?" Sam was confused. He didn't think that he'd said anything that would piss off Dean. Maybe I should have told him earlier.
Dean shook his head as he continued to walk. "No. Sam…I'm not mad at you."
"Then what's all this about?" He gestured toward the open plains they were now walking over. The sage brush and the muddy ground squelching under their boots. It was the first time that Sam had looked at Dean's boots. He didn't wear typical cowboy boots. He was wearing an old pair of construction work boots.
Dean looked up at the sky, scrubbing his hand through his hair and immediately turned to focus his stare on the taller man. "Why didn't you just tell me at the beginning? Why the whole charade about being just an employee?" The more he thought about the ruse the more questions he had.
Sam shrugged and kicked a rock. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted you to get to know me without my family's name coming up…or the money."
"Do you really think I'm that shallow?" Dean's eyes were pained as he stared at Sam. "I liked you before I even knew your name…before I ever walked into that bathroom." The revelation took some pushing from his conscience. He'd wanted to tell Sam that he'd been debating on approaching the tall kid at the bar for most of that evening. But when he saw the other man slip into the one toilet bathroom right after Sam…he'd gotten that 'wonky' feeling in his gut.
Sam's eyes lifted from the ground and connected with the open admission from the other man. "You saw me?"
He nodded. "I did. And I was interested." Dean reached up and ran his fingers down Sam's face. Ignoring the pinch in his gut he pulled the taller man down. Their lips met in a soft exploration. He felt the gentle pressure of Sam's lips as they strained against each other. His hands dropping to splay over Sam's broad chest in a maneuver that had Sam's breath catching.
Dean's soft movement of his plump lips was sending tingles of pleasure racing through Sam. He dropped the reins and wrapped his arms around the shorter man, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Sam's fingers ran along the hard muscles of Dean's lower back. The kiss over before it really got started, as Dean pulled back and stared up at him, his green eyes sparkling. "I've wanted to do that since the first moment I saw you." He smiled and the action was so sweet that Sam couldn't help but grin back.
"I wanted to…I don't know…but this was way better…" Sam's smiled faded. "You're not leaving are you?"
Dean looked around and raised an eyebrow.
Sam chuckled. "No…uh, as soon as we get back…you and Emery?"
"Not planning on it." Dean's voice dropped into the husky tone that made Sam's toes curl in his boots.
"Good. Cuz, I'd like to know more about you." The immediate shift in Dean's demeanor caught Sam a little off guard. He went from being open and easy to read…to closed and a stone mask fell in place. It almost gave Sam whiplash it was so quick.
Dean's eyes were cold as he inhaled slowly. "Look Sam…I wanna stay here…but I can't do that if you ask questions." He watched as the man straightened in surprise. "I know it's not the best way to start a relationship…and I know it isn't fair…but…it's the way it is."
"I don't understand." The inquisitive nature that made Sam such a good student didn't lend itself to letting secrets go. But for right now…he could put it on a back burner. He wasn't willing to risk losing Dean before they even knew whether there was something there to lose.
"I know. And I can't explain. I'm sorry." Dean's face fell a bit as his mask slipped. "You have no idea how sorry I am." He started walking again. The distance was blurry as Dean's stomach pinched again and he bit at his cheek. He'd definitely damaged something in that damn river, but he didn't have a clue what. He kept facing forward, sensing the moment that Sam started following him again.
They walked in silence. The fuzzy distance turned out to be Bobby's truck and several of the hands on horses. Sam nearly collapsed in relief when he saw the red outline of his friend's vehicle.
Jake pounded up on another horse. His eyes worried as Dean stumbled again. "Good to see you two moving under your own steam." He said as he quickly dismounted and Bobby slid to a stop just in front of them.
"Geeze boy, you scared the goose crap outta me." Bobby's voice was strained as he jumped from the truck and wrapped Sam in a hug that had the young man groaning in pain. "You okay, Sam?" He pulled back immediately and shifted into 'daddy' mode. His blue gaze raking over Sam's torn clothing and exhausted expression.
He raised his eyebrows at Bobby's comparison. Goose crap? That's a new one. "Just my ribs, Bobby. But I'm okay…check on Dean." Sam's worried look had Bobby moving quickly toward the new hire.
Dean was bent over; it was obvious he was in pain…how much remained to be seen. But his face was a mass of colorful bruising that would be impossible to explain to the kid's son. There was a long gash on his cheek and it looked pretty bad…it had needed stitches about fifteen hours ago. Hopefully it wouldn't scar too badly. "Can you tell me what hurts, Dean?"
Green eyes lifted to meet his and he tried to force a smile onto his face. He swallowed. "My head…and my stomach."
Bobby leaned in closer after getting Dean seated on the passenger side of the truck. "Yer right pupil is blown…so I'm not surprised you got a headache son." He glanced over at Sam. The intense look he was shooting Bobby had him wondering just what had happened between these two. "As far as the stomach…hurts like what? A stomach ache?"
Dean shook his head. "No…like serious pain, Bobby. I wouldn't bitch about a stomach ache."
Okay, that's not good. The foreman hurried to his side of the truck and crawled inside, shooting Sam a look that said 'if yer coming, come now.'
Sam looked at the horse and then smiled slightly as Jake reach out for the reins. "I'll make sure he gets home safe, Sam. Go with Bobby."
He didn't know what had changed the guy's opinion of him, but he was grateful as he handed the reins over and rushed to crawl into the backseat of the extended cab pickup.
XXXX
Spending all afternoon in the doctor's office wasn't how Dean had wanted to spend his day…any day. But as it turned out when he'd been spin-cycled in that river he'd managed to tear the lining of the muscles along his stomach. Which explained the increasing pain every time he moved just right. The concussion was something he'd just have to ride out. There wasn't much a doctor could do for him. And finally his cheek…well the very pretty nurse had cleaned it up and then the doc had stitched him right up.
He'd asked Ellen to keep Emery with her, since Dean really didn't want his son to see in a hospital. It would scare the little guy and he'd be home that night…even if he had to check himself out A.M.A. Medical guys didn't know everything, right?
Dean had hitched a ride with a local. The man knew where the Ranch was…apparently everyone knew where the ranch was. He'd filled Dean in on some details about the place…and Sam. Apparently Sam's father had been massively wealthy, old money. He'd inherited the place when his father had died a few months ago. A freak accident or something. Gwen had married some guy and stayed in town, while Sam had taken off to go to school.
Why wouldn't he tell me about that? Dean wondered. Part of him latched onto another piece of information about Sam…and part of him was trying to understand why the guy wasn't just telling him? Did Sam want to go back to school?
That would make sense; I mean if I'd spent the last five years studying to be a lawyer, I'd sure as hell want to finish it. But it wasn't like Sam was running from something.
Dean's thoughts flashed back to Chicago and he leaned against the door of the truck as memories flooded through him. Maybe it was the drugs…maybe it was Sam…he didn't know.
James had come to him out of respect…told Dean that he'd been put on 'the list'. It didn't make sense; he'd been the best at their job. The Consortium had trained him and he'd done what they asked…right up until it included the murder of one of their own. He'd been somewhat involved with Lisa Braedon when it happened. Dean knew it was a bad idea to get into bed, literally or metaphorically, with the bosses daughter, but she was hot. And she'd made it very clear that she was interested in him.
Lisa wasn't like her father; she was all kindness and smiles. And he'd loved her…if Dean was capable of that. They'd only been together two months when she told him she was pregnant. He'd been freaked out, elated, scared shitless, and any other word that described feeling totally and completely unprepared.
It wasn't until Emery was two years old that Dean found out that Lisa had been sleeping with James right before they got together. While she'd never cheated on Dean, there was a chance that Emery wasn't his. He'd gone to James and asked the man about it face to face. In retrospect he wished he still didn't know the answer to that question. But when Lisa had been killed and he'd been placed on that list he knew that Richard 'Dick' Roman was coming after his grandson…the heir to his Empire. So Dean had shoved the pain of her death inside a box so deep in his soul that he was able to present a normal persona to the world.
Hell, he'd been perfecting his cover for the vast majority of his life. He'd spent a large portion of his childhood in the stables of one of the richest men in the entire world. His father had required him to train both with firearms and sparring techniques. When Dean had been old enough his father had revealed that he was actually a cop and that they were trying to put a cast together on Dick. When he'd been thirteen his father had been killed in some bust-gone-bad and Roman had kept Dean around. He didn't have any other family that he knew of. His mother, Mary, had died in childbirth and it had been him and his dad after that.
He'd thought that maybe he could raise Emery after Lisa's death, but he'd definitely had concerns. After all…an assassin wasn't exactly number one on the PTA's list of best parental choices. But Dean loved that little boy and he couldn't let him grow up in the same environment as he had. Being the son of John Winchester, super undercover cop, wasn't exactly a picnic. And then the department had approached him and offered him and Emery a way out. But he would have to throw gasoline on the bridge they were crossing and then light it on fire behind them, which he watched everyone he'd ever known burn.
The decision had been difficult, but when he'd looked into Emery's innocent eyes he'd agreed and tried not to look back at the carnage. And then he'd learned that Dick had escaped and with him, so had James…and they were searching for him and Emery.
Dean jerked awake as the truck rolled to a stop. "Hey kid, we're here."
He looked over at the kind face of the old man. "Thanks." Dean's hand wiped down his face and he winced as his fingers ran over the bandage. He pushed the door open and carefully stepped out, his small plastic hospital bag in hand. "I appreciate the ride, man."
The guy shook his head and smiled. "Sure. Take care." He started to pull away after Dean shut the door.
His gaze lifted to the huge house and he bit his lip in uncertainty. Chances were that Sam was there. He inhaled and slowly made his way to the front door. After a short series of knocks the door pulled open and Sam was gaping at him.
"Dean?" His blue-green gaze raked up and down Dean in surprise. "What are you doing here? You should be in the hospital."
Dean shrugged and then regretted it when his stomach pulled painfully. "Checked myself out."
"What? Why?" Sam stepped aside and Dean shuffled past him, his arm wrapped around his ribs.
"Cuz I hate hospitals and there's nothing they can do for me anyways."
"They can make sure you don't die." Sam shot back worriedly.
Dean chuckled. "I'm not gonna die, Sam. It's just a torn muscle."
Sam scoffed in frustration. "Yeah, in the lining of your stomach. People bleed to death internally…you know that right?"
Dean scratched his neck and turned to stare at Sam. "I'm aware that blood is internal, yes."
"You know what I mean." The face that Sam shot at him could only be described as a bitch-face. "Okay, if you refuse to stay where a nurse can keep an eye on you. Then you're staying here with me."
Dean smiled knowingly. And Sam thinned his lips as he rolled his eyes. "No. Not on until your healed…I don't want you out at the bungalow until I'm certain I'm not gonna find you face down in the carpet."
"I tore a muscle, Sam. I'm not dying." He was starting to get a bit irritated with the mother-hen routine.
Sam stepped forward and ran his fingers along Dean's bandage on his face. "And I want to keep it that way, Dean." He took a chance and leaned in placing a chaste kiss on the other man's plump lips. The shock of passion that ran through his body at the quick intimate gesture caught him unprepared and he pulled back before it got out of control. When he looked into the smoldering eyes of Dean, he knew that he was in so much trouble. Sam was already more attached to the guy than he'd ever been to Jessica…and that could prove problematic. Especially since he didn't really know anything about Dean.
Dean cleared his throat and stepped back a bit. "Me too…Uh…where's Emery?"
"Ellen's got him baking cookies."
"Explains the awesome smell." Dean said with a grin. He started into the house…in the direction of the laundry room.
Sam smiled. "Have any idea where you're going?"
Dean stopped and stared at the stainless steel appliances. "Not a clue."
"Kitchen's this way." He started in the opposite direction.
XXXX
The man in black passed the large stone rock pillars to the Texas ranch. This was where Dean Winchester had been seen last. That kid in town, the one with the black eye…he'd been very helpful. One look at the picture of Dean and he'd spilled his guts. Which meant that the child should be here too. He wasn't one for rushing into anything and Dean was every bit as well trained as he was. He sat back in the car as he continued passed the turn off. He could afford to wait a bit longer. He needed to know more about this place before he went in and took out Winchester and retrieved the kid.
TBC…
Author's Note: Here's caption from next the next chapter, ""I don't think that damn kid is gonna sell, Alistair." Branson hated bringing bad news to his boss. But he needed to know that the Campbell kid looked like he was gonna try and make a go of the ranching business.
Alistair spun around and glared at his second in command. "Then find a weak point and press so hard that he screams."
Branson blinked a couple of times before he said something in response to that. "What is it with you and this Ranch?"
The taller man spun and grabbed Branson around the throat slamming him into the wall. "That's my business. Get that fucking kid in a room with me by the end of the week or I'm going to fire you."
The man getting his throat crushed shivered as he was released. You weren't fired by Alistair Zanuck…you disappeared. "I'll get it done."
"Make sure you do." With that Alistair stalked out of the room."
Thank you for reviewing Elma.1972, whiteraven67, redyellowgreenandblue, Estelio nin, DearHart, mb64, LeeMarieJack, , Miuda22, samisnotevil, carolina888, ajaali, and SingReader for taking a few minutes to let me know you enjoyed the chapter…and any guest reviewers. Thank you!
Please Review: Did you like the insight into Dean's past? Let me know.
