The disclaimers apply about owing nothing Supernatural.
Again as before all mistakes are very much mine – I had a wonderful offer of beta and bless her for willing to take on such a horrid task and will be hopefully be wearing down her defences in future chapters to come. However with this chapter I literally had only a half hour to publish this chapter or be damned (RL being a frigging bitch) so I'm flinging this out unbetaed, no doubt horribly mutilated in places with strangalised English. Rozzy.
Escaping Gravity
Chapter 10 – Breath away.
The radio was one of the few things that Michael hadn't fixed and Sam was all hummed out as he raced away from Indiana and it felt decidedly odd driving down an empty highway with only his own inner thoughts for company.
This unnatural silence had never been an option in the impala as Dean always drove and he rode shotgun with the blare of rock music riding along with them. Now he could appreciate that driving with his big brother had never been boring, never ever quiet and never so alone as this ride was.
So alone could admit to himself just how much he missed having Dean around as the entertainment factor of his smart mouth could always be relied onto provide an interesting journey. Sure the jerk could be a real pain in the ass at times but right now he would tear off his right arm to have him sitting in the car besides him bitching and sniping away at him. Anything to stop the frigging boredom.
As he left the welcome to Indiana sign behind him Sam realised that he was more than a little tired. Even though he had managed to convince Connie Huffman otherwise he knew he was still not one hundred percent and his body was starting to rebel with a litany of aches and cramps for last fifty mile.
As the mustang drove easily into Illinois his head had started to thump, threatening the mother of all headaches if he didn't take a break soon. Hell even his hands were starting to betray their need for rest trembling slightly as he gripped the steering wheel.
Going off on this road trip had sounded fun in principal but after a long afternoon of constant driving he wondered just how long it was going to take him to get to California before the boredom factor won out. Or before he drove himself insane with the 'what ifs' and 'what might have been' that swirling around in his head about is family.
Grimacing at how pathetic he sounded even in his own head he rolled down the window letting the cool night air fan his face and he laughed softly appreciating the irony of it all.
For years he had nagged his brother to let him drive the impala but only on the odd occasion when either his brother had been too hurt or to drunk to drive to notice was he able to snag the keys. Now here he was driving his own car. A beauty of a car that his brother would be proud to be seen in and damn it to hell he wasn't around to appreciate it much less tease him about it.
Rubbing his tired eyes he yawned and let the chill of the night air fill his lungs and bring him back to full alert. He really needed to find a place for a pit stop soon, as it would be more than a little ungrateful of him if he wrapped this gift around a tree or put her in a ditch before one day was up.
And wouldn't that just prove Dean's theory right once and for all he smirked to himself. That he being the older brother had inherited all the cool Winchester genes leaving him with only the ability to be a total geek for the rest of his life.
'No big brother, not any more,' he told himself smiling broadly, 'Because with a ride like this I am already one foot off the bottom of the ladder of geektude.'
o0o0o0o0o0o
Nurse Clementine paged the surgical team and hurried quickly back to bed five and knew straight away her colleague had been right. The Robinson boy looked grey struggling to draw a breath, his fists clenching and unclenching on the white bed sheet as he tried to keep the panic away.
Gone was the calculated smirk she had grown to appreciate these past five days and its place was a look akin to fear as the ability to breathe deserted him.
The father looked equally afraid and his head had snapped up at her approach, "What the hell is happening here woman? He goes from breathing easy one moment to struggling just to draw a fucking breath the next."
The nurse lifted an eyebrow and bit back a response knowing his harsh tone was generated by concern for his son. Still it was all now just a little clearer just who the younger man had inherited his acid tongue from. Pushing past the tall man she checked her patient's vitals and clucked her tongue disapprovingly, "I knew you'd be a handful kiddo, but this is just not playing fair."
"Will you for the love of Christ tell what the hell is happening to my boy?" demanded John again, holding on to the edge of the bed as he looked down at his son willing him to be alright. For the last few days his son seemed to be have been doing so well, the pain had been brought under control and hell even the usual all encompassing smirk was back on his face.
Pulling an oxygen mask over Dean's face and whispering a few words of reassurance the nurse then turned briefly back to the father. "Mr Robinson the doctors will be here shortly and they'll be able to tell you in greater detail about what's going on with your son. But it looks like a DVT, a known complication from the type of injury and surgery your son has gone through."
"A what?" growled John his mind tripping over the three letters and finding nothing.
"Deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot, Mr Robinson. It might have moved up from his leg and lodged in a lung by the sounds of things. Your son may have unfortunately have a developed a pulmonary embolism. They can treat this with drug therapy, a clot buster of sorts, or maybe radiological guided treatment."
"But he'll be okay, right? They'll fix this. Yes?" John could hardly breathe himself with worry now not really absorbing all of what the nurse was telling him. One minute his boy was talking to him enthusiastically about a hunt they were planning on his discharge when suddenly it looked like he was drowning, unable to suck in the most basic of needs, air.
Nurse Clementine nodded but was unable to meet his eye and was thankful she wouldn't have to admit the truth, that men as fit as his son had died despite all the medical advances they had at their disposal, as Dr Moorson and a bunch of other white coats suddenly filled the room.
Watching the team take charge she took a step backwards, aware that the young man was strong and that he'd fight this, but mentally she was crossing her fingers as an additional support.
Looking at the readouts Dr Moorson shook his head, "It looks like he's thrown a P.E. Lets start him on Streptavidin and get him back to Imaging. Page Dr Gulteri and let him know we're on our way down."
Throwing a look at his father Dr Moorson added quickly, "Don't worry sir, this is treatable. He's in good hands."
Dean closed his eyes losing the battle to draw a breath, his lips tingeing blue, and John called after him as he was wheeled hurriedly away. "You hear that son, you'll be okay, You will be okay."
It was a mantra that he ran over and over in his head as he raced after them, sticking by his son's side until he was made to forcibly made to wait out in the cold grey corridor that led to the imaging suite. His face was set hard but his eyes were glittering with unshed tears, his lips moving whispering his prayer out loud. "You'll be okay, son. You have to be."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Sam moved stiffly as his muscles had seized after the long car drive and every ache and pain that he had thought gone had resurfaced as a reminder that playing ghostbuster had its consequences.
After leaving the highway he found himself on the outskirts of a town whose name he hadn't bother to notice and parked up outside a small shabby diner as the need to refuel with some food and coffee was too much of a lure for him to pass by.
Pushing back his long hair away from his eyes he gave the diner a quick assessing look and left the car smirking at the ill lit sign that had once read 'Darlene's Roadside diner' but now with half the neon bulbs blown all that was left lit up was the fractured 'Arlene's de d….'
'Maybe the food did you in?' he muttered to himself wondering on the proprietor's status as the sour waft of old grease and bad coffee hit him as he opened the door.
Still not used to his sudden extra height, shooting up three inches in as many months, it wasn't until the crown of his touched the lintel that he was forced to duck under the low doorway.
Trying not to blush on his inelegant entrance at almost smacking his head he quickly procured a small booth to hideaway in ignoring the odd glance thrown his way by some of the other customers.
Wearily he settled into the plastic chair eyeing the faded menu suspiciously though the rumble in his belly betrayed his best intentions of grabbing just a coffee and making his escape. Looking at the counter he spied a selection of pies and cakes and the thought of an overdose of sugar swallowed down by a hot coffee was just too much to resist.
A young waitress headed over to him, an indifferent look on her face, her pen clicking and unclicking as she sidled up to him to take his order her eyes anywhere but on him. "What can I get you mister?"
"A coffee and a piece of hot pie with ice-cream would be nice." Always polite Sam cringed at the sound of his voice. Dean would have thrown him his well-patented scowl of disapproval and kicked him under the table for sounding so lame. Glancing up through the heavy spill of hair hanging over his eyes he offered a small grimace and he couldn't help from adding, "Please."
The waitress on hearing the surprisingly soft but deep voice threw a quick look down and was instantly charmed, the disinterested look vanishing on taking in the appearance of the boy in front of her and appreciating what she saw. "Sure thing. Any thing you want."
By the time he had finished his first cup of coffee and half of a truly diabetes inducing peach pie he had learnt all about the waitress Melanie, how her second year in college had really sucked especially not helped because of her break up with her ex-boyfriend Alf who had taken up with the town slut, to where to look for an easy cash paying job and best still where the nearest and best bars were at.
Melanie Gordon was happily for Sam a veritable mine of information. Information he could make use of he hoped.
Despite what he promised Mr Huffman having less than forty dollars in his pocket wasn't going to feed him for long never mind the fact that he now had a major gas-guzzler to support. He needed ready cash now, and the chance of being able to pay for a soft bed was also another great motivator.
As Sam finished the remainder of the pie and swallowed down a second cup of coffee he found himself cornered as the young waitress popped herself down next to him. Throwing him a knowing look she asked, "So you say your gonna stay in town for awhile to get some readies, and that means you need to know all the right places to hit"
"I do?" asked Sam warily.
Melanie beamed right back up at him nodding her head. She had already after watching him take his first bite of pie decided that she liked this lanky kid and didn't mind showing it. "Sure you do. So the thing is that I'm meeting up with a bunch of my college mates at Oscar's in ten, wanna come along?"
Frowning he hesitated for a moment, unable hide the pink blush on his cheeks at being so clearly picked up like this. Not for the first time he wished he had Dean's ability to play it cool.
Melanie noticing his hesitation and sudden shyness cajoled him into saying yes. "Come on Sam. If you're gonna hang around this place for a while this would be a good chance to get to know the locals. Besides it half price night at Oscars. You're guaranteed to have a good time. I promise."
Seeing the expectant look on the girl's face Sam slowly nodded his agreement. A part of him knew he really should keep as low as possible profile if he was going to hustle a few games, but then again he told himself having someone in tow that knew the scene might prove to be an advantage.
Still the last thing he wanted was to get into more trouble as Dave Huffman's warning words about bikers and the dangers of hustling still rang too loudly in his ears not to feel a pang of guilt at what he was planning to do. This once he just had to make certain that he kept his wits about him and played it slow and easy. He already had enough resolving bruises not to want to add any more to them.
"Okay," he finally agreed, throwing her a thankful nod, "Sounds like fun."
Melanie glad on snaring him so easily for the night quickly added before he could change his mind. "Great my shift just finished so I'll just get out my uniform and meet back you back here in five."
As she sashayed away to change Melanie knew that her girlfriends would go crazy when they saw her walk into the bar with him. Secretly she was hoping her ex was there too as one look of her with this gorgeous boy he'd see green. Pea fucking green with envy she hoped. That would teach the stupid bastard to dump her for the likes of that fat tart Eileen.
After he had paid the bill Sam hung outside resting against the hood of the mustang waiting for his escort to the livelier parts of town to emerge. Eyes widening in surprise his mouth fell slightly open as she reappeared looking very different now out of her pink nylon uniform.
Melanie wore a pair of dark jeans, strappy slip-ons and a figure hugging sweater, giving her curves in all the right places. Her dark blond hair was now hanging freely down to her shoulders and with the addition of red lipstick and mascara it all helped to transform her from dowdy humdrum to pleasantly attractive.
Quickly snapping his mouth shut again afraid that he really was revealing his dork status his brother had endowed on him he stood up, still easily a head and half taller than he and grinned openly in appreciation.
As he opened the passenger door for the older girl he could feel that the night was looking decidedly more than promising now, and with it all his aches and pains he had when he walked into the Diner were now completely forgotten.
Her perfume wafted up to him as he shut the car door and it instantly reminded him of the one Kelly always wore. Chewing his bottom lip he walked around to the driver's side realisingly guiltily that he had neglected to ring his friend since his abrupt departure from Michigan.
As he started up the engine and half listened to Melanie's direction on how to get to Oscar's bar he told himself that it was time to stop being so insular.
In the next few days he told himself he would have to make a few phone calls as not everybody wanted his sorry ass permanently out of their lives he hoped. Old friends, no matter how far away they were, were still that to him – friends. Kelly had really been there for him since his move to Michigan and really hoped she would still want to be one of them.
Slowly a big fat grin split his face as his thoughts returned to the present. Here he was a no-nothing scrawny eighteen year old geek who within the space of an hour of drifting into town had a pretty girl sitting in his car and with the chance to make some easy money more than a possibility. Life was definitely looking brighter.
More importantly Dean would be so proud of him, he told himself wryly, as the Winchester pulling genes hadn't totally skipped past him after all it seemed.
Casting a sideways at the girl sitting besides him he smiled afresh. Melanie may be a few years older than him but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy her company. 'Yep,' he told himself firmly, 'Things really are starting to look up.'
In fact his whole life seemed to be getting back on track and if his luck kept up like this he might even chance calling Dean in a week or two to test how the waters lay. Perhaps by then his angry older brother he had left back in Michigan might have mellowed out just enough now to take his call.
Grinning as hope returned he left out a relaxed sigh, daring to believe that he might just be able to get his brother to speak to him again.
Seeing him smile to himself as he drove down Main Street Melanie felt a little less awkward on picking the boy up like she had.
She never done such a thing before, always being chased rather than doing the chasing, but this one was too cute to pass up. Even after just a few minutes of talking to him she somehow felt that he was safe. Certainly not like some of the ratty little perverts that seemed to make up half the male college population at times.
The bar she took him to was a generic copy of all the small town bars he had seen his brother go into over the years and then stumble out of later either with a drink in one hand and a pretty girl on the other, or a fist full of cash and a cocky smile. Or maybe sometimes all three when he was really lucky.
Oscar's was in desperate need of a makeover, the dark wooden façade bearing one fadedt neon sign.
When Sam stepped inside the bar following after a clearly excited Melanie his eyes tried to adapt to the poor lighting instantly baulking against the acrid tang of cigarette smoke and beer wrapped instantly around him making his eyes smart and his throat dry.
Sniffing back his dislike of the cloying atmosphere he weaved his way around the crowded bar, using his height as an advantage, all the while keeping his head ducked down to let the spill of his shaggy hair cover his youthful face so that he was not challenged by the bar staff.
Melanie had taken his hand territorially as a few girls looked over their way and was firmly pulling him after her to the back of the bar, where a group of her friends friend sat around sporting beers. Some were more glassy eyed than others and no doubt would be finding themselves hugging the toilet bowel later if they kept up guzzling back the cheap booze so quickly. Half price beer was always too much of a good thing to pass up on it seemed.
"Who's the hottie you've got in tow girlfriend?" called out one small dark haired girl to Melanie getting eagerly to her feet to run her eyes up and down the tall stranger and liking what she saw.
Waving her hand around at the loose assembled crowd of twenty something aged friends Melanie beamed happily, "This here is Sam. He's new to town and I promised we'd show him a good time tonight."
Giggling the dark haired girl wrapped herself around Melanie and threw her friend a knowing wink. "Don't you mean you'll be showing him a good time. Or will that be both of you showing each other a good time."
"Damn it girl I can always trust you to have your thoughts firmly in the gutter," spat back Melanie disengaging herself from her friend's arms and moving back to Sam who really did look embarrassed by the six pairs of eyes assessing him.
Carly for her part tried to straighten up and shook her head laughing softly, "Oh come on Mel you walk in with a cutie like him on your arm and you don't think Neanderthal Alf ain't gonna notice. He's way prettier than the ugly ex of yours that's for sure. Way to go girlfriend."
A chorus of laughs went up around them as her friends saw Melanie squirm at the suggestion and Sam muttered under his breath. "God someone please shoot me. Now."
Melanie protectively stood in front of Sam sensing he was about to bolt. "Look you guys play nice." Nodding over to a smaller blonde haired boy sitting a little unsteadily on a stool she demanded, "Brian go get us a couple of beers."
"Sure your Queen Melanie, you want nuts with that too, or are you saving them for later? Or have you already had them? taunted back the blonde guy throwing a knowing look over the taller boy that now scowled darkly back down at him.
Brian's mouth went a little dry under the intense glare as the kid looked like he knew how to handle himself. Grunting he moved a little uncomfortably on his stool waiting for the fallout. It wouldn't be the first time someone had wanted to knock his block off for his inability to keep his runaway mouth under control. It was just so unfair that all of them had to be so much bigger than he was and this kid was near to being a freaking giant.
It had been a long boring shift in the diner and her patience was worn more than a little thin so Melanie reached out and smacked Brian on the back of the head for the lewd remark and hissed in warning. "You best get them San Miguel fast sweet lips or I might have to tell your momma just who you've been doing the naughty with since spring break."
Blushing furiously, knowing when to back down when Mel got angry like this, Brian jumped off the stool and threw his friend a small shrug of defeat. "Two San Miguel it is then your majesty."
Melanie's face softened and she called after him, "Thanks bros, I'll settle up with you later."
As Brian walked up to the bar he smiled to himself in relief. At least he hadn't had his face pounded on. Yet. Best watch his mouth and slow down on the beer he told himself with the addition of this new guy to the mix.
Sure he knew that Mel may be a tough cookie but it was still up to him to make sure that this Sam character wasn't like all the other skanky dudes that she seemed to hook up with. He didn't want his best friend hurt again like she had been with that two timing loser Alf.
The kid may be a good head taller than he was but he could still stand on a box and punch his lights out if he hurt his friend. He hoped.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Dean struggled to open his eyes. They felt gritty, almost glued together from too long a sleep. A deep voice commanded him awake before demanding his complete attention and he whispered in response as he finally focused on his father. "Dad? What happened? Did the old witch Tally try do me in after all like she threatened?"
John couldn't help but snort out loud, especially as Nurse Clementine stood by his bed fiddling with his I.V. and he was rewarded with a daggers look that made him wince in discomfort. She was too damned feisty to want to mess with at times.
Finding his voice John smoothly rode over his son's accusation,, "No son, you had a bit of a scare, a blood clot, but you're okay now. They got you all sorted out. Right ma'am?"
Patting Dean's arm Nurse Clementine huffed. "Well if you can trust anything that comes out of this old witch's mouth yes you're doing fine now. I think yout father suffered more than you did with the not knowing and all."
Throwing his dad a worried glance Dean struggled to sit up but firm hand's kept him lying flat his voice husky with concern. "Dad you okay?"
"Sure son, just don't scare me like that. Not ever again. I've got too many grey hairs to count as it is." He leaned in and squeezed his son's hand before drawing him a glass of water.
"How long have I been out?" asked Dean before taking a few sips of tepid water offered to him easing away the dryness in his throat.
Studying his dad carefully he watched him stand and stretch, trying to ease out a knot in his shoulders before answering. "Just a day son."
Still trying to keep her patient calm under her guidance Nurse Clementine looked Dean firmly in the eye. "If you promise to behave I'll raise the bed for you slightly, but as I said before you still got a long haul ahead of you. Your leg is healing well, just don't fight it and let things progress naturally or you'll undo all the doctors work here."
"Yeah, yeah, heard the lecture read the frigging booklet," sniped back Dean but let himself be calmed by her firm approach. He was just glad to be able to breathe again. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but that had been so damn scary, not being able to draw in air.
Turing his attention back to his dad he raised his eyebrow in disbelief, "Shit a whole damn day, must have been some strong meds to keep me under like that for so long."
"Tell me about it son. Those twenty four hours seemed to stretch on forever."
Dean eyes searched beyond his father's broad frame, hoping expectantly that it wasn't only the three of them in the room before his head fell back to the pillow dejectedly, "No Sammy then? Did he even call?"
"No son. I'm sorry." John couldn't look at him or meet his gaze, knowing the hurt he'd see there.
Nurse Clementine sensing they needed some time alone quickly finished up writing in the chart and threw Dean a warning look that said 'behave or else' before she left.
John watched the plump nurse leave and his stomach lurched. This last day just sitting and waiting for Dean to wake up had left a war waging in his heart. The urge to find his baby boy and drag him back to his brother's side was like a physical need now. But he just couldn't just up and leave one son to hunt down the other.
For a supposedly smart man he had been shockingly dumb in telling too many lies. How on earth could he confess to his oldest child that his little brother didn't know a damn thing about him being in hospital, because no one had been able to tell him what had happened.
Dean would freak out on hearing this and no doubt undo all the healing to his leg. Hell he'd go fucking ballistic at him and then after that the dark rot of fear would set in on realising that his brother was out there alone. Unprotected.
All he knew now was whatever resentment Dean might be harbouring at Sam leaving him would mutate in true hate for the lies he had dared to tell him since. So the lies stayed firmly in place and it was easy to convince himself that this was really for the best as Dean had to get better first.
Sitting back on the bed John shook his head finally and looked at his oldest child to confess. "I'm really sorry son."
Dean sucked in an angry breath, battling to keep the threat of tears under control. The fact that he had been hoping that his brother might show now only been seen as a weakness he had to conquer. "What the hell have you got to be sorry about dad? Sam's made his choice clear now hasn't he? He left and he doesn't intend to come back. Not for anything or anybody."
Not for me. Why not me Sam? What did I do so wrong that you'd hate me this much? Do you really hate me this much for not being for you this past year. I thought we'd have each other's back no matter what? Guess I was stupid to believe that, hey little brother?
"Please Dean. Just give it some time, things are just screwed up right now with Sammy…." demonstrated John softly with his boy. Dean hating his brother like this was going to be so hard to fix later he knew as once his oldest got something fixed in his head it was hard to shift.
Dean though wasn't ready to be placated and spat out, "Fuck it dad, stop making excuses for the ungrateful brat. I've got a whole month of nothing but time to look forward to and my little shit of a brother couldn't even spare me a passing thought, not even to ring me or leave a message."
"Dean, stop it," interjected John trying to calm him down before words were said that couldn't be taken back. Just like the words he had said to Sam before he forced him to leave them both.
Too angry now to stop Dean pulled himself forwards and stabbed a finger at his dad. "No, don't you see? Thanks to you I know the truth about how little he thinks of me, his family. Its time, just like you said, to wash our hands of the selfish bastard once and for all. California and Jennings can keep his boney ass from now on. We don't need him anymore. You hear me dad, we don't need him."
On seeing his son's rage and feelings of total betrayal John got up quickly and made some weak excuse to leave the room suddenly too afraid that the truth would spill out of his mouth and further damage would be done that would be irreparable.
Marching hurriedly down the corridor to the stairwell exit he managed to make it there before a howl of grief escaped and he sunk to his knees on the cold concrete floor cradling his head in his hands letting the tears fall freely now. "God forgive me boys, please sons I really am sorry."
o0o0o0o0o0o
As Melanie hung by his side Sam managed to work his boyish innocence to his advantage sliding into a poker game with enough of a 'gee whiz' air about him to make the half drunk players around the table not even realised that they'd been played until the final turn of the cards.
Collectively the other players watched the coltish boy scoop up his winnings with a deep dimpled grin of satisfaction into his pockets, muttering his thanks before he left and for a moment five other pairs of eyes met across the table wondering just how the hell this had happened.
A grey haired veteran of the bar banged down his half full bottle of beer and a belly laugh erupted out of his mouth. "That kid sure has a pair of stones. He screwed us good and proper."
What could have turned ugly really fast quickly dissolved into few rumbling grouches of discontent and open amazement that he had the skill to play them like that.
Suddenly a waitress appeared before the table with another round of drinks. Questioning who had bought the beers the waitress nodded over to the bar where Sam smiled sweetly back at them.
"What did I say guys? He's got stones the size of freaking cannon balls," howled the grey haired man in amusement as they accepted the kid's offered apology by grabbing at the beer and laughing collectively. It wasn't every day that this grizzled group of veterans got fleeced by some kid who looked barely able to drive. This one they could let ride, for tonight at least.
As Sam walked out of the bar, decidedly unbattered and with enough money to tide him over till he got some other work, he felt suddenly so buzzed he really did feel on a high. Was this how Dean felt at times he wondered? The lead up to the prize at the end was as sweet as the actual winning.
Clapping her hands in delight Melanie spun out on to the sidewalk totally in awe at how the kid had managed to beat all the regular players at the table. She had watched enough poker games with her dad and brothers to know just how intense it could be at times. Sam had been so calm he could have almost been sleeping walking through the game.
Best still was that Alf had watched it all too, his face purpling as he watched Sam scoop up his winnings. His sour expression was so worth the wait, especially on seeing that Eileen had already moved on to her latest victim draping herself all over the idiot at the other end of the bar.
Now the shoe was on the other foot she couldn't help but sneer mockingly back at him when he stormed away at the end of the game as she hugged Sam tightly.
As she danced outside Oscars she realised that she had finally gotten over the all controlling Alf. This was truly something to celebrate and she grabbed hold of Sam and pulled his startled head down to plant a long hard kiss onto his lips.
Sam could only do one thing in return as Dean hadn't raised him to be a fool and knock back a pretty girl's kiss. Cradling her tighter to him he leant into her and let her steal his breath away.
Melanie's friends looked at each and giggled at the sight, falling into other in a loose supportive embrace as the effects of the cold air and too many beers took hold.
Slurring her words Carly wagged her finger at the locked together couple and nodded at Brian seriously happy for her friend. The kid was cute. "That's ten bucks you owe me. She snogged him first. Told you she would. What a slut."
Grumbling Brian fumbled around in his pocket and a crumpled note was pressed into dark haired girl's waiting palm throwing his best friend a cheesy smile. "Cradle snatcher. She should be ashamed of herself."
o0o0o0o0o0o
Tallulah Clementine walked back on to the ward, ignoring the strangled cry of surprise from Carl at the Nurses station, high heals clicking loud on the linoleum flooring and her too long red evening dress dragging behind her. A large pizza box held tight against one hip. It was her night off but here she was dressed up so differently Carl felt his eyes readying to bug out of his head.
As she approached the male nurse she gave her co-worker a withering look. "Next time you'd better lie to the rotten son of a bitch Carl or I'll swear I'll have you cleaning out bedpans personally. For a month."
"Sorry Tally. I didn't know. How was I supposed to?"
"If that devious little shit ever asks you to do anything ever again you check with me first. Clear?"
Struggling not to collapse into a fit of giggles Carl mutely nodded and watched her storm into the kid's room.
With the pizza still planted firmly against one round hip, her heavy breasts pushed up high, she threw Dean a wicked look as she stood at the foot of the bed. "You may have won the last game Dean Robinson but I'll get the next one. You mark my words."
"Oh my god it's the fucking reincarnation of Mae West. Where's the freaking rock salt when you need it," smirked back Dean in disbelief, his green eyes bright with delight as snatched from her the offered pizza. "Double pepperoni, hmmm. Real food at last."
For all his baiting, for all his smart mouth remarks and goading, he really hadn't thought she had the guts to meet her end of the bet. Yet here she was looking for the all the world like some turn of the century madam from a brothel and with a smile of defiance on her made up face that it made laughter sing through out him.
As he stuffed his mouth with a still piping hot slice of piece of pizza he eyed the woman appreciatively and goddammit didn't he know that he had grown to love this awful woman.
Loved her totally from her podgy short frame, to her wrinkles and too bottle blond hair.
Adored Tallulah Clementine in way he hadn't loved someone new in his life for a long time, because her mouth was just as foul as his own, her mind equally as devious and when push come to shove she managed to scare the bejeezers even out of his dad with just a look.
Yep he loved this feisty evil tongued old broad like no other.
As for Tally she had given into her liking for the young man and despite her reluctance to get emotionally involved with her patients only to find herself sitting with him in the quiet hours of the night playing poker and feeling a connection to his troubled soul that kept him constantly in her thoughts.
Since recovering from his latest scare Dean had sunk into a slight depression again and it had only been their constant bickering banter that seemed to have kept his spirits from flagging further.
Slowly he started to return to the smart mouthed cynical monster of before and she found herself matching his sullenness with her own considerably vocal skills of being an utter bitch when needed.
It was how their true friendship developed and by the third week of his incarceration in the 'Demon bitch from hell's ward' as he liked to call it Dean found himself healing faster than expected and actively enjoying his exchanges with 'Mad Bad Tally.'
Soon though the sarcastic comments turned into a need to best each other and realising that they both loved poker the fun really started. Small little gambits at first but as the days progressed the need for something bigger, brasher, more high staked became necessary. Just to keep that buzz going and the healing progressing, so they both kept reminding themselves.
So that is how Tallulah Clementine found herself looking like some badly done up drag queen after losing the last game to the incorrigible young man in room two. Though now she could believe as she watched his cocky grin that despite being trussed up on his bed with counterweights and wires he had scuttled out of bed last night, counted the number of bed pans stacked up in the sluice room, and bloody cheated.
A bet was a bet, Dean had told her, and now she was paying up. Just wait until she won the next game she told herself with an evil grin sneering her top lip upwards. Then she'd paint his cast and toe nails a bright shade of fuchsia and get the same coloured girly extensions put in his hair.
o0o0o0o0o0o
John had been gone from Dean's side for the last four days trying to track down a lead on Sam but had come back to the city, to his son's beside still frighteningly empty handed. Empty in parts because of his own stupid temper. And not one word of a confession came out of his mouth at seeing the welcome glint in his oldest eyes on his return.
"Good hunt dad?" was all he was asked and weakly he nodded, again adding to his collective lie.
Caleb earlier in the week had managed to find out that his youngest son had been admitted to a county hospital on the rural outskirts of Indiana almost two weeks ago. Admitted with a concussion, battered ribs and other injuries by some farmer called Huffman only then for him to totally disappear off the face of the earth again.
On hearing the news second hand from Jim Murphy his heart had missed more than a couple of beats. His baby boy had been hurt and not once had he tried to let his family know. That kid had too much pride for his own good at times it seemed as this was when he should have realised that he needed his family the most. Maybe he wondered fearfully that he really had convinced his youngest that he really had no family to turn to anymore.
He was a father near to breaking point and he had driven all the way back to Indiana like a madman, reaching the large farmhouse with a fiery need in his belly to get his boy back. Safe and well.
Slamming the truck door shut with a loud bang he walked up to the front door and banged loudly three times. A boy a few years younger than Sam opened the door and eyed him suspiciously and he sucked in the need to grab him physically and demand to know where his son was.
"What do you want mister? demanded Greg, keeping the door only half open, readying to shut it if the dark haired man proved threatening. Which looked very likely. He was one scary looking dude sporting a grizzled week old beard and a fire in his eyes that spoke trouble.
Gruffly looking beyond the boy searching for signs of his boy he growled out, "I want my son. Sam Winchester."
Greg paused, trying not to show how frightened he actually was of this powerful built man who looked ready to push past him and raise havoc at any second. "He's not here Mister. He took off weeks ago. If you were any sort of dad you would have known that anyways. Sam's made a lucky escape so I hear."
Greg may have hated Sam at first but after what had happened with Michael he had grown to respect him and then finally like him. He had heard enough from overhearing his parent's speak about his circumstances to feel only anger to the arrogant man standing in front of him now.
Seeing the boys blue eyes flicker up in him dislike and readying to slam the door in his face John pushed his foot into the gap and stopped the door from being shut.
Pushing past the resisting teenager with ease he snapped a warning. "Best watch your mouth boy. Now tell me where my son is before I really lose my temper and tan your sorry behind."
"You get away the hell away from son," shouted out voice in a warning, cocking a shotgun to the back of John's head. "
Turning slowly John looked down the grey barrel and frowned at the woman readying to blow his skull apart and loosely raised his hands in apology and backed away. A middle-aged woman with a rickety old gun pointed between his eyes was as scary as any poltergeist he had faced off against before.
"Just who the hell do you think your are coming into my house and threatening my child like that?" demanded Connie Huffman hotly.
Already the boiling anger that had propelled him past the young boy had evaporated and he shook his head in an apology. "I'm sorry. Truly sorry Mrs Huffman if I got carried away. Its just that I really need to see my son."
Connie kept the shotgun firmly sighted on the dark haired man and shook her head not trusting him one bit, realising that what Sam had said in warning about his father might just well be true. "Get out of my house before I'm forced to use this."
"But what about my son?" demanded John slowly stepping back to the door, not sure just how good a control she had over the trigger on the old gun.
Connie waved him on and watched with relief as he stepped back outside, beckoning with a nod of her head to get Greg behind her. "He left for California weeks ago and that's all I'm going to tell a bully like you. He's safe. Safe away from you by the looks of things. Now git."
"No he's not Mrs Huffman. He needs his family." scowled back John shaking his head in angry denial.
The woman had no idea of the sort of trouble Sam could attract to himself. No idea of all the dark things that might want his boy. All he wanted to see his son and try and persuade him to come back with him to Detroit of that was not possible then get him to California, get him to Jennings and then finally he could let Dean know the truth.
Connie could feel the earlier bravado deserting her, her knees readying to buckle as Sam's father stared her down. Just how this frightening control freak had managed to raise such a sweet boy was beyond all reasoning.
Huffing her disbelief she tried to her keep in check the fear from the man in front of her, and steadied the heavy weight of the gun in her hands. "You chucked out that poor boy for daring to get a full ride to college and made him so afraid of you that he wouldn't let us call you to let him know he'd been hurt. By my book you are not a normal parent -not by a long chalk."
"No- don't you dare tell me about what my son knows to be true," argued John. "I'm his father. I deserve to know what's been happening with him."
Connie stabbed the shotgun at him again shouting heatedly, "You bastard, you deserve nothing, Just who in the hell do you think you are barging into my home to threaten my son and think that I'll tell you anything about that poor lad of yours?"
"Oh for Christ sake what will it take for you to understand? Sam really needs to come home," snapped back John curtly, getting tired of being on the receiving end of a lecture.
"Too what? Don't think I didn't see the bruises on that boy that were days older than the new ones he wore when we found him. Tell me just how did he get them? Or do I need to ask? Because if you can threaten my son a complete stranger like this then I can just imagine what you could do to your own."
Greg cursed behind his mother and pushed up against her back, angry that may be the sonofabitch in front of him had been the cause of some of Sam's injuries. "You bastard, I hope Sam never has to see you ever again. Shoot him mom."
John took a step forwards desperate to explain himself, realising that this had all gone horribly wrong, when the air above his head exploded in buckshot and he ducked low protecting his head with his arms instinctively.
Connie hadn't meant to discharge the gun but the nudge from her son in anger at her back on hearing that Sam may have been hurt by his own dad, and that coupled with the man seeming to lunge at made her finger slip and the gun went off. Loudly.
Gasping in surprise at the noise she was thankful that her aim, always rotten, had gone high and no damage had been done. Yet.
On watching the man jump back onto his feet she readied the other barrel at seeing the anger march across his face and couldn't trust him not try and take the gun from her. She had Greg to worry about and she'd make sure that this man would never lay a finger on her son. Not ever.
Stunned John struggled back on to his feet a litany of curse words coming from his mouth at how near he had gotten to having his head blown off his shoulders. Eyeing the woman in front of him he heard the other barrel readying to be fired and he was forced to shake his head bitterly realising that the woman meant business.
Having enough sense left he walked back briskly to his truck, grimly aware that he had well and truly fucked up big time here by barging in there like a madman.
If only he had gone in there with a clearer head, more control, then maybe they might have let their guard down to trust him a little better. Now they were so against him, so willing to believe that he'd hurt his boy that they were not going to tell him anything. And that still left Sam alone and all he could do was return to Dean empty handed and keep the damned lies ongoing.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Sam woke to a gentle snoring in his ears and he half lifted his head off the pillow to look down on the sleeping form tucked in around him. Melanie had spooned her body around his, draping a leg over his as if to stop him from escaping, before finally falling asleep just as dawn started to rise.
Letting his head sink back down into the pillow he smiled appreciatively at still finding himself warm in a soft bed. Though when he had first wished for it last night in the diner he had not imagined the bed being Melanie's or what would follow.
Grinning inanely up at the ceiling he thanked the higher gods for skills of the older woman and closed his eyes readying for sleep.
The click of the door latch being pulled open snapped his eyes open fully alert and his eyes locked with the pissed of figure looking down at him. Shit thought Sam, this is no time to go commando.
o0o0o0o0o0o
TBC