Part 10

They were barely passing Lincoln, NE, as dusk was settling in again. Jarod had been driving for close to 20 hours straight, and Dean had been resting for half that time, finding the motions of the car appeasing. It'd been a while since he'd felt safe enough to let his guard down and truly rest, even though the nightmares were still fractioning the sleep he was managing to salvage.

The I-80 was slowly getting busy as people went on with their daily schedule, leaving their offices to go back to their homes. It felt strange, somehow, that people had kept going on with their lives, while his had been put to a stop for the better part of last year. Then again, he'd always felt disconnected from the outside world. He used to feel that way too after checking out of a motel room, the hunt closed, and the documentation for a new case fast building up in the empty seat next to him.

"We should make a stop next chance we get. Refuel, get some food and coffee," Jarod offered, barely suppressing a yawn.

Dean felt stiff and tired, and he knew Jarod was probably ten times worse. He had to admit he was feeling grateful for having been given the opportunity to put some sleep between the events of the past 48 hours and now; but now that he felt as rested as he could, he craved the feeling of the wheel in his hands, of the engine responding to the pressure of his foot on the gas pedal.

The gas station was just off the interstate, but it wasn't packed with commuters, and they immediately found a free gas pump.

"Why don't you fill it up, and I'll go re-stock on food?" Jarod offered, already half gone, not even waiting for a reply.

When he was done, Dean sat on the hood of the car, fishing his phone out of his pocket. He hit speed dial #1, hoping his Dad would pick up when he saw the caller ID.

"This is John Winchester."

Fuck. Straight to voicemail. Where was he? And why wasn't he answering? Damn it, Dean hadn't talked to the man in over seven months, hadn't seen him for a while longer; and now that he was finally out of the Hell hole, his own father couldn't bother to pick up the phone?

"Hey, Dad. It's, hu…

"It's me. I'm…

"I'm okay. I guess. I'm with Jarod, we're on our way to get Sam. Just…

"Where ARE you, Dad ? I need…

"Just, call me."

Dean silently hoped that his father was alright, and that he was just being an asshole. He tried to quiet the nagging feeling in his gut that was telling him shit was about to hit the fan.

Putting the phone back in his pocket, he looked around before settling his eyes back on the road in front of him. The sky wasn't as clouded as it had been around Chicago, and it was lighting up with reds and oranges, the clouds turning a bright pink as the sun finished its course.

"Found these," Jarod said, dangling up a pack of M&M's in front of him. He smiled at him, eyes sparkling with a mischievousness Dean hadn't seen in a lot of people.

"M&M's for breakfast?! Are you serious?"

"I dare you to tell me you haven't missed them."

Dean chuckled, rolling his eyes. And yes, absolutely. He had.

Jarod was about to open the door on the driver's side, but Dean hadn't moved, eyes still fixed on the sky in front of him. He felt the car lower a bit further as Jarod sat on the hood next to him, tearing the bag of candy open, offering it to Dean.

"You're right, you know," Dean finally said as he popped a green chocolate-covered peanut in his mouth. "I have missed it. All of it."

Jarod smiled.

"First time I broke out, I couldn't get enough of it. The way the sun felt on my skin, or the wind against my cheek…"

"I was more thinking of beer and onion rings."

Jarod laughed.

"I'll tell you something else," Dean said, eyes moving to meet Jarod's.

"Yeah? What's that?"

"From now on? I get to drive."

***

Dean had driven for a good 15 hours before Jarod had coerced him into riding shotgun again, but it had been the best 15 hours Dean had had in a long time. The music had blasted for the last few hours, as soon as Jarod had woken up, and Dean was now trying to get Jarod into all the music he'd missed.

They'd switched again halfway between Salt Lake City and Reno, allowing Dean to take another quick nap, but he'd quickly decided he'd rather have his music than Jarod singing "99 bottles of beer on the wall" over and over again. He actually didn't think he'd ever witnessed anyone go all the way to the end of the song.

He instead turned the music back on, satisfied to hear Kashmir play through the speakers.

"I can't believe you never heard about Led Zeppelin before. Dude. Seriously," Dean said again, as they got to Sacramento.

"In my defense, I never got anyone to introduce me to it. And I've been busy discovering other stuff."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Cockroach motels, PEZ dispensers, Oreos, you know…"

"Yeah, well. Music is the best thing out there. Well, my kind of music is. Trust me, you don't want to get lost in the teenage boy-band aisle."

"What's so wrong about it?"

"You don't wanna know."

Jarod laughed at that, and Dean as the cassette over to start side 2 of Physical Graffiti He tilted his head back, his fingers drumming against his legs to the rhythm of the music.

"I'm not gonna be finishing the trip with you," Jarod said, out of the blue, right in the middle of the song.

Dean's hand immediately went for cassette player, turning the sound down.

"Come again?"

"I'll be stopping in Sacramento. I'm sure you can drive alone from there, it's not far anymore. And I don't think it'd be simple to explain to your brother, whom you haven't seen in 4 years, exactly how I fit in…"

"Yeah, you're right."

Dean didn't know why, but he felt strange about the idea of them parting so soon. He knew it was better that way. Hell, he really didn't want to have to introduce Sam to Jarod. The main reason, which he hadn't told Jarod, being that telling Sam what he'd been up to for the past seven month wasn't part of the plan, and never would be. Not if he could help it.

Still, Jarod had been the first human being he'd felt a connection to in a while. Well, a healthy one at least; he'd been the one to get him out of the Centre, to ease him back into the real world.

Even though it hadn't been more than four days ago, Dean knew he had to adjust fast, to do his best to pretend he was all right. He couldn't allow himself to waver, not when Sam was in such clear danger. Not when his father was missing.

And Jarod had been a great help in that short period of time. He'd helped him realize he couldn't let himself dwell on the past, no matter how close that past was. He had to focus on the days ahead, on the good luck which meant he was finally out there, breathing and eating and driving as a free man once again.

They stopped for an hour in Sacramento, giving Jarod time to get a room at a motel. Dean jumped at the chance to grab a quick shower and some solid food.

"Well. I guess this is goodbye," Dean said with a shrug, trying to pretend it was easy.

"Hey. Here's my phone number. It's a safe line too. You can call whenever you want. If you need anything, too. And I do mean, anything."

Dean smiled. "Yeah, thanks man."

"Good luck on finding your dad, Dean."

Oh, he'd be needing a lot of luck all right.

***

"Sam ! Come on, we were supposed to be there like, 15 minutes ago!" Jess called, attaching the last of her earrings, completing the attire of the perfect nurse slut.

"Do I have to?" Sam pouted, following her.

"Yes! Come on, it'll be fun!"

"And where is your costume?" Jess scowled

"You know how I feel about Halloween," he reminded her, approaching and putting his arms around her.

"Yes, I do. And I think it's ridiculous. You're basically gonna be the only guy around who didn't bother to dress up, Sam!"

"Then we'll say I'm dressing up as a college student…"

"Oh, that's rich! Now come on, move your ass. It's Halloween! The night of the monsters! Let's celebrate!" she yelled from the next room, as Sam grabbed his wallet and keys.

"Celebrate. Right."

***

Halloween was already over by the time Dean left Sacramento, November 1st just starting, and he'd be getting to Palo Alto well into the night. He'd have to break in to get to Sam, then. He hoped he was still strong enough to climb up to whatever apartment Sam had moved to.

It'd been a while since he'd come to check up on the kid. Last time he'd come, Sam was moving out of his dorms to get an apartment with the beautiful girl he'd met. Dean really wondered how his awkward kid brother had managed to score such a babe…

California was much warmer than the East Coast had been, and Dean hadn't been used to such heat in a long time. The sublevels of the Centre were always cool, most of the time too chilly and uncomfortable. It was nice to feel some heat again, especially when it was coupled with the cool wind blowing from the ocean.

2 am. Dean checked his phone again, startled when he realized he'd gotten a voicemail. He put the device to his hear, and felt his heart skip a beat when he heard his father's voice.

He could barely make out any sound, only the words "not safe", EVP jamming the message. At least now he knew his father was alive and still out there, though he couldn't think of a reason why John would refuse to communicate directly with his son.

He quickly dug a recorder out of the glove compartment of the car, and registered the message. Re-running the message his dad had left him at a higher speed, he felt confusion overtake him as he heard a woman's voice come out.

Never go home…

Well. At least he had something to tell his brother.

***

"Dean? What are you doing here?!"

"Well, I was looking for a beer…"