Chapter 21 - Crossroads
Roman jerked awake after what felt like a two minute nap.
He still held Deans hand. He decided to let Dean know that he was right there. So he told him what had happened in the past few month.
"I got my star today. After you left it was hard. But I love cooking and that is what kept me going. I never changed your steak recipe back. Tony, he weaseled his way back into my life. I took him back. Not out of love but out of convenience. I couldn't stand to be alone after you left. But things were still boring with Tony. But I stayed with him. As a way to punish myself I guess. I rather wanted to be bored out then allow anyone to bring me the same joy you did. That steak recipe…it really got me that star. So in a way it is your star. You got me that damn star by walking away and now you are possibly dying. How dare you to make that decision for me? Maybe I would rather want you and no star at all? Maybe I would rather want love and a restaurant I love and never be recognized by the elite for it. I could wine and dine with the best of them, I could have Antonio Cesaro the most handsome, most successful guy in the food industry. But I wanted YOU. I wanted the homeless guy who slept in my alley. The guy with the wild hair who gave a damn if he looked like he had climbed right out of bed at 8 pm. The guy who would dare me to be wild. The one who left 23 Dollars and 2 cents because he would never steal anything. Anything but a piece of soap and my fucking heart. You asshole Dean. I wanted you. Screw the success. We would have made it. Somewhere. Some day. But you and your sense for loyalty. For doing the right thing. I hate you Ambrose. I hate it that I fucking love you so much that it hurts. It still hurts every damn minute of every day. Only when I cook I am not thinking about you all the time. But fuck Dean. I don't want the star if you die for it in the end."
"Don't give it back. Yours." Dean spoke quietly and had not even the strength to open his eyes. The oxygen they gave him helped him breathe a little and the cough was gone due to medication for the time being.
"I can't keep a star that I got because of a dead lover." Roman shot back.
"You. Will. You cook for homeless. Star cook cooks for homeless. Will be huge." Dean had trouble speaking but he wanted to get this out. Roman would not give this star back.
"Okay. Yeah. That sounds good. I will do that." Roman agreed. He didn't want to argue with Dean right now.
"And step out of your comfort zone. Be wild. Stop fussing so much. Promise me."
Roman nodded but had to voice it because Dean still couldn't keep his eyes open.
"I promise. I will do wild things. Like keep Damien in charge of the restaurant while I drive from coast to coast on a motorcycle. Sounds good?"
"Yeah." Dean coughed as he tried to smile.
"Ro? Can you lie down next to me? Don't call the nurse. Please." Dean coughed again and he was obviously doing worse. Roman nodded and got into bed next to Dean and put his massive arms around the fragile body of his love.
"I will do anything crazy that comes along my way. I promise. But I will never love someone the way I loved you. Believe that." Roman told Dean while brushing his hand over and over through Dean's wild curls.
"Good." Dean smirked and opened his eyes with whatever little strength he had.
"I will do the same. What time is it?"
Roman glanced at his watch.
"12.09 am." When the words were out he regretted them. It was like a part of him seriously thought if he kept telling Dean it was still Dec. 7th that he would hang on.
"You can let go Dean. I am here. I love you." Roman pressed a kiss on Dean's rough lips.
"Love you Ro." Dean closed his eyes and grabbed Romans hand so fiercely that he almost broke the bones. Roman didn't care. Hell he could break the hand so badly if he wanted to that they have to cut it off, he really didn't mind at this point. The monitors started to beep differently. Urgently. And soon enough the doctor put her head in.
"Don't." Roman told her and she nodded.
Don't try to help him. Don't put this off any longer. Don't make him suffer.
She understood and just watched silently till the monitors showed an even line. She walked up to them and switched them off. A nurse was with her.
"Time of death: 12.17 am, Dec. 8th."
A long time later…
"If you burn down the building this is on you!" Roman pointed at Damien.
"Boss. I will run this place smoothly. I am ready. Daniel and I, we will be fine. The twins will keep an eye on us. You trained us all for a year. We will be fine for a couple of weeks." Damien told Roman full of confidence.
"We just don't know if you really are ready to ride this monster to the Westcoast." Nikki smirked and pointed to the bulky Harley Davidson in the alley. Instead of the typical Harley Davidson logo it had "Dean" written on it in the same font.
Roman had to laugh sometimes about this sick little joke. He still could ride Dean. The real Dean would have LOVED this.
"I am fine. I can handle this bad boy. Don't worry about me. Now go in. The food is coming any moment."
Brie, Daniel and Damien hugged Roman shortly and walked in. Nikki stayed behind.
"Enjoy the trip Roman. Try to have fun. Just…you know. Let him take you where you need to be."
Nikki broke down in tears and Roman pulled her close.
"I miss him so much sometimes." she sobbed.
"I know. Me too. Nikki, keep an eye on them."
The busty twin brushed a hand over her wet eyes and nodded.
"I will. See you Roman."
She walked inside as Roman started the engine.
…
"Oh no. Come on. Don't do that!" Roman cussed when the engine died.
He was just outside of a small town and he climbed off of his bike and did what every good rider would do. He pushed the bike into town.
He asked for directions for a garage and was lucky because the next one was just down the street.
He parked his Harley outside and walked in to find an old man behind the counter.
"Hello Sir. My Harley had troubles just outside of town. Maybe you have someone who could take a look?" Roman asked hopeful.
"Sure." the old man nodded and turned towards the garage.
"KID! A customer."
He turned back to Roman.
"He will be right with you."
"Good. I will wait outside."
Roman walked back out and started to get his stuff off of the bike. He would probably have to stay the night in this town. Where was he even? He really didn't know at this point.
"What a sweet bike." he heard someone exclaim and it didn't sound like a kid at all but more like a grown man. Roman turned around and found himself face to face with a guy who was a little shorter than himself. He just took off his cap and revealed odd hair underneath it. Unconventional. And wild. Romans stomach dropped.
"Hi I am Tyler. Let's take a look at…Dean, shall we?" the mechanic read the inscription on the bike and extended his hand towards Roman. He smiled and revealed a small gap between his front teeth. Roman shook his hand and felt a little jolt when their hands touched.
"Just a second." he told Tyler and crouched down beside his bike. He ran his hand over the gas tank like he would touch a lover.
"You little shit. You did this intentionally. I love you Dean." he whispered and got back up smiling broadly at Tyler.
"Let's take a look. That asshole started to make trouble just outside of town. I swear he has a mind of his own."
"I am sure I can fix him for you..?"
"Roman." Roman offered.
"Roman. And maybe I can fix you up with a dinner tonight?"
Roman heard a rattle and some of his stuff that he had placed on the seat fell down.
"He is just jealous." Roman told Tyler and smiled again when Tyler laughed out loud.
"And I haven't even started yet." the man grinned and got to work on the man and his Harley with a mind of its own…
A/N:
I am just as confused as you are. (Where is that quote from? The first one who answers this right gets a free virtual meal at the restaurant!)
What happened? Dean died? But I still ask you to stay tuned and watch out for the next chapter? What the hell is going on? Find out tomorrow!