Chapter 19 More than a feeling

Dean needed to do something about the situation with Buffy. Obviously, he couldn't keep going on the way he had been. Otherwise, she was going to end up hating him or, at the very least, deciding he was way too big of a player to risk getting involved with… if she hadn't decided that already. He wasn't sure what his next move should be though. He was definitely in unchartered territory when it came to this girl. He hated to admit there was anything he didn't know about women, but it was a fact that ladies like Buffy had always been Sam's area of expertise, not his. As much as it killed his pride to even consider it, he was going to need his baby brother's help with this one.

Dean pulled up to Sam's house. He knew he was home, since first and foremost Sam was a typical suburbs type yuppie. Sundays were reserved for watching some lame-ass chick flick or golfing. He turned off his ignition and sat in his seat for a minute before finding the courage to get out. If anyone knew how to deal with a 'good girl' it was Sam. His brother wasn't a girl, but he was pretty damn close without actually having ovaries.

Dean opened the door off Sam's previous invitation to just come in. He stopped in his tracks as he distinctly heard the name 'Buffy' in conjunction with what sounded like Sam setting her up again. Sam just didn't know when to quit. He'd told him not to set her up anymore!

"Sure, go ahead and give her a call. Do you still have the number?" Sam covered the phone with his hand, "Be right with you bro." Sam uncovered his hand, "No problem Brady, I'm sure Buffy will be glad to hear from you…Talk to you later." Sam hung up the phone as Dean's gaze practically burned a hole in him.

Dean approached Sam with a scowl on his face. While eavesdropping on the conversation, he had distinctly heard Brady and Buffy mentioned in the same sentence. This better not be what he thought it was. If so, he and Sam were going to have serious words. Dean couldn't contain the irritation in his voice, "What the hell, Sam! I thought you weren't gonna try and set Buffy up until you talked to me."

Sam still couldn't figure out why Dean was so gung ho about him not setting Buffy up with different people. He was just trying to help. Jessica had given him 'the look' (the one that melted his heart every time) and he couldn't possibly say no to her. After he returned the phone to its cradle, he blew out a breath of air, trying to restrain his irritation at the audacity of his brother. For one, he'd been listening in on his conversation and two, he'd been telling him what he could and couldn't do when it came to his own family. Sam scoffed at Dean, unable to hide his annoyance. "Well Dean, that was before MY WIFE also known as BUFFY'S SISTER asked me to do this for her. I'm sorry dude, but you're not the boss of me."

Sam observed Dean for a moment, something was up, and this time he was going to get to the bottom of his brother's odd behavior once and for all, "What the hell's up with you anyway, Dean? Why are you so obsessed with Buffy's love life, huh? Man, you better not be the real reason she was upset when she came over here. I told you she was off limits!"

Dean looked away, shoved his hands in his pockets, and avoided Sam's angry glare. After pulling one hand out of his pocket and nervously scratching the back of his head, he finally decided he was basically busted, so better to take the bull by the horns or the Sammy in this case, " I... uh... it's not what you think Sam. I didn't do anything. It's just I'm interested... really interested…she kinda came to see me, and well… when she got there she kinda saw Darla."

"What didja do Dean?"

As Dean explained exactly what had happened with Buffy, he could feel the tension in the room, but figured that despite how mad Sam might be at him, he would still be the one to know how to handle a good girl or how to get Buffy to, at least, give him a chance to be something more. He ended it with how since Sam was a chick, what advice could he give? Dean, however, was unprepared for the tornado of emotions that converged on the room seconds later.

Sam was livid. He knew that Dean was usually determined to do stuff that he outright forbade him to do, but in this case, he had behaved for the most part. He couldn't believe his brother would even attempt this. Dean was the cause of Buffy being upset, he couldn't believe it. Here he'd even been proud of his brother for not attempting to lead Buffy on, and had even told Jessica that Dean may be finally growing up. It looked like he was going to have to eat those words. But for now, he was going to let his brother have it. Sam stalked closer to Dean, pointing an accusing finger toward him.

"I warned you, Dean. I told you not to go there. She's not one of your…" Sam took a deep breath, trying to reign in his temper, "I don't know why you can't just let this go. You don't have to screw everything that moves."

"I'm not trying to do that, Sammy. I know you have a right to doubt me. I have been around the block like a zillion times, but this is different. I really like her. I think... hell, I know this sounds stupid coming from me... but I think she's the one."

Sam snorted dryly, "Really 'the one'? Don't you mean the one this week?"

Dean threw up his hands in aggravation, he was trying to be honest for once and all Sam wanted to do was piss him off, "Dammit, Sam! I'm trying to be serious here. Cut me some slack, why don't ya?"

Sam looked at Dean. He didn't want to hurt him. He loved his big brother and owed him so much, but he loved his wife too, and a sure fire way to hurt Jessica was to let Dean play head games with her sister. Maybe if he reasoned with Dean, there was always that small chance he'd come to his senses. "Look, you're my brother and I love you…We're family and there's not much I wouldn't do for you…If it were any other girl, I would step back and let you go for the gold. But man, she's a really good girl and I can't let you hurt her…" Off Dean's confused expression, Sam knew he was going to have to be blunt. "Dean…sex to you," he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "Not a big deal… something you order like an extra slice of pie…Sex to Buffy is marriage, the rest of your life kinda deal."

Dean couldn't believe what Sam was saying. There was no freaking way Buffy Summers' fruit had not been plucked. He couldn't help but question that statement.

"Dude you're not saying...? No way!" Dean laughed, "You're not saying she's a virgin are you?" Dean continued to laugh; he just needed to wait for the punch line, "Sam, that's ridiculous. I'm sure she hasn't exactly been wild, but COME ON, nobody's a virgin."

"She is, and you can't just play with her emotions."

On one hand, this information had completely caught Dean off guard, but on the other hand, this was just another damn thing for Sam to use as an excuse for him to not date her. Or maybe this was also about his less than stellar academic achievements and his less than prestigious gig? "You know what? Screw you, Sam. I think I know what this is about. You don't think your grease monkey brother is good enough for a girl like Buffy. I mean, you married her sister, but that's totally different, seeing as how you're a big fancy lawyer and stuff. Kiss my ass! I'm outta here. You're not the boss of me."

Dean walked out Sam's front door, slamming it behind him. His brother tried to follow him, claiming he didn't think those things about him, but Dean continued on his way to the Impala, slammed that door as well, and then peeled the tires pulling out of the driveway. He needed to think, to calm down, and the only way to do that would be to head to the shop, his sanctuary. Many a time when he had been worked-up about something, he'd gone to his garage, cranked up the tunes, and fixed vehicles for hours.

XXXXXXXXXX

Dean leaned on the car's front end, looking at the engine, deep in thought. He was so frustrated that even his usual 'fixing cars' distraction wasn't working. Maybe Sam was right, maybe he wasn't good enough for Buffy? God knew he had never encountered a woman who had him so confused and completely put his mind in a whirlwind. She was beautiful, although not conceited, and lord knows she could be. She had an almost wholesome appeal. If anyone had ever asked him, 'Would he even consider dating a virgin?' Dean would have laughed his ass off at them. He preferred his women skilled… or he did until Buffy. What was it about her that touched his heart? She was kind and loving and unselfish. With the exception of his sister-in-law, he had never in his life met a girl who was all those things and more. Women who were self-centered and only out for a good time - he knew how to handle those. He could also deal with women who were just looking for a 'friends with benefits' kind of situation. But when it came to Buffy… he had no freaking clue.

The attraction had been there from the very beginning and her blatant disregard for all of his usual charm had completely befuddled him. At least it had in the beginning, but then she gave him those tickets and he'd started looking at her in a whole new way. Still, that wasn't what completely enamored him. It was all of her gestures. Like his record player. That had completely caught him off guard. But, it wasn't even just that, it was her as a whole person.

He had seen her heart; she held it up like a beacon of light for the entire world to see. She wasn't fake and didn't play games. She genuinely cared. She was a woman of a different caliber. If he was honest with himself, she was too good for someone like him. But that didn't stop him from wanting her, not for a good time though, he wanted her for a whole other reason. He never saw himself as the type of guy that would want to get married and have kids, the whole nine yards. But he wanted that with her. Buffy Summers made him want to be a good person, a husband, and a father. She didn't treat him like someone beneath her; she treated him like he was worth more than he was. She made him feel things in his heart, the part of him he had long since thought dead. Dean turned quickly and threw the wrench he had been adjusting the carburetor with against the far wall. As it clattered to the floor, he heard a gruff voice coming from the doorway to the office, "Feel better?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he lied as he pointed to the Toyota that was up on the lift. "These damn foreign cars are just cheap, plastic crap. Pisses me off every time."

Bobby walked closer, pulled his cap off, and scratched his head. He placed the cap back on and said, "Sam called…"

Dean snorted. "Oh really? So, I guess Saint Sammy convinced you I'm a horny bastard who's trying to screw up his family? Lay it on me, Bobby. Tell me Buffy's not the type of girl a guy like me should be pursuing."

"Well to be honest, your Aunt chewed your brother a new one... Be awhile before he gets outta her doghouse... Expect some ass kissing in the near future."

Dean wiped his hands on a shop towel and stared at Bobby with a raised eyebrow. "What now? You're kidding me, right?"

Bobby walked closer. "Nah, she let him have it...Whew...I tell ya son, I didn't know Karen knew some of them words."

"No shit?" Dean laughed a little. "Not that I'm complaining, but why was she so riled up? Me and Sammy used to go at it all the time and she never got involved before." Dean continued to clean his hands while he chatted with Bobby.

Bobby looked around, kind of nervous about talking about feelings and crap. If Karen hadn't ordered him over here, he probably would have stayed out of it.

"She brought some things to my attention...Member when you came over for dinner?

Dean returned his attention to the car, obviously embarrassed by the direction the conversation was headed. "Uh huh. Yeah, I remember... What about it?"

"Noticed the way you acted and...Matter of fact, she chewed me out for not talking to ya sooner."

"About?" Dean barely turned to address Bobby, afraid of what his aunt and uncle may have been witness too.

Bobby scoffed, "You know. Buffy and how you ..." He waved his hand off toward the ceiling, hoping his nephew wouldn't force him to be more detailed, "Yanno, how you acted around her."

Dean groaned, picked up another wrench, and started unscrewing some random bolt on the car. "Do we have to do this, Bobby? I mean, I know what you're thinking and I'm not trying to get in her pants... Well, yeah I am... but there's more to it than that. Okay?" he added defensively.

"You're really gonna make me do this aren't you?" Bobby glared at Dean's turned back, "Balls... Didja Daddy ever tell you how I met Karen?"

"No," he answered absently. "Dad never told us anything. He was too busy bitching at us."

Bobby took a deep breath, " I know...wished I coulda done more… Anyhow, Rufus and I were up in Brownsville, just got out of the service...Rufus likes to be in the thick of things as you know...Anyhow, we were up there to meet with some buddy of his when I saw her going into a church. Pretty thing...couldn't believe how pretty she was..." Off Dean's obviously annoyed look, Bobby continued "Anyhow got to talking and made several trips up to Brownsville...Couldn't get the balls to ask her out..." Bobby paused trying to get this story out before the nerve left him, "One time I talked a buddy of mine into going up there with me. Jasper Wallace...prick sonuvabitch was looking to sweep the rug from underneath me. Bastard asked her out, knowing I was interested…"

"No offense Bobby, but I don't see what this story has to do with me... or with Buffy." Dean questioned with an arched eyebrow.

"Jus frickin lemme get through this. It's hard enough as it is...and if I don't, I gotta go back and be chewed out by your aunt too."

Dean chuckled at Bobby's exasperation. "Fine, Bobby. I'm just giving you a hard time. What do you wanna tell me?"

"Nobody thought I was good enough for her...even my own damn friend. So, I found out where he was taking her, went there, flattened both the asshat's tires…and I got to go home with the girl," Bobby said proudly. "The point is...you look at Buffy like the last slice of bread on the table...Same way I looked at Karen."

Dean listened to the story and after Bobby seemed like he was finished, he turned and leaned against the fender of the car he had pretended to fiddle with.

"If you want her...really want her...ignore all the assholes and go get your girl before some jerkoff comes and sweeps her away from ya."

Dean had stopped what he was doing about ten seconds earlier, when Bobby was telling him to go get Buffy. He was embarrassed and feeling like he had gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He avoided looking at Bobby, but smirked at his Uncle's antics. "Damn Bobby. You flattened dude's tires, huh?" He laughed a little at the picture he'd formed in his head. "Bet Sammy'd be real pissed if I did something like that to his college buddy. He set her up with some dude named Brady. Brady? What the hell kind of name is that anyway? Sounds like an escapee from Harvard or some shit."

Bobby laughed a little and approached Dean and pulled a small scrap of paper from his worn flannel pocket, "Karen said to give this to you."

Dean accepted the paper with a skeptical look on his face, "What's this? Love poem or something? Tell Karen I appreciate it, but I've got my own moves."

Bobby ignored Dean's fake bravado, "Karen says to tell you, Friday night at Baxter's. There's a bar there that you can sit at and see the table…Be there by 8:00. That'll give you time to get settled 'fore they get there. That's the address."

Dean stared at the paper in his hand as a devious grin came over his face. "Guess I should take a sharp knife then... Never know when I might need to flatten a set of tires."

Bobby scoffed loudly, "Don't you dare tell your aunt I admitted to that."

"Okay Bobby, you got it. Just make sure you get my back if that Brady dude's ride ends up needing a tow.

Bobby laughed, "As upset as your aunt is, she might go flatten the tires for you and tow it away herself."

Dean smiled as he folded the paper and placed it in his pocket. "Cool... Tell her I said 'thanks'. You know… for the info." He motioned to the paper he'd just put away.

Bobby turned to leave, but stopped short before he walked out of the garage, "Oh and your aunt said, she better be invited to the wedding or she will never make you a cherry pie again." Bobby straightened, slipping his usual stern visage back into place, "Now are we done talkin' about our feelings? Cuz I think we oughta stop 'fore we grow lady parts."

"Hell yeah. No argument here."