A/N: So glad everyone liked the last chapter and Dean's attire. For those who are wondering about the trunk, can't give away all our secrets, but you will find out more in the upcoming chapters. I want to say again was an absolute thrill it is writing with Chick Feed on this, it seems like we have a psychic link or something. She is the best! Thanks you to all who are following, have favored and have left us reviews. If you can take a moment please review.
NC
C25
-oOo-
Sam hastily made his way back to the kitchen with clothes in his arms and quickly pushed them into his brother's free arm before pulling Dean's chair, complete with Dean, away from the table. His hand on Dean's back, Sam muttered at him unhappily, making it clear this wasn't a debate.
"Go put some clothes on. I don't like my body being displayed for everyone to ogle at."
"I'm goin', don't push."
Dean grumbled under his breath as he shoved the bite of pie in his mouth and left the room, Missouri erupting into laughter again at Dean's rear view. Bobby winked at Sam, unable to resist teasing as the blush rose up Sam's face again.
"Didn't know purple was your colour Sam."
Between giggles, Missouri defended the embarrassed young man.
"Awe, leave the boy alone, he can't help it if his brother has no shame, now can he? And it's lilac, not purple. I think the colour quite suits him."
This just made Sam's blush deepen, he was so going to get Dean back for this.
-o-
Grinning as he walked down the hall in jeans and a white tee, Dean straightened his face before sauntering back into the room and sat down to finish his pie and coffee. Looking up, he saw three sets of eyes staring at him like they were waiting for him to say something prevalent.
"What? Can't a man have his pie in peace?" he mused popping another bite in his mouth and chewing madly.
Sam rolled his eyes as he watched himself carelessly chomping on the pie and dropping crumbs on his shirt and table. Sometimes Sam wondered how they were even related. Still smirking, Bobby poured another cup of coffee.
"How ya feeling boy?"
"Better, why? Did you find something out?"
Sam sat down and offered Dean a napkin, hoping he would take the hint.
"We think the box had some sort of spell on it and you might have triggered it when you touched it."
Snatching the napkin from his brother's hand and putting it by his plate, Dean frowned.
"But, I didn't feel any different."
"There was something definitely there child. Whew, the evil that radiated off it when we opened the trunk..."
Dean rounded on his brother, cutting Missouri off before she could finish.
"Sam I told you not to open the trunk without me!"
Bobby rolled his eyes.
"Not the trunk, the trunk of your car, dumb ass. What do you take us for amateurs?"
Dean screwed Sam's face up in an expression of exaggerated concentration, as if he had to think on the matter before answering. Bobby huffed and drained his coffee.
"Don't strain yerself there jack ass. I gotta go do a little mixin' and matchin'."
Sam stood up and began picking up plates from the table.
"Missouri, you go on and start your research; we'll clean up in here."
"Why thank you child, mind you no broken dishes, yer hear me both of you?"
"Yes ma'am."
Turning to Dean, Sam was in time to catch Dean making a face at him. He smirked at his older brother.
"Forget it Dean. Whatever face you're trying to make it's not working. It looks more like you're constipated."
"Damn and I thought I had that one." Dean quipped.
-o-
"Do you want to wash or dry?"
"Wash."
Dean picked up his empty plate and cup and popped them in the sink. As he bent down to rummage in the under sink cupboard for dish washing liquid, Sam was heartily grateful that Dean was no longer wearing Missouri's robe. Humming to himself, Dean squirted a glob of the thick blue liquid into the running water, smiling as he watched the bubbles mount. Satisfied, he turned the tap off and plopped in the dirty dishes, immediately causing the water level to rise enough to send bubbles and water over the sink side and into the floor.
"Crap!" he muttered.
He hurriedly attempted to use his body to dam the escaping foam of bubbles and stop any more from jumping ship, whilst also trying to re-direct the water from the counter back into the sink. Sam watched the whole process with interest.
"Well, looks like you're offering to mop the floor up too."
"Bite me."
Dean quickly began washing the plates and cups, handing them on to Sam who, very irritatingly, studied each one before rinsing and drying them. He reached around behind Dean and dropped one of the plates back in to the sudsy water.
"Not clean. Try to remember Dean; there are two sides to every plate."
Dean squared his shoulders and gave Sam his best bitch face before holding the plate up and, way more carefully than was necessary, washing it again, peering closely at every inch, front and back, before giving Sam a slight bow as he handed it over.
"Hey, that one's pretty good! See? You can do it properly. Now, you go look for a mop while I finish off drying and putting away."
"You know, you're starting to get reeeaal bossy Samantha! Don't go lettin' it become a habit."
"I dunno...I'm kinda liking bein' the older bossier one for a change."
-o-
"Boys? Got a question."
Bobby started when he saw first, the mess in the floor, and then Dean appearing with the front of his tee dripping wet and a mop in his hand. He shook his head, looking from Dean to the floor and back. Dean promptly switched on Sam's best Why you lookin' at me? I'm cute an' innocent expression. Bobby shook his head again.
"Unbelievable! Werewolves, Wendigo, Vamps and Daemons? No problem. But leave you to wash a few dishes? Kitchen Apocalypse! What did I come in for?...Oh yeah, my question. Which one of you chuckle heads has the key to the trunk?"
Dean rested on his mop, ignoring how awkward and bent over his move to look casual turned out to be when attempted from Sam's height, and smirked.
"Um...And which trunk, exactly, would that be Bobby?"
Bobby rolled his eyes at Dean and turned to watch Sam searching his pockets, triumphantly pulling out the key to Usagi's trunk.
"Here. I've been keeping hold of it."
"So, Lucenda gave it to you, you've had it ever since then?"
Sam nodded.
"You both sure Dean hasn't had the key at all?"
"We're sure...Why?"
"I've got a theory. You bein' the only one had it since it was given to you means I'm probably right. Come on Sam, we need to move the trunk out of the car, maybe to the back yard, there should be room there."
"Room for what? And, Probably?"
"I think once that spell was breached, it was done with, a one shot. But, to be on the safe side, we're going to do a counter spell for any lingering remnants."
"Hold on both of you. I'm coming too."
Dean was already abandoning the mop and drying his hands as he butted in.
Bobby looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry son. You need to stay out of this for now since I figure it was probably you triggered the spell. Can't take any chances by lettin' you get involved. If I'm right, Sam here's protected, you're not."
Dean huffed.
"Why's that?"
"He's got the key, willingly given to him. If I've done my research properly, being the keeper of the key? It's kinda like Sam's been given the right level of security clearance and means he should be protected from the effects of any booby spells."
Sam turned to Bobby and mouthed Booby spells? Really? Dean used the couple of seconds to consider; then held out his hand to his brother.
"Nope...Not liking that...Sam. Give me the key."
Dean made it sound like an order, instantly annoying the younger man. Sam answered defiantly, matching his brother's posture with his version of Dean's stubborn Not gonna happen glare.
"No! You're injured, and beside, you've already been zapped. The key's mine Dean. You can't take it, I have to give it to you willingly, and I ain't willin'! End of."
Leaving the pair to their stare off, Bobby took himself into the utility room and grabbed a box of disposable gloves. Returning he tore the box open and handing Sam a pair. Wordlessly, he pulled out a pair for himself and headed toward to front door. Sam and Dean trailed behind him curious to see what Bobby was going to do. They watched whilst Bobby searched the trunk of his car, moving bags and boxes around. He finally produced two pair of leather work gloves and handed a pair to Sam.
"Put these on over the latex ones and let's get that mother out of there and around back."
-o-
Sam opened the Impala's trunk and stared at Usagi's trunk thoughtfully. He never really got a good look at it back at Lucenda's before Dean had put it in the back of the Impala. It was an old-fashioned steamer trunk from around the late 1800's, the casing made of wood and then bound over with sturdy wood and metal strips. Much of the original green and white chequered covering had ripped and torn off over time, the bare wood had darkened with age and the original gleaming metal furnishings now looked blackened and rusty.
"You take one side and I'll get the other." Bobby instructed Sam as he grasped the handle on his side.
"It's heavier than it looks." Dean cautioned them standing back, but watching carefully.
Bobby grunted as they lifted it out and began to walk toward the back yard.
"Damn, he's right. I'm surprised you managed to carry this on your own Dean. Grab some salt and at least half pint of holy water will ya?"
"Sure."
"Right here's good Sam, set it down." Bobby grunted as they sat the trunk on a rock patio in the back yard. He made sure to have it a good distance from the house not wanting any negative mojo getting inside before they were ready.