Warnings and disclaimers: see chapter 1
Chapter 28 Grumpy old men
Dean used his flashlight to track the hunter down.
"The werecat was after him, Bobby. He ran this way. Probably fell in a hole like you did. He as old as you?"
"Shud up, ijit. Can you find him?"
"No problem. Left great big prints behind. May as well have dipped… his feet in glow in the dark paint or used a cane like you."
"Keep goin, you'll be sleepin on the porch."
"Promises, promises." Dean chuckled. 'Sam would love that.' He thought.
Dean's left eye had swelled almost all the way shut but he still had no problem with the footprints even in the dark by the light of his flashlight. They walked for half an hour before Dean warned Bobby about more holes with a smile in his voice.
Dean started shining a light down holes but found a guy in the fourth one he looked down. He was so far down Dean could barely make him out. Stan had hurt his knee worse in the fall and Dean tossed a bandage down for him to give it some stability. Bobby stepped up and called down before Dean tossed the rope. There were no trees nearby so Dean had to haul, again. Bobby's friend slipped several times on the loose footing of the side of the hole hurting Dean's hands a little more but he kept control and eventually got the hunter up and on solid footing. Bobby shone the flashlight on Stan's muddy face making Dean take an involuntary step back.
"Jesus Bobby! You didn't tell me your brother… was a hunter to."
The man Dean had pulled out of the shaft looked very similar to Bobby right down to the beard and dirty trucker cap. The only difference in his attire was yellow Mack boots and he carried a little more weight than Bobby which Dean knew from hauling him up. The hunter thrust out a hand.
"Stan Dryer. No relation to that grumpy bastard at all. Pleased to finally meet you, Dean. Bobby's been going on about you and your brother for years."
"Pleased to meet… you Stan." Dean puffed.
Bobby noticed the small wince on Dean's face when the two hunters shook so went to his first aid kit and pulled out some water and bandages.
Without preamble he grasped Dean's left hand and poured water over the palm with the flashlight in his mouth.
"Hey! Go easy man!" Dean yelled as his palm stung.
"Hol stil o I cam o is."
"What?"
Bobby handed Stan the flashlight and he shone it on Dean's hands. "Hold still so I can do this. Otherwise Sam will give me his bitch face again."
"Can't have that." Dean laughed.
Bobby quickly had a bandage over both Dean's palms despite his complains and trying to pull his hands away.
Stan watched the exchange between Bobby treating Dean's hands like a father would his child and Dean acting like a petulant child with amusement.
"So how did you find me, Bob?" He asked.
"The bloodhound, Dean here, tracked you from where I left you. We killed the ware cat by the way, or Dean did after he pulled me out of one of these blasted holes."
"Bobby wasn't kidding when he talked about you two was he?"
"Depends what he said," Dean said gruffly, "Let's get going."
Dean thrust a stick into Stan's hand to help him walk as he led the way to the parking lot. It took a lot longer with the two injured hunters but they got there eventually. As they neared the lot Dean remembered the puddle under one car.
"Hey Stan, I hope you don't own a Pony."
"I do actually, why?"
"Nice car but I think your radiator… has died on you."
"Damn. She was running hot on the way here but I didn't have time to check it."
"Hopefully we can patch her up cause I only have a clapped out Honda and that won't pull it." Bobby stated.
When they got to the cars Dean took the flashlight and slipped under the Mustang knowing he was the only one fit enough to slide under. One look at the radiator told Dean all he needed to know. It was toast.
"Well the bad news is you need a new one. You have well and truly spit this one. The good news is that the Impala can tow you easily."
"Are you alright to do that Dean? Stan lives two hours east of here."
"Yeah it's okay. Just look after Sam for me. Keep him off that ankle and look after yours. You okay to drive?" Dean said to Bobby.
"Yeah, should be. Things an auto. Thanks for this Dean you've been a big help."
"No problems. See you in a few."
Dean prepared both cars for towing, made sure Stan was okay to control the Mustang, then took off slowly down the road. Dean relaxed back in his seat enjoying the chance for a rest and to drink from a water bottle. Dean waited until they were out of the park and back roads, driving down the main road before calling Sam to let him know what was going on. Dean got Sam's voice mail and left a message telling him Bobby was on his way back and he would be a few hours more. Dean had gotten directions to Stan's place from the man himself and they proved to be quite good. It took two hours to get there then another hour to put the Mustang in the garage and get Stan settled for the night. With assurances that he had help coming in the morning, Dean checked the Impala over before he took off for Bobby's.
Just as he started the engine to leave, Stan came limping out with a plastic bag over his arm and a piece of paper in his hand.
"Dean do you mind dropping this off about an hour south of here? Friend of mine is working up a spell and just called to ask for these."
Dean looked in the bag and saw two small bags of herbs and a weird looking cup.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Fantastic. It's just Arrowwood and Dittany of Crete but he doesn't have it and needs it tonight. You're really pulling me out of a hole again, so thanks son."
"No problem." Somewhat reluctantly Dean took the piece of paper from the hunter not recognizing the address at all.
"Just get on the main road south. You can't miss it."
'Famous last words,' thought Dean as he waved and drove off. One thing was for certain: Sam was going to pitch a fit.
TBC
