Disclaimers and warnings see Chapter 1

Chapter 38 Birthday

When Sam arrived early in the morning Dean was ready to go, pulling Sam into the bathroom with him for a morning kiss. It was clear they had missed each other and Dean was concerned how tired Sam looked. The doctor gave Sam instructions on keeping an eye on Dean for the next day or so just in case and finally released him. Dean was almost running to get out to the car and lay a hand on Sam's thigh all the way back to the motel.

Sam let them in and allowed Dean to strip their jackets off then lay down on the bed pulling Dean down on top of him. After ten minutes of cuddling, kissing, and telling Dean how much he missed him, Sam was out like a light not having slept much the three nights before. Dean dozed warmly in his arms. Sam woke just before noon and told Dean to get dressed they were going out for lunch.

Dean was surprised when they pulled up outside a fancy ship at the docks and when Dean was closer, he realized it was a restaurant ship. Sam led him inside, Dean surprised that they had a reservation.

The reservation, it turned out was for a first class private cabin and who should be sitting waiting for them, but Bobby. Sam turned to Dean "Happy Birthday De" and handed Dean a small well wrapped present.

The look on Dean's face was total surprise, they had been so busy lately with the hunt he had all but forgotten it. "Here you go kid, Happy Birthday." Bobby handed Dean a present as well, Dean blushed furiously and thanked them both before they sat down, and Dean opened his square shaped box from Sam.

Inside the box he found a gun laid out on material with extra clips. "Holy fuck,Sammy"was all Dean could say. Inside was a S&W pistol with gold accents and mother of pearl grips.
"Point forty caliber, it takes 12 and has Dynamic Grip Recognition which isn't even out yet, had to swing a favor with a guy I know to have it made up for you."

Sam was clearly proud of the gift he had given Dean. "You know someone in guns?" Sam saw Dean push his head forward like he always did when he was happy with something.
"Actually no. He's a engineering major I meet at Stanford. That new stuff is all electronic. We have to use software to get it working but we can do it on the laptop on the Internet at a gun range." Sam stated.
"Well thanks Sammy. I love it."

Dean pulled Sam into a hug keeping it at that for Bobby's sake, he would attack him later, and put the box away carefully. He opened Bobby's present. "It's not as fancy as Sam's present." Bobby warned. He had clearly liked the gun too. Dean opened the slim box Bobby had given him to reveal a folding combat knife. "Bobby is this a …?"
"Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Covert Knife." Bobby finished Dean's question. "Yep it's a navy seal knife, it has a scabbard and a diamond sharpener to."

Dean had a wide grin as he hefted the knife with one hand "Its cool Bobby, thanks." Dean put the knife carefully back in the box and gave Bobby a big hug. Bobby handed Dean an envelope. "No way Bobby. I never pegged you for the card type." Bobby just smiled and indicated for Dean to open it.

Dean opened the envelope to find a card with the Disney castle on the front. Dean frowned in question, until he opened it to find two three day park tickets for Disneyland, and a voucher for three night's accommodation for two. "No way Bobby this is too much, we can't take this."

Dean showed Sam the vouchers. "Before you both go off half cocked, I didn't pay full price. I have a friend I did some work for, sent me the park vouchers up. All I did was pay for the accommodation. And before you start fussin, some very nice friends of mine sent me on a fantastic fishing trip last year that I could never get near to repaying, so just be quiet and go enjoy yourselves."

Sam caught the 'yourselves'. "You're sure?" he questioned.
"Can you see me at Disneyland? This was meant for Dean, that's for sure. Go be a big kid Dean. You deserve a couple of days off."
"Thanks' Bobby". Dean gave Bobby another hug, this one nearly knocking the older hunter over.

They sat down together had had a nice lunch. Bobby noticing the two younger hunters staying away from the seafood on the menu,opting for steak instead. Sam kept Dean away from the alcohol, in light of his recent hospital stay,and Sam stayed with soda as well.

All too soon Bobby was saying goodbye to them out the front of the restaurant. He was heading back to the junkyard, happy Dean was on the mend. Dean promised to call Bobby when they had been to Disneyland to tell him what it was like and Bobby hugged them both and drove off into the sunset.

Sam took the wheel insisting to Dean he shouldn't be driving a) after leaving the hospital and b) on his birthday. But instead of driving them back to the motel, Sam drove them to the docks they had worked on. "Why are we here Sam?"
"I told Doug we would stop by today to pick up our paychecks."
"Paychecks?"
"Doug says we are owed a week's wages for our time on the boats."
"I never thought of it like that. We don't usually get paid for what we do, it feels weird."
"Well there's no denying we could use the money. Especially with a trip to Disneyland coming up." Sam teased Dean with a light punch on the arm.

Sam led the way to the company's dock office and walked in to find it full of people, the men he had saved, and their wives among them. Dean tried to back out but Sam caught him by the arm and Greg came in the door behind him,blocking his escape attempt.

Someone shoved a cup of what looked like champagne in Dean's hand but Sam took it off him deftly before he could drink any. Sam pulled Dean through the crowd in the small office to the table where a coffee pot and cups were laid out and made them both cups.

Most of the people came over and thanked Sam and Dean individually. Dean turning red when the wives made a fuss of him. Doug came over and handed the boys envelopes thanking them for their help and offering them positions if they ever gave up their day jobs. Doug pulled Dean slightly away from Sam and muttered in his ear about how brave he was going back for his boys the way he did.

Dean was thankful no one had said that in front of Sam and hoped it stayed that way. Sam had been too elated to have Dean back he hadn't thought or asked about what happened under water. They both thanked Doug and Dean muttered "Can we go now?" and drained his coffee ready to be gone.

Just as Sam finished his coffee, Doug stood up on a crate, and called the group to order. "We are here today to thank these two fine young men for being part of our crew for a short time." Doug motioned to Sam and Dean.

Dean flushed and started for the door only to have Sam's big hand pull him backwards by the back of the jacket. "And in particular we wish to thank Dean Rossington for his bravery in rescuing the lives of two of our hard working crew members. Words cannot say how grateful we are. We would like to present Dean with our company's award for bravery. Dean come up here if you will."

Dean was completely red in the face at this sudden turn of events and stood rooted to the spot until Sam gave him a push. Sam ended up having to push Dean all the way to the front of the room. Doug presented Dean with a certificate with a nice green ribbon in a glass frame. After showing the assembled gathering proudly, he handed it to Dean who took the frame, and all but shoved it behind his back.

There were cries of speech and Dean tried to make off before they got to loud but Doug hooked an arm through his and swung him up onto the crate, not that he needed the extra height. 'I'm gonna kill Sam for this' Dean thought wildly, he didn't do the speech thing. He could do the bullshit thing quite well but speeches? He looked to Sam for help but Sam was standing next to Greg and his wife with a proud grin on his face, no help at all.

'Ok time to lay on the bullshit' he thought. "Sam and I would like to thank Doug and every one at Greenshore fishing for making our short stay so enjoyable. We are glad no lives were lost during the storm and we did what anyone else would have done in that situation. Thank you…very much." Dean hopped down and made his way quickly to Sam, bright red at the applause from the crew and their family's,very loud in the small confines.

Sam noticed Dean didn't say 'I' in the speech it was always so hard for him to take a compliment even when it was true. Dean was now flooded with people wanting to see the certificate and press him to stay with the company longer. Sam decided to save his brother further anxiety and suggested they leave, which Dean jumped on.

They said goodbye and Sam drove them back to the motel, bringing the framed certificate into the room when Dean left it in the Impala. "This is quite nice Dean; they did well in such a short time." The certificate had the company logo, the date the accident took place, the men's names, the things Dean did and his name in big letters, and signed by Doug and Greg who it turned out was head of water safety for the company.
"Were you privy to that?"
" genuinely asked us down for the paychecks. I didn't know about the rest. Nice of them though, since we had been there less than a week."

Dean picked up the card from Bobby "So Disneyland? You keen?" Dean wanted to change the subject.
"I guess so, you big kid."
"Do we have to book, do you think? These park passes run out in like a month."
"Maybe we could call and find out."

There was a number on the accommodation voucher and Dean gave it a call. Sam went to the bathroom while Dean was on the phone. When he came out Dean was off the phone lying on the bed, boots off, leaning against the headboard. "We've got reservations at the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel, day after tomorrow. It's the only room they had free for two weeks."
"Did you tell them about the voucher?"
"And quoted the numbers and code. Happy?"
"As long as I'm with you, I will be."

Sam slipped his boots off and sat up next to Dean leaning on him a little. "When do you want to leave?"
"We're paid up here until tomorrow could leave then,and travel till we are an hour out of LA, then finish the trip next morning."
"Sounds like a plan."
"That easy?"
"That easy little brother." Sam leaned against Dean and snuggled into unconsciously combed a hand through his hair, sending Sam into a very relaxed state, closing his eyes.

Sam soft sores were heard a few minutes later, and Dean pulled the box Sam had given him off the side table. He opened it, pulling out the weapon with one hand, and examining it in detail. Dean put a clip in and worked out how the new technology worked ,then unloaded it, and wiped it over and put it back in the box.

Dean thought this gun was almost too nice to use, almost. The weapon's new technology was too good not to use. Dean decided he would keep it in the box when he wasn't using it. Dean put the box back and grabbed the remote, channel flicking until he came upon an old western, and settled down to watch. The fingers of one hand coming through Sam's hair while the other played with Sam's ring as he watched.

Sam woke when the credits of Dean's second cowboy movie finished "Sorry Dean. I seem to be determined to sleep through your birthday."
"That's ok, as long as we are together for the day. You're probably still catching up from that salvage work."
"Salvage work?...Oh yeah that's what's got me tired alright. And I never sleep well without you anyway."
"Lucky for me I had two good nights sleep due to drugs, so feel free to catch up. We are going to be so busy at Disneyland. All the rides at least twice."
"All the rides?"
"Well not the little kiddy ones. Although you can if you want."Dean joked and ruffled Sam's hair.
"We should get dressed".

Sam stood and went to Dean's bag and pulled clothes out.
"No. We should get undressed." Dean stayed where he was with his arms folded.
"We have dinner reservations in forty five minutes."
"What? Why?"
"Your birthday."
"We did lunch. That was enough."

Dean had a cute little pout going that made Sam laugh. "No it was not. That was Bobby's idea. This is mine,so snap to it,and grab a shower. I'll lay your clothes out." Dean got up slowly looking put out and homed in on Sam for a kiss.
"We could cancel and stay in." Dean said in a low husky voice as he pulled back.
"None of that sexy talk, you. Shower now." Sam handed Dean his shaving kit and pointed to the bathroom.
"Killjoy." Dean pouted.
"We will have fun trust me. Now go." Sam laughed as Dean wandered into the bathroom.

TBC

Just a quick note to thank everyone for taking the time to review. It helps to hear from people who tell me what they think particularly with a story this long as I am often posting chapters I wrote over a month ago.

I can't believe I almost have one hundred reviews!

Big thanks to SeaKat and rog457 for always having positive and constructive things to say. For all those wanting to know the accident is not far away. GETT