Vrskaandrea: That would be wild and crazy and probably incredibly helpful considering Dana Smith has a clean criminal record!
Blondie 20000: Nothing ever is that easy for the Winchesters...
Spnlady: Oh my Gosh! Thank you for your kind praise! I hope you continue to love the story after all the twists and turns in the next few chapters. Hold on, its getting to be a wild ride!
Vallygirl: And thats why Bobby is considered the most kick arse hunter out there, because only someone that awesome could control those two! And if you're looking for suggestions for icecream, I like mine with Baileys Irish Cream!
ThepraxianSeeker: Hi and thanks for the review. That is definitely an interesting thought path...
CHAPTER 54
Eight days to ritual...
Caleb was sitting in the tray of a beat up truck in Bobby's junk yard, drinking beer and looking at the stars when Dean joined him. She climbed into the tray and sat beside him. Caleb offered her a beer but she shook her head and held up the bottle in her hand. They sat silently for a long time.
"Not long now." Caleb said, finally breaking the silence.
"Nope. Eight days." Dean said, not taking her eyes from the sky.
"As much as I've enjoyed your company, it's gonna be good to have Dean back."
"I've always been here." Dean said.
"I know but, this has been different. I mean, I never, in my life, considered having sex with Dean."
"And he never considered having sex with you." Dean laughed.
"You know, there's only just over a week left to take advantage of this situation..."
"No Caleb, no 'one for the road'." Dean said shaking her head.
Caleb wrapped an arm around Deans shoulders.
"I'm going to miss you Dana Smith."
•
Six Days and Counting...
Bobby found Dean on 'her step', nine from the bottom, two days later.
"How you holding up?" He asked.
"Barely." Dean answered truthfully, taking a small sip from the bottle of beer in her hand. "Been crying in the shower. Honestly, I'm kinda freakin here Bobby."
"I know. I'd be surprised if you weren't. It's going to be alright." Bobby reassured her.
"I want you to know I'm really grateful for everything you've done. Not just with this spell stuff, I mean we probably never would have figured it all out on our own, but everything you've ever done for us. Some times you've been more of a dad to Sam and me than John ever was." Dean said.
"That's what I'm here for son, family don't end in blood." Bobby said placing a hand on Deans shoulder and squeezing for a moment.
"No, really, I mean it. I can do this knowing that you're here for Sammy, what ever comes."
"You're talking like you're expecting something to go wrong." Bobby said, beginning to get worried.
"Bobby, when does anything ever go right for us?"
"This will. I'll be damned if some witch takes you out. Besides Sam has been over the spell a thousand times and if there was anything that could go wrong then he would be all over it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. If Sams good at one thing it's finding the flaws."
"That he is." Bobby said, drinking from his own bottle. "You've got this."
"Yes I do." Dean agreed.
•
Just five days left...
Dean came in from her run the next day and found Sam in the kitchen.
"Hey Sammy, got any plans today?" She asked.
"Not that I can think of, why?"
"Just thought maybe you and me could go and grab a couple of burgers together, maybe go see a flick?" She said.
"That sounds fun. Count me in. Are you gonna ask Bobby and Caleb?" Sam asked.
"Nah, thought maybe it could be just the two of us." Dean answered with a shrug.
"Okay, sure. What do you want to go see?"
They decided on a movie that was showing two towns over where, coincidentally, one of Deans favourite burger places just happened to be. Bobby and Caleb watched them leave.
"Does something feel about off about Dean lately?" Bobby asked.
"Kinda like he's on a farewell tour?" Caleb responded.
"Yeah, something like that."
"I know he's worried about the spell reversal."
"Yeah, he told me as much too. Thanked me for being a father to him and Sam." Bobby thought quietly for a moment, something wasn't sitting right but he decided to push that aside for now. "Well only a couple of days now, then this will all be over." Bobby said.
"The sooner the better." Caleb replied.
•
Four Days to Go...
Sam bumped into Dean walking out of Bobby's office the next day.
"What's that?" He asked indicating to the folded piece of paper Dean was slipping into her back pocket.
"Just a parts list for the Pontiac." She said pulling it back out. "Wanna see? There's not much, I managed to scavenge heaps from the junk yard."
"No, that's fine." Sam place a hand over Deans to stop her unfolding the list.
"You going to come out and join me?" She asked as she placed it back in her pocket.
"Nah, I finally got that book Marnie recommended, I'm going to het started on that." Sam said.
"Okay. Cool. Well you know where I am if you want company." Dean went to walk out the door but doubled back instead. "You know what? I think I'll spend the day giving Baby some love instead. She's probably getting jealous of the Tempest."
"You know it's just a car right."
"How dare you!" Dean said offended. "You're lucky she's not here to hear that! So rude!"
Sam rolled his eyes as his brother walked dramatically out the door.
•
Dean had just shut the trunk of the Impala when Caleb strolled into view carrying two beers. He handed one to Dean then clinked the necks together, then took a long drink.
"Four days buddy!" He said leaning against the trunk.
"Yep." Dean said, settling in next to her friend, taking a small drink.
"First drinks on me. Man we are gonna cause mayhem. You an' me together again, no woman will be safe!"
"You know they never were, right? This didn't stop me from pulling chicks." Dean said looking at Caleb with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, and I sure wish I was there to see that." Caleb sighed.
"You're a dick." Dean said with fondness.
She reached out to place her beer on the trunk so she could go back to working on her Baby.
"Shit!" She cursed, jumping back when the bottle slid from the car and smashed on the ground.
"What a waste." Caleb said. "Here have mine. I'll go get another."
"Nah, it's fine. I need to get back to work anyway."
"You've been working on her for all day. How much more can there be to do?"
"Just want to make sure she's purring like a kitten when it's time to hit the road again."
"Fair enough. Want a hand?"
Dean looked at her friend thoughtfully.
"Forget it! Stupid question. She's your baby, sorry I asked. I'll just go back inside and knit."
Dean laughed. She wasn't the only one feeling tense not being able to hit the road and kill something supernatural. Bobby had sequestered them all until the ritual was done to limit the amount of things that could go wrong.
•
Three Days Left...
Sam met Dean coming down the stairs with her duffle over flowing with clothes.
"What're you doing?" He asked.
"Laundry." She said picking up a handful of Sams dirty shirts and waving them in his face. "If I don't get it done today you'll be walking around naked, and no one needs that, we're under enough stress as it is."
"Need help?" Sam offered.
Dean turned and looked at her brother. Really looked. The dark circles that usually sat beneath his eyes were gone and he looked relaxed for the first time in a long time.
"You know what, no. You'll be hitting the road again soon so why don't you take advantage of this down time and finish your book." She said.
"You sure? I mean why should I relax if you're doing all the work?"
"You can do the dishes after dinner." Dean countered.
"That sounds fair. Deal." Sam said.
Dean slapped him on the shoulder and walked down into Bobby's basement to start the laundry. She returned 15 minutes later.
"That took a while. What were you washing by hand?" Sam asked.
"Nope just sorting and pre-treating. You gotta do something about those stains in your tightly whiteys!" Dean teased.
"Jerk!" Sam said throwing a cushion at his brother.
"Bitch!" Dean said ducking. "Any way, I gotta do a parts run."
"Okay. See ya."
Dean looked at her brother for a moment then walked over and sat on the coffee table in front of him. Sam looked up from his book.
"I thought you were doing a parts run?"
"I am but I know I've been avoiding the subject but it's coming up fast. I just want you to know I'm really thankful I had you around to help me through this."
"Yeah, course Dean. What's going on?" Sam said, sitting up straighter and leaning towards his brother.
"Nothing, I just...well...I want you to know if something goes wrong, I know you'll be okay. You're strong and if you want to go back to school, then you go. You do what's right for you. Find some one, settle down."
"Dean. Stop talking like this. It sounds like you think you're gonna die or something and you can't think like that. I trust Bobby and he's going to do this right. You'll be pissing standing up in three days." Sam said trying to lighten the mood.
Dean gave a half smile.
"Yeah, you're right. Well enough of the chick flick moments. Hope you enjoyed it because it's the last one you'll ever get."
"You love chick flick moments." Sam teased.
"Yeah I do." Dean sighed. "Any way, day lights burning. Gotta go."
Dean stood and walked to the door. She stopped and turned back.
"Love you Sammy."
"Love you too Dean." Sam replied frowning slightly.
Dean left the room...
...and with that, she was gone.
