Chapter 18

When Mason pulled into the garage, Dean got out and headed into the house and toward the kitchen. He didn't hear Mia call to him as he headed out the backdoor and into the back yard. He found some chairs under a tree and dropped into one of them to work through what had happened.

"What's wrong hon? Dean seemed preoccupied," Mia asked when her husband joined him in the kitchen and hugged her. He rubbed a hand gently over her swollen stomach as he kissed the corner of her mouth.

"I'm not sure. I think the tank brought up some unsettling memories for Dean."

"Oh, the poor boy. And you knew nothing about them?"

"Dean is a private person who doesn't give his trust freely. I told you he was a hunter and the one who took out the rogue."

"Yes, I remember. Can you help him?"

"I don't know, depends on Dean. He is not a man who accepts help easily. He is an honorable man, but very troubled."

"Why don't you take him something to drink? I made some lemonade for the kids."

"I think he might want something a little stronger dear."

"Well, what are you waiting on? You've been the leader of this clan since you were eighteen. You've got the wisdom of the ancestors in you. Go see if you can help him," she encouraged giving him a push out of the room.

"You're right, maybe he'll at least let me calm him this time," Mason sighed, heading to the study to get a couple of glasses of whiskey. He took the glasses and went out the backdoor looking around until he spotted Dean out under the shade tree. He walked that way and spoke so he wouldn't surprise him. Mason knew enough about hunters that you didn't sneak up on one. He was sure Dean had some sort of protection on him and didn't want to be attacked.

"Thought you might like a whiskey," Mason offered holding out the glass when Dean stiffened but didn't turn.

Dean knew Mason was trying to make noise, so he'd know he was there. He looked slideways at the glass being held out to him and took it. He didn't complain when Mason joined him. Dean sipped on the whiskey wishing he could drink enough to get drunk or at least pass out. He was waiting for Mason to question him again and looked his way when he didn't say anything. Dean knew he was curious about what had happened to him at the spa.

"I don't know what happened when you were in the tank Dean, but I know it was something you must have suppressed because of the trauma of it. I'm not asking you to tell me what it is, but I want you to know if I can help in any way, I will be glad to. I think being a hunter, you have more history than most would have and that may be a disadvantage for you. All I ask is don't let it consume you and take you over. You are dealing with your own beast along with your own demons. Sometimes it does help to speak to an outsider, if and when, you are ready," Mason told him. "I don't know if you will choose to try the tank again or not, but if you do, only do it when I am there to supervise and help you."

Dean didn't interrupt his spill, but he did listen to him. What he was saying made sense and right now he wasn't sure of trying the tank again after what he had experienced. The burdens he carried were heavy and weighed him down, but for now they would stay his and his alone.

"We can try some other way to help you connect if you like," Mason offered when Dean didn't say anything. "I'll leave you for now to your thoughts." Mason got up leaving Dean alone. "I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

Dean didn't respond as he listened to Mason walk away. He looked out toward the slowly sinking sun and watched the last rays stretch out across the land. This was a great view from the hill where the house sat, and he took it all in. His troubled mind started to ease, and he finished his drink.

It wasn't long before Dean felt young eyes on him and looked up to see Marta standing just out of his reach looking at him with curious brown eyes flecked with gold.

"Mama said not to bother you," she said softly. "Am I bothering you?"

"No, Lady Bug, you're not bothering me," Dean told her giving her a half-hearted smile.

She moved closer to him and looked the way he was looking at the sunset.

"Why don't you have a seat and watch the sunset with me?"

"I'd like that."

He couldn't help but let himself smile at her and her innocent ways, wondering if Mason had sent her out to check on him. She concentrated on the horizon as the sun sunk lower in the sky. Dusk was starting to fall around them, and Dean looked out into the yard seeing soft lights starting to come from the ground around them.

"Look Lady Bug, fireflies are beginning to come out," Dean told her. He pointed to the little lights that started blinking on and off and began to fly around.

"They're like little fairies," she whispered, getting up to stand by him. Marta held out her hands and wiggled her fingers trying to beckon them to her.

Dean felt her small body lean against his leg for a moment and watched in wonder when some of the bugs flew around her fingers like she was calling them.

"Look! They like me," she whispered excitedly.

"I see, I see," he chuckled reaching to lift her onto his knees so she could sit on them. He felt the start of an inner calmness and wondered if Marta had her father's gift.

They stayed like that watching the fireflies until the sun finally sunk below the horizon. An outside light came on at the house casting the backyard into shadows and Mia called to them that dinner was ready. Dean took Marta's hand and they walked to the backdoor and into the house.

spn

The next morning, Dean woke from a light sleep not feeling that rested since he tossed and turned half the night. He tried to keep the nightmares at bay, but some snuck in anyway. He got up with a heavy sigh and headed to the bathroom to shower. The hot water seemed to help wash away some of the weariness from his body.

He was expected at the garage this morning and didn't want to be late. After putting on clean clothes, Dean grabbed his jacket and headed down the stairs to the kitchen to find Mia had prepared a travel cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich for him.

"Do you remember how to get to the garage Dean?"

"Yeah, thanks for the food, but you don't have to cook for me."

"I have to make breakfast anyway, so it's no bother. Mason said he would meet you at the gym after lunch."

"That's fine, I'll see him there. Thanks again," Dean nodded taking the cup and sandwich and heading for the Impala. He cranked her and backed up to head to the other side of town to the garage. He was looking forward to working on some vehicles to help clear his mind and let him think. There were decisions to be made and he had just over three weeks until the next full moon.

He thought about staying here and letting Mason help, but the change was something private and he had to get a handle on it if he was going to survive in the world. Dean was a hunter; it was what he did, and he couldn't give that up knowing there were innocent people out there that he could save. He'd give this place the rest of the week and look for a hunt somewhere around before heading back toward the cabin.

Another thing he needed to do was go get Sam and tell him what had happened. He needed to know and decide what he wanted to do. It wasn't fair to him to keep him in the dark any longer. No matter what he decided, Dean would learn to live with it.

It was five to eight when Dean eased the Impala up to the hanger and parked to the side. He finished his coffee and got out to head inside and look for Rich to see what he should do. He paused for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the different lightening so he could look around and finally spotted him at a desk in the corner of the place.

"Hello Rich, I'm ready to work," Dean greeted him.

"Good to hear. There are coveralls in the back if you wanna change before getting started. The restroom is through the door in the back and there's a breakroom back there with snacks, soda, water, coffee if you want anything. Why don't you start with those two trucks on the end? One has a seized water pump and the other needs the belts changed. You can use the tools from the toolbox marked three and parts are in the back, just sign out what you take so we can keep track of it."

Dean looked around as Rich talked and nodded his understanding.

"Sounds good." Dean headed for the door he pointed to in the back and went through it. He found coveralls of different sizes folded neatly on a shelf and found his size. He saw a sign for the restroom further down and walked down the short hall. There were lockers in the restroom to store his clothes. He changed and stuck his head into the breakroom to check it out. A table held a coffee pot and everything for coffee and there was a fridge he assumed had the sodas and water. On a rack were all kinds of snacks to choose from and it looked like it was all free. He thought that was interesting but didn't complain.

Dean went to the toolbox and opened it, looking at the tools before going to the truck. He looked into the engine bay and saw the broken fan belt hanging in place. He pulled it loose and headed to the back to find a new one in the racks of parts.

There was a computer terminal sitting at the first rack and he read the instructions on how to find a part and log it out as used. He looked back at the truck for a moment before hitting a key on the keyboard to bring up the screen. Dean typed the information needed and hit enter. It wasn't but a few seconds that the screen showed the location of the part and asked if you needed to use it. After noting the rack and bin number, he typed yes and hit enter before going in search of the fan belt.

Once he found the new belt, Dean headed back to the truck and got what tools needed to install it. He looked up when someone turned on a radio and music echoed through the place. At least it was something he could listen to and nodded his head to the beat. When he had the belt back on and checked that everything looked good, he went around and started the engine, satisfied with his work.

"You can pull it outside Dean, out of the way," Rich called to him before he got out.

"Sure thing," Dean replied. He put the truck in gear and slowly moved it through the open doors and pulled it over to the side to park. He went back inside and went to the other truck looking it over before finding the tools needed to remove the water pump. He had to add a little umph to getting the bolts loose and saw how his added strength helped with that.

He went into the racks again finding a new water pump and completed the installation process. When he started the truck, he listened to it run and heard an off sound. Dean moved to the running engine and laid his hand on it as he listened, trying to determine where the noise was coming from. After killing the engine, he grabbed a sparkplug wrench and pulled the lead from a sparkplug so he could take it out. Dean looked at it for buildup and to see if was worn. He adjusted the gap and filed it slightly before replacing it and pulling another to do the same. Once they were back in place, he started the truck again, listening and smiled when the noise was gone. He moved the truck outside and parked it by the other one.

"Rich, I'm finished with the two trucks. What next?"

"You're only here until twelve, why don't you do an oil change of the Dodge over there? Nice work by the way."

"Thanks, I'm going to grab something to drink and I'll get on it."

"That's fine, take a fifteen minute break. I'm not a slave driver."

"Alright." Dean headed for the restroom and then the breakroom. There were a couple of other guys in there getting something to drink and he nodded a greeting. They were polite but didn't engage him in conversation which was fine with him. He was the newbie around here and guessed he was low man in the pecking order. It was like any other situation where you were the new guy, people had to get to know you.

He looked in the fridge for a bottle of water and grabbed some crackers from the rack. He took a table by himself and munched on his snack as he thought of the afternoon and wondered what Mason would have him do today. He was not ready to use the tank again, after his first experience, but maybe there were other ways to help him gain control.

He kept an eye on the time and got up to throw his trash away and head back into the hanger to finish his assigned job. By the time he had the oil change done, it would be time to leave. He figured he'd stop at the diner where he ate with Mason to grab some lunch since it appealed to him.

A/N: Dean won't try the tank again, but maybe Mason has something they can try. Dean has his first day of work and enjoys it. Thank you for coming alone for the ride. I do like reviews. NC