Author's notes: time skip warning, also another flashback
Part 17 - this feels familiar
After that fateful night at Rufus' place, Dean decided he would go with Sam, at least for a little while. The dude, after all, did save Dean more than once in less than a month. He knew he didn't actually owe Sam anything, that Sam freed him and Dean could leave any time he wanted, but something about Sam compelled Dean to stick with him. For now. Besides he was still trying to find his way again after losing so much of himself to Nick.
They had been on the road, hunting and getting to know each other for months now. Dean still had panic attacks and was still plagued with nightmares but Sam made it clear he was going to be there for Dean, and so far, he hadn't backed out of what he said. So Dean was slowly beginning to think maybe it wasn't so bad, being on the open road again, with someone who knew what they were doing and wouldn't ditch Dean for an easy lay.
And whatever they had between each other, whatever Sam clearly felt for Dean, he didn't push it. There were times when Sam looked like he was brooding, like his mind was elsewhere, but he didn't hold the whole saving Dean over his head and demand Dean to have sex with him. It was a pleasant surprise, and Dean didn't even realize he had his guard up around Sam, until he finally relaxed enough to let it fully drop.
"So what's next on the radar?" Dean asked as Sam came back into the motel with a six pack and two bags of burgers and fries. He took one of the bags and pulled out a cheeseburger with double of everything. He forgot how much he loved burgers until he took a bite and it was like heaven in his mouth. He moaned as he took another bite.
When he finished his burger and started on the fries, he looked up to catch Sam grinning at him. "What? Can't a man enjoy his burger in peace?" Dean grumbled, but there was no real heat in his voice.
Sam shook his head. "Nothing. It's just I've never seen anyone get so much pleasure from eating a burger before," Sam replied before sitting down on the bed and digging into his food. He opened a small box of salad and Dean made a face. "Hey, man, don't judge me just because I like to eat healthy. I'm not the one who just sounded like I was having sex with a cheeseburger."
"It was a good cheeseburger. And you can't compare a cheeseburger to rabbit food," Dean said. "Because that's what you're eating. Rabbit food."
"Rabbit food?" Sam stared at him incredulously.
"Yeah," Dean said. "So anyways, what's on the agenda today?"
Sam took a bite of salad and said, "4 dead bodies by the river, all with their bodies drained dry. You tell me."
Dean frowned, propping his legs up on the table and leaning back on his chair. "You thinking a vamp?"
Sam's eyes twinkled. "Yeah. Ever gone against one before?"
Dean had only ever faced a vampire once and it had not been fun. It was a couple years into his relationship with Nick, after he signed the contract and basically signed his life over. Nick decided to keep Dean as a slave and used him as bait for their hunts instead of letting him be an equal. He didn't get to hold knives or guns, couldn't keep anything on his person that could be used as a weapon. He was defenseless and Nick liked to keep him that way. Some weird power trip he'd get knowing he could do whatever he wanted to Dean.
"Isn't this just precious. Looks like someone left us an easy snack," the voice was low and sultry and sent chills down Dean's spine.
He was naked and tied to a chair in the abandoned warehouse where the victims had been taken. Nick was nowhere in sight and Dean was sure he was going to die here. He squeezed his eyes shut as the vampires moved from the shadows, approaching Dean slowly.
It stopped just in front of him and Dean could feel its hot breath on his neck. He tried not to panic as he heard the fangs start to descend. He was sure he was going to die. Nick had left him because he realized Dean was more trouble than he was worth.
Suddenly he heard a shriek and Dean opened his eyes just in time to see a machete slice cleanly through the vampire's neck. Blood splattered on his face as Nick grinned at him, blue eyes twinkling in amusement.
"Miss me, tiger?"
"I get to gank the vamp, right?" Dean asked, coming out of his flashback.
He watched as Sam blinked and said, "Yeah, sure. I mean if you're sure." If you can handle it.
Dean frowned and looked back to the newspaper clippings of the victims hanging on the wall. "I'm sure. This isn't my first rodeo, Sam. I can handle a vamp."
He could hear Sam sigh from behind him. "Right. Well I'll be there to back you up."
Dean nodded. He appreciated Sam's support. They ate the rest of their lunch in silence before Dean decided to stand up. "Ready to get this show on the road then?"
"Yeah," Sam replied and stood up as well.
The vamp had been much easier than Dean thought it'd be. Now that he wasn't sitting around naked waiting for something to come along and eat him, Dean found that working with Sam on these hunts were much more fun than he originally thought they'd be.
They got into a rhythm and before Dean realized it, they were moving with ease and familiarity, like they had been hunting with each other their whole lives. They joked and laughed and played pranks on each other and Dean was starting to feel more at ease than he ever felt with anyone in his entire life.