AN: For Jenjoremy who wants to know what happened in Albuquerque and why the boys refuse to talk about it. Yes, I do it to myself!
Also written because I needed an emotional break from my other story, though I'll go back and edit the next chapter and get it out later today.
Now, since I need two more scenarios to fill out five times SPN characters were a little out it, so I'm turning to my readers. Give me a time period and / or scenario, and I'll do my best to write a quick one shot for the first two I get. I don't get PMs, so just drop an idea in the comments if you want. (BTW, I don't do ships because I suck at writing them.)
Thanks!
-- KJB, a.k.a. Woomie
* * *
It wasn't a ghost.
It wasn't stopped by their wards and protections.
It had very long claws.
And now, they were going to bleed to death in a bathroom in Albuquerque. "At leas' it's a nice bathroom," said Sam aloud, and it seemed far funnier than it should have been, given the situation.
But it was a very nice bathroom.
Thirty Minutes Earlier
"Are you sure we can stay there?" Sam stared in awe at the building gleaming in the New Mexico sunshine. The Terraza Soleada luxury condominiums weren't quite Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, but they were not even on the same planet as the motels the Winchesters stayed in.
Cliff nodded vigorously. "Annette says it's fine, 's long's you don't leave a mess. All utilities are on cuz they're gonna start showing units next week.
Cliff was a longtime supplier to the hunting community. His adult daughter Annette worked for a realty company that was working to sell the units going up a little ways north of Albuquerque. Everything had gone fine with the construction until nothing was left except the outdoor facilities and landscaping. As soon as crews had started digging for the pools (plural!), people started going missing, leaving nothing behind but a lot of blood.
Annette knew enough to call her dad, who had called Bobby. And he, of course, had called in the Winchesters.
Sam hesitated in the door of the condo that Cliff had opened for them. Sam felt like he ordinarily wouldn't be allowed on the furniture in a place like this. The carpet was plusher than some of the beds they'd slept in. But Dean was so excited to stay there.
"Dude, you have to see this bathroom," Dean called in a tone normally reserved for fresh pecan pie and curvy waitresses...or had before Lisa. Yeah, Sam could give Dean this. So he shook Cliff's hand and went to see the bathroom.
It was amazing. Across from the door, there was a two person tub set into a raised dais with actual steps to get in. There was a large mirror, counter, and sink to each side. His and hers vanities, apparently. The whole thing was as big as most motel rooms.
"No waiting on the shower," Dean said, sounding almost giddy. Sam realized that there was a shower and toilet on each side of the room, each with a pocket door for privacy. He'd never seen anything like it.
But a shower sounded like heaven. Er, heaven without the civil war. And all signs pointed to a disturbed spirit, no big deal for them.
So they hastily laid salt lines, inked some basic protections with grease pencils, and headed for the showers.
Letting their guard down at the same time in the middle of a hunt when they hadn't positively identified their quarry yet had not been their best idea ever. Worse, they'd stripped down to their boxers in the main room, so there wasn't so much as a pocket knife in the bathroom.
Sam took the hottest shower he could remember and was drying his hair with one towel while another hung around his waist when he heard a thumping sound. He slid the pocket door open.
"Dean?" But the sound seemed to come from outside the bathroom. The other shower shut off and Dean called something Sam didn't catch as there was a louder thump.
And since it wasn't his day for good decisions, Sam walked to the main bathroom, hearing Dean's pocket door open. Sam pulled the door open. There was a flash of claws and teeth, and long story short, he was going to bleed out on a bathroom floor in Albuquerque.
They both were, since Dean had run past and slammed the nice, heavy oak door, but not before catching those same claws across the chest, just like Sam had.
Back to now, unfortunately
"Didn't expect t' go out like Marilyn," Dean slurred. He was looking at Sam from only a couple feet away, but it could have been miles with how heavy Sam's body was feeling. That was the blood loss, naturally, just like the floaty, almost euphoric feeling he had. The maudlin melancholy would set in soon, but maybe he'd be dead before the nausea hit. And...what had Dean been saying?
Sam squinted at his brother. "Monroe," Dean clarified. They both ignored the ever increasing bangs on the door. "Dyin' naked in th' bathroom."
"Not naked," Sam argued, but he was snickering along with his brother. Laughing together...there could be far worse ways to go.
Dean scoffed. "In towels. Together. That ain't better. Now people'll really wonder 'bout us." He laughed breathily and Sam couldn't help but join in. Dean must be in the euphoria stage too.
Dean wasn't even trying to put pressure on his wounds any more, and Sam knew that should bother him more. "At least we won't have to hear what they say at our funeral."
Dean gave him a grin, a pale reflection of his normal and Sam thought it was a shame that the world was losing that grin. And it was his fault...a extra hard hit on the door derailed the thought.
"Couldja let us die in peace, freak?!" demanded Dean, and laughed again. But his voice was so soft now. They didn't have much time left. In fact, Dean was probably just staying alive so Sam wouldn't have to die alone.
"Bobby's gonna be so mad," Sam whispered, and suddenly it wasn't funny any more.
"Call us idjits."
"Yeah." Sam somehow made his fingers move until they brushed Dean's forearm. "Wish I could tell him I'm sorry." So sorry. He didn't remember trying to kill the man, but he'd hardly regretted anything more.
"He knows."
Leave it to Dean to comfort Sam as he was bleeding out. Man, there was a lot of blood on the once pristine tiles.
"And I'm sorry t' Lisa 'n' Ben for taking you away," Sam continued. He was fading, but he had to say this.
"Stop, S'mmy. Don' haveta --"
"And t' you the most. For...for all --"
"I know. S'mmy, I know. Chose t' go with ya, okay?" Dean's voice was even softer than Sam's, but Sam heard him. His fingers were wrapped around Sam's forearm, but he couldn't feel them.
"S'rry to Castiel too. F'r leavin' while 's fightin' his war." Things were going dim.
He barely heard Dean say, "Cas..." like the name reminded him of something.
Sunlight streamed under the bathroom door and Sam wondered why, but his eyes were closing and he didn't care any more.
An unspecified amount of time later
Sam woke to an argument. He hadn't actually expected to wake up at all.
"...carried us in our towels!" Dean sounded aggrieved. And healthy, alive.
"Would you have preferred I left you on the bathroom floor?" That was Cas, sounding confused.
"Yes. No. Maybe." Sam could practically see Dean running a hand over his hair in frustration. Deciding it was time to actually see something, Sam opened his eyes and sat up.
"Cas? What happened?"
Dean was sitting on the other side of the huge, incredibly soft bed Sam was on. And, yeah, they were both wearing nothing but towels. Sam pulled one side of the fluffy comforter over himself as subtly as he could.
"I heard Dean's prayer and took care of the Sasabonsam and healed the two of you." The angel was standing at the foot of the bed looking extra tired and rumpled, as he had since the war for Heaven had started.
"Wow." Sam was shocked that their friend had gotten there in time.
"What's a sassy bone?" Dean asked.
"I cannot stay," Cas responded.
"Wait!" Sam almost stood up to stop Cas, but remembered his state of undress and didn't. "Thank you, Cas. Seriously. We know how busy you are."
"Yeah, man. Really," Dean added.
Castiel nodded. "Of course." He frowned. "I did not know you showered together."
"We didn't!" Dean sputtered. "We -- it was at the same time, but it -- separate showers! You know what, we're grateful and all, but we are never mentioning this again, got it?"
Sam could have sworn there was a ghost of a smile on the angel's face. But he just gravely said, "of course," again. Then he was gone.
"Never, ever," Dean reiterated. He climbed out from under the comforter, holding up his blood-soaked towel with one hand. "And I'm putting weapons in every bathroom wherever we stay forever."
Sam was so grateful to have his brother there to be pissy and embarrassed. Not to mention relieved that they'd neglected to put up angel warding. Hoping the angel could hear him, Sam thought, thank you, Cas.
Because they really didn't want to die in a bathroom in Albuquerque.
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AN: So I totally failed to respond to comments after the last chapter. *hangs head in shame* I'll respond to all of them here, like normal.
Jenjoremy: I would pay a lot of money to see J2 act out the bubble scene!! And, yes, you're right, this is my own fault. But it was fun, even if it's not quite as lighthearted as the first two vignettes. Thanks for the gentle push!
muffinroo: Ha! Wisdom teeth are akin to demons, huh? LOLOL
BruisedBloodyBroken: I'm glad you liked it! Have you noticed that I have writing ADHD? lol
Shazza: So not fun. I'm just grateful I only had the top two wisdom teeth!
Scealai: Oh my gosh, you make me laugh! Here's hoping that you didn't actually fall off the couch.
Timelady66: *mentally adds wisdom teeth to canon* Deal! And yeah, do I wish I could draw. Even my stick people are so pathetic that they have a tendency to throw themselves suicidally off the page. It's very sad.
Lena: I miss you and hope you're okay! I know you've been ridiculously busy; don't forget to take the time to smell whatever flowers are blooming in Ohio right now. Hugs! And enjoy the thought of nearly naked Winchesters! (not sorry)
kandilyn: I love the fluff! Thanks for reading!
writingtrainingwheels: :-) Thanks!
Jily4: So happy you enjoyed it! This one was less fluffy but hopefully still fun. Got any scenarios for me?
Christine: I hope it made you smile and you had a nice birthday! :-)