Chapter 13
Two beers later, Dean was up at the bar working up the nerve to go talk to the cute redhead. Usually, he didn't have that much trouble just walking up to anyone really, and striking up a conversation. That had always been easy for him.
He was usually cocky and oozed confidence. Tonight, he felt timid and halfhearted about the whole thing. It was throwing him off. Part of his brain was telling him to chase that tail. That that was what he really wanted. What he really needed.
Another part of it just did not want to. Part of his brain was convinced it knew what it wanted. And this was not it. Something just didn't feel right. He wasn't into the hunt, the chase, as much as usual. His heart was not in it. And Dean's mind kept landing back on J.
'I want to talk to her, not some stranger.' Dean thought to himself as he made eye contact for the dozenth time with the redhead. She was aware of his existence and her body language was just begging for him to come over and say hi.
'Fuck it. It's not like I can do much better.' He sourly thought to himself. More self-loathing coming in hot his tail.
Dean got up from his place at the bar and walked over to the girl. Turning that good old-fashioned charm on while he did so. He was on the hunt now. She didn't stand a chance.
"Hi, I'm Dean. I noticed you were here alone and was wondering if you would like some company." Dean said in his most deep, gravely, seductive voice he reserved for slam dunks.
She was speechless for a moment. Obviously stunned by him. Dean chuckled inwardly to himself. He noticed that she had green eyes. Not nearly as deep green as J's. They didn't have the same fire as J's either. They were just green.
His charisma faltered while she gathered herself. She didn't notice a thing.
"Hi. My name is Audrey. You're more than welcome to." She said breathlessly. She smiled warmly at him, gesturing to the chair next to hers. She looked him up and down as he sat down.
"What are you doing here all alone, Audrey?" Dean asked, looking back at her, almost robotically. Still working that charm. Working that smolder. On autopilot already.
"I actually got stood up. I have been denying it for the last half hour. I think that calls for another drink." She waved down the bartender.
"I'll drink to that" Dean replied, also motioning for a new beer.
Audrey and Dean sat there talking about absolutely nothing for almost an hour. His attention was only half on the conversation at this point. She was supplying most of the dialog. He wasn't bothering to keep up anymore.
Dean was used to this. Just let them talk about anything they wanted, and act interested long enough. Let them drink enough. Most people open up way too quickly to complete strangers.
Not only do they open up, but they also get close to you. And you don't even have to try that hard. Audrey was one of those people. Usually, this was cake for him. She's in his bag already.
She was very pretty. Everything from her bust size to her hair color, down to the tiny black dress and red heels she was wearing, screamed Dean's usual siren song. This was the kind of woman he usually lusted after. He should have been all over this chick. She was his epitome of 'Hot Chick I Want to Bang'. So why didn't he want to? Why did he just want to leave?
Dean's heart wasn't into it, his brain had checked out twenty minutes ago. He tried picturing her naked. Bent over. He honestly tried to fantasize about this woman, and he just could not. Every time a new image came to his mind, the woman in front of him changed into a brunette. Another set of eyes kept busting into his train of thought.
There was another face, another bent-over woman, that held his attention. One that made him feel that fire inside. And she was hundreds of miles away. Dean couldn't help himself. He had to admit this was going nowhere and that he needed out.
He groaned internally, wishing to himself: 'I wish she was here. I wish this was her. What am I doing, and why isn't this J?' Dean wondered internally as he forced yet another laugh at something Audrey had just said.
He was thankful that she was too into him, and her side of the conversation, that she had not noticed Dean's internal struggle. The war that was raging inside his head. The fact that he was becoming less and less interested in her and the conversation.
He wondered to himself what J would think of this whole situation. Dean, at a bar, with a smoking hot woman who was everything but physically all over him. Him, not feeling any of it. Thinking of another woman. Thinking of her. Wishing he had left with Sam.
This was all so fucked up. What had he gotten himself into? How was he going to ditch this Audrey chick without being a complete dick? Dean thought he was going to have to take one for the team and just admit he was the bad guy most women pegged him as when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled his phone out and saw that Jo was calling.
He excused himself and answered his phone.
"Hey, Jo. What's going on."
"Hey, Dean. I'm actually calling because J told me to. She's convinced you need help. I know this is going to sound weird, but I trust her. She said, and I quote: 'He needs a way out. And now he owes me one.' Does this mean anything to you?" Jo asked. It sounded like she was entertaining someone's wild idea. An idea that wasn't feasible, possible, or practical.
"Actually, yeah, I do need a way out and I would really appreciate it if you told her that. Thanks. I do owe her one." Dean said, looking back at Audrey. She was waiting patiently back at the bar. Stirring her drink halfheartedly. He suddenly felt better than he had in days.
"What the hell, Winchester. What's going on?" Jo said. Shock apparent in her voice.
"Have J explain." He said before he ended the call. He knew that was going to earn him a chewing out later. Jo hated being hung up on. But this was worth it. That and the thought of J explaining what had just happened made him feel warm under the collar.
He used this slight blush to his advantage as he walked back to Audrey, her face falling at the look on his.
"I'm sorry, that was my brother. His car isn't starting and he needs me to go get him and help tow his car. I have to get going." He looked at her with his best smoldering expression to help ease her down a bit more.
She saw his look of pretend disappointment and gave a small smile.
"It's ok. I'll give you my number. I hope everything is ok with his car." She grabbed a coaster and a pen from behind the bar to write her number on.
As the bartender walked by, Dean caught his elbow.
"Can I get our tabs, please. I have to get going."
"One moment, sir," the young man said.
"You don't have to pick up mine, too! Not when you need to leave!" Audrey insisted.
"It's ok, darlin'. It would be the least I could do." 'While I'm sitting here thinking of another woman while trying to pick you up.' He finished to himself.
Audrey smiled and flashed an amorous look at him.
Dean took her number and put it in his back pocket. He paid both of their bills, and tipped the bartender.
As Dean walked out the door he reached back into his pocket retrieved the phone number and threw it into the trash outside the door of the restaurant.
There was no way in hell he wanted it. J was the only thing on his mind. She had made Jo call him. She had made Jo call him to save him from the situation he was in. How was it she knew he needed an excuse to get away?
Has she known he was thinking about her? Did she have any idea what just happened? That Dean was trying to pick up a chick? There were so many questions buzzing around Dean's skull.
She had called. She had made Jo call him. She knew, to a certain extent, that Dean needed an out. And she had provided that for him. She was thinking about him in some capacity.
J was thinking about him, Dean. After he hadn't heard from her in days. What felt like an eternity.
This little fact made Dean's heart soar. His stomach felt weightless. He was smiling so hard to himself.
Dean was so distracted he didn't notice someone following him out into the parking lot. He didn't notice the headlights blaze to life and follow him out of the parking lot. He did notice that his gas tank was almost empty.
Hadn't he filled up the tank when they rolled into town? He shouldn't need gas for at least another few days. They were staying right down the street from the restaurant, they were staking out.
He pulled into a gas station and got out of the car to go inside to pay for some gas. Followed by a pair of headlights that flashed at him.
That was the last thing Dean remembered.