Chapter 12
Friday night seemed to bring out the crazies for some reason at the bar. Storm brushed strands for fallen hair from her face as she poured shots of whiskey for one table. There was a bachelor party in one corner that was getting louder than their usual patrons. They were loud, but not so disruptive that they needed to be asked to leave.
On the other side of the room were a table of fire fighters celebrating a birthday of one of them. They were sticking mainly to beers and decided to play some pool and darts. They toasted the birthday guy, and another round was bought by a fellow fire fighter.
"Thanks Hank," Storm told him as he set two twelve packs of beer on the bar to restock the cooler.
"No problem. Is your man coming tonight?"
"Yes, they should be here soon. We're heading out after I close up. Dad's coming in tomorrow. He'll be here to help run the bar with you guys while I'm gone."
"It's good that you're getting away to relax. Don't worry about anything here, we'll take care of things for you."
"I know you guys will and I appreciate it so much."
"It's not anything; you're family to us and we take care of family."
"I know and I feel the same way."
"Speaking of the devil…" Hank nodded as Dean and Sam stepped through the door of the bar and looked around.
"Damn," Storm mumbled when she saw Dean had one arm in a sling and Sam was limping, favoring his left side.
"Hey Stormy," Dean purred moving around the bar to grab her with his good arm and plant a kiss on her lips. Cat calls and whistles sounded through the bar as Storm laughed and pushed him away.
"What happened to you guys?" she questioned looking from Dean to Sam.
"You know," Dean shrugged. "Things don't go as planned. I got a dislocated shoulder, but it's about healed."
"And what about you little brother?"
"Got tossed around, tweaked my knee and sprained my wrist," Sam told her, hanging his head shyly. "Is Breeze on her way?"
"Yes," Storm replied pointing at the door that Breeze had walked through. "You guys timed it perfectly."
Sam turned and smiled widely when he caught sight of Breeze, locking eyes. They never looked away as Breeze moved through the crowd toward him. It was like there was no one else in the place but them. Breeze stopped a foot from Sam and looked up into his warm, hazel eyes that said all that needed to be said. He closed the space and caught her hands before leaning down enough to lightly kiss her.
"Why don't you crippled people go on upstairs?" Storm suggested.
"Crippled? What happened? Sammy how bad?" she inquired looking him over and finally noticing Dean's arm in a sling.
"Just sprained my wrist and twisted my knee," Sam explained. "Nothing serious, it's already getting better."
"I'll get these two upstairs and come back down to help," Breeze told her pushing Sam toward the door to the backroom and grabbing Dean's arm along the way to drag him along too.
"Hey!" Dean pouted as Storm waved sweetly to him before he disappeared out of sight.
"Can I get some beers here?" a guy from the bachelor party asked loudly as he leaned against it.
"Coming right up," Storm told him remembering the brand they ordered before and sitting six bottles on the bar. She took his money and gave him the change which he put in the tip jar. "Thanks. Remember, don't get too rowdy or you'll be asked to leave."
"I hear you sweetheart and don't worry, we're keeping it in check." He grabbed the necks of three bottles in each hand and headed back to their tables.
It wasn't long before Breeze was back downstairs having settled the guys in the apartment upstairs after being sure they took some pain meds for their injuries and fixed them some hot tea to relax them.
"I'll start making rounds and picking up empties," Breeze told Storm not missing a beat as she put on an apron and grabbed the tub from under the bar. The firemen thanked her and talked a few minutes with her before she moved on to another table. They were gentlemen and didn't try to accost her like some would. She took the tub to the back room and put the empty bottles in a bin and went out to continue her round.
Storm thought the time seemed to creep by as she kept looking at the clock wishing time to move faster. She wanted to get upstairs and check on her guys, maybe even baby them a little. Of course, she figured Breeze would take care of Sam now they seemed to be an item. She couldn't be happier for them and was glad her little match making was working out.
spn
"The trash and recycles have been taken out Storm so Norm and I are heading out now. You guys have a wonderful, relaxing time next week and don't worry about anything here. We'll take care of it."
"Thanks guys and I hope we will. At least they said the weather was supposed to be good."
"Goodnight girls," Hank told them before Norm and him left the bar.
Storm locked the doors behind them and threw the extra lock before heading into the backroom with Breeze. She checked the backdoor before leading them upstairs to her apartment. They stepped inside to find the guys were asleep on the couch with the television playing some movie.
"They look so peaceful," Breeze whispered.
"I know. They know they can let themselves relax here and that they're safe," Storm commented. "I hate to wake them, but if we're going to get on the road, I guess we'll have to. Let me see if I can get Dean's keys and we'll pack the car before doing it."
"Alright, my bag is in the car. Do you have your things packed?"
"Yes, and I washed the clothes we got for the guys and packed them too."
The girls moved to the couch and Storm carefully slipped her hand into Dean's jacket pocket to see if his car keys were in there. He grunted and shifted on the couch as she froze until he settled and check the other pocket. On her third attempt, she found the keys and tried to ease them from his pocket.
"Crap!" she cried out when Dean woke and grabbed her arm with his good hand.
"What are you doing?" Dan questioned as he groaned in pain and shifted to look at her.
"I was getting your keys so we could load the car before waking up guys up."
"Wha…I'm up…" Sam moaned as he began to wake too. He blinked several times to clear his vision and wiped his eyes.
"You two stay there while we get the car packed," Breeze told them.
"I can…" Sam started and tried to get up but was stopped by Breeze's hand on his chest.
"You heard me, you stay put mister," she insisted.
Sam snorted but stayed still when he saw the look on her face that she meant business. He looked over at Dean and saw Storm was giving Dean the same message. They stayed on the couch as the girls went to Storms bedroom for the bags and headed downstairs with them.
"I'm too tired to argue with her," Dean sighed wincing as he moved his hurt shoulder.
"Yeah, I agree, but I need to use the bathroom before we go." Sam leveraged his body from the couch and limped to the bathroom.
Dean rolled his head to stretch his neck muscles as he waited for Sam to finish in the bathroom so he could have his turn. He looked to the door as the girls came back in talking and went to the kitchen to grabs some bags of food and an ice chest with drinks in it for the road. They looked to the couch and only saw one brother.
"Bathroom," Dean grunted when they looked questioningly his way.
"Breeze is going to drive first, and I'll take over. That way you guys can sleep for a while before having to drive. If we each drive around four hours, we should be there by late afternoon depending on how many stops we have to make."
"You know I don't…" Dean started to protest.
"No, stop," Storm sternly spoke as she shook her finger at him. "We are going to divide the driving up like I have planned and you're not going to object. Breeze and I are both good drivers and we'll take good care of your Baby."
"Storm's right you know. I know how you feel about your car and will treat her like she was my own," Breeze added.
"We'll be ready in fifteen minutes to leave. You got that Sam?" Storm asked when he stepped from the bathroom.
"Yes ma'am," Sam answered not sure what he missed while in the bathroom. He could feel some tension in the air between the girls and Dean.
"Your turn Babe. We'll get the food packed and use the bathroom and we'll be ready to head out."
"Right," Dean pouted as he let Storm help him from the couch. He headed for the bathroom as the girls gathered what food Storm had packed to take with them.
"What did I miss?" Sam mumbled to the girls.
"Only Dean getting all protective of his 'Baby'," Storm told him using air quotes when she said Baby. "Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Ummm…Okay...Sure…" Sam stumbled over his words with a puzzled look on his face. He knew how Dean was about the Impala and wasn't going to get in the middle of it. He waited in the living room for everyone to come back mulling it over.
Storm and Breeze came back upstairs and when Dean came from the bathroom, they took turns.
"Are we ready?" Storm asked looking to the guys.
"Yes," the said together.
"Then let's rock and roll!"
They headed downstairs and out the backdoor, Storm pausing long enough to set the alarm. Breeze got in on the driver's side and moved the seat forward so she could reach the pedals easier.
"Guys, you might want to sit in back until it's your turn to drive," Storm suggested. "I think you'll have more room."
Sam looked at the space on the passenger side and didn't comment, just got in the back. Dean huffed his disagreement but got in back with Sam while Storm took shotgun.
"Why don't you guys relax and go back to sleep?" Storm suggested as Breeze cranked the Impala and let it idle for a moment.
"Hey, no heavy foot on the gas up there."
"I'll treat her with respect Dean, don't worry."
"I'll give you directions when we get out on the main road," Storm told her looking down at the directions she had printed out. "Once we get on 35 it's a straight shot to Dallas to pick up 45 on to Galveston."
"Sounds good to me," Breeze replied. "I know how to find 35 from here."
Storm reached and turned on the radio, flipping through the channels until she found some music to her liking. She glanced in the back and could just make out Dean's frowning face and Sam's amused one. She threw him a kiss and settled back in the seat, closing her eyes to try and catch a few hours of sleep before it was her turn to drive.
spn
"You're up Babe, if you feel like it," Storm told him as she held out the keys for the Impala. They had stopped at a truck stop to gas and to get a late breakfast. "We made good time and are over halfway there now."
"Of course, I can drive," Dean huffed offended she would even ask.
"Good, then you drive for about four hours and Sam can take over and take us on into Galveston."
Dean looked at her as he thought about it for a moment and pursed his lips in contemplation.
"Here Sammy, you drive, and I'll take over in a few hours," Dean told him handing him the keys. "It's all interstate and you shouldn't have any problems."
"I don't have problems driving the Impala," Sam scoffed giving Dean a bitch face.
"You ride the brakes, and she doesn't like that."
Sam rolled his eyes and snorted before getting into the car and letting the seat back when his knees hit the dash. He checked the mirrors and got comfortable as he waited for the others to get in. Breeze joined him in the front seat and scooted closer to him.
"Hey! No funny business up there, Sammy needs to concentrate on driving," Dean insisted. "Both hands on the wheel dude."
"Dean, they're fine," Storm sighed as she pulled Dean closer to her to cuddle in the backseat. He sniffed and grunted but settled down next to her as she pulled his good arm around her shoulders. "How's the shoulder?"
"Better. I probably won't need the sling any longer."
"But you're going to wear it for now, right?"
"For you, anything."
"I'm going to remember that," Storm cooed as she tried to hold in the laughter when she thought about the prank, they were going to pull on the guys.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked.
"Yes," Storm squeaked, clearing her throat and coughing softly. "I'm fine."
"Right…" Dean drawled out thinking she wasn't telling him something. He kissed the side of her head and settled back as Sam pulled from the truck stop and picked up the interstate again heading south. The soft music, the steady rocking of the car, the purr of his Baby, and having Storm's warm body next to his had Dean zoning out and dozing again.
Dean opened his eyes and gazed around at his surroundings, not recognizing them. He was standing on a mountain that overlooked a serene valley spread out before him. He sensed her before hearing her behind him. He felt a hand slip around his waist and smiled knowing the touch.
He looked to his side as Storm moved to stand by him and look across the valley too. Neither spoke as the sun rose higher in the sky brightening the day and chasing the shadows away. He closed his eyes as the first rays of the sun touched his face as if cleansing him. He turned to Storm and took her in his arms to gently kiss her. Their kiss deepened as he ran his hands up and down her body feeling her hand sneak under his shirt to caress his bare skin.
"Dean," a voice called to him. "Babe, you're dreaming."
Dean came around slowly and groaned when the dream went away, leaving him with a hard on that he tried to hide.
"That must have been some dream," Breeze told him with a smirk. "You were making all kinds of smooching noises back there."
"It was nothing," Dean insisted shifting in the seat trying to relieve his discomfort.
"Do you feel like driving?" Sam called over his shoulder. "If not, I can drive some more."
"No, no, I'm fine. Go ahead and find a place to stop and we'll swap out," Dean answered straightening up in the seat to see where they were. He squinted from the sun shining in the windows and saw they were in Texas, that much he could tell. "How far are we from Galveston?"
"About four hours, a little less. Traffic is moving well, and we've not had any delays, we should be there by midafternoon," Storm answered.
"I going to stop up ahead to get gas and for a restroom break," Sam offered as he changed lanes so he could take the exit he wanted. He stopped at the light and turned right to pull into a convenience store parking lot and to the pumps.
"I'll get the gas," Breeze offered hopping out and going around to the back.
"I need the restroom," Storm grunted getting out and helping Dean out.
"Me too," Sam nodded.
The three headed to the front door of the store and went in to search for the restrooms. Once everyone had their turn and grabbed snacks and drinks, Dean took over the last leg of the trip and drove them to Galveston.
A/N: Dean is being overly protective of his Baby, but Storm knows how to handle him. Their vacation is about to being. Thanks for coming on the journey. Reviews/Comments are always welcome. NC
