Chapter Four - Carnival

Dean couldn't remember ever having this much pure, simple, innocent fun. He and Sam would goof around sometimes, but they never had much time for it. There was always training and work to be done. The world was a dangerous and deadly place, and his life reflected that. He enjoyed hunting evil; he even considered that to be fun, but this was different. This was frivolous fun, and Stacy was showing him another side of life, one he'd never before seen the appeal of. He'd never laughed so hard and he found he couldn't stop grinning.

They rode all the rides and took in several side shows. Stacy was shocked at some of the freaks in the tents off the midway: the fish man and the bearded woman, the man tattooed over his entire body with a complete set of piercings in addition, and the midget woman who was full-grown and the size of a two year old. Dean wasn't overly impressed; he'd seen more interesting creatures in his work. All of these folk were either made up to look like something, or just genetic freaks that nature had played a cruel joke on. They were simply people trying to make a living. They just looked different from normal folk. When he looked into their eyes, he felt a kinship with them. He knew what if felt like to be different, misunderstood, ostracized. He sometimes felt like a freak himself.

For one night he put his lifestyle aside and was just a teenager on a date with a pretty girl. His weapons training came in handy when he went to the shooting gallery, and Stacy seemed quite impressed with his skill with a gun; little did she know he was an expert with most weaponry. The rifle pulled to the right, but he soon compensated; bulls-eyeing the target and winning Stacy a giant purple dog.

She hugged the hideous stuffed animal and with a laugh announced his name was Maxwell, as in Maxwell's Silver Hammer; which made Dean chuckle at how her mind worked, another common bond and he playfully considered if he could pass the name off on Sammy when he made his next fake I.D. Even as he looked upon her in total disbelief, she announced she loved Maxwell, in spite of Dean proclaiming it the ugliest thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

"That's why I love him, Dean… He needs me. I think he's perfect!"

His lips turned up in a sweet smile that radiated up and embraced his eyes, his entire being basking in the love embracing the dog and rippling out in waves that enveloped him with tender feelings. Stacy made him feel good… that's all there was to it.

After a fun-filled evening the carnival was getting ready to close down and they had time for one more ride.

"Oh, Dean, let's ride the Ferris wheel again," she exclaimed as she took his hand and pulled him toward the attraction.

They squeezed into the seat with the purple dog sitting on the end next to Stacy. It was a tight fit with the three of them, but Dean hardly complained, he liked having Stacy pressed up against him.

"I've had a great time tonight, Dean. I'm so glad we came." Stacy hesitated before she added in a rush, "I really like you."

Dean paused and gazed into her eyes, his heart fluttering as a shy smile drew up his lips. His voice was soft, barely there, as he sincerely replied, "I like you too." She snuggled closer to him as the ride jerked and started and he wrapped his arm around her and added, "I don't remember ever having this much fun."

The stars were bright at the top arch of the Ferris wheel, and as it languidly went around you could see the entire carnival and the last of the customers milling about. When the ride was over, it was a slow process unloading the riders and Dean and Stacy just happened to be in the last car unloaded. As they slowly climbed back into the sky for their final descent, Stacy looked into Dean's eyes, moved closer and kissed him. A soft, sweet, tender kiss. Dean kissed her back.

This was his first real kiss, not like any of the other kisses he'd shared before. Over the last year or so, he'd kissed several of those older women who found him so attractive. They were experienced and said they could show him a thing or two and they had. He was grateful for the training, but this was different, this was a special kiss. This was a kiss with a girl he really liked. He wanted this kiss to last forever and for a moment, he was lost in this kiss.

"That's it, kids. Rides over. Carnival is closing down."

He opened his eyes and was faced with a butt-ugly carnie undoing the latch across their seat and motioning them to exit. Dean took Stacy's hand and helped her off the ride. This had been a perfect evening, one he would never forget and he didn't want it to end, but he knew he needed to pick up Sam. They were the last customers out the front gates as the carnival closed up shop. He held her hand as they walked through the parking lot to his truck, the night air bringing on a slight chill and she leaned into his warmth. He was immersed in such total bliss he never sensed the evil stalking them.

He felt a presence emerge behind him just as a swift blow sent him sprawling to the pavement. He tucked and rolled, trying to protect his head and hands. His shoulder hit the ground hard, but at least he wasn't knocked out. Stacy screamed as the vampire grabbed her and almost flew toward the woods. Dean was stunned, but he stumbled to his feet and ran to his truck. He fumbled for his keys, unlocked the door and pulled down the back of the seat to reveal a bag of weapons. He ransacked the weapons cache, quickly grabbing a wooden stake and running full-out towards Stacy's screams.

This bloodsucker had picked on the wrong couple. Dean's heart was racing as he barreled into the woods. He was a protector of innocents, but this was personal; he'd be damned if he'd let anything happen to this girl. The vampire was just about to sink its teeth into Stacy's neck when Dean arrived and plunged the stake into the creature's back and the stupid, freakin' devil disintegrated in a cloud of dust. Stacy's eyes were filled with terror and confusion at what had just happened, the entire scene beyond her comprehension.

"What was that? How'd you do that?" she stammered as she stood there physically shaking.

Dean knew he couldn't explain everything to Stacy, but obviously he had to try and explain this.

After he calmed her down enough to listen he answered her as best he could, "Well, you know that new show on TV? That Buffy show? It's not exactly fiction." He arched his brow as he matter-of-factly added, "Vampires are real."

"How can that be? How do you know this stuff?" she exclaimed.

"I just do." He tilted his head and quirked his lips as he tried to offer a comforting smile. "You were the one who said I seemed more worldly than the other kids. Guess now you know why."

Stacy couldn't stop shaking. Dean wrapped his arm around her and walked her back to the truck, his eyes now constantly watching the quiet of the night surrounding them.

"We need to get moving. Where there's one, there's gonna be more. We need to get inside."

They drove back to her house in silence. With the evening ending on a rather low note, he wondered if she'd ever want to see him again.

"You'll be safe once you're inside your house. Just don't invite any strangers in. There's some wrong info in that Buffy show, but that part's true. Vampires can't come in until you invite them."

She looked up and stared into his eyes, her face a mask, pale and stretched thin from worry, while her thoughts remained a mystery. "Dean, I don't know what to make of all this, but I do know you saved my life tonight. Thank you."

She leaned in and kissed him again, a solemn, quiet moment between them. She was still trembling from her ordeal, but the kiss told Dean there might still be hope for them.