Chapter Fifteen - Aggie's Hospitality

Texas 2006

Dean descended the stairs to the hotel lobby alone, his brother still getting dressed after he lost the coin toss to see who got the community bathroom first. His gaze fell on Gabrielle and a pang of familiarity gently nudged him. There was just something about her, a comfort, an intimacy that he had felt the instant he first saw her. He didn't understand it and he couldn't quite put it into words, almost like a serenity when he was in her presence.

She smiled warmly when she noticed him staring at her. She walked over to him, touching his arm, gently caressing it as she talked. The familiar cadence of her voice calming, just like old friends getting reacquainted.

"Did you sleep well?"

Dean paused before he answered, realizing for the first time that the answer was yes. He'd slept the best he had in a long time. He had not been on edge like he normally is, anticipating, always ready for an intruder, always sleeping with one eye partially open, watching and waiting.

"Yeah, I feel really rested. Got a good night's sleep."

Then suddenly it hit him like a ton of bricks. The Dream. Oh, wow! He'd had a dream about Gabrielle last night. One of those dreams. He'd always had an active imagination and it was not unusual for him to have romantic escapades in his dreams with women he found attractive, yet this dream was special. It wasn't just a wild, fun night of sex.

It was a romantic, passionate, intimate dream of him making love with Gabrielle. And damn, if he didn't feel like it was real. Standing here now, looking into her eyes, it was all he could think of, those feelings that fulfilled him, a glimmer of which he had felt when he was with Cassie. Love, real love.

He barely had time to embrace this newfound realization and the feelings they entailed when the emotional connection was abruptly severed as the loud thumping of his brother's footsteps on the stairs intruded into his thoughts. Silently he cursed his brother's inopportune appearance.

"Morning." Gabrielle greeted the younger Winchester as he appeared in the lobby. "Was your room alright?"

"Yeah, great." Sam replied.

Dean resigned himself to putting his startling connection to Gabrielle on hold. Just one more weird occurrence for them to sort out in this strange little town.

"Rosa's Mexican Café has the best breakfast if you like chile relleno or huevo rancheros. They also make the best chorizo." Gabrielle offered.

"Really? What do ya think there Sammy, a little Mexican breakfast?" then to Gabrielle he turned and asked, "How's their coffee?"

"Best in town."

"Well, then it sounds like the place to go."

"Yeah, as long as Dean can have his coffee, he's a happy camper." Sam added.

They turned to leave and Dean couldn't resist one last jab at his brother's chipper attitude as they walked through the lobby, making sure to keep his voice low to avoid offending Gabrielle.

"Yeah Sammy, I'm the happy camper traipsing down the hall just to use the toilet."

"Way to hold a grudge there, jerk."

"Bitch…. I'm just saying next time I make sure the damn room has a bathroom."

They crossed the street and entered the quaint Mexican café, the enticing smells drifting out into the street impelling the few bystanders out and about at the early hour to consider joining the brothers in their breakfast.

After thoroughly enjoying their food and three cups of coffee they walked the short main street checking out the rest of the town. Definitely a strange, little town, no doubt about that. Everyone seemed interested in them, watching their every move and scurrying about whispering amongst themselves. Whenever the brothers would get within earshot of what they were saying, they would clam up and politely ask how their day was going.

After a half hour of being the most interesting spectacle in town without a clue as to why, they wandered back over to the hotel to see if Gabrielle would be any more forthcoming. She greeted them with a friendly smile and simply stated they needed to go visit Aggie, she was expecting them.

After receiving directions to her spread just outside town, they settled into the Impala for the drive out. They easily found Aggie's home which was the largest house in Valentine or the surrounding area.

They stepped out of the Impala and were standing on the walkway when Sam gasped, clutching his head as swirls of images bombarded his brain. Dean rushed to his brother's side, holding him steady, offering what little support he could under the circumstances. They both leaned against the Impala, Sam gaining strength and comfort from his brother's strong embrace as his vision overcame him.

The curtains on the front window of the imposing house parted slightly and curious eyes watched the brothers as Sam struggled to remain on his feet. A smile slowly appeared on the watcher's face, a slight satisfaction at the familiar sight. Seeing what she needed to see, knowing the truth now with certainty, she closed the curtains and proceeded to the front door to greet her guests.

Sam opened his eyes still squinting from the pain and hesitantly stood up to his full height with Dean still at his side firmly grasping his arm, concern showing on his face.

"Dude, you OK?"

"Yeah, this house is evil. I saw it, I felt it." Sam declared.

"Great! Not exactly the best time to inform me. I'm not packing." Dean looked at the house before him, determining to open the trunk and load up on any and all available weapons. "We should have known to be prepared, what were we thinking?"

"Wait…. No… This house isn't evil."

"Uh, would you like to make up your mind there, Haley Joel? I'm beginning to feel like a yo-yo here."

"This house was evil. That's what my vision showed me, but it isn't any more. I don't know Dean, it feels at peace now."

"Remind me to look for a manual for your abilities, Psychic Visions for Dummies."

"Yeah, great idea there Dean, that one's gonna work." Sam scoffed.

"So, you're sure we don't need the weapons?" Dean asked with caution.

"No. We're not in any danger. I know that much." Sam replied as he started walking toward the house.

They strode up to the main house and before they could knock on the door it was opened by a strikingly beautiful, blond woman. She offered a warm smile and reached out to grab their arms and escort them inside, one on each side of her. She introduced herself as Aggie, the town matriarch.

Her home was extravagantly appointed with elegant furniture and exuded an old-world charm, but the most striking feature was the warmth that infused her home with a coziness that defied its size. Dean immediately felt close to Aggie as if he had known her all his life. He felt like he was coming home.

Sam also felt a connection to this kind, welcoming woman. She felt like a long lost relative, a friend and an ally. As strange and weird as this all seemed, it also felt comfortable and right. Both brothers instinctively knew Aggie was a friend and evil had not existed in this house in a very long time, rather goodness lived here.

She offered them drinks and poured them some raspberry tea when they declined, noting the early hour. She graciously showed them her home and inquired about their family and line of work. She had a way of putting you at your ease and before they knew it, both of the brothers were exposing family secrets that would never have been so casually revealed if not for the inviting hospitality of their host.

"So you fight injustice and help the less fortunate? Very important job, I'd say." She stated with conviction.

"Yeah, sort of the family business. It's really all we've ever known." Dean offered.

"I wish I could meet your Dad. He sounds like an amazing man. Where is he?"

"Dad's off on a job. I'm sure he would have liked to meet you. So is your husband around? We've heard a lot about him from Gabrielle." Sam asked.

"Oh, my love." Aggie smiled as fond memories of her true love sent waves of contentment wafting through her mind before she continued. "He's out riding the range, checking out the country. He likes to keep an eye on the land, make sure everything's all right. He'll be back tomorrow night."

She looked intently into Sam's eyes and startled him with her next question.

"So how long have you had the visions?"

"Uh, how could you know about that?" Sam questioned.

"My husband's son also had the gift. He's the one who knew you would come. I saw you on the walkway, you just had a vision, didn't you?" She calmly asked.

Dean and Sam just stared at each other, wondering how much this kind lady actually knew about them before they ever entered her home.

"It was when this house was evil." Sam offered.

"Yes, a long time ago, evil dwelled in this house."

"So, what happened? What caused evil to leave?" Dean inquired.

"My ancestors. They fought evil and won. They vanquished the evil and released this town."

Dean and Sam looked at each other wondering what more there was to this story. They both had an uncanny feeling of déjà vu. This all seemed so familiar, yet Dean knew for a fact he had never been in this part of Texas. He had been all across this country and he remembered every town, city or burg he had ever set foot in and he most assuredly knew he had never before been here, yet….

Aggie warmly touched his arm again, offering him another glass of tea.

"Tell me more about yourselves, I want to know everything." She kindly imposed.

"Well, Sam here is the smart one, went to college and everything. Top of his class. Always thinking, figuring out how to overcome evil. He's your go-to man for research, if he can't find it, it don't exist." Dean responded with a pride Sam had never noticed before.

"Dean has an overdeveloped case of big brother syndrome. He's always been there for me, always protecting me. He's got the instincts of a warrior, he's fearless. Always knows how to conquer whatever we come across. Dad says he's a born hunter." Sam added.

Dean looked on his brother with mild confusion. This was so unlike Sam to be spouting his virtues to a complete stranger. Hell, normally he would be pointing out his shortcomings and riding him about his one night stands and lack of commitment.

They spent the entire day there in her warm inviting home, discussing all their triumphs and failures: revealing their hopes and dreams and exposing their worst fears and nightmares. Telling all the Winchester secrets to this kind, supportive woman.

Both felt the comfort of this woman as she mothered them. It was a welcome release from the intense pressure they had felt their entire lives. It gave them a respite from all the stress of being a Winchester engaged in the epic battle of good verses evil.

Aggie assured them they were always welcome in her town and in her home. She asked them to consider this their home, their refuge, their port in the storm of life. She held them in her thrall with her kindness and compassion. For the first time in their tumultuous lives they felt they had a safe haven from all their troubles and woes.

It occurred to Dean they had never so readily accepted someone into their inner circle. They had revealed more family secrets to this kind woman than some of their closest allies were privy to. It seemed as if they were under the spell of this Aggie, under the influence of her truth serum. Dean suddenly wondered, what was in the tea? A potion? A spell? Before he could focus in on his suspicions they drifted away, out of his consciousness, no longer a concern to him. He was again at peace.

Thanks again for all the kind reviews. I really appreciate the support.