So, this update was original supposed to be uploaded on Christmas day, but guess what gift we received from our cable company? No cable or internet. e_e

Anyway, to sort of make up for that, from this Wednesday to the next, I'm going to try really hard to submit a new chapter each day, and even though they're going to be a little shorter than the others, I just wanted to make up for the lack of content. I hope you guys can understand.

(BLD)

They had been ready to check-out, heading to the entrance, when someone called out to them. "Winchesters?" they called, and it wasn't until Dean actually turned around that he recognized who it was.

"Pamela!" he called back, seeing the woman with a cart, half filled with groceries by the end of an aisle. She had been away on the east coast for the longest time, and it felt like he hadn't seen her in forever.

Dean came over and gave her a one armed hug, the basket in his other hand prohibiting him from giving her anything further. "How long have you been back?" he asked as they pulled away.

"Actually, I just got back today." She explained, then she came out from around her cart to go over to Sam herself and give him an even bigger hug than what she gave Dean. His brows sunk together only slightly to that, but he didn't spend too much time being hurt over it.

"I've missed you boys!" she exclaimed as she pulled back from her hug with Sam, the both of them smiling wide.

"How was your trip?" Sam asked, fixing his own basket in his hands.

"Oh, it was amazing." She laughed, "I had so much fun with the kids, and you should've seen their faces when we told them we were going to Disney World." She gave another laugh. Pamela was an aunt to two toddlers, and she'd spent about a month over in North Carolina to see them and her sister.

"That sounds awesome." Dean said, though the smile he gave was halfhearted at best.

Sam and Dean had never been to places like those as kids, having lost their mother at an early age, and having a father who was emotionally distant. Even to this day he still feels a little left out whenever anyone talks about their experiences. He'd never openly admit that, but Sam knew it. Hell, Dean was pretty sure Sam was a little broken up about it too. But they were adults now, Dean supposed, and it was time to get over the things he hadn't had as a child. Didn't mean he couldn't still be jealous.

Pamela had been laughing one second, then the next her features turned more serious. Her brows drew together as she spoke, "Boys, I heard about your father."

Instantly, Dean's eyes went anywhere but to Pamela's, staring at the handle of her buggy. "It happens." Was Dean's reply. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw how Sam glanced to him, a small scorning expression on his face.

"Yea, Pam, it's been rough lately. Right now we're trying to get all Dad's debts under control." He shook his head, "I had to come down from college to help out."

"Ooh, sweetie, that's too bad." Pamela set a hand to Sam's shoulder sympathetically.

Dean's features set into a hard frown, his hands gripping tightly onto the handles of his shopping basket. He couldn't listen to this. He didn't want to hear Sam say it out loud, how he'd failed. Suddenly, Dean took his basket and offered it to Sam's unoccupied hand. Sam took it, though not without giving Dean a puzzled look. "I just remembered I had to take care of something." He mumbled, then flashed Sam and Pamela both a fake smile, one he knew Pamela would eat up. Though Sam, of course, would see right through it. "Come visit some time, Pamela. We'll catch up some more then." He told her before turning completely around and headed out the store. He was glad Sam didn't call out to him, and he only heard Pamela's farewell.

Dean sighed heavily, knowing he'd get shit for that later, but right now all he wanted to do was go to the bar. He walked there, allowing Sam to drive Baby back home. He had a key of his own, so he didn't worry about whether or not he'd be able to get in. He was just glad everything was so close in his home town. Otherwise, walking everywhere would've been a bitch.

Once he got there, he made his way through a small crowd before he nabbed a seat right at the bar. He was about to flag over the bartender, ask for something strong, but then he paused. He didn't want to come home a mess, like what he was last night. He didn't want Sammy to see that, and he sure as hell didn't want to experience it again. His cheeks tinted red, a small wave of personal embarrassment running through him. Throwing temper tantrums was not on the cool list.

So, he reversed gears and grabbed out his wallet, deciding to at least break his twenty while he was here. There was a pretzel stand a couple blocks towards the house that he'd swing by. He'd rather break his twenty here instead of out on the street, less chance of an incident that way.

"Hey man, do you happen to have change for a twenty?" he asked, dangling the twenty dollar bill in the air leisurely. The bartender, a man who might have been a bit older than Dean, a bit stouter, ear length blond hair, gave a nod.

"Yea, one sec." And Dean watched as the man turned away to retrieve his bills. It was only a few moments later that the bartender turned back around, "All I got are fives, is that alright?" he asked, handing Dean the bills.

Dean gave a shrug, "It'll do." He then handed the bartender the twenty, "I can always just ask this guy." He jerked his head in the direction of the man sitting one seat away from him.

The bartender gave a chuckle, "Alright then." And he went back to his previous task.

Dean leaned to his right, and slapped his hand against the bar a few times, hoping the guy would look over and not be rude.

Though, when the man did turn to him, he wasn't sure why he looked so scared. Was Dean that intimidating? Dean made sure to speak gently, so he wouldn't scare this guy off like a colt, "Hey, sorry to bother you, but do you have five ones? I only got fives from the bartender." He explained. He wasn't sure if this guy even heard a word he said, because his eyes were so wide and his lips were clenched tightly together. He arched a brow, waiting for a reply, if any would come at all.

"Sure." Is what the guy finally said.

Dean was about to give a 'thanks', but the guy quickly turned away from him and he watched as he reached into the coat of the guy next to him and yanked out his wallet. The guy looked only slightly aggravated, growling a "Hey…" at him.

"I don't have any ones." He heard the man grumble, and Dean stifled a laugh with the back of his hand. The guy could've just said he didn't have any ones, that would've been fine, Dean could have gone to someone else.

Dean made sure to straighten himself out before the man turned back around, but he couldn't help the small grin that still curled his lips. He then watched as the man turned back to him, the other man's wallet in hand, and pulled five ones from it.

Dean grinned a bit broader, taking the cash from the man and then handed over his own five, "Thanks." He told him.

"Sure." Was all he said with a small smile of his own.

Dean couldn't take it, and he gave a chuckle. He nodded once to him and lifted himself up off the stool and made his way back to the entrance.

"That was entertaining…" Dean mumbled to himself under his breath. He couldn't believe it, but he actually found himself in a better mood now. Dean grinned to himself, sending a silent 'thank you' in his head to the quirky little guy he'd just met.

He decided he should probably head back to the store, catch up with Sammy if he hasn't checked out already. He had a neat little story to tell him.

With his appetite for a pretzel forgotten, he hurried through the parking lot, glad to see Sam was loading the groceries into the Impala. "Sammy…" he called out, waving a hand as he sped his walk into a jog.

Sam's head popped up out of the Impala, surprise on his face, "Hey." He called back, "I thought you were gonna walk home."

Dean chuckled, "No, see I said I had something to take care of." As he finally made it to the driver's side he clapped his hands together once, "And it's taken care of."

Sam quirked a brow but didn't challenge it, and only shook his head with a sigh, "Whatever. Just get in the car." He groaned as he shoved the rest of the cans into the back seat. Getting left with all the heavy lifting was annoying to say the least, and Sam's retaliation came in the form of rudeness.

Dean chuckled, then did as he was told. Sam could drive them back if he wanted, his encounter with the strange man had him in a more chipper mood. Now if only he had something like that around every time he got an ache in his side about his dad, then he'd be golden.