The neon sign sputtered, ceasing to illuminate the night, as Kristen locked the doors to the Empty Glass. This night, like all the others, left her to close up on her own. "Useless men…" She muttered, imagining her boss and the other drunks, passed out somewhere. She took the same steps she did every night, heading for her car, going back to her efficiency apartment, spending the evening counting her tips, and dreaming of making enough to move to the big city.
Yet, tonight was different. She had witnessed a young man beaten by the clowns in this town. For a moment, she thought she was on edge. A case of chills spilled up her spine. However, it was something more. As if by instinct, she felt someone watching her. Even so, it was hard for her not to panic, and she started to run. Her legs pumped faster. Her fingers jutted the largest of her car keys between the middle and index fingers, sticking the metal out like a knife or corkscrew, ready to stab anyone who might be attacking. Just as she reached her car, a hand touched her shoulder. She screamed, driving her makeshift weapon forward.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy." Sam halted her plunge, grabbing her wrist just shy of making contact. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just need some information."
"HELP! RAPE! HELP! POLICE!"
"I am the police." Sam laughed. "Earlier tonight a man was beaten at this place."
"Is he okay?" She stopped struggling and tone of real concern splashed in her voice.
"He'll heal, but they did a number on him."
"I tried to stop them. They were…"
"You saw?"
"Yeah, I had to step in. They were just hotheaded that he beat them at pool..."
"That's not important, but I do need names of who was involved and where I can find them. As well as, who would have the contents of his wallet."
"They took the money, but some other things ended up in the trash. I found them when I was closing and locked them in the office. I kinda hoped to see him again."
"Let me guess, you and he were going to hook up later."
"No, but he was a cutie pie. He treated me really nice, tipped me… not like the other yahoos. Never really got a chance to chat with him. I just felt bad that…"
"I need you to turn over what you have as evidence."
"Not unless I see a badge."
"That's doable." Sam flashed one the handy badges at his disposal. "Detective Sam Ryan."
"Kristen Allen- waitress extraordinaire. Hold your applause."
Sam chuckled. "Must be a lot of excitement for this town."
She started walking, indicating for Sam to follow. "Nah, we always have some hothead or another doing something stupid. And my mother wonders why I ain't married yet!"
"I see your problem."
When the door swung open, Sam noticed the evident destruction and damage to the bar. "Did a tornado..."
"I told Howard there was no way I was cleaning that up."
"Howar…"
"The owner, I don't get paid to clean up after a brawl."
"Who started the fight?"
"Brad and Harry. The other guy… uh…never did find out his name."
"Dean."
"He was just trying to leave. Then a few others joined in. Dean held his own for a long time. UNTIL too many of them acted like they were in a riot or something."
Instantly, Sam felt like a heel. He had given Dean an extra hard time about the bar fight and now it was obvious his brother was only defending himself. It was times like these he wished Dean would just say so. Now, he wished his big brother had put him in his place. A good Shut up Sam was definitely in order.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, Sorry. I was thinking about the senseless nature of this all."
"Stupidity in spades. I'll get that stuff for you."
"Good. And after I inspect that evidence. I would love for you to write out the names of the participants and any potential witnesses."
"Sure thing. You sure that guy is going to be alright. Howard wouldn't let me go check on Dean after the fight. I snuck out about 30 minutes later and he was gone. I figured he crawled off and I…"
"He'll live. Not happily at the moment, but he'll be laid up for a few days."
"Hmm… well, when he gets better, he has a pitcher on me, kay?"
"I think that would speed his recovery time by leaps and bounds."
"Hmm… I don't know if that makes me like him more or makes me nervous." She smiled, going behind the bar and into the Employee's only door.
"Both." Sam suggested as she went from view. While Kristen retrieved the items she found, Sam surveyed the destruction all around him. For every step within the battle ground, Sam felt worse and worse. Not only had his lecture been disproportionate to what happened, it was obvious Dean could have really gotten hurt by the maddening mod. "Dean…" He said in a whisper, bending down to the pile of broken mirror glass. Among several of the silver, shining shards were drops of blood splatter- Dean's blood.
"Here you go." Kristen extended several odds and ends in her palm: A condom, a small picture album, and a matchbook.
He stood, collecting the things from her. "Thanks… They didn't leave much."
"We'll all I found was the condom and the picture book. The matchbook is from me." She smiled.
Flicking the matches open, Sam couldn't help but notice her name, number, and a get well message. "I don't think that is evidence."
"Never hurts to advertise."
"Think you can write out some other names and contact info for me."
"Sure, but they won't be half as fun as mine." She pulled a small order pad from the bar top, thinking as she went. "I know where some of them live, but not the precise address. Is that okay?"
"That's fine. I can do a bit of leg work if I have to."
"If you don't mind, I kinda... well… you seem kinda involved with this."
"He's with me."
"Oh… I didn't know you and he were like… uh... TOGETHER."
"No... No… not that way. I mean we're partners. We investigate together."
"Whew, I was thinking it was just my luck. Two cute men come in this place and ..."
"You have no worries about that. Dean and I have been on a lot of cases together."
"Didn't set well that he got so trashed up. This is the best I can do. I hope it helps. Can I ask a favor?" Extending a few tab sheets, she made a grimace.
"Sure." Sam said, snatching the paper from her hand.
"Don't tell Howard I let you in here or helped you. I really need this job and these guys are..."
"I think I can do that... IF…You can keep my presence here a secret from the men on this list. I'm too close and I really want to take care of it. IF anyone finds me looking into it, I may have to turn it over to…"
"Another investigator."
"Yeah. I'll just call it an anonymous tip."
"Wow, thanks. Can I walk you out? I have to lock up again the office again, but…."
"I can show myself out. Thanks for the information. "
"Sure thing."
As he exited in the dark light, he strutted towards the Impala, parked in the farthest and darkest part of the lot. While he moved, Sam flicked through the names on the sheet, thinking about the best course of action. Sure, the guys on this list deserved a lesson, but the whole point of this mission was to find what was bothering Dean.
One thing for sure, it couldn't be the condom. That thing might be older than Sam. It was so worn out, that there wasn't an expiration date or it if had one once, it had since worn off.
The only other item could be the photo holder, his fingers flipped through the small wallet picture book, studying the images. "We'll this could do it." Sam chuckled.
Glancing down at a high school picture of his Mom and Dad, complete with huge sideburns, Sam wondered what his Mother saw in his Dad. The next was a picture of his Mom, Dean, and him. A giant "Welcome Sam!" banner hung above them, brightly colored and hand drawn in crayon, obviously an art project ala Dean at that time. Even the word welcome was missing the letter L.
Then one of their father in full uniform, serious and solemn, another of Sam winning his first award, and another of Sam, Dean, and a stray dog they adopted for a week or so.
Sam continued walking to the Impala, thinking of how that dog ended up saving all the Winchesters' asses. Too bad it died doing it. Somehow, he always thought John was relieved to not have another mouth to feed, but even the stoic John carved a wooden headstone for it. A single picture of their Mother, smiling and happy and Dean was blowing her a kiss.
The last few pockets contained an assortment of odd and ends: a ticket stub from a rock concert, a broken piece of a locket, smashed beyond recognition, and an old receipt, worn, faded, and ready to fall apart.
Sam slipped inside the car, tossing all of it into the passenger seat as he went. The devilish part of Sam wanted to call his brother out for being a closet sentimentalist, but Sam would feel the same way if this were his mementos. Even tough Winchesters needed a few reminders of the good things in life.
He glanced back down at the photo book, flopped open on the receipt. For the first time, he noticed the date on the small slip of paper.
"MY GOD…" He chuckled, realizing the date. "He kept it." Suddenly, Sam for all of his devilish thoughts welled with emotions. He found it impossible to not shed a tear. "Ahhh... Dean... I…"
Sam had made a promise that precise day, so many years ago, on the coldest, wettest day in 1995. All these years, Dean had remembered and Sam had yet to keep his word.