-1Bar Fights and Bullets

Chapter 29

John stood arms crossed over his chest, a certain pride in his demeanor as he silently thanked his lucky stars for what he was watching unfold before him. there had been so many times in the months past, that he thought… That he feared this day would never come, Times when he himself had been on the verge of giving up, times that his faith in his own strength and the strength of his son's had wavered…

But standing here. Seeing what he was seeing , unshed tears of joy and admiration shimmering below the surface of his eyes…. Everything had finally come together, everything was right again, and he knew that everything was going to be okay.

"Sammy…." Dean's voice was a low and shaken whisper as he kept his eyes focused on the ground in front of him, concentrating fully on lifting one foot and then the other, steadying himself with each step. His insides were twisted into a thousand monstrous knots, sweat pouring down his forehead from the effort he was putting forth not only physically, but mentally as well. He was doing it, he was really doing it, one small slow step at a time. No chair. No walker. No leg braces. Just one very determined Winchester and his will to keep on going.

"I'm right here." The younger man kept his voice at the same barely audible octave not wanting to break his brother's concentration. "You're doing great."

"How many?"

"Eight." Sam's voice was proud and triumphant.

"Geezus. That's all? It feels like we've been at this for three hours already."

"thirty six minutes."

"Man time drags when you're working hard doesn't it?"

"Are you tired? You want to call it a day?"

"No…I got a few more in me."

"You can't push to hard." Sam frowned ever so slightly when he noticed his brothers weak limbs quivering beneath him, threatening to give out at any second and send him plummeting to the ground.

"I said -"

"I know what you said… but I also know what your body is saying, and I think it's time to stop for the day, eight is a very good first round… Tomorrow we can try for nine…That right foot of yours is still to weak to over work, we need to build you up slowly. Noah's arc wasn't built in one day you know?"

"Well I'm not Noah now am I?"

"Dean-"

"Sam-…" It was Dean's turn to frown as he swallowed hard feeling his knees collapsing out from under him just as they had been threatening to do, his arms flailing just a little as he tried in vain to keep himself balanced. He was more than relieved when his brothers forearm appeared in his grasp and he was able to distribute some of his weight on to his sibling with a shaky exhale of breath. "Son of a…."

"That's enough for today." John's voice left no room for argument as he approached his boy's, Dean's walker in his grasp.

The eldest of his son's nodded in compliance still trying to catch his breath untrusting of his voice as he swallowed, " 'Kay."

Even in his breathless and exhausted state though, as tired as he was, there was no mistaking the smile plastered on the victorious man's lips as he hoisted himself up against his walker. It was a smile so real, so genuine, and so infectious that John and Sam both couldn't help but let their own grins appear.

"I did it…." he shook his head still in a state of disbelief himself as though he had to say the words out loud to truly believe them, to make them real and to know that this wasn't just another fantasy turned nightmare he was going to find himself waking up from still trapped inside worthless and broken limbs.

"Yeah son you did…." John and Sam were both quick to each grip a side of the over worked man as his body even in the walkers confinements began to slowly slide toward the ground.

He was tired… So damn tired, and he didn't want to move another inch… He didn't think he could.

"Alright, lets sit you down before you fall down." Sammy's voice was confident, and strong as he spoke, something Dean hadn't heard in the last thirteen and a half months. Something that he never thought he was going to hear again.

"Mhmmm." Dean leaned heavily into him, he would of thought something so insignificant, so everyday, something he once had taken for granted, could have taken so much out of him.

Sliding down into the couch cushions he couldn't ignore the grin still plastered across Sammy's lips, the admirable glow in his eyes… Sam was proud.

Appreciating the emotion, but not willing to admit to it the older man smirked and cocked his eye brow in classic Dean Winchester fashion. "Oh god, we're not gonna have to hug or anything are we?"

-Two and a half months later-

She was the most beautiful thing Dean had ever laid eyes on, shimmering… glowing as her body glistened against the bright sun above her head. He had never seen anything so breath taking in his entire life as he took a step closer and ran his hand along her smooth exterior causing a chill to dance down his spine and embed it's self into his bones.

He never imagined in a million years that he would be able to look at her this way again, as though she were a part of him, a part of his soul… a part of his future.

There was a glisten in his eye, a gleam that could only be brought on by her presence. Fueled by the images of the two of them together on the open road once again, the past behind them and an unknowing future ahead.

She was his baby, his one true love.

And no matter what Sam or anyone else said, she was and always would be his number one girl.

Exiting the apartment that he and his family had shared for the last fifteen plus months Sam exhaled deeply and turned to face it standing in the small doorway, so much had happened here, so much pain, so much joy, and so many tears…. The confinement of these walls had been a safe haven for both his brother and himself as they dealt with the cruel and unforgiving hand fate had thrown their way… As they faced the odds and then defeated them.

Swallowing hard he closed his eyes images, conversations, and events of the battle they had been forced to fight forever embedded into his eyelids…. This had been one hell of a ride.

Opening them again he reached out and with a strong hand and a final glance pulled the horribly colored brown door closed. If those walls could talk Sam Winchester knew the stories they would tell would be enough to break even the hardest of hearts.

All in all he was glad to see it go.

Turning around he headed out toward the parking lot and stopped a few feet short of reaching his brother's side, shaking his head he took the sight in before him and a smile once more tugged at the corners of his mouth.

There stood his brother. His hero back and ready for action. A confidence in his posture, his head held just a little higher than before, his shoulders a little straighter and his smile a little brighter….

Dean was whole again.

Happy again.

And so was Sam.

Closing the distance separating them he placed a heavy hand on his brother's shoulder and smirked, "You ready?"

Nodding slightly Dean tore his eyes away from his beloved impala and looked to the younger yet taller man beside him, "On one condition…."

"If you're sure you're ready then…" Sam retrieved the keys from his pocket and held them out in the palm of his hand already knowing what that one condition was going to be.

Holding the small silver objects in his grasp Dean made no attempt to hide the widening of his grin or the chuckle of glee that ran freely from his lips. Opening the drivers side door he inhaled deeply the sent of genuine leather and years of experience that came rushing toward him.

Relishing in the moment, he slid carefully behind her wheel and closed the door sliding the key… his key into the ignition. His skin tingled welcomingly as he settled back into soft and worn leather seats letting them engulf him, surround him and embrace him the only way she could.

Climbing into the passengers seat Sam couldn't resist the smart remark that came from his lips as he looked over at hiis brother and more importantly the love in his brothers eyes, "Is this a private moment would you like me to leave you two alone or-"

"Shut up Sammy." Dean whispered under his breath as he leaned over and turned the key slowly. His entire body relaxed feeling her purr beneath him, the rev of her engine the most beautiful sound he had ever heard as he let out a satisfied breath and wrapped his fingers fittingly around the wheel, almost hugging them against it's warm metal ring.

Pressing his foot down to the gas, the way it seemed so perfectly to fit once again only made this whole experience all the more invigorating for the elated man, and the seven minutes it took for them to get from the parking lot to the local Denny's was to short of a distance for Dean's liking, he wanted to keep going, keep driving, and keep basking, but there were more important matters to attend to at the moment… And he didn't just mean the growl of hunger erupting from his stomach.

"Are you sue you wanna eat here?" Sam couldn't help but ask as they headed into the familiar restaurant which they hadn't visited since the last disastrous incident with the unkind waitress and the set upon set of staring and judgmental eyes.

"More that sure. Besides this is where dad is meeting us after he drops all that equipment off at the children's hospital. "

The younger brother nodded and a look of curiosity came to his features as a small blonde woman approached them, from her appearance he knew that she must have been the one from Dean's nightmare diner tale.

The same tan toned legs approaching him Dean's lips shifted into a cocky smile as he crossed his arm's over his chest and tilted his head back as she drew closer to them he couldn't help but notice her eyes scanning him up and down as though he were a piece of meat waiting to be bought and bitten into.

They were the same eyes that had taken pity on him, had looked at him with pathetic sympathy not to long ago, and now…. The same eyes with a different expression, a hunger, a flirtatious eagerness.

"Hello boys…" she charmed as she finally came to a stop centimeters from them her blue orbs never leaving Dean's muscular frame even as she spoke. "My name's-"

"Patty." Dean finished for her remembering her name without even having to glance down at her name tag, in fact advising himself against it, if he looked at her name tag, he would without meaning to find himself looking at… something else, so he simply reminded himself who this woman was, kept himself focused on her eyes… those eyes.

"That's right…." She cocked her head a little to the side and studied him for a minute as thought she were trying to place his adorable and handsome features from somewhere. "Do I uh know you…?"

"You could say that." he couldn't stop the curt response before clearing his throat, "although the last time I was in here I'm pretty sure you weren't looking at me like that…"

"I-I'm sorry?"

"Maybe if I go out to the car and grab my wheels you'll remember then…."

The young woman gasped almost instantly covering her mouth with her hand, before dropping it again. "You were in here with your father that morning weren't you?"

Dean nodded,

"Wow…I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, I mean I see so many different people everyday, and I-"

"That's not why you didn't recognize me but now that you have can you please seat us? We'd like to eat sometime today this being a restaurant and all."

"Oh yeas of course… Right this way." She grabbed to menus before leading them toward the back of the seating area.

Sam, who had been watching the whole thing take place, couldn't help but actually feel bad for the young woman.

It was only another 20 minutes or so before John managed to walk through the entrance an expression on his face that spoke volumes as he took a seat next to his youngest and without even asking began picking from both boys plates.

"Where is it?" Sam asked taking a drink from his coffee

"And what is it?" Dean added as if to finish his brother's thought two sets of hazel eyes looking excitedly at their father.

"A werewolf in Colorado, pastor Jim called and said that three have already been found dead and there are two more un-accounted for. I told him that I would talk to you boys before we agreed to take it."

"Of course we'll take it." The older of his two boys piped up without even a second thought as he shoved a bite of egg into his mouth.

"Dean… Are you sure you know you're ready….."

"I think a werewolf is a good first hunt back." Sam agreed to both John and Dean's surprise their eyes shifting to look at him. "What? I'm serious I mean we are pretty seasoned on the wolf hunting and with you and I there to back him it's not like-"

"Don't finish that sentence." Dean put his fork down and signaled for the check, "If you jinx me on my first hunt back I'll kick you're ass from here to hell and leave you there…"

"Alright, alright, I was just trying to make a point… I'm on your side here ya know?"

Dean took the small brown tray from Patty's hand and lifted the bill to read it a little shocked at the irony as a small piece of reciept paper floated out from behind it. "I don't believe it…"

I'm sorry about before… let me make it up to you

PATTY

555-323-1465

"Is that what I think it is?" John asked his own expression a mixture of confusion and surprise.

"Yeah." He nodded retrieving one of the credit cards from his wallet and standing up, "Let's get outta here." he mumbled before making his way up to the register.

"How was everything ?" Patty asked her demeanor immediately giving away the fact that she was more than a little nervous about the flirtatious act she had just committed.

"The food was great." He signed his name to the bill before turning to head out not intending to say another word.

"Wait you forgot this…." She called after him a second later just as the door was about to close behind the mysterious and handsome stranger holding up the small paper with her number scribbled across it….

Dean turned around and pulled the door open just enough to stick his head back in, "I didn't forget it." he answered his voice purposely louder than normal, "I didn't want it."

Confused, she couldn't help but ask the next question her voice soft… "Can I ask why?"

"I wasn't good enough for you then… What in the hell makes you think I'm good enough for you now?"

Dean didn't even bother to wait for a response, he didn't even check to see the look on her face as he pulled the door closed and turned heading the rest of the way out. He felt good.

Making his way out to the Impala he noticed Sam watching him and smirked, "What?"

"I just never thought I would see the day my brother would turn down anything with breasts…"

"How do you know I turned her down?"

"The look on her face man… It was obvious I think the whole restaurant knew."

"Yeah… Well good."

Just then out of the corner of his eye Dean watched as young woman no more than twenty five headed toward the entrance, long brown hair that swayed when she walked, a beach fresh tan decorating her skin, unlike the fake and bake one worn by the adoring Patty.

She was obviously sad, depressed… her head hung almost completely down chin to chest as she walked as though she were ashamed to be seen.

Dean knew that feeling all to well….

As she stepped passed him, reaching out he placed a hand on her shoulder just hard enough to grab her attention not hard enough to knock her over or anything.

The young woman froze and drew in a shaky breath bright green eyes coming up to meet his, so young so innocent, so pain filled.

"Keep your chin up." He whispered simply before dropping his hand from her shoulder, "Trust me… You'll be alright"

She smiled softly offering him a small nod, "Yeah…. Maybe." Her voice was low and sweet before she began to once again walk uneasily toward he restaurant her feet thumping against the asphalt as she did so… He didn't see the over whelming lip in her step, the horrid posture her body contained obviously brought on by some sort of physical handicap, he simply saw her… her pain, her sadness…. And he had been there, had felt that… And so he did the one thing he vowed to do from now on… He reached out to her because he understood her.

Dean's life had taken a devastating turn, he'd fought a battle harder than most would ever have to… And he'd come out of it a changed man, a better man…

A new man.

Alright there is the end of it, however there will be an epilogue soon enough so don't right this off just yet. I hope I did the ending justice, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as you have the rest of the story. I want to hear your thoughts and your criticism about the whole thing. For those of you who have stuck with me through this whole thing I thank you and I hope my choices throughout these chapters have made you proud!