Chapter Eight

Dean leaned against one of the large trees across from the Alberts home, watching it warily. He drew his jacket tighter against himself, pulling the collar up against the cold wind, but he was still shivering, his teeth clattering. Happy freakin' birthday. You're gonna get pneumonia for your birthday this year, Dean, hope you like it, he thought bitterly to himself, blowing on his hands to try to keep warm. He pressed the little button on his watch to make it light up so that he could read the time. He cursed silently, and waited.

"Okay, so… what movie would you like to see?" Sam asked, pulling Lynn into his arms as they both sat on her comfortable sofa. Sam could swear that sofa was ten times more comfortable than his motel bed.

"Mmm, I don't mind. Not like we're going to be watching it…" she muttered, smirking at him. Sam laughed, opening the paper and scanning it until he got to the list of movies playing.

"You know, we could always just stay here, pretend to watch TV. It's warmer anyway." He noted.

"But I like the popcorn." Lynn protested. "And that's yesterday's paper." She noted.

"What?" Sam checked the date. "No, it's not." Lynn straightened.

"Yes, it is. Today's the twenty forth." She said, planting little kisses on his neck.

"Oh." Sam, said, tossing the paper to the floor. "You got today's paper?" he forced himself to ask, though at the moment he really didn't give a damn. Lynn grumbled something incoherent and straddled him, kissing him.

"Doesn't matter," she breathed, "we're gonna be late anyway…"

"Mmm 'k." was the most Sam could bring himself to say. "No, wait, what?" he jumped all of a sudden, pushing the surprised Lynn away.

"Okay, we could make out in the movie if you want," she said, a little confused, "I just thought we could get a little head start…" she said, leaning over him again, but Sam pushed her back again.

"The twenty forth? Today's the twenty forth?" he demanded. Lynn shrugged.

"Yeah. Why?" she asked.

"Dammit!" Sam cursed, pushing himself to his feet with some effort. Damn this sofa was comfortable. Lynn looked quizzically at him.

"Sam? What is it? What's wrong?" she asked.

"It's my brother's birthday! I can't believe I forgot!" Sam quickly looked at the time. Ten to seven. Dammit! He didn't even buy Dean anything. They didn't really celebrate birthdays, but the boys always used to do something for each other, even if it was just a lop-sided candle on a vending machine muffin.

And he wanted to do something special this year, he had planned it. He wanted them all to be together, the three of them, to prove to Dean how much they really loved and needed him. But he forgot, and now his father was off somewhere, and he didn't even get Dean anything. He hasn't even spoken to his brother since this morning. Sam cursed under his breath, reaching for his coat.

"Sam…" Lynn got off the sofa, nearing him slowly. "Call him or something. You don't have to go." She said, running her hand up his arm, and pulled him closer. Sam shook his head, looking at her as if she'd suggested he started wearing a pink bikini to work.

"No, I have to go!" he said, a little harsher than he intended. She pulled away, and Sam cursed himself at the hurt expression on her face. He really liked her, he didn't want to mess it up just because he was messing things up with his brother. He shook his head again. He wasn't just messing things up with his brother. Dean wasn't over the things the Demon had said. Sam knew it. Hell, their father knew it. That's why he took Dean's new attitude towards him, and his insubordination, with never before seen patience. "Look, I just… It's a really important birthday, and I shouldn't have forgotten, okay?" he said in a way of apologizing to Lynn. Lynn gave him a small smile.

"What, is it like a round number or something?" she asked, trying to sound supportive.

"No, it's just… I don't know," Sam stuttered, "Things have been sort of weird with us lately, and I just wanted… I don't know," Sam ran his hands through his hair, "I just wanted him to have this really great birthday, you know?" Lynn kissed him.

"You're a great brother, you know that?" she asked, hugging him. "So, what'd you get him?" Dammit! Seeing the look on Sam's face made Lynn grin. "You forgot that, too, didn't you?" she asked. Sam looked at the time again and cursed.

"I really have to get to the store before it closes…" Sam muttered, "Would you take a rain check on that movie?" he asked.

"Sweetie, it wasn't about the movie," she said, reaching for her own coat, "It's about spending every second with you." she added, kissing him. "Why won't I come along, help you pick up a present?" she offered. Sam smiled. He really liked her.

"That'd be great." He admitted. She smiled at him.

"Okay then, let me just change, I think I need something heavier to wear. It's really cold out there tonight." She said, ducking into the bedroom.

Closing the door behind her and making sure Sam wasn't too close, she opened her purse and took out her cell phone. Getting as far from the door as the room allowed, she waited until her call was answered.

"It's me," Lynn said. "There's been a change of plans." She added in a small voice so as not to be overheard. There was a small pause, and then she said, "Oh, don't worry. I'll keep him busy. He won't get in the way, I promise. Tell Father I have Sam Winchester just where he wants him. He doesn't suspect a thing." She grinned, "Neither of them do." And with that she hung up the phone and quickly changed her shirt.

Dean hopped from one foot to the other, trying to keep warm. He took a coffee break an hour ago. It kept him warm for a while, but now he was freezing again. His heart pounded in his chest as he rushed down the street just as they were about to close the store, and ordered a cup of coffee to go, praying he won't see any flames while he was too far to do anything about it. He paid for the coffee and rushed back to his post by the trees. He whispered his thanks to whoever was listening and finished the hot drink in two large gulps.

But that was an hour ago, and the memory of that warmth was slipping away all too quickly. He was growing tired. Dean mentally shook himself. He couldn't afford to get tired, he couldn't afford to give less than a hundred and ten percent on his job. People's lives depended on him. He needed something to help him concentrate on the job. Maybe he should call Sam, tell him to get his ass over there. That way he'll have the car with its very nice heater, and he'll have backup. Dean absently reached his hand and touched the gun that was tucked in the back of his jeans. He really needed something to force him to keep his mind on the job.

Dean took his cell phone out and turned it on. He looked at the time – it was just after eleven thirty. There was a tiny beeping sound to tell him there was a message. His phone lit up, and the words 1 MISSED CALL appeared. Dean licked his dry lips, biting his lower one, and pressed the button to see the caller's number. He didn't recognize it. It wasn't Sam's number, and it wasn't his dad's. That's just freaking great. Half an hour left for his freaking birthday, and so far, no one seemed to care.

'You fight and you fight for this family, but the truth is, they don't need you. Not like you need them.' Those words kept swirling around in Dean's mind, in his father's voice, in Sam's voice, and sometimes even in his mother's voice. Dean turned his phone off angrily, his eyes locking on the house again, his fists clenching. This Demon was going down.

Sam looked at the time. It was nine already, and still he hasn't gotten Dean anything.

"Oh, Sam, look!" Lynn said excitedly, pulling his arm and making him go after her. "This is perfect! You should get him this!" she said excitedly. Sam shook his head, smiling.

"I'm not gonna buy my brother a sweater." He said.

"Why not?" Lynn asked, "It's a really nice sweater." She said. "I'd bet you'd look hot in that sweater…" she teased him and Sam smiled, feeling his cheeks reddening.

"Yeah, well, I'm still not going to get my brother a sweater." He said.

"But…"

"Guys don't buy their brothers clothes for their birthdays, okay?" Sam stopped her quickly. She pouted and he laughed. She looked so cute when she did that.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to go in and try it on, would it?" she asked, "Come on, you'll look so good in it…" she grinned leaning against him and looking up at him teasingly. Sam laughed again.

"Yeah, I know." He said, "But seriously, it's getting really late, I have to get something before the stores close."

"You think we can get some coffee first?" Lynn asked, taking Sam's hand as they walked away from the store. "I'm really cold. And I really need to use the little lady's room…"

Sam looked nervously at the time. A quarter to ten. In fifteen minutes, the stores will be closed, and he still hasn't bought anything for Dean. Damn, this was so hard. Why was it so difficult to get his brother a damn birthday gift?

"Sam, this is getting ridicules." Lynn said exasperatedly. "It's late, and I'm cold. I wanna go home."

"No. We can't, I didn't get him anything!" Sam cried. "Look, there's just fifteen minutes, could you… Just please, fifteen minutes, Lynn?" he asked. She looked at him, seeing the pleading look in his eyes, almost desperate, and sighed.

"You really want to get him something he'll like, don't you? It's that important to you?" she asked.

"Yes!" Sam almost yelled. How could he explain it to her? How could he explain what Dean meant to him, to someone who didn't know about his past? How could he explain the complete and utter terror he had felt all the time Dean was in the ICU, fighting for his life, knowing there was a very good chance this would be a battle his brother couldn't win? How could he explain the way Dean has changed since then, or how much he wanted things to be the way they used to be again?

Lynn sighed again, giving him a little nod. "Alright." She said. "Then tell me this; what does your brother love the most?" she asked.

"His car." Sam said automatically.

"Then get him something for the car." Lynn said with a slight shrug.

"I can't. It was totaled almost seven months ago." Sam said, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head. Dean loved that car. The way the glint was gone from his eyes when they told him what had happened to the car… God, he hated that. He hated that change in his brother. He wanted the old Dean back. The one that laughed and made stupid jokes and pranks and wasn't so serious and quiet all the time, the one that used to wake him up with the sound of his awful and loud music… Oh, wait a minute… "You know what? I think you just gave me an idea…"

Dean looked at the time again, wandering how long he would have to wait. Wondering if there was even a reason he was waiting here in the first place. Yes, the weather was unusually cold, but it happens. It wasn't just here that's too cold, it happened in other states, too. And yes, there were some cattle mutilated, but the police attributed it to a neighborly feud. It could happen, people were crazy. And besides, Sam hasn't had a vision or anything. Well, unless you count the nightmare he had about that girl he was seeing. But then, Sam's visions weren't really all that reliable lately.

Dean was starting to wonder if he should just go back to the motel, take a good long shower, go to sleep and forget this day ever happened. His weary body seemed to relish the thought, craved it, urging him to act on it. But his gut refused.

And then the street lights began to flicker. The wind grew stronger. He quickly pulled out the EMF meter, turning it on. Yep. It was time. He tucked the EMF back in his pocket and ran across the street as quickly as his stiff legs carried him.

TBC

A/N: This one is a little short, sorry. I guess you'll have to review to know what's gonna happen now, won't you? hint hint Chapter 9 is almost finished, and it's my favorite so far. Remember, the more reviews, the shorter the wait... ;)

A/A/N: By the way, I really hope that part about Metallicar being totalled it completely AU. Long live Metallicar!