PIECES OF EIGHT
-Fit the Fifth -
On their way back to Nogales/Mexico where they both lived, Fernando usually gave his friend Hector a ride home in his old blue Ford Pickup. At the border control they had to join the long queues.
"Hombre, where's your ID?"
"Eeeh, in my bag I think"
Hector turned in his seat fishing for Fernando's belongings on the backseat. His fingers barley reaching the rucksack he managed to pull the jacket off the backseat. Something fell to the floor rolling under the seat.
He looked at Fernando who only now remembered the stolen 8 Ball.
"Oh, it's a present for my kids!" he quickly said hoping that he could convince Hector that he had bought the toy ball.
"What does it do?"
"You have to ask it a question and it tells you your fortune"
"Like what?"
"I don't know! Ask it if your wife is cheating on you" he joked.
"I don't need no crystal ball to tell me what I already know Fernando!" Hector laughed.
"Okay, then ask it something useful."
There were still 20 cars in front of them.
"Eeeeh, let's see…"
This was the most frustrating case for the Winchester brothers yet. With nothing to go by then unrelated dead people turning up every 8 days it seemed extremely unlikely that they could prevent the next death from happening. This knowledge always present in the back of their minds, made them feel utterly helpless and frustrated.
Sam looked at everything he could find about the number eight: curses, rituals and numerology but nothing explained what was happening here. Until they found the connection between the victims, there was no way of stopping it. And worst of all: Tucson was really boring.
"Sam, I need to do something!" Dean implored, pacing up and down the room of the Super 8 Motel were they were still stranded. There was a slight panic in his voice.
"I know Dean" Sam said clicking on a few webpages.
"Maybe if I call Bobby again…"
"Dude! You called him like 5 times today. Give the man a rest!"
"Man!" Dean said, ready to pull his hair out, begging Sam to suggest something constructive.
"Alright!" Sam said slamming the laptop shut.
"Let's go!"
"What? Where?" Confusing and hope both fighting over his face.
"Out!"
"Out where?"
"Quit asking or we are not going!" Sam demanded.
"Well, if you won't tell me, we might as well not go!" Dean replied a little cranky now.
"Will you stop being so childish Dean? You said it yourself. You need to do something and you are right. So let's go!"
"Yes, but where?"
Sam snatched the car keys from the table and walked out of the room. Dean stood there confused for a minute about the fact that Sam was taking control like that, then grabbing his jacket in one smooth movement closing the door of room 8 behind him, following Sam outside.
While putting his jacket on and arranging its collar, he addressed Sam "Don't you dare drive ma' car!"
Sam stopped and smiled "Okay, so you know where we are going?"
"No! Coz you won't tell me, you cocky bitch!"
"Well, I guess you won't be driving then, jerk!" Sam said, lifting his eyebrows while pushing his head forward in a very smug way. Without waiting for a snotty reply he got into the driver seat. Unsure how to contest this very solid argument Dean cursed under his breath and surrendered himself to riding shotgun.
Sam directed the Impala into a crowded car park. Colorful posters and banners were all over the place so his "surprise" no longer was one.
"Dude, a Rodeo?" Dean asked flabbergasted. He truly hadn't expected that. He was more counting on a boring art museum of minigolf park or something.
Sam turned the engine off and looked at Dean, challenging the stereotypical view of his little brother.
"I thought you might like it. Remember how back in Kansas Dad used to take us to the Rodeo?"
"Yeah, he bought me my first cowboy hat that day" Dean said looking glass-eyed all of a sudden.
"Come on Bandit, maybe we can find you a hat!" Sam grinned, patting Dean's knee.
It was a loud and smelly place. Buzzers were cutting through the hot air, metal gates flung open and people were cheering. A distinctive scent of cattle and quarter horses was lingering in the air.
This beats sitting in a boring motel room anytime, Sam thought, while his arms were full with tacos that mainly belonged to Dean (but who couldn't carry anymore himself), following Dean to their seats somewhere in the middle rows of the arena.
The next round had already begun and a massive steer was just stomping into the arena shaking the bleachers.
Dean was wearing a straw cowboy hat now that Sam hat bought for him at a merchandise stand while Dean was stocking up the food and drink supplies as if they were going on an expedition. Dean was happy like a 5 year old at Christmas.
"Hey look! Rodeo clowns!" he said.
"Yes, don't remind me" Sam grumbled feeling a bit nauseous all of a sudden. He remembered why he usually stayed away from these events
"Man, this is awesome! Thanks for the hat by the way" Dean said, his big eyes looking up.
"You are welcome" Sam smiled back, truthfully meaning it.
"What's with the sudden change of heart though?"
"What do you mean?" Sam replied innocently slurping his cold drink.
"Because you are usually acting all grinch-like when fun's involved! Like back in San Diego!"
"Yeah, well, I figured since there is not much else we can do, we might as well have fun"
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Dean grinned.
"A little" Sam replied, trying to hide his true feelings, but a smile crept up one side of his mouth.
"We have to get you a hat too" Dean said, then suddenly cheering for the cowboy who had just wrestled the steer in only 3,5 mins.
Sam looked at Dean and his excitement made him feel strangely accomplished. It was nice that he was able to do something good for Dean, especially when there was not much time left for him.
Sam took a moment to look at the crowd and just take in the whole event.
A lot of Mexicans were here, but he also spotted a few Natives Americans. He never quite understood the whole meaning of a Rodeo and he wished he could sometimes just be like Dean who just liked things for the shear fun of it, without having to analyze everything to death. He probably imagined himself riding a bull right now, being the greatest cowboy the world had ever seen. Sam tried not to think about how much he would miss his always positive outlook on things, no matter how bad they were. Like him going to hell.
Sam couldn't help but suddenly notice a beautiful Mexican girl to his right and to his surprise she looked over and smiled at him. He was unable to resist and his grumpy face lit up.
The men next to the beautiful girl looked familiar to Sam but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before. Probably nothing he thought.
"Yeehaaw!" Dean yelled pulling Sam back into the Now, reminding him that he was here with a 5 year old kid in a man's body.
"What just happened?" Sam asked, unwilling to take his eyes off the girl, but he managed.
"That guy stayed on for ever!" Dean looked over to the board showing the scores.
The bull's name was Eight Ball and had just scored 88 points.
Dean and Sam exchanged an uncomfortable look.
"Means nothing, I am sure" Dean said wiping the thought off like a glass of a table.