Really happy with this chapter, hope ya'll are too: D
['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'
Chapter 3
"Listen to her purr. Have you ever heard anything so sweet?"
"Ya know if you two wanna get a room, just let me know, Dean."
"Aww, don't listen to him, Baby. He doesn't understand us."
-----------------------------------------------------------
The absolute second Dean's injuries healed enough that he could move without at least showing pain, he insisted that he and Sam hit the road again. Bright and early, especially for Dean, the Impala was packed and housed both Winchesters, ready to feel asphalt under her tires again.
The sun peeked over the horizon as Dean steered out of the hotel parking lot, a cranky-from-being-woken-up-too-early Sam slouching on the seat next to him.
Four hours drive brought the sun higher in the clear blue sky and along with it, a seemingly endless stretch of secluded highway. Sam had dropped back off to sleep almost immediately after leaving the hotel; the humming lull of the engine and the gentle bobbing of the car just too calming to ignore. Dean glanced over at his sleeping little brother. Sam leaned against the window, his breath causing small, condensing clouds to fog on the glass as it battled against the cold air whipping past outside.
Dean smiled a bit and shook his head; he couldn't help but notice how when Sam slept, when he slept peacefully that is, he looked just like the scrawny little kid he used to be. Dean stretched his cramped muscles, momentarily bracing his arms straight against the wheel. He took in a deep breath and a strong sense of calm washed over him as he exhaled.
Dean looked out on the long expanse of black highway in front of him. "I could just stay on this road. Drive forever and never look back." He thought to himself. "Why not? Got everything I need in this car." That's what Dean loved about traveling, never stopping in one place long enough for your troubles to catch up with you. The road holds no tricks. It has no rules, no worries. "No demonic bitch to haunt your sleep and remind you of something you already damn-well know."
Dean closed his eyes a second and gripped the wheel a bit harder, as if to hold onto the fragile sense of peace that he felt was slowly slipping away each passing moment. "If only I had driven a little faster, looked a little harder. None of this would've happened...and Sam wouldn't be dying a little bit with you each day." Dean shook his head. At the whole thing, but mostly at himself.
He stared blankly for a moment, just watching as the dotted yellow lines disappeared under the side of the Impala. A sleeping snort from Sam was enough to pull Dean back from his precipitously dark thoughts and make him chuckle. Dean made a mental note to make fun of Sam for that later.
The sudden change back to lighter thoughts brought with it better times as well. Dean smiled to himself and rested his elbow at the top of the door against the window. He rubbed his chin as his gaze focused on something that could no longer be seen by any eye except the mind's.
January 1995
On the morning of the twenty-fourth, the thump of something bouncing off Dean's back caused him to wake up rather; rather cranky, but also another year older. He was finally sixteen. Dean grumbled and lifted his face from his pillow, squinting around for what woke him. He saw his father leaning against the doorway of the room he and Sam shared in the hotel they were currently staying at.
"Happy birthday, kiddo." John smiled proudly at Dean. Dean grinned groggily.
"Thanks." As he leaned back on his elbow, he felt something jagged gently press into his skin. Dean looked behind him to find a familiar key nestled lightly in the sheets. His heart jumped and he grabbed up the key, cradling it in his hand as if it were a priceless treasure. Dean looked back at John, eyes wide with excitement.
"No way!"
John beamed at him and nodded.
"She's all yours."
Dean threw off the blankets and dashed out of the room, keeping his eyes fixed on John as if expecting any minute for him to admit his prank and snatch the key away from him. Seeing no objection from his father, Dean rushed outside, not even registering the biting cold of Ohio in January. He ran his fingertips over the shining ebony surface of the 67' Chevy Impala; his 67' Chevy Impala.
Dean unlocked the driver's door and slid onto the leather seat within. His movements and expression emulated, to the cliché', a kid in a candy store. Dean grinned insanely, his sparkling green eyes taking in every inch of the interior that he had seen so many times before, now looking at it in a completely different light. He closed the door and situated himself better as he ran his hands around the leather steering wheel. He laughed giddily and put the key in the ignition, pausing the turn as he looked up through the windshield.
A dazed looking Sam stood in the doorway of their hotel room. His hair, teased by sleep, went whichever way it pleased and he rubbed a hand over his eyes sleepily. Sam gave Dean a little smile, the question in his mind etched clear as crystal on his young face. Dean grinned and opened his door a little, leaning towards the space at the top.
"Get your ass out here, Sammy."
Sam's cheeks dimpled into a wide grin and he ran to the passenger's side door. Dean turned the key and the engine rumbled to a start; the sound was like music to his ears. John stood just inside the room, hands in pockets, smiling out at Dean.
"Be careful." His voice barely cleared to sound of the old car.
Dean grinned and nodded. He put the Impala in reverse, draping his arm over the back of the seat to look behind him.
"Got your seatbelt on?" He glanced down at Sam. Sam gave him a defiant look.
"You're not wearing yours."
"Well, I'm the driver." Replied Dean, liking the sound of that: "The Driver." He put the car in drive, but paused, looking down at Sam expectantly. Sam crossed his arms and stared right back at Dean, a smile playing across his lips. Dean rolled his eyes finally and reached for his own seatbelt.
"Stared down by an eleven year old." He mumbled as he clicked his seatbelt on. Sam followed suit and leaned forward to look out of the front window more.
"Ok, let's go." He urged, swinging his bare feet a little over the side of the seat. Dean pressed down the accelerator and pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road. Sam bounced a bit in his seat after a few seconds.
"You're not going very fast."
Dean smirked. "Dad could still see us..." He looked over at Sam and arched his eyebrows. "...Not anymore though."
He pushed the gas pedal down hard. The sound and feel of the fast acceleration coaxed adrenaline all throughout Dean's body. They drove everywhere, not really having a set destination. After while of just cruising around, Dean took him and Sam to a deserted, dusty field completely cut off by a circle of tress that he had noticed on their last hunt a few days ago.
Dean raced around square of land, kicking up dust clouds and doing neat donuts; something he'd perfected at the age of fourteen, without John's knowledge of course. Two hours, many miles and a dizzying number of tire-track rings later, Dean began the drive back to their hotel.
Sam yawned widely, worn out from the thrilling ride he'd just been on.
"That was sooo awesome!" He said through his stretch. "Where'd you learn how to do that?" Sam looked at Dean, his ever changing eyes deciding on bluish shade of gray today as they sparkled with amazement. Dean chuckled and ruffled Sam's hair.
"Oh, I've learned a few tricks over the years."
Sam giggled delightedly.
"You can't tell dad though. He'd kill me if he knew I did that; especially with you in the car."
Sam nodded happily, always loving it when Dean trusted him with secrets. Sam snuggled up against the door.
"Happy birthday."
Dean smiled. "Thanks, dude." He sighed contentedly. The gentle hum of the Impala filled up his ears and tickled his hands as they held the wheel.
"So, what'd ya get me?" Dean smiled playfully and looked over at Sam. "Oh..." He said quietly, seeing Sam fast asleep on the seat next to him. Dean shook his head.
"Dude can sleep anywhere." He laughed quietly. He looked back at Sam and spoke, hardly above a whisper.
"You'll get why that's funny when you're older."
It was one of the few cherished moments of clarity in Dean's other ways crazy life; just him, Sam and the road.
"Dean..." The voice was familiar but sounded far off.
"Stop sign, Dean!"
Dean jumped a bit at Sam's yell and slammed on the breaks, stopping the car just before a stop sign at a four-way road. Dean looked over at Sam after the sound of squealing tires faded away. Sam was slunk down in the seat with his feet braced against the dashboard, giving Dean a wide-eyed look. Dean smiled sheepishly.
"Whoops?"
Sam shook his head. "What the hell, Dean?"
Dean, seeing all ways were clear, carried on through the intersection.
"Aw come on. Why is there a stop sign all the way out her in the middle of nowhere anyway?"
Sam scooted back up in his seat and exhaled a deep breath he had been holding.
"So people who are somewhere off in la la land have a reason to slow down and pay attention?" Sam raised his eyebrows in faux confusion at Dean. Dean cleared his throat, clearly defeated by his brother's ever unfailing sense of logic.
"Yeah, well...at least I don't make little...pig noises in my sleep." He shot back, keeping his eyes straight ahead.
Sam breathed out a sarcastic laugh. "You can snore like a rhinoceros, Dean."
Dean tried to hold back a smile. He looked over at Sam, arching an eyebrow. Sam mirrored the suppressed smirk, much less successful in hiding it as his dimples twitched on either side of his mouth. Dean swatted Sam on the arm with the back of his hand. Sam returned the gesture heartily. Dean laughed and put up a hand defensively.
"Hey, hey. No hitting the driver."
['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'['/\'
Hehe, boys will be boys:D
Hope ya'll liked it. Thought it might be fun to explore exactly how Dean got his "baby."
Sam's turn to remember is next. I'm going to use something that I was originally going to write as an oneshot. Here's a hint: Ever wonder what happens between commercial breaks on certain episodes? This one probably gonna be a little more EMO than previous chaps.
Reviews are a many splendid thing, blah blah, yak yak yak GIVE ME REVIEWS!!!!OO
-o-o-Lil-o-o-