Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural and Winchester, except my Winchester noise mufflers and a couple of pocket knives… see, just not the same affect… now if the Winchester 'boys' belonged to me…
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Chapter 6
"Nate Falcon? Did he say anything about why he wanted it?" Dean was starting to feel more panicked.
"Honey." She asked confused, "Why don't you just asked him?"
Dean tilted his head to the side, confused as he told her, "I don't know anybody named Nate Falcon."
Now it was her turn to look confused, "But, that's him in the picture. Course in person he looked a lot more… stressed than in that." She pointed at the picture Dean held as she told him, "He looks happy there."
"OH…" Dean felt like someone had slammed a two by four into his face, "You mean Fal-coon. I'm sorry." Dean sounded off, looking almost as if someone had physically slugged him as he staggered back a step, "I uh… he didn't tell…"
She smiled in understanding as she replied, "He explained a falling out with you and how he'd wanted to return it after you made up. Peace offering or something. I take it that didn't work out."
Dean teared up and blinked rapidly as he shook his head no.
She touched his shoulder as she said gently, "Maybe it's not too late."
Dean put a hand over his mouth and rubbed hard, trying not to cry. Dean's hand moved up to his eyes, thumb across his nose rubbing one eye while rubbing his other eye with his index finger. Eventually gliding down to squeeze the bridge of his nose.
Her hand slid down his arm as she told him in an almost whisper, "He said he was your brother."
He nodded as he mumbled, "Half…" As he continued in his head, at least now he's half.
She squeezed his arm, saying softly, "I'm sorry I couldn't have helped more."
Dean snapped to attention, No time for self pity he told himself firmly, putting the picture back and pulling out a wad of bills.
She waved it away and stepped back as she told him in a normal voice, "No, its ok. We didn't recover it anyway."
"But." Dean protested as he told her, "I know where to start now."
She took another step back as she responded, "No, it's ok. Go find your amulet and your brother."
He looked at her funny and started to leave, pausing in mid-step before he turned back to ask, "You coming?"
"I'm just going to re-file this… good luck, boys." Mabel said with a smile that seemed to almost glow.
Cas hadn't said anything as he just stared at Mabel through out the entire conversation.
Dean nudged Cas, "That's getting creepy, dude." He whispered as he pulled Cas from the room. Cas leaned around the doorframe to try to see Mabel, only to be yanked back by Dean as he said with a chuckle at Cas'odd behavior, "Come on."
When they reached the front desk the clerk looked at them funny as he snapped, "What you doing back there? Nobody's allowed back there."
Dean stopped and looked at the guy as he said, "You sent us downstairs with your granddaughter to look for my amulet." Maybe Alzheimers? Because he sure was acting like he didn't remember sending them with Mabel?
The clerk glared at Dean as he growled, "What the hell is wrong with you, boy? Smoke too much pot? Maybe laced it with…" The old man continued to mutter before leveling a shotgun at Dean's chest, snarling, "I don't have kids and I sure as hell don't have any grandkids! Get the hell out of my motel and don't ever come back."
Dean held up his hands in surrender as he told the clerk coldly, "Sure thing pops. Not a problem. I won't be back here again." And then Dean grabbed Cas by his trench coat and pulled him out the door behind him.
After getting in the car and peeling out of the parking lot, Dean glanced at Cas as he asked, "What the hell just happened back there?"
Cas said slowly and just as cautiously, "I think you just had divine intervention. Someone stepped in on your side and helped you."
"No way." Dean stated firmly, "That has never happened."
Cas raised an eyebrow as he asked surprised, "Then what am I?"
"You're Cas." Dean said in a smart ass tone. Because if that had been God helping Dean… then that meant that… Dean's thought process halted mid-road.
"That's right Dean. God answered your prayers." Cas said gently with a small smile.
Dean's eyebrows shot up as he slammed on the brakes and swerved over to the side of the road. Slamming the car into park, Dean snapped, "He chooses now to help? Now, what about when... oh, I don't know…" Up went Dean's hands before slamming back onto the wheel, "when mom…" he snarled as he geared up for a full blown rant.
Cas interrupted, "Dean, right now. What have you asked for? What do you want above all else?"
"My brother back." Dean mumbled, looking at his hands clasping the wheel.
"Where is your brother's soul?" Cas asked. "Where's the amulet?"
"In the amulet." Dean whispered, feeling a bit overwhelmed… okay a lot overwhelmed.
"And you were told where to find it; I'd call that your prayers being answered." Cas told Dean firmly.
Dean didn't say anything, just pulled back onto the road headed towards Bobby's.
About twenty some odd minutes later Dean said softly, "That's still assuming a lot, Cas. That's counting on the fact that Sammy kept it or that when Sam got out he didn't chuck it."
"Why don't you call and ask?" Cas questioned rationally.
"Oh, hell no!" Dean snapped. "If by chance Sam still has it… If he even suspects what that amulet holds he could chuck it, if he gets cold feet about his soul. I'm not giving him that chance."
"Oh…" Cas said quietly as he looked down to stare at his hands.
"What Cas?" Dean asked as he started to put the car into drive.
"You're not giving him a choice?" Cas asked softly, glancing at Dean.
"Yeah, I am as long as he makes the right one." Dean said firmly, putting the car in drive and pulling back onto the road.
"And if he doesn't?" Cas asked, concerned for Dean's line of thinking.
Dean gunned the impala as he replied in a firm tone, "Then I'll do what's necessary to put it back where it belongs… I don't think he needs to be conscious for it. Then when Sammy gets back, he can thank me."
"Are you sure he will?" Cas wondered out loud before continuing, "Thank you, I mean."
"I can wait until he does. I wait for everything else." Dean said in kind of a getting pissed here, shut the f' up now voice.
Cas crossed his arms across his chest and faced forward.
Dean thought silently, 'Bout time, Cas. They passed the next thirty minutes in silence. Dean was thankful for the time to work a few things out. Two months after leaving that motel… he didn't remember a time long enough for Sammy to get there and back before he missed him. Why hadn't Sammy said anything, even on their last night together before he leapt into the pit? Why the silence on it? Did he even still have it or did Sam thrown it away after he got back? Lord he felt like he might puke. He just wanted this over. Over and done with but with his own Winchester Happy Ending. Naw, he wasn't asking for much, he thought sarcastically. He snickered at the thought.
"Dean." Cas intruded on his thoughts.
"Huh?" Dean grunted as he brought his thoughts to focus on Cas.
"You will get your happy ending this time. It is owed the Winchesters." Cas stated solemnly.
Dean breathed heavy, instantly mad, "Cas." He snarled, "Get the fuck out of my head and stay out!" Then Dean thought about what Cas had just said, "Fine… I'm holding you to it. If I don't get that happy ending I'm coming for you and all your freakin' flyin' buddies."
Cas jerked as if receiving a jolt of electricity, "Huh… ok?" Cas answered with a question tacked on to the end as if unsure how to take that statement. And again silence reigned for an undetermined amount of time before Dean turned on the radio and pushed his tape back in.
Cas frowned and started to reach for the radio.
"Don't." Dean said in a deadly serious tone.
Cas quickly pulled his hand back. Then crossing his arms again returned his stare out the side window.
Dean released a pent up breath, before turning his attention to the music. As the miles slipped away so did the tension Dean was feeling. Towards the end of the first side Dean was even displaying a slight smile as he tapped one hand on his leg, the other loosely holding the wheel.
TBC