"His shift ended, like, an hour ago."
"Wait, you think he's…?"
"Well aren't you two little rays of sunshine." Jo and Anna turned in almost perfect synchronization to Pamela Barnes, the building's ophthalmologist and part-time nurse for six years running. "Guys, it's not friggin' rocket science. You two obviously haven't binged Grey's Anatomy." She brought her thumb to the inside of her mouth, made a well-greased pop noise and laughed as the other two girls just stood there, aghast.
"But Benny's so hot!" argued Anna like she was deliberately trying for an Emmy.
Pamela dropped her head so she could deliberately shoot daggers. "Honey, that's how they all are. One minute they're buttering you up with sweet nothings, the next they're broke-backing mountains in bumfuck hotels."
"You sound like you're speaking from experience," Jo quipped, folding her arms.
The doctor's smile ran crooked. "Why do you think I wasn't assigned this case?"
"You mean, you and—" Jo couldn't even finish her sentence she was so mortified. Pamela cut her off with another laugh, this time tossing a wink.
"Dean and I," she said, smiling, "yeah, we had ourselves a Private Idaho once."
The two women stared bug-eyed at the confession. Pamela seemed unfazed, even as Ennis and Jack came stumbling from out of the woods. The three scurried along down the corridor without another word, save for a couple of failed attempts not to snicker like complete Captain Obviouses.
Mr. Prom King and King seemed to hardly notice, especially Dean, who wore a smile as wide and white as the shrouded Heavens. He swept Benny in his arms and thanked him over and over until he couldn't feel his arms anymore. When he heard a small wheeze out of the man he withdrew, but continued to gape in childlike wonder.
"So, all this for a couple pints of blood or something?" he said, laughing.
Benny just nodded, saying, "Or somethin'."
"Would you believe I hate needles?"
It was the nurse's turn to laugh, mock-aghast, "No! But you were a perfect gentleman."
"I appreciate the honesty." Dean waggled his eyebrows and Benny had to refrain from smiling at the ridiculous sight. There was still something he hadn't mentioned, one being that, after further investigation, he found something truly disturbing. Yes, most of Sam's lacerations came from the crash—save for the lower ones. They were too raw, too fresh.
He didn't have the heart to tell Dean for weeks. He was already suffering enough.
But that didn't matter now, not when the youngest Winchester was awake and things would be considerably different. Now as for the other very minor technicality…
"I don't want to know." Benny snapped his racing mind to meet Dean's jade eyes again. God, they were so bright. "Whatever it is, I don't want to know. You saved my brother's life, that's all that matters in my book."
The latter man pulled him into another close-knit embrace. Benny held on tight, hoping and praying his words were true. He would need the reassurance when he told the eldest that his closest kin was a third generation vampire.
