San Diego, California
Present Day
"I'm never gonna drink again".
It's Dean who has been complaining since he woke up with the feeling that he got his head bashed in. Sam looks aside at his brother as they walk trough the long green and white painted hallway of Scripps Mercy Hospital.
"I've heard that before", Sam comments while checking the room number. "Why don't you just stop after a couple of beers?"
"Because after a couple I loose the ability to count", Dean excuses, rubbing his face.
Sam chuckles and once again is glad he's not much of a drinker and therefore doesn't have to feel like crap after a night like last night. It's just over 1 PM, one of the busiest times during visiting hour. People of all ages are walking back and forth with balloons, flowers and other small gifts to cheer up the patient they are visiting. It's a good thing that there's a crowd, the boys don't want to stand out. They dresses normally, no sharp suits this time, they are going to visit Jay as friends. This morning Sam had a chat with Danny about his friend Jay, who got injured badly in a car accident. Jay is the one who got them here, because he claims there was much more going on at the crash sight than a single vehicle accident that was written in the papers. The boys thought it would be smart to go have a talk with Jay themselves. A bit problematic though, since Jay is kept under close watch in this facility. Like most people in this environment, Jay's record isn't exactly squeaky clean. They keep their face out of the surveillance cameras and don't do anything suspicious. Sam sees the entrance of the room at the end of the room at the end of the hall, but he also spots someone else; a guard.
"What do we do now?", Sam whispers.
"Keep it short and watch your language", Dean instructs.
They intend to walk in, but the guard stops them.
"Identification please", he orders toneless.
Both take out a false identification and show it to him.
"What is this all about?", Sam plays dumb, but the big guy, who's about as tall as Sam and three times wider, doesn't answer.
"What is your relationship with Mr. Jason Buchanan?", he asks while inspecting their cards.
Dean pretends to be surprised by the question. "Jay and us were high school buddies, he and Dustin played on he football team".
The guard nods satisfied and lets them pass, but Dean can hear him talk into the small mike on his collar. They really need to keep it short; there's back-up on the way. The brothers have a short moment of eye-contact and they don't need further words; Sam heard it too. Dean takes the lead, walks in and continues the big stage play.
"Jay Jay! Good to see ya! How's that old Dodge Charger doing?"
As soon as Dean mentions the Dodge, Jay relaxes visibly. It's the code word he and Danny's gang have, when someone asks about that car, he knows thing are cool.
"Long time no see, guys!", he shakes their hands and places his fist on his chest as a sign of appreciation.
"What happened, man? Dustin told me you were in a car crash", Dean starts, knowing the guard is listening in.
"Yeah, pretty bad one. Crashed the Eclipse, wasn't much left of it", he tells.
"What about you?", Sam likes to know.
Jay lowers his head and sighs. "Doc says I'm not gonna walk again".
"Jesus Jay…", Dean brings out speechless.
"How did you crash it? I read in the papers that it was just you up that road, right?", Sam asks.
"My ass, I wasn't alone up there", he shakes his head confident. "There was another car that made me crash into that tree".
Dean frowns. "What are you talking about?"
"It was weird, man. A car tried to pass me and slammed into my car, tryin' to push me off the road, you know. Second time he did I couldn't control the wheel", Jay explains.
"And they didn't catch the guy?", Sam huffs.
"That's the thing…", he bites on his lip, obviously uncomfortable talking about it. "I'm not sure if there was a person in that car."
Goosebumps spread out over the patients arm and he shakes of the chills, it freaked him out for sure.
"I know this sounds insane, but when I looked aside, I couldn't see the driver. It was the weirdest thing".
"That does sound weird? You injured your head too, right? Maybe…", but Jay interrupts Sam's doubtful words.
"I know what I saw! I'm not crazy, something was off on that hill. That car came out of nowhere, it was faster, stronger, it wasn't like anything I've seen before. I'm tellin' ya, this wasn't normal".
"Sounds like someone wanted you dead. Anyone you can think off?", Dean checks with the Afro-American.
But he shakes his head. "I have a few foes, but I don't see them comin' after me to run me down".
Dean sighs shortly, resting his hands on the steel bar at the end of Jays bed. "Recognized the car?"
"It had fine lines, I remember that. Wasn't an old model I'm guessing, a dark color too, but I have no clue what type or brand. I remember the headlights though, evil-lookin' you know, pointed back".
A short silence, as Sam observes the main entrance. A police car just rolled in on the round about in front of the Hospital, it's their queue to go.
"We need to get going, Jay. When you get out, give us a call. Watch a game or somethin'", Sam shakes his hand, followed by Dean, who got the message.
"Will do, peace out, brothers", Jay greets. "One last thing though…"
Sam and Dean turn around to listen to what he has to say. But the hospitalized driver doesn't even seem sure if what he's about to say is believable.
"After the crash I was in and out of it. I don't remember much, but I could've sworn I saw somebody in the back seat in my back view mirror".
Okay, that's eerie. Dean looks up at his younger brother and chuckles.
"Take some rest, Jay. It's not every day you crash your car".
The guard huffs, he heard what Jay said. Of course to anyone random it sounds like the guy is completely bunkers, it's better if he thinks that Jay's visitors think that too. They leave the room, but don't go for the main entrance, but walk in the other direction, to the north-section of the building. Their pace is hasty, the guard by Jay's room will probably inform the cops which arrived just now and they're guessing that he also told them where the Winchesters are heading right now. They move through several doors until they arrive at he end of the building. A staircase on the left and a window, that's all they've got. Sam, who researched the building before they entered opens the window and climbs out first, followed by Dean, who is delighted to see his Impala parked a bit further up the road. It's only two stories down and Sam jumps down on the shed of a backdoor. When Dean lands with both feet on the street, he grunts and puts his arm around his stomach.
"I'm never gonna drink again", he repeats, starting to feel sick to the stomach.
"Keep telling yourself that", Sam sniggers, but decides to do his brother a favor. "Want me to drive?"
He never thought he would agree with that voluntarily, his little brother behind the wheel of his beloved Chevrolet Impala, but he nods 'yes'. With an satisfied smile on his face Sammy gets in the classic car, it's not often that Dean lets him drive the black muscle car.
"Get that smile of your face, don't get use to it", Dean brings to his mind, finding Sam in the driver seat, happy as a little kid.
"I know", Sam grins, but can't help to enjoy himself as he pulls up and follows Lewis Street round the main hospital building.
He keeps an eye on his back view mirror for a possible tail, but both cops are inside Scripps Mercy Hospital and it seems like they get away unseen once more. Sam turns left on 6th Avenue, which brings them to the Cabrillo Freeway. The youngest speeds up, but doesn't push it. Dean is already watching every meter on the dash, he's not comfortable at all. Light in The Black by Rainbow is playing on the cassette player. Without asking, Sam switches it to radio, where easy country music is playing.
"What the hell?", Dean cries out as his hand already goes towards the dash to switch it back, but Sam slaps his hand away.
"Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts its cakehole", he quotes.
Staggered Dean glares as Sam, the driver; he can't argue. He huffs, crosses his arms in front of his chest like a little mad kid and stares outside the window.
"You really want me to throw up, don't ya. Crappy music", he muddles like a grumpy old man.
Sam laughs silently and turns it up a notch.
"Want something to eat?"
Stunned Dean turns towards him, the word 'eat' makes him feel ill. He's glad he's still able to keep what's inside in, he doesn't even want to thing about fueling the fire.
"Do I look like I want something to eat?", he looks aside agitated.
The youngest of the two looks aside for a moment. Dean has a point, he's pale, close to green. But a large yellow 'M' along Kumeyaay Highway catches his attention.
"McDonald's!"
The smooth drive stops there, because on that Highway 8 the Impala comes to a stop alongside the road. The passenger door flies open as the eldest of the two is unable to hold back what's been jumping around in his stomach to get out. And even though Sam should feel sorry for Dean, all he can do is laugh silently on the steering wheel. What goes around, comes around.