A/N: Here's a little chapter because I've been sick, busy with work, and with my son and the cub scouts.
I want to say thank you to all of those who continue to read, it means more than you'll ever know. I know everyone goes through the whole "no one's reading this piece of shit" "oh my god this shit sucks" ... or maybe it's just me... but anyway, I've been feeling that way a lot recently, so just knowing people are reading means a lot to me. Thank you guys, and especially to the guest who commented last chapter. I *heart* you so much :)
And LoveYourself845, you know I *heart* you always!
Chapter Eleven
Be A Simple, Really Simple Man
Dean Winchester was your all American boy growing up. He lived in the picture perfect two-story house, with the white picket fence, large back yard, and typical family dog. His parents, Mary and John, had been high school sweethearts and married right out of college. They had been married five years when Dean was born. The small family of three was content, but something felt missing. Dean was four when Sam was born.
Their little family was complete.
Dean may not have been the brightest in his class, but Mary and John never stopped encouraging him to do his best. Even when Sam started school and it was clear that he was going to be the brains of the family, they never stopped pushing Dean. In high school he became harder on himself, especially when his first report card showed he was failing Algebra 1. That's when Mary suggested he get a tutor. That's when Dean met Lisa.
Lisa Braeden had moved to their small town during the summer of '92, just before their freshman year started. And though Dean had heard of her, he'd never crossed paths with the new girl. When their tutoring sessions started, he honestly couldn't believe his luck in being coupled with the attractive girl.
The day of their first study session he gaped when she entered the room, looking like a super model in a simple sweater and jeans combo. Her olive skin stood out in contrast against her white cable knit sweater. The sweater was a size too big, but were tucked into her high waisted jeans just enough to show the curve of her waist.
Straight dark brown hair fell down her back, bangs teased similarly to how all the other girls did theirs, but he had to admit they did draw attention to her eyes. They weren't large or particularly different from any other eyes he'd ever seen, but they held kindness, and their color reminded him of the chocolate that Sam's favorite TV chef, Gabriel Milton, loved to cook with.
Apologizing profusely for gawking, he pulled out a chair for her and they began their lesson.
The hour went faster than he had wanted it to and, to be honest, he couldn't wait for the next one in two days. Lisa had been patient with him, never raising her voice or showing signs of becoming aggravated with him. He knew he could be a pain in the ass student at times, well all the time, but you'd never know it with her.
Slowly though, with Lisa's help, Dean began to understand real numbers and linear equations. When he received his progress report near the beginning of November, he was surprised to see he had brought his failing grade up to a high C. Overcome with happiness, and without thinking, he picked Lisa up and swung her around, laughing. She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing along with him, glad that both their hard work had paid off.
It was as Dean realized what he had done, as he was putting Lisa down, and as he was looking into her simple brown eyes, that they shared their first kiss.
They continued to do their study lessons together, but now as boyfriend and girlfriend, and with dates thrown in on the weekends.
The rest of high school went by in a blur for the couple.
They were the couple other's strived to be. Lisa was the girl that made being smart cool, and Dean proved that you didn't have to be a jock to get the hottest girl in school.
Each year the yearbook had at least ten pictures of the couple together, and so it wasn't a surprise to anyone that senior year they were nominated "the couple to most likely live 'happily ever after.'" Senior year also saw them being crowned homecoming queen and king. Not that that was a surprise to anyone either.
Nothing was a surprise when it came to the two teenagers. Especially when they ended up going to the same college, because why wouldn't they? They hadn't been apart for four years, how could they bear being separated for four years or longer?
Lisa and Dean attended KSU, majoring in business and mechanics, respectively.
It was while taking Classical Mechanics that Dean met Benny Lafitte. Dean seemed to be instantly drawn to the man from Louisiana, and they became inseparable. Lisa, Dean, and Benny became something similar to the Three Musketeers. They were always being seen together, so it wasn't a surprise that Benny was there when Dean proposed to Lisa.
The year was '99 and they had started their senior year of college. Dean and Lisa were celebrating the anniversary of their first tutoring session in the university library. Just as a way to wind things down. It seemed fitting to end the date their last year of school in the first "place" they met – a library.
Lisa sat on one of the couches while Dean was sprawled out, his head rested on her lap, when Benny walked in. He offered them a knowing smile, and handed Dean a book he had borrowed the day before, or so he claimed. Lisa didn't notice the exchange of a tiny black box between the two, or she chose not to at least.
When Benny left, they lay like that a bit more until the librarian announced it was closing time and for everyone to leave. Gathering their things they followed the woman out, but Dean stopped Lisa before she could walk down the steps.
It was there in front of the library doors that Dean dropped down to one knee and promised to love her forever. It was there that Lisa said yes, hugging Dean as he stood up, hiding her tears in his shoulder. It was there that Benny snapped a few pictures of the happy event from behind one of the columns. It was there that Lisa chased Benny down, jumped on his back, and snatched the camera from him.
She never thanked him enough for those pictures.
The three of them graduated at the top of their class that May in '00, and in October of '01, on the day of their first tutoring session, Lisa and Dean were wed. The wedding was small with only friends and family in attendance.
Lisa's dress was white, strapless, with a short train. Dean wore a simple black tux with a white button up shirt. Sam was his best man, Benny his groomsman. Lisa had her best friend Alice as her maid of honor, and Sam's girlfriend Jessica as her bridesmaid. The church was one they had all gone to, excluding Benny, and the service was simple and straight to the point.
All in all it was perfect for the high school sweethearts.
In '02 things were going well for the Winchester couple. They had gotten word from Lisa's parents about a small city an hour from the east coast, a thousand miles from them, in North Carolina.
In this small city was an abandoned garage and five miles away was an abandoned building. Dean had been looking in to opening up a garage with Benny, and Lisa had been looking in to opening up a café. It was a gamble, but Lisa's parents were willing to help them.
So the Winchester's took it. They drove to the little city, ready to take on their dreams, with their best friend in tow, of course.
Things were looking up for them.
The garage took some fixing up, but Benny and Dean got it up and running, and soon L & W was open. The locals were apprehensive about the new place; afraid that the newcomers were there to run out the small businesses, but the two friends put that to rest. It wasn't long before they were all working together, advice being traded between novice and veteran.
Lisa had her own kind of trouble.
The building was a blank canvas of brick, and she was no painter, or any other type of creative person. All she wanted was to open up a beautiful café that she could call her own; she hadn't realized that this was part of the process.
Dean and Benny tried to help her, but it only led to fights between the three. Lisa would tell them they had their own shit to worry about; they would say they could handle helping her just fine. This went on for weeks until Lisa finally caved.
Magazines and paint cans were scattered across the floor of the building. Lisa had settled on a paint color, now they just needed to get an idea for the interior, which is where the magazines came in. Lisa suggested that since they'd spent so much money on magazines, they should wallpaper the place in them.
Dean and Benny took it literally.
Lisa decided not to make stupid suggestions around the idiots.
One summers night Dean and Lisa were taking a walk outside, looking up at the stars and trying to identify the constellations, when an epiphany struck her. Lisa grabbed Dean and they drove down to the building to get started. When daylight broke they called Benny to come finish helping.
They would leave in shifts to pick up supplies, not wanting to stop in case Lisa changed her mind. Because honestly they'd put so much work into this already. By three the next morning they were done. All they needed were the basics and some other minor decors.
It was in September '03 that Shot in the Dark was officially open. Shot – for Lisa's love of espresso, Dark – for Dean's love of black coffee.
It was in October that Lisa announced to Dean that he was going to be a father.
It was in July that Benjamin Cole Winchester was born.
Ten years later their businesses, their marriage, and their love for each other were still going strong.
At least, Dean thought they were.
October '14
Dean was getting ready for his date with Lisa that night. It was their thirteenth wedding anniversary and he had some special plans for the night. He smirked at the thoughts that ran through his head as he spiked his sandy blonde hair. He still couldn't believe that twenty-two years ago he'd met the love of his life, that they had a ten year old son, and two successful businesses.
It was like a fucking fairy tale come true – if you believed in shit like that, of course.
He set the bottle of cologne down, after spraying some around his body, when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Fishing it out he saw it was from Lisa, to Benny and himself, something about her employee needing a tow ASAP.
Rolling his eyes and knowing that Benny would get it, he pocketed the phone and headed out. He needed to make a stop before picking Lisa up at the café.
The night had gone off without a hitch.
Lisa's parents had picked Ben up from school and Lisa and Dean had enjoyed a romantic dinner at Lisa's favorite restaurant, Umberto's. Dean found the food okay, but Lisa had always moaned it was to die for.
After sharing a tiramisu, they took a walk through the city, hand in hand. Dean noticed when Benny drove by and he'd deny his curiosity was piqued by the sight of tousled black hair in the passenger seat of the tow truck.
His attention wasn't focused on the person for long when Lisa tugged on his sleeve, pulling him further along their walk. He inwardly groaned. Cars were invented so people didn't have to walk! But walk he did, because it made Lisa happy.
When they arrived home later in the evening after walking off their dinner, Dean surprised Lisa with his gift. He had looked up the list of traditional anniversary gifts and found that lace was the gift for the thirteenth; of course his mind went to the dark side.
The black and red lace teddy that he gifted her with didn't stay on her long. Dean could have cared less about what Lisa got him, worshiping her that night was good enough of a gift for him.
A '96 Honda Accord greeted him when entered the garage Monday morning. With a groan he popped the hood and took a look, and after twenty minutes of going over the car he slammed the hood shut. Swiftly, he turned around and walked back into the office, picking up the paper work on the counter in preparation to call the owner. There was no way in hell he was fixing that hunk of junk that was supposed to be called a car.
"Who pissed in your cornflakes, Winchester? Aren't people supposed to be happy after going at it like rabbits all weekend?" Benny teasingly questioned him as he stepped up to the counter, attempting to the read the paper upside down. "Um… Why ya calling Cas? I know his car ain't fixed already."
"You're damn right it ain't," he sat the paper work down and set Benny with a stern gaze. "Did you even look to see what was wrong with it, Benny? Because I did, and I'm telling you right now, it's a fucking lost cause. So if you don't mind, I'm gonna call Cas and tell him the bad news."
"Well, would you look again at the damn thing before you do," he held a hand up before Dean could interrupt. "I don't mean like that, I mean look at it. We didn't talk a lot yesterday, but I have a feeling that she's more than 'just a car' to him, Dean. So go take a look, and not from the eyes of a mechanic either."
"Fine," Dean muttered, turning and heading back into the garage. Benny following close behind, rolling his eyes. "But if I still don't like what I see, I'm calling him and getting that sack of foreign shit out of my garage."
He'd seen cars come through that were in such pristine condition he often wondered why the hell he was looking at the car in the first place. On the other hand, he'd seen cars that looked like they'd been in a demolition derby, and he wondered why the hell he was looking at it at all.
But this car, this car, was different. Running his hand over the driver's seat he came across a burn mark even though there wasn't any odor of smoke – of any kind. The gear shift was worn and he would swear to anyone that he could make out the indentions of the driver's – Cas' – right hand.
The mileage made him cringe, but it was obvious that the man trusted the car or else she wouldn't have racked up such a high number. He could only imagine what sights she'd seen. Around the cup holders were coffee stains, but that was a given considering where Cas worked at.
The passenger side floor board was littered with some receipts, mostly from fast food places and mostly for cheeseburgers and fries. The backseat was pretty bare and untouched. It was actually the cleanest part of the car that he'd seen so far.
Odd how a car can start to put the pieces of a person's puzzle together.
Dean popped the hood again and inspected it once more before leaning against the edge of the hood, looking at Benny. He suddenly felt tired over what was about to come up.
"Car still needs work. A new radiator for sure. Probably more as we go. I know the kid will wanna keep the damn thing, but if he's going to college and working for Lisa." Dean sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "There's no way in hell he's gonna be able to afford it, Benny." Dean looked down at the engine again, dropping his hand, eyes dancing across it as he sank deep into thought.
It wasn't long before a smile split across his face and he slammed the hood down, green eyes shining as he turned to Benny once more.
"I've got an idea."
A week later he came face to face with Castiel Milton. He came close to being face to fist with him too.
Lisa had described Castiel as kind, sometimes quiet, absolutely stubborn, but always friendly. So Dean knew his plan would go off without a hitch. Looking back he should have gone over it with Lisa ahead of time, because Benny had been no fucking help whatsoever.
That night he went home, tail between his legs. He wasn't able to name the feeling he felt as he had watched Castiel sit at the bus stop earlier that afternoon.
Nearly a week after the incident, Benny approached him while he was changing the oil of an '01 Ford Escape.
Oddly enough they spoke about Castiel.
They spoke about the night before and what had happened between Benny and Castiel, and about the fact that Castiel was sitting out in the truck waiting to talk to Dean.
He eyed Benny wearily, not wanting to get caught on Castiel's wrong side, but Benny promised him that everything would be fine. So out he went. And to say he put on a brave face to cover the fact he was scared shitless, well that would be the understatement of all understatements.
Thinking back on the lunch and the events beforehand made Dean want to bang his head on his desk. He was currently holed up in his office in an attempt to hide from Benny and any other minions who might happen to be lurking around the garage.
He's not sure when it first happened.
Maybe it was the first time he saw Castiel, when the younger man let out that adorable "yelp" when he had been startled. Or perhaps it was when he became passionate about his car. Dean knew he would have reacted the same way about his Baby. Castiel held his ground like no one he'd ever seen… Dean smiled at the memory before he realized what he was doing.
He thought back to earlier in the day when Castiel had thumped the back of his head. The smile gave way to a laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. The man he'd only known two weeks, only met twice, had become so familiar with him, almost like a friend. Their arguments were juvenile and honestly, who would someone just punch them!
Not Dean Winchester.
Well, not normally.
Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his hands over his face, groaning.
What was Castiel doing to him?
And was it for the good or the worse?
Edited November 9, 2014