3
Buffy sifted through the wreckage that used to be her life as Dean kept an eye out. She had made it painfully clear that she wouldn't leave until things were squared away. "I've been standing in for you with the cops. Told them you were sick," he said as she looked around then lifted a support beam off a charred chest using only one hand. "Thanks," she muttered, "Not like we don't know what did this." Dean snickered, "Maybe, but if you want that fat little insurance check we can't let them think you did it." Now it was Buffy who smirked as she kicked the top of the chest open. She instantly felt her satisfaction die as she found nothing but slag in the burnt out box, "Damn, all my weapons are gone."
"We can get more weapons," Dean stated. Buffy shrugged, well there goes just about everything I own, I'm homeless unless you count my car, and it looks like I'll need a new career." Dean kicked a warped and half melted license plate that once hung from above the door, "I got an idea about that." Dean straightened as the Insurance agent stepped around a large pile of rubble. "Well Miss Summers that must have been some gang attack."
"Absolute monsters," Dean replied with a cocky smirk. "Quite," the agent answered oblivious to the mocking smirk. Dean in true hunter fashion sized the man up and noticed that he was about five foot nine, balding, and wore thick glasses, a cheap rumpled suit, and most likely has no weapons on him. Well it looks like they did a fair job of destroying your home and business. I'm declaring a total loss. The complete settlement will be deposited into your account in seven to ten business days. Buffy smiled, "Thank you." With a nod he walked back to the small sensible sedan that he had arrived in and Dean went and stood next to the slayer who was leaning on one of the only standing columns that used to make up the front patio. "Where to?" She asked.
Dean looked at her, "You got nowhere to go?" Buffy shrugged as she tilted her black Stetson up to see him, "I have people in Cleveland, but I'm not ready for them to know I'm back in the game yet." Dean nodded, "Hey I get it. When you get out getting back in is a process. I got a place though, clean, plenty of room for you to stay, and space to train." Buffy nodded as Dean looked her up and down. "With the boots and the hat you look like you fit in here, but you don't strike me as a good ole Texas girl."
"I'm actually from California," Buffy said flippantly, "But when I left my old life I went somewhere people wouldn't look for me." Dean nodded, "Middle of nowhere Texas is a very big place; it's easy to get lost, and one adapts to the culture," Buffy smiled up at him. "Enough with the chick flick moment, "Dean said gruffly, "Where's your ride?" Buffy stared down the small block to a hole in the wall mechanic shop, "Jimmy," she shouted loud enough that dean swore he saw a kid bang his head on the underside of the hood of a vintage cherry red Camaro, "My damn car ready yet?"
The kid clamored out of the engine compartment and ran up the block a little ways to meet the pair as they walked, "Almost Mizz Buffy, Hector fixed it up real nice fer ya," he replied with a goofy lopsided smile and a deep Texas twang. Dean looked at the blonde, "What? I have a car and the damn thing shot a thingy out." Jimmy smiled again, "Don't you worry yer pretty head Mizz Buffy, Hector replaced the whole dang engine, ain't nobody gunna ever know you threw a rod. I was just finishing her up as I thought ya might need it after… well you know." Buffy nodded and gave the kid a bright smile, "You're the best Jimmy; tell Hector I'll be by in a little bit to pick it up." The kid ran back to the car and Dean raised an eyebrow at Buffy. "What?" Buffy asked, "He's a good kid; not super bright, but a good kid, and a damn good mechanic." Dean raised his hands in surrender, "I'm not judging, kid seems taken with you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Whatever, you don't even know me. His dad sold me the bar upon his retirement." Again Dean tried to appear nonjudgmental, "I get it princess. The Camaro yours?" Buffy nodded, "Yeah, first thing I bought when I left Cleveland. My friend sold me on it after she cast the spell that bound my powers." Dean shivered a bit still uncomfortable with powers and magic. "Lunch," he said with a nod towards a nearby diner. Once they stepped in the door he was greeted with classic bleach, grease, and a hint of pie diner smell, some things were just reliable like that. The two slid into the only open booth, and pulled a couple menus out of the pocket attached to the wall. "What can I get ya'll?" asked a bored voice. Buffy looked up and saw Linda, their waitress staring into her note pad which caused memories of the summer after junior year to pop up in her mind.
"Hey Linda," Buffy commented with a bit of forced enthusiasm, "I'll have a double cheeseburger with extra bacon, a large order of chili-cheese fries, chocolate milkshake, and a slice of today's pie." Dean was slack jawed. He just couldn't fathom how such a slip of a girl could eat so much and still look that good. Without thinking he held out 2 fingers, "Make that two," he stammered absentmindedly."
"Sure thing," the waitress Linda stated in a bored tone as she went to place the order. Dean looked at the little blonde slayer, "Where are you going to put all that food?" For her part Buffy chuckled, "Slayers need a lot, and I mean a lot of calories. You should see me after a big fight; once I ate almost a whole thanksgiving dinner by myself." Dean let out a low whistle, any woman who could eat that well and look that good earned a few points powers or not.
Dean sat in amazement watching her eat. She had kept up with him bite for bit and was now finishing the fries that he was too full to eat. "So, what's the plan?" she asked between mouthfuls, "It's not like I have any pressing engagements."
Dean considered what to do for a moment, "You said you don't want to let your people know that you're out of retirement. I get that." Buffy nodded, "I figured that since a real angel decided to recruit me, I would just follow you outta here."
Dean looked the blonde over before releasing a sigh, "I still don't know why you're so gung ho to rush back into this fight. You could take that money and restart your life."
A sad laugh escaped the slayer's lips before she could suppress it, "It's become personal, and I have nothing left to lose. I'll never have peace as long as the First or the Darkness whatever is free." The Hunter scoffed, "Your life, that's something to lose. If you do this there is every possibility that you could die." Buffy threw a couple twenties down on the table and schooled her featured into a well-practiced bland expression, "I've been killed before, a couple times, didn't stick," she said coolly before walking to the door.
Dean sat in the booth and watched her walk out and across the street, "You too?" he asked himself sadly.
After a minute or two, he stepped out into the Texas sun as a heavy Hispanic man handed the keys of the red Camaro to Buffy who promptly handed over what looked like a small stack of bills. After a quick handshake the man turned and went back into his modest shop and the blonde turned to her car. "Hey look, I'm sorry," Dean said as he walked up to her.
Buffy looked at the hunter from under the brim of her hat, "You didn't know, and I'm not exactly comfortable discussing it."
Dean couldn't help but lock eyes with the petite woman, "Hey, I get it. I've made the trip to and from the hereafter and back a few times, and it's not a pleasant thing." Buffy's eyes widened in shock; she didn't often meet people who had come back as it wasn't exactly common. "Anyway," Dean said knocking her from her thoughts, "My next stop is Kansas."
Dean walked towards the motel and Buffy followed him in her car parking right next to the Impala.
He pulled out a map, spread it out on the hood of his baby, and worked out a place to meet the slayer before turning on to their hidden road. Buffy snatched his hand and began inspecting the little white scars on his knuckles. "It's true," she said quietly.
Dean jerked his hand back from the petite blonde when he noticed faint white matching scars on her knuckles, "Why would I lie about that. Clawing my way out of a coffin wasn't exactly my idea of a good time."
Buffy's shoulders sagged, he was right and she understood his feeling on the subject, "It's rare to come back, and even rarer to meet someone else who's done it legitimately." With a small act of will, she pushed her emotions back, "So, back to business. Where are we going?"
Dean circled a cross street on a map near the turn off to the bunker, "Here," Dean stated, "From there I'll lead you down the private road to the garage."
Buffy slip a pair of sunglasses on and took the map, "I'll see you there then." She then got into her car and started the engine and drive off.
"The sixties were a good time for Chevy," Dean muttered to himself as he watched the car disappear.
Sam closed the door to the bunker and walked down to the library. Everything he had felt and found led him to only one outcome. Lucifer had the answers, and Dean would be damned if Sam ever went anywhere near the devil. He set up his laptop to begin scanning for possible leads on his private search and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Once the coffee was brewing, he pulled out his cell and called his brother.
"Sammy," came Dean's reply, "You reach Home base?"
Sam again checked the coffee pot, "Yeah, Just getting ready to read."
"Yawn," Dead replied, "By the way; we're having company."
"Let me guess," Sam said, "Slayer?"
"Got it in one Sammy."
"I'll look up some lore then," Sam responded, "Talk to you later Dean."
Once the conversation ended Sam poured himself a mug of the rich smelling coffee and headed back to his computer.
Eleven hours… Well eleven hours, three fuel stops, and two separate restroom stops is how long it took Buffy to get to Lebanon. Just after midnight she pulled up to the intersection that Dean had pointed out to her. As she approached the red light she spotted his massive black car parked in front of a bar on the corner. With a small huff she whipped the car into the parking lot. "I swear Dean Winchester; if you're drunk I'll kill you." Once she killed the engine and grabbed her Stetson and disembarked the vehicle.
As she entered the establishment the first thing she notices was the smell. The whole place reeked of stale peanuts and sweat. It looked run down with threadbare carpeting, broken or missing ceiling tiles, and duct tape holding the cushions on the barstools. "My place was so much nicer," she muttered as she looked around locating Dean at the pool table. From the intensity on his opponent's face she knew he was hustling. It was something she had seen a lot in her day. Deciding to have a little fun she plastered on her most vacuous smile and skipped over, "Well howdy ya'll," she saud with as little intelligence as possible, "I'm just wonderin which of you big strong men can help a lady out."
Dean looked up from sinking the eight ball and whistled at the bartender, "Eddie, get a beer for my lady friend."
"Jack and coke!," Buffy shouted out catching a not from the bartender indicating that he had hear her. She turned back to Dean, "I don't do beer. I had a bad experience with it when I was younger."
Dean nodded as he picked up his winnings from the edge of the table, "Better luck next time Charlie," he said in a dismissive tone to his opponent. He then led the blonde to a table as Eddie brought her drink to them.
Buffy took a sip and felt the bite of the whiskey in her throat, "Damn that's a good drink," she muttered.
Dean nodded with a smile, "I know the place ain't exactly pretty, but Eddie here has the best booze and the finest nachos in the area."
"Next time Dean," she said right before draining the small glass of its contents, "Right now I'm tired."
"Right," he responded and finished his beer, "Home we go." He dropped a ten dollar bill of the bas as they walked out to their cars.
Not long after Buffy maneuvered her car into one of the parking spots in what looked to be a car museum. "These all yours?" she asked as she got out. All she got out of Dean was a shrug and him muttering that they had come with the place. He led her through the door and into the main room, "Holy crap," she said, "You live in the Batcave."
Dean chuckled at this, "The supernatural Batcave," he corrected while looking around, "Sammy must have already gone to bed. You'll meet him in the morning I guess." He then showed her to a bedroom and left her to settle in.
A/N: Sorry about the wait, I have a bad habit with that, but I hope you enjoyed the next chapter. Soon we'll start cutting into meatier bits. Please read and review.
