Designated Driver
Author: Cheryl W.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dean, Sam or any rights to Supernatural, nor am I making any profit from this story.
Author's Note: Since it's been a long stretch since I've updated, I'm just going to go ahead and give you the small portion I have written. Final chapter will follow when I figure out how to tie everything up nicely in a bow.
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Chapter 16: Checkered Flag
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"Crap," Dean yelped as a car spun out in front of him. With another car practically glued to his right side and a spinning car out his windshield, he knew he had few options. Trusting his instincts, he didn't touch the brakes, instead he gave the car more gas as he swerved to the left until his tires were almost treading on the infield. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the spinning car as he flew by, knew that had he had a side mirror, it would have been knocked off. He gave a yell of victory as he cleared the disaster without mishap, had could see the track ahead was peppered only with seven competitors thinking they had a chance to snatch his win from him. "Not happening, boys," Dean jovially said aloud as he passed one of those seven on the next turn.
From Sam's prospective, it had seemed like Dean was driving into the spinning car's path, not away from it. With his breath trapped in his chest and his hands fisted helplessly in his lap, he watched the out of control vehicle as it headed for the infield..just where Dean decided to be. Honestly, Sam didn't know how Dean managed to skim by the wrecking car, knew there couldn't have been more than an inch between his brother's car and the spinning one. And a heartbeat after Dean blew by, the wrecked car was in the field, had crossed over the space Dean had been an instant before.
As Dean emerged unscathed, Sam found himself gasping for long denied air. It was almost pathetic how, a few moments later, Dean made passing another car seem like it was just another Sunday afternoon drive. Like he wasn't in any danger out there on the track. Bobby almost confirmed what he already knew.
"That was a close one," Bobby drawled, his own heart rate trying to find normal again. 'Figures Dean can find danger in whatever he does. Boy's trying to give me a heart attack.'
Sam didn't reply, was too caught up watching his brother come side by side with another car as they came roaring into a turn. But they both came out of it unscathed, keeping their distance from each other. On the straight stretch, Dean pulled ahead, leaving the other driver follow him into the next turn, his front bumper practically kissing Dean's rear bumper. "Back off," Sam lowly growled, had watched enough racing to know rubbing, it was allowed …and it could wreck someone, badly.
Near the rear of the pack, a car slammed into the wall, rebounded and collided with two other cars. From there it was a pileup, involved nine cars in total. It was enough to unfurl the red flag and send the cars to the pits.
Pulling into his pit area, Dean rolled his shoulders to ease some tension in them as his tires were changed, his oil checked and his gas topped off. Looking to his left he saw Tim engaged in conversation with Garner, was glad not to be privy to it. He almost jumped when a moment later he heard Tim's voice in his headphones.
"You had me worried back there," Tim admitted, remembered the tightening in his chest when he saw the obstacle in Dean's path.
"I was a little worried myself but things played out alright," Dean returned, knew that he didn't have to do the bravado routine with Tim.
"Skill and instincts, Dean, that's what got you through that," Tim insisted, needed Dean to have confidence in himself, to know he had confidence in him.
"And luck, don't ever forget the luck part," Dean drawled with humor because, as much as Winchesters had bad luck, good luck had spared them time and time again.
"You believe in ghosts and luck, man you're a freak," Tim teased, was rewarded by Dean's hearty laugh and a "shut up, dude" before Dean peeled out of the pit, was back in the race. He turned off his mike, didn't want to distract Dean while he was driving by advice the younger man clearly didn't need. Dean was a natural.
When Dean pitted, Sam felt tension fall away that he didn't even know he was carrying, felt the burn of clenched muscles as they eased. He spared a look to Bobby who was eyeing up the track in fascination. "Are you into NASCAR, have a favorite driver?" finding it weird that there was so much he didn't know about the older man. Knew what he had to, that Bobby would put his life on the line to protect them, had had to do it too many times lately.
"Nah, don't watch it much. And my favorite driver," Bobby pointed his chin to the track, "is coming out of the pits, is going to win this race."
Sam smiled as he looked to the track saw, without surprise, that Dean was speeding away from his pit area, was getting in line behind the pace car, was ready and capable to do exactly what Bobby said: win the race. "Yeah, he's mine too. But if you tell him that…"
Turning to Sam, Bobby vowed, "Mum's the word," a smile turning up his lips, matching Sam's. It made him remember why he had gotten so attached to these boys against his better judgment: cause they were good boys, kind hearted with loyalty that…well it clearly didn't have any boundaries. And then there was the bond between the brothers…it had weathered things countries had been divided over..but they were still bound to each other, seemingly felt stronger about each other than ever before. 'Don't get yourself hurt, you idgit,' he silently threw out to Dean as the older Winchester again pushed his race car past the 100 mph mark, way past.
Bunched up again after the restart, Dean felt boxed in, ached for the opening to slip from the ranks and put the pedal to the metal. When he got his opening, he took it, dodged left and shot past the car he had been tailgating, passed another car on the left side and finally had enough room to open her up. And he loved it, the speed, the power of the engine, having domination over something that only a small handful of people could control. Beyond what his ego told him, beyond what he wanted to believe, he now knew that he was good at this, was good at something that wasn't about blood and guts, death and life, good and evil. That he could win here and make no sacrifices to do it, didn't have to worry about what anyone else wanted, about where his duty, his loyalties laid. Was just about him and the car, about being good at something other than what his father needed him to excel at. It was about him for a change, what he wanted, what he liked, what made him happy. All the things his father had never sought to give him, keep him alive. Keep him safe, keep their family safe? Yes. But happiness? Going his own way for his own reasons? That kind of thinking had gotten Sam kicked out of John Winchester's life, had gotten Sam yanked out of his life.
Swerving right and then having to swerve left when the car he intended to pass swung into his path, Dean gunned the engine, passed the car, made it look easy. In some ways it was easy, being here, letting go, pushing himself, taking risks. And in other ways, it was unbearably hard, knowing his father wouldn't approve, that Sam was sitting in those stands, was counting on him to finish well, that Tim's job depended on him getting at least into the top ten. That the other drivers on this track, their lives were in his hands as surely as his was in theirs. One miscalculation, one wrong move, and he could cost someone their life…or they could cost him his. 'Sam will never forgive me if I get hurt. Never.'
Sam grimaced as two cars pretty far behind Dean collided and his breath caught as one car rolled, metal falling away as it came to rest in the infield on its hood. It reminded him too much of Rook's car wreck, of Dean running for the burning car, willing to risk his life to save the driver's. But this driver was crawling free of his own willpower and the car wasn't on fire.
"Man these guys are out for blood, aren't they? But I guess if this is their shot to race for NASCAR tomorrow, it's all or nothing," Bobby surmised, not liking the risks he was seeing on the track, not when Dean was among them. "Idiots better stay away from Dean," he growled, not realizing he said it aloud until he felt Sam's eyes on him. Looking to his left, he saw Sam smirking. "What? I'm not supposed to get caught up in this? You hauled me here and now you want me to sit on my hands, not care if some morons are driving reckless?"
"No. No, just haven't heard you this worked up for awhile," Sam explained with a laugh, raising his hands in supplication.
"Happens every time I'm around you two," Bobby grumbled, but there was affection in his gruff tone for the two men he had come to see as adoptive sons.
Sam couldn't help smiling as he returned his focus to the race. They were down to ten laps and Dean was in fourth position, looking for his chance to get past the third position car when disaster struck from behind. Sam saw it in slow motion, recognized the two cars involved: one being Garner's golden boy, Anderson and the other was the #77 car, a driver Sam knew wasn't from Garner's track. The #77 car was purposefully blocking Anderson from passing him, from taking the fifth position away from him. Though it wasn't an uncommon practice in racing, Sam wondered if the other driver's actions weren't attributed to some ill will, after all, he had come to know that Anderson was the champ at making enemies.
After two of his attempts to slip by #77 were blocked, Anderson went road warrior. Edging beside the other car enough to slam his front wheel into the #77's back left wheel. The brutal contact slammed the #77 into the wall and had him rebounding forward like a ball. The car came off the wall in the air, hit the ground with its front end, spiraled into the air again, impacted with the ground on the driver's side, spun into the air again sending it's trajectory on a collision course with Dean's car.
Sam surged to his feet, his brother's name caught in his throat as the airborne #77 car headed for his brother. The flipping car's passenger side glanced off the roof of Dean's car before touching down briefly right in front of Dean's grill, causing Dean's to impact with the car before the car continued on its journey of pandemonium into the infield.
Unprepared for the jarring impact on his roof or the screech of metal on metal, Dean ducked down even as his car's rear wheels seemed to leave the ground, warning him that a forward roll might be in the cards. It was good luck that the car dropped in front of him, that his bumper caught it momentarily before the car was again flipping forward, out of his path as if it were caught in the grip of a twister. For it was that jolt to the front of his car that kept his car from actually flipping over, caused his rear tires to drop again to the race track macadam. Breath knocked out of him but his instincts never short circuiting, Dean wrestled with the steering wheel to keep the car from overacting to the abuse it had just taken. It was like driving a car without power steering but he gritted his teeth, used muscle and determination to keep the car on the track, all four tires of it.
In weak kneed relieved awe, Sam watched Dean's car miraculously survive the two pronged collision, was bursting with pride as Dean managed to keep his car moving, kept it on the track, didn't even lose his 4th position standing. Torn between wanting to throw up and cheer, Sam started to press by Bobby but the older man, who had come to his feet too, gripped his arm, stood in his path.
"Where you going?" Bobby asked roughly, confused as he could be by the notion Sam was leaving. That after watching his brother nearly get killed he was going to walk away.
"To stop Dean from continuing," Sam stated in a rush, trying to push by Bobby, needing to get down to track, to the pit area before the red flag was recalled, before Dean abandoned the safety of the pit area again and got himself killed…right before his eyes.
But Bobby stepped more fully into Sam's path, blocked his escape as he met the boy's scared eyes. "Is that what Dean did when you wanted to go to college, stop you?" his words gentle, not accusatory, wanted Sam to see his point, not get more hurt by it.
"Bobby, this isn't about pissing off Dad, making a life for myself. This is about Dean's life being in danger!"
"John and Dean, they thought your life was in danger if you weren't with them. But Dean still let you go because he knew it was what you wanted, would make you happy…even if it didn't make him happy," Bobby voiced his long held back opinion on the great Winchester divide. Knew how badly Dean had missed his brother when Sam had left, how hurt he was when Sam purposefully severed the ties to make his new life. But he understood too, Sam's bid for freedom, for a life that was safe, normal.
Sam's eyes nervously looked from the pit area where they were working on Dean's car back to Bobby, knowing his time was running out. "But I wasn't in danger….Dean is. Bobby if something happens to him…" the rest of the words choked back as he clenched his jaw shut, remembered too vividly Dean after the car accident, Dean on life support, the doctors having to revive Dean after his friggin' heart stopped.
"I know," Bobby gently, lowly preempted, saw the start in Sam's eyes at his admission that didn't need more words. Yeah, Bobby knew what would happen if Sam lost his brother, had realized it when Sam had leaned against a practically totaled Impala nearly a year prior. "And somewhere in that thick head of his, Dean knows it too. He's not going to leave you alone without one heck of a fight Sam. And this.." he began, pointing to the race track, "he's good at this Sam. 'Bout as good as he is hunting. You trust him on hunts, trust him now."
Understanding that it came down to trust, always did with their family, Sam nodded and sank into his seat, but couldn't help grumble under his breath, "But on a hunt, I have his back."
Reclaiming his own seat, Bobby watched Sam's jaw jump again. "You have his back here too, Sam. You got him into this race…
"Yeah, brilliant idea," Sam snorted, hating himself for that generosity right then.
Bobby talked over Sam, "you had faith in him, in his abilities. That's more than enough for Dean, that and you sitting here, rooting for him."
Bowing his head and running a hand through his hair, Sam exhaled, "Why couldn't he like to golf…or bowl," but he laughed even at the notion, was joined by Bobby's chuckle.
"Yeah, like that would happen. Dean choosing something safe, something normal," Bobby scoffed.
"He hates normal as badly as he hates safe," Sam revealed with a sigh, watching as the cars were again lining up behind the pace car. "But I hate when he puts himself in danger.." he confessed, meaning so much more than racing, referring to every day of their lives, every job they did for their family business.
"You don't have to love it…you just got to love him," Bobby offhandedly advised, eyes on the track, purposefully not wanting to see the look in Sam's eyes at his chick flick comment that would have had Dean gagging if he heard it.
But Sam, he was choked up, but gagging, no? Not even close. Looking at Bobby, reading the man's discomfort at his own words, Sam smiled. Bobby knew them pretty well, knew him pretty well. He didn't have to respond aloud, Bobby already knew the truth. Loving Dean, that was as entrenched into him as keenly as breathing. He burst into a chuckle as Bobby threatened a moment later, "You tell him I said that, any of this and you're sleeping out with the dogs on your next visit."
"You said something?" Sam sallied back with a smirk, earning a matching expression from Bobby before they returned their attention to the cars finally freed from the pace car's lead.
Dean came out of the gate in the second row, neck and neck with the third position ride. And directly behind him, in the sixth position, was Anderson. When Anderson nudged him, Dean cursed but had no where to go as boxed in as he was. Another impact jarred him and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Garner had said every team member for themselves and, for Anderson, that was a green light to come after him. After biding his time, waiting for the opening, it had finally come.
When the string of cars went into the first turn since leaving the pit, Dean tramped down on the gas. As the car in front of him moved down into the turn, he maneuvered his car up past the car, with inches to spare. Then the next trick was to stay off the wall as the track banked sharply. Instead of easing off the gas, he gave the car more, let the passenger side of the car hover mere inches from the wall as he made the turn and was seemingly boomeranged out of the turn onto the straight patch of track, bounding past the other car to take the 2nd position.
The catch in Sam's throat at Dean's bump and tag with Anderson and then his brother's risky maneuver in the turn erupted into a "yoohoo" of joy as Dean climbed up the ranks to the number 2 position with the leader only a few car lengths ahead. "Alright Dean!" he shouted though it was drown out by the thunderous roar of the cars as they flew by the stands like they were rocket powered. But as the cars zoomed across the other side of the track, he saw Anderson had somehow managed to bypass the 3rd position car, was now catching up to Dean. Before Sam could even mentally warn Anderson to not screw around with Dean again, the driver purposefully clipped his front fender against Dean's rear bumper. Sam spit out a curse as he saw Dean's car rock with the impact but his brother soon regained control, kept the car from edging too close to the wall. But Anderson was relentless, knew he had Dean boxed in as they fly down the track, him on the left side of Dean, the wall to Dean's right and the leader in front of Dean's bumper. When Anderson wildly swerved right, Dean matched the gesture to keep their cars from slamming together, jolted as the wall took off the top coat of paint on the car's right side.
Using all his strength to keep the car from folding into the wall, Dean saw Anderson heading his way again. He had little option. Though Sam thought he was being far too reckless lately, unlike Anderson, he wasn't willing to risk someone else's life with his actions. Admitting momentary defeat, he left off on the gas, allowed Anderson to pull ahead and take the number two spot. But in the next second he dodged left, tried to pass Anderson on the inside but Anderson was instantly there, blocking him. And then it was like a mime show, when he went left, Anderson went left and when he went right…yeah, there was Anderson. Jerk was determined to hang onto 2nd, to not give any ground.
So Dean knew when he was able to pull up to Anderson's side his very next try, that it wasn't just by dumb luck. Anderson was baiting him and that was fine with Dean. Hunting was his specialty.
"Don't trust him, don't trust him.."Bobby chanted, hands fisted as he watched the action on the track with three laps to go. Knew that Anderson wouldn't lose any sleep if he wrecked Dean, not after seeing how he had purposefully wrecked the #77 car.
"He won't fall for it," Sam reassured, knew that Dean was one cunning opponent and Anderson, he was wwwaaaayyy out of his league. But he still tensed when Anderson sought to run Dean into the infield but Dean sped forward and Anderson's broad side bash turned into a front fender collision with Dean's reinforced bumper. For a moment Anderson's car swung back and forth and Sam hoped he'd end up in the infield but his tires ran a few lengths into the infield and then Anderson steered his car back onto the track..And aimed it at Dean now in the 2nd position again.
Knowing that Anderson would be coming for blood, Dean dropped down toward the infield even as Anderson came flying upward. Anderson cursed as he found himself on the right side of Dean, especially when Dean edged upward, seemed intent on putting the squeeze on him.
No longer willing to give Anderson an inch, Dean moved up toward Anderson but purposefully didn't made an aggressive move, wouldn't stoop to Anderson's tactics. But when Anderson came down the track, Dean braced himself for the impact, let Anderson take his best shot. And Anderson, he didn't disappoint but he miscalculated, hit Dean's rear tire with his own. The impact shuddered Dean's car like an earthquake but for Anderson, it was equivalent to getting manhandled by a hurricane, sent his car nearly airborne into the wall. Dean sped by as parts of Anderson's car seemed to explode from the impact. When the caution flag flapped in the wind, he blew by it in second position with two laps to go.
"Anderson, is he OK?" Dean spoke into his head gear. Sure Anderson was a dangerous jerk, didn't mean he wanted to kill him.
Tim's angry reply came back almost instantly, "Better than he should be."
"Tim…" Dean drawled and he heard Tim exhale to get a reign on his temper before he answered his question.
"Don't worry about him, Dean. He's limping away from the crash but his car, it's toast."
"Crap, Garner's gonna be pissed."
"He's the one that said every man, woman and child for themselves. He gave Anderson the AOK to play dangerous. He just didn't figure on getting bested at his own game. Nice driving, kiddo."
"I know a thing or two about surviving…"Dean casually downplayed his skill.
Tim laughed, "I bet you do. Now show everyone you know about winning too. I would wish you good luck but you don't really need it, do you?" and then Tim cut the transmission, left Dean smiling in the car, as the pace car left the arena to the combatants final rounds.
The leader took his place as they hit the gas but it was obvious that he couldn't keep Dean at bay. Dean passed him on the 2nd straight stretch of the second to last lap, made it look easy, like it was just a matter of timing until he could slide by him, claim the lead.
As Dean took the lead, Sam bolted out of his seat, was cheering, didn't realize that Bobby, Pastor Pete and the Phillips were also on their feet, championing Dean's lead. And Sam's smile only grew wider as his brother began to firmly put the previous leader in his rearview mirror. Screaming Dean to victory, Sam was half way to losing his voice as Dean maneuvered the track seemingly without a rival, left the rest of his competition in the dust as he crossed over the finish line.
Shouting out in celebration, Sam pulled Bobby into a quick hug and then he was pushing past the older man. Bounding down the stairs, he vaulted easily over the low gate and made his way toward the track, toward the #36 car that was coming to a halt in the winner's circle. He needed to get to his brother, to reassure himself that Dean had come through all of his close calls unscathed, wanted desperately to share in this victory with Dean, wanted it to be a celebration between family before the world, their world slipped back into focus. Needed to have a few minutes where it was just about them being brothers, about them being happy and safe and together.
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TBC
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Thanks for reading and for the support of your reviews! And Ami, thanks for your review this week. It gave me the courage to just post what I had already written a few weeks ago. I hope it was interesting enough to keep this story alive until I can pen the ending.
Have a great day everyone!
Cheryl W.
