Chapter 18 – Hard times

Roman got out of bed early the next morning and was at the homeless shelter by 8 am. He took Beth aside.

"Dean left me yesterday. Said he couldn't lead a normal life. Have you seen him?"

Beth eyes widened. This was clearly a surprise to her because Dean had been happy and grateful that his job enabled him to help other homeless people.

"No. But I will ask around. It is not uncommon that homeless people who have a job and a home go back to the streets. That kind of freedom can be intoxicating and they never lead a normal life again."

"I understand but I just want to know that he is alright."

Roman glanced outside. Dean had chosen the last nice day of September to leave and today it was raining and the temperature had dropped.

Winter would come early this year but neither Roman nor Dean knew that at this point.

"I will keep an eye out for him Roman. But let me tell you. If he doesn't want to be found you will not find him. Those guys are a tight unit and they don't rat each other out."

Roman left the shelter with a heavy heart and drove to the restaurant. In the back alley everything was clean. Dean had recycled the cardboard box a while ago.

The next few hours Roman spend cleaning up after the hasty retreat last night in solitude and silence. His mind kept circling back and forth. He replayed every talk he had with Dean over the past couple of days but he really couldn't find anything that could have driven Dean away.

When Damien, Brie and Nikki showed up around four he was surprised that it was already so late. All three of them told him that they had been looking for Dean all over town in the morning and Roman tried his hardest not to cry. These three people really were his friends and he needed them desperately right now, because otherwise he would break down.

He could see that especially Nikki took this to heart as well and when they shared a look it felt like they understood the others feelings perfectly.

Around 5 pm his new cook showed up. Something he had completely forgotten when all this drama had happened. His name was Daniel Bryan and he seemed not only like a nice guy but a capable cook as well. Damien offered to show him the ropes these first few days and Roman simply nodded. He felt like shit to treat his new employee this way but he really not had it in him to teach the new guy right now.

Roman cooked like on auto pilot and he was out in the back alley many times always hoping to find Dean. But with every new spark of home came a devastating blow to the gut when the alley remained dark and empty.

"Where are you Dean?" Roman whispered and trailed his fingers along the brick wall beside the dumpster where Dean used to hang out…

Many miles away on the other side of the island Dean had a rough night. It had started to rain hours ago and he was not familiar with these parts of the town so he had really nowhere to go. He couldn't stay in his former hunting grounds because it was far too close to the restaurant. And to Roman. So he had made it across town today.

He chose some bridge to hide under away from the rain but quickly found out that the spot was taken and defended.

"This is our spot. Leave." Three guys came up to him. All looked wild with their long beards and untamed hair. Two were also a head taller than him. He still looked too clean to be respected and his backpack looked full and promising.

"Guys I want no trouble. Just a place to wait at till the rain is over. I will get out of your hair tomorrow." Yeah, and away from your lice as well he thought.

"This is our place. Leave your stuff and go."

Dean widened his stance and balled his fists. They wanted to fight? Fine. He felt basically just miserable but he could find enough anger inside of him to start a fist fight.

He punched the first guy who extended his hand towards his backpack and he turned to take on the second guy. In the process the third one grabbed him by the backpack and pulled him down with a strength he had never thought possible. Dean couldn't stop the three kicks to his stomach by guy nr 2 and then he was turned over and his backpack was cut off of his shoulders.

Again kicks landed on his body and he tried to fight the guys but they had done this a time or two before. They worked like a well-oiled unit and their kicks were meant to hurt.

They only stopped when Dean didn't fight anymore.

Two grabbed him and threw him back into the rain, an asskick send him face first into a puddle and they left him like that.

Slowly Dean made it back onto his feet. He was glad that the rain hid his tears. He grabbed his stomach which was hurting fiercely and stumbled down the street. He came across one of the last telephone booths in the city. He leaned against the glass staring at the telephone. He could call Roman. He would come for him. He would make him feel better. He would take care of him.

"Do you have a quarter?" Dean asked a man that walked by but the guy didn't even look at him.

"A quarter, please?" He asked a young couple but the guy just shot him a death glare.

"A quarter for a phone call?" he asked a woman but she shrieked and ran to the street where she signaled a passing police car.

They rolled up to Dean and he just lowered his gaze and vanished into the next alley.

It was wet and dark and dirty in here. Dean walked up to a dumpster and sat down beside it.

He had nothing. His stuff was gone. His clothes were wet. He was freezing and hurt and he had no means to call Roman.

But he did the right thing. Roman didn't need him. Sure HE needed Roman but the big guy didn't need baggage like him on his way to a great career as a cook.

Maybe it was a good thing that he couldn't have make that call...

A/N:

Who can tell me who those three guys were that roughed up Dean?