A/N: So now Dean has a loose Sam running around in the background while he makes a stopover planetside...

The Pompatus Box (Chapter 12: Eno Stopover) by frostygossamer

As usual, Dean wakes early. He rolls over to find Sam has been standing right beside his bed watching him sleep. Not creepy at all. Jeez, did he forget to lock his cabin door? It's a couple days since he let the guy out of quarantine and he's been mooning around ever since, like some unwelcome ghost. And it's getting on Dean's last nerve.

"Whaddya want, man?"

Sam seems to shake himself out of a daze. He can only manage a mumble.

"Uh... I was wondering... What're we, uh, gonna do today?"

Dean swings his feet over the side of the bed and runs his hands through his spiky hair.

"Today I am gonna take Baby down onto Eno. Got some important business to do there. YOU are staying right here on board."

"What's Baby?" Sam scrunches his brow quizzically.

Somehow Sam hasn't caught on to Dean's little nickname for his ship yet. Dean spells it out and can't help sounding like a proud owner.

"My ship. Her callsign is 8A-8Y, yeah? So looks like 'BABY', see. She's my special girl."

Sam laughs. "Used to have a dog I talked about that way."

Dean doesn't appreciate the analogy.

"Dude, my Baby is no freakin' dog. She's a classic rocket-powered speedship, Impala-class, pristine condition. And I mean to keep her that way. Whenever I get to Eno, I take her to see this old buddy of mine, has a real feel for the old machines. Has himself a repair shop in Technopolis. That's where I'm headed today."

Sam nods vaguely. "OK. I guess."

Dean gets off of the bed and trails away for his wake-up shower.

"OK, huh? Dude, you don't get a vote. Cargo, remember, not crew."

He disappears inside the wet room.

=O=

Dean returns from the shower half an hour later looking sharp and dressed for a day on Eno. He's wearing a tight black T-shirt and jeans, work clothes, the better to blend with the local populace.

He has started taking the precaution of dressing behind closed doors, because his guest can't seem to keep his eyes away from Dean's body. Every time Dean turns around the guy is eyeing him up with a worryingly hungry look on his face. Demonblood. It's a libido-enhancer. It's not the guy's fault. Dean can see he's embarrassed and trying to keep in under control.

Sam follows Dean onto his bridge like a dog at heel. Perching on his captain's chair, Dean keys in the data required by Eno Control for landing protocol. They will be touching down in a few minutes. Sam watches his every move at the console. It's really annoying.

"You keep your nose away from my instruments and your freakin' hands in your pockets. I navigate this ship, no one else. Capice?"

Sam mutters his agreement. With the formalities completed, Dean leans back only to find the big lummox looming over his shoulder, warm breath riffling through the fine hairs on his neck. Too close.

"Hey! Back up there, dude," he snaps.

Sam jumps back mumbling, "S-sorry. I was only, uh, taking an interest."

"That right? Well, keep your interest to yourself. I don't pitch for the rainbow team, OK?"

Sam looks a little confused. "Uh... I wasn't... I don't..."

Dean scoffs, but it's only to be expected. The effects of the Demonblood have the guy all disoriented about his orientation. He's gotten hooked on what is basically a sex drug, and now he's stuck in a confined space with only one possible source of satisfaction. Looks like Dean is going to have to fend this sucker off until he's either free of his dependency or returned to his grandfather, whichever comes first.

"The sooner you get yourself fit to go on home the better. Meantime, you keep your big paws to yourself. Understand?"

His guest looks offended by his implication.

"Suits me, jerk. Sooner I'm outta here the sooner I'll like it."

Dean feels exactly the same way.

=O=

When Dean walks into his workshop in Technopolis, Eno's city of technology, the middle-aged, tawny-bearded rocket scientist has his head right inside an engine, tinkering around. Dean greets Bobby Singer heartily, slapping him on the back.

"Hi there, Bobby. Working hard, like always?"

Bobby jumps, catching the back of his head on a hydraulic pipe which gives out a long ringing sound. He growls as he straightens up.

"Goddamn idjit!"

Then he gets his eye on the young man who has come to visit.

"Dean! Didn't know you were gonna be in town. Great to see ya. Come to get Baby her regular tune-up, huh?"

"Sure, Bobby."

The two men hug warmly, ending with a manly pat on the back from Bobby. He's an old pal and former comrade-in-arms of Dean's father, a good friend to Dean. Back in John's noncom days, they fought side by side. This old curmudgeon is the only engineer Dean really trusts with his Baby. Visiting with him is the real reason Dean ever takes time out to stop over in Technopolis.

As an old friend of his dad, Bobby is the closest thing to family Dean has left.

=O=

The two men spend a couple hours catching up and going over the issues Dean has recently found with his Baby's handling. A little sluggish during that dogfight maybe?

Bobby is always interested to hear about Dean's adventures, and always ready to help any way he can. Like his father's, Dean's friendship means a lot to the older man. He worries about Dean's dangerous lifestyle. He feels that SOMEONE should.

The engineer likes to tell Dean, "Remember no job's worth your life, boy. Let some other idjit take the kamikaze crap."

Dean always laughs it off, but he secretly appreciates the older man's concern. It's nice to know that someone gives a damn about him. He just thinks it's best if Bobby doesn't let himself get too attached. Dean may break his old heart some day.

Bobby jumps into his eco-electric repair truck to take off for the spacedrome and check out Baby. Dean heads out to go organize the other supplies he needs in the retail section of town. Before they part, he remembers to warn Bobby about Sam.

"By the way, Bobby, got me a shipment aboard. So don't you go leaving the door wide open or the guy could go AWOL. He's gotten himself lost once already. As slippery as an eel, that one."

Bobby laughs and touches his cap in acknowledgement, then he zips away.

TBC

A/N: What will Bobby think of Prince Sam? More soon.