AN: The vibe hit me and I thought I'd sort of add the "solution" to the "riddle". To the anonymous GUEST review... it's season 2-3... no Cas yet. But all the more Bobby.
A big thank you to all the reviewers! You made me smile like Dean when he gets pie!
***sn***
Bobby POV
It had been a fairly average winter so far but the last few days the temperatures had dropped way beneath the freezing point and yesterday morning it had started to snow throughout the day without letting up. Sam and Dean had been staying a few days after a hunt in the vicinity but the brothers, Dean especially, got hit with cabin fever quickly. Then again it wasn't safe for the boys to stay too long in one spot with Henriksen on their trail. Even if it was way out of view at my salvage yard. In the afternoon the boys had headed out in that black beauty of theirs. Okay, it was Dean's but it might as well have been theirs because it was their home.
After watching the pristine 67 Impala disappear in the white landscape I returned to my kitchen table and poured the remainder of the coffee I'd made earlier into my mug. My thoughts stayed with the boys who felt so much like my own. They really had their work cut out for them with that FBI agent on their asses all the while trying to find a way to get Dean out of that batshit stupid deal he'd made. And of course those idjits didn't stop hunting, because being on the run and a quest at the same time just wasn't enough, was it?
Eyeing the bottle of whiskey on my desk in the adjacent room, I shrugged and walked over to pour a generous shot into what was left of the coffee. The warm fluid burned a hot trail down my throat, a feeling I welcomed. The snow kept falling thicker and I started wondering if it had been a good idea for the boys to set out. I knew Dean had those chains in the trunk but would he think of putting them on? Then again I knew he was a brilliant driver. If someone could weather those circumstances, it was Dean Winchester. The remainder of the day passed uneventful when not even my Hunter Helpline phone went off.
As usual I checked the salt lines at the windows before I turned in but I hadn't even slept for long when my cell blasted "Highway To Hell" in my ear, causing me to bolt upright in my bed. That scrawny little bastard. Only Dean had had the chance to fiddle with my phone. Before the hell music could permanently damage my eardrums I quickly pressed the button and accepted the call.
"This better be important," I growled instead of a greeting. A glance at my clock on the nightstand told me it was just after midnight.
"Bobby, it's Sam."
I knew right away something was wrong. And something wrong was never good. Balls!
"What happened?"
"Short version? Demon crashed Dean's Baby, we're currently in the hospital next town. Dean's got a nice cast on his arm and some stitches in his head. And probably a lot of rattling going on in his skull. The Impala needs a tow, preferably before the cops clear the road in the morning. And we need to split this joint 'cause it's just a matter of time till Henriksen comes sniffing out the ER." Sam sounded casual, clinical, but I knew the boy. I could hear he was weary, hurting and genuinely worried. Dean must not be doing too well.
"Geez Sam, if ya need a wizard, summon Harry Potter. Have you seen the way it looks outside?"
"I..., I know it's a lot to ask, but believe me, we need to be gone by dawn. And the Impala as well. Don't you still have that plow truck?"
"Of course I do, yer idjit," I replied. "Where did ya park the black car?"
"Half way in between towns," Sam sounded relieved. "Don't get a fright. We got spun out and hit a pick-up."
"Balls," I muttered. "You alright then? Or did yer just happen to forget about yer own bruises when you saw your brother?"
"I'm fine, Bobby," I could literally see Sam grin. "Just a few bumps. Impact was on the driver's side. Dean tried to break the window with his head." I winced.
"That don't sound too good," I mumbled. "Yer head connect with anything?"
"No, Bobby. Told you I'm fine. But Dean was knocked out for a moment and then he passed out again later."
"Crap," I swore. With all the knocks that boy had taken to his head so far it was a miracle he hadn't suffered some permanent damage.
"That's why I couldn't refuse the doc in the pick-up to take us to his ER. And then there was the matter of the broken arm still."
"Listen, Sam... I will get back to yer once Dean's Baby is safely in my yard. Be alert!"
"Thanks, Bobby," Sam replied and then disconnected the call.
***sn***
About forty-five minutes later I reached the crash site. It was fairly bright due to the full moon and the snow having let up some ten minutes ago. The clouds had parted and the silvery light from above reflected on the snow. The parts of white that were caught in the beams of my plow's headlights glittered like a blanket of diamond dust. But I didn't have time to enjoy it. There was a task at hand. I was relieved to find the Impala on the snow covered road instead of in a ditch. At least that would make it somewhat easier. I grabbed my flashlight and exited the plow.
In the beam of light the black car stood out like a sore thumb in the snow. When I circled the car however, it looked like a wounded beast with the drivers' side smashed up badly. And here Dean had only recently rebuilt her. I lifted the beam up to the driver's door and saw the spider-webbed glass where Dean's head must have connected. It looked bad enough.
Walking over to the front of Dean's Baby I attached the carbine's with the towing rope. The other end I connected with the back of the plow, leaving just about two yards of space in between. I double-checked the knots and climbed back in the truck. It took me about an hour to reach the salvage yard once more and by that time, the snow fall had picked up again. I smiled, because I knew if it'd keep on snowing like that it would wipe out the tracks of my Impala rescue mission.
Once I'd placed both the Impala and the plow in an out of sight corner of the yard I climbed in my old rusty car, but not before I'd grabbed my chains and fitted the tires. Then I called Sam to let him know I'd be there in an hour, telling him where to meet me. The drive was going well but I purposefully chose a different route to the hospital. Didn't want to risk a chance meeting with whoever was at the accident site.
It was after 4 am when I finally pulled into the smaller parking lot at the north side of the hospital. I flashed my brights twice, signaling Sam it was me. Sure enough I saw two figures stepping into the light of one of the three lanterns that illuminated the lot. I stopped my car right in front of the boys and cut the engine.
"Yer two idjits doing alright?" I greeted. Sam smirked briefly, but then his tight expression was back in place.
"Gonna need a hand, Bobby. If you could open that door for us?" I squinted to scrutinize the boys in the dim light and saw that Dean's eyes might be open but he looked like death warmed over. That and the fact he hadn't said a word told me all I needed to know. Swiftly I did as asked and soon Sam and I had settled Dean on the back seat.
"You going to be okay there, Dean?" Sam asked. Dean was spread out on the back seat as much as possible. He nodded once before squeezing his eyes shut. "Alright, Bobby, get us out of here." Another hour later we turned into the yard. It was still snowing and I had the feeling we'd have to hole up a while. At least until Dean had recovered from his concussion and the roads were half way safe for traveling. Sam was out of the car almost before I even stopped and immediately pulled open the back door. Dean sat up and swatted his brother's hands away when Sam wanted to help him out.
"Get your girly hands off me, dude," he growled and I must admit I chuckled in relief. If Dean was ready to quarrel with Sam he must be feeling better.
"Okay, okay," Sam raised both hands in surrender. "Just trying to help here."
Dean glowered at his younger brother and then pulled himself upright with his good hand on the car frame. I had come to stand next to Sam and had to refrain from putting out a hand to steady Dean, when the stubborn boy swayed on his feet.
"Dean...;" Sam started but Dean cut him off.
"I'm good, princess. Don't get your panties in a knot."
"Son, accepting some help in your condition ain't gonna taint yer badass reputation," I grunted good-naturedly. A moment later I regretted my remark as it made Dean look up at me sharply. He opened his mouth to retort something clever, but instead his eyes grew wide and his face blanched and he turned to the side to bring up whatever he'd been eating before the crash.
Instantly Sam grabbed his brother supportively, steadying Dean with one arm while rubbing his neck with the other hand. A moment later the heaving stopped and Dean spat in the snow in an attempt to get the foul taste out of his mouth. Without any further comment, Sam pulled Dean's good arm around his shoulder and supported his brother the short distance to my house. I heard Dean complaining halfheartedly but Sam threatened to leave him in the snow if he didn't shut up.
A few minutes later Dean was settled on my couch, grudgingly sipping on some tea Sam insisted he'd drink to settle his stomach. In the light of my house I finally had the chance to get a better look at the boys. Sam looked tired but was seemingly unharmed. Dean was still pale and judging from the grim set of his jaw he was not a happy camper. I pulled open a drawer that contained some pain relievers and shoved two pills into Dean's hand. He stared at them for a moment.
"Can I skip the tea if I take these?"
"No," Sam replied before I'd had a chance to open my mouth. "You got your eggs scrambled in style and I don't think puking up bile is your idea of fun." Dean scowled at that, but he knew Sam was right. Still, the lack of more resistance told me he was really feeling bad. He finished his tea in slow sips and gingerly accepted his brother's help to get him to bed. I was right on the boys heels. Pulling an all-nighter sure wasn't on my favorites list anymore and I was sure a good night's - or rather day's - sleep would do all a hell of a lot of good. Knowing Dean, the next days would prove challenging and I for one planned to be rested for the battle to come.