Chapter 5

After Sam finished watching the television program, he got up and wandered back to the kitchen. He was not used to having all this time on his hands and wasn't sure how to deal with it. He explored the cabinets in the kitchen to see what was in them besides the food he had put away yesterday. He found all the basics items to cook with. He looked around in the drawers and found a pad of paper and pen to write a few things down that he needed.

Sam looked around the kitchen thinking it was going to take a while for this place to feel like home if it ever did. This was all so strange and unfamiliar to him right now. There was nothing that was his except the clothes on his back and the ones he was able to bring with him. He knew he needed some stability right now so he could make it through this without going nuts.

With nothing else to do, Sam looked in the fridge to decide on what to have for a late lunch. He looked at his selection and decided he might as well eat the rest of the sub so it wouldn't go to waste. He hadn't really tasted what he was eating last night so maybe today it might taste better. Sam pulled some corn chips from the cabinet and got a glass filling it with ice and then water. He sat at the table and looked out the window that overlooked the backyard. He had to admit it was nice here, but he hadn't seen much of the city and checked to see what it had to offer yet.

Sam was startled when a phone started ringing in the living room and got up to go answer it. He stared at the cell for a second like it was a snake before picking it up to answer it.

"Hello," Sam answered cautiously.

"Hi Sam, it's Dean," Dean greeted him. "Why don't you step outside for a moment?"

"Outside?" Sam squeaked with uncertainty.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm waiting on you out here."

"Okay, I'll be right out." Sam hung up and put the cell back down before heading for the door to go outside. He stepped onto the porch and saw Dean standing at the end of the walkway grinning at him.

"I told you I'd be back," Dean told Sam with a smirk. "And here you go, it's all yours." He held out a set of keys and waved to a SUV sitting under the carport. It was a silver Toyota Highlander about four years old with low mileage.

"Wow," Sam mumbled as he walked slowly toward the vehicle. He opened a door and looked inside seeing it had a CD player, cruise control, power windows and locks, and GPS system. He closed the door and walked on around the car coming to a stop by Dean. "This is nice, really nice."

"The title is in the glove box in your name along with insurance information that's paid for a year. You're all set now."

"I'm speechless."

"How 'bout you give me a ride to my vehicle and try it out?"

"Okay, let me get my wallet and lock the house." Sam hurried back inside and came out a few minutes later. He took the time to put the rest of his sub back in the fridge to finish later. He got in on the driver's side and adjusted the seat back. He ran a hand around the steering wheel and looked at the dash before inserting the key and cranking it. The engine roared to life and settled in a steady rumble.

"Take a left at the end of the driveway," Dean instructed him as he settled in the passenger seat.

"Okay," Sam nodded, putting the car in gear and slowly backing out to turn around. He turned left onto the street and headed out of the housing development. Dean continued giving directions until Sam pulled into a parking lot and up to a black SUV that was Dean's work ride.

"I programed your address into the GPS so you can find your way back home," Dean told him. "So, if you want to explore for a bit before going back home, do it. You should be safe since no one knows you're here. But if you have any problems or just need to talk, you have my number."

"Thanks, I might do that." Sam watched Dean get in his SUV and drive away. He sat there for a few minutes getting oriented and thought he might stop at a small mall he saw on the drive there. He needed to pick up some bathroom things like shampoo, toothpaste, soap, razors, and shaving cream. He figured it would do him good to be out of the house for a bit.

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Sam stopped in front of a beauty salon and looked inside. He absently rubbed a hand over his hair thinking he hadn't had a good haircut in a while what with his busy schedule at the hospital. He thought about his situation now and realized he could do a few things to change his appearance so it would be harder for anyone to find him.

The salon wasn't busy, so Sam didn't have to wait long to be taken back. He settled in a chair and held still while the woman put a cape around him.

"Okay young man, what would you like today?" a middle-aged woman asked him in a jolly voice.

"I'm not sure," Sam hesitantly said. "How about taking some length off and layering it a little. I want a new look."

"Alright, leave it to me." The woman sprayed his hair to wet it and combed through it before dividing the hair so she could start cutting. She took some length off and shaped it before stopping. "Okay, do I need to take any more off?" she asked letting Sam look at himself in the mirror and gave him a hand mirror to check the back.

Sam ran a hand through his hair and was surprised at how different he looked now.

"I think this is good," Sam told her.

"Great, let me give it a quick check and I'll dry it." The woman combed and snipped being sure everything was the same length and then shaved his neck to get any stray hairs. She used the dryer to blow cut hair from his shoulders and dried his hair. "There you go, all done," she told him taking the cape off and turning him to look in the mirror.

"It's great, thank you," Sam replied. He got up and followed her to the cash register to pay.

"That will be twenty dollars," she told him ringing it up.

"Here you go." Sam gave her twenty-five dollars for doing such a good job. He snagged a card and slipped it in his pocket for later reference. He thought it would be a good idea to take business cards of places he liked and start an index, so he'd have the names and numbers.

Sam walked out into the mall and wandered down one side going into a store to look around. He found some glasses that he could wear to change his appearance. The last thing he got was a hat with Austin stitched on it. He took his purchases and continued down that side to the end and started walking up the other one. He went into a couple of other stores and made a few purchases before heading back to the SUV. He sat in the driver's seat and just breathed, letting all the stress, tension, worry, and fear wash off him. He was starting to feel relaxed, even though it had only been a few days since he arrived in Austin. Having a vehicle now, meant he had some freedom.

He stopped at a Lowe's that was located beside the mall and went in to look for a birdfeeder and seed. He wandered down the aisles until he found the section and looked over what they had to offer. Sam decided on a stand, two bird feeders, bag of seed, and he had to go to the tool section to buy a few tools since he didn't have any. He found a small set of tools that had the basic ones in it. He wasn't very mechanical and thought he could probably ask Dean if he really needed any help. He paid for his purchases and took them to the car.

After turning on the GPS, Sam followed the directions back to his house. It was easier than he expected and was glad about that. He gathered his bags and unlocked the door to head inside. He went back to the bedroom and sat a couple of his bags on the bed and continued to the kitchen where he left the others. He paused at a mirror hanging on the wall to look at his haircut and was pleased that it did make him look different.

The only thing he couldn't change was his height. That did make him stick out in a crowd. He rubbed his jaws and decided he could see what he would look like with a beard. There was no need to be clean shaven now. After putting away what he had bought, and putting the stand, bird feeders, and seed in the laundry room to put up later, Sam decided to watch one of the movies Dean had bought him. He got something to drink and sliced some cheese and an apple to snack on.

Sam sat in the recliner this time, put his feet up, and started the movie, Taken. The action and drama kept him glued to the screen and let him forget his troubles for a few hours. There was so much he could do now that he couldn't do working at the hospital since he had very little spare time.

A/N: Sam now has a vehicle and can explore without feeling like a prisoner now. He does some shopping and has to decide what to do with all his spare time now. Thank you to any guests who left reviews. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC