Chapter 4

It was early in the morning when Dean got back to the motel and when by the office to pay for another day. He wouldn't need to pick Sam up from the hospital until the following morning and that would give him time to rest some too. As soon as he got into the room, Dean stripped down to briefs and T-shirt and crawled into bed to sleep. His dreams weren't peaceful, and he was awakened by a bad one midafternoon.

Deciding there would be no more sleep for now, Dean got up and headed for the bathroom to shower. Since Sam wasn't there to hog the bathroom, he took a nice, long, hot shower washing away the sweat and grime from the previous hunt. He stepped from the bathroom with a towel cinched around his hips and sorted through his clothes for something clean to wear.

He slipped on briefs when someone knocked on his door. Dean grabbed a gun and hurried to the door wondering who it was. He didn't think Sam could con his way out of the hospital because they were giving him the good stuff for pain.

"Who is it?" Dean called through the door as he cocked his gun and stood to the side of the door.

"It's Tucker, we met in the woods," a voice answered.

"Crap!" Dean mumbled looking down at his barely clothed body. "Just a minute," Dean answered. He hurried to his duffel and grabbed jeans and a T-shirt to slip on. After returning the gun to his pack, he went back to the door and opened it.

"Thought I'd stop by and see how your brother is doing and see if you wanted to grab that drink," Tucker told him.

"Come on in, Sammy is okay. They wanted to keep him until tomorrow morning, and I made him stay at the hospital."

"I get the feeling neither of you are much on hospitals, and I can't blame you. Our line of work does raise some questions better left unanswered."

"I was just getting ready to go grab something to eat. Why don't you join me, and we can have that beer?"

"Sounds good to me." Tucker took a seat to wait on him and watched as Dean found socks to put on before slipping on his boots and grabbing a long-sleeved shirt to put on over his T-shirt.

"Any problems disposing of the body?" Dean asked as he looked around for his keys and wallet.

"None. Pretty much the usual thing."

"Good." The last thing Dean did was slip his handgun into the small of his back and pull his shirt over it. "I'm ready. Do you want me to drive? There's a decent steakhouse a few miles away."

"I'll drive. Max is in the truck, waiting for me."

"Alright." Dean followed Tucker from the motel room and finally took the time to check him out. He was a little taller than him with a tan complexion and a strong, angular face. He looked to be about four years older than him. His hair was black with a smattering of gray mixed in and had dark, piercing eyes. He was sure he had Native American blood in his lineage. Tucker admitted an air of authority and power that few could pull off. His body was muscular, and he moved with ease and agility and was dressed in worn jeans, boots, long-sleeved shirt, and a leather jacket.

Tucker stopped at a silver extend cap Ram truck and unlocked the driver's door. Max yipped at him and spotted Dean as he stopped at the passenger door.

"Back," Tucker told Max as he unlocked the door for Dean.

"He's friendly, right?" Dean asked studying Max as he studied him.

"Yes, unless I tell him otherwise or you threaten me."

"Good to know," Dean surmised waiting for Max to jump over the seat and into the back. He eyed him as he stuck his head between the seat to cock it and look at Dean, panting.

"Easy Max, I'm sure he remembers about the burger," Tucker chuckled, patting him on the head.

"Damn straight," Dean added. "I didn't thank you last night for saving my brother Max." Dean held his hand out for him to smell before scratching his ears. "You deserve a steak for that."

Max barked happily and licked his hand like he was agreeing with him. His intelligent eyes let Dean know he understood what he said.

"I think he agrees," Dean laughed. "The steakhouse is off Rosewood Ave. Take a right out of the parking lot and go four miles. You'll see it on the right."

"Got it," Tucker nodded cranking the truck and pulling around to the main road. He followed Dean's directions and headed for the steakhouse. Traffic wasn't bad and they pulled into the parking lot a short time later. "Max, guard," he told his partner who jumped back into the front seat. Tucker put the windows down on both sides so he would have plenty of air while they went in to eat.

"I'll bring you a steak, don't worry," Dean told him when Max butted his side and yipped at him. He shut the door and gave the dog one final pat through the window before following Tucker to the front door of the steakhouse.

They went inside and waited to be seated by the hostess and ordered their beers before heading for the restroom to wash their hands before eating. They went back to their table to find their beers and a basket or rolls waiting on them.

"So, how does Max like his steak?" Dean asked as he looked at the menu.

"You don't have to do that, a burger will be fine," Tucker replied glancing over the menu too.

"Nonsense! After what he did, risking his life to save Sammy, it's the least I can do."

"You're going to spoil him, but medium is fine. Max knows his job when we hunt."

"How long have you been hunting with him?"

"Ever since I got out of the Marines, I guess about seven or eight years. Max was my partner back then too and I couldn't leave him behind. I requested to bring him with me, and it took a lot of doing, but I finally got him out too. We developed a strong bond over the years of working together."

"My Dad was in the Marines."

"Was he a hunter too?"

"Yeah, he trained me and Sammy. We grew up in the life; sort of a family business."

"Does he still hunt?"

"No," Dean replied his voice getting sad. "He died a while back."

"Sorry to hear that. There're not enough good hunters out there. It's a shame when we lose one."

Dean pulled his cell out when it started to vibrate in his pocket and looked at the caller ID, thinking it might be the hospital, but it wasn't.

"Hey Bobby," Dean greeted the older hunter in a warm voice.

"Hello Dean," Bobby replied. "Are you and your brother on a hunt?"

"No, Sammy got hurt on the last one and we were going to head your way in the morning. Sammy needs some time to recuperate."

"How bad?"

"It's not serious, but he won't be hunting for a few weeks. Why? What's going on?" he asked glancing at Tucker who was listening to the one-sided conversation.

"Had a hunter friend call about a possible case and wanted to see if you boys could check it out. I can't do it."

"I can drop Sammy off and do that."

"You know I don't like you hunting by yourself son. A hunt can go sideways in a heartbeat."

"Hold on a minute," Dean told Bobby. "Tuck, do you have any plans?"

"Not yet. Is that Bobby Singer you're talking to?"

"Yeah, he has a possible case needing checked out. How 'bout after I drop Sammy at Bobby's place, we team up and go check it out? You can follow me over in the morning."

"Sure, I haven't seen Bobby in a long time. Guess he told you not to hunt alone."

"He did," Dean chuckled. "Bobby, you still there?"

"Yeah, where'd you think I went?" he grumbled. "Who are you talking to?"

"Another hunter that was on the same hunt as we were. Goes by the name of Tucker. He says he knows you."

"I do, good hunter. Does he still use a dog as a partner?"

"Yep and he says he'll come with me to check the case out. I'll be picking Sammy up from the hospital in the morning and we'll head your way."

"Alright, I'll be expecting you and have what information I have together for you."

"See you tomorrow Bobby," Dean said before ending the call. "Thanks for doing this," he addressed Tucker.

"My pleasure. I don't think your brother would let you go alone, even if he wasn't up to the hunt."

"Yeah, you got him pegged," Dean laughed softly.

"Are you gentleman ready to order?" the waitress asked stopping at their table and pulling out her pad.

"Go ahead Dean," Tucker told him.

"Alright Mia," Dean started giving her a flirty smile. "I'll have a rib eye steak, medium, steak fries, and have the cook sauté some onions and put on the steak please." He winked at her, but she kept glancing at Tucker.

"Alright and for you sir," she asked batting her eyes at Tucker and ignoring Dean altogether too distracted by Tuck's magnetism to notice him.

"I'll have the same but change the fries to a baked potato with butter only, and a small, tossed salad with Ranch dressing on the side."

"I'll get this in for you," she told Tucker awarding him with a shy smile before leaving.

Dean looked at the back of the waitress as she sashayed away and then at Tucker who was buttering a roll seeming oblivious of the flirting from the waitress. He guessed she must like older men. He got his own roll and started to eat it, feeling out classed here. They didn't have to wait long before the food came.

"Great, food's here," he noted as the waitress came back with a tray loaded with their meal.

"Here we go gentlemen," the waitress said. She divided the plates between them sitting steak sauce and ketchup on the table. "If you need anything else just let me know," she directed at Tucker only before leaving.

They dug in and made small talk as they ate. Dean ordered a steak for Max when the waitress came back by, keeping his word. He cut it up and got a doggie bag to take it to him. Max was overjoyed with his treat and wolfed it down while they drove back to the motel. Tucker was going to get a room there and Dean was going to the hospital to check on Sammy and let him know what Bobby wanted and his plan.

When they arrived back at the motel, Dean watched the interaction between Tucker and his dog, Max. He saw him use hand signals instead of talking to Max and was impressed. It was so similar to how Sammy and him communicated in stealth on a hunt, but thought there was a deeper connection than that, just like him and Sammy. He bid them goodbye, exchanging cell numbers with him so he could let Tucker know when he was leaving in the morning and then headed to the hospital.

spn

"Hey bro," Dean greeted his brother when he stepped into the room. He looked Sam over and thought he was looking better now and there was a little color back in his face, but his eyes still seemed glassy and unfocused.

"Dean...Are we leaving?" Sam asked trying to focus on Dean and tried to push himself from the bed.

"Whoa there, Tiger!" Dean exclaimed as he rushed to his side and kept him from getting up. "Doc wants you to stay until morning and you can leave."

"But I'm fine," Sam grimaced in pain when he moved the wrong way and huffed wearily laying his head back on the pillow when he got dizzy.

"Sure…Keep telling yourself that. It won't hurt for you to stay the night bro. Just to be on the safe side."

"Fine," Sam pouted pinching his lips together trying to give him a bitch face that turned into a confused look.

"I talked to Bobby earlier and he has a possible case I'm going to check out. I'll drop you at the salvage yard, get the details, and head out."

"What?" Sam questioned not catching everything Dean had said. "Is Bobby coming?"

"Nope, Doc says you need to take it easy for a couple of weeks. I'm taking you to Bobby's and leaving you. You won't be any good to me when you're not a hundred percent. I don't need you getting hurt worse because your injuries haven't healed yet," Dean told him, repeating some of it. He could tell Sam was still heavily medicated and couldn't think straight. "Sammy, I think you need to rest some more, you're not with it yet."

"Hunt? Can't go…Not hunting alone…you know it…" Sam tried to say but was leaving out half the words he thought he was saying.

"I won't be Sammy. Tucker, the hunter we met in the woods, came by the motel to see how you were and to take my offer of buying him a beer. He's going to follow us to Bobby's and is going with me to check it out."

"Tucker, other hunter…Don't even know him."

"Bobby knows him and says he's okay. That's good enough for me. We had dinner together and talked. He seems to know his business."

"Did I dream it or did he have a dog with him." Sam rubbed his temples feeling his mind was clouded with a thick fog. Was he making any sense at all?

"Yep, Max. He saved your life out there when the Chupacabra attacked you. They really have a strong bond between them. Tuck uses hand signals to communicate with him, kind of like how we do."

"Are you comparing me to a dog?"

"Well, you do have the hair for it," Dean teased making Sam sputter and snarl at him. "See! Just like Max."

"Bite me," Sam mumbled giving Dean a sour look as his eyes closed, and it took all his energy to open them back and look at Dean.

"Why don't you go to sleep bro, and I'll break you out in the morning."

"Fine…better be here early…" Sam slurred as he let himself drift back to sleep.

"I can do that Sammy. See you in the morning." Dean patted his shoulder and let his hand rest on his forehead, feeling for a fever. He thought Sam felt cool and adjusted his blankets over him before heading back to the motel.

He figured on watching some television and then turning in so he could go get Sammy early the following morning. Dean had a feeling Sam would be sleeping on the drive to Bobby's. He was sure he would get a prescription for pain meds in case he needed them, and Dean was going to make sure he took them. It always made the ride easier when Sam was sedated if he was hurt.


A/N: Dean being the big brother and taking care of Sammy. Sam is not happy with Dean's decision to hunt with Tucker, and he has to sit on the sidelines. Thanks for coming on this journey with me. I do like reviews/comments. NC