Had a little trouble getting this one done, but I think this works. If you've been waiting - sorry!
It was nearing the afternoon and Dean was moving a few things around outside for Bobby.
Sam and Bobby were inside searching for omens that could begin popping up now that Lucifer had raised the next horseman, Death. Scouring the internet and hitting the books hadn't been his choice, and after awhile he'd left them to do it minus his help. He wasn't in the mood to wonder or learn what else could and would go wrong next. Enough had gone wrong the past few days, or, as Dean knew it – enough had gone wrong for pretty much his whole life.
So, figuring he'd make himself useful, and because he needed no reminding there were some things Bobby couldn't do anymore now that he was in the wheelchair, he had asked Bobby if there was anything that needed to be done around the scrap yard. The older hunter had given him a long, peculiar look and shot a few sarcastic quips at him, but in the end he'd probably known Dean needed the distraction and muttered off a list of things that needed doing.
And he'd done some of them, working to lose himself in the tasks at hand while trying to push everything out of his mind. But when that failed to work, he started hammering away on a few beat up old cars with a crowbar, attempting to work out his guilt, frustration, anger, doubts, and fears.
Dean was sinking faster than he wanted to admit and believe, barely swimming in the mess that was his life these days. Hitting something helped release some of the pain that came from every single thing that was weighing him down, but not nearly enough as it should have.
It took ten minutes before he gave up, leaning against one of the cars as his thoughts and downcast mood won out again. He just needed to forget for a little. Just forget everything that was going on, what had gone on, what would go on. Forget who he was and the continuous and increasing burden on his shoulders.
A glance then at his watch reminded him Manda was due to arrive in the next few hours.
One look at him and she'd know he wasn't himself, that he was barely hanging on right now.
For a second he thought about calling her to say forget it, but he needed some time with her now more than he had when he continued hunting on his own without Sam just a few months earlier. And even if he'd be worse off when the time was up because letting her go would once again leave him with an empty feeling and yearning for a different life, the time together always outweighed the time apart.
Surveying the damage he'd done, Dean shook his head and decided to get back to finishing up what was left to do.
A short while later, managing to quiet some of the noise in his head just a bit, he barely heard the approaching car or its distinct purr he'd once gotten to know almost as well as the Impala's.
{ } { } { }
Sipping what was left of a lukewarm coffee she'd stopped to get half an hour earlier, Manda pulled her black '71 Chevelle SS into the Singer Scrap Yard. Driving past old cars and getting closer towards the house, she parked near the Impala and just sat behind the wheel for a moment.
Catching a glimpse of Dean through her windshield then, her lips curled in a small smile. But when he didn't turn around, it struck her as odd and the smile gave way to a puzzled look.
Her Chevelle roared like the classic that it was, even sounded a little louder and rougher for the past few days, so he must have heard it. But maybe he hadn't. It was clear the invisible load sitting on Dean's shoulder was heavier than usual as she watched him for a few more seconds before finally deciding to get out of the car.
Hearing the creak of a car door's hinge then, Dean knew then that even if he was out of it, he wasn't actually out of it. Years of enforced training still kept his senses alert even when he wasn't, and he had heard Manda's Chevelle without really registering at first. Now he knew for sure that she was here.
Being near the house and wiping his grimy hands on a rag, he knew she'd see him and make her way over, so he didn't bother to turn around and greet her upon hearing her soft footsteps getting closer.
"Now that's a sight for sore and tired eyes," Manda playfully uttered, walking towards him. Admiring the view that was Dean from behind in jeans and dark blue long-sleeved shirt, she let out a low whistle. And Happy Birthday to me!
Turning around, Dean couldn't help but smirk. Looking as good as he remembered, maybe even better in tight jeans, an undone black military style jacket over a light brown shirt, Manda's grin was wide as he met her eyes. "You're one to talk."
She didn't give a crap who saw them now, just embraced him in a warm hug. "Hey," she said softly, brushing her lips against his cheek.
Putting his arms around her, Dean realized how much he had missed her since the last time they'd seen each other and how good it was to now. Tightening his arms just a bit more, he closed his eyes and took in the comfort being around her offered him. "Hey."
Stepping back after a moment, Manda wondered why he'd held on a little too long, a little too tight. But it had reminded her how easy it was to fall back into his arms again. And she would again. Truth was she always would. Dean was always going to be the man for her, and had become her biggest weakness. "How you holding up?"
"Fine," he lied. "Just tired." But he knew she would understand he meant he was tired of this war, tired of losing people, tired of being him.
Searching his face, it was clear fine wasn't the truth. But if Dean wanted to talk, he'd do it when he was good and ready. "You and me both, sweetheart."
They both fell silent, standing there just studying each other. Dean seeing she was almost as worn out as he was, and Manda seeing exactly what he thought he was hiding – he was breaking.
"Well look what the cat dragged in… or did this idjit just call you out here?" Bobby's voice flooded from the front of the house, breaking the silence.
Manda chuckled, letting her eyes drift towards the door of the house. "Bobby," she said warmly, and with a hint of a warning. "You know I always stop in when passing through."
Dean glared at Bobby. He should have known the older hunter wouldn't miss a beat.
"You two finished getting all goo-goo eyed at each other yet?" Bobby gave them an inquisitive stare. "'Cause all your sexual tension gets uncomfortable for me and Sam. So get inside when you're done gazing at each other like two kids with keys to a hotel room on prom night." He wheeled away before either could retort with some smartass remark he didn't want to hear.
Dean and Manda had looked at him with comical expressions but both held a brief look of guilt.
Were they that obvious or was it just that Bobby knew how they felt? It was no secret how the feelings they kept locked up tight became unleashed each time they were around each other.
"Well… I'll shut him up. Brought a little something to make sure of it," Manda lightly chortled, heading for the door.
Dean felt at ease now that she ignored bringing up anything else. Manda wasn't likely to pry, she knew better. "What's that?" he questioned, following her inside and taking a good look at her ass. The other reason I called her…looking forward to the one-on-one later.
She stopped before going inside and turned to look at Dean with a sly grin. "A visit from our dear friends, Johnnie Walker and his twin, both dressed in blue. But it became a three for one deal when I saw their gold cousin too."
Dean's mouth threatened to salivate at the thought. It wasn't often he ended up with great booze and a great woman, but he couldn't help but wonder why she'd brought three bottles of the good stuff. "What's with the expensive threesome, Chambers?" he curiously inquired.
"Nothing," she lied. "I was bringing one. The other two you have a jackass who didn't believe I could clear a pool table four times in a row to thank for."
Her eyes seemed to betray her for a brief second, and he figured she was holding back on something. "Well, thank you, jackass… but you're sure that's all?"
Manda's smile was reassuring. "Don't know about you, but I'll take any excuse to enjoy a few of the finer things before times runs out on doing so."
Knowing she meant more than just the alcohol, Dean accepted her answer with a simple nod. "Works for me."
She went to turn again to go inside, but then hesitated. "Oh, I was gonna get Bobby to give the 'Velle a listen, but since you're here, you mind having a look? She started making this new noise a few days ago, gave me a little trouble this morning, and I got her going and here, but she needs some serious tuning that goes beyond my mechanical skills."
"She does sound off," he replied. "I'll pop her hood in a bit, see what I can do."
Manda smirked. "Thanks, but careful… that sounds like the sexual tension Bobby was referring to."
"He'll get over it." Cracking his own grin then, Dean was glad he had called her. Wasn't even sure why for a moment he'd doubted it as she gingerly caressed his cheek and whispered, "Missed you, Dean," before going inside.
{ } { } { }
Hours later, Dean had Manda's car running smoothly, Bobby and Sam had put together a string of omen's and a set of cases for Sam and Dean to pick from, and Manda had spent some time with all of them and hearing mostly about what had happened with Ellen and Jo from Sam.
Now it was the early evening, they were taking it easy around Bobby's house, and the drinks were flowing between them.
Sam had Manda talking about the hunts she'd taken on lately to see what she'd been dealing with. Dean was being somewhat quiet, keeping to himself and listening in, and Bobby was left wondering why the female hunter was there.
Not that Bobby minded she'd shown up. He'd known her family a little longer than he'd known the Winchesters. Her family had been fellow hunters and friends, and he'd known the girl from the time she'd barely been talking. But unlike John with his boys, Daniel and Margaret Chambers had never dropped their daughter off for weeks at a time. Manda had been shuffled between her parents, uncle and grandparents until she'd been old enough to go along on hunts, and he'd only seen her when they had passed through much like she was now. But since losing her folks, she continued to stop in and visit, requested his help from time to time, and had even helped him out a couple of times too.
Sitting near his desk in his wheelchair, Bobby looked over at the three younger hunters and couldn't believe he'd watched them grow up over the years, or how he'd become more of a father figure and had helped straighten them all out more than a few times. Each had seen more than their fair share of trouble, and it wasn't over with just yet.
Thinking about it now, it was obvious to him why Dean and Manda had ended up together a few times. He knew about their disastrous attempt to date, and while not too keen on being host to it, he also knew they'd wind up together again once he and Sam knocked off for the night. As much as they tried to hide it, those two kids definitely loved each other, and if anyone asked him, they were pretty much made for each other, right down to the stubbornness that kept them apart.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, Bobby?" Dean asked as he approached with a beer in each hand. The older hunter had a faraway look that was hard to read.
"Nothin'. Give me one of those and go hit on your girl." He swiped the bottle Dean held out to him then.
"Not my girl. Hasn't been for months," Dean grunted with some annoyance. He didn't need reminding.
"Who are you tryin' to kid here?" Bobby shot back before taking a long sip from the beer bottle. He looked from Dean to the female hunter sitting at the kitchen table, tipped his beer in her direction. "Manda's been through almost as much as you and Sam. Her parents were good folks, even if they started training her as soon as she could walk… turned her into a fine hunter though. She might be a helluva lot like you, damn stubborn and a pain in the ass most of the time, but that's a good woman there, Dean. You know it, and you know she's still your girl even when she's not."
"Think you've had too much to drink if those are words of wisdom, Mr. Miyagi." Dean chuckled, but just barely before he took a healthy sip of his beer. Bobby had made a point. But once again, he didn't need reminding.
"Not nearly enough," Bobby sarcastically shot back. "It's just… look, a hunter lives to be my age, ends up like me… gets you thinking 'bout things before the world goes completely to hell. Didn't get to have much of what matters most in life, and won't be leaving too much behind when it's time either." This admission was a slip on his behalf, but he was saying what he had to, and now it was too late to take it back.
Bobby had to be somewhat drunk, and was still clearly torn up in his own way over Ellen and Jo, but Dean nodded in agreement. "I know."
And he did know. At thirty years old, Dean Winchester knew he wasn't leaving much behind when he finally checked out for good. A car, some clothes, weapons, and maybe a brother would be all that was left once he died. More and more these days it weighed deeply on his mind, much like it had after he'd sold his soul in exchange for Sam's life. But what he'd always wanted most just wasn't meant to be part of his life, and it wasn't like it ever would be now. It was for the best anyway, because if he couldn't stop Lucifer, and he probably wouldn't… well, there wouldn't be much of a world to leave anyone or anything to.
"Bobby, Dean… we're toasting with the blue," Manda called out then, pouring a round of shots. "Now get your handsome selves over here."
"Don't get them started," Sam scoffed. Handsome wasn't the word he would have used to describe either one.
"Handsome? Now I know you're not talkin' about Dean, but what the hell is there to toast?" Bobby asked, wheeling over to his kitchen table where Sam and Manda were.
"I'm handsome!" Dean exclaimed with irritation as he made his way over and sat next to Sam. "But really, what's there to toast?"
"Friends and family," Manda stated. It was tradition for her. Every year on her birthday, she raised a glass to those who hadn't lived to see another year. "Ellen, Jo, and everyone else we've known and loved who's died in this glamorous hunter lifestyle. So raise 'em, gentlemen."
"Good enough for me," Bobby said, picking up his glass and holding it out near Manda's. A memory of sharing a drink with her father around this time of year a long time ago dawned on him then, and he realized what today was for her. It's her birthday, boy wonder there seems to have forgotten, and she's not saying a damn word about it either because of everything… guess it's up to me, he thought, looking at both of them again.
Sam followed by putting his glass out. "Me too."
Dean was reluctant, but then held out his own shot glass since they were waiting on him. Having just been reminded that once again he'd cost two more people their lives, the guilt was hitting hard once more.
"To everyone we've lost… and will lose sooner or later." It was a depressing toast to give, but Manda still did it, and let her glass clink against the other three as her gaze settled on Dean. She gave him a sympathetic look upon seeing pain flutter behind his eyes.
Sam and Bobby looked at her funny while Dean looked away before everyone downed their shots.
"Well, that sounded more like an omen for bad news," Bobby gruffly muttered. "Now that's outta the way, you better fill another round. Thinking I wouldn't remember just because one of these idjits didn't. Daniel had me track down a few of those charms for that bracelet you had growing up. Happy Birthday, Princess."
Manda's eyes misted over briefly, remembering how her dad had given her a charm each year on her birthday for the bracelet he'd sworn would protect her. It'd now been eleven years since the last charm, and a few months after that, she took that same bracelet off the day she put her parents' ashes in the ground.
"Should've known you'd remember. Thanks, you old softie," she said with a somewhat sad grin, standing, and leaning over to peck Bobby on the cheek.
A look of deep guilt swept over Dean's face as he watched Bobby fake his annoyance by groaning and shooing Manda off with a hand to maintain his tough image and as she laughed deeply in return. He had completely forgotten today was her birthday. He'd only remembered the date after seeing it on her headstone earlier that year, and as it came to his mind then, he was reminded of how she had almost died back then. Shit! Nice going, Winchester. You got all emo, called her out here for your sake, didn't remember her birthday… and she's fine with it, least she seems to be.
"It's your birthday?" Sam asked in surprise, curiously looking at her. "You could have said something." He threw a strange sidelong glance at Dean, and then he banged his knee against his brother's under the table, because from the look on him, Dean hadn't remembered.
"It's no big deal, Sam," she smiled reassuringly. "Just glad I've spent it with you guys in case it's the last one."
Bowing his head a little, Dean felt like a bigger ass because he knew she meant it, and that the comment was directed more towards him.
Sam got quiet. No one here needed to be reminded time was running out sooner or later.
"Fill the glasses and do it right then," Bobby remarked, nodding towards the uncapped whiskey bottle.
"Forget it, Singer. No one's in the celebrating mood, and all I wanted was a quiet drink or two in good company. Had a few drinks now and you three took care of the company, so that's done."
Knowing she almost hadn't made it to this birthday, Dean wasn't letting her off the hook that easily as he fixed his eyes on to hers in that moment. "Just do it, Manda… like you said, might be the last one."
Hearing the somewhat cajoling but commanding tone in Dean's voice, Sam and Bobby exchanged amused looks.
Holding Dean's weirdly intense gaze, Manda found herself giving in with a small nod. He wasn't asking, and she couldn't argue with him. "Fine."
Sam was already filling the glasses, knowing she would go along with it for Dean.
"One drink… and then I don't want to hear another mention of it," Manda warned them with a hard tone and a serious look.
"Atta girl," Bobby muttered, grabbing his shot glass.
Sam smirked at her just a little as he tapped his glass against hers. "Happy Birthday, Manda."
"Drink up, birthday girl." Dean winked at her, a small smile curling his lips as his glass clanked lightly with hers.
Manda glanced at the hunters around her as they knocked back their shots, holding off on her own with the glass to her lips. To another year… hope to God we all survive it, she thought, and then tipped the shot to run down her throat.
But even seeing the somber looks that still lingered on all three men, she took some comfort in knowing that this was still the best birthday she'd had in a long time, and if she didn't make it to the next, at least she'd had this one.
Watching her, Dean knew Manda was thinking about something right then. And maybe it was the booze in his system, or maybe it was just his feelings for her he buried deep down, but now he was ready to start making his move. "Looking a little done for, Chambers… you drunk already?" he teased, raising a questionable brow with a naughty grin.
Manda chuckled softly. Dean appeared to finally be lightening up, so she gave him a flirty look in return. "Nowhere near enough to sleep with you just yet, Winchester."
Sam nearly spit out a mouthful of beer. He had almost forgotten how quick Manda was when she and Dean started flirting this way. They'd refrained from it so far, and it was hard not to notice how they hadn't really talked to each other all that much, so it was actually kind of a relief to see them engaging in it now.
Bobby shot Dean a hard told-you-so look that also conveyed his thought – not your girl, huh?
"Don't look at me like that, she's kidding. She'll do that sober." A cocky smirk lit up Dean's face, knowing it was true.
Looking sheepish and grinning, Manda reached for her half empty bottle of beer. "Hey… gotta do stupid things once in a while," she cracked with a laugh, tipping the bottle towards him before taking a swig.
Sam let out a hearty guffaw, and Bobby smirked with a soft chuckle.
Dean glowered at her for a moment, not sure how to respond. She was only kidding though. "Once in a while? Not how I remember it, sweetheart," he smirked sarcastically.
"You two wanna make things official, just say the word. I'm sure me or Sam can handle doing those honours. From blessing holy water to exorcising demons, hitching you lovebirds should be a breeze." Bobby mustered up a serious look to pretend he wasn't kidding around.
Laughing even louder, Sam quickly looked to see their reactions. "Dean has mentioned wanting the family thing a few times..."
Looking anywhere but at each other, the smirks on Dean and Manda had disappeared. They both shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, and neither had a word to say right then, because while settling down would never happen, both had dreamed about doing it with the other.
Dean played with his beer bottle, and casually checked to see that Manda still in fact wore her mother's wedding ring on her right hand, which she nervously seemed to hide by rubbing her thumb over it then. Bobby and Sam didn't know her father's matching ring was still tucked away safely in one of his bags, or they'd be making this even worse right now. "Cute… but don't bother dusting off your bridesmaid dresses, Sam, Bobby… it's not happening."
Manda threw back her head in laughter before shooting an impish grin at Dean. "Getting Dean down the aisle would be the job from Hell. Makes stopping Armageddon look like a walk in the park," she quipped.
Bobby chuckled. "Might be right about that one."
Sam finished rolling his eyes and laughed. "She's got a point."
Shaking his head, Dean sarcastically grinned and stood up. "Glad you all know me so well."
"You running off to cry?" Bobby asked, giving Dean a funny look.
"No. Just taking my half of tension outside," Dean joked as he went to grab another cold beer out of the fridge. "Wouldn't want it getting any more uncomfortable for you and Sam now," he said, walking away to leave.
"Sounds like a cue from one half of the old married couple, guess they need some alone time," Sam said, trying to keep a straight face. Dean was going to get annoyed a little more now.
"Shut up, Sammy. I'm just getting some fresh air," Dean called out from near the front door.
Once he heard the door close, Bobby looked at Manda. "So, you going after him or are we supposed to make ourselves scarce when he comes back?"
Chuckling a little, Manda shook her head. "Neither. He didn't give me the look that implies a moonlit scrap yard stroll that ends in the Impala's backseat." She finished what was left of her beer as they laughed. "He'll come back when he's ready to talk or whatever. Until then, you're stuck with me, boys… so, who's in for another round?"
Well, things are still moving a little slow, but this one's going to be a more emotional type story.
Enjoyed writing Bobby for a change, and hopefully I didn't do too bad of a job of it. I liked letting him have a bit of the story time, and then sort of a softer moment to weigh his two cents in. But of course, it wouldn't be Bobby without cracking a line or two, and an"idjit" or two thrown in.
We'll get into the one-on-one Dean and Manda time next, and things are bound to get steamy after everything that's happened, and of course that flirty bit of banter exchanged near the end of this chapter.
Not so much Sam, but I just find him more difficult to write, so maybe that's why. I'm sure he'll get more story time somewhere in another chapter.
Hope you've enjoyed this one. Comment if you want to.
Will start fixing up the next chapter, and hopefully will have it up soon.
Thanks for reading! :)