A/N: Hello and welcome back for another short story. This one centers around Bobby. I hope you will come along for the ride. I want to thank my dear friend, VegasGranny for her support and help on this story. Buckle in and let's start this journey. This is a short one, but I hope it will entertain you. I do like reviews/comments. NC

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of SPN. This is my own creation, and any errors are my own.


Chapter 1

The weather-beaten house was quiet except for the normal creaks and settling that the owner paid no mind to. Bobby Singer, the owner, was packing the last of his folded clothes into a duffle. He was taking a much-needed vacation after the last two hunts he had gone on. They were brutal and things went sideways where innocent lives were lost. It seemed no matter how well you planned your moves something could throw a wrench into it and blow it out of the water.

After zipping his bag closed, he carried it into the living room and dropped it on the couch. He was looking forward to seeing an old friend, Ellen Harvelle, who ran a bar called the Roadhouse. Her husband had been a hunter and had been killed while on a hunt. She continued to run the bar and it had been a gathering spot for hunters over the years. They had been planning this trip for two months and it was finally happening. There was a fishing hole that he wanted to visit and drown a few worms.

Bobby strolled into the kitchen to be sure everything up turned off or unplugged and checked the back door one more time, being sure the warding was in place and the door was double locked. His steps were light, and he was humming an old song as he headed back into the living room to leave.

Just as he picked up his duffle the phone in his office started ringing. 'Of course, I couldn't get away that easily,' he grumbled under his breath as he sat the duffle back down and headed into his office.

"Singer, this better be good," he growled to the caller in irritation.

"Hey, Bobby, it's Garth," the younger hunter greeted him.

"Garth, what's with the call? You know I'm heading out. Did you forget how to do something with the phones?"

"Look Bobby, I'm afraid I can't man the phones while you're gone," he started. "You see I was in a car accident and I'm in the hospital. Doc says I'll be in for three or four days."

"Damnit Garth, how did it happen?"

"It wasn't my fault, honest Bobby. This guy ran a stop sign, hit another, that hit me and then I was rear ended. One hell of a pile up."

"Okay, okay. I'll get someone else," Bobby sighed knowing he couldn't be mad at him. "You take care of yourself Garth."

"Thanks Bobby and I'm sorry about messing up your plans."

"Goodbye Garth." Bobby hung up the phone and sat down at his desk to pull his rolodex toward him. He began to flip through the cards looking for someone to take over the phones while he was gone. He started to make calls and it looked grim when no one could fill in for him so as a last resort he contacted an old colleague even though they weren't on speaking terms anymore.

"Hello Rufus," Bobby greeted him when he finally answered his phone.

"Bobby Singer, what the hell do you want?" Rufus barked at him in anger.

"I need someone to take over the phones for a week. Think you can do that?"

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Because I'm asking nicely," Bobby answered. "And there's a bottle of Blue Label Johnny Walker in it for you." Bobby held his breath as he heard silence on the other end of the line.

"Fine, make it two bottles and you've got a deal," Rufus finally replied.

"Good. I'll be back in a week. I'll transfer the phones to you."

"Don't make this a habit, you hear me?"

"Yeah Rufus. I hear you." Bobby hung up and sat back taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Okay, he was set again and could head out. He hoped this wasn't a sign that he wasn't supposed to be taking a little time off.

As he walked back into the living room to get his duffle, a familiar rumble of a car engine had him looking out the window. He saw a black Impala pulling up to the front of the house and stopping. His hopes fell when Sam Winchester got out on the driver's side. His arm was in a sling, and he was limping. Sam went around to the passenger side and helped his brother, Dean Winchester, from the car. Dean took the crutches Sam got out of the back because he had one ankle and calf wrapped with an ace bandage. They head for the front porch.

Bobby lets go of the duffle with a frustrated 'balls,' and with a heartfelt sigh headed for the door to let them in. These boys were the closest thing to sons that he ever had. They were family and he couldn't turn his back on them, especially since it looked like they were injured.

"Hey Bobby," Sam greeted him sheepishly.

"Sam, Dean, what the hell happened to you?" he asked noticing the bruising on their faces.

"Hunt went wrong," Dean grunted as he shifted on the crutches.

"Think we can stay a few days with you while we heal?" Sam asked.

"Hell fire, get on in here and tell me about it," he huffed stepping to the side and allowing them to enter.

"Oh man, are you going somewhere?" Dean asked seeing the duffle sitting on the couch as he sat down with a groan.

"I was, but it can wait."

"No, no, why don't you go on and do whatever you had planned," Sam suggested moving the duffle to sit by Dean.

"I couldn't do that with you two injured. It wasn't important anyway."

"Are you sure. We don't want to hold you up or anything if you had plans."

"I'm good. You boys want something to drink?"

"I could do with a cold brew if you have one," Dean answered.

"Alright and then you can tell me what hornet's nest you boys kicked up." Bobby strolled to the kitchen and got three beers from the fridge and went back into the other room. He took a seat in his recliner and listened to their story. He listened intently and when they were finished told them what idjits they were to not have seen the attack coming. After pointing out their miscalculations, Bobby excused himself to make two calls.

He contacted Rufus to let him know he was off the hook for the phones, something had come up and he wouldn't be going on his trip after all. Rufus was happy about the news but was disappointed about not getting the expensive liquor.

Second, he called the Roadhouse and talked to Ellen to let her know he had to put his visit on hold and would get back to her to set another date. She was disappointed but understood when he told her about the brothers showing up hurt.

He couldn't hide his disappointment while he was alone but wouldn't show it around the boys. Something nagged him about the story the brothers had told, but he couldn't put it in the right perspective right now. Maybe it was because he was thinking more about the vacation he was missing and not about what he had been told.

After the calls, he checked the fridge and freezer to see what he could fix for them to eat. Bobby hadn't restocked since he had planned on being gone.

The brothers remained on the couch resting while Bobby threw together something for dinner. They whispered between themselves low enough that Bobby wouldn't hear them.