Chapter 4
"Hey, I'm coming down," Sam's voice crackled over Dean's comm. He played the rope out and stepped over the edge to rappel down to assist his brother. Charlie and Asa were looking after the hiker they had gotten off the ledge. He glanced down and kept his body angled as he quickly descended to the bottom of the cliff. "I brought a collar and kit."
"Thanks. How long before transport gets here?" Dean asked as he took the neck collar and squatted beside the unconscious hiker to slip it carefully around his neck.
"Chopper should be here in another ten to fifteen minutes." Sam answered, studying the awkward position of the body. "Do you think we can move him without further injury?"
"With you here, I think so," Dean replied. "We need to be really careful."
The brothers positioned their arms under the hiker's prone body and gently shifted him until he was lying flat on the ground. Dean checked his pulse and breathing again and thought it was getting weaker.
"He's not looking so good. Let me call Dad and see if they will let us start an IV," Sam decided, seeing how pale he was looking. "W-2 to W-Base, do you read?"
"Go ahead W-2. What's your status."
"We are waiting for transport, but one hiker has abstained sever injuries. Any way to auth the start of an IV?"
"Hold on W-2."
Sam paced back and forth as he waited for an answer. On cases like this if they got approval from a doctor, they could administer the needed first aid.
"Okay W-2, it's a go on the IV with ringer's lactate. Your transport is seven minutes out."
"Thanks W-Base. Will start IV and wait on transport." Sam quickly pulled the kit and IV solution from his bag. He swabbed the arm with an alcohol wipe and tied a band to find a vein. Sam inserted the needle and got the IV going letting Dean hold the bag. He taped everything down and checked vitals again.
Eight minutes later the noise of a helicopter echoed through the area and came into view. It hovered over them for a moment fighting the updrafts until it became stable. The side door was opened, and a basket was pushed out and lowered to them.
"I'll grab the back board," Dean yelled over the noise. When the basket settled on the ground, he ran over and pulled the yellow back board out and went back to the injured hiker. They eased it under his body and strapped him down before picking the back board up and moving him to the basket. Once he was secured, the basket was winched upper to the helicopter and pulled inside.
"They're going to take the other guy too," Sam told Dean as they watched the pilot maneuver the copter closer to the top and drop down a harness. It wasn't but a few minutes before the other hiker was lifted into the air and toward the open door.
"Guess we need to climb back up," Sam sighed, happy that the rescue was finished, and they had found the hikers alive. He just hoped they stayed that way.
"Race you to the top," Dean challenged his brother before running to his rope to begin the climb back up.
"No fair!" Sam fussed as he gathered the trash and slung his pack over his shoulders before following suit. He grabbed his rope and started back up the cliff, seeing his brother had a huge lead on him. He doubled down and used his strength and long arms to quickly catch up.
They were neck and neck when they topped the ridge and were grabbed by Asa and Charlie and helped over the edge.
"Wow! What a rush!" Dean exclaimed as he caught his breath. "I won."
"No, you didn't, and besides you cheated," Sam spat at him.
"Okay, Asa, Red, who got to the top first?" Dean asked looking from one to the other.
Asa and Charlie looked at each other knowing the rival the brothers had and tried to stay out of it.
"I wasn't looking," Charlie shrugged as she started pulling one of the ropes and winding it up.
"You know I don't take sides," Asa told them bending down to retrieve the other rope.
"The copter is going to pick us up at the clearing, so we better start hoofing it," Charlie told them.
Once the gear was stored, the team made their way through the woods toward the clearing. By the time they got there, the helicopter was waiting on them and took them back to base camp and dropped them off. Dean was pale and shaky when he got off the copter and swore, he'd not do it again but knew if it came down to it he would. The Winchester team got ready to head back home now that the job was done.
spn
"Why don't we head to the Roadhouse tonight and grab a couple of beers and unwind?" Dean suggested to his brother a few days later.
"Sure, why not. We haven't been in a few weeks," Sam replied as he continued to read a manual for a new piece of equipment.
"I'll check with Asa and Red and see if they want to come. Maybe we can play a few games of pool or darts."
"Only if you behave this time," Sam insisted giving him a stern face.
"What are you talking about? I'm always on my best behavior."
"Get real dude. You have the worse competitive streak I've ever seen. Last time you wouldn't stop until you beat everyone," Sam complained rolling his eyes toward the ceiling. "And I think they let you win just to get you out of there."
"You're just mad that I beat you too."
"Am not," Sam snarled giving him his best bitch face.
"Okay, okay," Dean gave in. "I'll be on my best behavior," Dean grunted getting up to head outside. "I'm going to see if Dad or Bobby has anything they want me to do."
"Okay, I'll go with you." Sam pushed himself from the recliner and slipped on his boots before following his brother from the house. They headed to the main house in search of their father and if he didn't have anything, they'd find Bobby. He'd usually find something to occupy their restless behavior.
The brothers ended up spending half a day cleaning out one of the storage buildings and organizing the equipment, throwing away broken things that couldn't be repaired and starting a list of things they needed to replace or repair. It was a grunt job but kept them out of trouble.
spn
"Red!" Dean called as he knocked on the door. "You ready to go?"
"I'm coming," she replied before opening the door to her cabin. "So, do you like the new clothes?"
Dean stepped back and gave her a critical look as he pursed his lips before answering.
"Looks fine to me," he shrugged. "Now, let's get going."
"Why do I even bother," Charlie huffed slipping on her jacket and stomping toward the Impala.
"What?" Dean questioned perplexed with her response. He headed around the car to the driver's side and got in. Sam gave him a puzzling look and he shrugged his shoulders at him.
"You look nice tonight, Charlie," Asa complemented her. "Is that a new shirt?"
"Yes, I got it at that new thrift store that opened in town. They have some great deals and good merchandise. Thanks for noticing," she snarked giving Dean a sour look.
"Nice, I'll have to check it out."
"Dad checked with the hospital, that hiker guy we rescued is going to make it," Dean told them. "He'll have a lot of PT to do and if there are no complications should make a full recovery."
"That's good to hear."
"It is good news."
"First round is on me to celebrate another successful rescue," Dean said.
"Alright!" the others cheered knowing Dean didn't do this often.
Their favorite bar was the Roadhouse located on the outskirts of Tulsa. It was owned by Rufus Turner and Ellen Harvelle. Rufus and Bill, Ellen's husband, were partners and when he died, Ellen decided to step into his role, even though Rufus had offered to buy her half of the bar. She had helped start the bar all those years ago and didn't want to give it up yet. It gave her a connection to Bill, her late husband. It was agreed that Rufus would have the first option to buy her out when she decided to sell. She lived on site, in the back, and he lived about fifteen minutes away in a house he inherited from his parents.
The Roadhouse was a popular bar for firefighters, cops, search and rescue crews, and EMTs. They found the atmosphere to their liking and enjoyed gathering there to tell war stories, relax, catch up with others and learn the latest gossip going around. If you didn't like beer or liquor, then the Roadhouse was not the place for you. The Roadhouse didn't serve girly drinks or wines, and they would show you the door if you asked for it.
Rufus and Ellen ran a tight ship and didn't tolerate fighting, drunks, unruly people, or foul language. There was no hesitation when it came to kicking someone out of the place. They were watchful of their patrons and refused to continue to serve those who were wasted. Car keys were taken, and a cab was called for the party, and they were sent on their way.
Dean pulled into the parking lot and drove slowly around until he found a parking spot he liked. Everyone got out and strolled toward the door to the bar ready for an ice-cold beer. Sam opened the door and let everyone else go in before following. Music was playing from the juke box in the corner and several couples were dancing.
"You guys get us a table and I'll get the first round," Dean told them before sauntering to the bar.
"Winchester hadn't seen you in for a while," Ellen greeted him with a smile. "How's the folks doing?"
"Hi Ellen, yeah, we've been busy. Mom and Dad are okay. I'll tell them you asked about them. How 'bout four cold ones?"
"Coming right up." She opened the cooler and pulled four beers from it and popped the caps off before sliding them toward Dean.
"Thanks, and keep the change," he said laying money on the bar.
"Alright honey, enjoy yourself, but not too much."
"It's fine, I only let Sammy have one beer so he can drive home if I can't."
"Oh, I'm sure he likes that," Ellen laughed before moving down the bar to serve another customer.
"Here we go gents and lady," Dean said sitting the beer in the middle of the table.
"This will hit the spot," Asa commented taking one beer and sipping on it.
"Why do they always taste better in a bar?" Charlie asked sipping on her own beer.
"It's the ambiance of this place," Dean offered making Sammy stare at him with raised eyebrows.
"Do you even know what that word means?" he asked.
"Of course, I do," Dean insisted nodding to some firefighters that they had worked with over the years. "I'll keep an eye on the pool tables and when one comes free we can play a few games."
"Alright, but Asa goes first," Charlie spoke up. "I'll play the winner."
"Oh, and bro, you're the designated driver tonight so no more than two beers," Dean told his brother.
"I was it last time," Sam pouted.
"That's because you can't hold your booze. Any more than two and you get silly, and I am not carrying your sorry ass out of here again. Plus, you almost puked in my Baby and that is a definite no-no. You know how Mom fussed last time it happened. I had garbage duty for a week."
"Fine," Sam grumbled taking another sip of his beer. He knew Dean was right but was not going to tell him that and inflate his ego any more than it already was. They had a standing rule that one of them had to stay sober enough to drive everyone else back home.
"Come on Asa, let's try our hand at darts," Charlie encouraged grabbing his arm and pulling him from his chair.
He didn't resist and chuckled at her as they wove through the crowd to where the dart board was located. Dean and Sam looked on knowing Charlie was going to win because she was a dead shot with the darts, but it was fun to watch. And it was even more entertaining when someone who didn't know her skills wanted to play her. She would tease them with a few poor shots and then take them down.
"C'mon Sammy, a pool table just opened up," Dean noted getting up and heading that way.
Everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves, forgetting about the job for a while. Several hours later, Dean announced it was time to head home and rounded everyone up and got them moving toward the front door. He slapped the keys to the Impala in Sam's hand and told him to treat her like a lady with a gentle hand.
Sam shook his head and muttered under his breath not getting the love affair Dean had with his car. Once everyone was in the car, they headed home and to their waiting beds to sleep off the buzz they had gotten from drinking. Sam dropped Asa and Charlie at their cabins and continued to their house located behind the main house.
"Okay bro, we're home, time to get out," Sam told his brother once he had parked.
"Yeah, yeah," Dean slurred slightly as he fumbled for the door handle and almost fell from the car.
"C'mon dude, a little help here," Sam complained as he grabbed his brother before he fell.
"I'm okay," Dean fussed slapping at his hand. "I'm just tired and need my bed."
"That's where we're heading," Sam said. He guided him into the house and to his bedroom and made sure he made it to his bed. "Night." Sam stepped across to his bedroom and got undressed before going to the bathroom to do his routine. He met Dean stumbling from his room toward the bathroom and held the door for him. "See you in the morning."
"Mmmm…" Dean grunted shutting the door in Sam's face.
Sam snorted and headed for his bedroom, ready to get some sleep. He listened until he heard his brother make it back to his bedroom before turning over and settling into the mattress to drift to sleep. They always looked out for each other, had been their entire lives.
A/N: Thank you for coming along for the ride. I do like reviews/comments. NC