FIC: Of Terminators and Training Wheels- Chapter 24
DISCLAIMER- I don't own these guys or their brotherly schmoop!
CHAPTER 24-
When he was certain that he had put enough distance between them and the cops, Dean eased up on the gas pedal and relaxed back into the seat. A long deep sigh escaped his lips… which quickly turned into a chuckle… and then a guffaw… then an outright cackle. The man was soon laughing so hard and hysterically that if the traffic had been heavier, he would have had to pull the Impala over to the side of the road.
"You okay over there?" Sam asked, absently.
"Dude…" Dean gasped in between his chuckles, "I mean… Dude! HA HA HA… This has just been the craziest 24 hours ever! I can't believe everything we went through. I feel like I've been holding my breath forever… all those close calls we had. But now that it's all over…BWAH HA HA HA! What a trip! I wish I had a picture of Gordon and that pink bike… or you in that Johnny Jump Up! Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy! HA HA HA! Oh Bro, you were so adorable!"
"Shut up," Sam huffed.
The younger Winchester reached forward and began rummaging through the glove compartment.
"Aww, come on. You know you were." Dean reached over and pinched at his brother's cheek, "So cute and itty bitty. Downright pocket sized you were…"
"Will you cut it out and watch the road!" Sam snapped, swatting Dean's hand away.
"Oh no, Dude. Uh uh! You are not giving me this attitude!" Dean insisted, "You no longer have diaper rash as an excuse. Besides it's my birthday… I think… I mean, we did come back to the next day, right? Yeah… 24 hours have passed so it's my birthday! And you will give me no bitch boy Emo attitude on my birthday! In fact, right now, you should be showering me with gifts both rare and unusual and extremely expensive!"
"I know…" Sam sighed, "Hey, don't look over here for a while, ok?"
Dean peeked over anyway and saw that Sam had taken out a small flashlight and was shining it intently on the Pooh Bear as he dug through the plush toy's fur with his long fingers. The older man swallowed hard as he watched his brother retrieve the spent slug from the bear's belly before tossing it aside with an air of revulsion. A wave of nausea mixed with guilt coursed through him. He thought of telling Sam he was just kidding about needing an extra special present for his birthday… that he'd already received the best gift he could imagine that night…
But his intense loathing of mushy chick flick moments kept the words lodged in his throat.
Sam glanced up and saw Dean's stricken expression.
"I said 'Don't look!'" he admonished, shifting in his seat so that the Pooh Bear was hidden by his broad back, "Just keep your eyes on the road."
Dean obeyed, shaking his head.
"Dude, please tell me you aren't still sulking over that friggin' Bear!" he scoffed, "I'm sure with some cotton balls, dental floss or maybe some duct tape we can patch it right up… Or do you want to give it a Hunter's funeral, huh? It deserves one after saving your life..."
Dean heard Sam let out a huge sigh of relief. He glanced back again to see his brother's mood had gone completely 180. The kid was smiling now, his dimples out in full force.
"Pull over, Dean." he said mischievously.
Doing as he was told, Dean then shifted in his seat studying Sam with utter confusion.
"So, are you saying that you wanna give the bear a Hunter's funeral?" he asked incredulously, "'Cause I was only joking. Honestly, I think we oughta hang onto it like a good luck charm. Or take it to Bobby's and have him mass market it as body armor for hunters… We'd make a mint! I still can't believe that little guy had enough fluff to stop a bullet!"
"Well, actually." Sam grinned, "Pooh had a little help from this…"
He placed an object in Dean's hand.
"Happy Birthday, Bro!"
"No! Freakin'! Way!" Dean gasped in astonishment.
The older Winchester stared in disbelief at what he held... A brand new, fresh off the press copy of Ride the Lightning… on Cassette!
"The case got damaged," Sam explained as Dean ran a finger over the spider web crack in the plastic, "But thank God, the tape itself is ok. I checked. It should play just fine."
"You… how…when…?" Dean sputtered.
"I stole it out of Topher's pocket when I was checking for his car keys and then hid it in the back of Pooh Bear's shirt. I figured if we actually survived the day you'd appreciate it more than he would… Besides, it was tops on your birthday wish list and you were unconscious when I knocked Gordon's teeth out, so hopefully this makes up for that…"
"Oh, Hells yes this makes up for everything! This makes the whole insane trip worth it… Brand new! Fresh off the press! And stolen from that douche Topher!"
Dean tossed back his head cackling over the thought, but then stopped short and looked back at Sam with awe.
"And it saved your life! Metallica literally saved your life!"
"I will never again doubt the power of Mullet Rock," Sam chuckled.
"No, it's the Cassette!" Dean insisted, "See if you'd gotten this on CD or God forbid downloaded it you'd be dead right now!"
"Well, no, not necessarily," Sam pouted, "Maybe Pooh really would have had enough fluff in its tummy…"
"Dude, please!" Dean scoffed, "Never mock my tape collection again! In fact, now I'm gonna have Bobby make you a bullet proof vest out of Classic Rock cassette tapes! Metallica, Motorhead, Zeppelin, a little AC/DC right over your heart… It'll keep you safe and improve your taste in music at the same time!"
"So, I take it you like your present," Sam giggled.
"Love it!" Dean kissed the cassette tape, "It's perfect on so many levels! You know, Dad gave me this same album for my 8th birthday… and now 20 years later to the day you give it back to me. Kinda like a new Winchester family tradition."
Sam's smile faded a bit and he turned away from Dean.
"Yeah…" he said softly, absently squeezing the Pooh Bear in his hands, "Speaking of Dad… uhh… I know you don't like getting all sentimental and chick flicky but… Well, you know… I didn't really remember much about Dad from the early years. I mostly remembered him being this hard ass hunter moving us around from town to town, training us like a drill sergeant… or just being gone. I never really got to see him when he was still just our Dad. But back there in the past, even though we weren't able to convince him of what was going on and that was frustrating as Hell, he… well he took care of me and sang to me and… well… you know, that's the memory that I'll always have of him now…"
Dean cleared his throat.
"Uhh, yeah…" he said after a while, "So, that's a good thing. I mean, the whole insane trip was worth it for that as well."
Sam nodded giving the Pooh Bear an affirmative squeak.
"And you got this souvenir to boot," Dean snorted, patting the Pooh Bear's head, "Although I do hope you realize that back in the year 1984 Little Sammy Winchester is probably beside himself wondering what happened to his buddy. You actually robbed an innocent toddler of his childhood companion. How will you ever sleep with a clear conscience again?"
"Eh, I wouldn't worry too much about Little Sammy Winchester," Sam said proudly propping the Bear up on the dashboard before turning back to Dean, "He'll be all right. After all, he has the World's Most Awesome Big Brother!"
Dean pulled a face like he'd just downed a shot glass full of sugar.
"Dude!" he snapped, "You see, this is exactly why I have a zero tolerance policy on chick flick moments. I give you an inch and you always go and take it too damn far! That's it! We're going to Hooters right now!"
He started up the car and peeled back onto the road.
"UGH! It's gonna take a mound of hot wings, a gallon of beer and a whole Harem of Hooters girls to cleanse my pallet after all the fruity sweet sentiment you just leaked into this car… And you're buying by the way. My birthday ain't over yet, no sir! You're gonna use your Gold Card, too! The one that says "Samuel Zappa" on it!"
"That's only for emergencies, Dean" Sam chided.
"Well, I'm declaring a State of Emergency which is my right as the Birthday Boy and as the World's Most Awesome Big Brother! And guess what else! We are staying in a swank hotel tonight Mr. Zappa. We're talking hot tub in the room, mini-bar and room service masseuse swanky! And hopefully, if all goes right at Hooters, with separate rooms for once!"
"Dude. Are you gonna be like this every birthday from now on?" Sam asked.
"Of course I am." Dean answered, "Remember, I have so decreed it that we must indulge in complete extravagance every birthday. And besides… We ain't getting any younger."
The brothers paused and exchanged a look. And then simultaneously burst out laughing. They laughed until their sides ached and tears rolled down their cheeks. When they had finally pulled themselves together and caught their breaths, Dean popped his new Ride the Lightning cassette into the tape deck and once again sang along with every word.
This time Sam sang along with him.
THE END
(Sort of… Wanna know what happened when they got to Hooters? The Epilogue is just a click away! ;-)
Epilogue