Wrapped in Honey 36/49
Chapter 36
Dean knew it was the right thing to do. Take a break, get his head clear, untangle this mess without Sam constantly looming in the background. It was the right thing to do, the healthy thing, but base line, he didn't want to leave.
Sam had said he'd wait for him, that he wanted him back but once he was gone what made Sam so sure he wouldn't change his mind? What if Dean came back and Sam didn't want him here anymore? What if this was just a sugarcoated kick-out because Sam was sure that Dean wouldn't come back anyway?
Those questions were eating at him while he packed his stuff the next day. He hadn't really slept much but he wasn't tired. He was itching with energy but he couldn't focus on anything for longer than a minute. He had written an email to Bobby, telling him that he would swing by and if he could stay for a while. At least Bobby seemed to be happy about that turn of events.
Which brought him to his next problem. Bobby knew there were things Dean hadn't told him. He'd stopped asking for the most part but things would be different with Dean staying under his roof. Bobby would have questions and Dean had no idea what to tell him.
Dean stayed for another day, officially to finish the latest car but if he was honest, he was stalling. But the longer he waited the harder it would become to leave, he knew that.
It was their last night together for a while, Dean had silently vowed to himself that he would be back in exact two weeks and he could only hope that Sam would open his door to him again, and Dean wanted their last hours together to be memorable.
It was a Friday so Sam had to work but that gave Dean time to set everything up. When Sam came home the table was set with Sam's good silverware and the crystal glasses. There was wine waiting for them and music playing in the background.
"I didn't know you were such a romantic." Sam said when he saw what Dean had prepared.
"This is our last night for a while." Dean filled their glasses. "I want you to keep me in good memory."
"As if I could forget you." Sam accepted the glass and they raised them in a silent toast. "As for the for a while part, that's entirely up to you. I'm here."
They had dinner, Dean had stood the whole day in the kitchen to prepare the three dishes, and after that they set on the couch with their wine glasses and just talked. Sam told him about his day at work and then the conversation drifted to all and nothing. Later Dean couldn't even remember what they were talking about. Just the soft tone of Sam's voice, the music in the background and the taste of the wine on his tongue.
"I want to kiss you." Dean said.
"I'd like that."
They kissed and then they went upstairs.
In the morning Dean woke late, body comfortably heavy from the sex and Sam feeding on him. By now the tiredness wasn't that bad anymore but today he felt like after the first time Sam had fed off him.
"You took a big chunk last night." Dean rolled to his side to face Sam. "But that should keep you fed until I'm back. I don't like the thought of you feeding on somebody else."
"Jealous?" Sam asked and brushed a kiss on Dean's lips. Sam kept his lips closed so Dean didn't get a fresh dose of his saliva, after last night they were both not up for more.
"You bet." Dean grinned. "You're ass is mine."
"You made that very clear last night. I'll have to work standing for a week." Sam groaned and stole another kiss.
"Just making sure you'll think of me when you're here all alone."
They got out of bed before this could become awkward and had breakfast together.
"I got you a phone." Sam handed him a shiny new phone and Dean didn't want to think about how expensive it was. "My number is in there. And Benny's. You can delete them if you don't need them anymore."
"Sam, do you want me to come back or not?" Dean ask bluntly. Sam tried to not force him into a decision, he got that, but every time he said something like this the mean little voice in his mind wondered if Sam really wanted him to come back.
"I want you." Sam said firmly.
With that in mind Dean left.
It was a two days trip to Bobby's but he enjoyed being on the road again. Before ... before all this he had been a drifter. The time he'd spent with Sam had been the longest he'd been in one place since he had left Bobby's the day he had turned eighteen. It felt good to have the road ahead, just seeing what would come up at the horizon next.
He'd told Bobby "in a couple of days" so there was no need to hurry. He had enough money for gas and food and it was more than enough for a good motel for the night. It was nice to not worry about money for once.
It was already dark when he drove through the gate of Singer's Salvage Yard at the end of the second day. Slowly he drove up the familiar driveway and parked in front of the house. There was light behind the windows so Bobby was still up, probably waiting for him.
Dean got out of the rented car and his first way was over to the black Impala waiting for him at the side.
"Hello, Baby." He ran a hand over the familiar curves of her body. "You missed me?"
"Of course she missed you, idjit." A gruff voice suddenly spoke up behind him. "And she ain't happy that I had to tow her here and then you never showed up to get her."
"I'm here now." Dean had to blink against the tears and embraced the other man in a bear hug. "Good to see you."
He inhaled deeply, bathing in the scent of whiskey and Old Spice. For a while he'd thought he wouldn't see the old man ever again. But here he was.
"You hungry, boy?"
Dean just nodded, he didn't trust his voice right now, and followed his friend inside. The rich aroma of chili greeted him, letting his stomach grumble.
"Sit down." Bobby gestured at the set table and went over to the stove to stir the chili. "I know you're hungry."
Because I always come here hungry, Dean thought, feeling a little ashamed that for years this had been his last refuge when money had become too tight to buy himself something to eat. Then he spent his last money on gas, or siphoned it from other cars, and got his ass over here.
This time was different, though.
"You look good." Bobby had his first real look at him and Dean wondered if he looked any different. Bobby hadn't changed the slightest since the last time he'd seen him, maybe a few more gray hairs but that was it.
"I am good." Dean could truly say.
"So this Sam is good for you." He turned around to fill their bowls.
"He is." However, Dean wasn't sure if this was still true. But he was here to figure that one out.
"You could have brought him with you." Bobby set the bowls down and took a seat. "You know you're always welcome here. And I'd love to meet your boyfriend."
"It's not that." Dean knew exactly what Bobby was trying to say here. He wouldn't beat him to pulp for kissing a boy. "He's on a business trip so I decided to visit you in the meantime." It was a lie but easier to tell than the truth. Especially since he still hadn't made up his mind how much he wanted to tell Bobby.
"Hmm." Bobby made.
They ate in silence for a while.
"I brought some of the cars." All of them. "Is it okay if I hog your garage? I need to get them ready as soon as possible, the customers are waiting."
"Look at you." Bobby gave him a warm smile. "The customers are waiting. Way to go, boy, way to go." He patted Dean's shoulder and Dean soaked in the affection.
"Just so you know, I want to see them." Bobby added. "Pictures are fine and dandy but I want to see the real thing. Remember that car you built that one summer? You rebuilt it from scratch, better than new. You've always been quite handy."
"Yeah, I remember that thing." Dean allowed himself to enjoy the memory for a moment and cut it off when it turned not so happy.
They dumped the dishes in the sink, they would take care of that tomorrow for now they were too full and tired, at least Dean who'd been on the road for almost two days now.
"Your room is ready." Bobby said. "Fresh sheets and everything."
"Thanks."
"Welcome home, boy."
Only minutes later Dean snuggled into the pillow and with a sigh he drifted off to sleep.
This was the first night in a while he slept alone and when he woke up in the morning he felt rested but shades of nightmares lingered in the back of his mind.
"I just hope I didn't scream." Dean mumbled to himself and padded on bare feet over to the bathroom for a shower. When he came downstairs Bobby was already up and had coffee ready.
"You're a lifesaver."
Dean sat down with the coffee and just allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
"How do you feel?" Bobby asked. "The old bed still good enough for you?"
"I'll get used to it again." Now he missed Sam's ridiculously large bed. And Sam.
"Want to show me the cars?" Bobby changed the topic and Dean was grateful for that, he didn't want to think about Sam right now. And he hadn't lied about the customers waiting. If he wanted to keep his little business running he should get back to work.
"Wow." Bobby made when Dean carefully got the cars out of the box and put them on the table. Two were barely recognizable as cars yet, just the basic electronics on a board but the other three already had a rough body.
"They don't look like much yet." Dean defended his work. "Before I left I dropped the latest one off at the post office. I should have a picture online, I can show you later on your computer."
Bobby nodded, eyes still on the unfinished cars as if he could picture what they would look like once they were finished.
"You never told me what happened to your phone and computer." Bobby picked up on the computer part. "If you had to sell them I have to yell at you. You could have come to me, you know that. Instead you just drop off the radar and I don't know if you're alive or not."
Over the emails it had been easy to avoid those questions but now Bobby was pinning him down with a glare, demanding an answer.
"I got mugged." Which wasn't exactly a lie. "They took everything."
"You left your car." Bobby wasn't done just yet. "When you finally call you don't want to tell me anything. And your emails? They sound like someone's reading over your shoulder." He paused, locking eyes with him. "Dean, where have you been? And don't feed me crap here."
Chapter 37
Masterpost