Instinct (8/8 - Epilogue)
“Are you sure that you know what you’re doing?”
Dean grinned, tossing the weapons duffel into the Impala’s trunk, settling it next to the two already tucked inside. Bobby was clearly uncomfortable - he’d removed his hat to run a hand through his graying hair, wincing slightly when his fingers tangled on a knot. His eyes were serious, filled with worry and concern, and Dean was surprised at the sudden rush of affection that washed through him.
“We’ll be fine,” Sam reassured quietly from next to him. Over the past couple of weeks, Sam had gotten progressively less scared of Jim and Bobby - to the point where he and Bobby would spend hours poring over mythology books in the evenings, Sam occasionally laughing at all of the ‘ludicrous’ things written about shapeshifters. It was more progress than Dean had expected the young man to make, and he was taken aback by the idea that someone who’d gone through so much could be so strong. “Dean seems to think that he knows what he’s doing.”
Dean scowled, giving the younger man a light shove. “Hey! I do know what I’m doing, smartass. I’ve been a hunter since I was a kid. It’s really not that hard.”
Jim raised an eyebrow at the statement, leaning against the railing along one side of the porch steps, arms crossed and face amused. “Not that hard? That’s not what you said when we faced off against that werewolf in Missouri. Or the time that the selkie in Tampa tried to drown you in the bathtub. Or the time-“
Dean waved a hand in the air dramatically. “Alright! Okay, we get the picture. Hunting can be hard… and kind of dangerous. But I do know what I’m doing, and it’s not like I’m gonna go wandering into hunts that I don’t know I can take - I wouldn’t risk anything happening to Sam. He’s just a beginner, after all.”
He offered the young man a teasing wink, and Sam rolled his eyes fondly.
“Just be careful.” Jim told them seriously, a soft smile curling the edges of his lips up. “And remember that you’re always welcome here. Both of you.”
Dean nodded his head. “We’ll be back soon, okay? And thank you. For everything.”
He didn’t wait around to see what the two older hunters had to say about his thanks, instead striding quickly to the driver’s side of the Impala and siding into her seat, swinging the door shut behind him in an effort to ward off any more attempts at a chick-flick moment. Seconds later, Sam was slipping into the passenger seat as if he’d been doing it for years, and Dean was surprised that the way he curled himself into the seat was already becoming familiar.
He glanced back at Jim’s house just once as he pulled out of the driveway, grinning despite himself as he took in the sight of the Pastor already arguing with Bobby about something or other. The two of them were waving their arms dramatically, gesturing like idiots, and the hunter knew that they’d be back to being best friends within a matter of minutes. No matter how much the two of them liked to deny it.
Next to him, Sam was warm and smiling and when he slipped his hand over the bench seat to tangle their fingers together, Dean didn’t complain.
“Where to?” Sam asked quietly, voice drifting over the faint strands of Zeppelin playing through the speakers. His hazel eyes were locked on Dean without worry or suspicion, but with trust and the blind faith that he’d shown ever since he’d first stumbled into Dean’s life on four furry legs.
Dean shrugged his shoulders, grinning despite himself.
“I was thinking we’d just drive.” He admitted, glancing over at the younger man. “No set destination, no maps or directions. Just… drive.”
Slowly, Sam’s grin began to widen, and he nodded his head slowly. “Just drive? I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had, Dean Winchester.”
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