Just Another Day 2

“God I could so go for a creaky old spring mattress right now…” Ana mumbled, cheek smashed against the window. Her body ached from being crammed in the not so large back seat. She loved the car but sometimes, she would love to be somewhere else. Thankfully, Dean did not take long and before Ana knew it, she was collapsed on the bed in a clean pair of pajamas. Sam and Sara were in the same boat, already snoring under the covers. A smile came to the girls’ lips as she heard the shuffle of luggage when Dean entered the room. The expression grew at the sound of curses.

“Thank you for the help you guys?!” The frustrated man yelled.

“You’re welcome!” Everyone replied in unison.

Dean turned to the couple on the bed across from his own. “I thought you were asleep?” He frowned when he heard nothing from Sam and Sara, grumbling something about ‘stupid idiots’. Stripping down to his boxers, he slipped into the sheets, reaching a hand outward and setting it down gently on Ana’s hip. When she continued to keep her back to him he scowled in slight annoyance. He already knew what the girl was mad about. It was obvious when she gave him the cold shoulder throughout the car ride to the hotel. “Come on love….” He whined, getting no response. “I didn’t mean to…Well…I did but you know I love you!”

Ana rolled her eyes, shaking her head in the darkness. Letting out a long breath, she continued to keep her back to the man. He didn’t even seem that upset at what he had done. ‘It’s habit’…BULL SHIT. No girl will be treated like a second girlfriend no matter how long Dean had been keeping it up, especially a girl like Ana.

“You know what love-if we had a couch, your ass would be sleeping on it RIGHT NOW…So keep pushing and see what happens…” Her voice held the hiss of a snake, her invisible tail rattling a warning. “Just keep pushing!”

Dean flinched, running his hand over his face before turning flat on his back. He felt somewhat responsible for his girlfriend’s behavior, but he is a hot piece of ass after all, how could he stop the attention he gets?

“You could learn to ignore it,” Ana interjected, causing Dean to shudder once more. She had spent years with him, learning to read him like an open book. “It wouldn’t hurt, and until you do, you are sleeping alone or -well- as alone as you can get in a queen.”

Dean chuckled, though he shouldn’t have. What she had said was rather funny, or at least the way she had put it was.

“That wasn’t supposed to be comical.” Ana snapped, Dean immediately stopping. Rolling over so she faced him, Ana leaned up on her shoulder to glare down at Dean. “You’d think you would learn by now that I hate it when you flirt with other girls. On a job is different, you’re getting information then, but when you do it when we’re not working, its annoying. Its not like you’re getting anything but a boast to you’re already oversized ego.” She placed a finger over his lips as he tried to speak. “It pisses me off and pretty soon you won’t be able to fit a shirt over your head because it’ll be full of hot air.”

Dean was a bit shocked by Ana’s anger. Did she have to say it in such a harsh way? A groan brought Ana back to reality and she turned partially around to see Sam and Sara moving around on the bed before stilling. Rolling back over to face Dean she glared at him. “Go to bed.” She told him.

“Ana, I-“

“Go. To. Bed.” She stated, each word being emphasized as she rolled over, her back once more facing him. There was no room for argument in those three words and Dean didn’t want to piss Ana off even more than she was already. God, how could he screw things up so badly? Sighing he rolled over on to his side, following Ana’s order and going to bed.

Sam groaned as he woke up, rolling onto his side to see Dean was already awake, the girls still sleeping. “You okay?” He mumbled out to his brother, as he sat up, feet touching the cool floor boards. Dean looked up from the chair he had been sitting in. “Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking.”

“About?” Sam asked, sliding his pants on before pulling his shirt on over his head.

“Ana.” Dean replied, watching her as she slept.

“Oh.” Sam replied, clearing his throat. “I…Uh…Heard you two last night.” Scratching the back of his neck, Sam pulled his brother up from the chair. “We’ll discuss this over some coffee all right?”

“Coffee sounds wonderful.” Dean said, grabbing his jacket and the keys to the Impala.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, Dean backed the Impala out of their parking spot and headed back towards the diner that they had gone to the night before.

“So…” Sam said, trying to end the awkward silence between him and his brother. “You really pissed her off last night.”

“I know.” Dean groaned.

“Well what do you plan to do about it?” Sam asked, eyeing his brother who was staring intently at the road ahead of him.

“I don’t know man, usually chicks dig me. I’ve never had to deal with this type of problem before.”

“Yeah, well you’re not used to serious relationships like this either. The longest relationship you ever had been with…” Sam cut his sentence short, forgetting that Dean and Cassie had had a somewhat serious relationship. It had only lasted for a few weeks but in the time Dean had told her that he professionally popped ghosts and she had closed the door on him. She had thought what Dean had told her was an excuse that he didn’t want to date her anymore. When they met up a while later they had straightened things out for the most apart but Dean and him ended up having to leave shortly after.

Sam cleared his throat lightly, “So why all the talk about Cassie?” He asked, glancing down at the map in his lap before up at Dean.

“Because that’s where Dad is.” Dean said, pulling into the parking lot of the Diner.

Sam scoffed, shaking his head lightly. “You serious?” Dean nodded, not saying a word as he turned the Impala off and climbed out of the car followed by Sam. Both boys headed inside to the counter of the small diner and rested against it.

“Can I help you?” A female voice asked and they turned around in unison to see the waitress from last night. Dean groaned and turned back around, sliding his hand down his face in aggravation. The girl looked confused, as if she weren’t sure what to do, but Sam cleared his throat and came to the rescue. The girl turned her focus to him, jotting down his order of three coffees, one plain black, and one hot chocolate and then leaving.

“You know I don’t get it.” Sam said, turning back to his brother after he finished speaking to the waitress.

“Get what?” Dean asked, glancing at his brother.

“Why would Dad be in Chicago and why would he want us to go there? Doesn’t he know Cassie lives there?”

“I don’t know Sammy.” Dean stated, grabbing his coffee and handing Sam the tray of the other three drinks before walking away, leaving Sam with the bill.

Sam hurried after Dean into the car, shutting the door as he slid into vehicle. Immediately, he turned to face the older sibling. “First of all, it’s Sam. Secondly, if Dad’s there, you think the Demon is there too? I mean, do we know anything about what he’s doing up there?” Sam looked at Dean intently, not noticing the tenseness of his jaw.

“Sam!” Dean burst, “Stop asking things I don’t know the answers too, all right?! Just…Stop.” Sometimes Dean wished Sam wasn’t so much like a bull dog, never letting go of a subject. Instead the Winchester tended to thrash until he had ripped it to shreds. Sam sighed but followed his brother’s instructions and rested his forehead against the side window as the hotel came into view.

Ana woke when the boys came charging through the door, the smell of coffee hitting her nose and instantly waking her up. Sitting up she groaned lightly, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she took the offered coffee from Sam. “Morning boys,” She grumbled, glancing at Dean before taking a sip of her coffee slowly. Sam passed a worried glance to Sara as he noticed Ana’s intense stare at his older brother. Before Ana could open her mouth though, Dean sighed and spoke first. “Can we talk outside?”

Blinking, Ana nodded, slipping out of bed and following Dean outside. Closing the door behind her she rested against it, watching Dean do the same to a support beam for the small roof that was shielding them from rain that now began to fall around them. “What do you want to talk about?” She asked, taking another sip of her coffee. Steam rose from the opening.

“I’m sorry about last night all right? Flirting is something I’ve been doing for a long time, to just switch it off like that so quickly… It’s hard for me to do… But I’ll try.” Dean fumbled around for his words unsure how to put how he felt out there. Emotional release was not easy for him.

“That’s fine.” Ana said quietly, pushing off of the door. “I accept the awkward apology and I’m glad you understand how I feel. I’m glad you’ll try to stop for me. It means a lot to me.” They stared at each other for a few minutes, before Ana smiled and headed back inside.

Dean stood still, dumbfounded. Staring out at the downpour, he tried to figure out what just happen. Okay, he knew he would get her to come around eventually, but not as quickly as she did. For being so angry at him, the girl had caved rather quickly. Abruptly, he felt a surge of embarrassment as it finally clicked into place. She knew that he was struggling so she pitied him and decided to end his torture. Sympathy was not an emotion Dean cared for other people to show him. It made him feel weak, which a hunter should never-ever be according to the lessons that his Dad had drilled into his head. Letting out a whimper, he took a large gulp of the coffee, welcoming the burning sensation of the hot liquid.

“So I’m guessing by Ana’s smile, you two are good now?” Came a feminine voice from the doorway. Dean pushed off the beam, turning to look at Sara as she gently shut the door behind her. Winking at him, the girl sipped her hot chocolate. She had never been one for coffee, though, she wished she was. It could come in handy on those late nights in which she needed a little boost.

Dean dipped his head, the corner of his lips curving slightly. Eyeing the Styrofoam cup in her hand, he scrunched his nose in distaste. “How do you drink that stuff? It’s so…healthy for you.” He mocked, brow arching in question.

Sticking her tongue out, Sara rolled her eyes. “Hey, what can I say, I plan to live until one hundred-not die at thirty from a heart attack.” Chuckling, the girl took another slurp, patiently waiting for Dean to continue their banter.

“Oh sweet heart, I don’t plan anything. I’m one that likes to wing life, ride it by the horns and see if I can stay on till that bell rings.”

Sara’s grin grew with Dean’s. “Or become another tally on the list of dead bull riders….”

Frowning Dean thought about it a moment before answering with a cocky smirk, pure confidence glowing like a halo around his form. “I don’t think some dumb-ass animal could kill me when I’m this fine-especially when a Wendigo failed miserably at the task. So don’t worry, I’ll be around for a long time.” Or until this job finishes me off. This job is dangerous, and Dean did not doubt that someday, death will catch up with him.

Rolling her eyes, the girl yawned, an arm hugging her ribs under her chest. “Bulls aren’t dumb, no animal is.”

Now it was Dean’s turn to give his eyes a whirl. “No animal’s dumb? Come on, that’s why we’re the superior race here! You can’t believe that those things actually have brains? I mean, some of them do…like Lassie or Fido but, a mouse or something?” Shaking his head, he finished his coffee, giving Sara a nod before re-entering the hotel room.

As he shut the door, Dean scoffed, smiling to himself. “You know Sam, Sara gets more like you everyday. You to truly are a match.” Glancing over his shoulder, he glanced at Sam. The youth was sitting on the bed, flipping through the channels. His eyes did not stray from the screen as he replied to the older sibling.

“She is amazing isn’t she?” He spoke softly, causing Dean to put his hands up in a ‘stop’ signal.

“Wow, that’s more than I needed to know. Though, your right, geek and geek go perfectly together.” Pausing, Dean spun around, hands on either side of him now as if pointing to Sara on one side and then Sam on the other. “I mean, she eats healthy food and cares for everything living thing on this Earth and you eat just as stupidly and also have a heart that is too big for your body.” His hands wavered faintly before settling equally apart from one another before falling to his side lifelessly. Flashing a tooth-filled smile, Dean ducked as a pillow flew directly at his face. Standing back up, the man tilted his head. “Getting a little soft in your old age buddy,” He taunted, dodging another pillow.

“Stop it guys,” Ana interrupted as she stepped from the still steaming bathroom. Her hair was in a wet mop, dripping onto her fresh shirt. The boy’s had known she was in the shower but had forgotten about it in their playful teasing, both startling at her appearance. Towel drying her hair, the girl gave the two a stern look. Turning her scolding gaze on Dean, she hid a smile as the man took a hesitant step back. She was training him, though it would be a long time before she had him programmed correctly. “And don’t talk about Sam and Sara that way, it’s not nice.”

Sam crossed his arms, dipping his head in agreement. When Ana turned to him, the youth quickly cut it out, smiling weakly.

“Now, you boy’s play nice, I’ll be outside with Sara.” With that said, Ana left the two, stepping out of the room and into the gloomy outside.

Sara looked up to her, offering a small grin before turning to look out at the not-so-pretty scenery. A car’s tires splashed through a puddle as it smoothly turned into a spot between to others. Gravel crunched underneath the wheels mercilessly, a squeal emitting from the tires when they stopped. Still watching the new comer, Sara inquired, “How you holding up?”

Ana shrugged, her eyes also stuck on the middle aged man as he walked through the downpour.

Both girls’ were trained, watching and taking in everything around them. Having been with the boys for a couple years, they had learned, but were not as good as them and will never be. Sam and Dean had a life time, Sara and Ana only being in the loop for at most, three years. Silently, they inspected the unknown stranger. He didn’t seem to notice, quickly entering the hotel office, escaping the drops of cold water.

“He’s clean.” The girl’s said in unison, meeting each others eye before mentally taking down the license plate and going back inside. As Dean once had said, ‘nothing wrong with being cautious’.