Class of '96 ch 5 (BtVS/Spn)
Class of '96 Ch 5
Nourbaby
Rating: T
word count this chapter: 3200
Summary: The unexpected happens ... and Dean faces people from his past.
Previous Chapters
In the hallway, Buffy cleared her mind. She told herself that she needed to stop drinking around Dean because obviously even the smallest amounts affected her judgment. Focus, Buffy, it's time to go slay the monster, she thought as she looked around the hall. Crap, she had taken the wrong door. Dean was surely going to make some crack about women and their terrible sense of direction or some sort of blonde joke. That would be good, she decided, then I can get mad and not think about how nice it was being in his arms. While trying to work up the appropriate amount of indignation, something on the wall caught her eye, forcing her to smile. There was Dean looking back at her from 1996. His expression nearly made her laugh out loud. How many times had she been on the receiving end of that annoyed glare?
Entering the hallway, Dean noticed it was decorated like the other hall. Copies of yearbook pages were taped up everywhere. "Hey," he called out softly.
Buffy turned to him with a smile like that of an excited teenager. "It's you."
"Yeah. We have to go back this way." He tilted his head back.
"No. I mean this picture. It's you in high school." Buffy turned back to the picture.
Dean cringed. He knew what else was on that paper. Just what he needed, Buffy to know that everyone thought he was a loser.
She turned back to 2006 Dean. "You were so cute!"
Dean's brows shot up. "I was not cute. I was -"
"Yes, you were. No wonder all those girls wanted to go to the janitor's closet with you." Buffy winked then looked back at the page. "Well, here you look annoyed, but seriously, what a hottie." She picked at the tape holding the page to the wall.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking this."
"What? No. Why?"
"I want a picture of you, and how many times have you given me that same look?"
Dean shrunk back, feeling worse than he had before. "Well, when you're done defacing the decorations, we should probably get to the basement."
"Right," Buffy carefully creased the page. "Thanks," she said cheerfully as she tore it in half, letting the half with the writing fall to the floor.
"Whatever," Dean smirked bitterly and looked away waiting for another taunt.
"I mean it," Buffy replied as Dean turned to walk away. "Dean, wait." He sighed and turned back. "I know you aren't having much fun and you were right, there were probably other ways we could have gotten in here."
Dean's brows shot up. "You think I was right about something? Remind me to circle the day on the calendar."
Buffy smirked at his sarcasm before taking a fortifying breath. "I'm not going to have a tenth reunion," she said quietly, earning Dean's full attention. "I kinda blew up my high school on graduation." Dean looked shocked. "demon," she clarified. "And even though the school was finally rebuilt, Sunnydale's a crater now." She made a face at Dean. "I don't think too many of us that survived high school would be willing risk a reunion."
Dean smiled a little. "So you thought you'd hijack mine, huh?"
"Well, at least I got a date this way." Realizing that could be taken the wrong way Buffy quickly added. "I mean, no one I know would want to go to a Sunnydale reunion."
Dean regarded her for a second. "Are you done with your John Hughes moment? 'Cause we still have to go stop this thing before it kills everyone here." He paused, "Well, I suppose we could wait a few minutes. Let it get rid of a couple the obnoxious... "
Buffy didn't let him finish. She chided him with, "Dean," and a small shake of her head.
Following him to the main hall, Buffy stopped at another yearbook picture, a poster sized blow up of the prom queen. The girl with the alluring smile was beautiful enough to make even Cordelia Chase feel insecure. Buffy froze when she saw the name, Laura Stengle. "That's Laura?" she blurted.
Dean stopped walking. "Yeah."
"She's gorgeous." Buffy began to hope they didn't run into this girl tonight.
"Yeah," he replied completely disinterested.
"She was your girlfriend?"
Dean rolled his eyes. He really wanted to get to the killing part of the evenings festivities. "For all of five minutes, until the novelty of the new guy wore off. Then she had her ex-boyfriend and four of his friends kick my ass." He paused for a beat. "Can we get to the 'stopping the monster' part now?" He didn't wait for her answer, but continued through the door returning to the main room.
Inside the main room, there appeared to be some sort of ceremony happening. The room was darkened and a spot light focused on the stage. Dean and Buffy froze momentarily in their way to the basement access. "Come on," Dean whispered taking Buffy's hand and leading her to the door.
Darren nudged Connie and nodded towards Dean and Buffy sneaking out the back door. "Some things never change," he whispered, making his wife laugh quietly.
From the stage a woman addressed the crowd. "Now we come to an award I can't wait to present: Most Unexpected Alumni Return." Many in the crowd began a quiet laugh as the woman opened the envelope. "Dean Winchester - as if that's a surprise." The audience began to applaud and many looked around, but Dean did not approach the stage. "Come on up here, Dean, and get your prize."
Darren stood up and spoke loudly enough for the room to hear. "Sorry, Laura, Dean and his girl took off already. Maybe next reunion you'll get your chance."
"Seriously?" Laura squinted into the crowd. She put the trophy back on the table. "All right everyone, check the janitor's closets and coat rooms. They couldn't have gotten far," she paused in thought as some laughed. "Wait, on second thought, keep your seats. Dean gets pretty far pretty fast. We don't want to interrupt anything."
A half hour later, Buffy watched in fascination as a pile of gray sludge oozed where the demon once stood. Dean turned to smirk an 'I told you so' at Buffy but his mouth went dry the moment he saw her. Her hair was tousled and her chest was rising and falling as she panted to catch her breath. Enchanted, every fiber of his being wanted to grab her and kiss her into next week, but he forced himself to look away before she caught him staring. Instead he mumbled, "You all right?"
Buffy turned to stare at him in awe. "Wow, yeah, I'm fine. That," she pointed to the ooze, "that was impressive."
"Glad you don't think I'm completely incompetent," he muttered tucking his gun away.
Buffy laughed to herself. Dean must have no idea how hot he looks when he's killing something with that gun, she thought. She let her eyes roam over him momentarily, then grinned before he noticed her checking him out. "So," a hopeful Buffy began, "wanna go back to the party?"
Dean was ready to snap out a quick 'no' until he saw her intoxicating smile. He let her expression drag a small smile out of him, but it didn't last. He remembered what was upstairs and his countenance fell. "No, I don't want to go back to the party."
He glanced down to avoid seeing her expression. "Look, Buffy, I get that you won't have a reunion and I'm sorry." Buffy opened her mouth to speak but Dean didn't let her. "Like I said before, you can stay. I'm sure there's cabs or Darren would -" He finally looked in Buffy's eyes and almost believed she looked disappointed. She nodded slowly and sighed. Taking a chance, Dean added, "Buffy, the only good thing about tonight, is how you look in that dress." Buffy eyes shot to his, stunned. "And, you know what? I'm willing to look at you in it anywhere but here."
Stupefied, Buffy mumbled, "I liked the dancing."
The relief Dean felt was palpable. He swallowed and felt a smile forming. "Well, we can dance anywhere, too. Hell, Buffy there's a radio in your room."
Dean stumbled back, catching Buffy as she nearly tackled him in a kiss. For a second he was stunned, then he became an equal participant in the kiss. He was pretty sure his heart was pounding hard enough for her to hear, but the fact that she was wrapped around him and kissing him like her life depended on it, made everything right.
When his fingers twined through Buffy's hair, tilting her head just ever so slightly, Buffy was sure she whimpered. His hand on her back pressed her closer to him and it was too much. She was sure she was about to combust. She drew back, placing smaller softer kisses against his lips until some of the urgency was calmed. They didn't speak. They just stared. Then, Buffy smiled, and Dean felt defenseless. He kissed her again, tenderly, gently. "Cake?" he whispered his guess at the flavor of her lip gloss.
Buffy giggled, sending Dean soaring."Frosting," she whispered in answer.
"I like it." he acknowledged going in for another kiss.
"I hoped you would," Buffy admitted against his lips. Slowly it dawned on her that she had just confessed to thinking about kissing Dean before they found themselves in that sub-basement, and she eased back. "Um.."
"What?" Dean noticed Buffy looked a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, yeah, let's get out of the basement." Putting his arm around her. "An oozing pile of demon carcass isn't exactly romantic, is it?'
Buffy rested her head against him as they walked. "Too bad you don't know of a janitor's closet nearby," she teased, grateful he wasn't calling her on her earlier admission.
"Second door on the right at the top of the first flight of stairs." Buffy was astonished at his answer. He smirked. "Come on, I told you I did research. One of us had to know the floor plans to this place if we hoped to find this part of the basement." Buffy chuckled and rolled her eyes. But her heart skipped a beat when he added, "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to try for some place better than a janitor's closet."
As they made their way through the reunion, Buffy suddenly tugged on Dean's hand. "My wrap, I forgot my wrap."
Dean brushed her cheek with his thumb and kissed her. "Go get it. I'll pull the car up."
Once Buffy had stepped away, Dean turned and found himself face to face with Laura. "Hey there, Dean," she purred.
"Laura, uh, hey," Dean stammered, completely at a loss for words to say to the one girl he had been hoping to avoid.
Laura smiled winningly. "You missed getting your trophy. Come with me." She took his hand and tried to lead him to the stage.
Dean took a step, then stood firm. "Trophy? You can keep it. I really don't want it."
Laura cocked a brow and regarded him. "You can't still be holding a grudge after all these years, Dean."
"I'm not."
"Good, because if anyone should still be mad, it's me."
Perplexed, Dean widened his eyes. "You? Why? Didn't Eric and his buddies kick my ass well enough for you? Take that up with him."
"I had nothing to do with that," Laura countered then she put her hands on her hips. "You don't remember why we broke up, do you?"
Dean's brows wrinkled in thought and guessed... "Prom song?"
"No, we broke up because I caught you coming out from under the bleachers with Heather." Dean looked lost. "My sister, Heather."
"Oh, yeah," Dean replied with a small laugh he quickly controlled. "How is Heather?"
Laura huffed again, but then shook her head in surrender. "Fine. She's married with one kid and another on the way." Laura smiled at him. "How are you? Still the bad boy? Or is that the girl that finally tamed Dean Winchester?" Laura asked, nodding towards Buffy.
Dean followed Laura's eyes to find Buffy talking to Connie. He surprisingly found himself missing Buffy. "Uh, something like that." Dean was about to say goodbye to Laura when he saw Mrs. Gamble from the corner of his eye. Remembering Laura was always the person in the know, Dean asked, "Why is Mrs. Gamble here?"
Laura wrinkled her nose. "It's weird, right? Given that she quit right before graduation and everything was so screwed up? I mean, I get that your husband leaving would be upsetting, but did she have to mess up all her school records?" Laura noticed that Dean was listening intently. "Anyway, she works here, now. She's the event manager or something." Laura shook her head at him in mild annoyance. "You would remember Mrs. Gamble but not my sister." Over Dean's shoulder, Laura saw Darren approaching with Connie and Buffy. "Well, I'll let you go, Dean. It was good to see you."
"Yeah, you, too," he responded though his eyes were still on Mrs. Gamble.
"Hey, Buffy says you're leaving," Darren spoke up, causing Dean to turn to them.
"It's up to her," Dean replied looking at Darren before letting his eyes fall on a surprised Buffy. He took her hand, pulled her to him, cupped her face and kissed her. "You decide what we'll do. I'll be right back." A confused Buffy watched as Dean approached the woman he had claimed his didn't know.
"Mrs. Gamble." Dean's voice was low and he spoke close to her ear.
"I knew you remembered me, Dean," the woman answered with a knowing smirk.
"Hard to forget someone as warped as you."
She pouted condescendingly. "Aw, Dean, do you -"
"I hated myself, knowing that you still worked with kids because I didn't do enough." The woman scowled as Dean bitterly continued. "I mean who would believe me. I was, what was that label you gave me? Sociopath? Yeah, that was it. And you, you were this savior for all these troubled kids. No one realized that none of us were being saved. That you just kept breaking us down. You had us by the short hairs, some of us, literally. Who would believe a kid like me over a saint like you?"
Mrs. Gamble pursed her lips and made to walk away, when Dean moved in front of her to stop her. His voice almost a growl, "You know who believed me? Your husband." Dean's eyes glinted cruelly and he leaned closer to the woman. "I told him what you did and he took those beautiful kids of yours and left, didn't he?"
Mrs. Gamble pushed Dean aside and tried to walk away, but Dean kept next to her. "He told the school about you, too. That's why you had to quit. I might not have had the proof they needed to fire your twisted ass, but I must have told your husband enough."
The woman glared maliciously."Get away from me, Winchester."
"With pleasure, bitch."
Buffy watched the scene with concern. She had only seen that look on Dean when he was dealing with a big bad evil thing that needed putting down. What had that woman done to deserve that malevolent glare? Buffy turned to ask Darren and Connie about the woman, but found them staring with just as much interest. "Who is that?" Buffy begged.
Darren shook his head slightly declining to answer, but Connie ignored him. "That's Mrs. Gamble. She was a guidance counselor that a lot of boys crushed on."
Darren watched Dean's anger reaching boiling. "Not Dean, though. Not any guy that was assigned to her, actually."
"She quit when these guys were seniors," Connie added, but before she could say anything more, Dean was approaching them.
Dean's anger melted when he saw Buffy's apprehensive gaze. "Is everything all right?" Buffy quietly asked her eyes filled with worry.
"Yeah," he nodded, "of course." He wondered why she would even look like she cared, let alone actually be concerned for him. Uncomfortable under her scrutiny, Dean shifted attention away from himself by asking, "Well, beautiful, did you decide what we're doing next?"
Buffy squinted at him, she recognized his defensive maneuver, but didn't want to push him. "Well, not exactly," she leaned into him, "but there will be dancing."
Dean fought his smile and stared at her lips as she spoke. "Whatever you say."
Connie watched the exchange with a raised brow. Something was definitely different from an hour ago. Darren was ignorant of any such change. "Well, we could hit that place over on Downer."
"Sure, man, sounds good," Dean replied but he was still staring at Buffy.
Connie put her hand on her husband's arm. "Or we could go back to the hotel." That got a look from both men. Connie blushed at Dean. "Look, Dean, it's great seeing you again. It really is. But, this is our first night without the baby, and we've got a hotel room and I don't want it to go to waste." Darren looked at his wife in pleasant shock.
"Baby?" Dean repeated in awe.
Buffy beamed at Connie. "Oh, do you have pictures?"
Connie smirked, "Of course." She pulled two pictures from her purse.
"Aww," Buffy fawned.
Dean made an approving face. "Who's the father?" Buffy smacked his arm. "Ow, what? The kid's cute. Can't be Darren's." Dean grinned at his friends as he returned the picture. "Congratulations, guys." Then he shook his head. "Married with kids, that's- wow."
"Just kid for now," Darren corrected. "Hey, wanna grab breakfast tomorrow?" He looked at his wife quickly as if he was asking for permission.
Connie just rolled her eyes. Then, she grabbed Dean in a hug. "You finally found a girl I don't hate," she whispered. Then she moved to Buffy and hugged her as well. "It was great meeting you, Buffy."
Once by themselves, Dean took Buffy's hand and led her to the dance floor. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"I thought you wanted to dance," Dean answered placing his hands on her hips and pulling her closer.
Buffy smiled coyly at him. "But I have a motel room, with a radio. I'd hate to have it go to waste."
Chapter 6
Nourbaby
Rating: T
word count this chapter: 3200
Summary: The unexpected happens ... and Dean faces people from his past.
Previous Chapters
In the hallway, Buffy cleared her mind. She told herself that she needed to stop drinking around Dean because obviously even the smallest amounts affected her judgment. Focus, Buffy, it's time to go slay the monster, she thought as she looked around the hall. Crap, she had taken the wrong door. Dean was surely going to make some crack about women and their terrible sense of direction or some sort of blonde joke. That would be good, she decided, then I can get mad and not think about how nice it was being in his arms. While trying to work up the appropriate amount of indignation, something on the wall caught her eye, forcing her to smile. There was Dean looking back at her from 1996. His expression nearly made her laugh out loud. How many times had she been on the receiving end of that annoyed glare?
Entering the hallway, Dean noticed it was decorated like the other hall. Copies of yearbook pages were taped up everywhere. "Hey," he called out softly.
Buffy turned to him with a smile like that of an excited teenager. "It's you."
"Yeah. We have to go back this way." He tilted his head back.
"No. I mean this picture. It's you in high school." Buffy turned back to the picture.
Dean cringed. He knew what else was on that paper. Just what he needed, Buffy to know that everyone thought he was a loser.
She turned back to 2006 Dean. "You were so cute!"
Dean's brows shot up. "I was not cute. I was -"
"Yes, you were. No wonder all those girls wanted to go to the janitor's closet with you." Buffy winked then looked back at the page. "Well, here you look annoyed, but seriously, what a hottie." She picked at the tape holding the page to the wall.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking this."
"What? No. Why?"
"I want a picture of you, and how many times have you given me that same look?"
Dean shrunk back, feeling worse than he had before. "Well, when you're done defacing the decorations, we should probably get to the basement."
"Right," Buffy carefully creased the page. "Thanks," she said cheerfully as she tore it in half, letting the half with the writing fall to the floor.
"Whatever," Dean smirked bitterly and looked away waiting for another taunt.
"I mean it," Buffy replied as Dean turned to walk away. "Dean, wait." He sighed and turned back. "I know you aren't having much fun and you were right, there were probably other ways we could have gotten in here."
Dean's brows shot up. "You think I was right about something? Remind me to circle the day on the calendar."
Buffy smirked at his sarcasm before taking a fortifying breath. "I'm not going to have a tenth reunion," she said quietly, earning Dean's full attention. "I kinda blew up my high school on graduation." Dean looked shocked. "demon," she clarified. "And even though the school was finally rebuilt, Sunnydale's a crater now." She made a face at Dean. "I don't think too many of us that survived high school would be willing risk a reunion."
Dean smiled a little. "So you thought you'd hijack mine, huh?"
"Well, at least I got a date this way." Realizing that could be taken the wrong way Buffy quickly added. "I mean, no one I know would want to go to a Sunnydale reunion."
Dean regarded her for a second. "Are you done with your John Hughes moment? 'Cause we still have to go stop this thing before it kills everyone here." He paused, "Well, I suppose we could wait a few minutes. Let it get rid of a couple the obnoxious... "
Buffy didn't let him finish. She chided him with, "Dean," and a small shake of her head.
Following him to the main hall, Buffy stopped at another yearbook picture, a poster sized blow up of the prom queen. The girl with the alluring smile was beautiful enough to make even Cordelia Chase feel insecure. Buffy froze when she saw the name, Laura Stengle. "That's Laura?" she blurted.
Dean stopped walking. "Yeah."
"She's gorgeous." Buffy began to hope they didn't run into this girl tonight.
"Yeah," he replied completely disinterested.
"She was your girlfriend?"
Dean rolled his eyes. He really wanted to get to the killing part of the evenings festivities. "For all of five minutes, until the novelty of the new guy wore off. Then she had her ex-boyfriend and four of his friends kick my ass." He paused for a beat. "Can we get to the 'stopping the monster' part now?" He didn't wait for her answer, but continued through the door returning to the main room.
Inside the main room, there appeared to be some sort of ceremony happening. The room was darkened and a spot light focused on the stage. Dean and Buffy froze momentarily in their way to the basement access. "Come on," Dean whispered taking Buffy's hand and leading her to the door.
Darren nudged Connie and nodded towards Dean and Buffy sneaking out the back door. "Some things never change," he whispered, making his wife laugh quietly.
From the stage a woman addressed the crowd. "Now we come to an award I can't wait to present: Most Unexpected Alumni Return." Many in the crowd began a quiet laugh as the woman opened the envelope. "Dean Winchester - as if that's a surprise." The audience began to applaud and many looked around, but Dean did not approach the stage. "Come on up here, Dean, and get your prize."
Darren stood up and spoke loudly enough for the room to hear. "Sorry, Laura, Dean and his girl took off already. Maybe next reunion you'll get your chance."
"Seriously?" Laura squinted into the crowd. She put the trophy back on the table. "All right everyone, check the janitor's closets and coat rooms. They couldn't have gotten far," she paused in thought as some laughed. "Wait, on second thought, keep your seats. Dean gets pretty far pretty fast. We don't want to interrupt anything."
A half hour later, Buffy watched in fascination as a pile of gray sludge oozed where the demon once stood. Dean turned to smirk an 'I told you so' at Buffy but his mouth went dry the moment he saw her. Her hair was tousled and her chest was rising and falling as she panted to catch her breath. Enchanted, every fiber of his being wanted to grab her and kiss her into next week, but he forced himself to look away before she caught him staring. Instead he mumbled, "You all right?"
Buffy turned to stare at him in awe. "Wow, yeah, I'm fine. That," she pointed to the ooze, "that was impressive."
"Glad you don't think I'm completely incompetent," he muttered tucking his gun away.
Buffy laughed to herself. Dean must have no idea how hot he looks when he's killing something with that gun, she thought. She let her eyes roam over him momentarily, then grinned before he noticed her checking him out. "So," a hopeful Buffy began, "wanna go back to the party?"
Dean was ready to snap out a quick 'no' until he saw her intoxicating smile. He let her expression drag a small smile out of him, but it didn't last. He remembered what was upstairs and his countenance fell. "No, I don't want to go back to the party."
He glanced down to avoid seeing her expression. "Look, Buffy, I get that you won't have a reunion and I'm sorry." Buffy opened her mouth to speak but Dean didn't let her. "Like I said before, you can stay. I'm sure there's cabs or Darren would -" He finally looked in Buffy's eyes and almost believed she looked disappointed. She nodded slowly and sighed. Taking a chance, Dean added, "Buffy, the only good thing about tonight, is how you look in that dress." Buffy eyes shot to his, stunned. "And, you know what? I'm willing to look at you in it anywhere but here."
Stupefied, Buffy mumbled, "I liked the dancing."
The relief Dean felt was palpable. He swallowed and felt a smile forming. "Well, we can dance anywhere, too. Hell, Buffy there's a radio in your room."
Dean stumbled back, catching Buffy as she nearly tackled him in a kiss. For a second he was stunned, then he became an equal participant in the kiss. He was pretty sure his heart was pounding hard enough for her to hear, but the fact that she was wrapped around him and kissing him like her life depended on it, made everything right.
When his fingers twined through Buffy's hair, tilting her head just ever so slightly, Buffy was sure she whimpered. His hand on her back pressed her closer to him and it was too much. She was sure she was about to combust. She drew back, placing smaller softer kisses against his lips until some of the urgency was calmed. They didn't speak. They just stared. Then, Buffy smiled, and Dean felt defenseless. He kissed her again, tenderly, gently. "Cake?" he whispered his guess at the flavor of her lip gloss.
Buffy giggled, sending Dean soaring."Frosting," she whispered in answer.
"I like it." he acknowledged going in for another kiss.
"I hoped you would," Buffy admitted against his lips. Slowly it dawned on her that she had just confessed to thinking about kissing Dean before they found themselves in that sub-basement, and she eased back. "Um.."
"What?" Dean noticed Buffy looked a bit uncomfortable. "Oh, yeah, let's get out of the basement." Putting his arm around her. "An oozing pile of demon carcass isn't exactly romantic, is it?'
Buffy rested her head against him as they walked. "Too bad you don't know of a janitor's closet nearby," she teased, grateful he wasn't calling her on her earlier admission.
"Second door on the right at the top of the first flight of stairs." Buffy was astonished at his answer. He smirked. "Come on, I told you I did research. One of us had to know the floor plans to this place if we hoped to find this part of the basement." Buffy chuckled and rolled her eyes. But her heart skipped a beat when he added, "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to try for some place better than a janitor's closet."
As they made their way through the reunion, Buffy suddenly tugged on Dean's hand. "My wrap, I forgot my wrap."
Dean brushed her cheek with his thumb and kissed her. "Go get it. I'll pull the car up."
Once Buffy had stepped away, Dean turned and found himself face to face with Laura. "Hey there, Dean," she purred.
"Laura, uh, hey," Dean stammered, completely at a loss for words to say to the one girl he had been hoping to avoid.
Laura smiled winningly. "You missed getting your trophy. Come with me." She took his hand and tried to lead him to the stage.
Dean took a step, then stood firm. "Trophy? You can keep it. I really don't want it."
Laura cocked a brow and regarded him. "You can't still be holding a grudge after all these years, Dean."
"I'm not."
"Good, because if anyone should still be mad, it's me."
Perplexed, Dean widened his eyes. "You? Why? Didn't Eric and his buddies kick my ass well enough for you? Take that up with him."
"I had nothing to do with that," Laura countered then she put her hands on her hips. "You don't remember why we broke up, do you?"
Dean's brows wrinkled in thought and guessed... "Prom song?"
"No, we broke up because I caught you coming out from under the bleachers with Heather." Dean looked lost. "My sister, Heather."
"Oh, yeah," Dean replied with a small laugh he quickly controlled. "How is Heather?"
Laura huffed again, but then shook her head in surrender. "Fine. She's married with one kid and another on the way." Laura smiled at him. "How are you? Still the bad boy? Or is that the girl that finally tamed Dean Winchester?" Laura asked, nodding towards Buffy.
Dean followed Laura's eyes to find Buffy talking to Connie. He surprisingly found himself missing Buffy. "Uh, something like that." Dean was about to say goodbye to Laura when he saw Mrs. Gamble from the corner of his eye. Remembering Laura was always the person in the know, Dean asked, "Why is Mrs. Gamble here?"
Laura wrinkled her nose. "It's weird, right? Given that she quit right before graduation and everything was so screwed up? I mean, I get that your husband leaving would be upsetting, but did she have to mess up all her school records?" Laura noticed that Dean was listening intently. "Anyway, she works here, now. She's the event manager or something." Laura shook her head at him in mild annoyance. "You would remember Mrs. Gamble but not my sister." Over Dean's shoulder, Laura saw Darren approaching with Connie and Buffy. "Well, I'll let you go, Dean. It was good to see you."
"Yeah, you, too," he responded though his eyes were still on Mrs. Gamble.
"Hey, Buffy says you're leaving," Darren spoke up, causing Dean to turn to them.
"It's up to her," Dean replied looking at Darren before letting his eyes fall on a surprised Buffy. He took her hand, pulled her to him, cupped her face and kissed her. "You decide what we'll do. I'll be right back." A confused Buffy watched as Dean approached the woman he had claimed his didn't know.
"Mrs. Gamble." Dean's voice was low and he spoke close to her ear.
"I knew you remembered me, Dean," the woman answered with a knowing smirk.
"Hard to forget someone as warped as you."
She pouted condescendingly. "Aw, Dean, do you -"
"I hated myself, knowing that you still worked with kids because I didn't do enough." The woman scowled as Dean bitterly continued. "I mean who would believe me. I was, what was that label you gave me? Sociopath? Yeah, that was it. And you, you were this savior for all these troubled kids. No one realized that none of us were being saved. That you just kept breaking us down. You had us by the short hairs, some of us, literally. Who would believe a kid like me over a saint like you?"
Mrs. Gamble pursed her lips and made to walk away, when Dean moved in front of her to stop her. His voice almost a growl, "You know who believed me? Your husband." Dean's eyes glinted cruelly and he leaned closer to the woman. "I told him what you did and he took those beautiful kids of yours and left, didn't he?"
Mrs. Gamble pushed Dean aside and tried to walk away, but Dean kept next to her. "He told the school about you, too. That's why you had to quit. I might not have had the proof they needed to fire your twisted ass, but I must have told your husband enough."
The woman glared maliciously."Get away from me, Winchester."
"With pleasure, bitch."
Buffy watched the scene with concern. She had only seen that look on Dean when he was dealing with a big bad evil thing that needed putting down. What had that woman done to deserve that malevolent glare? Buffy turned to ask Darren and Connie about the woman, but found them staring with just as much interest. "Who is that?" Buffy begged.
Darren shook his head slightly declining to answer, but Connie ignored him. "That's Mrs. Gamble. She was a guidance counselor that a lot of boys crushed on."
Darren watched Dean's anger reaching boiling. "Not Dean, though. Not any guy that was assigned to her, actually."
"She quit when these guys were seniors," Connie added, but before she could say anything more, Dean was approaching them.
Dean's anger melted when he saw Buffy's apprehensive gaze. "Is everything all right?" Buffy quietly asked her eyes filled with worry.
"Yeah," he nodded, "of course." He wondered why she would even look like she cared, let alone actually be concerned for him. Uncomfortable under her scrutiny, Dean shifted attention away from himself by asking, "Well, beautiful, did you decide what we're doing next?"
Buffy squinted at him, she recognized his defensive maneuver, but didn't want to push him. "Well, not exactly," she leaned into him, "but there will be dancing."
Dean fought his smile and stared at her lips as she spoke. "Whatever you say."
Connie watched the exchange with a raised brow. Something was definitely different from an hour ago. Darren was ignorant of any such change. "Well, we could hit that place over on Downer."
"Sure, man, sounds good," Dean replied but he was still staring at Buffy.
Connie put her hand on her husband's arm. "Or we could go back to the hotel." That got a look from both men. Connie blushed at Dean. "Look, Dean, it's great seeing you again. It really is. But, this is our first night without the baby, and we've got a hotel room and I don't want it to go to waste." Darren looked at his wife in pleasant shock.
"Baby?" Dean repeated in awe.
Buffy beamed at Connie. "Oh, do you have pictures?"
Connie smirked, "Of course." She pulled two pictures from her purse.
"Aww," Buffy fawned.
Dean made an approving face. "Who's the father?" Buffy smacked his arm. "Ow, what? The kid's cute. Can't be Darren's." Dean grinned at his friends as he returned the picture. "Congratulations, guys." Then he shook his head. "Married with kids, that's- wow."
"Just kid for now," Darren corrected. "Hey, wanna grab breakfast tomorrow?" He looked at his wife quickly as if he was asking for permission.
Connie just rolled her eyes. Then, she grabbed Dean in a hug. "You finally found a girl I don't hate," she whispered. Then she moved to Buffy and hugged her as well. "It was great meeting you, Buffy."
Once by themselves, Dean took Buffy's hand and led her to the dance floor. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"I thought you wanted to dance," Dean answered placing his hands on her hips and pulling her closer.
Buffy smiled coyly at him. "But I have a motel room, with a radio. I'd hate to have it go to waste."
Chapter 6