Heaven Can Wait WIP
Special thank you to jellicle_freak who helped beta Missouri and to siberian_skys who did extra work on this chapter for me.
CHAPTER 7
Dean drove across town and to the familiar green house. Sure enough, the sign proclaiming “Missouri Mosley's Palm Reading” still hung above the porch door. He stepped out of his car in the fading light and knocked, hoping she wouldn't already be asleep.
He heard some shuffling and then a rumpled-looking, white-haired Missouri greeted him in a big fluffy robe.
“Hi, Missouri. Look, I know you don't know me but...”
“Dean Winchester. I was wondering when you'd be around.”
He stammered. “You...you know me?”
“Boy, it don't matter what you look like on the outside,” she said with a nod for him to come in, shutting the door behind him.
She ushered him into the living room still framed with the wood-beaded curtain. Almost everything was the same as he remembered from the last time they'd seen each other, a month before his death.
He smiled, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.
She batted him away, but he could see the small grin she was trying to cover. “Let me get a good look at you.”
He stood in the middle of the room as she circled him, looking him over from head to toe.
“I dare say you're even more handsome this time around.” She gave a pointed look at his hair, though, and he swept it back from his forehead. It was getting cut first thing tomorrow. “Sit, sit,” she gestured.
He sat and almost put his feet up, but paused at her look.
“And I see you haven't changed one bit either, Dean. Or...?”
He shifted. “I guess I'm Drew. Well, Andrew Bronson II, actually.”
She walked into her kitchen and came back out with a pot of tea. “The second, you say? Well, high class as it is, it suits you. Tell me, when did you remember?”
“Only tonight.”
“Tonight?” She laid a hand on his as she gave him a cup. “Ah, I see, yes.”
“What?”
“You see, I've been wondering when you'd remember. I knew right away when you died-Sam and your daddy came here for awhile after-and I knew again the minute you were born. It was then I knew you'd end up coming back, only I didn't know when or where you were. But, tell me, was it the house?”
“It seems to have been that, yeah. I mean, I've know Sam for over a year now but...well, as Drew, anyway.”
“Of course. You a student? One of Sam's?”
“I'm in his department, yeah. It's like...like I was drawn to him or something.”
“You were. We keep meeting the souls we're attached to, for better or worse, life after life. Your souls are connected-more strongly than most even. This happens with everyone. But you, you must have been real determined to get back.”
“I had to. I had to be with Sam. It's just...this wasn't how I expected it, you know?”
“God never does what we expect, honey. But sometimes, it turns out for the better. He knows what He's doing.”
“Only problem is, Sam doesn't believe me.”
“Boy, you gotta give him time! The man's set in his ways and he's been grieving for you for a long time.”
“It just,” he sighed, “it just seems with everything we've seen he would believe.”
Missouri took a sip of tea, then poured a bit more honey into it, clinking her spoon on the saucer. “Sometimes, the miracles are the hardest things to believe in.” She looked pointedly at him.
The reaper. He remembered telling Layla that Sam had enough faith for the both of them. “Guess it's my turn to have faith now, huh?”
She nodded. “Sam's going to need proof.”
He slid forward on the couch, gesturing in frustration. “I already told him I knew about Jess, the fire, how I died. No one else could know that. What else can I say?”
“Sam's a stubborn boy. It'll take more than words to convince him. He's gotta see you're Dean. You gotta show him.”
“How can I do that when I look like this?” He spread his hands at himself. “It's not like I can suddenly turn into Dean. Can I?” He looked up sharply.
Missouri shook her head sadly and he sank back into the couch. “No, it doesn't work like that. No matter what, you're still Drew.”
“God, I don't know what to do.” He felt his eyes beginning to brim. Dammit, he didn't want to cry.
“Boy, you stop that right now.” Putting her cup down abruptly, she stood, looming over him. “Sulking is not going to get Sam back. You just keep doing what you're doing. He'll come around”
“What I'm doing?” Dean asked.
Missouri shook her head. “Being Dean.”
She motioned for him to stand up, and once he did, she smacked him on the back of his head.
“Hey...”
“Don't make me get my spoon, boy. Use that brain God gave you. Now get on with you. I'm an old woman and I need my beauty rest. You get home and think of something. Don't worry, he'll come around, he's just afraid of feeling again.”
“You can't just tell him? Talk to him? He'd believe you.”
“If I'd told you your daddy came back and pointed at some random ten-year-old, would you believe me?”
He thought, then mumbled, “No, probably not.”
“Alright then. Shoo.”
Dean started down the steps, staring up at the starlight, wondering what his next move should be.
Missouri called after him, wrapping her robe tighter. “Dean, he already knows. You've just gotta get him to admit it to himself.”
Dean nodded. Then smiled. “Thanks, Missouri!” He kissed her cheek once more and ran back to his car, sure of his plan.