"November Rain and Lightning Crashes" 10
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November Rain and Lightning Crashes
Continued from 9
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10
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Road Trip, Day Two
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"Dude - there IS no rattle. I'm telling you. I didn't hear a thing."
Dean looked up from under the open hood. "Hey, I know my Baby, okay?" He hunched over the engine again. "Think her carb's out of tune, maybe." he muttered, more to himself.
Sam sighed. "Dean - we checked and double checked every square inch of this car before we left. Everything was perfect."
Dean just grunted.
"Maybe his head's rattling." Mary helpfully pointed out from beside the road.
Sam gestured at her, the look on his face clearly saying 'she's got a point'.
"Bite me." Dean said flatly.
Sam frowned. "Isn't that usually Sue's job?"
Mary whooped, applauding. She nudged Sue with her elbow. Sue just grunted, too - sounding very much like Dean.
Sam raised his eyebrows. "Wow - looks like we've got two grumps on our hands today."
"Lack of sleep does that." Sue mumbled, chin resting on her hand.
Mary pulled a face. "Uh, yeah - we heard."
Dean's head popped out from under the hood again. "Y'know, you two ladies could make yourself useful."
Sam snorted. "What - you want Sue to come bite you?"
Mary chuckled. "Yeah, 'cause...I mean, what the heck d'you want us to do?"
"I dunno - something other than sitting there looking pretty, and teaming up with my little brother to annoy me."
"I didn't do anything." Sue mumbled again.
Mary suddenly reached out a hand in front of her, towards the car. "Just...lemme see...if my magical, car-healing-powers are working...today..." She squinted, wriggling her fingers at the Impala.
Sam grinned at her. Dean just shook his head.
Mary dropped her hand. "Nope. Sorry. You're on your own."
Sometime later, they were finally on the road again. Dean grinned broadly, stepping on the gas. "Hear that?Purring like a kitten." He lovingly patted the dash. "That's my Baby."
Sam rolled his eyes. "I think Sue's got reason to be jealous."
Mary chuckled.
Sue heard nothing. She was asleep.
*
The day had started out really well - everyone joking and being playful. Though when Sue woke up, the first thing she saw, was Mary.
Mary, with that by now all too familiar, sad and lonely look on her face, staring out the window.
In the front, Dean and Sam were talking. Sam laughed at something. Sue carefully watched the way Mary's face softened at the sound, almost smiling. But then she frowned, her eyes going distant once more.
Sue straightened up, and patted Dean on his shoulder. He grinned at her in the rear-view, and her heart squeezed painfully. If only Sam could look at Mary like THAT, she thought vaguely.
"When are we stopping? I'm hungry."
Sam chuckled. "You're REALLY starting to sound more and more like him."
Dean smiled proudly. "What can I say? Can't help I'm so awesome."
Sue rolled her eyes. "Hello?"
Dean nodded at Sam. Sam took a map from the dashboard, unfolding it. He scanned it for a few minutes, then checked his watch. "We aught to be in the next town...in about fifteen, twenty minutes? It's almost sundown, so..."
"Just in time for dinner." Dean told Sue brightly over his shoulder.
She flicked his ear in response.
Dean grabbed her hand, and tried to bite her finger. In retaliation, Sue pulled his hair with her other hand.
"Hey - driving, here!" Dean protested, grabbing the steering-wheel with both hands to steady the car.
"Well, that'll teach you to try and bite me when you're driving, idiot." Sue couldn't keep the smile off her face, however. She glanced at Mary as she settled back into the seat. Her smile fled.
Mary had sat wordlessly through the whole exchange, still looking gloomy.
Sam was sitting sideways in the seat, facing Dean as they continued talking. He, too, glanced at Mary. Sue noticed the worried frown on his face as he did so.
She wished she could lean forward and smack him against the head - and to tell him to get a clue, already.
*
"Oh goody - more diner food." Mary announced, sounding unimpressed, as Dean pulled the Impala into the parking lot of said diner.
He looked at Mary over his shoulder. "Get use to it, Grumpy. We're on a road-trip - diner food's the norm, now."
Mary just grunted. Sue nudged her out of the car. She complied very reluctantly.
Once inside the diner, Sue and Mary slid in next to each other into a booth, Sam and Dean opposite them.
Sue cringed as a waitress sauntered over, single-minded intent plastered all over her features. She leaned over, showing off cleavage as she placed menus on their table. Her eyes were fixed on Sam.
She smiled. "Y'all holler at me when you're ready to order, 'kay?" She gave Sam a wink, straightening up. Walking away, she swayed her hips suggestively.
"Thanks." Sue said loudly, voice dripping sarcasm.
Dean grinned, nudging his brother. "Dude - she wants you." He yelped in shock, leaning down to rub his shin as Sue landed a kick to it. "Ouch - what was that for?!"
"Behave, Neanderthal."
"Hey, it's not my ass she wants."
Sam couldn't look more embarrassed.
Mary just sunk lower into the seat, looking like she wanted to curl into herself. Great, Sue thought - just wonderful. As if Mary's mood hadn't been bad enough already.
A few minutes later, Dean beckoned the waitress over to take their orders. "So - what can I get y'all?"
"Another waitress would be nice." Sue muttered.
Mary snorted.
The waitress looked at them like they were something the cat dragged in. Sue relayed her and Mary's order with a bright smile.
"I'd check my food, if I were you two." Dean advised once the waitress had left.
Sue tutted irritably. "Please. She's being a bitch. Pretending like me and Mary are invisible. Slut." she added under her breath.
Dean just shook his head.
Mary's spirits seemed to lift a little, as Sue started making quiet suggestions for how they could sabotage the waitress.
"Hey - trip her when she comes by with someone else's order. Holding a tray. That'd be funny - watch her go splat."
"Who's not behaving now? Don't make ME kick YOU." Dean said warningly.
Mary rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't actually do it, Dean. Jeez, what d'you think of me?"
"Yeah - good thing YOU'RE sitting by the aisle."
Sue narrowed her eyes at him.
Sam smirked. "Someone's not getting any, tonight." he muttered.
Dean suddenly looked a little worried. He glanced at Sue, and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'll buy you dessert?"
This time Sam chuckled. "Yeah, so he can get his later."
"Oh, my God." Mary mumbled, looking a little ill at the current discussion.
Dean elbowed Sam. "You're one to talk, altar-boy. I don't see you 'getting any' anytime soon, by the way you ignore it when it's practically being served up on a platter." He grinned, "No pun intended."
Sam shrugged. "She's not my type."
Dean frowned. "Do you even have a 'type', little bro?"
"I'll know it when I see it." Sam said mysteriously.
Sue and Mary shared a look, both making unimpressed faces. "There's too much testosterone at this table, me-thinks." Mary said.
Sue nodded. "Too true."
It was a relief when their food finally arrived - brought by a different waitress this time.
"Aww - you scared her off." Dean said. Neither he nor Sam seemed to mind much, though.
Mary picked at her salad disinterestedly. Sue noticed Sam watching Mary very carefully the whole time. He frowned, when Mary wordlessly pushed her plate towards Dean, who took it up with a shrug.
"Mare? Is that all you're gonna eat?" Sam asked with concern.
Mary nodded, not looking at him.
"Are you sure? I mean, we hardly had lunch this afternoon..."
"I'm sure, okay?" she snapped at him, a little loudly.
The concern on Sam's face only increased, though. Mary shook her head, smiling wryly. "Whatever. I'm going outside."
She got up and left the diner.
*
"Hey."
Mary didn't turn to face Sam as she returned the greeting. "Hey."
There was a moment's silence. "You know I'm here to bug you, right?" Sam's voice had a hint of playfulness in it.
Mary sighed. "When don't you bug me?"
Sam smiled a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, well.." he shrugged. He settled in to lean against the Impala beside her.
"What's going on, Mare? Really?"
Mary still didn't look at him. "No idea what you mean. There's nothing going on." From the corner of her eye, she saw Sam shaking his head.
After another moment's silence, Sam spoke again, his voice quiet. "It's just...the Mary I remember always use to say that she hated people who'd want to change her - hated people who wanna change each other. So...why'd you go and change so much?"
Mary finally looked at him, giving him an incredulous glare. "I just lost some weight! What's the big deal?!"
Sam shook his head again. "It's not just that. I don't understand why you felt you...had to."
Mary took a breath, trying to keep herself from getting angry. "Look - I didn't do it for anyone else, okay? I did it for me. You can understand that, right?"
Sam paused before answering. "Yeah, I do, but...you use to be happy, right? You always looked happy. You were funny - great to be around. Now...now it just looks like you're sad, all the time."
Mary sighed again, looking out across the parking lot once more. "Yeah, well - that's 'cause it didn't work."
Sam frowned. "What d'you mean? What didn't work?"
"I did it for me..." Mary began quietly - against her better judgement. She didn't know WHY she was telling him this, "...'cause I wanted to be...better. But...it didn't work. I'm still not...good enough, so..." she shrugged again, looking sad.
Sam watched her for several seconds, his face concerned. "What are you talking about, Mare? Good enough for what? There's nothing wrong with you."
Mary snorted. "Yeah, right." she mumbled.
Sam took hold of her arm, and turned her to face him. "Mare, hey - don't you dare you bring yourself down. You're wonderful. There's no reason for you to change anything about yourself."
Mary watched him, the fierce look in his eyes as he tried to convince her. It broke her heart just a little bit more. She pulled her arm out of his grip. "You wouldn't get it. I don't expect you to, so just...drop it."
"No - no way. I'm not gonna stand by and let you bad-mouth yourself. What's gotten into you? You were never like this."
Mary just shrugged again.
Sam sighed. "Mare, c'mon - I'll keep saying it - there's NOTHING wrong with you. You're perfect just the way you are."
"I have a mirror, thanks."
Sam gave her a look - a stern, almost warning glare. "Now that's just crap, and you know it..." he started, but Mary forestalled him.
"No, it's not - and don't even TRY and give me that whole 'it's what's on the inside that counts' shit, either. 'Cause that's honestly just an insult."
Sam was staring at her like he didn't know what to say anymore. After a while he ran a hand through his hair, and shook his head. "This is what I mean - three years ago we would not be having this conversation."
"Three years ago you left." Mary stated bitterly, not looking at him.
There was tense silence before Sam spoke again. "But I came back, 'cause I care about you guys too much to stay away anymore."
"Didn't give you the right to expect everything to stay exactly the way it was before you left."
That seemed to deflate Sam a bit. He lowered his head. "No, I guess not. But I didn't want...THIS. I want you to be happy. I want us to be friends, the way we use to be."
When he said the word 'friends', Mary felt another stab through her heart. She physically flinched from the pain of it. Looking at Sam, she gave him a sad smile. "We are still friends, though - aren't we?"
Sam returned her smile. "Of course we are." He moved closer to her. "And that's why I want you to be okay."
Mary wiped a stray tear from her face. " I AM okay. Just...I want you to trust me, alright? Get off my case about my eating habits, and crap like that. I know what I'm doing. I won't go too far and become anorexic, for God's sake. You know me - I'm not THAT stupid. Give me a little credit?"
Sam nodded, although he still looked a little troubled. Then he pulled Mary into a tight hug. To Mary, it just felt like her heart couldn't take much more breaking.
* * *
TBC...
November Rain and Lightning Crashes
Continued from 9
* * * * *
10
* * *
Road Trip, Day Two
* * *
"Dude - there IS no rattle. I'm telling you. I didn't hear a thing."
Dean looked up from under the open hood. "Hey, I know my Baby, okay?" He hunched over the engine again. "Think her carb's out of tune, maybe." he muttered, more to himself.
Sam sighed. "Dean - we checked and double checked every square inch of this car before we left. Everything was perfect."
Dean just grunted.
"Maybe his head's rattling." Mary helpfully pointed out from beside the road.
Sam gestured at her, the look on his face clearly saying 'she's got a point'.
"Bite me." Dean said flatly.
Sam frowned. "Isn't that usually Sue's job?"
Mary whooped, applauding. She nudged Sue with her elbow. Sue just grunted, too - sounding very much like Dean.
Sam raised his eyebrows. "Wow - looks like we've got two grumps on our hands today."
"Lack of sleep does that." Sue mumbled, chin resting on her hand.
Mary pulled a face. "Uh, yeah - we heard."
Dean's head popped out from under the hood again. "Y'know, you two ladies could make yourself useful."
Sam snorted. "What - you want Sue to come bite you?"
Mary chuckled. "Yeah, 'cause...I mean, what the heck d'you want us to do?"
"I dunno - something other than sitting there looking pretty, and teaming up with my little brother to annoy me."
"I didn't do anything." Sue mumbled again.
Mary suddenly reached out a hand in front of her, towards the car. "Just...lemme see...if my magical, car-healing-powers are working...today..." She squinted, wriggling her fingers at the Impala.
Sam grinned at her. Dean just shook his head.
Mary dropped her hand. "Nope. Sorry. You're on your own."
Sometime later, they were finally on the road again. Dean grinned broadly, stepping on the gas. "Hear that?Purring like a kitten." He lovingly patted the dash. "That's my Baby."
Sam rolled his eyes. "I think Sue's got reason to be jealous."
Mary chuckled.
Sue heard nothing. She was asleep.
*
The day had started out really well - everyone joking and being playful. Though when Sue woke up, the first thing she saw, was Mary.
Mary, with that by now all too familiar, sad and lonely look on her face, staring out the window.
In the front, Dean and Sam were talking. Sam laughed at something. Sue carefully watched the way Mary's face softened at the sound, almost smiling. But then she frowned, her eyes going distant once more.
Sue straightened up, and patted Dean on his shoulder. He grinned at her in the rear-view, and her heart squeezed painfully. If only Sam could look at Mary like THAT, she thought vaguely.
"When are we stopping? I'm hungry."
Sam chuckled. "You're REALLY starting to sound more and more like him."
Dean smiled proudly. "What can I say? Can't help I'm so awesome."
Sue rolled her eyes. "Hello?"
Dean nodded at Sam. Sam took a map from the dashboard, unfolding it. He scanned it for a few minutes, then checked his watch. "We aught to be in the next town...in about fifteen, twenty minutes? It's almost sundown, so..."
"Just in time for dinner." Dean told Sue brightly over his shoulder.
She flicked his ear in response.
Dean grabbed her hand, and tried to bite her finger. In retaliation, Sue pulled his hair with her other hand.
"Hey - driving, here!" Dean protested, grabbing the steering-wheel with both hands to steady the car.
"Well, that'll teach you to try and bite me when you're driving, idiot." Sue couldn't keep the smile off her face, however. She glanced at Mary as she settled back into the seat. Her smile fled.
Mary had sat wordlessly through the whole exchange, still looking gloomy.
Sam was sitting sideways in the seat, facing Dean as they continued talking. He, too, glanced at Mary. Sue noticed the worried frown on his face as he did so.
She wished she could lean forward and smack him against the head - and to tell him to get a clue, already.
*
"Oh goody - more diner food." Mary announced, sounding unimpressed, as Dean pulled the Impala into the parking lot of said diner.
He looked at Mary over his shoulder. "Get use to it, Grumpy. We're on a road-trip - diner food's the norm, now."
Mary just grunted. Sue nudged her out of the car. She complied very reluctantly.
Once inside the diner, Sue and Mary slid in next to each other into a booth, Sam and Dean opposite them.
Sue cringed as a waitress sauntered over, single-minded intent plastered all over her features. She leaned over, showing off cleavage as she placed menus on their table. Her eyes were fixed on Sam.
She smiled. "Y'all holler at me when you're ready to order, 'kay?" She gave Sam a wink, straightening up. Walking away, she swayed her hips suggestively.
"Thanks." Sue said loudly, voice dripping sarcasm.
Dean grinned, nudging his brother. "Dude - she wants you." He yelped in shock, leaning down to rub his shin as Sue landed a kick to it. "Ouch - what was that for?!"
"Behave, Neanderthal."
"Hey, it's not my ass she wants."
Sam couldn't look more embarrassed.
Mary just sunk lower into the seat, looking like she wanted to curl into herself. Great, Sue thought - just wonderful. As if Mary's mood hadn't been bad enough already.
A few minutes later, Dean beckoned the waitress over to take their orders. "So - what can I get y'all?"
"Another waitress would be nice." Sue muttered.
Mary snorted.
The waitress looked at them like they were something the cat dragged in. Sue relayed her and Mary's order with a bright smile.
"I'd check my food, if I were you two." Dean advised once the waitress had left.
Sue tutted irritably. "Please. She's being a bitch. Pretending like me and Mary are invisible. Slut." she added under her breath.
Dean just shook his head.
Mary's spirits seemed to lift a little, as Sue started making quiet suggestions for how they could sabotage the waitress.
"Hey - trip her when she comes by with someone else's order. Holding a tray. That'd be funny - watch her go splat."
"Who's not behaving now? Don't make ME kick YOU." Dean said warningly.
Mary rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't actually do it, Dean. Jeez, what d'you think of me?"
"Yeah - good thing YOU'RE sitting by the aisle."
Sue narrowed her eyes at him.
Sam smirked. "Someone's not getting any, tonight." he muttered.
Dean suddenly looked a little worried. He glanced at Sue, and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'll buy you dessert?"
This time Sam chuckled. "Yeah, so he can get his later."
"Oh, my God." Mary mumbled, looking a little ill at the current discussion.
Dean elbowed Sam. "You're one to talk, altar-boy. I don't see you 'getting any' anytime soon, by the way you ignore it when it's practically being served up on a platter." He grinned, "No pun intended."
Sam shrugged. "She's not my type."
Dean frowned. "Do you even have a 'type', little bro?"
"I'll know it when I see it." Sam said mysteriously.
Sue and Mary shared a look, both making unimpressed faces. "There's too much testosterone at this table, me-thinks." Mary said.
Sue nodded. "Too true."
It was a relief when their food finally arrived - brought by a different waitress this time.
"Aww - you scared her off." Dean said. Neither he nor Sam seemed to mind much, though.
Mary picked at her salad disinterestedly. Sue noticed Sam watching Mary very carefully the whole time. He frowned, when Mary wordlessly pushed her plate towards Dean, who took it up with a shrug.
"Mare? Is that all you're gonna eat?" Sam asked with concern.
Mary nodded, not looking at him.
"Are you sure? I mean, we hardly had lunch this afternoon..."
"I'm sure, okay?" she snapped at him, a little loudly.
The concern on Sam's face only increased, though. Mary shook her head, smiling wryly. "Whatever. I'm going outside."
She got up and left the diner.
*
"Hey."
Mary didn't turn to face Sam as she returned the greeting. "Hey."
There was a moment's silence. "You know I'm here to bug you, right?" Sam's voice had a hint of playfulness in it.
Mary sighed. "When don't you bug me?"
Sam smiled a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, well.." he shrugged. He settled in to lean against the Impala beside her.
"What's going on, Mare? Really?"
Mary still didn't look at him. "No idea what you mean. There's nothing going on." From the corner of her eye, she saw Sam shaking his head.
After another moment's silence, Sam spoke again, his voice quiet. "It's just...the Mary I remember always use to say that she hated people who'd want to change her - hated people who wanna change each other. So...why'd you go and change so much?"
Mary finally looked at him, giving him an incredulous glare. "I just lost some weight! What's the big deal?!"
Sam shook his head again. "It's not just that. I don't understand why you felt you...had to."
Mary took a breath, trying to keep herself from getting angry. "Look - I didn't do it for anyone else, okay? I did it for me. You can understand that, right?"
Sam paused before answering. "Yeah, I do, but...you use to be happy, right? You always looked happy. You were funny - great to be around. Now...now it just looks like you're sad, all the time."
Mary sighed again, looking out across the parking lot once more. "Yeah, well - that's 'cause it didn't work."
Sam frowned. "What d'you mean? What didn't work?"
"I did it for me..." Mary began quietly - against her better judgement. She didn't know WHY she was telling him this, "...'cause I wanted to be...better. But...it didn't work. I'm still not...good enough, so..." she shrugged again, looking sad.
Sam watched her for several seconds, his face concerned. "What are you talking about, Mare? Good enough for what? There's nothing wrong with you."
Mary snorted. "Yeah, right." she mumbled.
Sam took hold of her arm, and turned her to face him. "Mare, hey - don't you dare you bring yourself down. You're wonderful. There's no reason for you to change anything about yourself."
Mary watched him, the fierce look in his eyes as he tried to convince her. It broke her heart just a little bit more. She pulled her arm out of his grip. "You wouldn't get it. I don't expect you to, so just...drop it."
"No - no way. I'm not gonna stand by and let you bad-mouth yourself. What's gotten into you? You were never like this."
Mary just shrugged again.
Sam sighed. "Mare, c'mon - I'll keep saying it - there's NOTHING wrong with you. You're perfect just the way you are."
"I have a mirror, thanks."
Sam gave her a look - a stern, almost warning glare. "Now that's just crap, and you know it..." he started, but Mary forestalled him.
"No, it's not - and don't even TRY and give me that whole 'it's what's on the inside that counts' shit, either. 'Cause that's honestly just an insult."
Sam was staring at her like he didn't know what to say anymore. After a while he ran a hand through his hair, and shook his head. "This is what I mean - three years ago we would not be having this conversation."
"Three years ago you left." Mary stated bitterly, not looking at him.
There was tense silence before Sam spoke again. "But I came back, 'cause I care about you guys too much to stay away anymore."
"Didn't give you the right to expect everything to stay exactly the way it was before you left."
That seemed to deflate Sam a bit. He lowered his head. "No, I guess not. But I didn't want...THIS. I want you to be happy. I want us to be friends, the way we use to be."
When he said the word 'friends', Mary felt another stab through her heart. She physically flinched from the pain of it. Looking at Sam, she gave him a sad smile. "We are still friends, though - aren't we?"
Sam returned her smile. "Of course we are." He moved closer to her. "And that's why I want you to be okay."
Mary wiped a stray tear from her face. " I AM okay. Just...I want you to trust me, alright? Get off my case about my eating habits, and crap like that. I know what I'm doing. I won't go too far and become anorexic, for God's sake. You know me - I'm not THAT stupid. Give me a little credit?"
Sam nodded, although he still looked a little troubled. Then he pulled Mary into a tight hug. To Mary, it just felt like her heart couldn't take much more breaking.
* * *
TBC...