First Time--SPN teen!chester
Title: First Time
Author: borgmama1of5
Summary: Dean teaches Sam a necessary skill in their line of work.
Wordcount: 887
Genre/paring: gen, teen!chester
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing with ‘em
From spn_quotefic challenge 1.15 The Benders: Dean “I gotta start carrying paper clips.”
“I don’t want to!”
“You know, sometimes, Sammy, I can’t believe you’re my brother.”
“It’s … It’s illegal!” Sam glared through his bangs.
”And?” Dean raised a questioning eyebrow.
“I don’t see why I hafta! I’m not driving anywhere! I’m not even old enough to drive!”
“That’s not the point, Sam.” Arguing was going to take all the fun out of it.
“I shouldn’t hafta do this!” The wobble in those words made Dean realize there was more going on that just Sam being stubborn. His brother was scared.
And that was unacceptable.
“Okay, squirt, listen up. I’m gonna be standing guard for you, okay? Anyone comes, I’ll whistle.” Dean demonstrated as they headed toward the densely-packed mall parking lot.
“Dean, I really don’t …”
Dean started zigzagging through the lines of parked cars, confident Sam would be behind him.
“Look for one that’s already unlocked. Since it’s your first time, I’m giving you a break. And older models are easier. Got the screwdriver and wire clippers?
“I don’t want to steal a car!” Dean couldn’t ignore the desperation in Sam’s anguished whisper. And he felt a flash of guilt for enjoying himself. Taking Sam out for car-stealing lessons like taking him out for ice cream when he was little.
Dean stopped between a dirty silver Honda and a black Chevy Blazer, and waited for Sam to catch up.
“Dean …”
Dean interrupted. “I get it, Sam. Stealing cars is wrong. For most people. And maybe you’ll never have to do it, okay? But you need to know how, just in case. If it’s an emergency, and the Impala’s not there, and you have to get somewhere fast because … well, for whatever. So you gotta know how to do it.”
From the look on his face, Sam was not convinced. Dean put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Besides, you’re not gonna take the car, you’re just gonna start it up. Just practice, like everything else Dad has us do.”
“Did Dad tell you to do this?”
“No, but you gotta learn sometime. And playing with wires on the kitchen table ain’t the same as actually doing it.”
He gave Sam’s shoulder an encouraging squeeze. “This’ll be a piece of cake for you, genius.”
Sam was still not convinced, Dean could tell, but he tagged behind without further argument.
“Yahtze!” Dean flashed a grin back at Sam. It was a late ‘80s Toyota Corolla, rusted beige with one blue fender. A two-inch plastic Superman hung from the rearview mirror. And it was unlocked.
“All yours, Sammy,” Dean grinned as he opened the driver’s door.
Sam didn’t move. “Dean!”
“You’re gonna attract more attention standing there arguing, Sam, than if you just go do it. Now just get in the car. I promise no one’s gonna catch you.”
Sam finally slid behind the wheel with great reluctance.
“I’m gonna go be lookout, okay? So I’m timing you starting … now.”
Dean slammed the car door and sauntered carelessly back down the aisle.
Shit.
A mall security car was turning down this row.
Dean jogged up to meet it and flagged it down.
“Can I help you?” The security guard held himself like a cop. Probably moonlighting.
“Um, yeah. I seem to have lost my brother.”
“How old is your brother?” Alertness in the guard’s question.
“He’s fourteen. And, I, uh, was supposed to meet him in the mall but I was late and I thought maybe he came outside to wait for me. I’m checking all the exits because I don’t know which one he would’ve used, and it’s taking forever to walk all around the outside … Any chance you could give me a ride around?”
Dean could tell the guard relaxed as soon as he heard Dean was looking for a teenager.
“Yeah, hop in.”
The guard pulled out of the lane and took Dean on a fifteen minute tour of the mall building perimeter while Dean fabricated a story about his geek brother wanting to get a present for his first girlfriend. As they approached the spot where Dean had initially accosted him, the driver pointed to the slight blonde boy standing by the doorway, craning his neck in all directions.
“That him?”
“Yeah,” Dean said with genuine relief.
“Doesn’t look like he bought anything.”
“Pr’bly couldn’t make up his mind. Wants my expertise on the matter.”
The security vehicle pulled over and Dean jumped out. “Thanks.”
Then he walked up to Sam and cuffed his head, saying loudly, “Next time wait in the store, dope! The security guy drove me all over looking for you.”
Sam had started to say something as soon as he caught sight of Dean, but he rolled with the head slap instead and whined back, “It’s your fault for being late.”
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” and he steered Sam into the mall as the guard drove away.
“So …”
There was the tiniest flash of pride on Sam’s face as he said, “Three minutes, I got it started in only three minutes.”
“Huh, told you you could do it. Bet you wanted to drive off in it, too.”
Sam scrunched his face and looked away from Dean as he answered, “I kinda did.”
“Next time.”