Restless Heart Syndrome Ch 36/?
Fic title: Restless Heart Syndrome
Genre: SPN Het
Pairing: Sam/ OFC, Dean/OFC (Lexi, played by Eliza Dushku)
Rating: M
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Summary: New town, new school for Sam. It's his fifth high school in three years but John promises it's going to be Sam' s last one. Dean and Sam settle into their new routine and enjoy being normal. A few months after school starts Sam meets Lexi. He could tell she was trouble the moment he laid eyes on her but it's the kind of trouble he's always wanted. Dean feels the same way about the new waitress at the diner.
*This is a prequel to Under Your Skin and Wayward Son.*
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35
Or on AO3
Chapter 36: Simple Man
“Boy, don't you worry. You'll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. You can do this, if you try. All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied. Baby, be a simple, be a simple man. Oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple kind of man.”
*Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters belong to kripke. It's his sandbox, I'm just playing with his characters.* This is a prequel to Under Your Skin and Wayward Son.
August 6, 2002
Dean hates goodbyes. He especially hates saying goodbye to his little brother. They hug quickly and awkwardly with Dean smacking Sam’s shoulder when they pull away. “Have a good flight, man. Call me when you land.”
“I will.” Sam replies as he picks up his bag. “Well, that’s my flight they’re calling.”
“Yeah…”
“Thanks for having me this summer. It was good man.”
“Yeah, ok. No chick flick moments. Go on and get on that plane.” Dean smirks with a nod.
“Alright Dean, I’ll see you around.”
“See ya, Sammy. Call me if you need anything.”
Dean can’t explain it but he knows deep in his bones that he won’t see or hear from Sam for a very long time. He heads back to the apartment but passes his exit and instead continues towards the Marigny. Half an hour later he’s in Jackie’s chair getting his fourth tattoo. This one’s of a snake wrapped around a knife with a banner that reads, ‘Death or Glory' on his right forearm. He knows his father’s gonna give him hell but he doesn’t care. Dean likes the pain of the tattoo gun and besides it’s his body and he’s an adult for fuck’s sake. Plus, it helps to keep his mind off of other things.
Those other things have to do with Lexi. He’s been quietly trying to look into her birth mother and her family. Unfortunately Connors is a common last name. His search has turned up nothing but dead ends. Dean then tried to figure out how Lexi’s parents adopted her since there is no record of the adoption. He’s stared at her original birth certificate until his eyes were sore but still can’t figure it out.
Alexia Elizabeth Connors had been her name then. Her adopted parents apparently shortened it to Lexi. That’s when it starts to get weird. Both he and Lexi were born in the same hospital in Lawrence. Of course this makes Dean question why Megan Connors stayed in Lawrence for an additional six weeks after his mother’s death. But then again, why was she there in the first place?
Dean doesn’t believe she was in Lawrence to investigate his mother’s death. No, Megan Connors was in Lawrence before Mary died. She had talked to him in the park days before. Was there a connection between their mothers or was Megan Connors just looking under every rock while hunting the demon? Hell, maybe his dad was wrong and Megan Connors wasn’t a hunter at all. Dean now has more questions than answers. The only thing he knows for certain is that Lexi has no idea about any of this. She has no clue that she’s adopted and Dean is not about to be the one to drop that bombshell on her.
“You’re quiet.” Jackie observes as she wipes away some blood that’s beading up on Dean’s arm. “Something wrong?”
“Wrong? Nah.” Dean replies with a shrug. “Just worried about Sam and Lexi.”
“You worry too much, man. They both can take care of themselves, especially Sam.”
“You might be right but Sammy will always be my little brother. And Lex, yeah I know she’s head strong and too fucking smart for her own good but I...”
“Love her.” Jackie finishes for him.
Dean nods while a sigh slips past his lips. “Yeah. I don’t know what I’d do Jack if something happened to her on my watch.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to her Dean cuz you won’t let it. But dude, you got to let up off the reins with her cuz if you don’t she’s going to hate you. Lexi’s your girlfriend not your kid. Stop acting like her father and just be her boyfriend. Trust me you do that and she’ll stop being so damn stubborn about shit.”
“You think?”
“I know. Lexi is like Sam. The more you tell them they can’t do something the more determined they are to do it.”
“Fuck, you’re right. When the hell did I become my father?”
“The moment he stopped by here in June. He told you something big didn’t he?”
“Yeah but its hunting stuff Jack, nothing you or Lexi need to be worried about.”
Dean gets back to the apartment just before five to find Lexi in their small kitchen. He raises his eyebrow as he makes his way across the room. He then wraps his arms around her waist placing a quick kiss to her cheek before asking, “Whatcha doing, Baby girl?”
“Attempting to make you dinner. My Granny keeps saying I gotta learn some time.”
“You want some help?”
“No, I gotta learn to do this…”
“Lex, you know I don’t give a rat’s ass if you can cook for me right? The pies you make me are the best pies I’ve ever had. Hell, I could live off those things.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. So what if you burn dinner, dessert’s the best part anyway. Now slide over and let me help you.”
Lexi moves over handing Dean the knife as she grins up at him. “I love you.”
“I know.” Dean answers with a smirk and a wink.
Dean will never admit this out loud but he loves this. He loves being domestic with Lexi. Cooking dinner with her and hearing her laugh at his dumb jokes makes him ache for a normal life. Even though he’s decided to give up hunting, he’s still scared shitless something might come for him. Dean knows the longer he stays here with her the more danger he’s putting Lexi in. Hell, he even dreams about it.
The dream is always the same. Him and Lexi are married with two boys of their own, with a house and even the picket fence. Dean’s in the backyard throwing a ball around with a four years old boy that looks remarkably like he did at the age. Lexi comes out of the back door holding a baby boy while she calls him and their oldest boy in for dinner. Later that night they’re in bed and their youngest starts crying. Lexi goes to check on him then Dean hears her scream. He rushes into the nursery to find Lexi pinned to the ceiling burning. He always wakes up right after that in a cold sweat.
Dean wants a normal life with her so bad he can taste it. Problem is Dean’s worried it’ll be torn away from him like every other good thing he once had. He’s terrified Lexi’s blood will be on his hands. He’s positive it’s gonna happen regardless of him leaving the life behind. Something will come, it always does. Dean will then be doomed to live his father’s life chasing down the thing that killed his wife.
With a shake of his head, Dean pushes his thoughts away then glances down at Lexi with a smile. “So, what are we making here?”
“My Granny’s Jambalaya.” She states simply while handing Dean the recipe.
He scans over the recipe then places it on the counter saying, “We got this, Lex. I’ll dice the chicken and andouille, you take care of the vegetables.”
He flicks the radio on to the local classic rock station and begins singing along. Lexi joins in and they work like a well-oiled machine but with lots of laughing, singing and dancing around the small kitchen. It makes Dean laugh out loud thinking about what Sammy would say if he saw him now. But it also makes Dean realize how much he really wants this life for himself.
Problem is Dean doesn’t know who he is if he’s not a hunter. What he does know is that he can’t be a hunter and try to live like normal Joe Schmoo. Dean just doesn’t want a normal life, he wants to build a life with Lexi. He wants a simple life with a place they can call home and start a family of their own. New Orleans seems like the right place for them to start.
November 2002
With Sam back at Stanford the year began to fly by. It’s been three months since Dean’s stopped hunting. His routine hasn’t changed much even though he’s trying to be normal. He still works out every day and twice a week he goes to the shooting range. The only real change is now Dean has an actual paying job.
He gets a job parking cars at a hotel a couple blocks down on Royal. The job is easy but the hourly pay is shit. Dean learns quickly that a smile and a well place sweet heart or darling gets him more than the usual couple of bucks from the ladies. A lot of the times he’ll find a piece of paper with their number scrawled on it folded with the bills. Dean always makes sure to throw them away before the end of his shift. His coworkers gripe when they see him toss the numbers away asking ‘Why is it always him?’ Dean just smiles then says with a shrug, “Chicks dig me.”
Before Dean knows it, it’s Thanksgiving and Lexi’s bugging him to take her to her soroity’s winter formal. Dean tries to change the subject but Lexi isn’t having it tonight. She grabs the remote off the coffee table and shuts the television off standing between it and Dean. He blinks up at her about to complain but the look on her face make the words die on his lips. Instead, he groans while running his hand down his face. “Lex, a dance ain’t really my thing. Ya know that, babe.”
“So, you think wrestling’s really my thing? I went with you to that WWE thing last month.”
“But that was fun.”
“Fun for you Dean not me. I went because you wanted to go.”
“That’s cuz you’re an awesome girlfriend.” Dean says with a grin as he looks up at her. He leans forward and grips her hips while he pulls her between his knees. “C’mon Lex, we don’t need to go to some dance to have fun.”
“Don’t you want to be an awesome boyfriend?”
“Hey, I already am. I’m a joy to be around.”
“Really? You think so.”
“Lex, baby, why do you wanna torture me?”
“I never ask you to go to any of the sorority things. For once I just wanna bring my boyfriend to a function and just be like all the other girls. Is it a crime to wanna show off my hot boyfriend and make them all jealous?”
“So, you wanna bring me to show me off? You should’ve led with that babe. Fine I’ll go. Wait do I have to wear a suit?”
“Yeah, Dean you have to wear a suit.”
“Damn it. There’s still alcohol right? Cuz if not that’s a deal breaker.”
“Of course there’s alcohol it’s a Greek party.”
“Ok, I’ll go then but just this one time.”
The next day Dean is already regretting saying he’d go with Lexi to the dance. At the moment he’s in the Men’s department of some overpriced department store while Lexi helps him pick out a suit. This is all new to him. Dean’s never worn a suit, hell, he’s never even bought clothes in a department store before. He hasn’t owned new clothes for as long as he can remember, all his clothes are from good will or army surplus. Even his leather jacket is a hand me down from his dad.
Lexi knocks on the dressing room door saying with a note of impatience, “Dean, come out so I can see.”
Dean groans while opening the door, “I look like an eighth grader at his first dance.”
She tilts her head to the side as she looks Dean up and down. “You’re right. The white shirt and black tie aren’t working. I’ll be right back.”
Dean rolls his eyes saying to her retreating back, “Why do I have to wear a monkey suit for?”
“Because it’s winter formal, hence FORMAL. You have to wear a suit.”
Lexi comes back a few minutes later carrying a dark purple shirt and a lavender tie. Dean pulls a face shaking his head no as Lexi holds them towards him.
“Dean, try this.”
“No. I’ll wear a suit but I ain’t wearing purple.”
Lexi gives him the look. The look that makes him cave every time and says in that little voice of hers, “Just try it for me. It’ll look good I promise, the purple will bring out the green in your eyes.”
Needless to say, Dean leaves the department store with a new black suit, purple shirt and lavender tie.
Two days later
Dean stands in front of the mirror in the bedroom that he shares with Lexi fussing with his tie. He huffs out of frustration. He just can’t get the tie right. He’s never worn a tie in his life and has no clue what he’s doing. Out of all things his father has taught him, how to tie a tie is not one of them. Dean shakes his head then calls for Lexi. He catches a glimpse of her in the mirror as she walks in the bedroom. She’s wearing a black satin dress with her hair pulled back. He sucks in a breath before he turns to her saying, “Wow. Lex, you look beautiful.”
She smiles and blushes then Lexi moves in front of him running her hands over his shoulders. “Thanks.” she says, “Do you need me to do your tie?”
Dean licks his lips nodding. He watches her intently causing Lexi to blush again from his gaze. She moves the knot up leaving it a bit loose then straightens the tie. “There ya go.” She whispers while looking up at Dean. “You look good in a suit.”
Dean glances in the mirror then back at Lexi and smirks. “Thanks. You sure you wanna go to this thing? We could just stay here…”
“Oh, I’m sure. You promised.”
They stop in Jackson Square on the way to the dance to take pictures at Lexi’s insistence. Once at the dance it isn’t as bad as Dean thought it would be. The food is pretty good and there’s tons of alcohol. All in all, Dean has a good time despite Lexi dragging him out on to the dance floor multiple times. The dance is a 1960’s theme so the band plays a majority of The Beatles and Elvis. The last song they dance to is because Dean’s the one that wants to dance. He grabs Lexi’s hand taking her by surprise as he leads her out onto the dance floor. They sway in time to Elvis’s ‘Always On My Mind’ with the other couples and Dean’s mind starts to wander. He can’t help but think if Lexi really knows how much he really does love her. He knows he doesn’t say it often and he’s not a big romantic gesture kind of guy. He’s never been good at any of this. So Dean does the only thing he knows how to do. He pulls Lexi close then kisses her softly before resting his forehead against hers.
After another hour they leave the dance and make their way to the Impala. As Dean opens the passenger door for Lexi they hear someone screaming for help. Dean immediately tells Lexi to get in the car and lock the doors before opening the glove compartment to grab his gun. He gets Lexi in the car and then heads in the direction the screams are coming from.
Dean runs at full tilt skidding to a halt when he sees a man a few yards ahead. The man raises his gun and a single shot rings out. He hears a dog whimper and then two more shots. The man turns towards him and Dean blinks in disbelief. “Dad?”
“Hey son,” John says casually as he puts his gun away. “Do me a favor and check on the girl over there.”
“What are you doing here?” Dean questions his voice taking on a hard edge, “And don’t say hunting.”
“I was on my way to check on you when I noticed all these demonic signs popping up round New Orleans like this dead black dog over here. Guess with you being out of the game you didn’t take notice of the increased electrical storms or temperature fluctuations or how suddenly the local pig farmers are dealing with a sudden increase in livestock diseases.”
“Dad what are you getting at?”
“The demon’s here, Dean.”
Genre: SPN Het
Pairing: Sam/ OFC, Dean/OFC (Lexi, played by Eliza Dushku)
Rating: M
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Summary: New town, new school for Sam. It's his fifth high school in three years but John promises it's going to be Sam' s last one. Dean and Sam settle into their new routine and enjoy being normal. A few months after school starts Sam meets Lexi. He could tell she was trouble the moment he laid eyes on her but it's the kind of trouble he's always wanted. Dean feels the same way about the new waitress at the diner.
*This is a prequel to Under Your Skin and Wayward Son.*
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35
Or on AO3
Chapter 36: Simple Man
“Boy, don't you worry. You'll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. You can do this, if you try. All that I want for you my son, is to be satisfied. Baby, be a simple, be a simple man. Oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple kind of man.”
*Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters belong to kripke. It's his sandbox, I'm just playing with his characters.* This is a prequel to Under Your Skin and Wayward Son.
August 6, 2002
Dean hates goodbyes. He especially hates saying goodbye to his little brother. They hug quickly and awkwardly with Dean smacking Sam’s shoulder when they pull away. “Have a good flight, man. Call me when you land.”
“I will.” Sam replies as he picks up his bag. “Well, that’s my flight they’re calling.”
“Yeah…”
“Thanks for having me this summer. It was good man.”
“Yeah, ok. No chick flick moments. Go on and get on that plane.” Dean smirks with a nod.
“Alright Dean, I’ll see you around.”
“See ya, Sammy. Call me if you need anything.”
Dean can’t explain it but he knows deep in his bones that he won’t see or hear from Sam for a very long time. He heads back to the apartment but passes his exit and instead continues towards the Marigny. Half an hour later he’s in Jackie’s chair getting his fourth tattoo. This one’s of a snake wrapped around a knife with a banner that reads, ‘Death or Glory' on his right forearm. He knows his father’s gonna give him hell but he doesn’t care. Dean likes the pain of the tattoo gun and besides it’s his body and he’s an adult for fuck’s sake. Plus, it helps to keep his mind off of other things.
Those other things have to do with Lexi. He’s been quietly trying to look into her birth mother and her family. Unfortunately Connors is a common last name. His search has turned up nothing but dead ends. Dean then tried to figure out how Lexi’s parents adopted her since there is no record of the adoption. He’s stared at her original birth certificate until his eyes were sore but still can’t figure it out.
Alexia Elizabeth Connors had been her name then. Her adopted parents apparently shortened it to Lexi. That’s when it starts to get weird. Both he and Lexi were born in the same hospital in Lawrence. Of course this makes Dean question why Megan Connors stayed in Lawrence for an additional six weeks after his mother’s death. But then again, why was she there in the first place?
Dean doesn’t believe she was in Lawrence to investigate his mother’s death. No, Megan Connors was in Lawrence before Mary died. She had talked to him in the park days before. Was there a connection between their mothers or was Megan Connors just looking under every rock while hunting the demon? Hell, maybe his dad was wrong and Megan Connors wasn’t a hunter at all. Dean now has more questions than answers. The only thing he knows for certain is that Lexi has no idea about any of this. She has no clue that she’s adopted and Dean is not about to be the one to drop that bombshell on her.
“You’re quiet.” Jackie observes as she wipes away some blood that’s beading up on Dean’s arm. “Something wrong?”
“Wrong? Nah.” Dean replies with a shrug. “Just worried about Sam and Lexi.”
“You worry too much, man. They both can take care of themselves, especially Sam.”
“You might be right but Sammy will always be my little brother. And Lex, yeah I know she’s head strong and too fucking smart for her own good but I...”
“Love her.” Jackie finishes for him.
Dean nods while a sigh slips past his lips. “Yeah. I don’t know what I’d do Jack if something happened to her on my watch.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to her Dean cuz you won’t let it. But dude, you got to let up off the reins with her cuz if you don’t she’s going to hate you. Lexi’s your girlfriend not your kid. Stop acting like her father and just be her boyfriend. Trust me you do that and she’ll stop being so damn stubborn about shit.”
“You think?”
“I know. Lexi is like Sam. The more you tell them they can’t do something the more determined they are to do it.”
“Fuck, you’re right. When the hell did I become my father?”
“The moment he stopped by here in June. He told you something big didn’t he?”
“Yeah but its hunting stuff Jack, nothing you or Lexi need to be worried about.”
Dean gets back to the apartment just before five to find Lexi in their small kitchen. He raises his eyebrow as he makes his way across the room. He then wraps his arms around her waist placing a quick kiss to her cheek before asking, “Whatcha doing, Baby girl?”
“Attempting to make you dinner. My Granny keeps saying I gotta learn some time.”
“You want some help?”
“No, I gotta learn to do this…”
“Lex, you know I don’t give a rat’s ass if you can cook for me right? The pies you make me are the best pies I’ve ever had. Hell, I could live off those things.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. So what if you burn dinner, dessert’s the best part anyway. Now slide over and let me help you.”
Lexi moves over handing Dean the knife as she grins up at him. “I love you.”
“I know.” Dean answers with a smirk and a wink.
Dean will never admit this out loud but he loves this. He loves being domestic with Lexi. Cooking dinner with her and hearing her laugh at his dumb jokes makes him ache for a normal life. Even though he’s decided to give up hunting, he’s still scared shitless something might come for him. Dean knows the longer he stays here with her the more danger he’s putting Lexi in. Hell, he even dreams about it.
The dream is always the same. Him and Lexi are married with two boys of their own, with a house and even the picket fence. Dean’s in the backyard throwing a ball around with a four years old boy that looks remarkably like he did at the age. Lexi comes out of the back door holding a baby boy while she calls him and their oldest boy in for dinner. Later that night they’re in bed and their youngest starts crying. Lexi goes to check on him then Dean hears her scream. He rushes into the nursery to find Lexi pinned to the ceiling burning. He always wakes up right after that in a cold sweat.
Dean wants a normal life with her so bad he can taste it. Problem is Dean’s worried it’ll be torn away from him like every other good thing he once had. He’s terrified Lexi’s blood will be on his hands. He’s positive it’s gonna happen regardless of him leaving the life behind. Something will come, it always does. Dean will then be doomed to live his father’s life chasing down the thing that killed his wife.
With a shake of his head, Dean pushes his thoughts away then glances down at Lexi with a smile. “So, what are we making here?”
“My Granny’s Jambalaya.” She states simply while handing Dean the recipe.
He scans over the recipe then places it on the counter saying, “We got this, Lex. I’ll dice the chicken and andouille, you take care of the vegetables.”
He flicks the radio on to the local classic rock station and begins singing along. Lexi joins in and they work like a well-oiled machine but with lots of laughing, singing and dancing around the small kitchen. It makes Dean laugh out loud thinking about what Sammy would say if he saw him now. But it also makes Dean realize how much he really wants this life for himself.
Problem is Dean doesn’t know who he is if he’s not a hunter. What he does know is that he can’t be a hunter and try to live like normal Joe Schmoo. Dean just doesn’t want a normal life, he wants to build a life with Lexi. He wants a simple life with a place they can call home and start a family of their own. New Orleans seems like the right place for them to start.
November 2002
With Sam back at Stanford the year began to fly by. It’s been three months since Dean’s stopped hunting. His routine hasn’t changed much even though he’s trying to be normal. He still works out every day and twice a week he goes to the shooting range. The only real change is now Dean has an actual paying job.
He gets a job parking cars at a hotel a couple blocks down on Royal. The job is easy but the hourly pay is shit. Dean learns quickly that a smile and a well place sweet heart or darling gets him more than the usual couple of bucks from the ladies. A lot of the times he’ll find a piece of paper with their number scrawled on it folded with the bills. Dean always makes sure to throw them away before the end of his shift. His coworkers gripe when they see him toss the numbers away asking ‘Why is it always him?’ Dean just smiles then says with a shrug, “Chicks dig me.”
Before Dean knows it, it’s Thanksgiving and Lexi’s bugging him to take her to her soroity’s winter formal. Dean tries to change the subject but Lexi isn’t having it tonight. She grabs the remote off the coffee table and shuts the television off standing between it and Dean. He blinks up at her about to complain but the look on her face make the words die on his lips. Instead, he groans while running his hand down his face. “Lex, a dance ain’t really my thing. Ya know that, babe.”
“So, you think wrestling’s really my thing? I went with you to that WWE thing last month.”
“But that was fun.”
“Fun for you Dean not me. I went because you wanted to go.”
“That’s cuz you’re an awesome girlfriend.” Dean says with a grin as he looks up at her. He leans forward and grips her hips while he pulls her between his knees. “C’mon Lex, we don’t need to go to some dance to have fun.”
“Don’t you want to be an awesome boyfriend?”
“Hey, I already am. I’m a joy to be around.”
“Really? You think so.”
“Lex, baby, why do you wanna torture me?”
“I never ask you to go to any of the sorority things. For once I just wanna bring my boyfriend to a function and just be like all the other girls. Is it a crime to wanna show off my hot boyfriend and make them all jealous?”
“So, you wanna bring me to show me off? You should’ve led with that babe. Fine I’ll go. Wait do I have to wear a suit?”
“Yeah, Dean you have to wear a suit.”
“Damn it. There’s still alcohol right? Cuz if not that’s a deal breaker.”
“Of course there’s alcohol it’s a Greek party.”
“Ok, I’ll go then but just this one time.”
The next day Dean is already regretting saying he’d go with Lexi to the dance. At the moment he’s in the Men’s department of some overpriced department store while Lexi helps him pick out a suit. This is all new to him. Dean’s never worn a suit, hell, he’s never even bought clothes in a department store before. He hasn’t owned new clothes for as long as he can remember, all his clothes are from good will or army surplus. Even his leather jacket is a hand me down from his dad.
Lexi knocks on the dressing room door saying with a note of impatience, “Dean, come out so I can see.”
Dean groans while opening the door, “I look like an eighth grader at his first dance.”
She tilts her head to the side as she looks Dean up and down. “You’re right. The white shirt and black tie aren’t working. I’ll be right back.”
Dean rolls his eyes saying to her retreating back, “Why do I have to wear a monkey suit for?”
“Because it’s winter formal, hence FORMAL. You have to wear a suit.”
Lexi comes back a few minutes later carrying a dark purple shirt and a lavender tie. Dean pulls a face shaking his head no as Lexi holds them towards him.
“Dean, try this.”
“No. I’ll wear a suit but I ain’t wearing purple.”
Lexi gives him the look. The look that makes him cave every time and says in that little voice of hers, “Just try it for me. It’ll look good I promise, the purple will bring out the green in your eyes.”
Needless to say, Dean leaves the department store with a new black suit, purple shirt and lavender tie.
Two days later
Dean stands in front of the mirror in the bedroom that he shares with Lexi fussing with his tie. He huffs out of frustration. He just can’t get the tie right. He’s never worn a tie in his life and has no clue what he’s doing. Out of all things his father has taught him, how to tie a tie is not one of them. Dean shakes his head then calls for Lexi. He catches a glimpse of her in the mirror as she walks in the bedroom. She’s wearing a black satin dress with her hair pulled back. He sucks in a breath before he turns to her saying, “Wow. Lex, you look beautiful.”
She smiles and blushes then Lexi moves in front of him running her hands over his shoulders. “Thanks.” she says, “Do you need me to do your tie?”
Dean licks his lips nodding. He watches her intently causing Lexi to blush again from his gaze. She moves the knot up leaving it a bit loose then straightens the tie. “There ya go.” She whispers while looking up at Dean. “You look good in a suit.”
Dean glances in the mirror then back at Lexi and smirks. “Thanks. You sure you wanna go to this thing? We could just stay here…”
“Oh, I’m sure. You promised.”
They stop in Jackson Square on the way to the dance to take pictures at Lexi’s insistence. Once at the dance it isn’t as bad as Dean thought it would be. The food is pretty good and there’s tons of alcohol. All in all, Dean has a good time despite Lexi dragging him out on to the dance floor multiple times. The dance is a 1960’s theme so the band plays a majority of The Beatles and Elvis. The last song they dance to is because Dean’s the one that wants to dance. He grabs Lexi’s hand taking her by surprise as he leads her out onto the dance floor. They sway in time to Elvis’s ‘Always On My Mind’ with the other couples and Dean’s mind starts to wander. He can’t help but think if Lexi really knows how much he really does love her. He knows he doesn’t say it often and he’s not a big romantic gesture kind of guy. He’s never been good at any of this. So Dean does the only thing he knows how to do. He pulls Lexi close then kisses her softly before resting his forehead against hers.
After another hour they leave the dance and make their way to the Impala. As Dean opens the passenger door for Lexi they hear someone screaming for help. Dean immediately tells Lexi to get in the car and lock the doors before opening the glove compartment to grab his gun. He gets Lexi in the car and then heads in the direction the screams are coming from.
Dean runs at full tilt skidding to a halt when he sees a man a few yards ahead. The man raises his gun and a single shot rings out. He hears a dog whimper and then two more shots. The man turns towards him and Dean blinks in disbelief. “Dad?”
“Hey son,” John says casually as he puts his gun away. “Do me a favor and check on the girl over there.”
“What are you doing here?” Dean questions his voice taking on a hard edge, “And don’t say hunting.”
“I was on my way to check on you when I noticed all these demonic signs popping up round New Orleans like this dead black dog over here. Guess with you being out of the game you didn’t take notice of the increased electrical storms or temperature fluctuations or how suddenly the local pig farmers are dealing with a sudden increase in livestock diseases.”
“Dad what are you getting at?”
“The demon’s here, Dean.”