Invisible String

When one door opens

"Sup." 

Dean answers the call with an over exaggerated level of relaxation, I didn't know what that meant really but I knew that wasn't how he normally answered phone calls. It almost made me laugh but I managed to hold it back, I didn't want to offend him before I even saw him. That would be a new record for me. 

"Hey.. um.. I just got to the motel... which room are you in? I'll bring it up now." 

"Oh, right, we're in room 207."

"Ok, I'll bring it up and then I'll get myself a room sorted." 

I don't question what he meant by 'we', I assumed it meant John and I wanted to spend as little time in that room as possible if he was here with him. I hang up without saying anything further or waiting for him to answer, I grabbed my bag from the back of my truck where I had placed it just before the phone call and throw it over my shoulder. I head up to the room where they were staying, looking around at how gross and overall just kind of scruffy the motel was, I wasn't used to this, I wasn't actually use to going out much at all. I would say I was a homebody but Bobby said I wasn't allowed to say that anymore because it had gone beyond that, he said I was a hermit. Honestly, kind of rude but he didn't get out much more than I did. 

The weight of my bag was pretty ridiculous because of course I brought enough books to entertain myself while they were out hunting. I also notice the overall loudness of the motel despite the halls being quiet and it being night. Evidently the soundproofing wasn't doing it's job if it was there because I could hear every argument through the walls, every telly and every overly affectionate couple. I stop at the room 207, the door looked all grimy and the wallpaper on the walls were all fading. 

I was hesitant to knock on the door because it looked radioactive or like it had some kind of disease but I do it anyway. I hear some shuffling behind the door and two voices. One was Dean, I couldn't make out the other but it certainly wasn't John. It sounded familiar but I just couldn't put my finger on who it could be. They sounded like they were bickering which was a bit childish but I expected no less from Dean, he had always been quite childish for his age emotionally despite being so grown up in other ways. 

The door opens and I see grown up Sam and Dean, they had gotten so tall and handsome. I blush slightly, I hadn't expected to see both of them and I certainly didn't expect them to have become so good looking. Not that they weren't good looking before but you can never really tell when you're kids, some cute kids become some real ugly people. I tell myself to stop being so shallow and take a deep breath. 

"Hey."

"Hey, come in." 

I follow them in and set my bag on the sofa in the corner of the room which was faded and had a series of suspicious stains. It was also covered in books and newspaper articles that they had clearly been using to research the case. I move them gently over so my stuff doesn't mess with them at all. 

"Sam... I thought you were at Stanford?"

His face seemed to drop a bit, not enough for me to know how bad it was or to be able to ask but enough for me to know that he didn't want to leave, not really. He was so close to the normal life but he just couldn't have it, it was a real shame and I did want him to do well even though we weren't that close. He was always someone I was rooting for, you always root for the people that try to make a life away from hunting. 

"It didn't work out.." 

"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have said anything.. still you got in and that's impressive as it is." 

He smiles and nods. Dean looks a bit concerned about his brother but I assume it was just because I had brought that up and I shouldn't have. He shuts the door and locks it, I start rummaging through my bag for the box with the colt in it. 

"I know you guys already know this but Bobby is pretty cautious about the colt and I have to keep it with me when you guys aren't using it on the hunt. I know it's a bit of a pain in the ass but I'm sure you can understand why."

"Yeah we get it."

Dean walks over to get a better look at the colt and Sam sits on the edge of the bed, he seemed to be observing our interactions. He seemed kind  of withdrawn which was concerning, when they were kids, it was always the other way round. Plus Sam had these puppy dog eyes and you can really tell when something had got him down. 

I hand the colt to Dean for him to take a look at and I can see Sam also looking at it with intrigue but not making any move to get closer. 

Seeing them again was awkward like I had expected but they both seemed so sad and tired which concerned me. I wish things had turned out better for them. Neither of them wanted to be hunters and yet here they were stuck in this life. 

"When you said 'we', I assumed you meant you were here with your dad. Where is he?"

"He's gone on a hunting trip." 

I could tell that wasn't the whole truth but I decide it wasn't my place to ask about that sort of thing so I just nod instead. Dean hands me back the colt and I hide it back in my bag. When I'm doing so, a pair of panties fall on the floor which causes us all to turn a shade of red that was ridiculously close to a tomato. Me and Dean both go to pick it up at the same time which causes us to bump head.

" Crap- sorry- I um.." 

He blushes again and turn away. I quickly pick it up and put them back in my bag. 

"It's okay.. um.. sorry about that.. I didn't pack in a very organised fashion." 

I hear a small laugh from Sam who was also red and clearly embarrassed but seemed to be enjoying mine and Dean's far worse embarrassing situation. 

"You're pretty crappy at packing for a hunter." 

"Oh.. I'm not a hunter, I just help Bobby out with research and deliveries when he needs it." 

His face looks surprised and there is a hint of something else behind his eyes, concern maybe. I felt guilty that he was forced into this life and I basically had the freedom to be as involved or not involved as I wanted to be.  

"Well.. I'm gonna go book a room.. the room next door looks like it might be free." 

"Wait-" They say in unison and stand up. 

I flinch slightly and pause where I am. "Yeah?" 

They give each other a look before Sam says, "do you wanna stay in here with us?"

"I.. that's nice but I really don't want to be a bother."

"You won't be." Dean walks over and grabs my bag, setting it down on the bed.

"We will share a bed and you can have the other. That way we can all look after each other and the colt, there's likely stuff after it so we should all be sticking together where possible."

I couldn't fault his logic, I nod. "Yeah.. you're right but I'll give you the money for letting me stay here. I can't go staying in your room for free." 

"Don't start that. Just pay for meals and then we'll be about even. Counting pennies only leads to arguments." 

"Right.. thank you.."