It wasn't that he knew where he was going, which was good since at the moment he was sure he wouldn't have gotten there anyway. When he saw the picture of him and Dee it was as if a huge part of himself was ripped out and now the empty hole he thought he had numbed with alcohol made itself known again. As he continued to drive aimlessly down the back roads from Bobby's house he couldn't seem to put the thoughts and feelings together, just as soon as he got one conquered, it would fly past and be replaced with something else just as fast. He though he needed to get away from his brother, but now he knew that he had needed to get away from the reminder that Dee wasn't coming back. He knew that Bobby would miss her too, but they weren't going to be at Bobby's forever and he wished he had someone that he could share his grief with.
Driving into town he realized where he was going and he had no idea how he was going to handle the situation. He saw Twyla working through the window and when she looked up she could see that she had been crying. It took him a minute to understand why she was upset; Bobby must have called and come up with a story about why Dee wouldn't be around anymore. Then it hit him hard what the story would be and he was sure he wasn't ready for being around people.
A tap on his window brought him out of his reverie and he jumped slightly at the sound in surprise only to be more shocked to see who it was. Dean motioned for him to roll down the window then cocked his head towards the diner. "Come on, I'll buy you some coffee and a piece of pie. Then you can tell me about that cute little niece of mine."
When they entered the diner everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing and gave Sam sad heartfelt looks before resuming what they had been doing. On the way to the far corner booth Twyla intercepted Sam with a hug then looked at Dean, "I'll be right there, take care of your brother for me." Then with a slight nod she was off to tend to other customers until they were settled.
Sitting across from Sam, Dean could see how this was taking a toll on his little brother. So much so he had to wonder if this was actually worse than when he lost Jessica. "You know, we can sit here all day if you need to Sam, we don't have any place to be."
Sam looked at Dean suddenly and tried to determine if his brother was being facetious, but saw that he was really being serious and Sam couldn't help but be thankful for that. "I… I don't know yet, you know?" he asked, knowing that Dean probably didn't know but would sit with him anyway until he figured it all out.
Dean watched Twyla as she did another round for her customers before she grabbed two cups of coffee and some pie, somehow he knew that she and his brother had been getting in some serious together time and wondered how far it had gone. As she placed the coffees and pie down on the table Twyla sat next to Sam before pulling him into another hug.
"I am so sorry Sam. When Bobby called and told me what happened, I thought it was a cruel joke. We're all going to miss her too." Sam nodded but continued to look at the table while she continued, this time talking more to Dean. "I know that I don't have to tell you what a sweet baby she was, and how much she loved her Daddy; everyone saw it. Now I have to check on a few others but I'm here if you need me." Dean nodded and watched her leave the table before turning back to his brother.
"Sam, we don't have to do this. No one's going to think anything about you getting up and leaving right now." He said watching as his words slowly penetrated the fog that Sam was obviously wrapped up in. A slight nod was the only encouragement he needed to help Sam out of the booth and out the back door towards the Impala.
They drove in silence for close to an hour before Dean pulled off the side of the road. "She looked like Mom." He said plainly, hoping to open the conversation. Seeing the agreement in Sam's eyes he continued. "So, what was she like? Was she a real bad ass like me, or a panty weight like my geek boy brother?" he joked, and saw a slight twitch on Sam's face before the passenger door opened and his brother was on the grass puking what was left of his stomach out.
Rushing around the Impala, Dean felt like an idiot. Of course Sam would have this reaction, why wouldn't he, it was like losing everyone he'd loved all over again. Kneeling down next to him, Dean was surprised when Sam started talking hurriedly, as if it would be too painful to say any slower.
"She was beautiful Dean, just like Jess and I always dreamed. She was smart and funny, and looked at life with her eyes wide open. God Dean, she found a pack of werepups and wanted to keep them, can you imagine! She told a doctor he was stupid because he asked if she missed me even though I was in the hall. Dean there was so much of you and Jess mixed into one it hurt, but I loved every minute of it, I really did. I just wish I could have both of you, you know? I know that makes me selfish, but it's how I feel." Sam cried out, he couldn't help it, his little girl was back to where she belonged and even though he had Dean, he still felt the loss.
Dean sat there and pulled Sam to him and held him until his little brother's pain eased. Finally, he pulled back. "Sam, I wish I had been around to meet her, she sounds a lot like you. I can imagine her wanting to keep werepups and taking everything in that life has to offer 'cause dude, that is so you. You compared her to me and Jess, but she was a part of you too and I'm sorry I didn't get that a first, but I do now. I'm also sorry that it was me that you got stuck with."
"What? Dean… no! That's not…"
"Man, I know… but I also know that you've lost the girl you were going to marry, you lost Dad, hell you lost me there for awhile as much of an ass I was being, and now you find out that somewhere out there in the great cosmic… whatever, you have that life that you wanted, and if Dee is any indication, then you're happy with everyone you love around you."
Sam looked at his brother and smiled, "So, who'd you talk to… Bobby or Lillian?"
"Are you kidding? Both! It took me awhile little brother, but I'm here for you and I want you to know that I may not understand what you're going through, but I'm not going anywhere." Dean said seriously, before he got up off the ground and swiped the grass from his pants. "But let me tell you, you mention this chick flick moment to anyone and I'll let them know that you like the Goo Goo Dolls."
Chuckling to himself, Sam watched as Dean walked back around the Impala and smiled, he was lucky, really lucky and he had just needed a moment to figure it out. Dean made it to the driver's door before he stopped and called out, "So Sam, mind telling me why I have a craving for Play- Doh?"
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Bobby was both sad and relieved to see the Winchester brothers pack up the Impala in preparation to leave. It had been a harsh couple of days after Dean came back and news of Dee's passing spread. He had forgotten that his house could hold that many people at one time. Sighing, he watched as Sam put the keys to his truck on the hook by the door, he knew that it would be a long while before he drove it again, but more than willing to look after it until he did.
"Bobby, thanks again for letting us crash here." Dean called out from the Impala while waiting on his brother.
Shaking his head he called back, "Yeah well, just don't make this a habit. I don't run no Motel 6 you know."
Sam laughed as he got in his brother's car and settled in for the drive ahead. They got word of some demons close to Memphis causing some problems, so they thought they'd see what they could do. After all, if his baby was out there somewhere safe, the least he could do was try to make someone else's baby here the same.
Dean pulled out of Bobby's drive in a good mood. They had a hunt, the deal was off his back, his baby was purring, and his little brother was by his side. He didn't have any illusions that everything was perfect, he knew better, but he knew that his little brother had faced his pain, and now was going to be able to deal with it. Of course if there was a time when the pain got too much, then Dean had a feeling that a small stuffed hound that just so happened to jump in his duffle while he wasn't looking, might just do the trick.
AN: I hope I did the ending justice. Take care and see you soon!