Fiction Title: Racing Towards Destiny
Chapter Title: Mystery Solved?
Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: Neither show represented in this fiction belongs to me. Dark Angel is the product of Cameron/Eglee and Fox, whereas Supernatural is the product of Kripke and The CW. No profits are made from this fiction and it is intended for private enjoyment only.
Story Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Chapter Rating: PG-15
Genre: Crossover
Type: Romance, Angst
Pairing: Sam/ Max
Summary: One dream set her on a path of destiny.
Spoilers/ Timeline: This story would begin in Chapter 17- Coming Of Age
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first, please
A/N: This story, while being in the same universe as WiC, does not actually occur within that storyline. This fiction is just an off-shoot of what might have happened.
Chapter Eight
Mystery Solved?
"Ready to go Dean?" his father asked, glancing up from where he was loading up his jacket with essentials.
"Actually Dad, I need to run a real quick errand. I'll catch up with you," Dean replied easily.
"All right," John shrugged. It didn't matter either way to him. "Okay," he tuned to face Sam and Max, seated at the tiny, slightly off balance table, loaded down with their schoolwork, books and assignment sheets. "You two know the drill."
"Actually Dad," Dean interrupted, "I kind of need Max's help. I won't keep her long," he promised, aware of the mild surprise on each of their faces. The girl threw a questioning glance at Sam, who returned the look with a puzzled half-shrug.
"Okay Dean," she rose and picked up her jacket as Dean headed for the door.
He had the passenger side of the Impala unlocked by the time she caught up to him. She slid into the seat apprehensively while he settled himself into the driver's seat.
"Where are we going?" she asked as he started the engine.
"Not far," he grunted, maneuvering the car out of the motel parking lot.
"And what are we doing when we get there?" she asked archly.
"You'll see," he replied, and then glanced at her, giving her a wicked smile. "I just need some help picking some stuff out."
"What stuff?"
"Date stuff," he smirked.
"You have a date?" she asked, bemused and surprised, especially since they'd been in town for less than a day. Dean however, instead of bragging over this fact, just continued to smile as he directed the car to a drug store that was still open. Max, unsure of what was going on, followed after him hesitantly. He barely acknowledged the clerk's greeting, heading straight to the cosmetics area. To her relief, they bypassed the make-up and halted in front of the display of men's cologne. Dean started sniffing at the tester bottles, making different faces at the scents. Finally he gestured to her.
"Here, pick out something nice," he directed her. "I'll be right back."
She furrowed her eyebrows at him, "but I-!"
"Nothing too strong," he warned as he moved off down the aisle. Max watched his retreating back for a moment and then, with a perplexed sigh, turned back to the unexplained task. She carefully sniffed at each product offered. She found most to be too overpowering for her sensitive nose. Not knowing exactly what he was after, Max settled on three choices. The first was a sweet, yet exotic blend that made her think of chewing fruit flavored gum in a jungles. The second was a subtle sandalwood based scent that was by far her favorite. The third was a musk based outdoorsy type that she thought might suit Dean's taste. As she looked over the three tester bottles she held, Dean reappeared, carrying a shopping basket.
"What'd you find?" he asked jovially, once he'd reached her side. Wordlessly, she held out her hands. He took the first, sniffed and wrinkled his nose. "Too fruity," he proclaimed it and set the bottle back on the shelf where she gestured.
"Here, this might be better," she offered him the musk. He sniffed at it and his eyebrows went up and he sniffed again.
"That's good," he nodded. "I'll have to remember this." But that bottle too went back on the shelf. She handed him the third bottle and he sniffed it as well. His eyes went back and forth, as if thinking it over and then nodded once. He placed the tester bottle back on the shelf and took a small bottle of the product.
"So? We done?" Max asked as he placed the bottle in the basket.
"Nope, few more things to get," Dean announced and headed off down the aisle yet again. Max trailed after him. She caught up to him at a display of chocolates. "Now," he instructed, gesturing at large. "I know you're partial to cherry cordials, but what would be good date-wise?" Max rolled her eyes and quickly picked out a moderately sized box of assorted chocolates. She held it up for his inspection and he smiled. "Just what I was thinking," he crowed and the box joined the cologne. "Come on."
They ended up next at the till, but Dean waved the cashier away. He fingered several different flavors of lip balm before he settled on a flavorless brand. "Gum or breath mints?" he muttered. Max wasn't sure if he was talking to her, or just himself.
"Mints," she offered decisively though. "Watching someone smackin' on gum all night isn't very attractive."
"Good thinking," Dean complimented her, nudging her lightly with his elbow. He grabbed a pack of mints, dumped it into the basket and then set said basket on the counter. He snapped his fingers once and exclaimed, "ooh, flowers!" Max immediately shook her head.
"Overkill," she warned and glanced around. "Plus, I doubt you'd find a fresh bouquet here at this hour."
"Yeah," Dean grinned, nudging her again. "How'd you get so wise about all this?" He caught the cashier's eye and nodded. The man came forward to ring up the purchase.
"Common sense," Max answered Dean's query.
"Oh hey," Dean grinned at her. "Did you need anything while you're here?"
"Nah, I'm good," Max declined. The cashier, politely aware, waited for that before giving Dean the total. Her brother paid, received his change and receipt and waited a moment while the items were bagged. And then Dean led Max back out to the car. "Is that it?" she asked as they climbed back into the Chevy.
"That's it," Dean assured her. "But," he turned to face her, more serious than he'd been before, "I need to talk to Sammy when we get back. Privately."
"Oh, um, okay," Max agreed tentatively. She didn't really understand, but none of this made sense beyond the surface of things, since they'd left the motel. And Dean obviously wasn't going to clear it up for her. When they got back to the motel, she stayed in the car while Dean gathered up two bags, both with the drugstore logo and name on them and got out of the car. He threw her a cheeky grin and headed into their room.
"Hey Sam? Sammy!" he called as the main door slammed shut behind him. The bathroom door opened and Sam emerged. He glanced around.
"Where's Max?"
"Out in the car," Dean answered easily. "She'll be in, in a minute. I got something for you," he added, tossing one of the bags through the air. Sam caught it awkwardly and was able to discern a box shape in the midst of the plastic bag. Warily, he pulled apart the handles and glanced inside. Upon realizing that his elder brother had bought him condoms, he blushed and dropped the bag as if he'd been scalded. It landed on the corner of the bed.
"Dean," he began, completely embarrassed, but his brother just glared at him as sternly as possible.
"Now you can stay the hell out of mine," he warned his younger brother.
"Dean, I-!" Sam tried again, unable to meet his brother's eyes.
"I can count you know Sam," Dean snorted derisively. "But really? If you're going to be doing it, then you can man up and buy your own from now on."
"Dean, I'm not... I don't," Sam choked out. "I wasn't..."
"Oh please," Dean scoffed. "If you weren't up to something tonight, then why were you brushing your teeth a few minutes ago? I can smell the toothpaste from over here," he explained at Sam's surprised look.
"I was... I had something stuck in my teeth," Sam muttered defensively. Dean rolled his eyes.
"Sam please," he sighed in a long suffering, eldest brother way, "you and Max aren't as sneaky as you think you are." He was only a little surprised when Sam paled and sank down to the bed, his knees trembling visibly.
"Y-you know?" he stammered out and Dean snorted again.
"Not stupid here," Dean gestured at himself. "I can't say I'm too thrilled with it, but I can understand. Just don't let Dad find out about it. He'll tear you a new one." Sam gulped and nodded. "Oh," Dean smiled tightly and gestured to the other bag that he'd set on the table. "This is for you too. You need all the help you can get dude." Sam seemed taken aback.
"Uh, thanks, I guess," he mumbled, seemingly frozen to the bed. Dean checked his watch and frowned.
"I gotta get going. So, you kids have fun tonight and remember what I said. Protection and back-up. Really shouldn't be a problem for you now. See ya." Sam waved weakly, still entirely dumbfounded as Dean sailed out the door again.
Max, watching from the car, saw Dean emerge and cautiously vacated her seat. She left the door open, in case Dean decided on another errand. But her brother leaned against the hood of the car and beckoned her over. She shut the door and took up a similar position next to him.
"The jig is up," Dean announced quietly, but with a broad smile.
"The jig?" Mac repeated cautiously.
"Yeah. I know what you and Sam have cooked up for this evening," Dean stared at her. "And don't bother trying to cover, Sam confessed."
Panic gripped Max and she had to force herself to face him. "H-he did?"
Dean nodded and sighed. "I just want to know how many times this has happened before," he declared. Max ducked her chin, her hair falling forward to hide her face.
"Just twice," she mumbled softly. He sighed once again.
"Well I can't say that I'm overly pleased with how you two have gone about this, but I understand."
Max hesitantly looked up at her big brother. He didn't look all that angry. "You do?" she whispered. Dean smiled indulgently.
"Hey! I'll have you know that I was that age not that long ago. I remember what it was like." He straightened up then, the smile fading from his face. "But let me tell you something Max. If I ever, ever, catch you sneaking out to meet a boy and having Sam cover for you... I will tan your hide. And then I'll tell Dad," he threatened. Max gaped for a moment as everything suddenly fell together and the sick feeling gripping her stomach eased a bit.
"That's a bit of a double standard, isn't it?" she asked sarcastically.
"Damn straight!" he declared proudly. "Hey, you can't blame me for trying to watch out for my baby sister."
Max rolled her eyes, but straightened up with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. She placed her right hand over her heart and held her left hand up in the air. "Dean, I solemnly swear that I will not leave the motel room tonight, unless forced to by disaster, supernatural or otherwise!"
Dean chuckled and ruffled her hair. "All right brat," he teased and skirted the front of the car, heading for the driver's seat. Max stepped away from the car, heading for their room. "Oh hey!" Dean called, one foot poised in the act of getting into the car. He leaned forward, his arm braced against the top of the door. "Tell Sam he's got until eleven. I doubt we'll be back that early, but you know, just to be on the safe side. You know what, I'll call when we're done, make sure everything's kosher, okay?" Max bit her lip, nodded and put her hand to the door handle. "And don't hesitate to call if something happens. I'll handle Dad."
"Good night Dean," she called. He chuckled again, his attention finally shifting away from his wayward siblings. Max slipped into the room and leaned back against the door. She eyed Sam, sitting on the corner of the far bed, running one finger over his forehead in a repetitive, worried motion. "Sam?" she asked softly. He glanced up quickly and then dropped is eyes to the floor again.
"He knows," he murmured lowly. Max had to strain to hear him.
"No actually," she corrected, "Dean only thinks he knows."
"What?" Sam demanded, looking fully at her now. Max pushed herself away from the door and as she approached him, snagged the drugstore bag from the table. She placed the bag next to him and took a seat herself.
"Dean," she announced with exaggerated care, "is of the opinion that you have made plans to meet some lucky girl, while I remain behind like a good little girl and cover for you."
"Really?" Sam asked again, speculatively. His brows furrowed together. "Really? But how...?"
"I have no clue," Max laughed.
"So why did he want you to go with him?" Sam asked. Max rustled the plastic bag between them.
"I guess he wanted a female's opinion."
Sam plucked the bag from between them and opened it for the first time, his hand delving in to rifle through the items. "He uh, said I needed help," Sam mumbled.
"Oh I don't know about that," Max teased, nudging him gently. "I think you do just fine on your own."
"Well in any case," Sam withdrew the chocolates and held them out to her. "I believe these are for you." Max took them, running her hand over the cover and then laughed.
"You know, I'm glad I talked him out of the flowers. Those would have been hard to explain."
"Oh I'm sure we'd come up with something. But this?" Sam pulled out the lip balm. He regarded the small cylinder for a moment. "Ideas?"
"Mm," Max sighed. "That's to keep those lips soft, supple and oh so very kissable." She turned her face up to his and he dropped a kissed on her bowed mouth. He grinned and turned back to the bag.
"Breath mints," he pulled them out. "Always a good idea."
"I've never had reason to complain."
"Me neither," Sam smiled. "And then," he pulled the cologne out. He set the bag aside and worked on opening the box.
"You know," Max mused, "I wasn't sure why Dean chose that one over the one I thought would suit him better. But now that I know what he was up to..."
Sam unscrewed the cap and took a cautious sniff and his face reflected his surprised delight. "That's nice. I like it."
Max reached for the bottle and took it from him. She covered the bottle neck with her forefinger and quickly inverted the bottle. She transferred it to her other hand and then slowly trailed her scented finger down the line of his neck. She leaned into him, inhaling the combined scents the cologne and his skin offered. "It suits you. It was the one I liked best. I'm glad I chose it."
"I'm glad too," Sam murmured huskily. Max rubbed her nose playfully against this throat and then pulled away.
"The only thing I don't know about is, what's in the other bag." Sam twitched and busied himself with re-capping the cologne bottle. Max waited a moment and then reached for the bag. "Can I?" she asked. Sam nodded and Max glanced in the bag, suddenly starting to giggle. "Well, I think the message is loud and clear about that, huh?" she teased.
"Very," Sam agreed, setting the cologne on the nightstand. "And it'd be a shame to not um... use them, when he went to so much trouble to get them for me."
"You know," Max wrinkled her nose, "Dean wanted me to tell you that you and your date had until eleven. And he'll be calling before they head back to uh, make sure that the coast is clear."
"Well that's pretty decent of him," Sam arched his eyebrows. "And I'd hate to waste a second of that time on how un-jerk like my brother is being. So Max? What do you say? Are you ready for our date?"
"Most eagerly," she returned, holding out her hand. Sam took it and pulled her close, all thoughts of anyone but them disappearing.
*****
The phone rang once, at precisely eleven o'clock. There was a pause and then it began to ring in earnest. Max rolled over on her bed and picked up the receiver. "'llo?" she mumbled.
"Hey Maxie," Dean's voice was muted by some background noise, but she could hear him clearly enough. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"No, but I was almost asleep," she grumbled.
"Sorry. Is Sam back yet?"
"Yeah, he got back half an hour or so ago," she lied, since he'd never actually gone out. "He's in the bathroom right now." The silence on the other end of the line was heavy with suspicion. "Really, he is," Max insisted. "Hang on." She stood and dragged the phone with her. She knocked on the door. "Sam?"
"Yeah?" She held the phone out so that Dean could hear Sam answer,
"Dean's on the phone."
"Okay, I'll be out in a minute."
She returned the receiver to her ear. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah," Dean grunted. "Ask him what the square root of 9148 is."
"Oh my God," Max chuckled. "You're really paranoid, you know that?"
"No," he drawled. "I just know what kind of dangerous schemers you two are when you put your heads together." Max gave another laugh and repeated the question to Sam.
"Yes, because I always take a calculator to the bathroom with me. Geeze!"
She heard Dean chuckle and asked, "satisfied?"
"I guess. How did his date go?"
"Well, he seemed pretty happy," Max smiled softly, though Dean couldn't see it. "The chocolates were good."
"See? I know what I'm doing, huh?"
"No, I mean they were very tasty."
"Huh? What happened?"
"Oh, it turns out she is diabetic," Max lied through her teeth.
"Typical," Dean snorted. "Should've gone with the flowers."
"Yeah, but then it would have turned out that she was allergic."
"Yup," he agreed with no small amusement. "But anyways, the other reason I was calling was to let you guys know that we're still gonna be a while."
"Oh? How long?"
"Mm, maybe another hour, possibly two," he decided.
"All right," Max accepted that easily. "I'll tell Sam."
"And tell him to stay put now," Dean instructed sternly. "He's already had his fun for the night."
"I'll pass that along," Max assured him. And Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"95.64517731."
"All right Miss Smarty Pants," he chuckled. "Sleep tight."
"Night Dean," Max mumbled and returned the phone to its cradle. The bathroom door opened and Sam emerged. "You're too late," Max informed her boyfriend with a smile. "He already hung up."
"That's okay," Sam chuckled. "I've got better things to do than talk to my brother." He paused. "Did he say anything?"
Max nodded. "Yes. You Samuel, have had your limit of fun for tonight, according to your brother and are most definitely not to go out again," she said it teasingly.
"Well," Sam sighed, "I'm going to have to make at least one quick trip to the dumpster out back. And since I technically haven't been out yet, I won't be going out again."
Max frowned until she realized that he was holding one of the plastic bags from earlier and what evidence it obviously contained. "Or you could stay out of the dark alleyway and use the trash container next to the soda machine," she suggested, sincere in her slight worry. Sam picked up on it and smiled.
"If I'd known there was one there, I would have suggested that," he assured her and she nodded. Her shoulders drooped as she released the frission of tension she'd held.
"Oh, while you're there, could you...?"
"Yeah," Sam smiled indulgently. "What would you like?"
"Anything clear is good," she shrugged, reaching to her duffel bag on the floor to retrieve her wallet.
"I got it sweetie," Sam told her as he headed for the door. "I'll be right back." He was as good as his word, carrying with him two bottles of soda. He shut the door firmly and held out a bottle for her. Max took it and then noticed the frown on his face.
"Problem?"
"Yeah," he whispered huskily, stepping closer to her. He ran one fingertip over the scalloped edge of the camisole she wore, smiling briefly as she shivered at the contact. "I think I got a little carried away."
Max glanced down, surprised by the purpling mark left by his lips, violently visible above the white material. "Oh I'll say!:"
"You better change," he warned. Max set the bottle down on the table and went back over to retrieve a t-shirt from her bag. She slipped it on quickly and smoothed the hem over her hips.
"Lucky it wasn't higher," she teased, though she was blushing just a little. Sam grinned foolishly, the moment that he'd done that to her playing through his mind again. It was an intimate prelude to even more enjoyable destinations. "Better be more careful in the future," she continued teasing as she returned to him. "Or I just might have to retaliate."
"Oh really?"
"Mm hm," she nodded, reaching her arms up to wrap around his neck. His hands instantly caught her waist, pulling her closer. "I could have you wearing turtlenecks all summer."
"Oh God," Sam groaned as she rotated her hips against his. "Would you really torture me like that?"
"No," she giggled instantly, leaning back from him slightly and unclasping her hands, to trail one slowly down his chest. "I could be persuaded to take it... lower." She scratched lightly at his stomach. Sam had the sudden image of her doing precisely that and tried helplessly to rein his imagination in.
"How much time before they get back?" he demanded, his lips seeking hers.
"An hour," she murmured against him. "Maybe more." They heard then the distant sound of a car door slamming and though they both knew that it probably wasn't the Impala or John's truck, they still broke apart.
"Or maybe less," Sam grumbled. Max chewed at her lower lip thoughtfully.
"You're right," she finally whispered. "We took a chance tonight... not really the smartest move on our parts."
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "They could've been back at any time, for any reason."
"So I take it that this is no more?" she frowned, gesturing at the motel room at large.
"Here, no," Sam confirmed slowly. "But Max, we'll figure something out. I promise. There is just no way I'm gonna..."
"Me neither," Max smiled, reaching for his hand. They laced their fingers together and another door slammed a distance away. Sam chuckled ruefully and let go of her.
"We'll find a way," he repeated.
"Of course we will," Max agreed. "You know, Dean's pretty scared of us putting our minds together and coming up with schemes."
"Really?"
She nodded. "Yup. He said so tonight."
"That's good to know," Sam grinned, but then sighed and glanced around. "So what now?"
"Bed?" Max suggested and Sam groaned.
"No! Sorry, but I can't think of you and a bed, especially when its just the two of us."
"All right," Max laughed throatily. "Homework then?"
"Yeah, I think I can handle that."
Dean found them like that, cross-legged on the couch, facing each other with a pile of books and papers before them, firing ideas back and forth at each other. "Hey!" he greeted them brightly. "Everything go all right tonight?" Both faces smiled up cheerfully at him.
"Yeah. You?" Max asked. Dean nodded as he shed his jacket and laid it over the back of a chair.
"It was fine. Dad'll be here right away. How was the date Sam?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Awesome," Sam replied truthfully, covertly winking at Max. She hid her grin.
"Good," Dean grunted. "Oh, and sorry about the chocolates," he added off-handedly.
"That's okay,' Sam shrugged his shoulders. "Max enjoyed them."
"Yeah, they almost made up for the chocolates you promised to buy me a few weeks ago and never did."
Dean winced, obviously having hoped that she'd forgotten about that. There was a moment of silence and then Sam turned and stretched out his legs. "Well, I'm stumped," he grunted and gestured at their schoolwork. "I think I'll finish this tomorrow."
"Yeah, time to hit the hay," Max chimed in, unwinding herself from her position as well. By the time John arrived, both of the youngsters were sound asleep.
RTD09- The Consequences Of Our Actions
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