The Winchester Code

Chapter 22 - Zai Awake

Zai Awake

Chapter 22

It was almost dark by the time we got back to the bunker. Kevin had fallen asleep in the back, and Dean and I played a game to see how much gentle torture he could take before he woke up.
“Do the eyelash thing!” Dean instructed, laughing slightly.
I reach around the back of my seat and steady my hand, gently running my finger over his eyelashes. He stirs and opens his eyes, blinking a couple of times as I quickly retreat my hand. I glance back at him, trying my best to look nonchalant as he stares at me before falling back asleep again. I crack a smile as Dean chuckles, turning down the dirt road to the bunker. I sit tight and smile as I ear Kevin hit his head on the window.
“Ow.” He mumbles, rubbing his head.
“About time you woke up!” Dean angrily mocks.
“I had the weirdest dream.” Kevin continues, not talking to anyone specific. “I was strapped to a chair with a crazy scientist dude prodding and probing me, then he set bugs on me…” He trails off as I start to laugh. “What?”
“Nothing.” Dean smiles, turning into the driveway. He shuts off the engine and we all jump out.
“Well,” Kevin announces. “This was a good birthday. Thank you, guys.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Any time. Actually,” Dean nudges Kevin as they fall in step towards the bunker. “Only on your birthday. Any other time is unnecessary.”
“Right.”
Dean takes a deep breath before opening the bunker door. As soon we step into the bunker, the holiday is over, and it’s back to monsters, demons, hunting, death, sickness, possession, tablet reading… We go from Sam, Dean and Kevin, to the Winchester’s and the Profit. He pushes open the door and we all follow him through, flicking on the lights as we go.
“So, birthday boy,” Dean says, “Do you want anything special for dinner?”
“Um…” He thinks, tapping his chin. “How are your spaghetti skills?”
“Are you kidding?” I jump in, “Dean won the Bolognese Bash at four different schools!”
“Gee you went to some strange schools.” He mutters.
“Spaghetti it is!” Dean announces, smiling as he disappears into the kitchen.
“Right then, I’m going to play some Mario Kart or something. Wanna join?”
“Me?” I ask, a little surprised. “Sure, let me have a shower first, though.”
Kevin nods and turns around, bounding down the hall to the den. I smile as I turn and head to my room. I grab the towel hanging on the back of the door and head to the en suit, taking off my clothes as I go. I step into the shower and turn on the water, squeezing a dollop of shampoo in my hand and washing my shoulder-length hair. My hair is something that Dean has never been able to understand. He used to joke a lot about cutting it off, but I think he’s realised that it’s part of my control. I control my hair. I control its health, its length, its growth, its style. I have hardly any control in my life – not even what we get to listen to in the car! – so being able to control my hair is important. It’s something I can maintain, and it’s something for me to care for. I would never tell Dean how much I spend on shampoo and conditioner for my hair. I have clips and hair ties, and different products. It all sounds a little over zealous, but it’s important to me. It’s how I wind down after a hunt, by taking care of my hair.
After my shower, I casually dry myself as I walk out the bathroom, pat-drying my hair and enjoying the feel of it touching the top of my shoulders, when I hear a gasp.
I turn around and freeze as I see Zai staring at me.
“You’re… awake!” I stammer.
“Mm-hm.” She answers, her eyes wide. She smiles suddenly and squeezes them shut, turning her head towards the ceiling. “And you’re naked.”
“And I’m-” I look down at myself quickly. “I’m naked. You’re awake and I’m naked!” I drop the towel from my hair and quickly wrap it around my body, hastily fastening it as I scramble to find some clothes to wear. “How long have you been awake?”
“I dunno.” She says. “I’ve got a killer headache though. I’m starving!”
“I’m not surprised.” I smile. “You can open your eyes now.”
“Sam?” She asks as she looks at me.
“Yeah?”
“Two things. A – I really, really, really have to pee!”
“Okay.” I say, raising an eyebrow.
She hesitates as she stares at me. “Wanna help me stand?”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” I help her pull back the covers on the bed and stand up, she leans into my as I wrap my arm around her shoulder and slowly walk her to the bathroom. She grabs hold of the doorframe and stumbles forwards as I close the door. “You alright?”
“Peachy.” She calls back.
I walk around my room, tidying things, trying to put my thoughts in order. I have questions, she’ll have questions, and I don’t know the answers – oh! That’s where my other sock went!
I hear the door open behind me and Zai clings to the doorframe. She stares at me for a while as I try to think of one of the many questions swirling around in my head.
“So,” I say eventually, “You wanna… play some Mario Kart?”