The Rise of Dawn - Dean Winchester

Chapter 6. Can't Wait to Tell This Story to My Grandchildren

Waiting for Dean to come out of the little convenience store at the gas station somewhere between Springfield and Jacksonville, Niamh looked at the passenger window instead of through it, thinking about the nightmare she'd had and trying to fill in the gaps of sleep that had disappeared as soon as she woke up that morning. The soft tune of rock music that normally relaxed her, for the last three hours was only bothering her and the silence between her and Dean made her steal a few moments of sleep in the car, although unsuccessful. The creek of the driver's door opening jolted Niamh out of her thoughts, but she didn't bother to move her gaze from the window, watching as the droplets of rain, through which they had passed a few miles before, raced towards the bodywork of the Impala.

"Okay, that's enough!" Dean made his presence known to Niamh by shouting and banging his hand on the steering wheel. "You've been awfully quiet since the moment you woke up, you haven't said anything for the last three hours, you dillydally every few seconds, and don't make me start on the sweaty tossing and turning the whole night. What's wrong?" He requested some reasonable explanation out of his dear friend.

"I had a nightmare." Niamh blankly stated, avoiding any eye contact while her head hung between her shoulders.

"Okay. What happened?"

"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to figure out." Niamh responded, hesitation evident in her speech. "I am missing bits and pieces of the dream, but I remember I was in chains and probably tortured, and there was a woman."

"Do you know that woman?" Dean turned his body towards Niamh, resting his right arm over the seat support between them.

"I don't know, I can't seem to remember her face, it's all a blur." Niamh lamented, rubbing her face with her palms quickly for a few times.

"I got you some coffee if you're not planning on catching some z's. We have little less than seven hours 'til we get home." Dean passed the thin paper cup with plastic lid to Niamh and the temperature of the liquid inside warmed her hands instantly. She slouched down into the leather seat and focused on the engine's rhythm as the car sped down the road, leading them home.

As they were getting closer to Jacksonville, Dean's phone went off, waking Niamh up from her restless slumber.

"Yeah?" He answered his phone quickly and quietly, in hopes of not disturbing his friend beside him.

"Are you on the road?" Niamh heard a faint voice from the phone, coming from Sam.

"Just outside Jacksonville."

"How far from Branson Missouri are you?"

"About six hours. Why?" Dean glanced over at the passing road sign before answering.

"I found a case there. Over a dozen people missing in last month."

Dean glanced over at Niamh and noticed her looking intently at him. He let out a sigh and answered, "We'll check it out."

"What's up?" Niamh sent a question through a yawn and stretched the uncomfortable knots from sleeping out of her arms.

"You are the lucky winner who gets to work with me on yet another case!" Dean marveled with a cocky grin and sent a wink over to Niamh.

"You mean I get to save your ass yet again?" Niamh joked and raised one of her brushed eyebrows, "Lucky me." She continued, putting her hand on her chest where her heart was beating.

"Shut up."

***

"What the hell is this?" Niamh said after getting out of bed, looking out the window and seeing snow falling.