The Weight of Living

00

[Loosely based off of Wait in the Truck by HARDY]

May 22, 2003

Dean had just finished up a hunt and was headed back to his motel room to clean up, then get something to eat.

As he drove down the road, AC/DC blasting through the speakers, a woman walked into the middle of the road.

Dean braked abruptly and got out of the car. "The hell are you doing, lady?! You could've gotten killed!"

She flinched at his tone.

It was then he noticed her appearance. Her clothes were torn and there were stains of red covering her. Her face was already bruising and there were numerous cuts.

Dean slowly stepped forward. "Hey, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna hurt you. Can you tell me who did this to you?"

She nodded and pointed across the way.

"Can I give you a ride?"

She thought for a moment and nodded again.

"Okay, hop in. But first, I gotta deal with this guy."

Her expression morphed to one of fear once again.

"You don't have to see him. You can wait here. I'm Dean."

The woman nodded, saying nothing.

"Can you show me the way?"

She nodded and directed him to where she'd come from.

Dean parked the car and stepped out. He banged on the door and it opened to reveal a man who smelled strongly of alcohol.

"Tell me something," Dean said venomously. "Do you get off on hitting women?"

The man laughed. "What? Who the hell are you?"

Dean pushed him against the wall. "If you ever come near that girl you hurt, there's not gonna be another chance for you. You're lucky I don't kill people, as sick and disturbing as they can be."

He removed his hands, then punched the man and knocked him out.

Dean left the house and returned to the Impala to find the woman still there. "Hopefully he knows what's good for him and won't bother you again. Who was he?"

The woman sighed. "My boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. I finally broke up with him after... Let's just say he didn't take kindly to that. Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"Yeah I did. How about we get you cleaned up and get you something to eat? Then I can drop you off somewhere?"

She looked down at her hands as Dean drove away. "I don't really have anywhere to go. Not since that ended."

"You could stick with me. My life is pretty adventurous."

For the first time, a small smile crossed her face. "What, do you often help girls in a predicament like mine?"

"Not exactly, but I help people. I probably shouldn't tell you this... Eh, screw it. I'm a Hunter."

"Like hunting deer?"

"No. I hunt monsters. Think werewolves and ghosts."

"So you're a Ghostbuster?"

"Basically, yeah. Dean Winchester, professional Ghostbuster. I like that. I didn't catch your name."

"That's because I didn't give it." Her smile became a little wider. "Jocelyn Hudson."

"Nice to meet you officially, Jocelyn."

The two drove off to Dean's motel room. He let her get cleaned up and fished through his duffel to find her something to wear. For the time being, she'd have to wear his clothes until they could get some for her. Not that he minded.

When she was showered, he handed her the shirt and she slipped it on, then put on the leggings she'd been wearing.

Dean smiled. "How do you feel?"

"A little better. Thank you."

He nodded. "I'm gonna shower, then we can get some grub, okay?" He chuckled at her confused expression. "Food. You want anything in particular?"

"A burger with fries and a soda sounds amazing."

"Burger and fries it is."

He went to shower and once he finished, the two made their way to a diner.

The conversation was awkward, but pleasant.

From then on, the two stuck by each other and he taught her the ins and outs of his life.

And here is where it truly begins.