You Found Me |Sam Winchester| [2015 Wattys Winner]

12. Off Limits

12. Off Limits

"I think it's time I did some shopping," I told Sam the next morning. "This isn't going to work if I'm on the road for the rest of my life."

"How're you gonna manage that?"

"Oh, I'll manage." I smiled mischievously.

"Dakota."

"What?"

"You're not shoplifting."

I gasped. "I wasn't going to go to a mall to steal, Sam. Just people's houses. Take clothes I don't think they'll miss."

"I can't believe I'm hearing you say this so casually." He shook his head. "Being on the streets has really changed you. I'm not sure I like it."

"Hey, it wasn't my first idea, but when you're desperate like me, that's the way to go." I shrugged.

"I think I would be okay with you with a fake credit card at this point."

"You burned everything, Sam. Should have thought about that beforehand. Hey, since that Lindsey girl is into you, mind trying to get her address?"

"No."

I grimaced. "You're a poor sport."

"You're not the Dakota I know."

"Knew," I corrected him. "And you're right, I'm not the Dakota from high school that you knew. A lot has molded me into this." I gestured to myself. "I'm not happy about it, but I got to make the best of it. Right now, this is the best I've been for some time, as bad as that sounds."

Sam sighed. "If you do go 'shopping,' be smart about it."

"You're talking to an experienced girl, Sam. Of course I'll be smart about it."

"If I get a call saying that you've been arrested—"
"Stop worrying, Dad," I joked. "I may be younger than you by a few months, but that doesn't give you authority over me. I'll be back in time to accompany you to work." I smiled. "Don't worry about me."

"I shouldn't have to, but I do."

* * *

Sam wasn't too proud of me when I came back with a decent stack of clothes. It was enough to get me by for a bit at least. And I managed to do laundry at one person's house. Some people were so naïve sometimes. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.