Falling for a Hunter (Female Reader x Dean Winchester)

Chapter 29: The Third Man

This chapter follows closely with Season 6 episode 3 of Supernatural. Again, like the last chapter, I rushed a few parts that were pretty spot on with the show so if you need to refresh I implore you to check out the episode before reading this. The parts that mainly follow other characters like Sam and Cass are either skipped to make room for more stuff with you and Dean or they are shortened dramatically. 

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Dean jolts awake in the driver's seat of the Impala, stirring your slumber as your head rests on his lap. Startled, you sit up quickly and wipe the restless sleep from your eyes. Blinking against the dim pre-dawn light, you look around to see nothing but trees and the empty freeway stretching ahead.

"Are you okay?" you ask, after realizing there's no immediate danger.

"Yeah..." Dean replies, his brows furrowed and eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. "Just had a bad dream."

"I'm sorry," you say with a yawn. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Dean hesitates, the memory of his dream still vivid. It had started off pleasant, even wonderful. He dreamt of waking up in a large, comfortable bed with you beside him, the morning light filtering through the curtains. His heart swelled with love as he turned over and kissed you passionately. But then, an unsettling feeling crept in. As he rolled on top of you, savoring your warmth, a rattling sound came from the closet. Though the specific horrors had faded from his mind, the lingering fear and his pounding heart told him just how terrifying it had been.

"I'm fine," Dean says, shaking his head as if to clear the remnants of the nightmare. He looks at you for a long moment, wishing he could turn back time to a simpler life away from hunting. But the roar of a passing semi-truck snaps him back to reality, reminding him of the path he chose. "What do you say we go get some breakfast?"

"That sounds good," you nod, still groggy but starting to wake up. "Could use some coffee."

Dean scoffs lightly and starts the engine. He merges onto the freeway, the Impala's rumble a familiar comfort. Several miles pass in silence until he spots a small diner by a misty lake. Pulling into the gravel parking lot, he turns off the engine and steps out, stretching his back and neck, which are stiff and sore from the uncomfortable night's sleep. He chuckles to himself, remembering the days when he could sleep in the Impala without any trouble and still be ready for anything. His last year and a half of relative comfort had spoiled him a bit, and made him soft.

You both head inside the diner, greeted by the warmth and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The waitress, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, seats you at a booth by the window overlooking the lake. Dean orders two large coffees and asks the waitress to wait for him to read over the menu. As you wait for your drinks, you notice Dean staring out at the lake, lost in thought. You reach across the table and squeeze his hand, offering silent support. He looks back at you, a small, grateful smile on his lips, and you both settle into a comfortable silence, letting the peace of the moment wash over you.

"I'm going to brush my teeth and use the bathroom," you say after another moment, feeling the need to freshen up. "Order me some hashbrowns."

"Do you want anything else?" Dean asks as he finally picks up the large plastic menu in front of him, scanning the options with a furrowed brow.

"No, just the hashbrowns," you smile, though your brain feels foggy and disoriented from the restless night.

Locking yourself into the bathroom, you pull out the travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing your teeth with a sense of urgency. You then pull your hair back into a ponytail, taking a moment to examine your tired face in the mirror. Dark circles hang under your eyes, a testament to the sleepless nights on the road. Sighing deeply, you realize just how good you had it over the past year. Of course, you still want to hunt, but life on the road isn't nearly as fun now as it used to be. You haven't had a proper shower, a good night's sleep, or a satisfying meal since leaving, and you miss Dio more than anything. Both you and Dean decided that the road is no place for a dog and dropped him off at Bobby's. While it means you still get to see him, it's not the same.