𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

❝ odd looks from the clothing department ❞

𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘦 9𝘵𝘩, 2001

wichita, kansas

*ੈ ✩ . ‧ ˚  Britney Spears dance-pop hit "Oops!... Did It Again" rang through the speakers inside the large department store, annoying the elder Winchester as he sorted through a colorful rack of women's shirts.

    "Man, if I gotta hear this godawful song one more time I swear I'm gonna shoot every speaker." He spoke with a huff, pulling out an olive deep v-neck shirt for Jenny and showing it to Sam with his eyebrows raised. "Whaddya think? Give us a little top action." He said as his lips spread into a large grin, gesturing towards his chest area.

    Sam looked a little bewildered, shaking his head in a disapproving way as his arms continued to be filled with different articles of clothing. A pair of shorts here, jeans, a sweater there... he was starting to regret not grabbing a cart. "Dean- don't you think this is enough?" He asked, starting to feel a little self conscious as he made eye contact with a mother who shielded her daughter's eyes and walked past giving him weird looks.

    "Just hold on, I saved the best for last." Dean said with a smirk, lightly smacking his brother's arm before nodding towards the ladies' lingerie side.

    Sam swallowed thickly as he dragged his feet to follow his brother, his cheeks flushing red as Dean started to skim through different styles, clearly enjoying himself a little more than he should. "How do you- uh, I mean, know what to look for?" He asked as his throat tightened, feeling out of place.

    "Consider me a specialist in this department, Sammy." He said with a proud grin, pulling out a red lacy bra and showing it to Sam and wriggling his eyebrows. "Hey, check it out."

    Sam's nostrils flared, his cheeks burning hotter as he started to fumble over his words again. "I don't-"

    Dean made a thinking face, not giving Sam a chance to finish talking as he put it away. "Yea, you're right. I think she's a size bigger than that." Taking another moment, he finally picked two out along with some underwear and handed them over to Sam who was obviously flustered. The shaggy haired brother froze for a moment, unsure of what to do and before he could fully process everything, Dean grabbed the other clothes from him, leaving him awkwardly holding the underwear.

    "Dean, hey!" He harshly whispered, trying to reach for some article of clothing to cover up what he was currently holding but Dean was enjoying pestering his brother a little too much quickly moved, taking long strides to get ahead towards the checkouts with a frazzled Sam straggling behind.

    The lady at the cashier had been quick and by the time Sam caught up, she rang up the last of the clothes Dean put down who stood there with a large smirk, watching the way Sam squirmed as he put down the undergarments on the counter, earning a judgmental glance from the middle aged woman.

    Catching onto the look she gave, Dean saw another opportunity to worsen Sam's situation, leaning in to lower his voice as if he didn't want his brother to hear, putting on a fake look of empathy on his face. "You'll have to just forgive my brother. You see our mother died when he was a baby and I don't think he was ever able to.... move on, so the only way he can fall asleep at night is if he's got a big ole handful of..." He drifted off with fake sadness while nodding to the bra's, licking his lips to contain the laughter he was desperately trying to keep back as he finally cast a look at his brother.

    Sam shot glares at Dean, beyond agitated for the way his brother was embarrassing him and when he opened his mouth to say something back, he glanced at the lady and caught the look of sheer disgust on her face and he panicked, his stomach dropping and his eyes darted back at Dean who was smug and clearly amused with his own antics.

    Sam didn't wait for Dean to check out as he quickly walked out of the store, desperately wanting to be out of sight. The next few seconds dragged painfully slow as the younger brother's anger grew, waiting until Dean was outside after paying and walking back to the Impala before he spoke up. "What the hell was that?!" He snapped once the store's door closed behind him.

    "What are you talkin' about?" Dean replied calmly, acting completely unfazed by his outburst while reaching for the keys in his front jean pocket casually.

    "What am I talking- dude you totally made me look like some sick freak back there!" Sam whined, turning to look Dean in the face while walking backwards.

    "Oh yea? Well, maybe you'll learn not to use my razor now." Dean countered, the corners of his lips flickering back up into a devilish grin.

    "What?! Is that what all that was about?!!"

    "Oh, that? Well, I did that because I like seeing you squirm." Dean flashed him a smirk as he opened the car door and watched as Sam went to the opposite side before sliding in.

    "You're an ass." Sam muttered, nostrils flaring as he sat down in the car, tossing the bags carelessly into the backseat with a huff. "What if we run into her again?!" He asked in a raised tone, shifting in his seat to glare at Dean.

    "Please. It's like one in a million chances." Dean rolled his eyes, starting up his beloved Impala. "Quit whining. We'll blow this town today anyway once we find a safe place to take Jenny."

    Sam wasn't satisfied, still clearly annoyed with the way he had been embarrassed by Dean, relaxing in his seat with a huff as he shook his head. If only he could figure out a way to get him back.

✧ ˚ 　· 　　 .

    Back at the motel, Jenny had woken up with yet another headache, her body still aching. In the fogginess of her waking state, she had little recognition of what had happened the day before other than pulling the trigger on the witch, everything else a little blurry in her memory. She didn't have a clue how long she had been stuck in that cellar or how she even arrived there in the first place.

    Hissing a sharp breath as she started to sit up, a tightness on her stomach stopping her from moving too quickly. Frowning in confusion, she lifted the flannel up to see her skin stitched together and then her memory came back. Dean. She ran the tips of her finger over the broken skin, tracing the spots where he had sewn together the gash while a memory flashed back.

    "Your daddy isn't going to save you. Nobody will because you're not worth saving. You are nothing but a scared little girl alone in this world." The witch had taunted, putting just enough pressure on her skin with the knife to cut into her skin, the edge of the blade leaving a stinging sensation on her chest where it had sliced while blood bubbled up to the surface. "You've always just been in the way. Your daddy is probably happy you're missing."

    Jenny was so close to passing out, her bottom lip quivering as her saliva mixed with blood slowly dripped out, barely cracking open her eyes as she leaned towards as far as the rope above her head would let her, taking a breath before spitting in the witches face. "Then kill me." It came out more as a plea, her voice whimpering just as the dark haired witch backhanded her, striking her harshly with a darkened gaze.

    "Your time is coming, child." She sneered, watching as a bright stream of crimson flowed out freely from the girls mouth, taking slight pleasure to see her so broken. Gripping Jenny's jaw tightly enough to bruise, she made her look directly in the eyes. "Unfortunately for you, we have other plans for you." She let go with a harsh shove, taking a step back with a prideful grin before walking away.

    Jenny tightly screwed her eyes shut as if to block the memory out, her tongue running over the jagged gash on the inside of her cheek as a tear slipped from the corner of her eyes. She just wanted to go home, to crawl in her own bed with out a box of cosmic brownies and a cold glass of milk. Maybe even read one of her romance novels she kept hidden under her bed mixed in with old school books so her father wouldn't find them. 

    Except home wouldn't be safe anymore. She couldn't return there without her father and living with these taunting thoughts, wondering why he hadn't been the one to save her and if the words of the witch had any weight to them. Surely she was more important to him than the mission. Family came first, thats how he raised her.

    Jenny had felt a little more rested by the time the boys arrived back at the motel, much of the nausea passed through her system although she knew it would be a solid week before she felt back to her normal self. Not that she would let that stop her from her task.

    The boys walked in with a bag full of clothes which she had been suspicious of at first, having not been aware of their plans to buy her new outfits. Most had fit, a few shirts were a bit loose but Jenny wasn't about to complain as long as she was out of those clothes that smelt like a mix of overused laundry detergent and musty motel rooms.

    Walking out of the bathroom in a Led Zeppelin shirt and jeans, Jenny was met by the sight of the brothers packing whatever they had pulled out the night before, sensing a bit of tension between them. Clearing her throat to get their attention, Dean was the first to turn around and his eyes quickly gave her a once over, looking proud of himself for his sense of styling.

    "How'd everything fit?" He asked, turning around to face her fully, placing his hands on his hips.

    "Surprisingly well." She said simply with a shrug.

    Dean slapped Sam's arm with the back of his hand, a grin spreading across his lips. "Told ya I was an expert Sammy."

    Rolling his eyes, the younger one let out a sigh as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder, not bothering to glance at the others. "I'll be outside packing the rest of the gear." He spoke in a flat tone, brushing past Dean as he made his way out the room.

    Jenny was left wondering what had happened between the two while they were gone, feeling a tinge of awkwardness as she stood there in her new outfit, knowing she was out of place. She never had a sibling. Barely having been around anyone besides her father and being around the conflict between the brothers left her wondering what one even does in a situation like this.

    Luckily Dean was used to Sam's outbursts at this point, especially since he was the one who put him in that mood because of his prank from earlier. Except he knew it went deeper than just that. Sam wasn't happy anymore. Everything turned into an argument that put distance between them and it scared Dean because he knew Sam wanted out. It was only a matter of time before he decided enough was enough.

    "So your dad," he started, raising his eyebrows and brushing off the conflict between him and Sam. "What was he after?" he asked both trying to create conversation and make sense of their situation.

    Jenny crossed her arms around her stomach, unsure of how to explain things or even if she was allowed to but so far the brothers had proven to be friendly and her father did trust them afterall with her life. "We've been trailing this coven for some time, since before I was born actually..." she started before taking in a deep breath. "They have this artifact, like a reactor if you will, that stores a lot of their power and gives them energy so if we could destroy it-"

    "The death star explodes." Dean finished her sentence as if he knew where she was going with it.

    Jenny cracked a smile at his pop culture reference, slowly nodding her head in agreement. "Exactly."

    And there it was. She had finally smiled and Dean wasn't able to contain his own boyish smirk as they locked gazes for a moment, knowing that he would do anything to see it again.

    "There's a woman my pops used to date who lives in southern Missouri, she's a hunter who will probably help us find him again." She said after clearing her throat, brushing some hair behind her ear as she tried to ignore the slight flutter in her stomach.

    "Awesome." He smacked his lips together, looking around the room as if to look for anything left behind while in reality it was just to play it cool. "First things first, there's a burger joint in town I think we should hit." He watched for her approval, grabbing his bag as he watched her nod her head in agreement. A girl down for burgers two days in a row? He must be dreaming.

    The two went outside to join Sam after checking out of the motel, Dean opening the door for her to slip into the backseat before getting into the drivers seat himself. A silence broke between them for the short drive to the restaurant, Jenny casting short curious glances between the brothers trying to understand their relationship.

    It was an older styled cafe with a bar you could walk up to and sit down at although the group opted for a corner booth, strategically putting Jenny in the middle as they settled in. An older woman came up for their order and while Jenny and Dean ordered the same thing to keep it simple, Sam ventured off to order some chicken bowl with vegetables.

    Dean scoffed at that as soon as the waitress walked away, finding it half amusing and half annoying that his brother was always trying to eat healthy. "Don't mind him, he's just trying to keep up his girlish figure."

    "At least I'm not gonna die at thirty from heart disease." Sam quipped back, leaning back in his spot with his hands on his lap.

    "At least I'll die happy!" Dean argued further, getting slightly offended.

    "Yea, and feel like crap until you get there. Dude, your gut has to be so bloated from the greasy burgers and all that beer you consume."

    "Actually, I feel awesome! Do you ever feel guilty stealing all the little rabbits food?"

    "You know what Dean, I'm sick of your crap! Let me live life the way I want to!" Sam snapped, leaning forward in his seat to get a better view of Dean on the other side of Jenny.

    "Umm...." The female quietly tried to cut in, feeling a pang of social anxiety that was quickly building inside.

    "Who said I was trying to control it?" Dean leaned forward to mirror Sam, challenging his words.

    "It's with your sarcastic remarks and the way you look at me, it's you expect me to be dad's little soldier just like you!" Sam's voice raised. 

     "At least you guys have each other!" Jenny blurted out, her chest heaving as her heart thudded in her chest.

    "What?" Dean nearly stuttered out, confused at her outburst as his eyes softened looking at her frazzled state.

    "All my life, it's just been me and my dad. I would kill to have someone I could share the good and bad with but instead it was me in some abandoned house for days with nothing but silence and my tormented mind." Jenny's brows narrowed, looking at Dean before shifting her gaze to Sam with a pleading look. "You're lucky to have each other because if you lived the way I did.... it was hell."

    Both boys solemned, recognizing the pain behind her words and starting to wonder what her life had been like as an only child.

    "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap." She frowned at herself, looking down at her hands that fidgeted on her lap while feeling guilty for lashing out like that. She was supposed to be above emotion, to not reveal too much.

    "No, it's fine really." Sam spoke up and brought Jenny out of her thoughts, clearing his throat before offering her a small smile in apology. "We shouldn't be airing that crap out here."

    Jenny flashed a small smile back at Sam, feeling a little more at ease from his words.

    The meal went by with small chatter between the three, briefly talking about their meal or maybe a car that drove past the cafe. The mood had lightened a little now with them getting things off their chest and although Jenny still felt a little tense, she knew she was starting to enjoy their company a little more than she probably should be.

    Sam had been in the middle of sharing a lighthearted story of himself in high school when an all too familiar woman walked inside the cafe, his heart dropping all the way to his stomach as his eyes widened in fright when he saw her. 

    "Whoa, Sammy, chill. You look like you've seen a-" Dean trailed off as he looked over to see what his brother was staring at and his eyebrows shot up.

    He couldn't believe it. It was the cashier lady from earlier and when her gaze rested on them, she seemed to recognize them too and was walking straight towards their booths "I know you two! You're that bra snuggler freak kid and the all too obvious damaged older brother!"

    Jenny's brown eyes widened at the woman's accusations, glancing at Sam with a baffled look only to see his face red with his head low like a shoulder dog.

    Dean however, immediately shot up out of his seat, trying to laugh her words off as he gestured for Jenny to follow his lead with a nod of his head. "Heh, I think you have us confused with someone else, lady." He spoke quickly, placing his hand on Jenny's back to help balance her since she was still a little unsteady as she stood up.

    "No, I'm pretty sure it was you two and excuse me," she started, putting a hand on Jenny's shoulder to get her attention. "Do you feel safe with these two men?" The woman asked suspiciously, spotting the bruises and cuts on her face.

    "She fell off her scooter, no biggie." Dean spoke rushed, saying the first thing that came to his mind.

    The woman gave Dean a suspicious look opening her mouth to say something but Jenny quickly cut in, sensing the awkward tension that she hated all too much. "None of your business, ma'am and if it was, I still probably wouldn't tell you." Jenny said all too smoothly, turning her back and following Sam's lead towards the Impala, Dean's hand still resting on her lower back for support. 

    "Bra snugglier?" Jenny asked as soon as they settled in the vehicle, briefly meeting Dean's amused gaze as he backed up the car to drive out of the parking lot. 

    Dean let out a deep sigh through pursed lips before glancing at Sam. He busted out laughing at the sight. His face was beat red and even though they were out of the woman he was still sitting low in the seat as if he would need to hide at any given second. "I don't- It was Dean. He thought he was funny and she was the cashier." He said shortly with a gulp. 

    Jenny looked at Dean, unsure if she should take pity on Sam or laugh with the older brothers prank. Their eyes met in the rearview, the corners of his green eyes crinkled up and Jenny managed a small smile back. Maybe this little trip with the two boys wouldn't be so bad after all. 

𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝: august 8th, 2024

𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: n/a