Standing Outside the Fire

25

[Season Seven, Time for a Wedding!]

INT. CLUB IN LAS VEGAS - NIGHT

Dean was drinking beer with a waitress while sitting at a table with his back to the dancers on stage.

"Okay, you won't believe it," the waitress said. "People think I just say it to get a bigger tip."

"Try me," Dean challenged.

"Fine. I'm in grad school. See? Okay? There's a look." She laughed. "Okay? Stop."

"No, this is my "I dig smart chicks" look. Wow, if they, uh, if they wore that, I... I wouldn't have dropped out of school."

"So, what's your deal?"

"My deal?"

"Yeah, okay. You came in here looking like somebody shot your puppy."

"Well, things are looking up now that your shift's over. All right. Uh, here's the deal. I have this friend. He's got this younger brother. Right? Cannon's a little loose. You know, his reactor blew awhile back. It's not good. Um... My friends -- they've, uh... They've kind of been sitting, waiting to see if he goes guano again."

"And I assume it just hit the fan?"

"Well, that's the thing. It didn't. The kid's all reasonable now, considering he's crazy. He -- he's starting to seem like things might be getting a little better. And she's not seeming as angry."

"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?"

"It's a freakin' miracle. Except... when it happens during their, uh... their sacred annual pilgrimage to Vegas... and he goes off on some granola-munching hike in the desert."

"Well, maybe he just needs some time alone."

"Yeah."

"We all need some time to bond with a single person sometimes."

"Maybe he does."

"Wasn't talking about him."

Dean's phone beeped. "Excuse me."

His phone read:

10:23 pm

From: Sammy

348 Twain Ave

WEAR FED SUIT

"Speak of the devil," Dean said. "He's four blocks away?"

"See? Baby bro needs you after all," the waitress replied.

EXT. A LITTLE WHITE CHAPEL - NIGHT

INT. A LITTLE WHITE CHAPEL - NIGHT

Dean, dressed in a suit, walked down a hallway. A light flickered above him and he drew his gun.

As he moved to open the double doors, Sam opened the doors from the inside. Sam was wearing a suit and a pink boutonniere. Dean pointed his gun at Sam.

"Dean. It's okay," Sam said. "You won't need that. Come on." He put a hand on his shoulder and led them into the chapel. A woman and a man were sitting against the wall. The woman was reading a book and the man was doing a crossword from a newspaper.

"I thought you were out, uh, becoming one with the land or some crap," Dean replied.

"You got to -- come here." He moved his brother into position. "All right. Now..."

Dean looked to the woman and man and greeted, "Hi."

Sam pinned a pink carnation boutonniere on Dean.

"What is this?" Dean asked.