#tagging as spn in case any other spn fans want to know what sioux falls actually looks like!

[mybrainproblems]

Okay so. This is why I'm so amused by supernatural having Sioux Falls be where Bobby and Jody live and portraying it as a small rural town.

I wish I'd gotten more photos but it really is a small city and has it's own darn airport. I saw probably a plane or two every hour landing or taking off during the day I was there. They have direct flights to major cities!

The waterfront is actually really built up and the city clearly put a ton of money and effort into making an incredibly walkable downtown/riverfront area. A lot of it did happen during the late 00s to present but it's never not been a small city. Just not as picaresque. As someone who interned in city government for a bit, it's incredibly impressive what they did in the span of 10-15 years and shows how much you can do in a short span in smaller cities.

Wayward Sisters era where it's shown as a large town is much closer to what it's like versus when we first meet Bobby and later on, Jody.

If anybody wants to be insane about it and use an actual smaller town in South Dakota in fic, then Mitchell and Chamberlain/Oacoma are good options. Both have fun touristy things tho which kinda doesn't fit into the very "middle of nowhere small town" vibe but like. The idea of them being in the same town as the Mitchell Corn Palace delights me.

Due to Tumblr's limit on photos I'm going to have to put the titular falls of Sioux Falls in another post :')

[stardusttkachuk-main]

Always Be Ready

Title: Always Be Ready

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 1657

Warnings: fluff, minor swearing (i think)

Prompt: Snowball Fight

Summary: Y/N hasn’t seen Dean in sixteen years, so when she spots him at a cafe while working a case, she doesn’t hesitate to say hi and invite him home, where he can’t help but reenact his favorite memory.

This is Day Nine of 25 Days of Christmas. Check out the masterlist here!

“Dean!!” You shrieked, ducking as another snowball went flying. “I’m not ready!”

“Rule number one: Always be ready,” he teased and hurled another snowball in your direction. You were ready this time and ducked, it just barely missing your head. You rolled your own ball quickly, throwing it at Dean and hitting him in the chest, snickering after.

Dean wasted no time in getting you back and soon you were dodging and chucking snowballs right and left, all the while laughing and joking with him. Your last snowball hit Dean in the back of the head, and he when he turned around, he charged right for you.

“You’re gonna get it!” He yelled as he tackled you into the pile of snow in the ground. He had your arms pinned, and his knees on both sides of your body. “You little jerk,” he laughed, trying to brush his cold cheeks against yours.

You smile, staring at the polaroid Bobby had given you from that day. You had a snowball in your hand, and Dean was on his knees packing one together. Both of you just sixteen at the time and having had a break from hunting for that one week in winter.

It had been ten years since the Winchester’s had stopped by during winter. Come to think of it, it had been years since you had seen them in general. You had seen Sam once when he turned 18 and was telling you about how he got into Stanford. Dean wasn’t with him and you wondered why he had come all by himself.

You hadn’t heard from or seen Dean since that winter. From what Sam had said, he took up hunting with their dad, too busy ganking monsters to come see his Uncle Bobby. You’d kill to see how that flirtatious ladies man had grown up.

Bobby let you choose what life you wanted. He hunted but not as much as John Winchester had. Bobby promised you a good life, no matter what path you took. He was shocked when you chose to hunt, but offered nothing but support, even if the thought of you being out by yourself hunting scared him half to death.

It wasn’t odd for Bobby to ask you to accompany hunters when their cases got too rough. He knew what an amazing hunter you were, and paired with these other macho guys, you couldn’t lose. Usually, it was with Garth, and for a while, you were sure your dad was trying to set you up with the guy, but you learned quickly that Garth simply just needed a lot of help.

“There’s a case in Duluth, Minnesota. Think you can handle it?” Bobby asks, shaking you from your thoughts.

“Sure! What do we got?”

“Pair of shifters.”

“A milk run,” you laugh. “I think I can handle it.”

“Call if you need backup.” He reminds you, just like he does before you leave for every hunt. “And be careful. It’s snowing.”

You grab your duffle, already packed and ready. You always keep one packed for emergencies when someone needed you asap. “Love you, dad. I’ll call when I get there.” You say, placing a kiss to Bobby’s cheek and sprinting for the door.

You’re glad Duluth isn’t too far, but what should be just over six hours becomes nearly eight with the snowfall. It’s late when you get in, so you stop at the nearest motel and get yourself a room for the night.

You’re up bright and early the next morning, deciding to stop at the local coffee shop and chat up with the community. It’s not busy, and you figure that since it’s a weekday, most people are at work. Some tables are occupied but for the most part, it’s vacant.

When you get up to the counter, you order a regular coffee and an extra shot of espresso on the side. The barista eyes you. “I just got in from an eight-hour drive,” you tell her, and she nods.

“Where ya from?”

“Sioux Falls.”

“You come to Duluth often?”

You shake your head, pocketing the change she hands you. “I’m just checking out the area.”

“Well, you be careful out there!” She warns, and you pause, now eyeing her.

“What for?”

She looks around, leaning across the counter and ushering you to lean too. “Between you and me, sweetie, people been reporting the walking dead. This one gal came in and ordered nothin’ but pure espressos for three hours. Said her husband killed her current boyfriend, but her husband passed away years back.”

“Did she ever come back?” You ask, again making sure nobody was listening.

“Haven’t heard from her since. Nobody has.”

You nod, grabbing your coffee and espresso shot. “Hey, if anything comes up, let me know,” you say, pulling a small card out of your wallet and scratching your number down on the back. “I’ve got a friend who deals with the crazy.”

She laughs and pockets the cards. “I didn’t get your name.”

“Y/N,” you smile, eyeing her name tag. “Catherine?”

“That’s me,” she grins. “Enjoy your coffee.”

You pick a window seat, keeping your eye on your car and watching the snow fall down. You’re about to call your dad when you hear the chatter behind you. You’d recognize that voice anywhere, and what he says only makes you realize it really is him.

“Why can’t monsters be like bears and just hibernate in winter,” he grumbles.  The chuckle that comes after is unmistakably his brothers. Your heart soars at the memory of the two boys, and you turn around to see Sam, his hair grown out again from when he was 18 and cut it short. God he’d have to be 22 by now, you realize.

“‘Scuse me sir, but did you say monsters?” You ask, grinning widely when Dean turns around.

“No frickin’ way!” Sam blurts, up on his feet before you can respond. “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he laughs. You stand to hug him, just now realizing that the boy had sprouted up a good few inches since the last time you’d seen him.

“You too shy to say somethin’?” you ask Dean, noticing he’s just sitting there, unmoved.

“I’m trying to process it all,” he admits before he frowns. “It’s been far too long.” You think he may cry with how sentimental it sounded, instead, he embraces you in a tight hug, one that says everything from those ten years you’d gone without hearing from him. He buries his head in your neck, his grip tightening. “How you been?” He asks, pulling back but not letting go.

“Good. Keeping busy. What about you guys?” You turn to look up at Sam. “Did you graduate early or somethin’? I thought you were for sure set on college and law school.”

Sam rubs the back of his neck. “Couple months ago, Dad went missing. I took a case with Dean and then when I got back, something happened. I couldn’t stay.”

You know he’s being vague about this something, but you can see it’s a touchy subject so you don’t push. “And you?” You turn back to Dean who’s still got both arms around your waist.

“Hunting. Never stopped.”

“And you never thought to call?”

“Bobby didn’t want me to have any input on what you chose to do with your life. And that meant staying as far away as possible.”

“But he never told you I chose to hunt?”

Dean shook his head sadly. “I thought you’d given it up and he wanted us to stay away for good. After a while, John stopped calling for help. Haven’t heard from Bobby in a couple years.”

“You should see him. He’s doing well, for the circumstances.”

“Circumstances?” Sam asks.

“He doesn’t hunt anymore unless it’s to help me. He kinda just runs a phone business for hunters now; connects them with others when backup is needed, pretends to be their managers and such.”

“He still own the junkyard?” Dean questions.

“He’ll never get rid of that place,” you laugh.

Dean invites you to sit with them, and you get to chatting and catching up before you remember the real reason you’re here. “Are you guys hunting the shifter?” You ask after things have calmed down.

Sam nods, “You too?”

“Yep. And if I’m any help… my bet is on the barista.”

You were right. Shifter turned out to be the barista and with one single shot, Dean killed her. It was nothing but a milk run, but you weren’t quite ready to leave the Winchester’s so soon.

“You should come see Bobby. You don’t have to stick around long, but I know he’ll be the first one to know about a new case,” you suggest. “Plus, I’m sure he’d love to see Baby. Bobby loved that car just as much as John did.”

“We could pay him a visit,” Sam shrugs.

Dean nods. “Lead the way.”

The house is no different than Dean remembers. All the rooms are just the same, the salvage yard is still collecting cars, and Bobby really hasn’t changed. Only thing that changed in this house was you, and Dean couldn’t help but notice it every few seconds.

His eyes catch on one picture in your room. He hadn’t meant to peak but he was exploring, and he remembers all the countless nights you two spent in this room. He smiles when he sees it, his mind going back to that day.

He sets the whole thing up, pretending to look again at all the cars, but really he’s just waiting for you to come outside. It doesn’t take long. You’re wrapped in a big blanket, not nearly warm enough for this weather. He launches the snowball, it landing directly on your side.

“Dean!” You shriek, ducking down. “You jerk! I wasn’t ready for that!”

“Rule number one, sweetheart: Always be ready.”

Forever Tags: @iwantthedean @a-fan-fighting-for-equality @smoothdogsgirl @jayankles @faegal04 @feelmyroarrrr @27bmm @maddieburcham1 @melonshino @sayukoi @impalaimagining @riversong-sam @atc74 @goldenolaf25 @plaidstiel-wormstache @thegrouchiestunicorn @thebitterbookeater @growningupgeek @sandle44 @rda1989 @weasleywinchester @fightmenegan @itsmyeffingstory @angelblazon @mrswhozeewhatsis @meeshw777 @jotink78 @poukothenerd @mogaruke @devilgirlsarah @queencflair @hexparker @ruprecht0420 @summer-binging-spn @holychuckitsthewinchesters @super100012 @jerk-bitch-and-an-angel @supernatural-jackles @taste-of-dean @casownsmyass @danradislife @holyfuckloueh @hsjolie @winchester-negan @emoryhemsworth @i-am-enough-always @samisimportant @brooke-supernatural16 @there-must-be-a-lock @greys-anatomy839 @babytheimpalaimagines @obsessivecompulsivespn @superapplepie

Dean Tags: @wildfirewinchester @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @akshi8278 @boxywrites @bambinovak @lavieenlex @legend-o-zelda @lipstickandwhiskey @bemyqueenofdarkness @holychuckitsthewinchesters @salvachester @elise1930 @xinyourdreamsx @shouldikeepwatchingorkeepreading

25 Days of Christmas Tags: @alex-zeppelin @imagineplotfulcharacters @alwaysbummedout

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