Work Text:
It was a busy Saturday night at Rusty’s and the kitchen was getting orders non-stop. Dean was seasoning a new batch of chicken when he heard the noise out front. He didn’t stop to go see what was happening. He already knew it was handled. The sound of punching, grunts of pain, and the distinct of broken glass could be heard clearly now that the Juke was about to change songs.
The music started again and that was that. Amos Burton and work everyone. Not surprising in the least.
Amos walked in a few years back and never left. Rusty and June took pity on him and put him to work. Turned out he had a knack for clocking trouble. Was good at taking out the garbage so that the patrons could enjoy the rest of the evening. It took about five months for word to spread. There were even some that came around just to get into a tussle. Eventually it was understood that messing around with Amos Burton wasn’t going to end well.
He and Dean got on well enough now but that wasn’t always the case. Not that they had a problem or anything, they just never met face-to-face, until they did.
Some geniuses trying to rob the place by breaking into the back. Lisa was the one to alert Amos before anyone knew what was going on. It was lucky that she just got off of her smoke break. Dean was just taking some Spice Fries out of the fryer when a big blur passed his peripheral. A few seconds later there were yells and then there was nothing as Amos must have gotten whoever it was out the back door.
Dean wasn’t gonna miss out on a good fight if there was one to be had. By the time he opened the door he saw Amos, breathing hard, standing over 3 heaps. Knuckles split and bloody lipped.
Amos looked up at Dean with some really crazy eyes. Dean lifted his hands in surrender. “You good?” Dean asked.
Amos nodded and spit some blood off to the side. “You the cook?”
Dean nodded.
Amos gave the crooks one last look before he walked back to the door. He stopped a foot in front of Dean. Dean was ready to square up if he needed to. He was relieved when Amos nodded before saying, “Cool. I’m hungry.”
June must have come from the office because she ran right into Dean’s back. She shifted his to the side and looked at what was on the ground before looking at Amos.
He pointed at his victims and said, “They were trying to rob the place. You should call the cops.” June went off to do that. He looked at Dean and shifted his eyes towards the direction of the kitchen.
Dean understood and walked back to the kitchen. Knowing Amos followed him he pointed to the nook where the kitchen staff would sit and eat.
He made his way back into the chaos of the kitchen. Jorge was handling things just fine. Dean forgot to ask Amos what he wanted, so he just gave him an order of wings and fries. Amos accepted the plate and gave a grunt of approval as he ate. Dean went back to work and just barely heard Lucy as Amos if he wanted something to drink.
Jan once told Dean that Amos would cut out once it was time to close up. No one knew where he went or what he was up to. A man’s privacy was important and as long as he did his job, it didn’t matter. Dean suspected all of the lady’s had eye for him, the way they went on and on about him. Dean pretended he couldn’t hear them but it was funny.
Amos stopped at the kitchen door entrance. “You spice those fires?” Dean nodded as he kept working. “They’re really fucking good.” He tapped the side of the doorframe before leaving to go to the front of the house.
Amos began to haunt the kitchen area after that. He took up the nook space and sat quietly. Dean figured that Amos wasn’t much of a people person so he didn’t hassle him about hiding out in the kitchen. Over time they got to know each other better. Nothing too deep. Amos began staying until Dean finished his kitchen clean up, sometimes he would clean a counter, and then drove off home.
One night Amos’ car crapped out on him and Dean offered him a ride. Turned out that Amos lived not that far from Dean, renting a room from the Anderson’s. Dean eventually invited Amos over to have a beer and watch TV.
Dean’s younger brother Sammy didn’t have a problem with Amos being around. There was even an incident where Amos showed up for Sammy being an intimidating statue that scared away the bullies. He was all but an honorary Winchester after that.
That’s been their way ever since.
It was almost time to close the kitchen down for the night so Dean set aside a turkey sandwich and fries for Amos when he inevitably shows up. Dean set the food on the nook table and started his nightly cleaning.
Amos showed up without fail and sat to eat his meal. He took a break and sat across from Amos. “Locals?” Amos shook his head. Dean nodded. “That explains it.” Amos shrugged and continued eating. Dean went back to finish his work.
Amos didn’t help with the cleaning, but that was fair since he did his job already. Dean finished up and told Jorge to take it easy. He walked up to Amos who had his eyes closed. “You coming?”
Amos opened his eyes when he heard that and got up to follow Dean out the back door. It automatically locked behind them as the walked toward Dean’s Impala.
The drive wasn’t that long and they made it in silence like they usually did. Dean pulled up in front of the Anderson’s and Amos got out. “Night.”
“Night.” Amos closed the car door and walked to the front door.
Dean drove home and when he pulled into his driveway he saw a curious sight. Sammy’s light was still on. Sure it was a Saturday, but it was past midnight. Sammy wasn’t much of a night owl. Dean walked into the house and put his keys down. He walked up the stairs and went right to Sammy’s door. He knocked first. Even though he was curious, he wasn’t a fool. Sammy was a teenager and Dean did not want to walk into an awkward scene.
Dean opened the door after five seconds. Sammy was sitting at his desk sleeping in his textbook. His made Dean smile sadly. He knew Sammy was studying his ass off to get good grades, get to college, and get out of here.
He woke Sammy up and told him to hit the hay. He left to take a shower and go to sleep himself.
Not a bad day at all.