Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Squeaks of tires , sputtering of smoke from the car, heavy silence enveloped the Impala, headlights lighting up the path. Dean couldn’t look at his father in the eye, and no before you think he did something wrong, no it wasn’t. Dean used to think his father was great man and saved people, but now not so much, he still didn’t want to believe that his father would hide something so important from them. But then if the man, his father didn’t want him or anyone to know, no one will know.

Everyone thought that Dean didn’t question anything, everything John did, even Sam thought so. But that was not the case, Dean had questions, he was curious, perceptive even and most of the time likes to downplay his intelligence. Most of all he was sneaky little shit, or else how would he have found out he had another brother, besides Sam.

Now how did Dean come to know that? Well he had seen his father sometimes making calls, his tone a touch soft, yes, whenever John had excused himself to go make a call, he had seen it, his father’s face softening a tad bit, at first he swear he might be seeing things. But two more calls he was sure of it.

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One night when John was passed out drunk after particular hunt. Dean, after mustering as much bravado he can had rummaged through his father’s things, “the diary” which John almost never let them touch, then about “the demon” that killed his mother the information was separately put in different note. One look had him questioning about his mother’s Morales, demon deal? Well he got to store that for later. But the other important thing that has been bugging him, the calls from a stranger, who has his dad’s hardened exterior soften. He found the phone, more like a burner phone, and saw there was only contact in it labelled “Kate M.”

Dean, looked over to his passed out father, then his brother, they were running low on the cash, so they had to stay in the single room with two queen sized beds and extra cot. He memorized the number before hitting the call button. It was almost 2 am, but when the call connected, he heard the soft voice of the woman, who tiredly greeted him on the other end. He swallowed, his fingers curling around the phone tightly. He hung up when he felt his father shift a little, deleting the call history and putting everything back.

A few days later, when they were on different case, he called Kate’s number again from a telephone booth, while he and Sam left alone to do some research regarding the case. He knew his smartass brother would be just fine and had lied to Sam about going to get them something to eat. He felt bad for lying to Sam, but he needed to know, he told himself that he will tell Sam once he found out exactly who this Kate person was and how she’s related to his dad. And so he made the call which went directly to voicemail.

“This is Kate Milligan, please leave a message”

He tried second time, then the third, only at the fourth ring did the call connect.

“hello”

Kate, on the other side of the call was slightly startled to hear a teen’s voice on the other end. Before she could say more, Dean hears another person talk, more like kid.

“mom, is it dad calling?”

Kate presses the phone to muffle her son’s voice but Dean heard it loud and clear.

“no, Adam, why are you back so soon, I thought you had baseball practice”

“got cancelled, mom, I will be in my room, call me once you’re done speaking on the phone” Adam says to his mother, strutting over to his room.

When kate pulls her phone back to ear the call is abruptly hung up. Dean had hung up, dad? No he needed to look into Kate Milligan, and that’s what he did, while Sam researched about the current case. After few hours of scoring the database he found out, Kate Milligan was nurse at hospital in windom, Minnesota. Now that he recalls John had been there once, at least that’s what Caleb had told him after he had pestered him for information, that was like few years ago. Dean digged for further information on the database and found out Kate had only one son, was a single parent…well he didn’t have to think harder to come to a conclusion which had him fuming on the inside that is he had a half-brother, whose name is Adam and he turned 14 last month.

He didn’t know what to do with this information, he sure as hell can’t tell Sam nor can he confront his dad. For time being, he put this information away, he needs to get his head back in the game, in order to hunt, so that’s what he did. And so after the hunt, when they had got into the car, Dean had lot of time to think things through. He decided he’s not telling Sam about Adam, not yet, Sam and dad’s relationship was so strained, so Dean didn’t want to give Sam more reason to hate their dad. Dean is more concerned and worried when Sam keeps saying that he wants be normal get out of this life, and he understands that he does, he also wants his brother to live normal life, go to college and graduate unlike himself. He just, he’s terrified that his brother would leave him, because if Sam wasn’t in front of him, how was he to know if Sam was safe, but if that’s what Sam wanted, he would let him go, with a heavy heart. He hopes his brother didn’t do anything like that but little did he know Sam would. His brother was stubborn like their father after all.

 Besides Dean had to keep playing dumb, no one needs to know that he was huge nerd, not even his brother, he had to keep his image as Jock or so he thought, until he dropped out, because they couldn’t afford although John didn’t outright say it. So he dropped out, started working at any town they stayed for at least two months.

He knows his mom and dad’s marriage was not as perfect as his dad always told them. He knew they fought most of the time, and he, a barely 4 year old would try to soothe and placate one of his parents. It’s true, he had to grew up soon, people think it was fire that killed his mother that changed him, but Dean was already understanding enough even before that, and yes that fire partially was the reason. He had another brother, and he couldn’t bring himself believe his father anymore at least not like before.

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An years later, when he found out that Sam was going to Stanford, his fears had come true, his brother was leaving him, and he hadn’t even told him yet. Sam thinks he hid it well, but Dean saw right through him, Sam was happy and had one shot to have a normal life. Dean had already anticipated the fight that might come to pass once John finds out. Although he was happy for Sam, Dean would be lying if he didn’t feel betrayed but nonetheless he hustled and worked jobs and accumulate as much as money for his brother. Sam did tell him before a week he had broke the news to John.

It was rainy night after a simple salt and burn case, two months after Dean found out Sam’s acceptance letter from Stanford the dreaded conversation and anticipated fight happened. Harsh words were spoken, and Dean, always the mediator, tried as much as he could to try and alleviate the tension and prevent them from getting into physical fight. But of course it ended up with him getting accidentally slapped and Sam leaving them angrily out the door with his father furiously grounding out “if you walk out that door, don’t ever come back” to Sam.

Dean had to go after Sam and try to talk to him, he knew he was losing his brother, nothing Dean say would make Sam stay, but he didn’t want to be hard on his brother. He drove him to the nearest bus station and handed him more than sufficient amount of money, the look on Sam’s face would’ve been hilarious if the circumstances were different.

“dean…this is so much…”

Dean cut him, “you might need it, for the books and stuff right”

“well yes…I…how did you…how long have you known that …I was” of course sam had figured it out Dean must have saved this money for quite sometime, which means Dean knew Sam was accepted in a prestigious uni for some time.

“um two months…it’s okay, I…really…I am proud of you Sammy, and really happy that you could go to college” Dean replied with somber expression, and small smile. “don’t worry about dad, go to college, get a girl maybe…just keep in touch okay”

If Sam wasn’t tearing up already, he was now, his anger shimmered down considerably, his brother understood him, that’s all matters. In all honesty, Sam wasn’t worried about John much but he was about Dean, they have never been apart for long time, and going to college means he might rarely see Dean. He was going to miss his brother, after all Dean was more of his parent than John ever was. Dean was his best friend, brother, father and mother. With watery smile, he wordlessly clung to his brother, like he was a child, goodbyes were hard. But Sam wasn’t going away for good, Dean tells himself, but it didn’t meant he felt any less painful, it hurt. He patted his little brother and pulled away, waited till his brother boarded the bus, then went back to the motel room they had been staying in, to see John wasted. He sighed and shuddered at thought of facing his father’s unstable emotions.

John looked up from where he sat, for moment Dean very much looked like his dead wife, not that Dean was feminine, no, but those eyes, John bowed his head in shame and guilt, he had let sons down, all that emotions blending into one as anger, angry towards the demon, the circumstances, their lives, towards himself, he didn’t know what came over him as he threw the liquor bottle across close enough when dean had been. He yelled. “WHY? WHY WOULDN’T THAT BRAT Understand?! I JUST Want to Keep him safe!! CAN’T HE Understand…HE LEFT US!!”

Dean tried his hardest not to flinch. John seemed furious. “dad…”

“no, no Dean, don’t , don’t tell me he is just a kid, that he didn’t know your mom…he abandoned this family, son…” John said, his voice getting lower with each word, he grabbed Dean’s shoulders, holding him in place. “But you, you should’ve known right?”

Shit. He’s not sure if John would buy his lie. He knows what his father was asking about. John was asking if he knew before Sam had told him.

“no, sir” he lied, hoping against hoping that his father was inebriated enough to not see through his lie. But good things never happen in dean’s case mostly, what happened after was not something he would ever say a word about to anyone, not a soul should’ve to know, besides it wasn’t the first time. At least before his father would apologized for it but after Dean had grown up he rarely apologized to Dean. But Dean knew Bobby had figured out, which of course lead to bobby almost pointing his gun at John and he never saw Bobby again, Bobby was more of parental figure than John, he learnt a lot of things when he stayed at Bobby’s humble abode.

Moving on, after going few hunts after Sam had left for Stanford, John left the Impala to Dean, saying he’s got a lead on the demon and left Dean all by himself. In less than six months, his family had left him, alone all by himself and Dean knew John had lied about finding a lead. And so it begins.

Chapter Text

When he had parted ways with his dad, he felt hollow, his family had abandoned him. For a few days he just drove his impala mindlessly, sleeping in the backseat, barely eating food. He didn’t know where he was going or what he’ll be doing next. That was until he stopped a gas n sip somewhere near Georgia on a fine day, finally a little sober after getting shit-faced for some days during the nights. He grabbed a few energy bars, beer, beef jerks of three flavors and some Mentos. Sam would have nagged about eating healthy to him, but he wasn’t there, frankly Dean felt so lost without his family. He came to cashier and asked casually about the locale and where to find nearest motel to crash. The cashier a cheery guy had exclaimed he swore there were two other who had asked same things, who stopped by for gas. Now, that peeked dean’s curiosity, so enquired further about them, the cashier sighed wearily and told him that he couldn’t bring himself to ask because they didn’t give him any information. Dean nodded, told him he’s great guy for being so polite which prompted the guy to talk more, he told him about some unexplainable disappearances of few people, and he told him that the police had come to even ask a few questions, because three people who had been outsiders were reported missing few months ago by their relatives. Dean thanked him and the cashier told him to take care and bided Dean farewell with “you’re not so bad yourself” which had Dean spluttering as he bumped at door handle of the shop and left. He did some research at nearest library he found after getting settled in a decent motel called “Delphi’s casa” yep definitely he wasn’t thinking before going.

There were 2 people who were locals and 4 people who were outsiders who had gone missing, and those only missing reports filed. He had to work or he might spiral out once again, so he put on his suit which he rented, it looked decent enough. Why was he making sure it looked fine? some person once told his dad that if the FBI wasn’t paying enough that the agents had to wear cheap suits.

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He walked into the local police station and saw a few officers were rushing out , when asked a bystander the person informed that someone found a dead body at a cabin near the woods. He follows the officers’ car to the crime scene. Okay, maybe he needs to re-consider, and so he comes to investigate as a wildlife enforcement officer after a day, he in the mean time had made a call to Sam and revisited the crime scene, there were claw marks, but he needed to be sure, claw marks do narrow down some of the possible monsters lurking in the woods nearby.

The grumpy deputy, informs him that the victim body was mauled to death and the autopsy had been ordered which reports should arrive in half hour, and keeps him company till then. The report was brought and the victim was identified as Terry Nelson who according to his family was moving out and was supposed to show up at his friend’s shared apartment, a student, heart and only heart was missing which gave Dean and idea what he’s looking for, his possible monster must be a werewolf, but he can’t confirm if it was a pack. Dean thanked the officer and he needed backup, he knew it, he could call Bobby or Caleb. Guess what he did? Yes, as reckless as it was he decided to look into alone. He looked for a possible hideout that a pack might chose to keep their captives and found three. It was ranch of sorts, he wasn’t sure if he could say that. He had use something to cover his scent, something that might evade a werewolf’s sense of smell, all those books that he had read at Bobby’s and few failed and successful attempts during the hunts, he had surmised a blend of few very commonly found in household herbs can be used. A few years of hunting, he had learnt to be light on foot, make as little noise as possible.

He sneaked into the ranch, shot the first unsuspecting werewolf with the silver bullet to the heart, since this hunt required stealth, he’s using a silencer. Though he is a bit skeptical about if others would be able to pick on the sound.

He sees from the between the gaps of some barrels which contents smelled rotten by the way, as the pack leader talks to two kneeling men, one of which had dried blood on the side of his face. There were four other werewolves besides the pack leader, he could only see two of them from where he was. He needs to wait and take out the other two including the pack leader.

He slides his hand in his jacket, his fingers doubtfully ghosting the surface of the device. He’s never used this, this is improvising and probably stupid timing to test it out. From, what he did know a frequency that will be agitate the ones with sensitive senses. He sighs at his own little suicidal stupid plan, and turns it in, the reaction is instantaneous, the pack leader and the two werewolves close their ears and double over, howling in pain.

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The two captives react fast when they realize that something was wrong with the werewolves and scrambled to look for weapons or something to restrain them but before they could, someone shot three of werewolves in quick succession killing them. Startled the two captives were more vigilant now, as they saw the two other werewolves were very much alive and still writhing in pain. They looked over and saw a young man walk out a gun ready in hand with the silencer.

“You okay fellas?” he asked them, as he carefully approached the two.

The two nodded. He shot the other two werewolves.

“thank you…and who are you?” the older of two captives asked, a guy in his late thirties.

“I could ask you the same, I am a hunter”

There was a understanding in their eyes as the older guy nodded as introduced himself as Fred and the other guy in his late twenties who had been stunned silent by the display of skill from a young hunter as Daryl.

“Dean, Winchester” the young man introduced himself. Fred’s eyes widened, “Winchester? You don’t happen to be related to John Winchester right?”

Dean blinked, and nodded hesitantly before adding, “I am his son, actually”. Dean was aware, John didn’t get along with the other hunters in the few cases they had run into one. John didn’t had best reputation when it comes to working with other hunters. His father was a paranoid obsessive bastard.

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The silence the followed that sentence was really disturbing, which was broken by Daryl sucking in a breath before saying “wow” breathlessly.

Dean tried hard not to fidget under their wary probing gazes and although Daryl looked like he was fan-girling.

“no wonder” fred said. “Can you explain why the werewolves just collapsed just like that on floor if you don’t mind” Daryl asked his tone bordering mania. He said it so fast that Dean almost didn’t hear him properly, he put the gun away, and took out the device and turned it off.

“um I improvised, can we talk later, once we, you know cleaned this place up…” Dean proposed unsure, if they would listen to him, since he was younger than both men.

The two hunters nodded, since they weren’t harmed much with fatal injuries, just a rib or two broken which was no big deal to them, they dragged all the corpses at the center of the ranch. Dean got the gasoline and the lighted up the corpses, and a peaceful silence descended on them. He sighed, he couldn’t save the other captives , they were already dead and only the pair of hunters were left two lure more hunters. They gathered the pair’s weapons from the ranch and walked outside, it was getting dark, Dean guessed sometime around 6 pm.

“Hey, kid” Fred called to Dean as they walked over their respective vehicles.

“yeah?”

“thank you, really…we owe you”

“it’s okay, man”

“so…uh where are you staying” Daryl asked hesitantly, he really wanted to know how Dean subdued the werewolves.

“Delphi’s” he answers with shrugs, as the pair gave an appreciative nod.

“that’s a decent place”, Fred commented, “we couldn’t afford though, we’re staying at clerg inn”

“nasty walls man” Daryl said off-handedly

Dean nodded, “…um maybe we could meet up um once you’re cleaned up at my motel room, I will be leaving tomorrow afternoon”

Daryl nodded enthusiastically while Fred remained skeptical, he has heard of John Winchester, worked a case once with him, guy was an asshole, but looking at Dean though, he looked like decent fella, looked nothing like John, and had milder attitude, a face you can trust now that thought was dangerous, Fred berated himself internally, because his own parental instincts where flaring looking at the young man before him.

They left the place. The missing people case will be put up as cold case. That’s what usually the cases that included monsters led to, when hunters take care of the case.

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The next morning, they meet up with Dean at the diner near Delphi’s casa, they didn’t had look long enough because Dean easily stood out among the other occupants. He eating bacon burger, all by himself at the booth that was closest to the door. ‘where he could easily escape if necessary’ Fred noted mentally. He quickly spotted them, and gave a nod, gesturing them come over.

The pair took the seat opposite him. “Morning, I was starting to think, you left” Dean subtly told them passive aggressively complaining about them taking their sweet time to get to the diner. Daryl smiled sheepishly, while Fred smiled apologetically. “sorry about that”

“that’s fine, why don’t you order something to eat and we can talk as we do”

They ordered their breakfast. Fred sipped his coffee as he looked at Dean, as he eagerly dig into the pecan pie while Daryl stuffed himself with pancakes.

“So…thank you once again for the rescue, those freaks had been killing their way through north-east, not so subtle, two hunters died trying to stop them…” Fred explained.

Daryl eagerly started firing too many questions at a time. Like how did he subdue those werewolves so fast? How many years had he been hunting ? Since when did he start learning to shoot? And how he found him so soon? What was that thing he had in his jacket the other day? If burger was dean’s favorite meal? Or was it pie?

“Slow down, Daryl, breathe” Fred admonished while Dean looked amused after a while started answering his questions one by one. For someone so young, he was very patient as he explained what the device he used to was and how he needed to make more improvements. They exchanged numbers and bid farewell to each other. However before fred leaves he tells him about the roadhouse of someone named Ellen harvelle and asks Dean to seek her out in case he needs backup, information or looking for a challenging case.

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Its been so long, he’d called Bobby, he didn’t know how the older man would respond. After contemplating for a few minutes he called Bobby.

“hey, bobby, it’s me Dean”

“dean, it’s so good to hear from you, boy” the older hunter sounded surprised and genuinely happy to hear from Dean. “You okay? Boy”

“yeah…I am fine, Bobby, um Sam got accepted into college at Stanford” he informed him.

“that’s good news, what’d your daddy say? He probably threw a tantrum”

“uh yeah…I was hoping…”

“you can stop by anytime here Dean, I am mad at your daddy, not you”

“I…I…yeah thanks Bobby” dean’s voice cracked at the end, if the older man heard it, he didn’t mention it.

“are you alone?”

“yeah, Bobby, I…will tell you everything when I come see you”

“ok, you idjit take care until then”

“bye Bobby” he says hearing the older man grunt in answer before he hung up.

‘harvelle’s roadhouse, huh, worth checking out’ he thinks.

Chapter Text

He had planned to go checkout the harvelle’s roadhouse but he got distracted by another possible case (more than one). It’s not like he was stalling or anything, no not at all, who was he kidding, he was stalling alright, knowing his father, who might have beef with several hunters, who may or may not appreciate a Winchester’s presence. And so that’s what he did, he buried himself in cases without back up and sometimes unexpected help from the hunters who were at the place. They were all friendly and grateful until they get to know his last name. Then it just gets awkward. It always made him wonder just what the hell kind of rumors are spreading about his Father. Some guys even looked at him in pity. Damn it, he had hard time overseeing it and change the direction of conversation more than once. And going to Bobby’s, it got postponed to way later too, he will eventually go see the older man once he’s done. The thought he will go see his favorite person and only family besides his very own kept him going, not that Bobby would be disappointed if he dropped and ignored every case he came across, to only visit Bobby, but he just couldn’t bring himself to ignore.

He could always count on Bobby to pick him up, at least that’s what Bobby told him, he doesn’t know if he could seek Bobby every time when he feels like jumping off the ledge. Sam wasn’t there to pull him through although Sam’s not fully aware of his issues, and John well he just chose to ignore it, “man up, boy, only babies cry” he could hear his father tell him loud and clear as a day, when he was just 6 year old. But that’s okay, he’s okay, because obviously Dean didn’t know how a father must treat their children then, he got older and realized later, he did everything he could so Sam didn’t had go through any of that shit. Dean did everything in his power that Sam was protected from a side of their father, he would rather not talk about.

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So, after working with Fred and Daryl, he left Georgia, that afternoon, after a few days he found a case near Dalton, people drowning in the lake. It’s said, it started two months ago, the locale fire department, wildlife and forest officers had taken there shot at trying to find what’s causing it, but they were out of luck. He thought ‘perfect, I don’t have to go the roadhouse just yet’ and decided to investigate.

He did the regular thing they did on a case, talking to people, the victim’s families weren’t much help, the coroner though gave out an interesting piece of information, the diligent woman, Mrs. Thorne had told him, unlike what her last name sounded she was decent hardworking woman.

“its like someone sucked brain matter out of them”

Which is an interesting piece of information, there is only one monster which could possibly do that a wraith, but…only problem he’d no experience hunting a water wraith. Besides, this thing could drown him.

The lake was situated near the park. So the monster who he is looking for must be someone who frequents there. Although the dead toll is not much five in two months, he need to figure out a pattern, his Target seems to be picky eater, seeing as all were men and had record of committing some kind of offense, at least two of three men were criminals. He is skeptical if he should take out this one, if at all, this one was doing people a favor by taking douche bags, yeah the other three were either alcoholics or abusive towards their family. Maybe if he finds out he should try to talk to them first instead of killing them.

It didn’t take too long, he found her, the water wraith, hiding in plain sight, collecting garbage from the grass. He almost smiled. She was eyeing the man who had a child with him. He followed her gaze and…oh, that nasty pieces of shit, he didn’t have to second guess, that eyes looking at the child, gave him a small flashback, which he shook off easily and quickly made his over to the guy.

Dean, not so gently pulled the guy from the bench with his collar and punched the guy without holding back, one, two, three, four, he didn’t stop until his knuckles felt numb. The guy was down still breathing though unfortunately. The child, a little girl no older than 8 year old sat frozen on the bench. He looked at haunted look at girl and kicked the guy where it would really hurt. He, then sat down on the bench away from the girl so as not to scare her. He sighed, rubbing his face. He could hear her crying silently and gasping. Once she had calmed down after realizing Dean wasn’t going to harm her, he looked at the girl with soft eyes.

“You okay there? Kid…you know what? That’s a stupid question, who is that guy anyway to you?” he asked to her as he nudged the bloody and bruised man with his boot.

She hiccuped before saying, “…my…uncle”

He didn’t know what to do, the girl was still shaken up. He gets up from his bench and comes to her, kneeling in front of her.

“hey, kiddo, look…I know it must be hard for you…but I need you to trust alright…can you do that?” He says his voice soft and soothing.

She nods and continues, “he will never do anything to you anymore, you hear me, and don’t worry I will take him to someplace he won’t find you…you are so brave kid…you’re going to amazing…don’t let what this guy…did hold you back…okay? Kiddo?”

She swallows thickly, her hands fidgeting on her lap, a few stray tears escaping, then she looks at him and nods once more.

“what’s your name?”

“Sarah…”

“aw…kiddo, you’re not supposed to give your name to strangers…I am Dean by the way”

“I know…but you seem like a good guy” she says it with such confidence that Dean almost believes her, he smiles softly at her, shaking his head.

They talk for a while, he asks if she knew the way back home, she nods, then he asks if he should accompany her, again she nods hesitantly.

“alrighty, just wait a moment I’ll be back, okay Sarah?”

“okay Dean “

He then goes to the water wraith who was still observing them. She tried to run away, but stopped when he gestured he didn’t mean harm.

“so…I am guessing you know I am a hunter”

“yes” was the her clipped reply

“I am not gonna kill you, if that’s what you’re thinking, what you’re doing is not bad…but a little tip” he says gesturing the guy who was unconscious on the grass by the park bench. “once your done with him, blow this joint okay? The hunters won’t see what you’re doing is good or bad…you must know it better than I do right?”

She nodded a little stunned as the hunter’s words. “um…thank you”

“No. Thank you, you’re doing something good, just keep your nose clean alright?” he warns her at end and leaves with Little girl, holding her hand.

The water wraith watched as pair go, and did exactly what the hunter had told her, and went a extra mile to burn body. No need to traumatize a child when she finds out corpse on the news.

Ah, this good feeling, Dean felt so…content in that moment . Although he heard his father’s disappointed voice about not killing the monster in his head. He shakes it off, after walking the girl home, he got drunk, and found a rather delicious distraction for the night so he can shut that annoying voice of his dad’s in his head.

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Next stop, Nashville, after driving for few days, he thought he could just look around this time, but not much luck, at this point he was starting to call it Winchester luck. He had stopped once in while when he travelled from Dalton to Nashville, but Nashville was good place to look around. Well too bad he found a case here too.

It was about the mysterious death that of guy (read rich people who like antiquing and gifting ridiculously expensive gifts as if money would buy someone’s happiness, well it does but okay). There wasn’t much on why he could find out just yet until he saw the other piece of news a very delicate and beautiful looking necklace, which ornate design and small obsidian gem, looking just right, it was so perfect that felt like the picture of the item itself was calling out to him. He shook his head, okay, what the hell was that, he wasn’t sure why he felt like he wanted to buy that so badly for hot second there. He continued to read, it was being auctioned. The piece of art, necklace had a name, apparently.

Scoring through history about the necklace was really boring though, apparently the person who owned this necklace the longest had died gruesome deaths, coincidentally the previous owner, a owner of prestigious club, had died and his wife was arrested for the murder. The woman swore she didn’t do it, she had MO but there was not evidence pointing she did it so she was released. A cursed object. He surmised. Well what a joy. How was he supposed to save a person if someone decided to buy it. Guess he’ll have wait for the new owner to buy it, then steal it, right before he did, he need to ask Bobby how to put away the cursed object in a box. Since he didn’t have any necessary ingredients to destroy one.

It was relatively easy, stealing, he had thought the owner might have noticed the necklace going missing but nope, at least not until very late, by that time he was long gone. Man, Nashville was great place, maybe next time he can come look around.

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He stopped at Jefferson City, for a simple salt and burn case. It was not hard since he met up with a hunter in locale who was also following the story. Divide and conquer, they found out who the restless spirit haunting the people in the apartment building. It turns out, it was spirit of an Old-man, who used to own land where the building was built, he was killed and the place was automatically registered to the pompous little shit, the current owner. The guy paid them not to out his information, well Dean did get his money (he was running a bit low, and not every time did he get paid on a case, so he’d take it) but then he tipped the local authorities of about the little shit and high-tailed out of there. The hunter he met was Alfred, he had laughed it off. They hanged out for a bit well again it got awkward when Alfred came to know who Dean was related to.

Sigh. Just what’s he supposed to do every time they brought his family. Next time, he won’t tell his last name he decided.

Chapter Text

He should have taken a straight route to Sioux falls, but well he decided he might as well take long roundabout route, see if he could find more cases, before he went to crash at Bobby’s place for a month or two.

And so he arrived at Wichita. Another day, another case.

Well he didn’t find the case, the case found him more like. While he was on his way to the nearest town, when he came across a car by the side of the road. He slowed down, found there was no one inside but there were signs of struggle. He did only logical thing, called the police and tried to look around. The route away from the populated area. Very convenient if you want to pretend to hitchhike and steal? Kidnap? He shook his head, whoever the person who was taken put a lot of struggle but their assaulter was very strong, crazy strong. Maybe a monster? He will have to look into it.

He arrived in town. He noticed there were missing person noticed on almost every store, diner. He stopped by the diner. He ordered breakfast plate which was recommended on the poster and coffee, black. Man, maybe its time he bought a laptop with that money that shady apartment owner gave. A little crash course should enough for him to use the laptop right? Anywho, he asked the nice lady waitress about the missing people notices.

He didn’t know why but something about her seemed off, but he’ll have to wait and see.

“hey, so, I saw so many missing notices on my way here…what’s the word?”

“that, yeah there have been those, I don’t know much about it, but I think it’s human traffickers” she murmured conspiratorially

He chuckles, “riiighhttt…thanks for your insight”

“anytime” she replied and sauntered off. There was definitely something off about her.

Well, guess it was time to play dress up then. He put on his suit and drove to the police station after settling in a inn. Yep, he bought it with the money from shady guy. Maintenance maybe hard but he could do it. He introduced himself as an agent, and the officer told there was another one who came by a few days ago and he'd not seen the other agent. Okay, there was another hunter here, most likely.

“So…this other agent, what was his name?”

“Agent Henry brown, Agent Smith, are you suspecting one of your colleagues might be one of missing persons?”

“seems like it”

“there had been sharp increase in missing person report since four months, mostly young adults, 20-30 year old, all of them went missing in some less populated area…”

“I see, I heard there was another missing person reported last night…so what’s the theory?”

“we think its human trafficking we’re not really sure…oh and this people who went missing were working late nights possibly”

“okay, is that all?”

“yes, agent”

Dean, remembered seeing video recorder in the car…maybe they could find something after all.

“have you checked the car…anything you found useful…I don’t know , like phone, some electronic device?”

“we found video recorder…”

“I would like to see that”

“we haven’t watched it, it’s being processed just in case…”

“why…never mind, I need to see that now, officer, my colleague could be in danger for all I know”

 Dean’s not particular concerned about the other hunter, but if this one went without a backup, then he must be new or old timer.

The officer directed him to the monitor, and asked the person to play the video. They saw the driver tapping as she yapped about her day, must be a video diary. She stopped when she saw a hitchhiker, another woman…oh wait, she looked familiar, no shit Sherlock, it was freaking waitress at that diner he found near the town. Since no one would have guessed, the video stopped there.

“see, agent, there is not much here”

“yeah…I guess, thank you officer”

Well guess he now knew where to look at least, he came back to the diner after changing his clothes. The waitress, Luna, yep the one, come to take his order.

“You’re back, what can I get you?” she said flashing a fake smile with enthusiasm.

He put on a charming smile of his own, guess he’s using the different way to catch her, he’s pretty confident it’d work. But this is stupid, he’s not sure what she is yet, since she’s out and about in the sunlight without having rashes, the only other possible creature he could think of is, a vetala, but he can’t be sure. He ditched the idea, so he could only try to look for more clues. He had his meal but looks like Luna was already onto him. If the curious glances are any indication. He gave her a generous tip and nods, before leaving the diner. He need to call someone for backup, vetalas hunt in pairs.

He got in his car, as he looked over, he saw another girl come upto Luna, they were speaking as if they know each other very well. Will you look at that? A pair. Okay it’s pair but he’s not sure if they are the vetalas. According to the lore vetalas appear very beautiful, which the pair where obviously.

Guess he was going to go talk to the diner’s owner, as he did, he found out, Luna only started working there four months ago, 'same time around the people started going missing' Dean thought. When asked about Luna’s friend, she told Dean, that they were together and Tasha, well Tasha was Tasha alright. He understood what the owner meant.

He called Bobby, asking if he knew any hunter who had an alias of FBI agent named Henry brown, to which he found out that hunter’s name was Walter and his other aliases. He called fred to ask if he knew a Walter, to which he got confirmation that fred did, and Walter was hunting vetalas in Wichita.

“is everything okay Dean?”

“I think…your friend is in a pickle, have you heard from him?”

“no, not really”

“what about the others?”

“no, Dean, are you in Wichita?”

“yes…”

“do you have backup?”

“was kinda counting on your friend being alive”

“Dean?! You can’t go after them alone, it’s risky, you know that right…” and Dean hang up, he did the same when Bobby figured out Dean was doing it alone and started nagging like Fred.

He let them come to him. Luna and Tasha didn’t disappoint, they came looking for him and from there it was easy, they knocked him out and took him to their lair, when he came to, he saw a few people just like him tied, bitten but he figured since he’s not disoriented they haven’t taken a bite yet. He got to work cutting the rope from his wrists. The pair had gone to the owner probably since the older woman had outed them. They probably underestimated him, or they didn’t know he was a hunter.

He looked around, four other people were present, he can’t help them yet. He hid and waited, as he had suspected Tasha dragged the owner in. Luna however saw Dean was missing so she started to look for him. He had element of surprise and nailed it, plunging the silver knife and twisting it in her heart. Of course he came prepared good thing, they didn’t look inside socks? Well whatever. He pulled out the knife and Luna crumpled to the floor, her unblinking slitted eyes looking at him.

Tasha when she realized Luna hadn’t come back with the good looking guy they knocked out, became a bit vigilant. Dean had to sneak around the warehouse, and grab her from behind without any hesitation plunging the silver knife into her heart, she snapped her sharp fangs and tried to bite him. With quick twist, she was dead to.

He came to check on the four people, four of them had weak pulses, he called the nearest hospital requesting ambulance for them. He explained to the officers that he had found them there, of course he didn’t leave the vetalas corpses lying around, he disposed them.

He saw that the victims where treated. From Fred’s description of Walter, he made sure the hunter was okay. He made a quick call to Fred and informed him Walter was okay and need to rest. Then he called Bobby and informed that he was fine and hung up before the older man started nagging again. Walter thanked him for saving his life and they exchanged contact information. He learned that Walter didn’t knew vetalas hunt in pairs hence, he was jumped. Inaccurate information, welp that could be an issue.

-------------

Moving on, he left Wichita on good terms with Walter, great guy, didn’t judge nor believe rumors, had a thing for brunettes and had a family, his mother and daughter. He felt this little something knowing there was at least one of the hunters who could be friends? With maybe without prejudice. Enough willowing on that.

He arrived at Dodge City, for the first time they had parted ways, his father, John called to tell him to about a case in Tulsa. No he did not call Dean to see if he was okay? Alright or alive? But for a case. Okay cool. F*ck that. Anyway atleast John superficially asked if he was okay at the end and just hung up. Dean sighed, seems like he’ll have to head to Tulsa. It’s been almost two months he last saw his dad, and three months since he saw Sam. Sam hadn’t been calling as usual since last month, maybe he got busy, But Dean never failed to call him atleast once a day for the first two months. Then Sam must have gotten annoyed and  told him not to call everyday, so it turned out thrice a week. He is not sorry, because he raised that kid, and so yes he was checking on him every chance he got. Sometimes when they’re talking to each other it felt like Sam never left but then when he wakes up to some nightmare, the absence of his brother was like slap, and every time, he would never admit, but he had shed a few tears. Yup, let’s put that feelings in the box, lock it and throw away the key. He’s got work to do. Tulsa, what supernatural creature you got?

He arrived at Tulsa, settled down in hotel. And finally bought a freaking laptop, got a crash course on how to and he was set. His dad had told him about a haunted manor. He looked into the supposedly haunted manor. It was built during the civil war, rebuilt and reconstructed several times in past. The people who lived there from time to time had mysteriously died and the county was forced take measures in 1980s, and banned anyone from living in the property. Then the rumors of ot being haunted spread, many paranormal investigators or general enthusiasts went look into the manor, some made it back alive and swore never to set foot in the manner, while some didn’t. And so in 1996 the area was fenced so there are no more dead trespassers. This was risky business. Well when has that ever stopped him.

He came armed, tried something really ridiculous like coating his jacket and pants with salt. Iron rounds, rock salts rounds, shotgun and a pistol. He carried the other necessary things gasoline and salt in the bag, extra ammo and weapons just in case.

He could feel the chill as soon as he entered and the temperature inside was drastically colder unlike outside. He navigated throw the manor with little inconvenience of some ghosts appearing...they were enacting their death? Death Echoes! Which means something is keeping them here. He had done a thorough research, including families who lived and died, the trespassers who died and the manor’s history. Maybe if he found their bodies and torch it, they’ll be free…according to history of this manor, this hadn’t rebuilt since 1900s…and those ghosts he saw he identified mostly all of them, two were trespassers and one guy who had lived there during 1955? History was hard okay! He looked around more, and something caught his eye…a sigil? He memorized it and left the manor for now.

After few hours, brainstorming and two books, he understood what that sigil is for, trapping souls. It would be naïve of him to think only getting rid of the sigil would be enough. He's sure there is more than one sigil in that creepy ass manor. It was never too easy, was it? He surmised it should have been at least all four directions of the house, inconspicuously carved on the walls where it’s barely noticeable besides, many people won’t find it as anything unique. Let’s say he messes up the strokes of the sigil, and ghosts could leave that wouldn’t be good, but if their bodies are in that manor, he could simply burn down that whole ass building to the ground after salting. This could actually work. He noticed that, back when he was looking around the manor, the death echoes showed up more as he got near to the sigil. So, where more death echoes are …the sigil is undoubtedly located. Could it be that some one this people actually noticed it, the sigil? Who knows.

No time like now, he had a plan, and going with it. He messed three sigils successfully until the one tail coat wearing ghost appeared, a butler , Dean mentally noted.

“so it’s you…but I thought everyone was cremated from that family including the workers”

The butler ghost hissed, “you are not wrong about that”

With that he came at Dean but hissed and howled in pain as soon as he touched Dean, heh salted jacket. He quickly made a salt circle around the butler ghost.

“look what I caught”

“YOU!!”

“I don’t why you’d kill all those people but you know what you’re going to hell one way or another for all I know, no matter how long you prolonged…I am actually surprised you’re not already insane being a ghost for so long”

The butler bristles unable to leave. For extra measure, Dean put on the iron chain around the salt circle. The butler ghost got more angry due to his immobility, and started to throw random things at Dean. Dean dodged most of it and started to the basement where he found corpses, he quickly got to work, salting them, the whole manor shook. Man, talk about temper tantrum. He sprayed generous amount of the gasoline and lighted up the corpses. He could hear the butler screaming angrily. He come upstairs to see the utter chaos, the furniture was strewn but thankfully the butler ghost was still trapped in the circle of iron chain, the salt circle had scattered though.

“I am guessing you’re attached to this manor…I should probably Burn this thing to ground”

“you wouldn’t , you won’t dare”

“oh I would…I know exactly what to do”

Hence, the case was closed, the manor was up in flames, the butler ghost burned down with it. Dean laughs at the thought of news headline tomorrow, way to be subtle, he didn’t have to tell his dad that he’d finished with the case.

-----------

"Arsonist burnt the historical manor in Tulsa which was suspected to be haunted" 

Chapter Text

After the shit he pulled at Tulsa, he strategically avoided any calls from John and well on his way back to Dodge city. It’s fortunate no one spotted him. For once, he thanked whatever higher power that may exist that Winchester luck didn’t struck. He had settled for the night. When Sam called him. He picked up without hesitation.

“Hey, Sammy, thought you forgot about me or something”

“I would never, I was…uh busy”

“yeah…”

“are you okay?”

“yeah, I am fabulous”

“dean…what are you not telling me?”

“oh boy…” he mumbled to himself as he sat up from the bed. “what are you talking about?”

“dad called”

“oh…did he now?”

“yeah…”

“yeah okay”

“dean…”

“hm?”

“You are hunting alone…without back up? And you burnt down a manor…”

“had to... How’d you know I…never mind”

“how could dad leave you alone like that without backup…Dean, maybe you should stop hunting…I don’t know, get a stable job…”

“Sammy, man, not again with that…it’s not like I…, I don’t have enough energy to have this conversation”

“fine, but we’re talking about this later, deal?”

“yeah okay, and don’t attend dad’s calls, I think it’s about high time he realized, we’re grown ups and we can make our own decisions”

“who are you? What have you done to my brother?

“hardy har, very funny, Sammy”

“no, but seriously, you’re saying this…then what about you? Why’re you still hunting"

“first of all, we’re talking about you not me and second of all, I like what I do”

“when will we even talking about you huh Dean? I…I honestly feel guilty for leaving you like that with dad…and dad left you to fend for yourself…I…am so …”

“don’t , don’t feel guilty about this things alright, it’s okay, I am uh making friends…you have nothing to be sorry about, you hear me”

“but…”

“it’s okay Sammy, I will never blame you for this, hell I want you to have a good life, get married, have kids and stuff...”

He hears a sniffle before Sam talks again bringing back the same topic. “What about you Dean?”

“alright, I think I have reached the quota for feelings today, take care, Sammy”

“Dean, wait…” *beep*

He sighs tiredly after hanging up, and plops on the mattress. What about him? Well he doesn’t know really, a high school drop out with GED…nah, he’s not sure, but after talking to Sam, he lets himself to dream. In his dream, he is a mechanic and married to someone, has a year old son. His mom is alive , she and dad are old and happy together. Sam still in college doing his law degree and has got girlfriend. But he is rudely awakened by a call. The wetness around his eyes is very real, it was a nice dream, a happy dream, and maybe that’s why he feels extra miserable, because that’s all it was, a dream. He gets his composure back and attends a call from Walter.

“hey man, what’s up?”

“morning, Dean, didn’t disturb you did I?”

“yeah no”

“um hey can you do me a favor?”

He blinks, a favor, he only met Walter once, spend a little bit of time, and now they have come to asking favors. Well, it’s not going to hurt to hear the guy out anyway. See what he has to say. Dean must have taken too long to answer because Walter is talking again.

“hey it’s okay, man, I could call someone else, it’s just a rawhead, my friend is hunting…”

He clears his throat cutting Walter off, “oh…it’s not like that, I am listening, tell me about the case”

------------------

Walter basically gave him contact information of his friend who needed at little bit of assistance with a rawhead. He decided he needed to do something after his talk with Sam to keep him busy, if it means working with a person he hasn’t even met and barbecuing the sick hairy bastard whose literal diet is children.

He meets up with the hunter friend of Walter’s, Jayden , right, okay, he hadn’t expected that, he didn’t think, Jayden would be a woman, a really beautiful woman he might add. Walter didn’t mention it was a woman! What was he thinking. Not that Dean had anything against female hunters, a little heads-up would have been good. He sighed and introduces himself to the woman as they meet in a café, near the town, where they will be carrying out the case.

“hey, I am Dean”

“Jayden, you can call me Jay, take a seat”

“I only got vague details from Walter, can you run me through the details after um I have my breakfast, I am starving”

“sure, let’s do that, um have you settled in?”

“nope”

“well you could get a room where I am staying at, would be easy right?”

“yeah uh sure”

He nods before ordering his breakfast, Texas toast, powdered donut and coffee black. He was visibly disappointed when he realized they didn’t have pie. Jayden hid her smile behind her coffee latte. “So…I am guessing you like pie?”

He shrugs. It’s more than enough of answer. He definitely loved pie. Jayden remembered Walter mentioning that.

He wolfs down his breakfast, not like he didn’t care what Jayden thought of him, he really was hungry he couldn’t care less about his image. It was childish. Jayden thought. Kinda cute. She shook her head. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t felt the spark. Dean was really good-looking guy. Young, cute…she thinks she needs to stop at that, she will think about it after they are done with the case.

They visited some of the families whose children had been missing (taken). They could see a pattern, it’s like their monster guy, took four children in the area. But there was exception of course the orphanage, only there four children taken instead of widespread like in the other areas. They tried not to think about how many children they’d find alive while how many children’s remains. Dean always got a little bit antsy while a case involved children. Children always reminded him of his own kid brother…well he’s not much of a kid right now, but still Dean worries over him like a mother hen, he’d make sure Sam smothered when he finds time to go see him. Well now he has list places in his head he wants to go, doesn’t he? The roadhouse, Bobby’s and now his brother. Oh he should at least go check out what kind of person Adam is too, how can he forget about Adam, after all Adam’s very existence opened his eyes on what kind person of john was. So many places, so many people to see, welp, he better finish this case fast.

They entered the orphanage, it wasn’t as bad at least, they could use some funding. He slipped a few bills in the donation box , as Jayden conversed with the caretaker when he turned he came face to face with a redheaded teen, looking shitty, carrying a backpack. He smiled politely in her way, receiving a shy smile in return.

“Hey there, kiddo, what’s your name?”

“…um Charlie, I go by that this days”

“Charlie, huh, charming, I am Dean” he guessed it’s no harm saying his real name to a child, besides, said child looked like she was planning on running away from the orphanage.

“are you…here to investigate about the kids…” there was something about her tone that said she knew something.

“Yes, charlie, we’re trying find the kids…hey do you know something? Maybe you saw something? It’d be really helpful you know” he asked her softly, it’s okay, if she didn’t want to answer, if whatever she saw had terrified her.

“I…I…I am not so sure…”

“its okay…take your time, I will hear you out…no matter whatever it is…I will believe you, yeah?”

She shifted from foot to foot, before seating on the chair nearby, fidgeting with the sleeve of her very vibrant t-shirt.

“That…I don’t know what I saw…it was night time…everyone or mostly everyone were sleeping…I heard this shuffling in the ground…from below”

“I see…what happened after”

“while I went to check out, and I saw this figure…you know easily scooping four kids…I didn’t know what to do…I was scared…frozen in place…”

Dean nodded understandingly he’s been there, he knows what she’s saying, he can bet all his money that Charlie was blaming herself for not being able to stop the kids from being taken. Her knuckles are closed tightly, fisting her too long sleeves, shaking. He hesitantly, put his hand on her shaking hands, after seeing if she flinched away, when she didn’t, he mentally sighed, ‘get it together, Winchester, no time for flashbacks now’

she needs to hear something he wished his dad had told him.

“hey, kiddo, look, it’s not your fault, no one, I mean it let no one say otherwise yeah…I know you’re thinking…don’t blame yourself for that…can you try not to please…for not anyone but for your sanity…it is not your fault”

Oh god. Now she’s crying, damn it. He made her cry. What’s he supposed to do? It was okay with Sammy, he was able to handle it but uh maybe give her hug…uh no. Maybe he should tell her joke. Before he could say something though, charlie said something, he almost didn’t make out what she’s saying.

“…my mom told me that…” she had mumbled, more tears spilling from her face.

Man. Okay, it’s awkward now because, he had reminded her of her mother? Fuck being manly, this girl needed to be comforted then he will try anything he could. He quickly went  grabbed few tissues and a glass of water. When he had went and brought a glass of water from the kitchen where the caretaker and Jayden were talkin’ , he’d startled them but who cares, there was a child he needs to take care of, for now.

He wiped Charlie’s tears gently, he’s panicking a little about if his touch was rough maybe. But when Charlie saw him, she smiled, she took the glass of water and took small sips all the while Dean was looking at her with uncloaked concerned. He didn’t like it when children cried. They’re supposed to be happy.

“you okay? Charlie, I uh got a chocolate bar here…” he gave her his chocolate bar which he had slipped in his jacket. Charlie hesitantly took it.

“thanks, Dean”

“it’s no problem, I am sorry, I made you cry…”

“it’s okay…I just got overwhelmed…I guess”

“so…uh can I ask you a question, if you don’t mind that is?”

She nodded. He said to her in low voice so the caretaker and Jayden didn’t hear. “are you …planning on running away from the orphanage?”

Charlie stiffened, looking a little nervous. ‘how did he find out’

“um…”

“don’t say no”

“maybe”

“why?”

“they won’t let me go see my mom…”

“oh…she’s …”

“yeah”

“oh that’s good…maybe I could ask them let you go see her?”

“you can do that?”

“um I can try”

“please”

“okay”

------------------

Jayden and the caretaker saw this interaction with rapt interest.

“He’s really good with kids” the caretaker commented

“yeah…I had no idea, he was"

“that girl…she usually doesn’t talk to others…the fact that she did…that to with a complete stranger, he has this air of protectiveness…”

Jayden looked at the caretaker then back at the pair outside the kitchen who’re now talkin’ about classic movies and discussing fan theories.

“yeah, I guess he does, well, thank you for your cooperation Mrs. Lauren”

“just promise me you’ll find my children…they’re my family, every child in this building is”

“I promise”

----------------

They had enough information now. And Dean got settled in the motel in which Jayden was staying at, they discussed and came conclusion, that the rawhead is using the sewers as lair. Rawheads tend to live in basements it made sense that it might use it as lair.

Finding the rawhead within the network of sewer system was a bit hard but they managed.

Once they did, they didn’t hesitate to go right at it, since the children were mostly at safer distance. They barbequed the bastard with more than 2000 volts of electricity. It was tricky, they could get electrocuted if they were not careful. They got the children to safety and some assistance from the fire and police department. All children were admitted in the hospital for medical examination, the children where dehydrated and starving. The necessary care was provided and the children’s caretakers where notified.

They had few drinks at bar, after the case and parted ways the next day, because now that Dean had decided he needs to wrap up the cases and need to go see Bobby, Then Adam, then Sam, then roadhouse maybe? Jayden was thoroughly disappointed but she didn’t show it when Dean said he’s leaving the very next day. Dean stopped by the orphanage to go see charlie but she wasn’t there. He sighed, maybe she left.

He was well a few miles away from Dallas, only then did he noticed that something was off. There was his suit in the backseat alright, but he didn’t remember putting it there,it was out in the backseat. He stopped the car by the side of the road. He heard a “ow”

Son of bitch. He chuckled. Of course.

“charlie, come out”

The redhead came out from the backseat, pulling the leather seat upwards, looking sheepish.

“Care to explain?”

“well…”

“you thought it was good idea to hide in a stranger’s car? For all you know I could be bad person” now he full on nagging

“Um we’ll your not a bad person”

“you don’t know that! What if I was, this is…really stupid thing to do Charlie”

“please don’t take me back there…”

“okay…let’s say I don’t , then what?”

“I could help you”

“what?”

“I know you’re not who you told you were, I have seen those things in the trunk”

There was a heavy silence at that sentence before Dean told, “then you should know why it is such stupid idea for you to stay with me”

“…are those real? The monsters”

Dean sighed, tiredly rubbing his face and looks at her.

“Yeah”

“ghosts?”

“that too”

“demons?”

“yep”

“what about elves?”

“I don’t know, haven’t met one”

“oh okay, angels?”

His eyes darkened at that for a little bit before shaking his head, he replies “there is no such thing”

“so you’re an atheist”

“you could say that, I believe what I see”

“that’s…logical thing to do I guess”

“Charlie…you…”

“I know I know, okay it was wrong of me to do that, but just let me stay with you okay for time being”

He gives a wary sigh. “guess we’ll have to figure it out on the way”

“where are we going?”

“Sioux falls, but we might stop by if I found any case”

“How’d you find a case?”

“you don’t need to know that, now shush”

Chapter Text

It’s been almost a week since dean had taken charlie with him. He hadn’t asked much about herself because he believes she’ll eventually open up. It still amazes him that the redhead teen trusts him enough to keep her safe or feels safe around him when she knows what he does. Charlie is an enthusiastic bright kid, if possible he wants to not get her dragged in hunting, and so he’s been avoiding going to take a case even if he spotted one on newspaper. He learned some things about charlie, she was very smart, likes to watch classic movies, crazy good with computer and for the life of her can’t take care of herself. She doesn’t eat until reminded and only naps when she is so tired, that her body will shut down automatically and she’s got no say it that. It’s that bad. Hell, he’s considering taking back his laptop from the kid so she would have some kind of routine. He thinks it was bad idea to give her his laptop, but at the time he thought, this was the least he could do. He’s still contemplating if it was good idea to bring charlie with him. She always keeps asking him questions and suggesting some ideas, he silently agrees with her, but only hums in response that he’ll consider. To be honest he had been thinking of same things, and charlie brings some of her own ideas to the table after listening to him talk about some of his hunts.

 It’s been nice to not be alone, like he had been for last two-three months. John hasn’t called since the case in Tulsa. But he swears that John maybe keeping track of him just in case, he doesn’t accidentally go to Minnesota. But he’s been careful after leaving Tulsa, try as he might, John may not be able to keep track of Dean now. Yes, his rebellion came late unlike Sam, but at least it's unwavering, he says to himself but he’s not sure if this is a phase for him. He hopes it’s not. Speaking of sam, he’s been persuading Dean to quit hunting and since John wasn’t with Dean, he says Dean doesn’t have to listen to John. Dean wonders if Sam ever found out what truly John was capable of, or else he won’t be talking the way he did, hell he wouldn’t have been able to go college if not for Dean constantly shielding him and taking the brunt of their father’s anger when he lashed out drunk off of his mind. It’s true he’s somewhat scared of John also why a part of him was relieved when John parted ways with him. He feels guilty for thinking so, he just wanted a nice family, but it seems they were cursed to be this way. He sighs, tapping his fingers on the stirring wheel as he thought about everything. Charlie was fast asleep in the backseat. He has at some point stopped the car and covered her with a blanket. He's been driving slowly in order not to jostle the child sleeping on the backseat.

 He’s also been going easy on the booze for the last week. If possible he doesn’t want to bad influence on Charlie, while Sam is another story. Adam. He thinks about him a lot this days. He had seen the description that described Adam on the database. He imagines it sometimes, and nods to himself, maybe he also inherited great genes from their father. He should get something for Adam, Adam must still like baseball, maybe he should get him a set.

It's been a joy ,getting to know Charlie. She was very brave and never hesitate to call of his bs some time. He wonders if charlie is like long last sister, they both so show great admiration for food, the music, some movies and video games.

They once stayed up all night playing games which they rented while in a decent hotel. Dean was happy after a long time and he tried not to complain if he lost. Yikes, not that he’d never admit.

The silence of car was interrupted by his phone ringing. He quickly answered so as not to wake charlie up.

“Hey, Fred, did you find what I asked you to?”

“yeah Dean, I did, I will send you through mail”

“thanks man”

“it’s no problem…I was hoping if we could work another case together sometime”

“sure…maybe later, just let me know…”

“Dean…I don’t mean to overstep but why did you ask for information of…some random kid”

“none of your business” dean’s tone was a bit wary, which only further made fred suspicious.

‘what was this kid up to?’

“sorry, I just…you asked about this kid out of nowhere so…”

A sigh follows then Dean explains himself, “look I didn’t mean to…alright, I may have been taking care of the kid”

“…” on the other end, there is utter silence, a sharp intake of breath, “what the hell, dean?!”

Dean cleverly pulled away the mobile away from his ears, Bobby had done the same when he’d asked if Bobby would mind if Dean brought charlie to his home.

“…why is she with you?”

“she won’t listen”

“and you just let her!”

“I had no choice if I had took her to the orphanage she would have left anyway…at least she’s safe with me”

“well…”

“and I haven’t …” Dean begins before looking back at charlie if he had somehow woke her up, when her eyes were closed and breathing shallow, he inaudibly gulped and sighed, before continuing, “taken any cases…she is very eager though, but I’d rather not have her drag in this mess…”

Fred sighed in relief, “well that’s good to know…so she’s eager?”

“yeah”

“well good luck taking care of her, and take care of yourself too, Dean and call me if you need help”

“sure, mom” he said with chuckle and hung up finishing with a “you too, old man”

While Dean had thought Charlie was asleep, at least.

-----------------

They stop by at some decent motel, because he can’t risk Charlie’s safety so he had drove for quite a while to find a decent place with decent room. The mattress was okay, at least the covers were clean. He looked back at charlie and woke her up. They got into the room. He expected Charlie to go bed immediately but she waited till Dean had showered and dressed for the night.

“You’re still up”

When Charlie didn’t tell anything, he walked over to his own bed and sat facing her.

“what is it, kiddo?”

“is it true…”

“what is?”

“don’t play dumb Dean, I am not stupid okay…”

“I’d never, kid what’s gotten into you?”

“you’re purposely avoiding hunting because of me…”

“…so you were awake”

“yes”

Dean sighed, rubbing both sides his temple. Well this is a headache. She might think he was not considering her opinions.

“It’s not safe, charlie”

“I know”

“you don’t know anything”

“then let me know”

“no Charlie”

“why not?!!”

“because I said so”

“Oh come on you must have done it, why can’t I?”

“because I don’t want you to”

“Please, just once…”

“charlie…”

“please”

Damn. Puppy eyes, seriously as if Sam wasn’t the one with those, it had to be Charlie too, didn’t it?

‘god stop…I won’t able to say no…if you look at me like that’

Her eyes became more drooping and felt like they were sparkling with unshed tears, the legendary puppy eyes would what get Dean killed if he didn’t die because of supernatural creatures. He thinks she knows what she’s doing, if the smug look that follows when Dean sighs and looks away is anything.

“fine….but you’re to follow my lead and we won’t to hunting until I give you crash course”

“like a guide, hunting 101?”

“yes, something like that”

“Awesome” she was smiling like the time she had won those times playing video games with him. He sighed once again tiredly and both when to their respective beds.

Dean woke up to Charlie clacking away on his laptop the next morning. He yawned before rubbing his eyes as he looked over.

“Morning, kiddo, what’re you doing?”

She didn’t reply really focused on whatever she’s working on. He waited till she was done. She smiled triumphantly before saying, “I figured it out”

“figured out what?”

“how to look for a case”

He blinks processing the words in his sluggish brain from sleep to come online by the time it did, Charlie was showing the laptop screen to him.

“I think I found us a case”, She said excitedly.

‘so much for trying to keep her from getting into hunting, why does it feel like I am too old than I should be’

Chapter Text

“I think I found us a case”

Of course, she figured it out. What Dean still couldn’t figure out is why Charlie wants to do this at her age, she could do anything but why this? He liked hunting but this is not the same.

“woah woah, hold up”

Dean sits up fully on the bed, the lingering sleepiness disappearing in a instant, looking at her. He looks at her with scrutinizing gaze.

“why are you doing this?”

“doing what?”

“why are you so eager to go throw yourself in danger?”

When she doesn’t answer right away, he continues, “hunting, is very dangerous, one wrong move, and that’s it. I know it sounds heroic or something but truth is, it’s basically a job with no insurance or safety”

“…then why do you do it….” He hears her mumble, looking down, before regaining some of her composure, she looks at him and asks again, “why do you do it? Dean”

“…this is not the same, it’s too late for me…”

“…too late? That’s not the only reason is it?”

“…I need to use the bathroom”

He excuses himself and leaves Charlie to her thoughts. He sighs once inside the bathroom, he rubs his hand over his face. He really hopes Charlie doesn’t ask him questions that he doesn’t want to answer. He goes to the sink and splashes some water on his face. Her voice echoes in his head.

‘That’s not the only reason is it?’

Well, she’s not wrong, but he’s not going to tell her. She must think he must be some kind of a hero, he smiles self-deprecating at that, that’s how he used to view his father as well, if you ignore the ugly parts. Maybe he just has death wish, who knows. He doesn’t know if any other job would give him the same peace of mind as hunting. Knowing he saved some lives which are worth saving, helps him sleep at night, especially from the things that go bump into the night. It’s not the same. He freshens up and leaves the bathroom. Charlie hadn’t moved from the spot she was sitting yet but she was looking through the laptop again.

“hey”

“hey”

“uh we gotta check out at 10”

“okay”

“charlie”

“yeah?”

Charlie looks at him, her mind still going a mile per minute. What other reason could Dean have? Why wouldn’t he let her do this? She was one who was supposed to make this discussion right? So what, she is sixteen…which makes her wonder how old Dean should have been when he started hunting. Anyway she wants to give it a go, maybe as a hobby? Since looking at Dean she understand hunting is not particularly a job that pays.

“let me take a look at the case, and then we’ll decide what we’ll do, okay?”

She nods before minimizing the word pad window and shows it to him. The article is about mysterious death that victim’s family and police feel hard to explain. This deaths can be categorized as unfortunate accidents but if you look close enough that many people involved where of higher echelon or status, rich people of same area. Hence their death sudden deaths made it to headlines. He searches for someone who had recently gained fortune during this events. It’s simple what’s he’s trying to do, he’s trying to deduce just from the given information what could possibly caused it. He has three assumption; one he thinks, black magic is involved or something similar; two, a cursed object, rich people mostly like antiquing so it wouldn’t be surprise if they came across a cursed object; three, a vengeful spirit, which is most likely less chances. Anything further can only be confirmed if they got check it out.

Charlie looks at him as he works, he’s hyper focused, it’s a very rare sight, since she has met him, she has never seen him this focused. Although Dean thinks she is not ready and suited for hunting, she is confident and understands that Dean means well and only wants to protect her, she understands what kinda job it is, where it’s people’s lives are at stake from the unseen intangible and supernatural beings. She tells herself that if her first case with Dean turns out okay, she would want to work with Dean. Dean had mentioned about his brother and father, she understood he must be lonely as of now, depressed? Or slightly suicidal? If he’s hunting without any backup. Call her crazy, she feels weird kinship with him. He’s like a brother from different mother? She shakes her head.

‘too soon’

She figures she should also open up to him sometime soon, since Dean trusts her with his own secrets and about his family. He made her feel comfortable and secure, it’s been a while as such. She misses her mom the more time she spends with Dean. Dean would take her to her mom right?

‘I hope you wake up mom, I will come visit you soon, I made a good friend’

She looks at Dean and nudges him, who looks her questioningly.

“Well, what do you think?”

“its definitely a case”

“since , you’ve looking for quite bit, I gonna go and tell you have already guessed what might be the issue right?”

“you know you’re scary perceptive…anywho, I think it’s one of three, a) a witch is involved, b) a cursed object, c) a vengeful spirit and I think it’s most likely a or b…”

“hmm…okay, so when are you giving me the crash course on weaponry?”

“weaponry?... never mind, I will teach you everything you need to know about it for this specific case”

“wait…that’s all”

“yep”

“…for now” she adds when Dean doesn’t adds it. To be honest, Dean wishes she backs out soon after this case understanding the gravity of their not-paying job.

‘its not about money, it’s about saving people’

--------------------------------

Dean, was actually surprised, when Charlie picked up whatever he taught her after showing one or two times. It really baffles him, that Charlie could aim and shoot so well within three days. At the beginning she flinched after shooting the target a.k.a a beer bottle, but only due to the sound. He let her target and practice for sometime in the following three to four days, during which another death was reported in the same area. They might have to hurry.

Charlie, was a quick learner, and very serious when it comes to learning something, no Dean wants her to be serious and focused in order to stay alive, he had told Charlie that. But that doesn’t mean she was not allowed to be goofy, she made a presentation of his teachings the day before they left for the case. They both had a good laugh. That doesn’t mean Dean wasn’t antsy, involving a kid, yes, he doesn’t like this one bit, but Charlie was persistent and turned out to be a great student. Well he can’t tell that just yet, he will have to decide it after the case, anyways he is still hoping that Charlie would quit after her first case. He knows how bad it feels like to meet the victim’s family, and most people don’t take well to death of a stranger, well as well, he hopes Charlie was that kind of person. Well who’s he kidding, he can’t predict everything, with a weary sigh he pulls into the city after three and half days. It was evening, so they decided to find a decent place to stay.

Charlie goes straight to bed, she was not used travelling like this, so fell asleep instantly. Dean, however on the other hand, decided to go through yet to be made fully protected police database for victim files, yes, Charlie taught a few tricks to him too, for which he’s grateful. He smiles to himself, he appreciates tech and all, but he might still have to visit victim’s families tomorrow, but he had one household in mind, he’d want to visit, that one family which was flourishing despite the many deaths of the others.

He wasn’t able to find a pattern, it is so random. And victim’s all died in gruesome way which may pass as an unfortunate accident. Was it luck? He passes when that comes to his mind. Right, one’s fortune is other’s misfortune, it’s a balance, and there are few objects in the many myths, legends and cultural beliefs, are said to give the owner, luck, fortune and wealth. He doesn’t know why, but his intuition is strongly making him think that it’s a cursed object. His intuition has rarely been wrong. So he stays till 11 pm making a list of such objects. He thinks what if this kind of object was a double-edged sword? Meaning, what could bring abandon fortune can instantly or in the long run bring misfortune to the owner of the object?

In between, he had woken up Charlie, and they had take out for dinner. After, dinner, Charlie had gone straight to sleeping on the bed again. He had huffed and smiled at that. Now that he’s done, he goes to sleep after getting comfortable.

-----------------------------------

Charlie had woken up at 2:30 am, she rolling on the bed awake, maybe it was around, when she started to hear it, gasping and harsh breathing sounds from beside. She saw that Dean was having hard time breathing, curled up on side, his face soaked in sweat, looking quite pale. Was he having some kind of nightmare? Staying with Dean she had learnt a thing or two, she learned that, Dean could sleep in peace with some weapon by his side, a knife or gun, he’s usually a light sleeper. And this was her first time watching him this vulnerable, she was going to wake him up when he sat up gasping, awakened by whatever things that haunted him even in his sleep. Charlie, momentarily frozen midway, her hand outstretched which she took back after a beat. Something inside Charlie broke at the sight of Dean in such a vulnerable state, it all made sense why Dean doesn’t want Charlie to be hunting with him. He doesn’t want her to suffer like he does.

After, getting himself to calm down, he finally allowed himself to look to Charlie’s side. He was still shaken up, but he wanted to make sure, if he had woken up Charlie, he didn’t want scare the kid. When he saw she was awake, he gives her a weak smile.

“did I wake you up? Kid, it’s okay go back to sleep, everything’s alright” he reassures her. It’s taking everything in charlie not to retort at Dean. She nodded but didn’t lay down immediately.

‘its not okay, you’re not okay’

He coaxes her to go to bed, and goes to bathroom before laying down himself on his bed. They lay awake in their beds.

‘pathetic, you’re pathetic, Winchester, probably scared the kid, she must be thinking, how is fuck up like me going to look after her’ he thinks to himself. If Charlie what’s going on inside dean’s head this instant, she would whack him and scold him not to freaking blame himself and think so little of himself.

 It’s been only month, and they’ve become so accustomed to each other, it doesn’t feel weird, it felt right like they’ve been like this their whole lives. It was scary, actually, the way they connected with each other like Dean felt with Sam, she really feels like a sister he didn’t ask for to Dean and yes it scares him, makes him feel angry at himself that he’s allowing charlie to be hunting.

The next day, they visited the victim’s family, under the guise of agents more like agent, since dean asked charlie to not accompany him. After visiting the victim’s families he didn’t find anything strange, only the deaths were strange nothing much. So, to clear his suspicions, he decided to go to the one particular family in the whole city which was flourishing despite the deaths of many, the Byron family. Under the guise of reporter, he went to take interview of the mister for his success. He doesn’t usually likes sweet talking to people like this, but he does, man how he wished Sam was here, he was good at this kind of stuff. When he was looking around the house, the emf meter in his jacket went crazy, which he had turned on.

He looked for the source, there were several items that can qualify as cursed object in the house. But the only thing that gave off the ominous energy was …a strange mirror, he didn’t look straight into the mirror, because his gut told him he shouldn’t that bad things would happen if he did. He discreetly asks about the mirror, the mistress of the house was happy to spare him a few details. She seemed to have taken a slight interest in him, which had displeased the mister, so he urged him to leave after few minutes of watching his wife drooling over the reporter. Dean thanked him.

When he left their house, he smoothed the goosebumps he felt because of mirror and the lady. Particularly the lady, bringing some bad memories along the way. He shakes off and his brain started working a mile per minute. The cursed object in question is a bagua, an object that brings fortune to the owner, according to the Chinese myths. And now the deaths are starting to makes sense.

The people that died and the way they died, it was corresponding to their birth year in accordance the Chinese horoscope, he deduced after discussing with Charlie when they reached their room.

“so…what’s the plan?”

 Charlie asked, still amazed to see Dean when he’s working case, how he’s able to see patterns, connect dots, and dedicated if he wants to be when it comes to saving people.

“looks like I am stealing this time too”

“what do you mean stealing this time too?... Nope nevermind, don't tell me"

Dean says defensively, “hey, we don’t how many people will die, if they had unknowingly looked at the mirror, that family could be in danger”

Charlie waves off, that it doesn’t bother her that much, but Dean was unconvinced and looked equal parts embarrassed. She didn’t miss a chance to tease him a bit. And at times like this, Dean really misses Sam, he feels guilty, when the intrusive thoughts like he’s replacing Sam with Charlie comes to haunt him. He tells himself, that Charlie and Sam are both important to him, and no one can replace the other.

He meticulously plans to sneak into the house, wearing gloves and the box to keep the cursed object. It wasn’t hard, considering how good the security was, he finds it odd, has he gotten that good at this. Anyways with little obstacles, he managed to get the mirror mounted on the wall and without looking into swiftly puts into the box covered in sigils from both inside and outside. There was brief moment, when he felt a chill, when he was trying to remove the mirror with the gloves. But it disappeared as soon as he put the mirror into the box. He can’t believe he had to knock out two or three guards in his way outside, good thing he covered his face. Anyways the case, wasn’t much of issue, so Charlie might still be optimistic, he sighs.

“The lord is testing me” he tells out loud, jeez Charlie rubbing off on him. One weird way to put it, considering their relationship is purely platonic.

He is happy he didn’t had to put charlie in danger, but disappointed that this case wouldn’t be enough to convince charlie to quit hunting or to stop pursuing hunting.