Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural nor any of its characters.
A/N: This plot didn't give me peace until now. It was like a dog doing puppy eyes. I realized that I love writing Sam's character :). Bobby appears later on. The third genre is action. NO SPOILERS about Season 10 and up! Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Take my hand
A cold morning makes you alert. You can't fall asleep no matter how much you try, not even in the after life. Far from the sun, far from the loved ones. She was a hunter. Was, because she didn't consider herself one anymore. Escape was her priority. Was, because she died. That fact made her a Winchester, even without their surname. She was known for helping other hunters, without exceptions. Making friends was easy to her, because even when she didn't really want to, she attracted people. Call it aura or charisma, one way or another, the energy she emitted made people around her feel safe. You have a question, she'll find an answer; if you are lost, she'll show which way to go. This is a vulnerability in a way, especially for those who want to inflict pain and fear.
Many called her The Kind One, but when she snapped you better not be near. This didn't mean she had no patience, quite the contrary actually, and one trait made her different from the other hunters. The ability to see good in every single person, no matter how much evilness or hatred is hidden within, she wouldn't give up. Always full of hope, with a smile on her face. Ready to help, ready to fight, she could do the almost impossible, find a way back to a semi-normal life, put depression at bay, cry for a whole day, get hurt, save a life..
/Flashback/ /A young man lazily strolls towards the waitress. ''Hey, sweets. Can I get another beer and a package of muffins? Thanks." The girl rolled her eyes, but replied anyway. "Coming up." Some time later she had enough. The boy was like an annoying fly trying to get into her pants. She wouldn't budge, which made the rich boy angry. As she passed the table were these boys sat, the guy dared to grab her ass, painfully. "Hands off me.." she said in a low menacing voice. "Do you know who my father is, sweet pea?" He stood up, his eyes showing off a crazy gleam. Nobody gives a damn, but you are too obsessed to see it, of course. "I don't care, sorry. I don't swing that way." Asshat. "Now back off!" She rarely hunted something bigger than ghosts, but man, she would be glad to show this guy a lesson. A normal one of course, she had no intention to hurt him or to be cruel in any way, just enough to learn something. Meanwhile, the said guy just chuckled and returned to chat with his friends who planned revenge./
Her lungs screamed for air. She couldn't see much, only feel something very soft around her head. The smell of dirt was her next clue. Her heart skipped a beat at that. Damn, she was burried six feet under, a part of her hoping for less of course. The bandages around her made her skin itch as her fingers pried and scraped, until she easily ripped them off and proceed digging her way out.
How do you know what's real and what's fake? Is there something that holds your ground like your memories? Or pure intuition? Touchable nightmares are tricky. Somehow you know it's an illusion, but the what-if-it-isn't remains in your mind all the same. You can't help it, hope twinkles anyway.
She knew what she was getting into, from the start. Hunter fact number one: Being sloppy or tired gets you killed and the Winchesters are as stubborn as a mule without a satisfied stomach sometimes, basically both being an ass until it goes their way. If an angel is near, then the order is: Heal my brother. If one of them gets an exclusive meeting with the death itself, than it's a plea: Bring my brother back, I'll do whatever it takes.
Everyone they know is more or less dead, the loved ones destined to be either forgotten or were, in the end, turned into ashes against their will. If they weren't killed in their home, then they were either killed mercilessly in the middle of nowhere and left there or becoming a pile of ashes without any pain. The brothers tried to save them, but being unable to be on various locations at the same time broke the whole rescue process.
There they were, in the middle of a ghoul nest, both bloody, their bodies moving in action. A huntress, if one could call her that, was watching the struggle from the outside, only a small window between them, knowing exactly when they needed her. Dean fell, Sam got thrown through the biggest window in the room, which was more the enough for Jane, also known as J-Tam, to help them. They still felt responsible for her tragic death and that broke her heart some more. Yes, she got shredded by a hellhound, but her mission was completed with that, she didn't ask to be saved. She found out the real purpose of the trials and warned the boys.
Something brought her back, but she would be lying if she said that it wasn't good to breathe the fresh air, to be alive again. Her anger was palpable and she still wasn't going to admit that she needed to see her love again, at least once. Two days passed, only to find all of his friends dead and a trace of him near the place she arised. The Winchester brothers were alive, not mad at each other anymore, but their lives were missing the light and the distraction she brought from all the pain. The charismatic Jane, Sam's key to his heart to be honest, and it's understandable that, when he saw her ganking the ghoul who was trying to send him on the other side, made him pass out. As always, Dean needed exactly that to free himself, sending the other nasty thing to the monster paradise. How did the ghoul in the cabin get so distracted if Jane and Sam were outside? Simple, the ghoul that Jane send its head flying away, shrieked in surprise beforehand. One brother was safe now. Satisfied with the first part of her return, Jane jumped up to find the other. She entered the surprisingly well lit cabin, to check on the older brother, when..
"J-Tam? Thanks god. Right on time." he enveloped her in a crushing hug, pouring all the relief and happiness to se her again. Alive. He was so cought up in the moment, that it was up to her to ask to do the tests. Strange, she thought. Dean is usually the one to demand them at any cost. What's the difference now?
Jane had to know if she was there for real, completely human and not a filthy monster to kill. Only then she'd sleep as peacefully as possible. "All done. It's so good to have you back." She grinned in relief, hugging Dean with equal joy.
"Why is Sammy still out?" said Dean when outside the cabin. Jane pointed her finger to her face. "Seeing me was to much for him. Poor guy." she chuckled as he squatted next to Sam. Jane joined him, watching Dean's tries to wake his brother. If Dean hadn't been paying attention, he'd miss worry-regret-love-adoration flash across her face. To Sam, she was considered an angel. Black hair falling in soft waves, her lips wearing a lipstick even on a hunt, a lovely face, blue-green eyes, charming smile and those long legs... Saving him the fourth time so far, he could call himself a lucky man, when he woke up eventually. Sam always looked younger when he slept, that surely won't change any soon.
"Alright. Sammy needs his beauty rest, I get it." chuckled Dean. "There's a stretcher in the trunk. Can you bring it?" For a moment she looked puzzled. Because how the hell do you stuff a stretcher in a car trunk?! "O-okay. Sure..The keys please.." Dean threw her the promised keys and sat on the grass near Sam. "Just follow the path and the broken branches!" he yelled after her, when she stopped, not knowing where to go.
"I missed a lot, I see." spoke Jane to one in particular while she observed the foldaway stretcher in the Impala. Once they moved Sam off the ground, Dean gritted his teeth. Since when is Sammy so heavy.. "Need a break?" asked Jane, when she heard Dean's breathing quicken, accompanied by his grunts. "Yeah. Two minutes." He regretted parking the car 15 minutes away, that's for sure. Both leaned on a tree, silently preparing for 10 more minutes of hiking across the woods.
Jane stopped him from standing up. "Need help with that shoulder of yours?" Dean's face has lost some color since they laid Sam down. "Would be nice, please." How much did she missed? Dean saying please like hi-nice-to-meet-you, who'd think of it.. All sorted with counting to three, Dean groaned, closing his eyes. He'll never get used to dislocations.
They could clearly see the Impala now. Once Sam was safely inside, Dean huffed "Finally. Sammy needs a diet, don't you think?" Jane smiled at Dean's comment. "More salad? He'll starve." she shook her head, chuckling. "You're okay to drive? May I?" She opened her hand for the keys. She didn't get injured, she could drive and find them a motel.. "Nah, J-Tam. I'm fine, I'll drive." Stubborn as mule, nothing changed there. That said, Dean started the engine. Jane was riding shotgun, but not for the first time.
Daisy Motel, said the name. It better not be full of daisies, thought Dean yawning. "I'll check us in. Two beds, one couch? I'll take the couch, don't worry. I don't have any money on me, though.. " blue-green eyes continued to stare at him, her hand waving in front of his face. "Yep, one couch. We are tight with the money, so.. There you go." Dean yawned again.
"Women. Always bossy." he murmured under his breath and turned around to check on his brother. He smiled to Sam. "Sammy, you are one lucky guy." Dean welcomed Jane since the first day they worked together. Another hunter on their side, a plus indeed. Bigger family, a girl for his brother.. Maybe something good will come out of this, after all the bad days. Sam loved her with all his heart, it was obvious to Dean. Well, it was obvious to everyone.
Jane waved the keys and Dean was surprised when she insisted on carrying Sam on her back. Just imagine that. Their motel room wasn't far, but still. "No way Dean. Your shoulder disagrees, trust me.." Dean was too tired to argue. Five ghouls in one night were more than enough. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Jane.." his eyes held insecurity. He is so going to regret this. The stretcher would make other residents suspicious of their room. But where did the importance lay?
Step after step the door was closer and Jane's back protested with every move. Once inside, most of the worries flew away. When the giant baby brother was safely laid on the bed, Jane looked at Dean who was shaking his head. "You weren't joking about his diet, huh?" she tried to look away from his repriminding gaze with a lame question.
"Nuh uh. Sit down before you fall, come on." Dean softened his voice, guiding her to the couch. "Okay mom." she teased, her blue-green eyes shining with mischief. Light sleep consumed her. She didn't even notice when the older brother rose from the couch and made his way to the bathroom.
After 15 minutes, Jane could stretch her back without hissing in discomfort; definitely a good thing. Nights were colder here, she needed her jacket to create a decend pillow/blanket. She pouted. Guess where it is. Right, in the Impala. "Dean, I need my jacket. Should I get some salt for the windows?" Green eyes found Jane's. "If it makes you feel better, go ahead." Dean retreated to the bathroom.
Sam's brother always welcomed the lady guardian hunter when he was to far to protect Sam. She popped up when they most needed her, what else could he ask for. He took care of Sam's wounds first; his brother was his priority no matter what.
Jane came back to the room. She silently worked with Dean, practically in synch when it came to patching Sam's wounds up. The bandages and fresh ice came in handy. With that completed, Jane took care of Dean's cuts without any hurry. All they needed now, was some sleep, because resting was overrated.
A gash on the side of his forehead and what it looked like a badly sprained ankle, Sam slept the whole night like a baby.
Jane didn't hesitate in staying with the boys, but soon enough their ways will probably part again.
A/N: Update: next Saturday. What do you think?