Chapter 1: Dust In the Wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea

All we do crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

"Dust in the Wind" – Kansas

The bus dropped him off nowhere near where he needed to be. He held the baby that was strapped to his chest a little closer to him as he climbed off the ratchet bus, thankful to be out of the strangers judging stares. God only knows what they thought about him. He knew he looked like a trainwreck, having caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection of the bus window earlier. He couldn't bring himself to give a shit. He looked down to find that the baby was finally sleeping. He let out a slight sigh of relief, closing his eyes as he sent a prayer up to whoever might be listening.

After the moment of reprieve, the man knew he had to get going. It wasn't going to stay daylight for long and he wasn't sure if the people he was looking for would still be at the motel at night. He made his way across the street towards the Dollar General, which was pretty packed for a Thursday night in a hick town like that. He would've laughed if he thought he could anymore.

The man made his way to the parking lot, looking in cars to find the right one. Finally, he found one with a babyseat in the backseat. He immediately got to work, breaking into the car. When he finally got it open—thank god for no car alarm, due to the car being so old—he put the baby in the backseat, strapping it in as gently as he always did. He double-checked the straps before closing the door and getting in the driver's seat.

He wanted to take a breath, to just relax, but he knew he couldn't. So, he hotwired the car like a hero in an action movie and booked it out of the parking lot as fast as he could without startling the baby. It didn't work. The baby started screaming as soon as they left the parking lot. The man's grip tightened on the steering wheel, speaking reassurances to the baby in the backseat as he tried to find the motel.

Thankfully, it didn't take him long to find the motel. He pulled into the parking lot, with the baby still screaming its head off, and parked close to the room he needed before turning it off and getting out. His hands were shaking as he opened the door to the backseat. He unbuckled the baby and lifted it out. He bounced the baby in his arms, soothing it as best he could. When the baby finally calmed down enough and looked up with him with brilliant blue eyes, the man took a breath that hitched in his chest. The baby reminded him so much of her. He pushed down the grief that suddenly threatened to swallow him hole. He had to find them. He had to.

He shut the door to the car and looked up at the sketchy motel. He took a shaky breath and held the baby a little tighter to him, relaxing as the baby fisted its hand in his shirt. He looked around the parking lot, noticing the car that had been like a home to him for nearly his whole life. At least his brother was here. Okay, that was good. He looked around for his father's truck, but didn't see it.

Next was the hardest part. He hadn't seen these people in…. well, years if he was being honest. But, he knew he could trust them. Trust, right now, was his biggest concern. So, he went up the stairs, heart hammering in his chest as he walked down the hallway to the door marked number 15. He stood in front of it with an odd mixture of anxiousness and relief. Finally, he got up the nerve to knock.

He waited, and waited. And waited. Finally, the doorknob turned and the man let out a shaky breath. The door opened, revealing another man with bright green eyes and a military style hair cut. That same man's eyes widened when he saw him and spoke.

"Sammy?"

The taller man, with the baby strapped to his chest, merely gave his brother a slight smile.

"Wha—" the shorter man stuttered, almost lost for words as his mouth opened then closed a couple of times. He finally got his wits about him as he finally added, "what the hell—is that a baby?"

"Dean, I need your help." Sam finally spoke, not even recognizing the sound of his own voice as he looked at his brother.