Sam POV

The last several months has been the best time of my life so far. Dean and I have been staying at Bobby's for about five months. Every once a while, Dean gets to go on a hunt with Dad, but I have been trying my hardest to distance myself from the life.

I do not want to hunt anymore. It was never what I wanted, but I was forced to because it is the 'family business'.

I wish Dad would accept my decision not to hunt. I want to go to collage and get a good, honest job. Thus far, our lives have been payed with faking credit cards and money from hustling pool at bars. That is not how I want to live my life. I want to be normal or as normal as possible.

Bobby has been great! He let me take up one of his spare rooms, and I enjoy helping him do research for Dad and other hunters. That is the only part of hunting that I willingly take part in, mostly because it is similar to studying, and I am pretty good at that. Bobby is like a second dad to me.

The best part about these last few months, other than I am finally having my growth spirit, is that I have been here long enough to hold down a relationship. Her name is Kathleen and we started dating about a month after Dean and I got dropped off at Bobby's. Because of family rules, she has no idea what my family does for a living. What I told her was that my dad is a traveling mechanic that likes to go hunting whenever he can. It is not too far from the truth, and I had to explain how Dad knew Bobby. Since Bobby has guns displayed all over the house, I figured she would believe that hunting was a past time Bobby and Dad share. Kathleen thinks they hunt normal things like deer, moose, rabbits, and squirrels; I did not dare tell her what they were really hunting.

She is the first person in a long time that I have gotten to know well. Usually we aren't somewhere for more than a couple weeks, but I have not had to change schools once this year. It's great! I get so much work done. They have even put me in advanced placement.

When I am not doing school work or helping Bobby out, I am usually with Kathleen. She is everything I could wish for in a girlfriend. I don't know how I got so lucky. In fact, some times I wonder why she even goes out with a guy like me. It is not like I am popular or the best looking guy out there. I would even go as far as calling myself a freak, but Kathleen is amazing. She can look past all my flaws and can see the good in people like me.

She is beautiful too. Her brunet hair has natural flecks of ember in it, and she has this tiny nose with a few freckles. Her smile can brighten up a room, and her eyes are blue like the ocean. Kathleen really is something special.

I am the luckiest guy.

Realizing that I need to leave now if I want to meet up with Kathleen at the river, I call out to Bobby. "I'm leaving! Kathleen and I are going to hang out."

"Ok! Don't do anything stupid boy," Bobby replies. I roll my eyes at his response and head out the door.

I fire up one of Bobby's junkers and ride out off the lot with the old minivan sputtering, squealing, and groaning. It works, but it sure is noisy. I probably would have been better off if I had rode a bicycle. It would not give me a headache and may even be faster than this beat up old car.

When I get near Kathleen's house, I call her to tell her know that I am on her road. Her parents, especially her step dad, don't want her dating me because I am close with Bobby, and he is supposedly the town drunk. I wish we could hang out without sneaking around. I feel bad making her go around her family's back. Then again, she was the one who insisted that I not meet her parents a second time. I had dinner at Kathleen's once. After I left, her parents explained that I seemed nice enough, but if I knew Bobby Singer I must be trouble. After that, Kathleen was not supposed to see me again.

Of corse we did not listen. I still feel bad about the whole situation, but Kathleen insists that our relationship is worth it.

Seeing her walk up to the junker, I open the passenger's door from the drivers seat. Hopping in, Kathleen comments, "Looks like your growth spirt is paying off."

I give a small laugh, "I guess it is." I have grown at least two inches since I have met the girl, and I am still growing. It is ridiculous. I was used to being shortish, and now, I am turning in to a giant. Who would have thought?

Once we get to the river, we walk a ways to find the old rope swing that hangs over the river. Some teenager put it up years ago, and the tree is starting to grow around the rope. I am surprised that it has held up this long. Even before the rope was put up, this was always a spot that teenagers frequented. Luckily, few people remember where it is, so it is pretty private these days. I only know the location because Bobby remembered the spot from when he was a kid, long before anyone tied a swing to the tree.

I take off every thing except my boxers off to swim. Kathleen was smart. She remembered to wear a bathing suit under her clothes. Taking a running leap, I grab the rope and yell like Tarzan before letting go and splashing into the river.

When I surface, I can't see Kathleen. Then I feel something on my foot and screech. Hearing a laugh behind me, I look to find Kathleen wadding in the water. "You are too easy," Kathleen laughs.

"In my defense, I thought you were a fish."

"You screeched Sam. You actually screeched," She repeats.

We wind up splashing each other before using the rope swing some more. Kathleen can dive so there is barely any splash, but I can hold my breath the longest. This goes on for a long wile until the sun starts to fall in the sky.

By the water's edge, we lie side by side to dry off in what sunlight there is left in the day. I wrap an arm around her waist, and she lays her head on my chest. It is something I would not allow anyone else to do. Dean would let any woman rest on him, but I am not that kind of guy. I actually want normal. Dean likes the thrill of dating a different girl every two weeks; keeps things interesting. As for me, I want to find that special someone and settle down one day. Start a family and live an apple pie life before dyeing of natural causes.

Suddenly, a flash of light goes off, and I hear someone running away from us. Without a second thought, I sprint to catch up with them, but they out ran me. Frustrated, I head back to Kathleen and slip on my dry clothes; she does the same. I give her a kiss as I drop her off a block from her house, and we exchange a quick I love you. Then I watch her as long as I can to make sure she is safe on the street before heading back to Bobby's.

When I walk in the door, Dean is waiting for me. "Where have you been little brother?"

Not wanting to answer, I curtly say, "Out."

"Are you sure you weren't out with your girlfriend?" Dean teases.

How would he know? "Not everyone spends their free time with girls Dean."

Holding up a Polaroid, Dean sneers, "Are you sure?"

Noticing it it is a picture of Kathleen and I at the river in our swimming attire, I try to snatch it from Dean's hand. "You're such a creep. Were you taking pictures of us?"

"Only one," Dean remarks. "You chased me out of there before I could take any more."

Rubbing my temples, I sigh. I am slightly relieved. At least it was only Dean who was stalking us at the river. Still, I am mad at him. I don't sneak off behind him when he has a date. Not that I'd want to.

Bobby speaks up, "You two better wash up. Dinner's almost ready."

A few days later, Kathleen and I are hanging out at Bobby's. We are used to finding a junker out back to get out of the house. It's hard to have any privacy when Dean is here. He can't even resist spying on a simple conversation. My only guess is that he does it because I am the little brother, and he does it to mess with me. Either way, it is very annoying.

Kathleen and I are talking about nothing in particular when I hear a stern voice that I would recognize anywhere. "Sam!" It's my dad.

Kathleen and I exchange a frightened look before I explain, "That is my dad."

"Your dad that only comes around every few weeks?" She inquires.

"That would be him," I confirm.

"Sam!" Dad raises his voice more, commanding me to reveal myself.

I hop out of a car that is stacked on another with Kathleen. Then I walk up to Dad, Kathleen several yards behind me.

Dad sees Kathleen but ignores her as he speaks directly to me. "Time to go Sammy. Pack your bags. We are leaving in an hour." He starts to walk away.

I know that if I do not speak up now, I will have to leave this good life behind for musty hotel rooms and monster guts.

"Dad!" He turns around to face me with a scrutinizing look. I continue, "Sir, can I stay at Bobby's longer? I have friends here, I am doing great in school, and Bobby said that he was fine with me staying as long as I wanted."

Taking a deep breath, he replies, "No, Sam. You are only seventeen. You do not have the right to make your own decisions. Get your bags packed now. We need to be in Texas yesterday." He starts to turn around but faces me again. "And Sam, you do not have time for girlfriends. Bobby told me." Finally acknowledging Kathleen, Dad tells her, "I am sure you are a nice young lady and all, but my son needs t0 be focused on other things." Finally, Dad leaves.

Kathleen and I stand there for a few minutes, speechless.

I don't know why I ever thought that Dad would give me a chance at normality. It was foolish for me to think that he might.

Kathleen offers to help me pack my things. We absentmindedly place my things in a duffle bag, which doesn't take long. It is hard not to break down. Kathleen has been the only one there for me no matter what these last few months. I do not know what I will do without her. Neither one of us wants this relationship to end, so we sit there in one another's arms until Dad calls up the stairs signaling that it is time to go. Releasing our embrace, I realize that we both have tears in our eyes. I wipe my face dry, so Dad and Dean don't see me venerable. Kathleen wipes her eyes as well, but her tears still silently fall.

Placing a hand on her cheek, I say, "I am sorry. Kathleen. I am so sorry."

Grasping my hand, she sadly tells me, "It isn't your fault. I will be fine." Standing up, I sigh. "Take care of yourself Sam," She reminds me.

I smile, and reluctantly walk out of the room.

I see her wave goodbye as the impala drives away. It breaks my heart, but this is the life I am forced to live.

Kathleen and I call each other every night after I leave. Like tonight, I am having another conversation with my estranged girlfriend.

"I am glad you aren't in Sioux Falls this week," Kathleen tells me through the phone.

"Why?" I ask.

I hear her give a frustrated huff. "My brother is in town. Don't get me wrong, I love him to death, but he can always tell if I am dating anyone. Then he figures out who they are, finds them, and threatens them to stay away from his 'little sister'".

"I think I would be fine," I state honestly.

"Oliver is in the military. I wouldn't let you get in between him and I. He would probably shoot you."

Without thinking, I causally say, "It's not like I haven't been shot before." Realizing what I had just admitted to, I quickly add, "I shot myself once when Dad asked me to clean one of his guns a while back, and I forgot to check if it was loaded. It only grazed my calf, so I wasn't really hurt, but it was still painful."

"I am guessing that is why Bobby does not let you touch his guns?"

Glad she bought my story, I laugh, "Yeah."

"I am so board," Kathleen groans.

"Why?"

She sighs, "I stayed home from school because I did not feel good."

"Are you ok?" I ask.

"Yeah. I think I caught the flu. A few other people in the school already had it. I suppose it's my turn."

"Well, I have to go before my dad catches me on the phone while I am supposed to be studying." By studying I mean searching what can kill a chupacabra. "Feel better soon," I tell Kathleen.

"Ok, Sam. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"You can be sure of it." With that we hang up. Little did I know that would be the last time that I talked to Kathleen. Dad got rid of every phone we had except the one he kept turned off with the batteries out so people we have previously helped can leave a message, so we could not be tracked. Every once in a while, he would do this because he was paranoid that whatever killed our mom could be tracking us. Dean and Dad are used not having any attachments, so ditching their phones was easy for them. I wanted to let Kathleen know why I would not be calling her tomorrow, but there was no warning. Dad had smashed our phones for good measure.

Please, let me know if you think that I should continue with this story. I have one other part to the prequel. Other than that, I do not have much typed out. I wanted to see if anyone would be interested in reading this before continuing writing the entire story. I am excited about this fanfic, so let me know if you wish to hear more of the story. If not, the story shall stay inside the clutches of my mind.