Title: Montford Military Academy

Jamie and River Winchester are on a hunt AND under cover at a military academy. Sam, Dean and Gramps are off campus and the boys are mostly on their own. Will they make it without too much trouble? Will contain spanking.

Jamie pulled his cover down over dark auburn hair and looked at himself in the mirror. He figured he looked okay. Slate gray uniform with bright gold buttons on the lapels and neatly button down the front of his uniform jacket. In the middle of his was an insignia of sorts, wheat he thought and the initials MMA in bold gold to match the buttons. His shirt was bright white and his tie black, knotted appropriately at his neck. His name tag said J. Winchester and was strategically and carefully positioned over his right chest. His pants were the same gray as his jacket but with a darker gray stripe down both legs and his shoes where polished glossy leather. The white braid that hung over his right shoulder was kind of gaudy, but there was nothing to be done about that. Not too shabby, if he did say so himself.

He looked at his cousin who lay on his rack across from Jamie. River was scowling as only he could do, blonde brows furrowed in anger. He too was dressed like Jamie except his hat was carelessly lying at the bottom of his bed and his jacket unbuttoned haphazardly. He did have his tie on but it was loosened almost to his third button. All of that lent a bedraggled air to River. The one thing that actually looked military was his hair cut. Short, spikey and obviously very, very new.

"This sucks," River stated the obvious.

"It's not so bad." Jamie offered, casually brushing his hand down his shoulder at some piece of imagined dirt.

"Says Military Boy." River half snarled.

"It's only temporary. A few months Dad said."

"Well shearing me like a damn sheep isn't temporary." Then as if to prove a point, River ran his hand through his short hair.

Jamie snorted, "Since when doesn't hair grow back."

"It's the principle of the thing. I didn't buy into this crap." The last part was stated needlessly as it was obvious where River's thoughts were in regard to Montford Military Academy.

"I know you aren't happy, Riv, but if you don't get off your bed and get your uniform on right, you are going to be in a boat load of shit with The Trio and the Barracks CO. If not the Commandant."

"And I care why?" River glared at Jamie.

"Because maybe our folks will give us a free pass, but I doubt it considering we are supposed to blend here. But if they don't, I'm quite sure there are military protocols for looking like something the cat dragged in." Jamie chuckled to himself, thinking of their barn cat Godzilla who while he could not physically drag River, he could do enough damage with tooth and claw to make anyone appear at least scruffy.

"In fact," Jamie continued, "I'm sure there are. Did you take a look at the SOPs?"

River's scowl folded into a look of disgust, eyes narrowing at Jamie, "Seriously."

Jamie glanced at himself in the mirror. "Dude, seriously. We are supposed to be here as part of the Cadre. You and I are should be pretty well-versed with military protocol considering we came from Valley Forge Military Academy."

River growled, "You do realize that neither of us has even been Valley Forge Café and Diner?"

Jamie snorted, a decidedly Winchester sound, and tilted his head at River, mouth pursed just a bit.

"Y'know, it would be nice if you would at least try to fit in."

"I'm here aren't I?" River interjected helpfully.

"Look it's a few months…that's all and when we figure out who, if anyone is haunting the place, well then we will be out of here. Besides, how often are we really hunting on our own. No parents around to report to every waking moment. Since The Trio can't blend here no matter what and are stuck in a no-tell motel with the townies, it's kind of like a vacation. The only person who knows we are here and under cover is the janitor."

River's eyebrows shot up, "You consider this a vacation?"

"Well, not exactly," Jamie admitted, "But we are on our own, except for checking in with the folks. They are depending on us to handle the research on our own and I wouldn't be surprised if we aren't able to actually finish the hunt on our own. I mean, if there even is a ghost…I'm quite sure we can handle the salt and burn of a twelve year old boy."

"And that Jamie-boy is where I beg to differ. The Trio said specifically RESEARCH. Not kill."

Jamie grinned, "They also said we were to maintain our cover as young military cadets and you are so far from that…"

Jamie's speech was interrupted by a brief knock on the door and the bellowing voice of the Drill Sergeant, "TEN HUT!"

Jamie, already standing, racked his shoulders back and briskly stood at attention.

River fell out of bed.

The DS glanced quickly at Jamie, offered no "At ease" but instead turned his attention to River, who for his part, was trying to scramble to his feet. Not so much because the DS was standing over him, more because it reminded him of Gramps.

"Don't bother Winchester. Give me twenty and sound off."

River, however unmilitary he might be, was very familiar with pushups as a punishment. He was also very good. His form was immaculate and he knew it. Twenty up and downs, briskly counting them off, "Twenty." He ended, not even breathing heavy.

"What did you say?" the DS growled obviously agitated at River's apparent fitness level.

River flicked an eye in Jamie's direction. His question obvious. Jamie didn't answer but arched a brow toward River.

"Sir?"

"Do I look like an officer to you?" the DS yelled.

River thought it a loaded question. "You are wearing a uniform, sir." River thought the "sir" was a good idea. Another bit of training courtesy of the Winchesters.

"You will refer to me as DRILL SERGEANT."

"Yes, sir."

"Are you damaged in some way, boy?" the Drill Sergeant asked his voice almost as low as Gramps'.

"Uh, no,s…Drill Sergeant."

"Get your rack made up and meet me on the drill field in ten. And if you don't come appropriately dressed for military drills, then you can expect to spend the next three hours running. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir.." River stumbled again, four years of answering his family was hard to shut off, "Yes, Drill Sergeant."

"And you." The Drill Sergeant pointed at Jamie. "If you are smart, you will get your cousin under control. You two are roomates and a member of the brotherhood of cadets. Whatever he does, it will become your problem. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Drill Sergeant." Jamie answered briskly.

"And next time I see you two, I better see a salute."

"Yes, Drill Sergeant." Jamie and River answered together.

The door slammed heavy and hard.

Jamie looked at River and River at Jamie.

It looked like things were going to be rough for the Winchester boys.