DISCLAIMER: If wishes were Winchesters…..

SPOILERS: Not sure yet but I will probably reference most things at some point (cus I like to steal from them ) so just assume there will be spoilers for everything so far.

Chapter One

Dean pulled the car up at a stop light and watched the two girls walk across the road in front of him. He turned to where Sam sat beside him and with a leery grin said "dude check it out, high school girls."

Sam looked at where Dean was looking and then back at Dean incredulously "exactly Dean High school girls." The emphasis he put on those words totally different from his brother.

Dean actually had the decency to look a little bit embarrassed for once before covering by saying "every mans fantasy dude."

"Not every mans Dean" Sam said slightly disgusted by how much of a letch his older brother could be sometimes. "Anyway you better keep those fantasies to yourself on this job otherwise you might end up in a whole different type of trouble."

Dean gave his brother a sideways glance for a moment wondering if Sam really thought he would stoop that low and was relieved to see Sam grinning back at him, obviously trying to wind him up.

Deciding to let it drop Dean changed the subject. "So you really don't remember this place huh?"

Sam shook his head peering out the passenger side window at the unfamiliar town trying to jog his memory. "We stayed in a lot of towns Dean." he reminded the other man his tone slightly sad as he remembered their unconventional childhood.

Dean looked over at Sam when he heard the sadness in his tone and knew that Sam was remembering what it was like for them growing up. Moving from town to town, never really staying long enough to form attachments to anyone before their dad's obsession moved them onto another hunt, another town. He looked out of the window himself but unlike Sam this place was familiar to him. He remembered this place not because of the town itself but because of one very special person. That was the reason they were back here now.

His mind went back to that time and he could see Sam as he was back then, that was the year he'd gone from being short and chubby to tall and lean. All in the space of about six months.

Their dad had brought them into town rented a dingy one bedroom apartment, enrolled them both in school then took off after a lead all in the same day. Things had been okay at first but when John had rang to say he'd be gone at least another month Dean had known that the money he'd left them was not going to last that long. But when John asked Dean had lied and said everything was fine and not to worry about them. He made sure Sam had enough to eat. God that summer it was like he was a bottomless pit, always hungry. Sure sometimes that meant Dean didn't eat but he was the big brother so it was okay. But even then the money was fast disappearing and as a last resort Dean found a job. It was just washing dishes at the local diner, but it meant that as soon as Sam was home from school and settled Dean had to go to work and most nights he didn't get back until the early hours. He'd hated leaving Sam alone but couldn't see an alternative.

The long hours, lack of food and also if he was honest, the constant worry about their father started to take it's toll on him and he'd caught a cold. Dean never got sick, but he'd spent a little of their money on some medicine and tried to shrug it off. All of this meant that school was way down his list of priorities. He made sure he attended, after all he didn't want to call any undue attention to them but he found himself dozing off in more than one class. Most of his teachers ignored it, probably glad that they didn't have another unruly student trying to disrupt class. But one teacher wasn't willing to let it go, Mrs Johnson.

Snsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsn

It was the last lesson of the day and the sound of the bell woke him from his half doze. He'd sat up with a start and then wiped his nose on his sleeve. He picked his unread text book up off the desk and joined the other students making their way out of the classroom and into the relative freedom of the hallway when a voice called him back.

"Dean could you stay a moment." He slumped his shoulders in defeat and turned to face the woman. Despite the situation he couldn't help giving the older woman the once over. For someone in her early thirties she wasn't half bad he thought taking in her long brown hair, blue eyes and impressively long legs. Then he saw the look of anger in her eyes and any lustful thoughts were banished.

She waited until the last student had left and shut the door before turning to him and speaking again.

"Look Dean I don't know what's going on with you at the minute but you have a responsibility to this school…."

Deans harsh laugh cut her off but there was no humour in it. "Responsibility" he bit back "you're joking right?"

"No Dean I'm not. I know you're only sixteen but that's plenty old enough for you to be acting a little more adult."

"I don't have time for this right now." Dean said wearily. His eyes had a glassy sheen to them when he looked at her and she realised that he must be sick.

"If you're not well then maybe you shouldn't be in school. Maybe I should ring you're parents get them to come pick you up."

"No Dean" said a little too quickly for her liking. "it's just my dad and he's busy at the minute." he tried to explain.

"Even so I'm sure he'll want to know that you're sick, Dean you were falling asleep in class today for god's sake."

"I'm fine, I've really got to get going or my little brother will wonder where I got to." he said starting to walk towards the door.

"We're not finished here Dean." she snapped at him a little annoyed at his belligerent attitude.

"Please I really need to get going" he pleaded his eyes actually looked like they were filling up in his desperation to get out of there. She watched as he swayed unsteadily on his feet and quickly guided him to a chair.

"Dean what is it?" she asked the weary young man as he slumped in the seat and put his head in his hands.

"I don't think I can do it anymore." She barely heard his muffled reply.

"Do what?" she asked gently.

"Everything." her heart broke when she heard the pain in that one word.

She stood there for a minute unsure of how to respond when she saw his shoulders start to shake and she realised that he was crying. She immediately stepped closer and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. For a minute she thought he was going to pull away and then he let himself relax into her touch.

"It's okay Dean " she reassured him " take your time."

Dean didn't know what it was , probably a combination of things really but he decided to trust her and before he knew it he was telling her everything. Absolutely everything, Mom, Dad , Sammy and the way they lived. The evil that was out there. He didn't once look up as he spilled his guts, didn't want to see the look in her eyes. He didn't know why he was telling her all this, he knew he'd regret it when he was done but once he started he couldn't seem to stop until it was all out.

Mrs Johnson looked down at the boy before her, a look of horror in her eyes as he bared his soul to her. She stood there silently and just let him speak. He finished what he was saying, trailing off mid sentence as if he'd just run out of steam and just sat there staring at the floor. A moment later he raised his hazel-green eyes to meet her blue ones. The look she saw there told her exactly what she needed to do.

Dean looked up at the older woman fearing what he'd see in her eyes, disbelief and shock probably. She looked back at him for a while, her expression unreadable and then she spoke. "I'm going to help you Dean."

She made him tell her about his dad being out of town, looking after Sammy and the job he'd took.

"Well the first thing you're going to do is quit that job." she told him.

"But we need the money for food." Dean started to protest.

"You let me worry about that." she interrupted.

Suddenly Dean glared at her and she could see the strength that had held him up so far shining out at her "we're not charity cases" he snapped, his eyes flashing there anger.

"Let's put it this way Dean" she explained equally as ferocious "you accept my help or I call social services." she felt mean threatening him like that but she knew that it would take a lot for him to be willing to accept her help.

Dean looked at her in shock before finally grinning up at her " god you're scary" he said.

She found herself grinning back at him, realising that this was the first time she had ever seen him smile and realising how privileged she was to be able to see it.

So that was how it began. One of the best and strangest friendships Dean had ever had. The next few weeks she'd supplied them with groceries and also made sure Dean got some better medicine for his cold. He found himself hanging out with her during lunch break and in free periods. She wanted to know all about the supernatural things out there and Dean enjoyed telling her about the hunts he'd been on with hid dad and all the stuff that others hunters had told him. She couldn't believe that there was this whole other world out there that she knew nothing about, but he never once thought that she didn't believe him.

Two months to the day that he'd left them there John came back. Dean hadn't even got a chance to say goodbye before his father had them packed up and was ready to move on. He had however sent a letter a few weeks later when they had settled for a short while again.

It was more than ten years ago now but he still kept in touch. The letters had been sporadic due to him being constantly on the move but once they had both gotten email addresses it had been a lot easier. It was a tie to a life he wished he could have had and he wasn't willing to let it go entirely. The didn't write that often now, just once or twice a year which is why when he'd seen her name in his inbox he'd opened it immediately. He'd read the message twice before turning to Sam and saying " we've got a job, get packed we're leaving in ten minutes."

Sam had looked at him in surprise but still done what he'd asked and now here they we're. He knew Sam was itching to ask but he wasn't quite ready to reveal those memories just yet. In fact he knew that when he did tell Sam about Mrs Johnson he'd keep some things to himself. Sam didn't need to know everything. He already resented their dad for so much of their childhood and he didn't even know the half of it and Dean wanted to keep it that way.

"It's green." Sam's voice jolted him from his memories.

"What?" he asked startled.

"The light, it's green." Sam pointed to the traffic signal above them smirking at the startled look on his older brothers face.

"Oh" was all Dean said before putting his foot down on the accelerator and driving on.

Sam watched his older brother carefully wondering what was going on his mind. He knew it wouldn't be long until he had some answers but knowing Dean it wouldn't be the full story. Just as much as Dean wanted him to know. He was looking forward to meeting this woman, this Mrs Johnson. He got the feeling it was going to be interesting.

Snsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsn