Okay, so this is a rewrite. I wrote out 22- long- chapters and wrote myself in a corner. So, I'm doing a redo. It's going to be much of the same. A few things have changed, and hopefully improved. I changed up some dialogue, and I added certain characters in, taken certain characters out, and some big situations are going to change. I have either hopefully finished this story completely and posting as much as I can. Or I am in the middle of writing past the block that I hit. However, this pans out the chapter releases should be quick. And I'm not tying myself down this time to word count. Before I kept it around 4000 words if possible. Now it's going to range. If I get my point across in 3000 good, or maybe I'm more descriptive and the chapter is 5000 words. So that should be a difference too.

Just so new people know I am not edited by someone else, so all mistakes are my own. And if you catch a mistake feel free to let me know. Continuity, language (foreign or otherwise); I don't mind being told I made a mistake so please let me know I'll (at some point) go back and edit it. IE- got told I misspelled clothes when I typed cloths. Went back and fixed it. So please don't worry, just don't be a jerk about it.

Also, you have any ideas, maybe they work out better than my own. If they work and fit, I'll put them in future chapters.

Final note, once this has been posted to its completion the previous version will be deleted.

Thanks for the consideration.

Unforeseen Future

Chapter 1: Bright Shiny Future

Dean was choked up. He let his lips linger a second on the bottle of beer he'd snagged from the fridge and choked back his emotions. The kid in front of him was moving on, taking the next step in his life. Oh, he needed much more beer to get through the night without tears, that was for damn sure. His brother's lips were moving fast, and a smile stayed plastered on them as he looked at his family his own pride exposed.

Graduation. Top of the class, and he'd accepted a full ride to Stanford. His kid brother was going into law. And as proud as he was of this achievement he couldn't help but feel a small sliver of dread creep into his heart. California was a long way, he wouldn't wake up in the same room again with the know it all. Hell, when he'd graduated high school he'd gone straight to a community college just to learn a trade, only to keep in the same vicinity as the butt. And here his little brother was traveling miles and miles away.

California. The state not only was going to steal away his kid, but it had stolen his girlfriend. She had gone off after graduation and bidden Dean to come along. Make a new life. As much as he'd loved Carmen, he couldn't. Sam needed him more. He couldn't explain demons and fires to her without coming off as crazy so- he didn't and they broke up. Now he'd be sure to drive down at least once every few months just to make sure the brother he'd raised ate and took care of himself. How would she feel about that?

A bottle cap bounced off his head and landed in a metal clatter at the feet of his chair. Through narrow slits he glanced up at his brother, hand still raised and fingers still pinched.

"Out of your head." Sam grouched. Sam gave his brother a smile, but Dean saw the same dread cross his brother's face. He wasn't the only one having a hard time with the future distance. "We promised not to start crying until I started packing."

"I'm not crying, bitch." Dean easily tossed back to his brother, then a swig of his beer. He hated being caught moping. "I'm just trying to figure out why you didn't get valet-dictorian." The word was purposefully pronounced to be of slight offense.

Sam snorted. "Susan didn't park any cars, she gave a speech. And I went over this. I didn't want the responsibility."

"She was number two though."

Sam shrugged. "Her family was much harder on her. Besides, I didn't need to have the title under my belt. Not to impress you guys, and not to impress Stanford."

Dean gave the idea some thought. "Damn right. We think your special just the way you are, princess."

"That's Queen Sam tonight." Sam tried keeping a straight face but failed.

Dean smiled back at his kid brother, but felt another tug on his heart. What was he going to do? No Sam to wake up in the morning in more hideous ways than before. No Sam to come home to after a long day of working on cars at the garage. "Just because you're the graduate doesn't mean you've upgraded, in title."

"I certainly think it does." Their father, John, didn't drink, just fingered the lip of the bottle as if tempting fate. He'd been sober a while now. For the most part he was off the stuff. The process to get where he was now certainly hadn't been easy on any of them, and on a bad day he might crack. He finally took a tentative sip, determined to keep his count at one. "I'm damn proud of you boy. You set your sights on a goal, and more than met it."

Warmth swelled in Dean as his younger brother took in the word. Proud. That wasn't something his father let out casually and Sam was soaking it in. "Thanks, Dad."

"Don't thank him yet." Bobby scooped up another and flipped the cap off of the beer causally with his thumb. "You know those two nit wits are going to constantly bother you non-stop. Phone calls, visits. I don't know why he's getting a dorm when you need a three-bedroom apartment?" The older man smirked at the face Dean made. "Sorry, two-bedroom apartment. You and Dean will be sharing- right?"

Dean and Sam hadn't stopped sharing a room, even when Bobby had opened it up as an option. Years' worth of sleeping together in the Impala, and even shitty motel rooms set them up for failure. "We're going to give the kid his space." An eyebrow waggle had Sam rolling his eyes before his brother continued. "Besides all the hot college babes he'll be bringing back to the dorm room, he'll be way too busy to spend time with us."

"Please. I'll be spending all of that time in the library. You do know what a scholarship is right? It's not just free money, it's also much more stress to keep my grades up." Sam kept his tone light, but he was serious. He would increase the amount of time studying from when he was in high school. How that was humanly possible Dean didn't know. Kid had not only been taking high school courses but college as well.

"Geeze, you're going to be doing college all wrong. I mean do it for me. I didn't go to a big campus. I just got what I needed and left. You- you get the packaged deal. Drinking, partying, and hot girls. Don't waste it."

He regretted the words as soon as they came out. Dean had applied to colleges- was accepted in almost all of them too. Only when some of the schools and their distance came into play he'd not only felt bad, but Sam had felt bad. Sure, the kid told him otherwise, but he knew. The second that Dean chose South East Technical and went straight for a logical Mechanics degree, Sam's face had wilted. Only thing worse than his big brother leaving was holding him back from his life, from his relationships, from his own damn potential.

"Not that I ever really wanted that." Dean snarked, trying to fix his error. "I wasn't made for some snooty campus. Hunting and working on cars. Now that's a complete life."

Sam shook his head, keeping his emotions in check. "A beer and a girl, all you need."

"Yeah, better than your book and chastity belt."

Sam's face started to go red. His brother didn't drink often, underage and all that shit, but whenever he did any and all emotion bled through. "I don't have a chastity belt…"

"What's her name then?" Dean went to take another sip but found it empty. He nudged a hand towards Bobby, who grunted and bent down to grab him one.

"Dean-" John stated sharply not liking this turn of conversation.

Sam's face was going redder. "Shut up, Dean."

If the kid hadn't he would just be mad, but Lord behold. His little brother had popped the proverbial cherry. "I was kidding, but you actually- now you have to tell me."

"Dean!" This time Bobby was piping up.

"What?! A brother can't take interest in another brother's sexual life?" Dean leaned forward. "Let's see. You've had two girlfriends." He leaned in and watched each twitch on his brother's face. "Charlotte? She was a hot piece?" Sam wrinkled his nose unconsciously. No. "So, it was Alex."

He thought the kid had come home a little flustered one night. He didn't think much. Anything beyond hand holding and his kid brother couldn't handle it. But the kid had gone all the bases with a girl. Hallelujah. He was wondering when he'd finally do it.

Sam was a whole undiscovered shade of red now. "Dammit Dean. Just shut up."

"Was it at her house? No. No, it wasn't." He kept his face up close, just watching the muscles move. "You little scamp, I let you borrow the car that night you came home all flustered didn't I. You totally did it in Baby."

"DEEAANN!" Sam whirled to look at his dad. "Make him stop."

"Dean, stop reading your brother's mind." John scowled at his son, but a hint of humor remained.

It didn't impress Sam. "Dad!"

"What? I am totally being objective." John took another sip of his beer to hid his emotions. When the bottle was down, Sam was still glaring. "Okay, okay. I don't know why your flustered thought, she was pretty. We're I your age-" He didn't finish, just left it off with a hand flourish.

"All of you! All of you are impossible!" Sam gave his family (all of them) an exasperated look.

"I'll bet you put down a blanket and everything." Dean leaned back in his chair his own chest puffed out in pride. "Man, my little bro, the lady slayer."

The red was receding, but bitch face 5 took its place. "I hate you so much."

Buddy had just finished his final round of surveillance and nudged a hand under his boy's hand. Dean was always amazed at that dog. It knew everything about Sam. When he was angry, when he was sad- and it knew exactly what to do in the time. Sam's hand absently rubbed at Buddy's ears. "Hey boy."

Sam's embarrassment went down the more Buddy nudged and demanded petting. Sam placed the beer down, and got up from his seat to crouch down and better accommodate the dog.

"And Buddy will miss me too. Huh, Bud."

"Fluffy- Buddy. You choose the lamest dog names." Dean scoffed he shook the bottle and found it nearly empty. He reached down and took Sam's bottle.

Sam turned to look at his brother an exasperated look. "I was a little kid. What did you want me to name them? Killer? Throat Ripper?"

"Would be nice to sic a dog on someone and not call it Fluffy." Bobby grunted. When Sam's glare turned towards him he shrugged. "Just saying."

"But Buddy fits him so well. Right, Bud?" The clever thing barked in response as the kid spoke. "That's right. Your such a good boy. But not as good as me-" Sam kicked up and took off running into the lot. Buddy gave a loud bark, as if calling his boy a cheater, and took off after him.

John gave a warm chuckle looking after the two. "Somethings just never change."

--

They had road tripped before. Dean's 18th he'd gone stir crazy in the house, so they'd done a trip. For a good two weeks it was back to the basics, the Impala, the Winchesters, multiple small towns with tourist traps, and sleazy motel; just no hunting. It was one of Dean's best memories. Even Sam had enjoyed it. Now the air was different.

He was heading to college. Blankets, pillows, clothes- everything all packed up and stuffed not only in the back of the Impala, but sitting in a locked trailer behind his father's truck.

Sam was a mix of emotions. Excited, happy, scared, sad, worried. That and several more emotions were swirling in him. Concern topped it all. Concern for his future, for his family. Was this the right step. Knowing that he was potentially some demon's plaything he was incredibly safer at the warded home- around his demon hunting family. The same token, was hiding behind his family the answer? He couldn't live his life afraid of what could be. He had to experience everything that he'd dreamed. Normal.

"HEYY! Quit trying to burn a hole in the road, and focus on me.

He was nudged sideways by a firm hand. Sam rolled his eyes and set his brother a toned down irritated glance. "You get more attention than you deserve." He straightened up in his seat and glanced back out the window watching scenery get chewed up. "Besides I was planning on where everything was going to be placed in the dorm."

"Sure you were." Dean's tone suggested he didn't quite believe that statement. Damn he could never get much past his big brother. "Wanna tell me what's going on in your overly large brain?"

Sam organized every thought and fear in his mind and put words to it. "What if this isn't the right choice?"

Surprised Dean looked away from the road, his eyebrows arched up. "Stanford? That was your first choice? You were working your tail off for that scholarship…"

"No, I mean…" Sam inhaled sharply. "Some demon is after me, and I'm just rushing off to college. What if I should be smarter-"

"Sure, we should turn around. Call the school." Dean gave a warm chuckle. "I mean since a demon is after you."

"That's not- I'm not just going to turn tail, Dean." Sam bristled.

"That-a boy." Dean crowed. "I knew you don't want to hide. Not the Winchester way."

Irritated Sam rolled his eyes. "It's not me hiding- It's-" Sam gave a loud grunt. "What if people get hurt? What if you guys get hurt, and I'm not there."

"Quit with the what-if's…" Dean barked. John bled through with every word. "You can't live life afraid of what can happen. Hiding behind Bobby's safely warded door won't accomplish anything accept drive you- and me- up the wall. Go for your apple pie dude. Your wife, two dogs, and six kids. Just use the knowledge that you have to keep that life safe. Anyways, you'll have our dads, and myself to protect you every step of the way."

Sam smirked. "You mean my two dads, and my doting mom."

"Shuddup." Dean gripped back at him. "Here I am trying to make my little sister feel better."

"Ha ha. You're doing quite the job of making me miss you less."

Dean released a hand from the wheel and flapped it dismissively at his brother. "Pleaseee- you're going to be crying for weeks on end. Maybe even write a few poems and songs about how amazing your big brother is. You can email me the results."

"You know how to work anything beyond a Walkman and a wrench?"

"Nice. I see you've been working on your burns."

"I'll email a few of those to you too…" Sam paused as the phone in his lap vibrated. Flipped open it read a short text from his father. Texting seemed to be almost a taxing thing to his father. He couldn't figure out to press the button a few times to switch it to the proper letter. Usually his texts were short, military, and to the point- if not misspelled. "Dad says we should stop and eat."

"He put that all in the text?" Dean seemed surprised.

Sam smirked back. "No. It spells fomd. But it's the letters the buttons are attached to that are important."

"If it's not coordinates, then it's a kindergartener in a spelling bee."

"I'm calling him back, save him the trouble of texting." Sam was already dialing the memorized number.

"Such a doting son."

A/N: You enjoy it, leave a review. Let me know.