Hey everyone! This is my first Supernatural/Hunger Games crossover, but I have other stories. This one just popped into my head and wouldn't go away. So, I hope you all like it!
Dean woke up in a cold sweat. His heart was pounding from the dream he'd just had. He turned a little in bed to make sure that Sam was still asleep. He was and Dean breathed out a sigh of relief. It was reaping day, the only day that Sam was allowed to sleep in. Dean wished he could do more for his 14 year old brother, but this was one of the only things he could do.
Dean silently got out of bed and pulled on his coat and boots. He needed to get out early if he was going to get all of his work done before the reaping. District 10 was one of the bigger districts and since they were in charge of livestock, there was never a day off. Even on reaping day.
It was still dark outside and it was chilly since the sun hadn't come up yet. Dean grabbed his hat and walked to the barn. The horses stirred when he walked inside, but he clicked his tongue and they settled down. He made his way to the back stall where his horse, Baby, stayed. She was a beautiful black horse and Dean had raised her since she was a pony.
"Hey girl," Dean murmured, opening the door and slowly walking inside. He held his hand up and Baby nudged his hand with her nose. Dean reached up and scratched her forehead before he went to get the saddle. "You ready to go for a quick run?" Dean asked and Baby stamped her front feet making Dean smile.
"That's my girl…" Dean said softly as he saddled Baby, and then led her from the barn. Once they were outside, Dean put his foot in the stirrup and threw his other leg over, and then settled into the saddle. He turned Baby toward the field and nudged her into motion.
He rode out into the pasture and started rounding up the cattle. He loved this part of his District; rounding up cattle, riding his horse, doing his daily routine. What he didn't like was having to do this for the Capital. None of this was his or his family's; it belonged to the Capital and they were the Capital's slaves.
He shook his head as he rode; he couldn't think about that now. He had to do his work, and then get back to the house in time for the reaping. This was his last year, but he could still be picked. This could be his last morning out in the pasture and he wasn't going to ruin it by thinking about the Capital.
He could almost imagine that he was free when he was out riding. The possibilities almost seemed endless. Most days he was just a ranch hand that kept the cattle where they were supposed to be. He fed them and watered them and brought them in when it was time for them to be taken into town. He actually liked his job, and once Sam was clear of the Hunger Games, he'd like it even more.
Dean rode for a few hours until the sun was coming up and he had all of the cows where they were supposed to be. He brought Baby back into the barn, took off the saddle, and brushed her. He took his time taking care of his horse; he had a feeling that he wouldn't be seeing her again and he wanted to savor this moment.
"Where's your brother?" John asked gruffly as he walked into their tiny house.
"He's in our room," Dean replied, trying to shove in another mouthful of oatmeal. It tasted like paste in his mouth, but he needed to choke down as much as he could. Reaping day always made food taste like shit, but he couldn't pass it up. They didn't have much and what they did have, couldn't be wasted.
"He needs to get his ass out here," John said, starting toward the room that Dean and Sam shared.
"Dad, let him sleep just a little bit more," Dean said, looking up from his oatmeal. "Please."
John stopped and looked at him, but then he nodded and set down his knapsack. He sat down next to Dean after he kicked off his boots. "This is your last year…" John muttered, almost to himself.
"Yeah…" Dean replied solemnly.
"You're free after this," John said, looking up at him.
Dean pushed away his oatmeal in disgust, "Yeah, but Sammy's stuck for another four years…"
"You boys both know how to take care of yourselves," John tried to reason.
"So? What's the whole point of protecting Sammy if I don't even have a chance to volunteer?" Dean said, suddenly pushing up from the table.
"You don't know that he'll get picked," John said, slowly standing to face off against Dean. "His name's only in there 3 times compared to your 28!"
"He'll have to add more next year!" Dean yelled back. "That is, if you still want to be able to eat every week."
"Don't you take that tone with me!" John shouted.
"What's going on?" Sam asked, walking out of their bedroom. His hair was sticking up everywhere and he was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes which made Dean's anger evaporate.
"Nothin'," Dean easily replied.
"I heard you guys yelling," Sam prodded.
"We were just having a loud discussion," Dean hedged with a smirk.
"I'm not 4, Dean," Sam said with a scowl.
"No, you're not…" Dean muttered. He took a deep breath and ran his hand down his face. The next 4 years were going to be a nightmare. He knew he wouldn't be able to just sit back and watch Sam go through the reapings. He wouldn't be able to protect Sam if he couldn't volunteer for the Hunger Games.
"You boys need to hurry up and get ready," John finally said. He looked at both of them for a minute, and then left the room.
Dean watched him go and regretted yelling at his Dad. He was just doing the best he could, but Dean was stressed. He took another deep breath and closed his eyes, but then he looked at Sam who was still standing in the doorway.
"You hungry?" Dean asked.
Sam shrugged, "Not really…"
"Well, you're gonna eat somethin' anyway," Dean replied. He went to their kitchen to make Sam something to eat. Sam sat down next to Dean's chair and stirred the rest of Dean's oatmeal.
"This looks disgusting," Sam said. He picked up a spoonful of the stuff, and then turned it over and it fell with a plop.
"Tastes even worse," Dean said with a smile.
"Can't we eat something better since it's reaping day?" Sam practically whined.
"Nope," Dean replied, popping the P. "This is all we've got."
Sam narrowed his eyes, looking at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?" Sam asked slowly, sliding off of his chair and walking over to Dean.
"If you're asking if I'm sure that the only thing we have is a peanut butter and banana sandwich, then I'd have to say that you heard right," Dean said, his smile growing along with Sam's.
"Really!? You have peanut butter and banana?!" Sam asked excitedly.
"Shhh," Dean said, quickly shushing Sam. "Don't tell the whole world."
Sam pretended to zip his lips and waited eagerly for his treat. Dean quickly finished Sam's sandwich, and then handed it to his little brother. Sam immediately dug in and relished in his rare gift. Dean didn't have many opportunities to treat his brother, but he took every chance he could to do something special. Especially on reaping day.
"Are you having some?" Sam asked around a huge mouthful.
"Nah, I already ate," Dean waved off. Sam looked over at Dean's oatmeal and frowned. "It tasted as bad as it looks," Dean said with a small smile.
"Are you nervous?" Sam asked after a minute.
Dean shook his head and replied cockily, "No. Even if I do get picked, I'm coming home. And then we'll be set for life."
"I'm nervous," Sam admitted quietly.
"It'll be fine, Sammy. If you get picked, I'll volunteer for you, ok? It'll be fine," Dean reassured.
"No. I'm nervous for you," Sam clarified.
Dean froze for a second, but then shook himself out of it. "I'll be fine. Dad taught us how to survive and how to fight, so I've got a better chance than most."
"You taught us to survive," Sam grumbled under his breath and then said, "I'm still nervous. I've got a bad feeling about this year…"
"That's just 'cause it's a Quarter Quell and there's going to be twice as many tributes," Dean reasoned then he decided to change the subject, "Hurry up and finish you sandwich, and then get washed up."
"What are you going to do?" Sam asked as Dean started walking towards their room.
"I'm going to get washed up before you since you take forever," Dean teased.
"I do not!" Sam yelled back.
"You boys ready yet?" Dean heard John call out from the living room.
Dean tucked the back of his denim shirt in and looked over at Sam who was pulling on his boots. "Yeah, we're almost done," Dean called back. Dean rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and then walked over to Sam. "You ready?"
Sam nodded back, but he looked a little green. He took a deep breath though, and then walked out of the small room. Dean started to follow him, but turned back to look at the room he'd shared with Sam ever since Sam was born. It wasn't a big room, or even very nice, but it was home to Dean.
They had a closet for their clothes, which were mainly worn out and full of holes, and a bed in their room. Their bed was made out of straw and they had two blankets and two pillows, but that was it. There was a picture of their Mom next to Dean's side of the bed and some books next to Sam's. It wasn't much, but then again, they didn't need much.
Dean closed the door, and then went to catch up to his brother and his Dad. It was a long walk from their house to the square since their house was close to one of the fields. They usually only went to town once a week for their tesserae and any other supplies they needed.
Dean had been overjoyed when he'd finally turned 12 and could add his name in extra times for food. His Mom had died when he was just 4 and Sam was a baby and his Dad hadn't taken it very well. He tried for a few years to keep it together, but once Dean turned 7 his Dad stopped showing up for work and started spending their money on alcohol instead of food.
His Dad was a ranch hand, just like Dean was now, but for a time he didn't work at all. Dean had gone to his Dad's friend, Bobby, for help. Bobby was an older, grouchy man, but he had a heart of gold and he really cared about Sam and Dean. He had started him out just milking cows, what Sam was doing now, but slowly started teaching him how to be a ranch hand. Dean worked and raised Sam as best he could, but he was just a kid so they didn't always have everything they needed.
When he was 11 they'd run out of food and his Dad had been missing. He didn't ask Bobby for help, but at the time he didn't know that he could. He'd gone into town and stole what they needed. It had been his first time stealing and he'd been caught. It was 10 lashes for stealing and he'd dragged himself home bleeding and empty handed.
He had made it all the way back to the barn before he collapsed. Bobby found him there the next morning, took care of him and Sam, and then gave him an ear full for not asking for help. Bobby had then gone to find his Dad and gave him an ear full. His Dad had been back a week later and had gone back to work. He started taking care of them again and started teaching them how to fight and use different weapons in case they were ever picked to go to the Hunger Games.
Dean had done everything his Dad had wanted him to do. He didn't want his Dad to disappear again and he thought that as long as he did what he was supposed to, his Dad wouldn't leave. But his Dad seemed to be there to stay. Dean was still cautious though and had been overjoyed when he'd turned 12. He wanted to be sure that he would have a way to feed Sammy if his Dad left.
His Dad had been pissed when he'd added his name extra times, but Dean refused to be sorry for what he'd done. He'd told him that he couldn't trust him anymore and he did what he had to do to keep Sammy alive. His Dad had been quiet after that and hadn't argued with him anymore about putting his name in more times.
Things had been better after Dean turned 12; they had enough food, he had a job, and their Dad was sticking around. His Dad had brought home Baby and given her to Dean after that first year as a peace offering and it was the nicest thing his Dad had ever given to him.
When Sam turned 12 he had wanted to put his name in more times, but Dean wouldn't let him. It was his job to protect his little brother and he couldn't handle it if Sam was sent to the Hunger Games. Sam had thrown a fit, but had eventually agreed to do as Dean said. Now things were going as well as they could for living in District 10 and Dean could almost be happy.
"I'll see you boys after the ceremony," John said quietly. He patted Sam on the shoulder, and then nodded his head at Dean and walked to where all of the parents stood.
"C'mon," Dean said, ushering Sam to where they were supposed to check in. Sam was shaking slightly and Dean tried to reassure him by rubbing his shoulder. "It's going to be ok," Dean said softly. Sam nodded, and then got in line with the other 14 year olds.
Dean went over to where the 18 year olds were checking in. He knew quite a few of the others in line, but he didn't know them very well. If he wasn't in the fields he was with his little brother. People in town knew him, but he didn't have any good friends his age.
He checked in, and then went to the area with the rest of the boys his age and waited for the reaping to begin. They already knew what the twist to this Quarter Quell was. It was the 50th Hunger Games and President Snow had announced a while ago that this year there would be twice the number of tributes which was going to be awful. Twice the number of tributes equaled twice the number of deaths.
Four people suddenly walked onto the stage; one was the mayor, one was their escort, two were this year's mentors. District 10 had had 4 victors in the past, but two of them were dead. Dean wasn't sure how they died, but he assumed from substance abuse. The mentors now were Celeste and Garth.
"Welcome," District 10's Capital escort announced and Dean rolled his eyes. Their escort's name was Jada; she was thin as a rail and paler than a ghost. She wore crazy looking dresses usually and this year was no exception; she had bright green heels and a dress to match. Even her hair was dyed that bright green. She looked ridiculous, but compared to other capital people she was almost normal.
Dean zoned out as she went through the history of Panem. He'd heard it all before and they said the same thing every year; this was punishment for the uprising. The Districts lost and this is how the Capital kept control; send their kids in to fight to the death.
"This year, being the Quarter Quell, there will be twice the number of tributes," Jada continued, bringing Dean back to the present. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor." She walked over to one of the large glass bowls that were filled with slips of paper and pulled out the first name. "Chelsea Torren."
Dean glanced to the right, over to the girls. Chelsea was in the section for 15 year olds; she was a small girl with brown hair and she covered her mouth in shock. She slowly walked up to the stage; it seemed like she was just on autopilot and didn't even know what she was doing.
Dean's heart pounded as Jada turned to the other bowl on stage. His name was in there 28 times and Sam's was only in there 3. It was very unlikely that either of them would get picked, but still. Jada reached into the bowl and grabbed a slip of paper.
"Dean Winchester."
Dean closed his eyes very briefly; he'd had a feeling that this would be the year. He took a deep breath, and then walked over to the stage. He could hear people muttering behind him, but he couldn't make out what they said. Mainly he got the feeling that people were hopeful this year. He had a pretty good chance to be another victor. He walked up the stairs and stood on the other side of Jada. He refused to look into the crowd, afraid of seeing his brother.
Jada walked over to the girls' bowl again and drew out another name. "Abigail Johnston."
Abigail was an 18 year old and Dean actually knew her. She was the butcher's daughter and she looked ready to fight. She didn't waste any time getting up on the stage and she stared straight ahead.
Jada walked to the boys' one more time. She fished around for a second, and then finally grabbed a slip.
"Sam Winchester."
More soon...