Dog Day Afternoon

Disclaimer: I am not making a profit from this story, nor do I own anything recognizable in this story. All mistakes are mine.

Will the hunt for a Mimick Dog cost John the lives of those he holds most precious or will they be able to stop the beast in time? Read on to find out.

"Who was that on the phone?" Dean queried as he watched his father grab his duffle bag off of the hardwood floor and start stuffing it with his belongings. He knew they would be hitting the road as soon as Sam arrived back home to the clapboard house they had been renting over the past month.

"Joshua. He needs our help with a hunt," John informed his eldest as he picked Dean's duffle bag up and tossed it at his son. "There's a Mimick Dog up north giving him some trouble and he thought maybe we could give him a hand with it.

"What the fu….hell is a Mimick Dog?" Dean questioned, changing his wording when John glared at him. He vividly remembered his father threatening to tear his eighteen year old ass up with a belt if he ever used the word again, especially around Sam. The kid had lost his temper a couple of weeks ago and used it on their Dad. Suffice to say, it wasn't a pretty scene afterwards. Sam had been grounded for two weeks, only allowed out of the house to do training, and he himself had been made to clean every weapon in their arsenal until it shined.

"A Mimick Dog is an ape-like creature with a snout that resembles that of a hedgehog. Usually they are easy going creatures, but this one has gone rogue," John answered as he rolled up his jeans and stuffed them in the bottom of his duffle.

"That creature doesn't sound so bad. Should make for an easy kill," Dean voiced with indifference as he started stuffing his own things into the hold-all.

"Yeah, you would think so. But what makes this creature so different is that it can shape shift into anything, human and animal alike," John explained, as he hefted his duffle bag onto his shoulder and then walked over to the closet where his weapons bag was hidden underneath an old tattered blanket.

"Get your brother's duffle packed also. I want to be out of here within five minutes by the time I get back from picking Sam up at the school," John told his oldest as he picked up the weapons bag and kicked the door shut with his foot before exiting their living quarters through the front door.

'Damn, Sammy is not going to be too happy,' Dean thought to himself with a sigh as he watched his Dad toss the weapons bag into the trunk of the Impala before shutting the door to finish packing his own bag. The homecoming football game was next week and Sam had asked him only yesterday to drive him and a few friends to the game. Sam had fallen for one of the cheerleaders, and for once, the girl was smitten with his baby brother too. It wasn't one-sided on Sammy's part this time.

Of course, he was proven right when said baby brother came stomping into the house only thirty minutes later with a scowl upon his face.

"Sorry Kiddo," Dean stated just before their father walked in. He knew how much Sammy was looking forward to the game.

"I don't see why he can't wait just two more frigging days," Sam groused as he sat down on the bed and heaved a sigh.

"Watch your mouth Sammy or I'll be washing it out with soap," John intoned angrily as he walked in the door just in time to hear the statement. "I've had enough of the attitude also, so you can it. You know damn well that saving people's lives is more important than some damn football game."

"But Dad…"

"Not but's about it, boy. Now grab your duffle. It's time to hit the road," John stated, cutting off his young son's complaint. He didn't want to hear it. He already had a headache building from Sam's complaining the whole way home. That kid could sure get on his nerves sometimes.

"I just…"

"I'm warning you, not another word Sammy or you'll be making the ride on a sore ass," John warned as he stared daggers at his youngest. He hated it when things were like this between them. Sam needed to understand that this was his life and to get with the program. The sooner he accepted hunting, the better things would be for the kid.

"Yes Sir," Sam grumbled as he picked up his duffle and then strode angrily out the door.

~~Supernatural~~

Sitting in the back of the Impala as it rumbled down the road, Sam stared out the window with a forlorn expression upon his face. He hadn't even been able to say goodbye to his friends or Katie. What would Katie think of him just leaving like that? If only his Dad could have waited just two more days, but of course, he had to be such a hardass.

Looking back at his sibling from time to time, Dean couldn't help but feel bad for the kid. He knew how hard it was on Sam to leave behind the friends that he had made over the past month. He had warned the doofus about getting too attached knowing they would be leaving sooner or later, but Sam had ignored him it seemed.

Glancing in the rearview mirror as he made his way down the long and winding highway, John felt a twinge of guilt for the look he could see on his baby's face, knowing he was the one who put it there. Sam was a good kid and didn't deserve to have his life pulled out from under him every time he turned around, but it was a necessary part of their lives if they had any hopes of finding and killing the demon who took Mary away from them.

"I don't know about you boys, but I'm getting kind of hungry. What do you say we stop at the first diner we come across?" John questioned to dispel the somberness that seemed to have taken over in the car.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind a burger or two," Dean answered, salivating at the thought of biting into a greasy burger loaded with onions, and a side of fries. "What about you Kiddo?"

"Whatever," Sam answered with a shrug of his shoulders. He wasn't hungry, but his feelings didn't seem to matter anyway.

Clenching his hands on the steering wheel, John gritted his teeth to keep from saying anything to make things worse. He didn't think he could deal with a sullen Sam for another few hundred miles. He could only hope that Dean would work his magic and cheer the kid up at their next stop. Tugging calloused fingers through his hair, John prayed that the stop would come soon. The thought had no sooner flitted through his mind when he spotted a Mom and Pop diner up ahead. Signaling for a right hand turn, he pulled into the first available parking spot and shut down the engine.

"I'll see you boys inside," John voiced, gracing Dean with a pointed look that spoke volumes to the elder son. 'Get him sorted out or I will.'

Nodding his understanding, Dean climbed out of the car and then opened the door for his brother. Waiting for Sam to climb from the car, he slung an arm around his sibling's shoulder. "Sorry your plans were ruined Bitch, but hey, at least you get to hang out with your awesome big brother. And that's got to be better than watching a bunch of brainless idiots rolling around in the mud while you make kissy-face with some girl, right?"

"You're a conceited Jerk," Sam muttered with a grin as he elbowed his brother in the side.

'Score,' thought Dean, as he pretended to take offense. "Hey, I'm just telling it like it is. I can't help it I'm so awesome."

"Yeah big brother, you just keep thinking that," Sam stated as he walked into the diner. He wasn't about to admit that he agreed. Dean would never let him hear the end of it.

Walking over to the booth where he could see his father sitting, Sam slipped in on the other side and scooted over knowing Dean would want to sit beside him.

Seeing the smile on Sammy's face as his boys approached, John breathed a sigh of relief at seeing that Dean had gotten through to the kid. Maybe now, things would go smoothly.

"So, what will it be gentlemen?" the bubbly blonde waitress asked as she approached the table, her eyes taking in the rugged good looks of the men sitting there.

"I'll have a double cheeseburger, with extra onions and fries," Dean answered with the most alluring smile he could muster.

"And what will it be for you sir?" The waitress inquired as she turned her attention to John and poked her chest out provocatively. Sure, she was closer to the age of Dean, but she had a thing for older men, and the one sitting before her couldn't be more perfect!

"Uh, I'll, uh, I'll have the same as my son," John stammered, unused to young girls flirting so openly in front of him, especially in the presence of his two boys.

"I'll have the chicken salad," Sam informed the waitress, who was too busy making eyes at his Dad to notice him sitting in the booth also.

"Sure Kid, I'll get that for ya," the waitress replied with a blush, having forgotten the younger boy as she ogled his father, and then hurried off to fill their order.

"That was too funny," Sam giggled as he watched the waitress quickly walk away from the table, a blush evident on her face at having been caught staring.

"Yeah, looks like our old man still got it, though I can't see why she would want him over me," Dean uttered with a truly perplexed look on his face.

"Guess your awesomeness isn't working so awesome today, hug big bro," Sam surmised with another giggle, his own problems of earlier having now been forgotten.

"Can it Runt, no one asked for your opinion," Dean voiced with a pout, before bursting out in laughter himself. "Who would have thought it, our own father…a chick magnet?"

"Okay, that's enough you two," John warned lightly as the waitress approached with their food. Sometimes those two could be a handful.

Nodding his thanks as the plates were placed on the table, John encouraged his boys to eat up so they could be on the road again soon

Later that evening:

Reading through his journal as he watched his boys tussle on the bed, John couldn't help but laugh at their antics as each boy tried to get the upper hand. Sam was doing everything within his power to subdue his brother, but all it took from Dean was a little bit of tickling in just the right spot and Sam completely lost it.

"That's not fair Dean. You know I can't stand for anyone to touch the soles of my feet," Sam complained through another round of giggles as he tried to pull his foot away.

"Who said was is fair, little brother? Dean queried as he held his brother's foot even tighter within his grasp.

"Let go you big jerk, or I'm going to…"

"Going to do what, ya little Bitch?" Dean asked as he continued his relentless tickling, even as his baby brother gasped for air.

"Okay boys, that's enough," John warned lightly as he saw Sam's face begin to redden a little too much for his liking. "It's time for you two to settle down and get ready for bed. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow with the hunt."

"Yes Sir," both boys groused before settling down into the bed they would be sharing for the night since the motel they were staying at didn't have an extra cot or couch for one of them to sleep on.

"Get some sleep boys. Joshua is expecting us around noon tomorrow, which means we'll need to be back on the road by four in the morning," John informed his boys as he stood up and walked over to his own bed where he shucked his jeans and then climbed into the bed closest to the door.

"Yes Sir, both boys answered as they quietly fought for their own space on the small motel bed that was closest to the wall. It was going to be a long night.

TBC: I was a bit hesitant about posting this first chapter as I am not sure people are much interested in reading my stories anymore. So my question to you is, do you want to read more or should I just delete this opening chapter and stop posting altogether? This is a WIP as I didn't want to keep writing too many chapters ahead if readers decided they didn't like it.