Chapter One: Another Tuesday

Sam rubbed his eyes as the dense text before him swam slightly. He was tired, so tired, but he had to get through this chapter of reading tonight, or else half of tomorrow would be spent reading this, and he didn't feel like spending his day off on much else besides laundry and listening to a podcast, and maybe working out if he could drag himself out of bed for that.

The waiter groaned as he looked down at his phone screen. Midnight. He had two more hours on his shift, and then he'd be home free.

It wasn't that he didn't like working the late shifts at the Roadhouse. In fact, he quite enjoyed them whenever he was scheduled for one. There was something about the atmosphere that was remarkable soothing in a strange way. Maybe it was the soft buzzing of the lights, or the interesting characters that came out of the woodwork that he drew so much inspiration from. Something about the Roadhouse, and on a bigger scale, the city at night, satisfied him in an odd way.

Tonight though, he couldn't really bring himself to care. He was running on about four hours of sleep, and unlike his soldier-like older brother, Sam wasn't as used to doing that. Yes, he was a college student that worked his butt off, and he wasn't unfamiliar to the aspect of late nights, but when he hadn't had a good night's sleep since the previous Thursday, it tended to add up.

The tell tale jingle of the bell made Sam hang his head a bit before he straightened, stuffing a highlighter behind his ear sleepily. How long had he just been thinking? Five minutes? Well, it didn't really matter now. Someone had just walked in, and since Ellen was doing book work in her office upstairs, he was the sole waiter working the floor and had to handle it.

"Woah, you look like you could use a cup of coffee more than me, kiddo."

Shit.

Sam stiffened, the hand subconsciously reaching for one of the coffee pots behind him freezing. He had heard that voice before, even if the cheerful tones had never been directed at him.

Gabriel was a semi-famous patron of the Roadhouse, one that frequented the establishment every Tuesday without fail. Sam had seen him come in on other nights of the week, but Gabriel always came around midnight on Tuesday, every week. Why Tuesday was a mystery, but Sam didn't mind, because when Gabriel came in, the atmosphere changed.

Sam was particularly sensitive to atmospheres, or auras, or whatever you wanted to call it. He wasn't really sure why, or how, as he didn't dare tell anyone what he was capable of doing, not even his own family. A person's feelings were almost visible to Sam, but not quite. It was a sixth sense that he had that Sam couldn't really describe, except that it was almost like a colorful halo around a person. Certain colors or sensations that Sam felt could be translated into feelings, and those feelings affected the atmosphere of a place. It was hard to describe, as for Sam, it was an instinct, something on the level of breathing. He didn't think about doing it, he just did it.

When Gabriel walked in, the atmosphere lightened exponentially. The quiet, soft grey blue of the Roadhouse at night changed into something close like a pastel sunrise, a gentle contentment that made everyone in the vicinity brighten just a bit. Sam wasn't sure how the short man did it, but the aura certainly wasn't an issue for Sam. He could feel himself feeling better instantly, even as his heart stuttered with nerves.

The tall man took a breath before turning around, leaving the coffee pot behind as he dared to look at the shorter man on the other side of the counter.

"I'm fine." Sam said with a small smile, taking in the wispy pastel shades that surrounded the edges of Gabriel's person like a faded watercolor painting. Soft and easy on the eyes, just like the man.

Where did that come from?

Gabriel arched an eyebrow before sliding into the seat directly across from Sam and the homework spread out on the wooden counter. "You look like death warmed over, no offense of course."

The bluntness of Gabriel's words made Sam snort. "Of course."

Gabriel smiled, a bright thing that made his aura(Sam didn't really like the term, but it was the best he could come up with) flare briefly. "So, Sam, why do you look so tired? Long day here at the Roadhouse?"

Sam shrugged and scratched his neck, his fingers momentarily tangling in the growing hair. "Just a long week."

Gabriel's eyes narrowed, and Sam thought that the hazel irises looked more golden than anything. In fact, Sam could have kicked himself for calling them hazel. They were definitely gold, complementing his sunny aura.

"It's only Tuesday, kid."

Was that concern? Sam's ability let him confirm that, yes, it was, and it made Sam relax a bit, even if it confused him. Why was Gabriel so concerned? Sam decided to chalk it up to the man's personality. He had seen the man joking and taking casually with patrons before, and was obviously a very social creature.

"Technically it's Wednesday." Sam said cheekily before standing and reaching for the coffee pot and a mug.

"Ah, technicalities." Gabriel sighed, waving it off. "It's Tuesday until I go to bed."

Sam poured Gabriel a cup and slid it to him before he leaned against the counter and ran a large hand over his face.

"Wish I could go to bed." Sam sighed wishfully, his eyes trying in vain to focus on the small print before him. Simply saying the word 'bed' made Sam want to find the nearest one and face plant into it with abandon.

"How many hours left on your shift?"

"I get off at 2."

There was a pause, then the clink of a spoon. Somewhere in the background, Sam thought he could hear a rock song playing softly from the kitchen, though he couldn't determine what it was. Dean probably could.

"What are you studying?"

Sam glanced up at Gabriel, who was ripping open an insane amount of sugar packets. He had heard from Jo that the man did like his coffee sickeningly sweet, though he hadn't thought it was this extreme. Maybe something about the insane amounts of sugar affected his aura somehow?

"Law."

Gabriel paused, then grinned, eyes twinkling as he stirred excitedly, his aura flaring again, but this time in orange-peach shades of excitement. It was an enchanting sight, and Sam did his best not to let his breath hitch.

'Really? Guess we're in complementary fields of business then."

Sam tilted his head in confusion, and Gabriel laughed, seeming to find the situation amusing.

"I'm a P.I/consultant for the police." he explained. "I help catch the bad guys, and guys like you take care of the rest in the judicial system."

"You're a P.I?" Sam asked curiously, and Gabriel nodded, pulling out a badge. Sam peered at it, noting that Gabriel's last name was Milton for some strange reason.

"Now why would I ever lie to you, Sam?" Gabriel asked cheekily, and Sam almost asked him how he knew what his name was before he remembered that he was wearing a name tag. Thank God for his intelligence, even if it was considerably tempered by his current tiredness and the late hour.

"People lie all the time." Sam said seriously as he searched around for his highlighter. He really needed to get some of his work done and not get distracted by the pastel aura, golden eyed man sitting before him.

"That they do." Gabriel replied just as solemnly.

Sam made a frustrated noise as he lifted up his textbook, before checking the floor. He could have sworn he just had it.

Fingers brushed across his face, warm and soft. Sam froze, and then the highlighter was in front of him, held by a smirking Gabriel that looked positively mischievous.

"Looking for this?"

Sam stared at the offending object for a second before carefully plucking it from Gabriel's hand, his skin still tingling from where Gabriel touched him. It almost felt like the aura had touched him somehow, moving with the man to stroke against his face in a wave of warmth and caring and kindness. It was enough to give him a jolt; the feeling was so strong. Just how strong was this man's aura?

"Thanks." he muttered, hoping that his face wasn't flushed too much. He needed to keep it together.

Luckily, Sam's phone decided to ring at that moment, and Sam practically leaped for it, excusing himself as he stepped over to the side a bit and responded. He didn't want to think about the implications of what he had just felt.

The only aura I've ever been able to feel that strongly is Dean's.

"Hey, Lisa. What's up?" Sam asked, and on the other side, Lisa Braeden sighed.

"Hey, Sam. I know it's really last minute, but can you take Ben for the morning tomorrow? I got offered a shift, and Dean doesn't get off 'till one."

"Sure." Sam said, even though it would interrupt his semi concrete plans to just sleep through most of the day. If Lisa needed him to watch Ben, then he would. "Just let yourself in. I'll probably be passed out in bed, so don't freak out or anything if I look dead."

Lisa paused. "Sam, it's ok if you're too tired. I can always call someone-"

"No, it's fine Lis. It's just the morning, right?" Sam asked, cutting Lisa off. "Ben and I will have some fun."

"Sam..."

Sam hung up before Lisa could get a word in edgewise and made his way back to Gabriel, focusing again with a renewed determination on his reading. Now he really needed to finish this tonight.

"Trouble in paradise?"

Gabriel's aura was different. It was more muted, resembling the more bluer shades of disappointment, and a tinge of...jealousy?

Sam was too tired to interpret what the sudden shift in mood could possibly mean. Sometimes he wished he couldn't see the auras at all, as they sometimes caused more trouble than they were worth. "What?"

"Your girl." Gabriel said, sipping his coffee casually. Too casually. "She's lucky to have you. Kid's lucky to have you as a dad too."

Sam frowned, then began to giggle hysterically as he realized why Gabriel had suddenly clammed up on him. Did he really think that he was with Lisa, and that Ben was his kid?

The waiter quickly succumbed to smothered laughter, clutching his sides as the thought.

"Oh shit, that's hilarious!" Sam said as he slammed a hand down on his textbook, feeling a grin stretch across his face. "Dude, no!"

Gabriel frowned, and Sam struggled to compose himself enough to explain.

"Oh man, I'm telling Bobby that one." Sam said, wiping his eyes. "Lisa's my brother's ex, and Ben is my nephew."

Gabriel blinked, then flushed with embarrassment. Sam laughed some more at that before he turned to the kitchen, sticking his head through the space and smacking Benny's head lightly, jolting the cook awake.

"I'm up!" Benny cried, his trademark cap slipping off his head a bit as he straightened. His aura was slightly fuzzy with sleep and the usual deep, calm royal blue. Sam had hardly ever seen the cook's aura change from the blue, which said a lot about the man's character. Auras, while containing a few core shades that stayed consistent for a person, were constantly fluctuating and shifting with people's emotions.

"Hey, Benny, I need an order for Thing 2." Sam requested. Since he knew two Bens, Benny the cook was Thing 1, and Ben the nephew was Thing 2.

"Breakfast?"

"Yup."

Sam turned to glance back at Gabriel, who was muttering to himself under his breath, but stopped as Sam looked at him. Even with his good hearing, Sam couldn't hear what he had said.

"You want something to eat?" Sam asked lightly, still feeling a bit giggly, and Gabriel shook his head, eyes averted sheepishly.

Sam went around to top off the few cups that were out and cleared one table before he settled back down into his reading. The smell of sizzling bacon filled the air, and Sam found that Gabriel's quiet presence and pastel aura cleared his head enough to help him finish the reading. He shut the textbook with a satisfied thud just as Gabriel finished his coffee.

"I should get going." Gabriel said as he stood, pulling out his wallet. "Busy day tomorrow."

"Crime never rests." Sam quipped, and Gabriel smirked as he laid a twenty on the counter. The smirk made him look downright devilish, and for a moment, his aura flared with a bright streak of cherry red to match the expression.

"While it does not, cute waiters should. Get some shut eye, Sam." Gabriel said as Sam gaped slightly at the bill.

Then, Gabriel was waltzing out of the door and into the night, leaving Sam behind with a reeling mind and a large tip. The atmosphere shifted noticeably as Gabriel left, turning back to that steely blue that Sam had come to associate with the night life of the Roadhouse, and Sam found himself almost disappointed as he watched the pastel shades bleed out of existence.

...

A soft thump woke Sam later that morning. Hazy images of gold eyes and skin and hair and flashy auras tempted Sam back to sleep, but Sam's rational side quickly won out as awareness came to him.

What happened to his alarm, and what was that thump?

"The fuck..." Sam murmured, rolling over to look blearily at his clock before scrambling to shove off the sheets.

"Shit!" he said, leaping out of bed as the glowing green digits burned in his retinas. 10:30? Didn't he have class today?

Wait. What was today?

Sam paused halfway to the door, his brow crinkling as he thought for a second. Today was...Wednesday. His day off from both college and work. No classes, no Roadhouse.

So what was that thump?

Sam groaned, then ran out the door as he remembered suddenly. Ben!

"Ben?" he called out, rounding the corner into the living room, where he was sure he had heard the thump.

The boy was looking at a stack of books that had toppled over, one of his legs tangled in the jeans he was attempting to put on. He had probably kicked the stack over accidentally in his struggle.

"Hi Unca Sam. Sorry." Ben said, letting go of his jeans in defeat. His hair was wet, a comb was on the coffee table, and the box that held all of Ben's things in case he stayed over was open. The kid had obviously taken it upon himself to get himself ready, a sign that he was far more self aware and reliant than any four year old child should be. It reminded him uncomfortably of how Dean and he were as kids.

Sam shook his head to banish the thought. "It's all right Ben. When did you take a shower?"

"Just now." was the quiet reply Sam received, and the tall man yawned, frowning. He must have been really tired if he didn't hear Ben moving around until now.

"Did you eat?" Sam asked as he helped Ben into his jeans. Sam noted that Ben's aura was a kaleidoscope of nauseating colors, as all children's auras tended to be, but that the featured color was a relaxed shade of peach. Ben's aura was a bit more settled than most kids, and peach was quickly becoming a more common color.

"Uh huh."

"You used the microwave?"

"Uh huh. Kevin helped."

Sam blinked. Kevin was over, and he didn't hear any of it?

"You were really tired." Ben commented as if reading his mind, and Sam decided that he wasn't going to mull over it much longer. He felt better than he had all week, and Ben hadn't been harmed seriously while Sam had been dead to the world, though he suspected he had his roommate to thank for much of that. He made a mental note to thank Kevin the next time he saw him.

"I guess I was." Sam said as he helped the four year old into his thick aviator jacket. John had given it to the kid for Christmas a couple months ago, which surprised everyone. The man had been sober enough for the whole day, and had even made a bit of an effort to enjoy the holiday.

"Where we going?" Ben asked, and Sam plopped the kid down on the couch.

"Where do you wanna go?" he asked, and Ben shrugged, clasping his tiny hands together as he peered at Sam with large dark eyes just like his mother's.

"Wherever you wanna go, Unca Sam."

Sam shook his head. Ben was probably the most selfless four year old in existence, and he didn't even realize what he was doing. What the kid lacked in physical appearance from Dean, he certainly made up for it in personality. He wasn't sure yet whether that was a good or bad thing.

"I'm thinking the park." Sam said, watching as Ben's face lit up. The poor kid deserved it really, as he knew Lisa and Dean had been particularly busy as of late.

"And then the clothes washing place?"

Sam's eyes narrowed as Ben gazed up innocently at him. Ben was also a perceptive kid, a fact that made for startling conversations with the kid sometimes. People expected a hellion since he was Dean Winchester's spawn and a toddler to boot, but Ben was about as far as you could get from that.

"The laundromat." Sam said, supplying the term for the inquisitive child. "And I guess we will, since you seem to find a problem with my stinky clothes."

Ben giggled, and Sam ruffled his hair before making his way to the shower.

Ten minutes later and a quickly scarfed down banana, Sam was out the door with an eager four year old running ahead. He had his clothes and all the detergent in a large drawstring bag, his personal bag slung on his shoulder, and all the items to entertain Ben were in the four year old's Iron Man backpack that he insisted he carry himself.

The park that they frequented was about a block away, with a decent sized playground and a few stone benches here and there. Ben usually ran himself ragged for about ten minutes before he collapsed on one of the benches with Sam and read a book(a habit Sam was secretly proud he had inspired), but today, they'd probably have to cut the park trip short since it was so cold outside.

Lawrence was a decent sized city, with mostly decent people. Sam, while a college student with a typical income expected of him, managed to rent an apartment in a safe enough part of the city. Sure, the area got a bit shady once the sun set, but unless you lived in either the suburbs or the classy downtown area, the city was like that. In broad daylight though, Sam didn't have to worry about anything.

There wasn't anyone at the small park, so Ben had full reign over the area. Sam knew he'd probably tire quickly, as it was that cold, and Ben had been looking a little peaky. Lisa was sure it was just a basic cold, so Sam just went with it and made sure he had tissues on hand.

Sure enough, Ben quickly grew tired with the park and a bit grumpy, so Sam propped him on his hip and whisked him off to the laundromat down the street, where it was much warmer. Sam was familiar with the place and quickly claimed a few seats in the inner part of the business. He wiped Ben's running nose and gave him an apple juice before loading his clothes, letting Ben put in the quarters before he settled down on one of the rickety plastic chairs and simply relaxed.

"Hey Unca Sam."

Sam snapped out of doze, sure that Ben was about to tell him that the first load was done, but the washing machine was still running.

"What's up, kid?" he asked, turning to face Ben, who was sitting in the chair next to him with a coloring book and a set of crayons, the 64 set that Sam had made sure he had so he could be that kid. His aura was swirling with the usual variety of colors like a dizzying rainbow, though the peach from earlier was gone, replaced by a more yellow orange hue that Sam instinctively placed as nervousness.

Ben sniffed and rubbed his pink nose before continuing. "Why aren't you my dad?"

Oh shit.

Sam shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the right words. How do you respond to something like that? He knew that Lisa always joked about how good at parenting he was, and he certainly ended up watching Ben a lot. Sometimes he even felt like Ben's dad at times, but Ben certainly didn't think that, did he? Dean was around enough for Ben to know that he was Ben's dad, and their relationship seemed good enough.

"Why do you ask?" Sam asked finally, deciding that he might as well get a little clarification before he fucked things up.

Ben simply shrugged, a disturbingly calm expression on his chubby face considering the subject they were discussing. "Well, cause sometimes you feel more like my dad than Daddy. Daddy's fun, but you're funner."

Fun? How was he more fun than Dean? Dean was the one that took Ben on rides in the Impala and carnivals, while the most Sam could do was take the kid to the park or the library if he had time. Dean always said he turned into a middle aged frumpy dad with Ben, but Sam was just watching over Ben in the best way he could without breaking the bank.

"How am I funner?" Sam asked, disregarding the improper grammar in the search for the truth.

"Cause you read with me, and I like reading. Daddy says reading is boring."

Sam frowned, sensing that the morsel he had just been given was just the tip of the iceberg of the situation, but his clothes were done, and he had to switch the load.

The rest of the time spent in the laundromat passed in less tense conversation, as it seemed the whole debacle slipped Ben's mind. Sam still mulled over it as they walked back to his apartment, Ben balanced on his hip.

Dean and Lisa had been high school sweethearts, though that hadn't lasted for long. Their personalities were too different, and they had split shortly after Ben was born. They were just too young, and Dean didn't want to be tied down like that, what with all his commitment issues and shit. He didn't abandon Ben though, and he raised him as best he could from his position and made monthly payments without missing a beat. Ben, in many ways, liked to mimic Dean, from the clothes he wore to the head banging music they both liked to listen to, but perhaps Ben's personality was shifting. Little kids did that as they grew and developed, and maybe Ben's differences were finally showing. Ben, while a charmer like Dean, wasn't nearly as open with conversation, and tended to hide behind legs when meeting new people. Unlike Dean, he preferred reading and coloring than the outdoors, and he definitely wasn't interested in cars like Dean. Whether or not that came from Sam's involvement with Ben was unclear, but maybe it was.

Sam unlocked his apartment almost fearfully. What if Ben was mimicking him now? The thought was terrifying, as while Sam was certainly mature for the young age of nineteen, he certainly wasn't the role model everyone thought he was. His sleeping habits were shitty, his diet just barely a step above, and he lost himself in the grind of life, emerging as a hollow shell by either the end of his shift or the end of his last class. Stress and depression were heavy weights on his shoulders, and he didn't even want to think about the whole Jess debacle.

The broad man cringed. God, Jess. He was glad Ben had stopped asking about her a few months ago. Sam was sure Lisa had said something, and maybe even Dean, about why Jess was suddenly a taboo subject. Even Ellen winced hearing the she-devil's name, and she had hardly known the vivacious blonde that had so thoroughly stomped on Sam's heart.

"Hey, Ben!"

Oh, Dean was here already. Sam instinctively let Ben go, dropping his bags down as Ben ran over to the green eyed man with a shriek of excitement. All Sam could think was that Dean was here early, and who had let him in if Kevin wasn't here? He hadn't gotten around to giving Dean a key yet.

"Hey man."

Surprise number two. His introverted roommate was out and about, sipping on a mug of tea while sitting on the kitchen counter. Kevin was hardly ever around, between his time spent in his room and on campus, but here he was, looking rather worse for the wear.

"Kevin? What are you doing here, dude?" Sam asked, ignoring Ben and Dean's joyous reunion and their bright auras. Kevin's aura was off, almost sickly in color.

Kevin shook his head, his face pale and drawn. "I was at class, but...man, you know Professor Reynolds?"

Sam nodded, his attention now fully focused on the shorter man. Kevin was seventeen and smart as hell, having already graduated from high school and now taking college courses like they were nothing. If something serious had happened on campus, Sam wanted to know.

"Yeah, what about him?" Sam asked, sitting on the spare stool.

Kevin screwed up his face. "His class...ugh, it was disgusting."

Sam blinked, then arched an eyebrow. What about Mr. Reynold's class?

Kevin took a large gulp of his tea, dark eyes flitting to the corner where Dean was entertaining Ben with something he had bought for him, before he leaned in and continued.

"His classroom was a mess." Kevin said quietly, small hands clenched around his mug in a white knuckled death grip. "Sam, it was awful. I was in the front of the crowd since I had gotten there early that morning, and-and... God, there was blood everywhere, like-like some kind of horror movie! And there was a m-message written in blood... "

Kevin's eyes were almost feverish now, and Sam gulped as a grisly image appeared in his mind of the scene his roomate had laid out.

"Are you OK?" Sam asked, deciding to push the event out of his mind for now. Kevin didn't look so good, and Sam was pretty sure he had caught some sort of bug. The events of the day probably hadn't helped. "Why don't you get some sleep, and some Tylenol? You look a little peaky."

Kevin shivered, and Sam stood up to grab some Tylenol, shooting Dean a look that said 'give me a few minutes', before he helped the Asian boy.

After he got Kevin settled in his room, Sam shut the door softly and turned to Dean, who was waiting patiently as Ben played with what looked like a new toy truck on the floor. Dean's typical supernova, apple green and teal aura was almost too much to bear after the news Sam had heard, but Dean's large aura had the calming effect it usually did.

"Everything cool?" Dean asked, voice gruff, and Sam inclined his head towards the small kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a small breakfast bar thing. Dean followed, and Sam began to recount what Kevin had told him.

"This happened today?" Dean asked, crossing his arms over his chest as his aura darkened visibly, like it always did when he got determined, or stubborn. "On your campus?"

"I guess. I don't have class today, so I wasn't anywhere near there." Sam said, sighing. "I'm assuming they cancelled classes for the day, but probably not tomorrow-"

"You're not going back there tomorrow." Dean interrupted firmly in that no-nonsense, 'I'm the older brother and I know better' voice. "Not when there's a psychotic maniac on the loose!"

Sam stared at him. "Dean, really? There's thousands of people on the campus. I'll be fine."

Dean's nostrils flared and his jaw tightened, but he didn't argue the point, much to Sam's relief. Overprotective was Dean's middle name, and Sam knew that Dean would walk with him all over campus if he could.

Sam shuddered at the thought. How embarrassing. He had had more than his fair share of Dean's worry wart ways back when he was still a kid.

"Watch your back." Dean said grudgingly after a minute of thinking and a tumultuous aura that, near the end, lightened to its previous, soothing apple green and teal undertones. "You use what I taught you, what Dad taught us. Don't take any chances."

Sam winced, thinking of what exactly he had been taught, before nodding reluctantly. Arguing with Dean over it would only end in a screaming match, and Ben did not need to hear that.

"Are we goin' now, Daddy?"

The brothers both looked down at Ben, who was waiting patiently with his toy in hand.

Dean's eyes softened visibly, his aura flashing with a color that Sam had learned to associate with pride, fatherly pride in particular. John's aura had turned like that a handful of times, mostly to Dean, as Sam couldn't remember the last time John's aura had turned like that for him.

"Yeah, let's go buddy." Dean said, taking his son's hand. "Say goodbye to Uncle Sam."

Ben echoed his father's words, flashing a cheeky smile complete with dimples that Sam was sure Lisa hadn't taught him. Dean gave him one last loaded look that carried a whole silent conversation before they were gone, the door clicking shut behind them.