A big thank you to Sweetie420 for reminding me that I still have a story waiting to be written. I apologize for the long wait and if it ever happens again send me a message to yell at me or something. So here's a little something to get started.

When Dean finally saw his dad in person there was no indication he had listened to any of the messages Dean had left or if he had listened, John Winchester said nothing about a case in Alabama nor did he enquire after his son's injuries. Things became even more strained between father and son as months went by. Dean followed in the wake of his father's drive to kill anything supernatural they could find. They were currently in Tennessee following a lead on the thing that killed Dean's mom when Bobby called.

John answered the phone with a muffled grunt.

Bobby skipped the pleasantries as he always did and started talking. "I got wind of a case that might be our kind of gig, suicides that may not be suicides in Madison, Wisconsin. It'll need a lot of legwork; I think it'll be a good case for Dean to take point on. Kid will learn a lot by taking a case on his own."

"I'll send him up that way." John didn't tell Bobby that Dean had been handling cases solo for several years now. He was a good hunter. Bobby would just yell at him again call him a bad father.

"Take care."

"Dean!" John yelled from his spot on the bed, glued in front of the TV.

"Yeah?" Dean poked his head out of the bathroom, shaving cream still on his chin.

"Bobby's got a case for you, head to Wisconsin when you're ready."

"But, what about the lead on the thing that killed mom?" Dean said, wondering why his dad was always pushing him away.

"I'll handle it." John grunted and changed the channel.

"So you're not coming with me?" Dean ducked his head in embarrassment, he had sounded so childish. "What if you need backup?" he added.

"It'll be fine, you've handled cases on your own before and you can call me if you need anything." John spoke without even looking at Dean.

"Of course sir, I'll head out tonight." Dean said with finality and closed the bathroom door with more force than was strictly necessary. If John Winchester noticed he said nothing. Dean was tired, he hadn't felt up to another drive, but after that conversation with his dad he couldn't be in the motel room with the man. Yes, he had handled hunts solo before and they had gone fine until that last one. Dean shuddered. Dean wasn't afraid of dying, but he was afraid of being trapped. That hunt had taught him several things. Hunting alone was stupid and dangerous. And that his dad was not just a phone call away. A practical stranger hundreds of miles away had picked up the phone and came to help him before his dad did. For the first time he felt angry with his father. His hero had let him down.

Dean threw his things back into his duffle back and left the room. If his dad noticed he was pissed at him he still said nothing. He strode out of the parking lot toward Baby, parked at the end of the lot where no other cars could ding her. He threw his things in the backseat and got behind the wheel. For the first time Dean was hesitant about a hunt. What if he got hurt because there was no one there to watch his back? Maybe Sammy would join him; it was summer break after all, for old times' sake. But, Sammy never answered his calls anymore.

He pulled out his phone and called a number from his contacts. When the line was picked up Dean said, "Ever been on a hunt?"