Dean Winchester found himself in a sunlit meadow.
"Dean!" Jo appeared at the edge of the meadow.
Dean went straight to the other hunter. "I love you," He whispered before leaning in to kiss her.
But before there lips met Dean heard baying that could only mean one thing. Hellhound.
Dean was ripped away from Jo as he saw the giant dog tear into her.
"Jo no!" He screamed fighting against the invisible bonds that held him.
Then Jo burst into a ball of raging fire.
Dean bolted upright in bed. Looking over at the bed next to his he saw Sam still asleep.
Observing the sweat drenched t-shirt that stuck to his skin he decided that he might as well grab the first shower.
Walking into the small bathroom he glanced into the mirror. Hating what he saw. Dark bags were under his hazel eyes which seemed to have lost there sparkle. He was pale and had lost weight. Every night since three weeks ago when he had lost Jo he had dreamt about her. Sometimes the whole dream was a nightmare and he would awake to see Sam and Cas leaning over him terrified. Or like the last one it would seem that Jo was alive and safe with him only for it to be ripped away.
Don't think about it. Dean tried focusing on his shower but every few seconds his thoughts would creep back to the girl who even dead owned his heart.
As he stepped out of the shower he saw Cas sitting on his bed. The angel looked in on the brothers every few hours or would spend the day in the backseat of the Impala making sure no one demon, angel, or hellhound approached his two best friends and the only people who didn't want him dead.
"Who takes long girly showers now?" Sam asked playfully "You where in there for forty-five minutes,'
It killed Dean to see Sammy's face fall when Dean didn't take the bait and argue over something stupid. Sam had been trying his hardest to get Dean to smile or laugh or even just mouth off but without any luck.
"Hello Dean do you want to go to a bar later?" Cas asked softly in his eyes Dean could see guilt.
"Enough both of you!" Dean snapped "I'll be fine a lot sooner if you two didn't treat me like a baby. Sam you have lost three girlfriends now. Two of which you either killed or helped kill. And you Cas it's not your damn fault that you can't resurrect her for me okay. So both of you just leave me alone!"
He grabbed his leather jacket off of his bed and stormed out.
The Impala waited to take her owner away from his problems for a little bit. Dean like Sam had done had started drowning his pain in beer.
Dean's hand was on the door handle when he froze. It couldn't be oh please God say it wasn't.
Going around the Impala Dean looked at the white pickup. Looking at the license plate he saw it was a Minnesota plate. And passed out in the drivers seat was his baby brother Adam.
'He can't be alive' Dean thought ' I saw his corpse. Hell me and Sammy salted and burned his body.'
Reaching into his pocket Dean pulled out his cell "Hey Sam get the hell out here I think you'll love this surprise. Drag Cas's ass down here too I'm going to kill him."
"What happened?" Sam Cas in tow came running down the stairs from their forth story motel room.
"The last time I checked you and me where the last Winchesters alive. So Sam tell me what the hell Adam is doing here."
"He can't be he was ghoul food." Sam jaw dropped as he took in his half brother.'
Cas looked over Sam's shoulder to see what was going on. "Is that you brother? Because I think he's breathing."
"I've noticed that Cas what the hell is he doing alive?" Dean opened the truck door. "Adam wake up!"
"How do you know my name?" Adam asked sleepily
"Shh it's okay Adam. Your are little brother and we'll take care of you . Let's get you inside it's freezing." Sam wrapped his arm around Adam easily falling into how protective he was of the ghoul Adam.
'My arm and chest hurt," Adam whimpered "My head too,"
"That's where he was hurt the worse by the ghoul right Dean" Sam said helping Adam stand.
Dean took pity on Adam and went to help Sam lead him up the stairs. "Cas grab the keys and lock up the truck then get the door for the room."
It took the angel a minute to figure out how to lock the trucks' doors but he managed.
"Remind me to teach him about cars later Sammy," Dean muttered watching the angel.
Sam wasn't paying attention to his older brother, "Dean he's bleeding."
"Calm down Sammy lay him on the bed. Not mine though. Cas lock the door then call Bobby tell him where going to stay at his place for a bit. Don't mention Adam got that?"
Dean didn't wait to see if his best friend understood. Even though he had never met the real Adam Dean was still extremely terrified for the teenager. His big brother instincts wanted to find whoever harmed Adam and tear them to shreds.
"Make it go away," Adam begged
"Sam,"
But Dean didn't have to ask Sam was already talking to Adam keeping him calm.
Cutting Adam's bloodstained shirt off Dean examined his injuries.
Being a hunter and especially a Winchester Dean was an expert at weird. But this topped the scales. The injuries Dean had seen on Adam's corpse where still there. But unlike before they where fresh and bleeding. Remembering Adam had died of blood lose Dean started putting pressure on the worse bites.
"Sam get over here and help. Cas do whatever Sam was doing to keep him from freaking out,"
Sam ran into the bathroom and returned with towels.
After what seemed like an eternity to the oldest Winchesters and there angel the bleeding had stopped. After Sam and Dean had finished bandaging him up Adam had fallen asleep. Sam was at his side glaring at the bandages as if that could magically make the wounds paining his brother go away.
Cas had been leaning against the wall opposite looked upset. "Why did we let him live again?" He asked suddenly
"If you mean Adam because its easier then listening to Sam bitch for the next six months."
"Not Adam he's fine I meant Gabriel."
"Cause he now owes us one," Dean replied checking Adam's breathing.
"I think he just evened it out. Gabriel's grace has touched Adam's soul." Cas informed then.
As if saying that was the magic word Gabriel inside the room.
"Cas I want a refund on those carved ribs," Sam said looking up.
"Relax Sammy boy. Pretty boy here did a nice job on you and you're brother's ribs. I tracked Adam's soul here. And to get him here I called in a favor with a demon you three know. Crowley I believe." Gabriel pulled out a snickers bar and started eating it.
"Why the hell did you bring Adam back" Dean asked
"One I hate being in anybody's debt. This seemed like a simple funny way to repay you for allowing me to live. Second Crowley has been keeping a close eye on the brothers of destruction here. He let it slip to me that Dean was going to give himself alcohol poisoning mourning the blond thing of his. Without him Lucifer will destroy my sandbox. Along with the demons I do business with. Having two wait Castiel is here so make that three morons to take care of should keep him to busy to get drunk. So now where are my thanks?"
"Castiel! A demons been tailing us and you didn't know. Why the hell do I keep you?" Dean glared at Cas who shrunk back from Dean's anger.
"Sammy what's the noise?" Adam tried sitting up but started coughing.
Sam steadied him "It's okay Dean just lost his temper. How you feel kiddo?"
Adam looked around the room before leaning heavily against Sam to keep himself propped up. "I feel like a dump trunk with fangs ran me over. How do you think I feel?"
Gabriel looked curiously at Adam "So this is the baby Winchester. Well he sure looks like you two." Cas shifted to block Adam from view. The two angels glared at each other. "Well I need to be going now. You know people to put in black holes or in time loops. In Florida I heard of this guy who could stand to meet a few of my slow dancing aliens." Smiling broadly the arc angel snapped his figures and disappeared.
"How did he do that?" Adam asked looking at Sam. Like the ghoul this Adam had chosen Sam to be his favorite.
'Do you remember getting a few chunks taken out of you by that ghoul?" Sam asked
"Sammy!" Dean warned
"Dean how many people in this room have never died? None right? Adam couldn't protect himself or his mom because of Dad. He needs to be able to take care of himself. Those ghouls wanted revenge on the three of us for what Dad did. There are plenty of others lining up for a peace of one of the Winchesters. Hell I bet Zachariah and Meg are racing each other to get here. Knowing those vultures they could smell his soul on the other side of the galaxy."
"Sam is right Dean. If it was just the demons I'd say protect Adam. But not with my brothers. We have another hour or so until they come." Cas put his hand reassuringly on Dean's shoulder.
Dean sighed but nodded "Why so long?"
"Gabriel is a powerful angel. Zackariah is weak next to him. For the extra time we owe Gabriel again. He's marked this town with his grace. Weakening himself in the process. Zackariah will not be able to tell if he's left. It will take a bit for Zackariah to fetch Raphael who other than Michele and Lucifer is the only one strong enough to fight Gabriel even weakened."
"I really appreciated the whole protecting me thing but who the hell are you. Sammy only said that you're my brothers. And who the hell was that guy?"
"Okay if you want to know. I'm Dean Winchester that's Sam. Where your big brothers. This is Castiel or Cas he's are best friend and an angel. That other guy was Gabriel the messenger. I promise we'll tell you everything later but right now we need to get you out of here."
Adam bit his lip and nodded. Sam smiled at him reassuringly. "Come on bro lets get you to the car. I think you'll recognize her."
With Adam leaning heavily on Sam and Dean and Cas carrying the bags they made there way down the motels stairs.
"It's Dad's Impala!" Adam exclaimed when the gleaming muscle car came within sight.
"Its not his anymore she's mine," Dean stroked his baby's hood. Dean's liking for Adam went up a bit. In his book anybody who loved the Impala was his friend.
Sam settled Adam into the backseat and insisted on riding with him.
"Dean where still in South Dakota where like three hours from Bobby's Cas can have shotgun."
Dean just shrugged. He was use to Cas riding in the passenger seat but he still would have preferred to have his brother but he would live.
As the Impala pulled out of the motel's parking lot Adam leaned forward slightly. "Hey Dean are we going to Dad's house?"
"No Adam,' Dean hesitated but decided that he might as well learn it now "Dad's dead he died two years ago."
Adam's eyes watered up but he didn't cry. "Can I borrow a cell I need to call my mom. What's today's date anyway?"
"Adam I hate to have to tell you this but your mom is dead too." Sam murmured softly.
This time the tears did spill over Adam started sobbing. Sam let Adam bury his face in his chest.
The tears nearly undid Dean. He slammed on the Impala's brakes. He opened the door and went to Adam's side. Kneeling down next to him Dean rubbed Adam's shoulder. Sam's brown eyes met Dean's hazel. Moving Adam to the side Sam made room for Dean in the backseat.
Climbing in beside Adam Dean drew him away from Sam. If Adam noticed the change he didn't show it.
Getting out Sam started driving. As he drove Sam listened to what Dean was saying.
"Adam you may have lost your mom and dad but you still have us. You get that.?"
Adam lifted his head and nodded.
"Like it or not runt your stuck with us for eternity. Now stop with the crying I hate tears." Dean found a napkin from some take out. He handed it to Adam who wiped his eyes. "Adam you're my little brother and that makes you my responsibility to take care of you get that? Now I tell Sam this every single damn day. It's my job to take care of my pain in the ass little brothers. So if you ever need me just ask. Don't do what Sam did and go running off to some demon slut. Now please tell me Sammy got the wrong guy and that your not nineteen but twenty-one so I can bring you to a bar."
Adam smiled "Nope sorry I'm only nineteen,"
"Okay forget the whole little brother speech and get out of my car," Dean ruffled Adam's hair.
Adam laughed a little bit. Leaning his head on Dean's shoulder Adam went back to sleep.
Cas turned in his seat. "Dean I want to know something,"
"Yeah Cas?"
"Where am I in your family. I know Bobby is like a father and Ellen was like a mother so am I like a brother?"
"Cas you're a brother. It kind of screws up are whole bad boy appearance but who cares. If I can think of a demon as a sister I can think of a pain in the ass angel as a brother."
"Wait a second you thought of Ruby as a sister?" Sam shook his head. "That means you wanted me to marry her correct?"
"When she helped us with Anna and after you told me what she had done for you. But when she turned you into her bitch then all liking disappeared"