Disclaimer: Supernatural and all related materials do not belong to me.

Meet the Daemons

Chapter One

"Daddy! Ghosts are real!" the little red head at his feet said. His brother swung her sister on to his shoulders.

"What do you think Baby Girl?" Denis asked Athena. Athena looked at the sky as if it's going to tell her all the secrets of the world then looked down at her sister, her hero.

"Autty's always right." the younger girl beamed.

"Big brother, you're up shit creek without a paddle." Denis said with his grin. Dave drug a hand across his face, knowing he'd been defeated by his daughters.

"Autumn, if Martha starts telling you ghost stories again just tell her to stop. I don't want you runnin' around with holy water trying to exorcise the house, you hear?" Dave informed his oldest. He could never quiet place it but he held a grudge against her. At first he thought it was jealousy, she took his wife's affection and love and all her tender words, but then things changed when Athena came into the world. Lila's love, affections, and tender words were split between three people suddenly and he didn't hold it against little Athena. Every now and then, Dave would look at Autumn and know exactly what she was, because she was so much more than the farm girl he made her. He would see the questions, the love for words, he'd see the need to be a protector, and care giver, to be top dog. Part of that was big sister syndrome, he had the big brother version. But the other part was going to take her from him, and he hated it.

"Daddy, I like the stories. Martha knows bunches." she smiled so sweetly. Dave ruffled her hair earning himself a glare. Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. He scoffed inwardly. His little girls weren't sugary unless they wanted something, the spice came from their mother in explosive measures, and they were rarely nice. The local boys had more than a few scars his daughters had inflicted.

"Alright, then I don't want to hear anymore about ghosts. They are just stories." Dave tried to sound firm and knew he had hit over kill when his brother shot him that 'ease up' look of his. Denis loved the girls, doted on them constantly. He couldn't have kids so he treated his nieces like queens.

"You girls are going to love what Daddy and I've made for you." Denis told the girls as they broke through the brush and bramble into the opening at the top of the hill. In the middle of the clearing stood a large oak tree. Autumn had always loved the tree, she'd named the 'Great Oak' at some point in her short ten years and that's what everyone called it now. The oak now held in its branches a four walled platform, that would serve as a play house.

"Oh its pretty!" Athena giggled bouncing on her uncle's shoulders. That child had too much energy to me natural.

"Daddy?" panic pricked Autumn's voice as she pulled at her father's shirt tail. "If ghosts aren't real what are those?" She was pointing at two Indians, garbed in the typical warrior costume he'd known from his history books. But this wasn't the thing that stood out, they were semitransparent.

"Autumn, take your sister back to the house." Denis said easing Athena to the ground. He was already swelling up like a tom turkey. Dave stepped forward ready to shoo the spirits away. Both men waved their arms frantically and started yelling at the spirits as if they were nothing more than stray cats. Then the arrow zinged by, it barely missed Dave's head.

"Autumn! NOW!" he yelled. Autumn grabbed her sister's hand and took off running. She knew the woods better than anyone in the county. That girl had one hell of a memory on her, she'd get her sister out safe. "Don't come back!" he yelled at his daughters.

John Winchester leaned against the payphone booth, turned so he could watch the motel across the street, where he'd left his two sons sleeping. The phone rang several times and he was ready to hang up when the familiar male voice finally answered. "Hello?" his friend had been sleeping, and John swore inwardly.

"Hey it's John." Red yawned and mumbled something to his wife before continuing his phone conversation.

"John, what's wrong?" John wondered how much to tell. Should he really admit that those girls had died today because he hadn't been paying attention? No, he was a Winchester. Winchesters don't admit weakness.

"Nothing. I'm leaving Kentucky, you have anything you want me to take care of out here before I find something on my own?" John saw this as returning a favor. A few months back Red had taken a case for him when two identical incidents took place on opposite ends of the country, he owed the man this much.

"You read my mind, buddy." Red laughed. Red was a forth generation hunter, it was in his blood to kill things that shouldn't be. He took the job seriously but not as seriously as he took his family. John always said he'd stop hunting if it was endangering his sons but the truth was he wasn't sure he could. It was all that kept him going some days. "Ohio, just north of the border. A guy was killed, a lot of talk going around town that the nieces are crazy. They say it's ghosts." Red let the words sink in and John stared a hole through the motel wall.

"How old are the girls?" he asked. It was always harder with children involved. He could only do so much to help them and it was never enough. Adults he didn't feel so bad leaving with a bunch of questions but kids… Kids were harder.

"Don't know, about your boys age I guess. Not a lot of details, Johnny." Red let his regret for lack of information seep into his voice.

"Okay, what's the name of the place?"

"Pinecrest."

"Sounds cute." Red grunted his agreement.

"You, takin' it then? If not I'm headed out that way in the morning."

"Yea, I'll let the boys sleep a little longer and head up."

"You take care, John. If you need to bring the boys out here to stay a while."

"Mmkay."

"Bye, John." Red cut the line.

"Dad?" John looked up as he closed the motel door behind him. Dean was just barely fighting off sleep, but that was his trooper.

"Yea, Dean?"

"Are you okay?" John watched his oldest squirm out of Sammy's grip and slid out of bed.

"Yea, Little man. Just been a rough day." he forced a smile. Dean came to stand by his chair and John sunk down into it.

"You have a new hunt?" John read the hope and fear in his son's eyes and knew his son still hoped that one day they'd settle down and be a normal family again. Dean needed that. Sammy needed that.

"Yea, up north a little ways." John heaved a sigh and looked over the room. Salt was down in front of any opening to the outside world. Sam had had a nightmare that a monster came out of the toilet and Dean had even put salt around that and the shower drain to calm his brother.

"It'll be alright, Dad." Dean said in his all knowing way, slipping his hand over his father's arm. "It'll be alright."

"Get in bed kiddo. We've got to get a move on early tomorrow."

John pulled into the drive of 6792 McMicken Street. There was nothing to see except trees, fields, barns, and pastures dotted with cattle or horses. This was the residency of the man who had the honor of being the first victim. Denis Daemon, had been survived by a wife, Paula, a brother, sister in-law, and two nieces. All of which shared the same property. Though, he quickly realized the nearest barn had been converted into a house. He climbed up on the wrap around porch and knocked on the door. It was only a matter of seconds before a blue eyed, blonde girl answered the door. John squatted down to her height.

"Is your mommy or daddy home, little one?" he asked.

"Nope. Mommy is at the church bake sale and Daddy is in fields with Joshy. I'm Athena." the little girl volunteered.

"Then whose watching you?" he asked her.

"My sister. She's watching me and Aunt Paula. She's a big girl so Mommy says its okay as long as we don't go in the woods."

"Can I talk to your sister?" Athena shut the door and he could hear her yelling behind it.

" Autty! Man at the door for you!…… No I don't' know who he is….. He's old…. But he's nice and has a really cool car!….. Just come talk to him….. I'll scream!" The door was jerked open and wiping her hands on an apron tied around her waist was a girl about ten maybe even twelve. John had decided long ago he wasn't a very good judge of age, especially when they got to this point where the kids were starting to hit puberty and could look several years older than they really were without causing any worry.

"Hello, sir." The girl pushed her hair back off her shoulders. She didn't look much like her sister. Athena had a sweet round face of a small child, Autty's face had already lost its child-ish appeal. Instead of long blonde locks carefully pulled back in a braid Autty's hair was the color of a new penny and hung lose framing her face.

"Hi. I'm John Winchester." the girl cut him off.

"Get to the point. What are you selling? If it's a religion I go to church every Sunday and so does the rest of the household so you should just sell elsewhere." John looked down at Athena and when the older girl caught this she swept her sister behind her. "Get on with it before I fetch the gun."

"You're uncle he died in the woods. I'm a hunter myself I was looking to see if you knew what had killed him so I would know what to kill." Autty folded her arms across her chest.

"You and every other half wit with a gun and free weekend." she remarked.

"It was the Indian ghosties." Athena said pushing her sister out of the way.

"Really? Did you see them?"

"Yep! Autumn and I were in the woods when it happened. So was Daddy."

"Athena!" the older girl scolded grabbing her sister by the shoulder and spinning her around. "I've told you before we don't tell strangers about that."

"But you said to always tell the truth. No matter how bad or strange it is." the younger girl argued.

'"I also told you to take a bath last night but you didn't listen to that. Go draw Paula a picture. Maybe it'll cheer her up." Autumn gave her sister a shove deeper into the house. "I'm sorry about her. You know how little kids can be with their stories." John nodded stepping to the side so the penny haired girl could see his sons in the car.

"I know exactly how they can be. But she doesn't seem to believe this is just a story." Autumn shrugged.

"The other hunters are after a deer. The papers are all saying that a large buck attacked my family and that my uncle died trying to buy my sister and I time. If you want a hunt go bag a deer. But sir, with all due respect, you'll never be able to kill the truth."

"What is the truth?" Autumn stepped out on to the porch shutting the door behind her.

"The truth is my uncle and father are idiots. They were building Athena and I a club house out in the woods. Because the second Josh shows interest in a tree fort they just must start construction while they had two kids begging for one for years. But that's not what killed him. They were digging around out there, God only knows why, and stumbled upon an unmarked grave. I looked it up. The clothes suggest that it was one of the local tribes of Indians. But who listens to a girl? Instead of calling in the officials or reburying the poor thing they scooped it into a garbage bag and tossed it in the pond. Then they take Squirt and I out there. Low and behold a couple see through Indians are standing out there on their 'construction site'. The ingenious men try and scare them off and one of the ghost's lets lose an arrow. Dad told me to get Athena and get back to the house, so I grabbed her and ran. When he came back out my uncle was over his shoulder. He made me dig out the arrow; Denis was already dead. By the time we were done it looked like he had been gored." Autumn closed her eyes and leaned over the railing. "Now would you like the grown-up's version? Because I won't tell you that one."

"No, but can I talk to your dad?" Autumn sighed and produced a walkie-talkie from her pocket, holding down the button she started her transmission.

"Hey, Dad there's a guy here for you."

"Your dad's under the John right now what do you need, Sunshine?" came a boy's voice back.

"Ha ha, Joshy. So very funny, remind me to hit you for that later."

"Fine, I won't call you Sunshine any more. It's just you have such a sunny personality." Autumn rolled her eyes at the device in her hand. "I see why you're beating boys off with sticks and all. I mean every boy wants a girl who can't keep her nose out of a book."

"Josh, I swear if you don't put my father on here right now I'm going to tie you up like we do the calves and castrate you." John grinned. The girl had a lot of fight in her, he could only imagine what she'd do to Dean.

"Like I said Daddy's under the John Deere, stupid thing broke down again. What's going on anyway?" Josh asked.

"There is a man here. He wants to talk to Dad."

"Where is here?" John heard worry spike the boys voice causing it to squeak.

"The house dummy."

"Good Lord! Autumn, someone needs to take you out behind the shed! You let a man in the house? Mr. Daemon" the transmission was cut short then a man's voice came on. "I'm on my way in, babe."

"Thanks." John said looking towards his car. Sammy had his nose pressed against the glass, watching the cattle in the pasture that ran the length of the drive. Dean on the other hand had his eyes glued on his father and the girl. Mentally noting every movement as if it would be on a quiz in the future.

"Don't mention it. Don't worry either. I'll cool him down before he starts swingin' . That's the problem with hiring your daughter's friends to work for you. They over react to every little thing. You only have the two boys?" Autumn nodded to the car.

"Yea, the little one is Sammy, the other is Dean." Autumn jumped up on the railing as if mounting a horse.

"Sammy's cute. I like the name Dean, though. Don't hear about a lot of Dean's around here. Well, that's a lie. Jimmy Dean. Old man Recker is always going on about how he's losing money because folks can buy sausages in the store now. But, honestly they're not as good as his. If you're in town a while you'll have to get some. How old is Sammy?" John had always wanted a daughter. Something cute and frilly that would always need him and call him 'Daddy' but talking to this girl was quickly ebbing away at that old dream.

"He's six."

"Same as Athena. Just a hunch but Dean's what, four years older?"

"How'd you know?"

"Because I am too."

"Papa Bear just went over the ridge, you better hide Naughty Autty." Josh's voice came back over the walkie-talkie.

"He'll be here by the time you count to one hundred. Just watch." In his head John started counting to a hundred and sure enough as he got to 99 the girl's father appeared around the corner. "Told ya." the girl grinned. "Hey Daddy!"

"Autumn, get in the house." her father ordered. John took in the man, his arms were thick and muscled, and his body soaked in sweat.

"Joshy was over reacting. I didn't let Mr. Winchester in. I just talked to him here on the porch."

"I don't care. Which ever one of you answered the door needs to get a switch and get out back." John watched Autumn ready to see her sell her sister down the river. The girl jumped off the porch, and ran to the nearest tree her hair flying wildly she stopped at his car though.

"Nice wheels Mr. Winchester." she smiled sending him a wink. They both knew she was going to take a switching for her sister. Autumn turned her attention to the boys with in the car waving at them before monkey climbing her way into the tree.

"Good girl you have there." John tried to smooth down ruffled feathers.

"I know. What do you want?" the man was relentless.

"Permission to hunt in your woods." John heard Autumn hit the ground and take off running and from the corner of his eye he saw her pull up her sundress to get better speed.

"You and every other hunter. Leave the damn deer alone."

"I'm not after a deer, sir. I'm after what killed your brother." The man froze and John knew he'd hit a cord.

"My brother was gored by a deer. Ask the doctor he'll tell ya." the man's voice quivered.

"Okay, that's fine. Can I hunt then?" John backed down. No point in breaking the man… just yet.

Dave Daemon's eyes were locked on something in the driveway and John turned to see what it was. Mentally he kicked himself for not hearing the car pull up. It was a newer model, Ford pick-up. The woman that stepped out was breath taking. She had red hair and blue eyes, that sparkled in the afternoon sun. She smiled his direction.

"Howdy!" she called before pulling a large box of empty Tupperware out of the cab. "You wouldn't believe how well we did today, Davey." she told her husband walking up. "It was amazing! God, surely smiles upon our church." she sat her box on the porch and held her hand out to him. "I'm Lila Daemon. How do you do?"

"John Winchester, good and you?" the woman withdrew her hand quickly after he shook it and pulled out a wet nap from her pocket.

"I'm just spiffy!" her voice dripped with energy. "Come in, why don't you? I'll have the girls get you a cup of ice tea. And do let those boys out of your car, as nice as it is, they'll catch their death boxed up like that. They're not turtles you know." John cast a weary glance at the woman's husband who nodded.

"Honey, will you be alright? I left that boy out their in the field with my tractor." Dave asked. Lila scooped up her box and John moved to open the door for her.

"Girls, ice tea pronto!" she called into the house. "Yes, darling. I'll be fine. I've entertained house guests before." she winked at her husband before going in and John followed. "My goodness, it is hot out there. Mamma always said Ohio weather was the worst, but she was a Florida girl herself. Moved up here cause Daddy wanted to live in Alaska. Some happy medium." she shook her head and led him into the kitchen. "I'd leave but this is all Davey's ever known, and my girls are happy here." she looked around. "Where are they, now anyway?" The woman busied herself rooting through the fridge before coming out with a pitcher of ice tea and then moved to the cabinet. "Good lookin' boys. They yours or on loan?"

"They're mine." he answered wondering where and why some one would loan kids.

"Good. Good." she nodded and poured them each a glass. "Paula where's my girls?" she yelled down a near by hallway there was a muffled reply before Athena came running in coloring book tucked under her arm and box of broken crayons held out in front of her. "Teenie Weenie, where's your sister?"

"She snuck out with her gun, when you pulled in." the girl said matter-of-factly. The child's mother sighed.

"Go tell Mr. Winchester's boys to come in. I don't want them getting the heat stroke. No more doctors in my house. It's bad luck to have them by so much, someone'll end up real sick." Athena took off before he could protest. "So, Mr. Winchester, do you have a place to stay while you're in town?"

"No, ma'am I was going to get a motel room in town"

"Rubbish!" she exclaimed cutting him off. "I'd offer you our cabin in the woods but those damn little fire bugs, pardon my French, burnt it down last year. You'll just have to stay here. You're after that deer that gutted my poor brother in-law aren't you?" John nodded and the woman gave him a weak smile. "Ruined his wife it did. My little Autumn, was just crushed. Wouldn't talk about it for a few days, now she swears up and down that it was a ghost. Ever hear such a thing? Ghosts."

"We couldn't possibly, impose like that, Mrs. Daemon."

"Call me Lila. Mrs. Daemon died ten years ago, God rest her shriveled up soul."

"Dad?" John turned around to see Dean with his arm around Sammy's shoulders holding the younger boy close to him. "The girl said we were supposed to come in?"

"I'm Athena." the blond emerged from behind his sons smiling from ear to ear. "But everyone calls me Teenie. Some people call me Tiny, because I'm so little, but those people are meanie heads. Autumn says so. She's my big sister, she's really cool. You wanna see her?"

"Do you keep her in a cage or something?" Sam asked getting excited.

"No, silly! She isn't a homebody, is what Aunt Paula says. But I think it's because the house is just evil. Father says that a house can't be evil but he's never stayed here."

"Athena, why don't you ask Mr. Winchester if you can take the boys out back to see the new calf?" her mother suggested. Athena turned those big round eyes on him.

"Can I Mister.?"

"Yea, you boys would like to see a calf wouldn't you?" Sam nodded enthusiastically and Dean resigned to follow. Athena led them out the back door and he could watch her skipping circles around them as she drew them towards a barn.

"You'll stay here. Paula has moved into our spare room so you can live at her place while you're here." Lila seemed to have made up her mind about everything.