Chapter One

I Promise You

May 18th, 1989

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Dean

I promise you with everything I am

The tiny motel room was crowded. There were five of us in a room built for two. Five kids and no adults. My father was helping the Aizik family get rid of a mean Poltergeist, and Sam and I had been told to keep the family safe. Sam was on the floor, playing with a few of his cars, I was sitting at the kitchen table, while the three siblings from the family we were helping were on the two beds. The oldest of the siblings, nine year old, Keith, was sleeping in one bed, while his five year old sister, Lyse, was holding their youngest sister, one year old, Miriam. A rock-salt shotgun rested in my lap. A second was leaning against the wall by the bed Keith slept in. Dad could never be too careful. I could hear his overly-repeated line now: "There's no margin for error."

Lyse looked up at me, laying her sister down on the bed. "Dean, when are my mom and dad coming back?"

I offered her a reassuring smile. "Soon," I replied.

"I hope so." She sat cross-legged, placing her hands in her lap. She looked down at them, refusing to look up. "I want to go home."

I sighed. I knew how she felt, and wished this had never happened for her sake. I set the rock-salt gun on the table and got out of the chair, and went to sit at the end of her bed. "I know, but they'll be back soon, I promise."

She met my gaze, a mixture of question and fright in her bright sea-green eyes. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. "What's in our house?"

I cringed. I'd been hoping I wouldn't have to tell her all the details. Not that it really mattered; she'd grow up knowing that evil things exist in this world.

"Is it a ghost?" she asked. "Like Casper?"

Inside, I smiled at her innocence. "Yes, it's a ghost; but it's not like Casper."

Her eyes fell, and her deep red hair concealed her face. "I didn't think so. It tried to hurt Miriam. Casper wouldn't hurt Miriam."

I had to smile at that, and I scooted closer to the scared five year old. "Don't worry, Lyse, my dad is going to get rid of it."

"And then we can go home?"

I nodded. "Yes, then you, Keith, Miriam and your mom and dad can go home."

She looked to me, a small half-smile tugging at her lips. "Okay."

I got off of the bed. "Listen, get some sleep. I'll wake you up when your parents get back."

She sat there for a moment. It looked like she was trying to decide what to do; whether or not to believe me.

"It's okay," I said softly. "Sam and I will be awake."

She nodded after another moment. "'K." Slowly, she lay back on the bed, and once comfortable, closed her eyes, quickly falling asleep.

-0o0o0-

In the next couple of hours, not much happened. Lyse and Keith woke up a couple of times for a little while, before going back to sleep.

Now, Keith was up and feeding Miriam, while Lyse was curled up on her bed, sound asleep, and Sam had taken Keith's bed. I sat at the bottom of Sam's bed and Keith sat at the bottom of his sister's. Our eyes met, and we shared a long moment of understanding. We were both big brothers and one of our jobs was to look after our younger siblings. We may not have actually said it, but we had made promises to our parents to always protect our siblings. I knew how hard it was looking after one, I couldn't imagine what it was like to look after two – with one only being a year old.

I passed him an understanding smile. He returned it, then turned his attention to Miriam, a slightly goofy big brother grin on his face. I rose an eyebrow and that was when I smelt it.

"Someone's got a B.M.," Keith teased Miriam, who laughed at Keith's wide smile and slightly falsetto voice. He took the baby-bag and went over to the counter, telling Miriam she had a stinky bum. He quickly changed her diaper, then came back, kissing her. He sat back down on Lyse's bed. He looked to me, an embarrassed smile on his face and apologized.

"It's alright." As I spoke, I heard the sound of the car parking in front of the motel room. I got up and after drawing the curtains back half an inch to peak outside, opened the door. I watched my Dad and a very relieved Clyde and Joyce Aizik get out of the car. My Dad looked a little sore, but he was alright. He led Clyde and Joyce into the room, and closed the door behind them.

Joyce was first to Lyse. Gently, she shook her daughter awake. "Lyse," she spoke softly. "Wake up, baby."

Slowly, Lyse woke up. "Mommy?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes. She looked over to my Dad. "Is the ghost gone, Mr. Winchester?"

My father smiled, nodding. "Yes, Lyse, the ghost is gone."

"Okay," Lyse replied. She looked back at her mother. "Can we home now?"

"Sure, sweetie."

The Aizik family gathered everything together, thanked my father for getting rid of the Spirit, and thanked me for staying with Keith, Lyse and Miriam.

I smiled. "You're welcome."

Clyde turned to lead his family out the door.

Lyse faced me, her hand in Keith's. "Thank you, Dean."

"No problem, Lyse."

With her free hand, she gave me a small wave. "Bye."

I returned the wave. "Bye." I stood at the door and my dad brushed past me to drive the family back home. I watched the car back out of the parking spot and leave the lot. I smiled. Another family had been saved thanks to Dad, but they would never be the same. They would forever know that scary, unexplained things exist in this world, but they were safe, and that comforted me.