Title:Once A Winchester... Always

Author: Rori Pond

Pairing: Sam/Ofc/Dean

Rating: A very dirty M later on in the story

She Aint Heavy, She's my sister

Hair whipped around, covered her face, and tickled her neck. Mari tipped her head back and welcomed the cool wind on her face. Free's "All right now" blasted out of the speakers as they sped down the road in the Impala with no particular destination in mind. They were between jobs. It was times like these she loved most. When it felt more like an epic road trip with family, and less like an endless spree of salt, burns, and others. What they did was necessary.

It was a thankless job she was proud to be a part of but it wore you down ate away at your soul , bit by bit, until you found yourself peering in the mirror, unsure of who you'd become and what the future held for you. That's why downtime was a Godsend. Dad forgot that. He got caught up in the hunt, went into tunnel vision, and didn't surface until the job was done. It was the Marine in him. And the grieving husband.

She glanced down at Sam and smiled. For once her baby brother looked truly happy. He did what needed to be done, but he had no taste for it. Not like Dad, Dean, or even her. She saw the faces of her tormenters when she hunted. It was a chance to avenge her family, and prevent anyone else from ending up like she did. Dean… he wanted to be like Dad, and though he'd never said it in so many words, it was for Mary. Mary Winchester, she owed the woman her life. There was no doubt in her mind it was her name that kept her from being chucked into the foster system quicker than you could say boo.

"You guys hungry?" Dad yelled over the music.

"Starving!"

Dean's response made her roll her eyes.

"When aren't you?" She shot back.

"Bite me string bean. It's not my fault you can't keep any meat on your bones."

Sam chuckled, used to their banter.

"Back in your corners guys. Sammy?"

"Yeah I'm hungry too."

"Good, I saw a sign for a food turn off about twenty miles back, we should come up on it soon."

Like clockwork the sign appeared a few more miles down the road. Dad made a sharp right and they pulled off the highway. They passed a couple of gas stations before they spotted the off brand pizza parlor.

"Yes! I call dibs on a meat lover's!" Dean yelled. The glee in his voice made her laugh. Her older brother always excited about the little things in life.

"I don't care what we order as long as there are no onions!" Mari called.

John laughed, and shook his head.

"I'm with Mar on that one," Sam said, his nose wrinkled up in disgust. Dean's onion farts were legendary.

John parked the car.

"Okay onion free zone tonight, two against one Dean."

"No fair, they always team up on me."

"That's what younger siblings do," John said.

Mari smiled, being included still filled her with warmth and acceptance, even though it'd been many years since they'd taken her in. They all exited the car and walked into the Pizza Parlor.

"I'm going to go hit the head. You guys want to play a round of pool first?" John nodded toward one of the vacant tables.

"Yeah Dad, I'll get them started." Dean said. He turned to face Mari and Sam. "You guys go and stand by the table to hold it."

"All right, come on Sam," she said. They walked over to the wall, picked out a couple of pool sticks that felt balanced and walked over to the table on the far left.

"Ooh look the squirts got a girlfriend."

Mari arched a brow, but remained quiet.

"How'd you swing her kid? She's older then you."

"She's not my girlfriend." Sam rolled his eyes. "She's my sister."

"What?" The group of teenagers burst into laughter. "Come on lil man, that's not your sister."

Heat filled Mari's cheeks. The difference in their skin was all people seemed to see. She was a honeyed brown, with black hair, and brown eyes and they weren't .

"You embarrassed to be out with her or something?" The dark haired boy taunted.

"No!" Sam's hands clenched into fists.

She opened her mouth to put them in their place. Ready to let them feel the sting of her sharp tongue.

"We got a problem over here?" Dean appeared out of thin air, a cue ball clutched in his hand tight enough to turn his knuckles white. He was good at that, showing up at just the right moment to save the day. She scowled.

"No problem man, just complementing the youngster here on landing this fine piece of—."

"Hey!" Dean snapped. "You finish that sentence and we're going to have a problem. I don't take kindly to assholes talking about my baby sister that way." His eyes were hard. He owned every inch of his six feet. Fear blossomed in the boys eyes as they recognized just how dangerous the soft

Mari's face flushed. At thirteen she looked a good two or three years older. It worked to her advantage on hunts, but other times like this it did the exact opposite.

"I could've handled it myself."

"I'm sure you could short stuff, not the point. Certain things are a brother's job. I don't think we have a problem though, do we fellas?" he asked. spoken young man was.

"Naw, no problem man. We were just finishing up."

"You do that."

The boys gathered their pool balls and returned them to the cashier.

"You can't always fight my battles for me," Mari crossed her arms over her chest.

Dean turned around.

"No, but I can sure as hell try. It's my job to take care of you and Sammy. You're just lucky Dad didn't' see it."

"See what?" Dad asked.

"Nothing just some scummers trying to hit on Mar." Dean shook his head. "Are we gonna decide on pizza and play a few games while we wait?"

Dad studied them before he nodded. It was something she'd seen more and more lately. Dead deferring to Dean's judgment about things. It scared her, made her think he was planning on leaving for longer stints. The older they got the more things changed.

If the only knew what the road ahead had in store for them. *sighs