Disclaimer: I own nothing. Playing in Kripke's sandbox. Just for fun, not for profit.

A/N: Still hoping to have this all posted before Thursday's NEW episode.

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Beginnings

The YED was dead. They'd all made it back to Bobby's more or less in one piece. Ellen had called it a night – well it was day again, but she'd turned in. Dean was sleeping the sleep of the just or at least the concussed in what he and Sam considered to be their room at Bobby's. Sam and Bobby were both still too wired to think about sleep yet, and Sam needed to stay awake for at least a little while longer to check on Dean to make sure that his concussion wasn't getting worse. So Sam and Bobby were sitting at Bobby's kitchen table, drinking coffee.

"You know, Bobby, I've never heard the story about why you did pull that shotgun on Dad. I asked Dean once and he just shut me down." Sam raised his eyebrows at Bobby expectantly. Bobby looked a little uncomfortable.

"It's kind of a long story, Sam. Goes back a lot of years." Sam suspected that that would be the case. Bobby wasn't the type to act on impulse. In fact, he'd seen his Dad piss Bobby off on several occasions – to quote Bobby, 'John just had that effect on people.' But Bobby never got really pissed at his Dad; Bobby was a slow burn, but when he was fully heated, he was a four-alarm fire.

"We've got time Bobby…" Sam used his best puppy eyes on Bobby. Bobby put up a good front, but he was only human and even he couldn't resist that gaze.

"Ok. Well, like I said, to really understand why I pulled a gun on your Dad, I gotta start at the beginning…" Bobby got up from the table and opening one cupboard took down two glasses. Opening another cupboard, Bobby grabbed a bottle of Jack and returned to the table. He filled one glass and then with the bottle poised over the second glass, raised an eyebrow at Sam.

"Thanks anyway, Bobby. It's still a little early for me." Bobby just shrugged and placed the bottle back on the table. Dean was the brother who Bobby could always count on to share a glass. Sam was again struck by something else that tied Dean to Bobby. As long as Sammy could remember, Dean and Bobby had shared a special bond. Sam had experienced a similar bond with Pastor Jim. Their father had recognized the affinity between his sons and the two other hunters and had allowed them to become an extended family for the boys growing up. Sam had been angry with his father for so long, he was still trying to come to terms with how they had been raised and the decisions his father had made. John's death had been the catalyst for Sam to get past his anger and begin to understand his father. In some ways, Sam was also being forced to re-evaluate how he thought about his brother as well. Sam's struggle for understanding was in part what motivated him to push Bobby to talk about the past. He'd always hated being treated like a baby, but Sam had to admit that until recently, he had been acting like a baby – self-centred, with little or no thought that others might also have a worthy agenda, even if it was different from his own.

Bobby took a healthy pull on his drink and sucked air in over his teeth as the liquid slid home. He glanced at Sam staring earnestly at him from under his too shaggy hair. Damn it. Maybe it would help Sam to understand who his own brother was. Why his own brother felt his life was less important than Sam's – than damn near everyone's. Hell, maybe it would help him to understand…

Bobby took a deep breath. It was always best to start at the beginning. Bobby was nothing if not methodical and thorough – something else he and Dean had in common.

"So. The first time I met your dad, you were only about 9 or 10 months old and Dean was five…"

Bobby didn't do kids. He'd only agreed to let this Winchester guy stop by because Jefferson had called him and recommended the guy. According to Jefferson, this Winchester guy was just getting into hunting, but he was good. Good enough to make a real difference. So Bobby had agreed to let the guy come by and pick up a few books and he'd even agreed to answer a few questions. Nobody had said anything about kids. What did you say to a kid? Bobby had no idea. Kids made a lot of noise and a lot of mess and if you were really unlucky, they broke shit. So, when John showed up with two kids in tow, he really wasn't making a good first impression.

Bobby opened the door to John's knock.

"You Bobby?" John asked.

"Yep." Bobby opened the screen to let him in, looking at the baby John held in a car seat over one arm and the five year old shadowing him. Bobby also took in the intensity of John's stare and his undeniable military bearing. The military bearing earned him some points back. Jefferson had said that John had been a marine and that held stock with Bobby as a fellow vet. The handshake was firm and dry. Bobby watched as John took in his surroundings. He was surreptitious but thorough – more evidence of the military training. Bobby nodded internally; maybe Jefferson was right about this guy.

"These are my boys. Sam and Dean," John indicated the baby and the boy standing slightly behind him as if hoping not to be noticed.

"Is it ok if I leave my kids in your living room, here, while we talk?" John indicated the room with a nod of his head.

"Sure." Great. No doubt this is where I start to get shit broken…

"Dean." John placed a hand on Dean's shoulder and bent to look him in the eye. Bobby was struck by the look on the kid's face. He was there, but in some way he also wasn't. There was virtually no expression on his face. It was a bit unnerving. "Sit here and watch Sammy. This is Bobby. I'm going to be talking to him in this other room, ok, kiddo?"

The only response from Dean was a small nod and he moved into the other room. Instead of sitting on the couch that John had indicated, however, the kid insisted on sitting on the floor in front of his sleeping brother who John had placed on the floor in the car seat. John sighed. He turned to Bobby.

"Jefferson told me you were the leading expert on demons."

"In some circles," Bobby acquiesced. He was a little surprised that John was willing to discuss any of this in front of the little boy. "Why don't we step into my study. I've got those books you were asking about."

Bobby continued when they reached the other room. "So what's your sudden interest in demons and hunting? Jefferson tells me you were a happily ignorant 'civilian' up until a few months ago."

John pulled in a long breath. "Yeah, well my family had kind of a life changing experience in November. My wife was killed. Pinned to the ceiling, sliced open, and set on fire. I want to know what did it 'cuz I'm gonna kill the sonuvabitch." There was no mistaking the intensity of John's words; they were laced with sorrow, hatred, and a growing need for revenge. Bobby recognized that John could go in a number of different directions. He could be a positive force for the community of hunters who tried to keep ignorant 'civilians' safe, or he could become a loose cannon who was a danger to himself and any other hunter who crossed his path. And that was why Bobby spent the entire afternoon with John. He began John's education on demons. He told him that it might have been a demon, but there were other things it might also have been. If it was a demon, demons were tricky. They weren't just always around and there were a lot of demons out there. It might be a long time before John knew which demon had killed his wife, and it might be an even longer time before there was any way of tracking down a specific demon.

Bobby wasn't exactly a model host. He didn't have company often, but eventually, he got thirsty himself and thought to ask John if he'd like a cup of coffee. As an after thought, Bobby also asked if the kids needed anything.

"I'll just check on Sammy. He could probably use some juice, but I've got a bottle in the car. Dean'll go get it, if Sam's awake." Bobby noticed that John seemed to have forgotten that probably both boys needed to eat and drink. Looking in the living room, Bobby was startled to see that Dean had apparently not moved from his vigil in front of his brother.

Well, I guess he's not too likely to break anything then, Bobby thought with an internal shrug and frown.

Dean's head turned at the sound of his father's approach. Sam was just starting to stir. And stir he did – he drew in a deep breath and his face instantly became red, and then he just began to wail. Dean immediately turned back to his brother, rubbing his stomach softly and making quiet shushing noises. Bobby realized this was the first sound he had heard him utter since meeting him. John's face creased in a frown.

"I'm afraid he's a bit colicky. Dean? Can you run out to the car and grab Sammy's medicine and juice?" John quickly turned his attention to the baby. Carefully removing him from the car seat, John set about trying to soothe the baby. Dean ghosted out of the room and returned quickly carrying a small bag, handing a bottle of something to John, who proceeded to give the medicine to the baby. Dean hovered.

"Hop up on the couch, sport." John directed Dean, and Bobby was a bit surprised when John just put the baby in Dean's arms and Dean proceeded to quiet the baby and give him the bottle of juice.

John ran a hand over his face. "Did you mention coffee?"
"Yeah. I'll just go put it on."

"Dean? Did you get some juice for yourself while you were at the car?"

The little boy pulled a juice box out of his pocket.

"Make sure you drink that." John ordered. Bobby had to admit that he was relieved to see that on some level this Winchester guy did realize he was travelling around the country with two boys. Bobby had to admit, though, that the guy had a right to be pretty messed up. He'd just lost his wife, became a single parent, and found out that there was a whole lot of shit out in the world that wanted to kill you as soon as look at you.

Bobby and John sat at the kitchen table drinking their second cup of coffee. Sam's wails had gradually ceased and there was a bit of giggling and gurgling now from time to time. John seemed to have run out of questions for now, and Bobby took the opportunity to study his new acquaintance. The guy was haggard – at least Bobby assumed he probably looked better on a regular day. But he was smart; he'd asked the right questions in the right order. He carried himself like he could handle himself in a tough situation. With a little help this guy could make it.

"Anybody introduce you to Pastor Jim, yet?" Bobby asked.

"A preacher?" John was incredulous to say the least. "I'm not really much on religion. That was kinda my wife's thing…"
"Jim's a hunter; same as you and me. He just happens to preach as his full-time job. He's a good resource too. He's in Blue Earth, Minnesota."

"Thanks, Bobby."

"Don't mention it." Bobby figured if anybody could help this guy and his kids, it was Pastor Jim. He wouldn't shove the religion down the guy's throat if he didn't want it, but he could be very persuasive in convincing people to take help. After all, that was Jim's day-job. Bobby got the definite impression that this guy would need a lot of help being convinced to take help. Bobby got Jim's contact numbers and handed them to John.

"I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life or making any comment on it. Hell, we just met, but I'm sensing that you didn't plan on being a single parent." Bobby held up a hand at the thunderstorm that crossed John's face. "Just give Jim a call is all I'm saying. He can help with more than just the supernatural shit that's out there. But don't under estimate what he can teach you about the supernatural either."

"Thanks for the advice." John took the contact information and tucked it into the journal he'd been taking notes in all afternoon. Bobby could only hope he'd call Jim sooner rather than later.

"We'll be getting out of your hair now. I want to make it to decent motel for the night. Is there a decent one in town? Maybe with a diner?"

"Yeah. Just follow the main road and you can't miss it."

John stood up and made his way back to the living room. Dean was bouncing the baby. Both boys had a smile on their faces. There was evidence that Dean had changed Sam's diaper in addition to giving him the drink.

"Ready to go, sport?" John ruffled Dean's hair as he took the baby from him and put him back in the car seat. Dean simply slid off the couch and gathered up Sam's things and stuffed them in the little bag: the bottle, a teddy bear, the used diaper. Bobby had to wonder if this guy actually needed anyone other than the five year old to look after the baby. Then he thought better of it. Only another hunter could watch your kids for you while you hunted. 'Civilians' tended to ask awkward questions when you came home after a hunt didn't go quite as planned. One thing John hadn't learned yet, Bobby thought, was how much he would need to protect his kids if he was going to continue with this lifestyle.

John thrust his hand at Bobby. "Again, thanks for your help."
"Any time. Hunters need to stick together." Bobby held the door for John and watched as he placed the car seat carefully in the back seat of the black Impala. Dean waited, immobile behind his father. As soon as John moved, however, Dean scooted into the back seat beside his brother.

It wasn't until they were headed down the drive that Bobby realized he hadn't heard Dean utter a single word in the entire afternoon he'd been in his house.

"I was real relieved when I heard from Jim that your dad had contacted him. Your dad and Jim hit it off, and for once that stubborn Winchester pride didn't get in the way – your dad actually did let Jim help." Bobby got up and got the coffee pot to refill Sam's mug. He poured himself another mug of coffee and this time just added the Jack to the coffee. Bobby sat back down before continuing.

"That meant that while I did see your dad from time to time over the next few years, I didn't actually see you and Dean until your dad ran into some trouble…."

TBC

A/N2: So, not a lot of action in this one, but I promise there be whumpage ahead – just not in every chapter….

So? Let me know what you think!!!! Reviews will make me finish sooner…..