Author Note: Um, sorry? I'm making this thing up as I go. So there's going to be lots and lots of ret-cons. Dean is my favorite, by the way, I very much enjoy exploring Dean/Alec in any of my fics.

Hidden Wings

Mikkal

Chapter Three

Sam

When this nightmare he called life began Sam wasn't expecting it to turn out like this. He was only six months old when his mother was murdered by Azazel, trussed up on the ceiling like the mural in the Sistine Chapel and burned like the unfortunate women during the Salem Witch Trials.

Except they were burned by delusional humans. Sam Winchester's mother was burned by a yellow-eyed demon of hell.

Now, though, after about 25 years of living on the wrong side of the law he was standing in the middle of a federal building dedicated to arresting and/or capturing criminals involved in anyway with the Navy and Marines as well as being a federal agent himself attached to a organization for investigating the supernatural.

His mother was dead, his girlfriend was dead, his father was dead, his chance at a law degree was put on hold (for now) the government believed him, and he had an older brother.

That was the strangest part. Dean.

He'd met Dean before Stanford, way back when Sam and his dad were on friendlier terms (they were never best-buds, but they didn't hate each other). Dean was strange; he was charming and strong, quirky in an out-of-the-modern-loop sort of way. He understood the complexities of technology and the classics, but the simple stuff baffled him.

And he was one hell of a hunter, which led to Sam meeting him exactly three times (and growing close to him during that time) before Sam and his father had a falling out and Sam ran away to college.

Dean called, surprisingly enough, during his years. Called him and stopped by every now and then just to have dinner or crash at Sam's place for a night or two.

Some how Sam found himself with an older brother—last name and everything, not that Sam minded—and a father, then John died and it was just an older brother.

(He didn't question why Dean went from barely visiting to be a constant; Sam could tell that wasn't something he wanted to talk about. Hell, even all the emotion-influencing and mind-control/reading creatures couldn't get it out of him)

Sam spoke to Missouri about six months ago (back when Dean was free from his Deal and Victor managed to convince the government to give the supernatural a shot). She said the strangest thing, but it made some sense.

"Boy, it ain't everyday I see a connection like this. You and Dean, you two are meant to be together in every formation of the universe."

It made Sam smile. Dean got on his nerves and was obnoxious half the time, but he could never remember what his life was without him.

His phone rang and he turned away from hovering over McGee's shoulder to answer it. "Dean, shouldn't you be asleep?"

His brother sighed. "Seriously? Not even a hello? It's nice to talk to you too, Sammy. I don't need you acting all snippy. It's not like I haven't had angels screaming in my ear since last night or anything."

Sam winched. "Sorry," he said, his voice softening. "They still there?"

Dean grunted. "Hell yeah. I don't think transgenics are the only para human things disappearing. Apparently Alphas are on the run and some of the lower and fallen angels are having run-ins. They're completely gone from the network."

"Castiel?"

"He's still there," Dean said dismissively. "Fact, he's standing in the kitchen looking awkward as hell. I don't know if I should be annoyed or find it hilarious."

"Both?" Sam offered, biting back a laugh. "You should get some sleep. Have Cas to do some angel mojo and see if that works."

There was a noise that sounded like Dean was shaking his head. "Tried," he said, sounding tired. "Didn't work. I'm just gonna keep calling around. See if Bobby Vic's got anything. Ellen might have something. I know Ash has been looking since we called him last week."

Sam grinned. "Call me if you have anything," he said.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered back then hung up without even saying good-bye.

He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and looked up to see Todd and McGee staring at him.

"Is Dean okay?" Todd asked, trying to look like she really didn't care, but ultimately failing as her concern as a decent human being shined through.

Sam waved away her concerns. "Yeah, he's good. Just gets migraines every now and then." Not a total lie. "He'll bounce back. He always does." He looked around. "Now where's Dinozzo? And Storme? I want to know more about what they know. There might be some supernatural shenanigans going on in conjunction with the transgenic situation."

DiNozzo chose that time to walk in, bag thrown over his shoulder. "Your brother skipped out on breakfast," he accused, pointing a finger at Sam. "With a stupid excuse of headaches. Dean doesn't getheadaches."

Sam scowled at him. "Well know he does," he snapped back. "Has been for six months. We were in a supernatural bind and that resulted in Dean getting headaches." Well, that was one way of putting it.

And severely understating "supernatural bind."

DiNozzo eyed him for a little longer before sitting down. "Susie is grabbing you all little snacks. It's a bribe," he whispered. "She's a civilian and she knows that, so she's trying to bribe you with delicious pastries from Cam's."

Okay, Sam had to laugh.

"You realize she had clearance, right?" McGee asked. "Limited clearance, but clearance. Apparently Miss. Storme is a private investigator."

"What?" DiNozzo yelped.

Sam kept his eyes on DiNozzo even as he spotted Storme coming up behind the Italian. Todd was a little better at hiding her amusement, but McGee almost gave it away by being so nervous.

"That's right, Tony," Storme whispered in DiNozzo's ear.

The resulting shriek hurt his ears, making him wince. Storme burst out laughing, doubling over. Todd joined her while McGee looked as if he couldn't decided if he should risk his life or not.

"I have all the clearance I need," Storme said, winking conspiratorially. She jiggled the pastry back with Cam's signature scrawled across it. "I'm just a nice person. Remember that," she said threatening, directed towards McGee.

The computer tech gulped and nodded silently, his fingers frozen. Sam nudged him.

"I need that info, McGee," he said.

He jumped and started typing again. "I don't understand why you need me for this. Google could give you just as accurate results."

"Accurate," Sam said. "But not as detailed." He was having McGee look for demon signs, but now he was beginning to think he should look for signs of angels falling and such. He still wasn't sure what the signs of angels were, but he could make a guess.

DiNozzo and Storme were huddle close together, discussing something that involved glancing at Sam a lot so he could only assume it was about Dean.

Sam pressed his lips together. He wondered vaguely if they knew more about Dean than they were letting on—which was scary considering how much they were letting on already.