Disclaimer: I don't own supernatural or its plots, themes or characters.

October 15, 2005

Adam was beginning to doubt if he'd get any sleep at all that night. His bruised ribs hurt like a bitch and it didn't help that he had to share a bed with his brother since dad was staying with them. Dean tended to take up way more space than he actually needed and Adam had to continuously keep kicking off his limbs just to keep the small corner of the bed he miraculously still had.

Adam's eyes snapped open when he heard movement across the room. Shifting his eyes, he tried to make out who or what was there. The darkness was thick; the only light was coming from a bluish tinted street lamp that had worked its way through the thin fabric of the motel's cheap curtains, casting an eerie glow on anything it touched. But Adam was relieved to only find the familiar form of his father, hunched over his duffle. Adam's stomach dropped when he realized he was packing.

"Dad?" Adam asked wearily, sitting up, careful not to disturb his brother.

John's head shot up at his son's quiet voice.

"What are you doing?" Adam asked as his eyes trailed over his father's stacks of clothes and piles of research.

John paused slightly before turning back to his packing.

"Go back to sleep, Adam."

Adam frowned at his father.

Their last hunt had been unusual to say the least. It wasn't often that you came across demonic possession. Demons were nasty sons of a bitches and Adam could certainly attest to that by simply flashing anyone his rather artfully bruised torso. Lucky they were so rare.

However, something about this hunt seemed to have caught their dad's eye because he'd been buried in research since it had ended nearly five days ago.

Adam relinquished his blankets to his brother (who gave an unconsciously happy grunt at his supposed victory) and walked quietly towards where his dad was working and picked up a paper off the top of the closest stack. He had time to read something about a cattle mutilation before the news article was snatched from his hands, making him flinch back, surprised.

Chancing a glance at his father, Adam watched as the man's expression softened slightly as he took in his son's apprehensive stance. John pulled his gaze from Adam and looked down at the article in his hands, seeming to deflate as he breathed a tired sigh.

Adam waited patiently for his father to speak first, as he watched him turn his thoughts over.

"Something's changed out there. Things are happening that haven't happened in twenty years." John muttered vaguely and rather absently, causing Adam's brow to furrow.

"I'm heading to Nevada to check out a lead." John told his son, a little less morbidly as he dropped the article back on its stack and turned back to his packing.

Adam bit the inside of his cheek; he didn't want his dad to leave yet. The most time he ever got to spend with him was during the summer when he and Dean could do whatever for two months without Adam's schooling getting in the way. Sure, Dean was always there but he still missed not having his dad around.

"Can I come?" Adam asked hesitantly.

John looked up from his packing again to give his son a stern look.

"It's dangerous, Adam." He told him firmly.

Adam shrugged, pulling at a loose string in his t-shirt, looking worried about getting shot down.

"I don't care. I do dangerous," he mumbled to the floor.

John suppressed an aggravated groan. He could understand why the kid would want to spend some time with him; he was barely ever around. But this was just about the worst time the kid could have picked for a bonding experience. However, judging by how embarrassed the kid was acting now, just asking him, it was unlikely he'd ever ask again if he said no.

"What about school?" He asked his youngest son wearily.

Adam head snapped up, looking hopeful.

"It's just the beginning of the year; we're not doing a whole lot yet and I can catch up on what I miss, I always do."

John clenched his jaw as he thought over his options. There was no doubt that his youngest was a capable hunter, and it was somewhat mind boggling that he was only fifteen; a newly turned fifteen-year-old at that. He might even have been able to give Dean a run for his money when he was that age: the person the kid owed his skills as a hunter to.

There was no doubt that Dean had done a good job with the kid. And that was just what was pulling at his conscience: Dean had done a good job with him. Of course, he regretted not being able to spend more time with Adam but with their job, it wasn't like he could come visit every weekend and call to say goodnight everyday. Maybe a little time together wouldn't hurt.

"Your brother is going to kill me." John told his son, shaking his head and watching as his Adam's face split into a grin.

"That's a yes?" Adam asked, trying to keep his voice down as not to wake Dean because he knew if he did, he'd never get out of there. His brother didn't seem to trust him with anyone but himself and often avoided needing to leave him in the hands of even their father.

John nodded, giving a small, tired smile.

"Get packed. I'll leave Dean a note."

Adam nodded back, smile splitting his face in two, before sprinting across the room to collect his things before John could change his mind.

Sighing, still unsure about his decision, John made his way over to the motel's small eating table and pulled a pen and paper towards him to scrawl a note.

Dean-

I've got Adam. I'll have him back in a week, don't worry.

John figured he could drive them to Nevada, do all the research and interviewing he needed in a couple days, get Adam back to Dean and then go do any field work that needed to be done. That way everyone would be happy.

Placing the simple note on Dean's beside, John turned back to his packing for the third time. He was actually surprised when Adam was done and ready to go before he was and rolled his eyes as his youngest enthusiastically bounded out the door as they headed to the truck.

Just as he was about to close the door, something made him pause to stare at his oldest for an extra moment, who slept blissfully unaware as his father swept his little brother into the night. In that moment, John felt like the worst parent in the world.

A/N: A short but important chapter, tell me what you think =) Despite my excess amount of building to where this story really begins, (however, it was kind of necessary to fill in some of the time where Adam was growing up with Dean, otherwise I'm sure there would be some curiosities) there actually is a real plot to this and we're getting to it lol.