OK, so here is another chapter. Again I apologize for another late update, but to make it up another longer chapter. I was actually surprised at that, I didn't expect this chapter to be this long but I just kept adding to it. And since I always use ghosts and demons as the monsters since they are the easiest to write about, I went with something different. I also may have taken a few liberties with the injuries and New York (I've never been there) and I apologize for that, but still onto the story.

Disclaimer- As I've mentioned before, Supernatural and NCIS do not belong, sadly that has not changed since the last chapter.

Chapter 9- Family Portrait

New York, New York, USA- 30th March 1993

New York City. Tony was only vaguely familiar with it, since had spent the first 6 years of his life on Long Island. He had gone into the City many times with his parents, before he met the Winchesters but that was nearly 8 years ago. However he had never gone there with the Winchesters, John didn't mind cities but he hated New York, so unless it was absolutely dire that he went he avoided it like the plague. The boys also suspected it might be because he didn't want anyone to recognize Tony.

So whenever John went, the boys would usually stay with Bobby or Pastor Jim. This time however John desperately needed help in getting rid of a vampire nest. At 14, Tony and Dean were finally allowed to tag along on their first vampire hunt. Sam wanted to go as well but John said he was still too young, so for now he was stuck on research, not that he minded much. Even though he had been hunting with them for over a year now, he was still only familiar with ghosts and demons which he had found out were the most regular occurrences on hunts. Vampires were a rarity.

Sam also wanted to go sightseeing in New York. So John had relented and while he came up with a plan on the vampires and destroying the nest, he allowed the kids a day of freedom. As John tried to find a way to get dead man's blood, Sam insisted on going to the top of the Empire State Building.

"Jeez Sammy, what is with you and going right to the top?" Dean grumbled as the elevator rode swiftly to the tower. Dean didn't want to let on but he felt a little uneasy about looking over NYC so high up.

"You all right Dean?" Tony asked, smirking at his younger brother.

"I'm fine," Dean insisted, glaring at Tony. Thankfully Sam was too busy bouncing on his feet to notice his brothers. Tony knew Dean was afraid of flying and suspected that included very high buildings, like the Empire State.

"So where are we going after Sammy?" Tony asked.

"Central Park, you ever been there T?" Sam asked, looking earnestly at his oldest brother.

Tony nodded before smiling thoughtfully. "Yeah, I went there. For my fifth birthday, one of the few times I spent the whole day with both my parents. We went to the Zoo, had a picnic and just spent the whole day relaxing in the sun. My mother was happy, my father didn't mention the office once. Then for dinner we went to the Four Seasons."

"Oh can we go there?" Sam asked excitedly.

"Ha!" Dean barked out. "We should be so lucky, Sammy."

"Why?"

"Sammy, the Four Seasons is a very fancy, very expensive hotel with an equally expensive restaurant. One dinner there would probably cost about six months of motels and meals for us." Tony explained with a smile. "Don't worry I know of some cheaper places to eat that even Dad will enjoy."

The boys smiled at each other as they finally reached the top, and stumbled out of the elevator.

"Well here it is Sammy, New York City."

"Wow!" Sam said as they stepped out onto the Observatory Deck. While Dean stayed close to the door and took cursory glances to admire the view, Tony and Sam went as close to the edge as they were allowed with Tony pointing to all the boroughs and other landmarks.

"So can we go back onto the Ground Floor now?" Dean asked anxiously.

"Just one quick picture," Sam pleaded pulling out his cheap but loyal camera.

"Fine, go ahead." Dean relented.

"No you have to be in it as well, Dean." Tony ordered.

"Yeah, family photo of the Winchester kids." Sam cheered.

"Someone has to take the photo."

Tony smiled and then turned to the elderly woman next to them. "Excuse me Ma'am, would you please take a picture of me and my brothers, we'd really love one of all three of us."

"Of course I will, oh aren't you handsome boys. Bet your parents are always running round after you three." She commented with a smile before taking Sam's camera.

"Thank you, so much." Tony said flashing his famous grin, which he knew could bring nearly everyone to their knees.

"OK, go stand at the edge so I can get the city in behind you."

"Great idea." Sam said, pulling on the reluctant Dean's arm. Tony grabbed Dean's other arm.

"Not too close, don't want to put our backs to the edge and walk off." Dean said quietly.

"You're fine, we both have you." Tony whispered with a confident smile.

"OK boys, give me a big heartbreaking smile each." The woman called over to them. The brothers did as they were told as the woman complied with their wish. "Oh that was wonderful, hope you get some more photos of the city. Have fun boys and stay safe."

"Thanks," Dean said as he scrambled for the door.

"Thank you Ma'am," Tony said following after his brother.

"Thanks." Sam said, taking his camera back and following the older two.

SNSNSNSNSN

By the time the boys returned to their cheap and moderately clean hotel right in the heart of the city, they had been to Central Park, Times Square and then spent the afternoon in Coney Island.

"That was so much fun," Sam cried entering the room and regaling John with their tales of New York.

"Funny how you're scared of flying and going to the top of the Empire State Building yet you were completely fine on the roller coaster." Tony whispered to Dean smirking.

"Yeah well roller coasters go up and down so there...was no problem." Dean stumbled, not letting on to the fact that he had been scared of the violent ride.

"Then why did you look a little green afterwards?" Tony asked.

"I said I was fine not over the moon about them." Dean protested.

"You two enjoy your day in the city?" John asked, approaching the older boys.

"Yeah, good times." Dean grumbled heading for the bathroom.

"He's just not feeling well." Tony grinned. "But I had a good time, some things were familiar. Good to see the city again."

"I'm glad you're happy to be back home." John said.

"Hey the Impala's my home now, but I don't mind New York." Tony smiled. "But you don't have to worry just yet, I'm not leaving you."

"So you ready for tonight?" John asked seriously.

"I've been ready for three weeks now. You get the-" Tony glanced over at Sam and lowered his voice. "You get what you needed?"

"Yeah, couple of moments I nearly got caught but I got it."

Tony nodded before settling onto the bed to rest before the big night ahead of them. Dean finished cleaning up and also got some much needed sleep.

SNSNSNSNSN

Tony woke up to one his favourite dinners. "Hey who got Pizza without asking me?"

"Don't worry Sleeping Beauty, we saved yours. Pepperoni, Sausage and Extra Cheese." Dean said, handing his older brother his dinner.

"Cheers Dean-O." Tony said gratefully, quickly polishing off his half pie. "Aah, I admit that is one thing I have missed about New York, you can't beat their pizza."

"What about that one in Chicago we had?" Sam asked, still eating his slice.

"Yeah it was good, second best." Tony argued, adamant he would not be beaten on this point.

"Whatever T," Dean said as he began cleaning up.

In no time, Tony and Dean were all washed up, dressed and packing the Impala up for the hunt, while Sam was watching TV from his bed but listening intently to the instructions John was giving him.

"Remember, if Bobby or Pastor Jim call, they will call once with two rings then call back in one minute so you know it's them. Don't open the door to anyone and if anyone or anything comes in here what do you do?"

"Shoot first, ask questions later." Sam recited, having heard this numerous times now. It wasn't often Sam was left alone in the motel room especially after the Shtriga incident that the whole family would like to just forget about and Sam didn't even remember. However since this was a special hunt, Sam would be by himself probably until morning. John knew he could trust the boy to look after himself and behave, he was more worried about something coming after him.

"What about anything that could get inside another way?" Sam asked quietly.

"What do you mean Sam?" John asked frowning.

"Well you always said it wasn't real, but now that I know monsters do exist, what if there is one, you know, in there..." Sam said pointing to the hotel closet on the far side of the room.

"You think there might be a monster in the closet?"

Sam nodded, not understanding why John didn't believe him. The man hunted monsters after all.

"Then just use this." John said, handing Sam a .45 piece.

"Se-seriously Dad?"

"Works a treat." John said, smiling a little. "You'll be fine Sam. Be good, and remember to actually sleep. I love you, kid."

"Love you too, Dad. Good luck and watch out for T and D."

John smiled as he left the room, Sam waving him goodbye.

"You two ready for this?" John asked his older sons who were waiting patiently in the car for him. That should have told him something, the only times those two were patient was when they were nervous.

"Yep, just fine." Tony said, his voice wavering.

"Let's go Dad." Dean said, his own voice betraying his confidence.

"OK then." John put the car in drive and headed for Central Park, thankful that at 11:00 at night the traffic wasn't too heavy. This way they could get there in no time and they wouldn't be easily seen. But then a thought struck him, how busy was the park gonna be at this time of night? The vampires obviously chose it for a reason, maybe because it was easy hunting ground for them.

But John didn't have to worry too much, when they parked the Impala in a secluded spot in Central Park close to the nest, there wasn't anyone else about.

"OK boys, it's just a couple of minutes down that path. Just remember what I've taught you and look sharp." John instructed before leading the boys down a darkened pathway. As they wandered through the park, Tony couldn't help but recall all the times he'd heard in his city visits how no one should be walking through the Park at night by themselves. Now he could see why. Hell, he was a seasoned hunter with his father and brother and yet he was still a little scared of the pitch black forest. This wasn't any part of the Park he had been to before, that was for sure.

Bringing up the rear, Dean was continuously looking over his shoulder convinced he had heard something behind them. He didn't know why he was nervous as well, but he was. And this wasn't even the boys first hunt in the woods, the year before they had been with John on a Wendigo hunt in the Chippewa National Forest over in Minnesota, that had been terrorizing as well.

Eventually they made it to an abandoned tomb that John had found the vampires were using as their home. "OK you boys ready?" John asked his sons. Tony and Dean nodded and proceeded to go ahead with their plan.

Tony pushed the wooden door open and rushed in with Dean following behind him. "See I told you, this is the perfect place." Tony cried loudly, hoping to attract the attention of the vampires as part of the Winchester plan.

"I don't know Bobby," Dean said, using a code name. "What if someone finds us here?"

"They won't Jimmy, who's gonna look out here? You saw the path, no one has walked along that thing in years." Tony replied, getting into the part. Dean wasn't surprised with all the movies Tony constantly watched. He was definitely the family's actor.

"Maybe this wasn't a great idea. Running away, I mean?"

"Oh fine then. You wanna go home, go ahead. Run back to your fucked up family, I'm getting out the city first thing in the morning."

"You sure about that boy?" Another voice asked from the shadows.

"What the- Who's there?" Tony asked, shining the flashlight around the cement room.

"Dammit Bobby! There's someone here, the police will find us for sure."

"Oh I wouldn't count on that fellas." And just then Tony's flashlight fell onto the voice, a 30-something man with a leather jacket. 'Typical,' Tony thought. 'What is it with vampires and leather, I swear they're worse than hunters.'

"Who are you?" Dean asked, as the vampire stepped closer to them.

"Someone who was here first, and since you boys came into our home...I think we should get a little something from you." And then suddenly the boys found themselves surrounded by five other vampires all looking at them hungrily.

"You stay away from us. We'll leave, you can have this place. Alright? Come on Jimmy." Tony said, tugging Dean away. But the vampires closed ranks and kept the boys in the middle of the circle.

"Oh no, sweetie," said one of the female creatures, stroking Tony's face. "You're not going anywhere."

"I have a gun, you do anything. I will shoot." Dean cried out, pointing it at the leader.

"Hah, I'll tell you a secret boy. That won't do anything to me."

Dean leveled his eyes and fired right into the vampire's heart, but as he predicated the monster merely flinched before standing up straighter. "I told you."

"Just wait, it takes about a minute for dead man's blood to work."

And despite the life threatening situation they were in, Tony suddenly wished he had a camera so he could take a picture of the moment all the smirks dropped of the vampires faces.

But his thoughts were broken as the vampires all bared the teeth and came even closer, Tony and Dean both hit the ground as John stood behind two vampires and sliced their heads off in one clean blow. Three down, three to go. One for each hunter.

Tony was dragged across the room by the female vampire and yet he managed to pull his own gun out, however the monster had seen this and deftly kicked out of Tony's hands. "Now, now that isn't very nice." She sneered down at him. As she leaned in closer, Tony pulled out a syringe with Dead Man's blood and stabbed it right into her neck. While she fell to the floor in pain, Tony scrambled away and grabbed his gun before popping a shot right between her eyes.

Over on the other side of the tomb, he could see John grappling with another vampire but knew he could handle himself. Dean on the other hand seemed to be in the same situation as him, his gun out of his hands. Just as a male vampire descended upon his brother Tony was impressed to see Dean pull out his lighter and a can of lighter fluid before spraying the vampire with the flames. True it wouldn't kill him or be too painful but it would certainly distract him.

And that was all it took for Tony to sneak up behind the screaming, burning vampire and take a swing at his neck with the axe. Of course being only 14, Tony didn't have enough strength to actually take the vampire's head off, but good enough to stop the vampire, who now lay motionless on the floor.

"Dude that was awesome!" Tony said, giving Dean a hand to pull him up. He noticed John had also defeated his monster and was making quick work of decapitating all the vampires to make sure they were dead. Removing the heads was the only sure way to kill a vampire, Tony knew.

"Thanks bro, you too. Though it seems like you're not lifting enough weights." Dean teased, looking at the creature on the ground whose head was still partially attached.

"I've got it boys, you go gather the weapons and wait outside for me." John instructed.

"Sure dad, you OK?"

"Yep, couple of scratches but nothing a little iodine won't take care of. You boys get hurt?"

"Nope, nothing major." Tony replied.

"I think I'm gonna have a shiner on my eye in the morning. Damn bullies." Dean said, already coming up with an alibi for any nosey strangers.

SNSNSNSNSN

A few hours alter, the Winchester family had gotten all the rest they needed and were cleaned up. After the adrenaline had worn off though, John noticed he had a little trouble breathing, and after Sam checked through the family's medical book it was confirmed John had a cracked rib.

"Dammit, does that mean I'm going to hospital Sammy?" John asked, lying dow gently on the bed.

"Nope, I think you have a simple, clean break. So you just have to rest, not move around too much and take some painkillers." Sam reported.

"Fine, sounds good." John said, breathing shallow. Damn, his chest did hurt something awful. "Could you boys run to the store for me then and on the way back tell the manager I'll need to book the room for another week."

"Really? A whole week."

"Yes," John said rolling his eyes. "You boys get another week to do all the touristy crap, and anything else you like in New York City. Make the most of it, I won't be coming back for a long time."

The boys laughed and happily left the room, letting their father get some rest.

SNSNSNSNSN

A week later, the Winchester family had packed up and while John wasn't anywhere near ready to be hunting again, he wanted to leave the city. The plan was to leave at night so Tony could drive them out, since John wasn't in any shape to drive. Tony and Dean would swap driving until they reach Bobby's where they could stay for a few more weeks while John healed properly.

Being a friend to many hunters, Bobby was used to seeing broken and fractured bones, and had cursed at the elder Winchester until John promised he would get to South Dakota as soon as he could.

So while John returned the motel key to the front desk, the boys waited in the car, all cramped together in the front bench, leaving the backseat for John to stretch out on, as much as could anyway.

"It's weird." Sam stated suddenly.

"What is Sammy? You're personality, no surprise there but it's good you can finally admit it." Dean teased.

"Funny Dean," Sam replied dryly, while Tony smirked at them both. "I mean, you have all these people here just living their lives in this city, just like in the small towns we go to. Everywhere we go, it's all the same. Anyone who passes us on the street, probably thinks we live in one of these apartments here and live just like they do."

Tony swallowed hard and looked at Dean. This was another realization they had both had a few years before. Finally understanding how different the Winchester family was. "Sammy, we are a family but yes we are different. I bet you though there are families just like us. You've seen other kids at the motels, other kids at schools who just leave one day and move away."

"Yeah but those kids are living there because their parents lost their jobs, or are on the run from abusive parents and there are families do just move around a lot but they always live in houses. Like that kid at my last school, his father was in the army like Dad used to be. So his family was always moving someplace new after a year or so." Sam sighed heavily. "I don't think there's any other families chasing a demon for revenge."

"Probably not." Tony replied quietly. "Sam, it doesn't matter how we live. We're eating, laughing, breathing just like everyone else does. We have each other, so we are a family."

John slowly came out of the hotel reception and climbed into the car.

"OK, all ready?" He asked, as he got mildly comfortable

"Yep, let's hit the road." Sam cried.

"On to Sioux Falls, home of one Mr Robert Singer." Tony cheered.

John smiled to himself as the family quickly left the car park, eager to put New York City in the Impala's rearview mirror.

Sam smiled as he looked back at his Dad in the backseat of the Impala. The road passing him by out the window, probably the most common view of his childhood, this time though his eyes were staring at the photo of the three of them standing before New York City. Three boys with dark hair, bright eyes and matching grins, yeah strange as they were, they were definitely a family. The Winchester boys.