Andy's life has never been easy, but up until three months ago he had always managed to skate by without too much trouble.

He kept his head down, and no one paid much attention.

But ever since moving in at the salvage yard, Andy's life had become nothing but what he would consider a seventeen-year-old gay teen's worst nightmare. His angry and revenge fueled father (the old man's pride be damned) had spread the word around town about Andy's true sexual preferences out of spite, and now the teen was left dealing with the repercussions of such a lifestyle in a South Dakota town.

Andy is sure he's never seen Dean Winchester as mad as he was the first day the rumors hit the salvage yard shop. An old woman, who was nice enough but a little too gossipy for her own good, had brought in her Volkswagen for an oil change, and was idly chatting away with the oldest Winchester when she spoke the inevitable words.

"It is so brave of you to take in that young boy. I'm sure you'll be able to straighten him right up and get him back to the natural order of things."

From what Bobby described later, because he happened to be sitting in the garage with Dean at that moment, the oldest Winchester threw his wrench down so hard that he bent the solid metal before calmly (albeit menacingly) declaring that Andy was natural, normal, and everything else he should be. Dean then concluded his speech by slamming the Volkswagen's hood down and pointing the old woman in the direction of the nearest mechanic, saying her business wasn't necessary at Singer's and to have wonderful afternoon.

But Dean can't be around to stick up for Andy all of the time, and the more hateful people always seem to slither out of the woodwork when the teen is least expecting it.

So on the first sunny day of their summer vacation, Andy, Alabama, and Rayan are lounging in the small park in town, watching a t-ball game and gossiping about the hot janitor that Rayan knocked out a few weeks back. Lucas is hovering some distance away, keeping a watchful eye on both the teens, and the other patrons of the park.

"So Holly said his name is Jack Devlin," Rayan repeats for what Andy feels is the thirty-fourth time. "He just moved here from Texas, but that's all she knows. No –"

"Age, family background, or school details," Alabama interjects, her arm lying across her face in exasperation. "Ray, you've told us all this a hundred times. Why don't you just go back to the hospital and find that sweet piece of country ass that you're crushin' on?"

"I am not crushing!" Rayan denies with a scowl. "I just find him fascinating, that's all."

Andy rolls onto his stomach and gives his best friend an incredulous look. "Are you seriously trying to deny how into this guy you are?" he questions with a raised eyebrow. "We all know you have a thing for the janitor. And who can really blame you, because from the way you've described him, he sounds like the hottest thing to come to Sioux Falls since fire."

Any other time, Andy could have safely made a comment like that and no one would have thought anything of it. He would have just been overlooked and ignored.

But Andy just has really shitty luck, as of late.

"Hey faggot," a rough voice belonging to a recently graduated senior football star cuts through the calm summer air. "We don't want to hear you talking about your newest boyfriend."

The comments are pretty mild compared to what he's been hearing over the last few months, but the word faggot still makes Andy feel small and weak. Especially when they're spewed by the likes of a neanderthal twice Andy's size.

Instead of standing up for himself, Andy just drops his gaze down to the patterned blanket he and his friends are sprawled out on and wills the retired football players to walk away and leave them alone. Naturally, this doesn't happen and instead it's Alabama and Rayan who stand to defend their friend.

"What's the matter, Lewis?" Alabama drawls in her thick southern accent. "You jealous that it's not your pretty face Andy's fawnin' over? Or is it not your face that's lackin' the attention?"

"That can't be it, Alabama," Rayan disagrees with a shake of her head. Then the teen gestures towards Lewis' body, just below his belt. "Andy would never go for something that…well, insignificant."

Lewis puffs up like a blowfish, and if Andy weren't so terrified for not only himself, but his friends as well, he probably would have laughed at the old football star's expression. But as it is, Andy's more concerned about safety over petty amusement.

"You think your tough, bitch?" Lewis growls as he takes a threatening step towards Rayan. "You're nothing but a little – "

A large and solid hand clamping down on his shoulder and tossing him to the ground cuts off Lewis. And looming over him is Lucas, a dangerous glint in the reaper's blue eyes.

"I know you weren't about to say what I was hearing," Lucas growls in a warning tone. "Because I know that your mother had to have raised you better than to disrespect a woman like that."

"Fuck you, man," Lewis grumbles as he tries to pick himself up off the ground. Lucas is having none of that, and throws a booted foot down on the football star's chest, pinning him to the hard earth.

"Apologize first and foremost to these young ladies for being such a dick, and then to my pal Andy over there."

It's not a request, but an order, and Lewis must understand that because he is quick to hiss in pain as the boot crushes further down on his chest before he nods in agreement. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Lucas stares down at Lewis for another second before lifting his foot and bending down to wrap a hand in the football star's shirt and hauling him to a standing position. Before releasing his hold, the reaper bends down close to Lewis's ear and whispers menacingly.

"I'd considering getting your ass out of the closet and into a reality check, Christopher Lewis. You might feel a little better about yourself."

With that, Lucas pushes the young man away, and Lewis is quick to scurry off in the direction of the parking lot, tail between his legs.

"Everybody okay?" Lucas asks as he assesses the teens in his charge. "I got over here as soon as I could, considering I can't just pop around since I'm corporeal now."

"We're fine, Lucas," Rayan responds as she pats the reaper on the arm one in thanks. "He was just another number in the long line of jerks who seem to live in this town."

Rayan is speaking the truth, but Lucas doesn't seem to be paying much attention to her. Instead, he is focused solely on Andy, who can feel the reaper's eyes digging into the back of his skull. But the teen is determined not to acknowledge Lucas, because it's embarrassing enough that his two female friends had to stand up for him, let alone a dead guy.


When Lucas finally realizes that Andy isn't going to answer, he sends a look to Rayan and Alabama, silently asking them to give him a few minutes alone with the teen. With quick nods of agreement, the two girls head over to the nearby concession stand to buy themselves a treat, giving Lucas the time he needs.

"You know, you shouldn't let assholes like that guy get to you," Lucas begins as he plops onto the blanket next to Andy and throws his arms behind his head. "They're not worth the anxiety."

Andy turns his head towards the reaper and sends him a scathing look. "Easy for you to say," he snaps with a shake of his head. "You were probably Mr. Perfect back when you were alive. I'm sure you never had to deal with jerks like Christopher Lewis."

Lucas doesn't say anything immediately, and instead continues to stare up at the blue sky with a look of serious contemplation. Andy shifts restlessly at his side, his eyes piercing directly into the reaper's head.

"Well, Lucas?" Andy finally demands in exasperation.

"I'm going to tell you something that I've never shared with anyone. Not even Ray," Lucas finally says as he turns his stunning blue eyes on Andy. This is the first time Andy's ever really noticed how attractive the reaper really is, not that it matters.

"I grew up on this little farm in Kansas," Lucas begins propping himself up on one of his elbows so he's facing Andy more directly. "It was back in the 1930s and 40s, so something that probably seems like ancient history to you. Anyway, I lived on this farm and I had a younger sister named Molly and a beautiful mother named Elizabeth. And I was the man of the house, because my dad was a waste who ran off just after Molly was born."

Andy's not sure where this story's going, so he just nods his head up and down a few times to ensure that Lucas knows he's paying attention.

"Things back then were a lot different than they are now," the reaper acknowledges with a soft smile. "Kids didn't play videogames or talk on cell phones all day. You did your work around the house, and then if you had time you gathered up and group of friends and went to the local fair or something. And when you were old enough, you found a nice girl to settle down with and marry so that you could have kids and keep the family name running."

Now, Andy's really confused because he has no idea where Lucas expects this to tie in with his life, because marrying a woman is definitely not in the teen's future plans. "I'm not really seeing what this has to do with me, Lucas."

"Just listen, and you will," Lucas reassures the teen. "So I went out and found Sarah, this cute little blonde from across town, and we started to see one another. Her dad thought I was the worst thing that ever happened to his daughter, and he was probably right, but none of it mattered because I got drafted a year after we started going steady. Although looking back on it, I probably would have married her if I hadn't gotten blown up by that land mine."

Lucas trails off, a far away look in his blue eyes, and Andy is so captivated by this secret look into the reaper's personal life that he doesn't even try to prod Lucas into speaking once again. Instead, he's content to wait out the silence.

Eventually, Lucas begins speaking again in his slow and easy tone. "What I'm trying to say Andy, is that back then I didn't really have a choice in who I was going to be with, because if you were into other men you kept your mouth shut and pretended."

Andy feels his mouth fall open at Lucas's round about confession once the teen puts the pieces together. And then he's spluttering like a fool. "You're…I-I mean you…you're gay?"

Lucas barks out a laugh that's so happy and infectious that Andy can't help but join in, even in his shocked state. "Surprised, right? Keeping stuff like that to yourself is a lot easier when you've had as much practice as I have, Andy." Lucas grins and reaches over to place a comforting hand on Andy's shoulder. "I told you all this because I want you to realize what an amazing thing you have here, Andy. You've got a family full of people who love you for exactly the guy that you are. You've got to best friend's who were willing to insult a guy's manhood to protect you. And you've got an entire life ahead of you to meet the guy that's going to be perfect and everything that you deserve. Remember that,"

"I…okay," Andy breathes out as he stares at the reaper. "I'll remember."

And as the teen watches Lucas stand and retreat back to his lookout position by a cluster of pine trees, throwing a wink and sly smile over his shoulder, Andy knows that he's fucked.

Because he's pretty sure he just feel for the hundred-year-old, newly ousted reaper.