Singer Salvage

Bobby was waiting for them on the porch when they arrived. Rumsfeld heeled at his side, whining under his breath because he knew his buddies Sam and Dean were here. Rumsfeld could smell John and let out a growl. A stern look from his master determined what Rumsfeld did next which was nothing. John's fine ass was safe for another day.

Sam tumbled out of the backseat to the gravel trying to get to his uncle but especially Rumsfeld, as fast as possible. Bobby gave the signal and the big old Rottweiler loped straight for the little boy. Sam hugged him around the neck tight, burying his face in the dog's smelly fur. The dog was happy to be off chain and the boy just as happy to be free of life on the road.

When Dean went to open his door John stopped him. The alpha's voice was deeper than usual and Dean hated that tone because it meant there was either a lecture or worse coming.

"It's done now Dean, you presented and there is no going back."

"Yes Sir."

"I bet omegas run in some family trees and I think you got it from the Campbell side because the Winchesters only had a few that I know of. There just aren't many of your kind compared to regular people."

Dean didn't know what to say after the way they left things before John took off the last time. The whole trip had been hunting talk or listening to music. Now here the vulnerable teenager was, stuck in a small space with his dad who basically told Dean he wasn't a regular person.

There were so many things going through his hormone soaked brain that he needed answers to and desperately wanted to ask his father. Dean blurted out the most important one and be damned of the fallout.

"Can I go hunting with you?"

"Not now."

"When?"

"I'm not sure."

"I'm the same person I was before, Dad. I'm good at what I do, you know that. Hunting is my life!"

"I can't have you going off the rails during a hunt because you're all emotional or you smell like bait to a vamp or something worse."

"There are women hunters so why couldn't an omega hunt?"

John cut the conversation short because honestly he didn't have an answer to that very reasonable question and Dean was getting lippy, "Get your gear, your brother is waiting."

As Dean jogged to the house John shouted his name. Dean turned and his dad waved to him. He waved back; glad he hadn't been completely dismissed without some sort of goodbye.

…..

Their room was just as they had left it. The same big cast iron bed under the dormer covered in a faded, handmade quilt, the dusty windows that faced the expansive salvage yard and the driveway, two mismatched nightstands for each boy and a long, heavy old dresser with the big mirror and silver pitted on the backside.

It was heaven.

They had stewed chicken and baked potatoes with real butter because Bobby said margarine was the devil's spread. He let Dean have coffee and Sam had milk.

The three fell right into their old rhythm. Bobby didn't bring up Dean being an omega because there would be plenty of time to address it later. Right now he just wanted the boys to settle in and relax. Bobby wasn't comfortable discussing puberty with any kid but if Dean wanted to talk he'd be sure to listen.

There would be training and hunting of course and Bobby planned on teaching them the ways of the occult through books and hands on experience as another weapon in their arsenal. John could be heavy handed and ignore the nuances of hunting and Bobby planned on changing that.

That first night over dessert of apple cobbler, Bobby asked them something he already knew the answer to.

"I've got another bedroom one of you can sleep in. Its small and you'd need to clean the junk out but it's there if you need some privacy."

They both stared at the elder alpha as if he'd spoken in a foreign language then told him "no" in unison.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Well it's there if you need it."

…..

Sam bounced a few times on their bed and then landed on his butt, giggling like crazy. Bobby's place was the only real home he'd ever known, other than that it was a life of constant travel and change. Sam hoped they got to stay with Bobby for a long time but he didn't get his hopes up. He unpacked their meager belongings and put a pistol and knife in their respective nightstands.

He fell asleep on the window seat while listening to the sounds of night creatures but not the scary kind. There was an owl letting himself known plus a chorus of crickets, not to mention the peepers calling for mates from the ditch water.

Later that night when Dean came back from his time alone in the darkness, he found Sam curled up on the window seat looking all peaceful and sweet. The love that swelled up in Dean's chest making it tough to breathe but Sam had that effect on him. The emotions ran deep when it came to his baby brother.

Here in this safe haven it was easier to let his feelings out and he'd just spent an hour in the junk yard letting every damn one of them fly. Dean was exhausted but it was a good kind of tired. They could be happy here.

….

Dean found Bobby at his desk mapping out something by the light of an old banker's lamp. He rapped on the open door and Bobby waved him in.

"What can I do yah for, Dean?"

"Tomorrow can we go to the store? I need stuff."

"What sorta stuff."

"Private stuff."

"Ah, gottcha. No need to say another word."

Dean turned to leave, his head hung in some sort of personal shame for even asking.

Bobby called out to him.

"Dean, don't ever be embarrassed to ask me for something. I'll always make sure you get it and Dean…"

"Yeah?"

"Hold your head up high, there ain't nothing or nobody that should make you feel ashamed of who you are."

Dean straightened his shoulders and held his head up, "Thanks Bobby."

"Alright, go to bed. That's enough Mister Rogers moments for tonight."

…..

True to his word, Bobby made sure Dean got what he needed the very next day. The elder hunter had given John a shakedown for some cash during his last visit. A couple hundred bucks wouldn't last forever but like most seasoned hunters, there were ways of getting money when you needed it.

Bobby trained the boys and they got plenty of constructive criticism but the boys also heard "good job" more often than not. When something was done right the rewards came in the form of their favorite foods or a trip to the thrift store.

Bobby expected Sam and Dean to pull their own weight while they were there. Dean was more than happy to help because it gave him the opportunity to poke around the junked cars and other treasures.

Bobby was sure to treat Sam as an important member of their little hunting pack which Sam appreciated. It built his confidence up and the shy boy began to come out of his shell. On soft jobs like a haunting it was Sam right there digging the grave and lighting the bones or blowing away a spirit with a rock salt round.

Over the weeks with Bobby, the boys flourished. Both had a growth spurt and Dean was now the tallest one in the house. He packed muscle onto his athletic frame and his face had lost the softness of childhood but retained all the beauty.

Bobby certainly wasn't blind, Dean was a real looker. This meant when school rolled around the kid was in for a lot of attention both good and bad. He knew Dean could handle himself in almost situation but that didn't stop Bobby from worrying.

The hunter had an ace up his sleeve however. A person he hoped could help Dean build his confidence in ways most people couldn't.

…

Sam finished the last of his pancakes and milk and Dean polished of the rest of the bacon and his third egg.

They were going on a hunting trip and Dean was already feeling pretty jazzed to get out there. The coffee hit him and he took the stairs two at a time to get to their bathroom. Dean sat to pee; something he hated but the new omega still hadn't mastered the feeling of where urine was going to come out of. The last time he peed standing up it came from the other place and he made a mess.

This time he guessed right, "Hey, I'm getting better at this…"

…

Bobby explained to the boys that a fellow hunter was coming with them and would be there soon. His name was Jamie and Bobby had known him a few years now.

The brothers asked a million questions about stranger and Bobby obliged. Jamie was twenty six, had been hunting since the age of fourteen and specialized in knives though he was adept at using just about any weapon. To round it all out, the young man had a broad knowledge of spells and lore.

"He's also a little strange but who the hell isn't. I think you boys will like him. Today, Dean you ride with Jamie and Sam rides with me."

Bobby watched as both Sam and Dean straightened up and looked at one another.

"Now before you get your panties in a bunch let me explain. First off, it won't kill you to go in different vehicles and second, Dean I think you might learn a thing or two from Jamie. He brings a lot to the table."

Sam felt a pang of jealousy both over his brother driving with the new guy and feeling left out. Under the table Dean gave Sam's hand a quick squeeze and his little brother understood everything with just a touch.

"It's ok, I love you Sammy boy…this is no big deal…I got you…"

….

The unmistakable rumble of a muscle car had Sam and Dean running for the porch. A vintage black cherry El Camino pulled up the drive way and parked right in front of the house. The heavy door swung open and this mystery hunter extricated himself from the vehicle.

The tall man took off his aviators revealing big blue eyes and when he smiled at the boys and Bobby his face lit up making his handsome features even more pleasing. He gathered up his long, curly brown hair into a ponytail and secured it with a black hair tie.

Jamie took a tray of coffees from the vehicle and went up the steps to greet them.

"Brought everyone a caramel cream coffee," he handed one to each of them, even Sam. "Trust me, you're gonna love it."

Bobby rolled his eyes, "J, you know I take my coffee black."

"Ah well, live a little Bobby dear."

Dean snickered under his breath. It was kinda funny watching his uncle turn red as a beet.

Sam couldn't take his eyes off Jamie's big silver rings on each hand. They all seemed to have some sort of symbol expertly crafted into the metal.

The hunter caught him staring, "Do you like 'em? I've done a whole lot of beat downs with these things, human and monster." He winked at the boys, "sometimes they're one and the same."

….

Except for the moonlight coming through the dirty windows the room was dark and John liked it that way. A heavy mix of mouthwatering secretions and exotic spiced oils had him trailing his nose through the air like an animal.

A low, silky voice called out to him, "You are a bad, bad man John Winchester."

TBC