Dean stared at his face in the mirror covered in makeup, he called it war paint and every time he stepped out on stage it was like going into battle. The men were the enemy and each night Dean won his battle by treating them all like garbage and leaving their wallets empty. He was a noncompliant and downright dangerous omega and the customers ate it all up.

Brandon slid a jar of cold cream over to Dean, "Here babe, get that crap off your pretty face."

Dean pulled him in for a kiss and someone yelled, "get a room".

They'd been fucking almost since the beginning and Dean had a thing for the former farm boy from Nebraska. Even though Brandon had danced for over a year he still had an air of innocence and really wasn't worldly at all, at least compared to Dean. The omega escaped an arranged marriage two days before the nuptials. That took real balls and Dean admired him for it.

Brandon's eyes were still closed when Dean broke the kiss. "Oh Dean, you should charge a hundred a kiss because your mouth is magic."

Dean kissed the tip of the omega's nose, "If you're hinting for a blow job, you'll have to wait."

Brandon became very serious as he took Dean's hand, "I have to tell you something, my cousin April called me and said I could go live with her and she'd help me find a real job. She lives out in California and I'd be safe there."

"Do you trust her?"

"Yeah, we grew up together and she's one of the good ones. I've got money saved up and I'm thinking of taking a bus out there next week. Dean if you want a fresh start, you could come with me."

"I can't for a whole lot of reasons," Dean squeezed his hand, "but I'm happy for you, man."

"I worry about you, Dean. What will you do?"

"I'll be hittin' the road soon. My dad is better and we've got a lot of work to do."

He was disappointed, "Ok but if you change your mind the offer is still open. I guess I'll head out. Why don't you come over and spend the night?"

"There is nothing I'd like more but I can't tonight. Raincheck?"

"Sure, raincheck."

…

Dean was the last dancer to leave for the night. He didn't want to rush right back to the room he shared with his dad because once there, the teen felt suffocated.

"I should have gone with Brandon…"

Bracing himself from the damp cold of late February, he headed outside. By the time Dean got to Baby his sneakers were soaked from the slush.

"Fuck, I hate this weather."

Even in the darkness Dean noticed something that looked like a big pile of rags lying on the ground.

"Please don't let it be a body…"

He cautiously approached with his gun drawn and to his horror, found what was left of Brandon's body. Something had attacked him, leaving his skull cracked wide open and the rest of him mauled with parts obviously parts eaten.

The only clues were very human looking footprints leading to the bus stop but whatever killed Brandon was far from human. Dean searched the body and found the apartment keys missing.

Dean had no time to grieve. The hunter took a chance and drove to his former lover's apartment.

….

The door was unlocked as if something was already waiting for him. He pushed it open and found the room dark except for the street light shining through the window. He saw it standing by that same window, a creature in the guise of Brandon. Dean took two brave steps inside and closed the door behind him.

It utilizing Brandon's memories and recognized this person as the lover. It didn't know this omega was a deadly hunter because that part of Dean's life was never revealed to Brandon. "Dean, I'm so glad you changed your mind on that raincheck."

This ghoul had Brandon's wry smile and pretty blue eyes but it wasn't him, not by a longshot. It made Dean sick to his stomach to hear this foul creature using Brandon's voice. With a cane machete hidden behind his back, Dean stepped even closer.

"Babe, you know I can't stay away from you."

It cocked its head, wary at how easy this seemed but Dean was much too tempting and the ghoul still hungry which clouded its judgement. He went for Dean as Brandon would with arms open and wearing a borrowed smile. With one fell swoop the hunter decapitated the ghoul then watched as the head and body changed back to its original hideous form.

Dean took one last look around the tiny apartment where the two of them fucked and comforted each other with no guilt and no judgements. Brandon would never make that trip to California to start his life over and Dean had lost another person he cared about.

He took the silk, olive green scarf draped over the lamp, wrapped it around his neck and then left.

…

John was still up when Dean got back, he was late and the alpha was going to ask why but from the looks of it, Dean had been through some sort of hell and back and for once John kept his mouth shut.

Dean locked himself in the bathroom and emerged almost an hour later wearing John's tattered old robe. He had showered and grieved over Brandon in private and thought about how much he missed his brother and resented his dad.

There was warmed up pizza and a beer sitting on the nightstand. It was a sad attempt by John to be fatherly. Dean ate without pleasure and one beer turned into three.

When John asked what happened, Dean used the buzz he had going to tell his dad exactly what happened.

"Dean, you know in our line of work people die. I get it, you were fucking this stripper so it makes this harder on you."

"He was more than just some stripper and what does that matter anyway? Brandon was a good guy who went through a lot shit he didn't deserve." Dean snapped his fingers, "just like that he's torn apart by another piece of shit monster. I'm done, I'm not going back there and if we don't leave tomorrow and start hunting then I'll go back home because this wasn't what I signed up for."

John rose from the bed to his full height and stood over Dean, "The hell you will. We'll leave but not because you say so but because I'm ready. Just remember kid, you are home. Summers coming and I was thinking Sam could spend it on the road with us. I bet Bobby just lets him slide and Sam is as soft as baby now."

"No Sir, I'll stay. Sorry…I'm a little drunk."

The alpha got the response he wanted; Dean backed down immediately. The omega was compliant.

…

May 2nd, 1996

It was a Thursday and not the best day of the week to have a birthday but Sam didn't mind. He still held out hope that his brother would show up even though Dean didn't call. He was certain his brother wasn't lying when he said he'd be there for Sam's birthday. Sam got off the bus and dashed to the house where Bobby was having a drink amid stacks of books on his desk.

Sam yelled for Dean but Bobby told him his brother wasn't there. Sam was dressed in Dean's old clothes he left behind. They were much too big on Sam; the shirt was baggy and the jeans too long and he had the waist cinched tight with one of Dean's belts. To Bobby it made the whole thing all that more pitiful. Sam looked like a ragamuffin in need of a hug, a haircut and a meal.

Sam grumbled something about Dean breaking promises and it was all Bobby could do to stop himself from showing Sam that letter which explained everything.

"Sam, you know how it is on the road. They could be in Timbuktu hunting something and don't have access to a phone or maybe Dean has no way to get here. You gotta stop being so hard on him."

"I guess you're right. The official teenager added, "Dad doesn't care about my birthday either."

"Your dad is a whole other matter. Anyway, you're a teenager now, that's gotta feel pretty exciting. You've got your little party to look forward to on Saturday when your friend come's over."

"No, Frankie and his parents are going to some cousins wedding."

"Well, I guess we'll have to eat that cake all by ourselves."

Bobby sent Jamie out to find Sam's birthday gift but so far he hadn't heard anything.

…..

Dean drank his beer outside of Harvelle's Roadhouse to escape all the prying eyes. John had a meeting with a shady looking dude that Dean wanted no part of. He also couldn't stand the way some of the other hunters looked at him. Someone was either leering or giving him the stink eye for being an omega hunter. If need be, Dean would take down the lot of them.

He heard a familiar rumble though he couldn't place it. When the cherry red El Camino pulled up next to Baby, Dean's heart started racing.

"Holy shit, is that Jamie?"

Jamie got out and took off his aviators then pulled his crazy looking long curly hair back with a rubber band. He quickly assed his target, Dean looked like he hadn't slept in days and he was much too skinny. He could tell the kid wanted to go to him but was hesitant. Jamie went to him instead and gave the omega the hug he so desperately needed.

"I finally found you, brother. There's a bummed out teeny bopper back at Bobby's place that needs you."

"I want to go home so bad but I can't."

"No worries, I wrote your dad a nice note explaining everything." The omega slipped it under the Impalas wiper blade. "Now grab your gear and let's hit the road."

….

Sioux Falls, May 4th, 1996

When they arrived, there was no Sam or Bobby, only Rufus who tried lick Dean's face but he was having none of it. Jamie brought in the last of Dean's meager belongings then started to write a note for Bobby but Dean stopped him.

"Hey, we've been on the road a couple days and you've gotta be tired. Why don't you stay, I know Bobby would love to see you."

Jamie spun an errant strand of hair around his finger as he thought about it, "I suppose, I don't wanna intrude on your family time though."

"Hey, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even be here. Your family for sure." Dean let out a big yawn and stretched his arms. He was about to head upstairs but he paused, "Do you think Sam is still mad at me? What if he comes home and I dunno, doesn't want to forgive me for ditching him."

"Are you kidding? Your brother loves you, Dean. Go take a shower and get some sleep. I'm sure Sam will wake you up when he gets back."

TBC