The suffocating heat and gathering storm clouds overhead did nothing to deter the two hunters from continuing the stand-off.

Jamie took note that John's hand trembled slightly and the man hadn't shaved in ages. The tremble could mean fatigue was setting in or he was angrier than Jamie imagined or maybe both.

"I mean it you fucking bitch, give me my kid. I could plug you between the eyes and not lose a lick of sleep over it."

"I'm tired, hot and covered in goo, can't we just talk about this?"

"Nothing to talk about. I want my kid back."

"Dean isn't here but he's very safe and there's nothing to worry about." Jamie was relieved when the alpha lowered his weapon and he followed suit. Maybe they could talk it out after all. He was Sam and Dean's dad and Jamie didn't want to have to kill him.

John even put his weapon down and approached with his hand extended, "You swear it, Dean is fine? That's all I care about…that my boy is safe and happy."

Jamie shook his hand, "I swear."

The alpha struck him with a fist the size of a country ham that sent Jamie staggering. John grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him like a ragdoll.

The younger hunter threw punches to the alpha's ribs and John let out a sharp breath. Jamie had rings on all his fingers so the blows counted as double impact. He broke free and pulled his serrated blade from the dead creature and swung at the bigger hunter, catching John across the chest.

Bleeding and enraged, the alpha threw his full weight on the omega and the two tumbled to the ground.

Jamie spat at him, "Go to hell!"

"You bitches always have to do things the hard way."

….

Bobby was tired the secret that stood between Sam and Dean. Dean coming off as the neglectful brother who put his dad before Sam when it was Sam that he made sacrifices for. The conversation took place in the garage where the two were working on a car while Sam was safely in the house, going over his school packet and making a list of supplies.

Bobby hated to ruin Dean's good mood. The kid was in his element, dirty hands and face, and elbows deep in an engine. He was singing along to the radio and didn't have a care in the world.

"Did yah talk to Sam yet?"

"About?"

"Why you left."

Dean let out a heavy sigh as he wiped the grease off his hands, "You don't get it, Bobby. Yeah, I left so Sam could have his normal life but after a while it became about Dad too. He's saved a hell of a lot of people over the years and now he's doing it alone. I mean this is the family business and Dad is doing it without any family."

"Come on Dean, you can't carry around everyone else's guilt and failings forever and we both know your dad is no saint."

Dean bit his bottom lip when his uncle said that. Hearing anymore of it was much painful, even for him. Bobby was on the verge of assaulting Dean's ears with those festering truths.

"It doesn't matter anyway. If Dad shows up, I'll go with him and Sam can keep his life here. When I'm eighteen then I'll decide what I want to do. No matter what though, Sam will be safe."

Bobby gave him a no bullshit look and Dean finally caved.

He threw his arms in the air, "Fine, I'll talk to him but on my time."

…..

John patted the unconscious omega on the cheek, "I gotta give it to you," he squinted at the driver's license, "James Brooke, you are tougher than you look." John rifled through his clothing and found a small, soft leather address book. All the entries were just numbers and initials or symbols. It was all very cryptic, save one entry for Bobby Singer with the man's full address, various phone numbers and even the man's birthday noted. There was also a tiny heart the omega had drawn next to the alpha's name.

"Bobby…"

Jamie's eyes opened to slits.

"Wow, you are one tough omega. I thought you were down for the count." John got up and dusted the sand off his ass. "I never figured Bobby would dip his stick in the likes of you."

Jamie used his one good arm to turn on his belly as soon as he heard a familiar guttural sound that sent chills through his body. He struggled to his knees, desperate to get away. Not from John but from the creature making that racket.

John's jaw dropped when he saw another creature like the one the omega had been butchering. It was huge, the size of a bull and covered glistening, mottled flesh. Two tentacle-like appendages stretched out toward the humans as it slid across the sand. John could see its maw was lined with rows of serrated teeth. The sound it made was like nothing John Winchester had heard before. The hunter got off a shot which did nothing to stop its approach.

Jamie croaked, "muriatic acid." He pointed to a battery operated pump and wand, "don't breathe it in."

….

Since that night Sam was on top his brother's warm, inviting body, the two had done a cautious little dance. They didn't sleep together after that and there was no walking around naked or taking the occasional bath together like in the past when they were younger.

Sometimes the dance rules changed where Dean would stare at his brother's bulge and wonder what it would feel like to have it in his mouth. Just from feeling Sam pressed against him through their thin, cotton boxers, Dean could tell he was already hung. Many nights Dean spent lying in bed pleasuring himself as he fantasized about Sam's knot and what it must look like and ultimately how large his brother would get, once he stopped growing.

Dean was still only seventeen and yes, he'd had sex before but only with betas and omegas. He couldn't give himself to an alpha for many reasons. He acted like he knew it all but in truth, Dean had many hard questions he needed answers to. A few years back Jamie recommended seeking out a true omega elder, a wise one to advise and guide the young omega and answer all those tough questions. Dean wished he knew where to find one because the first thing he'd ask this elder was if his feelings and desires were normal.

…

The hunter sprayed the caustic liquid, aiming for the creature's maw and what looked to be two eyes but missed a few times as it thrashed its head from side to side. It smelled the blood that leaked from the wound on the human's chest and it wanted him badly. It shot a tentacle out and wrapped it around the human's ankle, dragging him down but the prey kicked and struck the creature with his boot.

John pushed the wand inside the creature's mouth and it clamped those wicked rows of teeth around it just as a blast of acid traveled down its gullet. It released him and the hunter watched as it went into death throes. Within minutes it was over. The smell of rot from its last meal wafted from its gaping mouth.

He was stunned, the hunter hadn't seen a creature like this in all his years of hunting. John got to his feet and backed away from the body. He looked back at the omega who was stumped over and swollen eyes closed. This monster had snapped John back into harsh reality and drained away the anger he felt toward this stranger.

He wasn't sure what to do with the omega now but the sound of a vehicle made the decision for him. The last thing John wanted was to be caught with a beaten-up omega and two dead creatures. He hiked to the well hidden Impala parked a good distance away then put as many miles as possible between him and the chaos left behind.

…..

"Dean, I swear if you hit your brother with another vegetable, I'm gonna put you on bathroom cleaning duty for a month!"

Sam winged a mortgage lifter tomato at Dean and nailed him in the chest, almost knocking his brother off his feet.

"What about him!"

Sam pointed an accusatory finger at Dean, "You started it, jerk!"

"You are such a whiny bitch."

"You hit me with an eggplant. That hurt!"

Dean peeled off the tomato covered tee he was wearing, "You were supposed to catch it like a football. I can't help it if you're a crappy athlete."

All went quiet when they heard the house phone ringing.

….

The boys listened as Bobby spoke with the mystery person on the phone.

"Yeah, I'm Bobby Singer…uh huh…sure, he belongs to me…what?! Where now?" He grabbed a pen and quickly wrote down something. "I'm on the way."

He turned to the boys and his expression was dead serious, "Dean, we're going on a road trip and I need an extra driver. Sam, do you want to come with us?"

This was a chance to prove to his uncle and brother that he was independent and fine on his own, "No, I'll stay home and take care of Rumsfeld."

"Are yah sure? He's fine with a trough of water and a bag of food."

Sam squared his shoulders, "I'm sure. I'll keep an eye on things here."

….

John was sitting on the motel bed, slumped over when Cal entered the little room. The hunter looked up at him with bloodshot eyes and relief on his face.

"I wouldn't have called if I thought I could stitch myself up."

The omega elder dropped his black leather satchel on the dresser and went to assess the damage. The slice across the man's chest was long and wicked with the bottom edge loose. "Fuck, serrated blade." Cal gently pushed John on his back and got to work scrubbed the wound while the patient bit down on the sleeve if his leather coat.

He took out his surgical stapler and John's eyes widened, "What the hell, can't you just stich it up?"

"Nah, glue and staples. Don't be a crybaby."

John watched as the healer worked with deft hands to repair his wound. Cal asked questions as he worked on the alpha and John gave only the basic of information about the fight. He did describe the creatures in detail though.

"The world is changing, John. Monsters are mutating, interbreeding and who knows what else. Life will get worse for everyone before it gets better."

The alpha rolled his eyes, "tell me more of your conspiracy theories, Cal. You've been living alone in that shack of yours too long."

"I get out, I'm here, aren't I? You damn hunters keep me busy enough and pay my bills." He set a bottle of pills on the nightstand, "antibiotics, take them all and don't skip any doses."

"You don't have any witchy herb concoction for me?"

Cal set a pint jar of a golden, syrupy concoction next to the bottle of pills, "here's your herb concoction. Dab this over the wound morning and night after you wash the area, it'll help with the redness and work in conjunction with the antibiotics. The staples should come out in a few weeks and you can take those out yourself. Also, I'm not a damn witch, I'm an omega elder and the things I know would turn your hair white. You speak to me with respect, alpha. I take no lip from your kind."

John was a little taken aback by this omega's commanding tone and for once he didn't have a smartass reply. This was Cal after all and even the hardest alphas showed a modicum of respect to the mysterious healer, shaman, omega elder or whatever the hunters were calling him. There were many times a man's life hung in the balance and it was up to Cal to keep him on this earthly plane.

A sly smile crossed Cal's face, "I heard through the grapevine that your older boy is one of us. If he ever needs guidance just send him my way and I'll pair him with a guide."

John handed over the cash for services rendered, "Never mind about my kid. Thanks for coming so quick."

….

Sam had been alone for two days now. Dean called to let him know they made it to their destination but when Sam asked questions, his brother said he had to go. The young alpha was mad that his uncle and brother were hiding something from him. Sam thought turning thirteen would change things, especially with Dean and how close they'd gotten that night.

Thoughts of his brother were interrupted by the unmistakable rumble of the Impala.

TBC