Sometimes I am creative. Today is that day. Please enjoy the fruit of my labors and the start to a new arc that is hopefully going to be entertaining for you all.

August, 2008

"I thought he'd send you after me sooner." A young man, tall with shaggy brown hair falling around his ears, knocked back a shot of whiskey, waiting for his newly arrived companion to speak without turning around.

"And who would 'he' be in this situation, exactly?" the stranger replied, sounding slightly amused.

Sam Winchester froze, his hand holding the now empty shot glass an inch away from the bartop. The voice that spoke was familiar, but so completely not familiar that it threw him momentarily off-guard. He composed himself before turning slowly to face the newcomer. The man was dressed in a nice but not expensive suit, slightly out of place in the dive bar they currently occupied. He looked shockingly like an older Dean, though his features were sharper and darker in color with a pair of dark brown eyes in place of Dean's green.

"I guess it doesn't matter, since you're obviously here on your own agenda," he said cautiously as he glanced over the man. "What do you want?"

The man tilted his head slightly, a tight smile forcing its way onto his face.

"I believe we have a mutual acquaintance," He said, and if Sam still held onto some stupid hope that this was Dean returned to him, it was quashed when he heard the deeper growl that this man spoke with. "The lovely Ruby?"

Sam narrowed his eyes, and hoped he didn't have to start a scene with an exorcism.

"You're not answering my question."

"I work for an organization that has, let's say, certain interests that align with the demoness. I've been sent to protect you." He held out a hand, and the younger man reached forward with only the briefest hesitation. "You can call me Trickshot."

September, 2008

Clint was gripping the steering wheel of the van so hard that Laura was certain he was cutting off circulation. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, and her stomach flipped. Briefly she glanced in the backseat, calming slightly as she saw Lila sleeping in her newborn seat and Cooper happily entertaining himself with a stuffed tiger he'd brought for the drive.

"Slow down," she murmured as she watched the mile signs and asphalt fade away and become dirt roads. "You don't want to get caught up with the cops," She looked his way hopefully, and pursed her lips when he didn't even acknowledge her. "Clint!" she snapped.

"My badge exempts me from pedestrian motor laws," he answered finally, not looking away from the road or slow down.

"The kids are in the back!" Laura fired back, and he winced. He shot a guilty look in her direction as he tapped on the breaks, taking them from 75 down to 60 in a few seconds.

"I know you're concerned, babe," she told him. "But let's not make this day any crazier than it needs to be, okay?"

He nodded, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror and meeting his son's wide-eyed gaze in the back.

It took them only a few minutes longer before they reached Bobby's home. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Laura's mind could not help but to congere images of the first visit that she'd had here, back before she'd married into this crazy family. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep, reassuring breath before unbuckling herself and exiting the car to retrieve her children.

Lila squirmed as she was moved into a carrier from her seat, but thankfully did not wake as her mother maneuvered her brother out of the car. Clint marched ahead, one hand on his hip, and one held out behind him, urging them to wait. She could not tell if he was reaching for his holy water, or for his gun.

The door opened - Bobby had likely seen the headlights approaching and had gone down to meet them - and a tall figure followed out from behind him. Under the porch-light, Dean's face became visible.

Laura sucked in a breath, unsure of how to react. The same could not be said for her son.

"Uncle Dean!" Cooper shouted excitedly. The almost three year old wiggled excitedly as Laura grasped onto his arm to prevent him from running up to the porch. Dean - or the thing that looked like Dean - turned his gaze to the little boy, a brief smile crossing his face before he met Laura's eyes. In that moment, she knew it was their Dean, no holy water needed.

"I tested him when he showed up earlier today," Bobby said loudly for them all to hear. "He's him, Clint. It's our boy."

Laura didn't need to see him to know that Clint's chin was trembling as he tried to hold back tears and restrain himself, and surprisingly, it was Dean who broke first, darting forward and pulling the older man into a bone crushing hug which was quickly returned.

She took that as a sign that they were safe to enter, and released Cooper's hand so that he may join in on the joyful greeting, following behind at a slower pace so as to not jumble the baby. As she approached the porch - and the hug that had turned into a fourway embrace between Bobby, Dean, Clint, and Cooper - Dean turned his head towards her and nearly did a double take at the sight of the baby girl in the carrier.

"She's here," he said in surprise, his voice thick. "I mean, I knew you'd probably had the kid already, but we didn't know what you were having, and…" he trailed off with a slight frown before glancing back down at his niece and smiling. "She's so beautiful, Laura."

The dam broke, and she pulled her brother to her as best she could without upsetting Lila.

"Thank you," She pulled closer to his ear and whispered to him," Her name is Lila Deanna."

Dean hugged her a little tighter.

Clint trudged down the stairs once the little ones had been put to bed, and Laura had fallen asleep in one of the guest rooms that he and the boys used to use whenever they were dumped with Bobby. He felt… ecstatic, if not slightly worried about what Dean's resurrection could mean. He tried to keep it from his mind and enjoy the simple fact that his brother was no longer dead, and would hopefully stay that way.

"Have you seen Sam at all?" Dean asked as Clint entered the familiar, book-covered study. He shook his head, accepting a swig from Bobby's hip flask as he passed him. Dean sighed.

"Yeah, Bobby said he's been off the grid. Fuck." He leaned back in his seat, running one hand over his face in frustration. "What about Adam, is he doing okay?"

"Kid was shook up for a bit but, yeah, he's doing good." Clint smiled softly. "Got into college. University of Wisconsin."

"College?" Dean cocked an eyebrow at him and grinned. "No shit? Maybe he'll be the first to graduate. I feel bad about Sam…" he trailed off with a grimace. Bobby glared mockingly at him and tilted his flask at the boy.

"Don't jinx it, idjit."

Sam really was just so naive it almost hurt. Ruby had found that she somewhat enjoyed the puppydog behavior, even if the puppy thought that he was a big tough dog all of the sudden because of a few new tricks. It was disgustingly cute.

Finding Hydra hadn't been her doing. But thanks to Meg and all of her hard work, she had been able to finalize the deal between the organization and knew that they were getting that much closer to seeing the final goal; Sam Winchester on the throne of Hell.

Word Count: 1,292 before A/N