A/N: Don't send the hellhounds after me once you read this chapter. You know how I like to throw twists and bumps into my stories to make them interesting. We will see some familiar faces, and this will start a new chapter for Dean and a totally new life. I hope you are liking this AU. Reviews/Comments would make my day. NC

Note: Since this is a long story, I am going to occasionally post early for your reading pleasure and it is a pivotal point in the story.

Chapter 9

The rest of the school year passed quickly, and Dean scored at the top of his class in all subjects. George had gotten the garden ready, and they had planted it when Beverly determined the signs were right for each crop. The frigid days slowly changed to ones of balmy spring ones, and everything was coming back to life. The trees were budding and putting on leaves, flowers were blooming, animals were having babies, and the land was waking up as spring spread through the land.

They had a small graduation for Dean's class and George and Beverly sat proudly in the first row as Dean walked across the front of the room and got a diploma and award for top honors that school year. They were so proud of him and took him out for dinner that night at his favorite restaurant to celebrate.

It was the third week of summer break and Dean had been asleep for several hours when a foreign, loud noise woke him. He sat up in bed and listened intently when Moses started barking and then growled. Dean recognized the tone of the growl and knew he was ready to attack. He heard a howl of pain and jumped out of bed opening his door and stepping into the hall.

"Dean, honey," Beverly spoke urgently to him as she clasped his shoulder tightly. "Go to our bedroom and hide in the closet. Don't come out no matter what you hear."

"What going on?" Dean questioned in a quiet voice.

"I don't know, go now, hurry!" She pushed him toward the open bedroom door.

Dean did as he was told and a cold fear filled him when he saw the gun Beverly had in her hand, hanging to her side. He watched her walking cautiously toward the front of the house with the gun raised as he ducked into the room and into the closet, pulling the door closed behind him. Dean backed into a corner and strained to hear what was happening at the front of the house. He heard things crashing and loud voices before a gun was discharged making him jump. A female scream echoed down the hall and was suddenly cut off in midscream.

Cold chills ran up Dean's back because he knew that was Beverly and tensed wanting to run out and see what was going on out there. It was quiet for a few minutes when suddenly he heard loud crashing and mumbled voices yelling before numerous gun shots filled the air making him cower even smaller. When everything went silent, Dean inched toward the door so he could hear better. He opened the door a crack and listened and waited before stepping from the closet into the bedroom.

A stranger walked into the bedroom and Dean froze as he stared with fright at him and the gun he was holding down by his side. A rage started to build inside of him as he balled his fist getting ready to attack. The older man was dressed in ragged jeans, long sleeved light weight shirt, vest, and baseball cap.

"Are you Dean?" the stranger asked cautiously, storing the gun in his jacket and holding his hands up to show he meant him no harm.

"You…You killed them," Dean growled in a fierce, low voice.

"No kid. No, I didn't hurt your parents, but I did kill the thing that did," the strange man explained. "I won't hurt you. Your Momma asked me to help you before she passed. Do you have any relatives I can contact for you?"

"Bobby, what's the hold up?" another older, African American man questioned as he stopped in the doorway. "Awe hell, who is this?"

"Their son," Bobby told him. "Just hold on a minute Rufus."

"Make it fast, we need to get out of here," Rufus complained as he headed back down the hall.

Bobby turned back to the shell-shocked kid to question him again.

"My name's Bobby. I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner. Maybe if we had, we could have saved your parents. And you should know they didn't go down without a fight trying to protect you. Do you have relatives nearby or that I could contact?" he asked again.

"No, they were my adopted parents," Dean whispered. "I don't have anyone else."

"Balls!" Bobby spat as he pulled the ball cap off and rubbed a hand over his head before replacing it. He paced back and forth for a moment trying to decide what to do. "I'll call the cops; you just stay in here until they come."

"No!" Dean hissed emphatically. "I won't go back to the group home. Not again."

Bobby knew he would be put back into the system and either put in a group home or with another foster family. He studied the boy's face and saw the determination on it, but he saw something else too and a feeling of empathy rushed through him. He wanted to help the boy, but he didn't understand why he would think that. It was like the thought was suddenly put in his mind.

"Take me with you," Dean finally asked a look of hope crossing his face. "Please. I won't get in the way. I'm a good worker. I have no one else..." Dean's voice quivered as tears sprang to his eyes.

Bobby looked at him with indecision and uncertainty filled his mind. What would he do with a kid? How would he raise him with the life he led? He swore he'd never have kids after the way his father treated him and his mother.

"Please," Dean asked again, stepping a little closer to Bobby but not close enough for him to touch him.

"Guess you need to change clothes," Bobby huffed, feeling he was making a mistake but didn't feel right about leaving the boy here alone. He had no one to take him. "Where's your bedroom?"

Dean pointed out the door and scooted around Bobby to lead him to his bedroom. He grabbed the clothes laying on a chair and started changing before this man changed his mind.

"Do you have a duffel or suitcase to pack your clothes in?" Bobby asked as he stepped into the room.

"Closet," Dean replied.

Bobby went to the closet and found the bag. He went to Dean's dresser and opened the drawers to pull out briefs, socks, T-shirts, sweat pants, shorts and stuffed them into the duffle until he couldn't get anything else in it.

"If there's anything you want to take with you, get it now, you won't ever be coming back here."

"Okay," Dean nodded as he slipped his T-shirt over his head. He picked up the pocketknife and stuffed it into his jeans pocket. He looked around for his school backpack and dumped whatever was in there. He picked up two books he had not read and slipped them inside and looked around the room before picking up a photo of George, Beverly, and him and added it. Dean opened one of the desk drawers and felt around in back for a small wooden box that he kept his allowance in and added that to the pack. He still had the small toolbox they had given him his first Christmas here knowing he had to take that too. He put it in the pack and partly zipped it up before shouldering it.

"I'll come back for those winter clothes, let's take these things to the car first," Bobby told him. "Son, when we leave, I want you to keep your eyes straight ahead of you and don't look around at anything. You understand?" Bobby didn't want him to see the blood or mutilated bodies of his foster family, nor the pet dog that had been ripped apart.

Dean only nodded since his throat tightened, his mouth went dry, and he couldn't speak. He watched Bobby grab a pillow and a couple of blankets off his bed before walking toward the door. Dean stepped out beside him and shielded away when Bobby started to lay a hand on his shoulder. He kept looking toward the front of the house as tears streamed down his face. When he got to the living room, Dean could smell the traces of gun powder and blood in the air, making him feel sick. His breath hitched as he bit back the sob that threatened to escape between his lips. He choked back any sounds, not wanting to seem weak, and worked on putting one foot in front of the other as he zeroed in on the front door that was open.

Bobby frowned when Dean scooted away from his touch and wondered what that was about. He didn't know this boy's story or how he ended up in foster care but thought it must have been something bad. As they neared the front of the house, Bobby positioned his body so to shield Dean in case he stole a glance into the living room.

"What are you doin' Bobby?" Rufus asked as they stepped from the house.

"He's coming with us," Bobby told him.

"Really Bobby? Have you gone nuts?"

"I can't leave him here. He's got no one now."

"It's your call, but I think you're making the wrong one."

"You're right, it's my call." Bobby opened the back door of his car and put the pillow and blankets inside. "Go on Dean, get in and make yourself comfortable."

Dean did as he was told and crawled into the backseat. He sat the pillow into the corner and leaned back against it and pulled the blanket over his legs. He watched Bobby go around to the back and open the trunk to set his duffle back there and then headed back inside. A few minutes later, Bobby came out with an arm full of his winter clothes and his boots to put in the trunk too. He had gotten all the clothes he saw which wasn't as many as most kids have.

"It's all set, turned on the gas in the fireplace and lit the candle," Rufus told Bobby as he got into the passenger side of the car. "It'll go up and burn any evidence."

"Not so loud," Bobby growled nodding to the backseat. "We'll call it in once we're away from here," Bobby replied. He looked at the backseat to see Dean curled in a ball watching them cautiously. He could see distrust in his eyes but also a haunted look of loss and grief.

Dean clutched the blanket tightly to his chest as he started out the window at the house as Bobby pulled away from it and headed down the driveway. Stray tears ran down his face knowing this was the last time he would see this place. It still had not sunk in yet, that Beverly and George were dead, and he would never see them again. He slumped against the pillow as his eyes glazed over and his mind shut down not able to handle anymore stimulus right now.

None of them saw the celestial being standing by the house watching them since he was invisible. The being had been listening to their conversations and had given Bobby a gentle nudge to take the boy with him. Heaven had found out that demons were interested in the boy and were going to try to thwart their plans for him.

spn

"I'll stop at the 24-hour truck stop up ahead to gas up and have a short break," Bobby told Rufus who was slumped against the side window dozing.

"Wha…" Rufus growled out as he shook his head and looked around.

"Going to stop up ahead."

"Alright," he grumbled clearing his throat and sitting up straight. "Are you sure about…" he asked nodded to the backseat to the boy that had gone to sleep.

"It's too late to change my mind now," Bobby mumbled with a sigh. "He's so young to not have anyone."

"You know, you'll have to tell him."

"Yeah, that's for another day. Right now, he's too traumatized to load any more shit on him."

"How old do you think he is?"

"I don't know, maybe eight of nine I guess or even ten. It's hard to tell. All I know is his name is Dean."

"Well, better you than me. Don't say I didn't warn you when this falls apart."

"I'll keep that in mind," Bobby replied sarcastically hoping Rufus wasn't right, that he hadn't made a huge mistake taking the boy with them. He concentrated back on the road and signaled to change lanes as the exit he wanted got closer. He traveled the last few miles in deep thought and took the exit to the truck stop.

"I'm going to hit the head," Rufus told him as he groaned when he got out of the car.

"Okay." Bobby got out and leaned over the front seat to wake the boy in the back. "Hey, Dean. We're stopping for gas, you need to use the restroom?"

Dean jerked away as he woke up when Bobby shook his leg and looked around quickly at his surroundings before looking at the hunter.

"You need to use the restroom?" Bobby asked again.

Dean nodded slightly and pushed the blanket off his legs and slid to the backdoor to get out. He grunted softly as he stepped from the car and stretched his stiff body.

"Dean," Bobby called to him before he walked away. "Here, in case you want something to drink." Bobby offered him a five-dollar bill, holding it out across the car for him to take.

Dean looked at it for a moment and tentatively reached to take it before walking toward the front doors of the truck stop.

Bobby watched him walk away, thinking he was skittish and leery, but he couldn't blame him after what had happened. They would be getting back to the salvage yard around lunchtime if they didn't run into any problems. He filled the car and moved it to a parking spot in front of the truck stop so he could go inside and use the restrooms and get a large cup of coffee. He found Dean standing at the drinks cooler staring at them, like he couldn't make up his mind on what to get.

"You can go on back to the car when you pick something," Bobby offered, startling him out of his trance.

Dean only nodded he had heard before taking a Gatorade and wandering to the front to the cashier. He picked up a bag of peanut M&Ms and looked at them for a moment before going to pay for the items. He saw Rufus heading his way and took his change before stepping to the doors to go outside. He saw the car parked to the side and went to it to get in back. He settled back against the pillow and pulled a blanket over him. Even though it wasn't cold outside, Dean felt cold deep down inside of him and shivered slightly. He opened the drink and took a small sip to wet his raw throat and mouth.

Bobby and Rufus stepped out and got in the car to finish the last leg of their journey. They didn't say anything as Bobby got back on the highway and headed off into the night.