A/N: I decided to post another letter this weekend as a thank you for reading my stories. Since there are 26 letters and some with 2 parts, I have decided to try posting twice a week, so you don't have to wait so long between updates. Enjoy. NC


E

Part One

The Impala turned into the salvage yard driveway and slowly made her way to the front of the house. The Winchesters got out and headed for the front door where John Winchester knocked loudly. He waited for the owner of the salvage yard to answer as he glanced at his sons standing there with their duffels. The oldest, Dean, was stoic and pouting because he wanted to come with John and not stay here to go to school. The youngest one was content and stood quietly at his side.

"What?" Bobby Singer growled as her jerked the door open to look at the three standing on his porch. He saw Sam ease closer to his brother and hide his face, looking at him out of the corner of his eyes.

"Bobby," John greeted him as he waited to be invited in. "Thanks for doing this for me."

"Get on in here," he grumbled looking down at the boys. He hadn't seen them in a long time seeing they had grown.

"You boys mind Bobby and don't be getting into any trouble you hear me?"

"Yes sir," they said together as John squatted down to hug them.

"I'll try to get back before they're out of school. Here's their records so you can enroll them without any problems," John told Bobby handing him two folders. "Here's some money and I'll send some more when I can."

"I ain't worried about that. You sure you want to do this?" he asked John looking at the boys. "Dean why don't you and Sammy go on in the kitchen and get something to drink?"

"Alright," Dean said. "Come on Sammy." Dean steered his brother toward the kitchen after dropping their duffels at the stairs. He gave his father one final longing look before going into the kitchen.

Once they were out of earshot, Bobby turned back to John to talk to him. "Are you sure about this John? Those boys need a live Daddy not one six feet under."

"I've got to follow this lead Bobby. It's the closest I've been in a long time to what killed Mary and I can't let it go unchecked."

"I know you want your revenge, but don't forget about your boys."

"I know Bobby, I know. I'm doing this for them. Make sure Dean stays out of trouble, he's at that age and thinks he's eighteen already."

"I'll keep him in line. I'll go Monday and get them enrolled in school so they can start. How long you think you'll be gone?"

"I don't know, two maybe three weeks, a month at the most."

"Be careful and…Just come back to them."

"I'll do my best. Bye boys," he called as Dean and Sam stepped to the doorway with drinks in their hands.

"Bye Dad," Sam waved a look of worry on his face. He had just found out what their father did a few months ago when he read his journal. He confronted Dean and he told him the truth about what was out there in the dark and what their father really did when Sam though he was going to work jobs out of town.

John gave Dean a knowing look to watch out for Sammy before heading out the door and leaving. Dean stood there and listened to the Impala crank and drive away. After the engine noise faded in the distance, he turned away and went out the back door to the deck to be alone. He was mad that he got left behind again. He knew how to hunt, had for a long time and couldn't see why he couldn't go with his Dad. Sammy could stay with Bobby and he could have gone, and he was pissed about being left behind. He wanted to have his Dad's back.

"Dee, Uncle Bobby said after a snack we could go into town with him to get supplies," Sam spoke from behind him.

Dean stiffened his shoulders for a moment, but he wasn't mad at his brother and let them relax. He felt Sam step closer behind him and come to stand beside him as he looked out into the backyard.

"Are you okay Dee?"

"Yeah Sammy, I'm good," Dean replied dropping his arm over his brother's shoulders.

"Uncle Bobby has cheese and crackers for us if you want some."

"Alright Sammy. You hungry?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Guess we should go eat something then," Dean told him ruffling his long hair.

"Stop!" Sam complained trying to comb his hair back into place with his fingers as he dodged Dean's hand.

Dean laughed at his complaining and pushed him toward the door to the kitchen. They went inside and ate their snack that Bobby fixed. Bobby sipped a cup of coffee as he watched the boys whisper among themselves. They were always quiet ones when they were little and stayed with him. He hadn't seen a boy as young as Dean seem more of an adult than some adults he knew. Dean had to grow up fast and never got a chance at a childhood like most kids. He raised his little brother and was more of a dad to him than their own father. That boy had an old soul and wisdom most adults didn't have.

spn

"You two ready to head into town?" Bobby asked when he saw they were finished eating.

Dean looked up at him with such serious eyes and spoke, "Yes sir."

Bobby didn't correct him knowing it was his father's influence and training he had gone through. He hoped in a few days it would be Uncle Bobby again. "Then let's go."

Dean and Sam took their plates to the sink and followed Bobby to the front door and out to his car. The boys climbed in back and buckled up. Bobby started the car and headed for town so he could get food for the boys. It didn't take much for him and he wasn't that picky, whatever can he opened was fine. He knew the boys would need healthy food three times a day with snacks and he needed to see if they wanted to take their lunch or buy it. The boys stayed quiet in the back and watched out the side windows as they made their way into town.

"Okay boys," Bobby said once he found a parking space at the store. "Do you want to take your lunch to school or buy it in the cafeteria?"

"We can take it," Dean spoke for both of them.

"Then you'll need to pick some things out to make your lunches and guess we'll need to get you a couple of lunch bags for you too."

"Can I get carrot sticks to go in mine?" Sam asked.

"Of course, Sam, that's a good choice."

"Yeah, he only wants rabbit food," Dean supplied. He grabbed a buggy from the front of the store and followed Bobby around to the produce section with Sam following behind him.

They went through the store picking out food for lunches and snacks. Neither boy was picky and they liked just about anything he had fixed for them over the years. He knew Sam was not a fan of lima beans and Dean didn't like Brussel sprouts.

Bobby let them choose a lunch bag and after some coaxing, got out of them some school supplies they would need. He was going to run by the thrift store to see if they had any clothes for them knowing John didn't always take care of matters like that. He knew Sam got Dean's hand me downs if they were still wearable. It wouldn't hurt for them to have a few new things to wear to school.

Once they were finished, they checked out and took their purchases to the car. They visited the thrift store and found some clothes for each of them. He decided to let them have a treat and stopped at a fast food place for milk shakes. Both boys could use some extra weight on their thin frames and hoped maybe he could fix that. Dean got a strawberry and Sam got a vanilla shake to drink on the way home.

spn

Bobby got the boys registered in school and the first week passed with everyone getting used to the routine of getting up in time to get ready for school, catching the bus, school, riding the bus home, homework, chores, dinners, showers and bedtime. When Dean didn't have schoolwork, Bobby let him help in the garage and Sam, not interested in mechanics would explore.

The first week went by with no problems and they seemed to settle into school without any issues. Sam was always a smart kid and excelled in school. Dean liked school until he got older and wanted to hunt with his Dad. John wouldn't let him drop out of school like he wanted to do, and this made him mad enough to do just enough to get by. He had already decided when he turned sixteen, he was dropping out and hunting full time.

No matter where they were in school, Dean always made sure Sam wasn't picked on or bullied. He was a little small for his age and always seemed to be the target for bullies, being the new kid and a loner. Everyone found out very fast you didn't mess with his little brother if you didn't want the crap beat out of you.

Spring break was coming up and they would have a week off from school giving them a total of nine days out of school including the weekends. Sam made sure to check out extra library books to have something to read while he was out.

It was Saturday and spring break started the following week. Dean was helping Bobby in the garage fixing a car since that was his passion. He had a head for mechanics like his father. Sam sat outside in the sun for a while reading and decided to explore some of the outbuildings while they worked. He strolled past the stacks of wrecked vehicles and to the first building to look inside. He opened the door and let the sunlight shine in not seeing much to interest him and closed it back.

Sam pulled the metal door of the next building opening, hearing it creak on rusty hinges. As the sunlight cut the darkness inside, he saw something move inside. He froze and let his eyes adjust trying to find what had caught his attention.

"Hello?" Sam called cautiously not sure if he should go inside or not. Getting up his nerve, he stepped into the building trying to see back behind some shelves when a shadow moved deeper into a corner. "Who's there?" No one answered him but he heard something fall from a shelve nearby. "I won't hurt you. My name's Sam." Sam stepped closer when suddenly a body jumped by him knocking him to the floor as it scurried to the other side of the building trying to hide from him. Sam wasn't afraid. He seemed to sense there was no danger to him and got up, brushing his pants off. He wasn't giving up and followed whatever had ran by him.

Being careful, Sam moved around some stacked boxes and barrels until he could see in the shadowed corner. There in the corner was a kid, crouched down trying to hide.

"Hey," Sam said. He squatted down to be on the kid's level so not to scare him. "My name is Sam. What are you doing in here?"

The kid looked at Sam through his splayed fingers covering his face but didn't move to get closer. Sam thought he looked around his age maybe a little younger from what he could tell.

"Are you hungry?" Sam asked pulling a granola bar from his pocket and holding it out. He watched the kid cringe from him and opened it breaking a piece off to eat. He held it out again and watched as a dirty hand slowly reached out before jerking back. Sam didn't move or flinch as he reached out again and snatched it from Sam's hand. He crammed it in his mouth and chewed quickly. "You're really hungry," Sam mumbled. "Stay here and I'll get you something else to eat okay? Will you wait here for me?" He saw a small nod from the boy and got up to head outside. He ran to the backdoor and into the kitchen thinking about what they had to eat.

Sam made up a couple of sandwiches and grabbed some juice boxes and an apple. He put everything in a bag and hurried out the door when he heard Dean in the other room.

"That you Sammy?" Dean called catching a glimpse of him as he ran out the door. "What ya doing?"

"Nothing," he called back not stopping so he wouldn't have to explain anything to him.

Sam ran back to the building and slowed when he got to the door. He caught his breath before stepping back inside and moving around the junk inside to the back. He smiled when he saw the boy was still there.

"I brought you a couple of sandwiches and juice," Sam told him. "Can you come out here in the light so you can see?" He took a couple of steps back, motioning him to follow. He sat down in the sunlight waiting for the kid to come from the shadows. Sam pulled out a sandwich and a juice box, fixing the straw before sitting it on the floor beside the sandwich.

The kid watched Sam closely, not stepping from the shadows until Sam fixed his own juice box and drank some. After a few moments, he eased closer and sat down on the floor, being sure to stay out of arm's reach. He picked up the juice and watched Sam for a moment before copying him and smiled when he tasted the juice.

"What's your name?" Sam asked. "I'm Sam."

"Lelon," he whispered before picking up half the sandwich and taking a bite.

"What are you doing in here? Did you run away?" Sam asked watching Lelon cock his head slightly and frown like he wasn't sure what Sam meant. The more Sam looked at him, he could see differences in his facial features. He had long hair, longer than Sam's that looked blonde but was dirty. His eyes were almond shaped and when he tucked his long hair behind his ear, Sam saw it was pointed. "Lelon, where do you come from?"

"Far away, another land," Lelon replied between bites.

He was sure Lelon wasn't human and remembered one of Bobby's book he had read that told of mystical creatures and a land of magic and fairies, elves, sprites, and creatures that didn't exist in this world. He was sure he was an elf but couldn't figure out how he got here or why.

"What happened? Did you get lost?"

"Bad ones took me, I got away and ran. Hide here."

"Are you an elf?"

"Elf, yes, my clan, Riverbend Elves. Can you help me find home?"

Sam looked at him and saw the hopefulness in his eyes and knew he needed to help him. He tried to decide if he should tell Dean and Bobby or do this on his own. He wanted to show Dean and their Dad he was grown enough to help and decided for now he would keep Lelon a secret.

"Yes, I'll help you," Sam said.

"Sammy!" a male voice yelled to him making Lelon scurry back into the shadows in fright.

"It's okay that's my brother. You stay here. Here's another sandwich and juice. I'll come back later and see if I can sneak you in the house and if not will bring you a sleeping bag and blanket." He got up to leave before Dean came looking for him.

"Thank you."

Sam gave him a warm smile and hurried out leaving the door partly open to let in sunlight and fresh air. His mind was working on the problem of how to help Lelon when he rounded to stacks of vehicles running into Dean and bouncing off him.

"Hey squirt, what ya doin'?" Dean asked grabbing him before he fell backwards.

"Nothing, just walking around," Sam replied faster than he meant to and tried to hide his guilt. He fidgeted and kicked at the dirt with the toe of his shoe. He was keeping a big secret from Dean and felt bad, but he wanted to prove himself. He wanted to show he could do more than sit in a motel room or search lore.

"Wanna help me fix lunch?" Dean asked not missing the twitch Sam had or how jumpy he seemed.

"I guess."

"Okay, let's go wash up and get started."

Sam followed Dean back into the house looking back over his shoulder before heading inside. He helped Dean make lunch for them and Bobby. Bobby came in when they were finishing up to have lunch with them.

"Bobby, do you mind if I look at some of your books? I have a school paper to write about mythology."

"Sure Sam, just put them back where you got them."

"Remember Sammy, you can't be too knowledgeable about stuff. It'll make people wonder," Dean cautioned him. He knew how involved Sam could be when he researched and had to find out everything he could.

"I know, I'll be careful," Sam told him.

"I need to take some parts to a shop a couple of towns over this afternoon, do you two want to come alone?" Bobby asked them as they finished up their meal.

"Hell yeah!" Dean exclaimed, happy to take a trip.

"Can I stay here?" Sam asked. He saw the look of disappointment on Dean's face and quickly added, "I'm good staying by myself. I've done it at motels that were less protected and dangerous. This place is warded, and I can lock the doors. I'm almost eleven in a few weeks, I know how to use a gun, I'll be okay Dean. You can go with Bobby."

Bobby looked at Sam seeing the desperation on his face, trying to act older than he was. He did have a point. His place was probably the safest place they could be from the supernatural.

"I don't know…" Dean started.

"Besides, I want to finish this paper, so I'll have the rest of the week free." Sam continued quickly.

"You promise to stay inside and lock the doors and don't answer it for anyone?" Dean asked.

"Yes, you can call me when you get ready to come back to check on me."

"If that's what you want Sam," Bobby told him. "You know to be careful and not mess with things, consider it all loaded."

"I know," Sam assured him, his mind whirling with racing thoughts. This was his chance to get Lelon inside and hide him in the spare bedroom his Dad used when he was here. No one hardly went in there while their father was gone, so it was perfect.

"Okay then, Dean you finished?" Bobby asked pushing back from the table to toss his paper plate in the trash. He sat his coffee cup in the sink and turned to look at Sam again. Something was nagging him about Sam's desire to stay behind, but let it drop for now thinking it was nothing. "We should be back in three or four hours."

"You call if anything happens, got it Sammy?" Dean asked.

"Yeah Dean, I'll keep my cell on me."

"See ya bro."

Sam went to the window and watched Bobby and Dean pull away in his truck and head down the driveway. He waited ten more minutes to be sure they were gone before heading for the back door. He raced off the deck and headed for the building where Lelon was waiting on him.

"They're gone, c'mon you can come inside," he told Lelon who had hidden back in the shadows until he saw it was Sam.

Lelon stepped out and smiled at Sam, happy to see him. Sam saw he was a few inches shorter than he was and smaller in frame. Where Sam seemed awkward and trying to grow into his own, Lelon was graceful and proportioned perfectly. He had on what looked like homemade clothes and leather boots. Lelon had scratches on his face and arms and there were red circles around his wrist like he had been tied or cuffed at one time.

"We can go into the house, I'm by myself." He motioned the elf to follow him out into the sunlight and led him toward the house.

Lelon looked around the area fearfully as he stayed behind Sam and took in everything looking for any danger. He stopped on the deck and stretched his neck to look in the house through the open door that Sam disappeared into not sure if he wanted to follow him or not.

"It's okay. This is where I live. You'll be safe in here. I promise," Sam coaxed giving him a warm smile.

It took a few moments before the elf stepped through the doorway and looked at what lay inside with wide, curious eyes. There was so many strange things he had never seen before sitting around. He watched Sam open a white thing and saw food and drinks sitting inside it and stepped closer feeling cool air coming from it.

"Would you like to get a shower?" Sam asked walking slowly backwards toward the stairs. "I have some clothes you can wear. You'll probably feel better to be clean."

"Shower?" Lelon asked with puzzlement.

"We need to go upstairs, I'll show you," Sam told him. He started up the stairs looking back to be sure he was following. Sam led him into the bathroom and closed the door. He pulled the shower curtain back and turned on the water, looking back when Lelon cried out in surprise to see the water pouring from the faucet. He adjusted it before stepping back. "This is a commode, you use it to relieve yourself, pee," he explained pointing to the commode. "Here's the shampoo and conditioner for your hair and some soap to wash your body."

Lelon looked with interest at everything Sam was pointing to and listened closely to him. This was a new experience for him, and he tried to take it all in at once.

"You can take your clothes off and take a shower. I'll get you some clean ones that are a little small for me." Sam stepped to the door and slipped out to go to his bedroom. He rummaged around in his dresser for briefs, socks, shorts and a tee shirt that he thought would fit Lelon. Sam stopped at the linen closet to grab a towel to take in with him. "I'm coming back in," Sam knocked before opening the door. He saw dirty clothes on the floor and laid the clean clothes on the sink. "Are you okay in there?"

"Yes, I think so."

"You use the knobs to turn the water off when you are done. I've put a towel here for you to dry off with and a comb to comb your hair with. I'll be across the hall in my bedroom. You can call me if you need anything."

"Alright."

Sam stepped back out and went downstairs to grab some of Bobby's books to take upstairs to start reading and to wait for Lelon to finish his shower. He climbed onto his bed and started with the first book looking for anything on elves and where they lived. He needed to find something that would tell him how to cross from one world to another and where such places might exist. The places had to be real if Lelon was here.

It was nearly thirty minutes later when Lelon stepped from the bathroom and into the doorway of Sam's bedroom. Sam looked up and moved the books over so he could join him on the bed. Leon's hair was a golden honey blonde that would be lighter once it was dry. He had tied it back out of the way with a thin strip of leather.

"I've been looking for information on how to get you home," Sam told him holding out a book that showed pictures of elves and fairies.

"My home," he said longingly studying the photos in the book.

Sam looked to the nightstand when his cell started ringing and grabbed it to answer.

"Hello," Sam greeted the call figuring it was Dean checking on him.

"You bored yet?" Dean asked.

"No, this is interesting stuff to read," Sam huffed knowing Dean would rather hunt than do research.

"Whatever. Bobby will be finished here in about twenty minutes and we'll be heading home."

"It looks like this," Lelon said. He pointed to a picture in one of the books only to get hushed by Sam.

"Who was that Sam?" Dean questioned, his voice getting tense.

"It was the television. I was going by it to get a drink from the kitchen," Sam lied quickly getting up and going in the hall leaving Lelon on the bed. "Will you be heading back soon?"

"Yeah, Bobby needs to stop to get gas before we head back. You sure you're okay Sammy? There's not anything going on with you?"

"Yes Dean," San sighed. "I'm fine. I need to go so I can get back to my studies."

"You know you're never going to get a girl studying all the time."

"Jerk!"

"Nerd bitch, see ya later."

Sam hung up and looked back into the bedroom at Lelon who was slowly turning the pages of a book looking at the pictures. He didn't know if he could read English or not, but kind of doubted it.

"That was my older brother. Him and Uncle Bobby will be home in a few hours."

"Brother, I have brothers."

"I bet they are looking for you. I know if I was missing Dean would be looking for me."

"I don't know," he said sadly.

"I'm sure they are. I've been reading in this book that there are special places in the world where ley lines merge to create magical areas where occasionally the walls between worlds thin. If I can find one near here maybe you can get back to your world and home."

"You can find?" Lelon questioned.

"I hope so, I've got to do some more research first." Sam put his book on the bed and stood beside it. "You can stay in the other bedroom until I have some answers. Come on, I'll show you." Sam led him into the hall and down to the closed door below the bathroom. He opened it and stepped in, waiting for Lelon to join him. "I'll open the window to let in some fresh air. You may want to close it tonight."

Lelon looked around the room taking in the queen size bed, dresser, nightstand, chair and table that filled it. He watched Sam pull up a shade and open a window to allow fresh air into the room. Bird chirps and singing could be heard drifting inside, and the smell of blooming flowers floated on the gentle breeze that ruffled the curtain hanging in place on the window.

"You have to be quiet, so Dean doesn't hear you. If you need to use the bathroom, be sure to check that it's clear before sneaking out. Do you understand?"

"Be quiet. Don't be seen," Lelon replied.

"Yes, I'll get you something for dinner tonight and some waters and juices. If anyone was to come in here hide under the bed and don't make a sound."

"I will be careful," Lelon nodded.

"You stay here, and I'll run down to the kitchen."

"Alright," Lelon said. He moved to the chair by the window and sat down looking out across the backyard. He felt himself blessed to have run across someone like Sam who was willing to help him find his way home. He was a good friend to him.

Sam closed the door behind him and went to the bathroom to clean it and take the towel and Lelon's clothes downstairs to drop off in the laundry room. He didn't want Dean to find anything that would cast suspicion on him that he was lying. He headed downstairs and dropped the things in a basket in the laundry room and then went to the kitchen to gather some food and drinks for Lelon. Sam dug out a small ice chest from a shelf to put the juices and Lunchables in along with an ice pack to keep them cold. He grabbed a couple of fruit cups, granola bars, bananas, peanut butter crackers and waters depositing them in a plastic bag. He took his stash back upstairs to the spare bedroom finding Lelon still sitting by the window. He showed him how to open things and where he put plastic spoons and napkins.

They moved to sit on the bed and talk quietly.

"Tell me about you home," Sam said.

"I live in village near a beautiful waterfall. We toil the land and hunt in the forest. My brothers are warriors and guard our land from intruders. There are many enemies that would like to kidnap and enslave us, but we also have allies who bands with other villages to keep everyone safe. Our land much like yours with trees, flowers and animals, but much more…" Lelon paused not sure of the word he wanted.

"Supernatural?" Sam asked. "More exotic and scary?"

"Some yes, others gentle and harmless."

"Can the elves do magic or have special powers?"

"Only the elders and leaders. There is the Lady of the Mist who is powerful. Do you have powers?"

"Me? No, I'm a nobody. Not many humans do, but there are psychics in our world. I better get downstairs before my brother and Uncle Bobby get back. Will you be okay?"

"Yes, I will be quiet."

"Right and I'll bring you some breakfast after they go out to the garage to work."

"Goodbye Sam and thank you."

Sam went back to the bedroom and got the books before heading downstairs. He settled on the couch and began reading again trying to find more information on areas that might have a thinning to allow access into another world. He had several books spread out around him and was taking notes when Dean strolled in and tossed a small paper bag to him.

"What's this?" Sam asked picking up the bag.

"Open it and see," Dean teased, his lips twitching slightly with a smile.

Sam cautiously opened the top of the bag and peered inside. He smiled seeing pieces of his favorite candy. He didn't eat many sweets, but he did love buck eyes, a caramel candy with a white center.

"Thanks Dean," he said.

"Did you get your paper done?" he asked noticing the television was off and was still sure he heard another voice when he talked to him earlier.

"Almost. I found a lot of good information. Where's Bobby?"

"He needed to run into town to the bank. I had him drop me off at the end of the road. I wanted to check on you."

"I told you I was okay when you called. I'm not a baby Dean," Sam complained.

"I know, but you're my little brother and it's my job to take care of you."

Sam snorted his disagreement and sat the bag to the side for later.

"C'mon, I told Bobby we'll start dinner for him."

"Okay," Sam grunted putting his books to the side and getting up to follow his brother to the kitchen.


A/N: So, Sam has a secret he's keeping from Dean and we know how that always goes. I do like reviews. NC