This was just a brief introduction of the two sets of brothers across the fandoms. I am working on a much longer story to be posted at a later time. I hope you enjoyed it! Phoenix

First Impressions

Chapter 3

The two men prodded Joe and Sam to keep walking. Joe had been expecting the men to toss them in the back of a trunk or something, but that wasn't the case. No, these guys told the boys to walk and had them head into the undergrowth surrounding the old house.

Joe had no idea where he was, but as the sound of crashing water reached his ears, he suddenly got a very good idea…and a sick feeling about what was going to happen.

"This house overlooks the bay," Sam said quietly as they walked. The two men behind them grunted something about keeping moving, but let them talk.

"Mmmhmm," Joe realized the younger boy had a definite advantage over him, as Sam and his brother had gone to the house of their own free will. So they knew exactly where they were. He listened to see if Sam had come to the same conclusion he had.

"You don't think—" Sam paused and the blond teen was a bit surprised to hear a thread of fear in the kid's voice, but then realized that he probably didn't have much experience with this kind of thing. Unfortunately for Joe…he did. "I mean – they wouldn't…"

"Sam," Joe said quietly. He hated himself for having to confirm the kid's fear but he needed the other boy to understand the seriousness of their situation. "We are expendable. And now that we've seen their faces—" he paused and admitted, "I think they're planning on having one, if not both of us, take a nice long, permanent swim." Seeing the younger boy's face pale in the moonlight, he cracked a smile. "I don't suppose you're wearing your scuba long johns tonight?"

"You sound like my brother," Sam said after a moment. They walked for another minute or two in silence and then he lowered his voice, "I need a distraction."

Joe frowned, "What?"

"A distraction," Sam repeated, "I can't get my – you know what – with them so close. I'm not that fast."

"Sam," the blond boy hissed, "you can't be serious?" Joe just wasn't sure the boy had it in him to do what he might need to do, and if he didn't, it would just make things worse for them both.

"It's loaded with rock salt," the dark-haired boy whispered, "it won't kill' em but it sure as hell will sting."

'Rock salt?' Joe stared at him incredulously but as the edge of the cliff came in view, he knew he didn't have much time for other considerations. He'd just have to trust the kid.

Suddenly Joe stumbled, grabbing his leg. Instantly one of their captors moved towards him, affording Sam the distraction he needed. With a quick movement, Sam pulled his gun out of the small of his back, whirled around the pointed it at the man closest to him. Immediately the other goon froze as Joe scrambled to stand next to Sam.

The young hunter held the gun steady. "Don't move." he told them and then said to Joe. "Now what?"

Before Joe could answer, one of the men lunged at Sam, grabbing at the gun. Sam's finger tightened on the trigger and it went off, knocking the man back about fifteen feet.

The second man made a grab for Joe but the young detective met him with a deadly right hook, clipping the man's chin and sending him backwards towards his friend.

Before either man could get up, a flurry of footsteps heralded Dean and Frank as the older boys burst through the bushes.

They stood stunned for a moment, taking in the scene and then moved towards their respective siblings.

"You okay?" Frank demanded, checking his brother over before pulling him into a quick hug. "You had me worried."

"I'm fine," Joe told him, letting out a heavy sigh and relaxing against his brother briefly before pulling away.

Frank saw the ragged wrists and grabbed one of them gently. He cocked an eyebrow and challenged his brother's assessment. Joe gave him a weary grin. "Okay. Mostly fine."

…

Sam still had the gun aimed at the two men, his eyes wide in his pale face.

"Sammy?" Dean's voice was strangely soft as he slowly approached his brother. He knew the kid was in shock. This was not the first time Sam had fired a gun, but it was the first time he had ever shot something not supernatural. Something human...and he could see the hand holding the gun starting to shake. "Easy kid – give me the gun, okay?"

Behind them, he felt Frank and Joe's eyes on them, but blocked them out.

"Sam. Come on, bitch, it's time to go home now." He reached out tentatively to take the gun. Sam still didn't acknowledge him.

When his fingers brushed against the hot steel, Sam suddenly looked at him, seeing him for the first time. "D-Dean?" he stammered, and his older brother's face broke into a wide smile.

"Yeah, smart-ass. It's me." He paused, his green eyes concerned. "You okay?"

"I – I didn't have a choice." Sam turned towards the two men again. They were sitting on the cold ground, neither stupid enough to make any moves as they warily eyed the shotgun the young man was holding. "I had to—"

"It's okay, Sam – you're okay and it's okay." He took the gun from his brother, quickly pocketed it and then pressed a finger against his brother's chin, forcing the younger boy to look at him. "Sammy?"

"It's – it's Sam," a shaky voice corrected and Dean rolled his eyes and chuckled as he looped and arm around his brother's shoulder and gave him a quick squeeze.

"It's dumbass, if you ask me."

"J-jerk." The younger boy managed a tight smile but it was enough to assure his brother that the kid would be okay. And then Sam paused and scowled. "What took you so long, anyway?"

Dean grinned and then glanced at Frank. He gave the dark-haired detective a little wink. "We had some house cleaning to do first."

Frank shook his head but had to grin back. There was just something indefinable about Dean Winchester. But whatever it was, the young detective decided it was okay.

…

Ten minutes later the Hardy brothers watched as the 1967 midnight-black Chevy Impala pulled away from the house.

"So what'd you think?" Frank asked as they watched the disappearing taillights of the Winchesters' car.

"I liked them, " Joe admitted, leaning heavily against the side of their own black van. "They're good brothers."

"Yeah," Frank agreed after a moment, "I think they are too." He glanced at his younger brother, "Well come on, kiddo, it's late and we need to get home."

"What about them?" Joe tilted his head to the two men secured on the front post. Dean knew how to tie a mean knot.

Frank groaned and pulled out his cell phone. "How in the world could I have forgotten about them?"

"I dunno," Joe deadpanned, "must be old age or something."

His brother snorted but didn't say anything. Sometimes there was more power in what wasn't said.

"What?" Joe looked at him. "No comeback?"

Frank smiled sweetly and then spoke into the phone.

ooooooOOOOOOoooooo

"You sure you're okay?" Dean asked as they pulled away from the house and the Hardys.

"Yeah," the younger Winchester sighed and then glanced at his brother. "Did you get the ghost?"

"Poltergeist," Dean corrected and grinned, "and yup. You were bang on about that exorcism. Fried that little sucker right on the spot."

"Good," Sam leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. "It's nice to know I'm good for something."

"Hey," came an indignant reply, "You're good for lots of things—"

Sam cracked and eye and waited for it. His brother did not disappoint.

"You're good at screaming like a girl…getting me in trouble…holding stuff… not listening to your elders—"

Closing his eyes, Sam was asleep before Dean ran out of his list. Hearing his brother's gentle breathing, the older boy cast a quick glance over and smiled. As his hand reached to turn the radio on low, his eyes glazed over in a rare moment of affection. "And you're the best at just being my brother…"

Sam shifted in his sleep and a smile twitched his lips.

There was just something about brothers.

The End