First Solo Flight

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: They're still not mine. That makes me sad.

A/N: Thanks for reading and for the reviews! Keep 'em coming; I'm insecure. LOL.

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Dean found his father and Aidan in the kitchen, whispering over cups of coffee.

"I'll meet you outside." Aidan said to him. "I got your bag."

"Thanks." Dean leaned against the counter, holding a cup of coffee.

"You okay?" John asked. "You can still say no."

Dean shook his head. "I'm good."

"I still don't like sending you off like this –"

"I know, but that's the way it has to be."

John sighed and stared into his mug.

"Sam's awake, by the way." Dean said quietly.

"How's he taking you leaving?"

"He seems worried; I don't think he completely buys the story. Take it easy on him, okay? But not too easy or you'll freak him out."

John nodded. "You'd better get going."

Dean took another sip of his coffee and dumped the rest into the sink.

"I checked out Aidan's weapons this morning. Everything looks fine."

Dean nodded and John stood up. He put his hands on his oldest son's shoulders and looked him in the eye. "You can still say no."

"I'll be fine." Dean assured him.

John nodded and pulled him into a loving embrace. "Be careful."

"I will, Dad."

Aidan was sitting behind the wheel of his pick-up truck when John and Dean walked outside. Dean got into the passenger side and John leaned into the open driver's side window. "Take care of my boy."

"I will, John." Aidan said, meeting his eyes. There had already been considerable discussion about what might happen to him if Dean got hurt.

John stepped away from the truck after taking another look at his son. He was used to saying goodbye to his children, but it had always been him leaving. He'd never watched one of them leave on a job of their own. When he turned back to the small house they were renting, he saw Sammy standing at his bedroom window. This was going to be a long couple of days.

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"So did the kid break you?" Aidan asked once they were on the highway.

Dean glanced at him. "What? No. I stuck to the story."

"He believe you?"

"Not completely."

"You okay?"

Dean nodded, his jaw set. "Yeah."

Aidan Pritchard was eleven years old when his parents announced they were leaving Ireland. His father worked for a division of the Bank of Ireland and a career opportunity was taking him to the United States. They lived in Connecticut for over a year and Aidan enjoyed his new surroundings. He had a lot of friends and excelled not only in his classes, but as an athlete. He was fourteen when he came home from a sleepover at a friend's house to find that his parents were missing. The inside of his home was all but destroyed, as if a tornado had had its way with the furnishings.

Even now, almost thirteen years later, he didn't really know what happened over the next few days. He remembered wandering around the house. He remembered the sun setting and his parents still not being home. He remembered seeing things later during the night that couldn't possibly be real – except that now he knew they were real. He wasn't sure how long he'd been hiding in the basement, waiting for his parents to return, when a stranger showed up. The man was surprised to find someone still in the house, but soon realized the young boy was in shock and needed help.

John Winchester didn't trust the local authorities and knew if the boy got lost in the system, he would probably never get what he really needed. Aidan found himself hundreds of miles from his home, under the diligent care of Jim Morgan, an Episcopalian pastor. Gradually he came to trust the new people in his life, but it was a long time before he could understand and accept what happened to his parents.

Aidan lived in the orphanage run by Jim's church, but was always under the watchful eye and tutelage of the pastor. The Winchesters were frequent visitors, sometimes living nearby, and John became something between a surrogate father and a beloved older brother. Aidan grew close to his sons as well.

Aidan's first choice was not to have Dean join him on this hunt, but the more he found out about what was going on in Milton, the more it made sense to get the help of his young friend. He approached John carefully knowing the older hunter would not be pleased about Aidan's idea. It was one thing for John to put his children in danger when he was there to protect them, but he'd yet to allow Dean to go off on a hunt without him. And because of Sam, John couldn't go. It wasn't that the boy was too young to stay alone, or hadn't had to miss school to go with his family before, but he wouldn't be happy if he knew what Dean was agreeing to do and keeping him in the dark would be easier if he was at home.

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John spent part of the day at the library, looking for anything that might help Aidan and Dean. He wanted to be home when Sam got there, but lost track of time. When he pulled up in front of the house, he found his younger son washing Dean's car.

"Hey, how was school?" John asked as he stood next to his son.

"Okay."

"I didn't think the car was dirty."

"It wasn't. I just –" Sam pulled the sponge from the sudsy bucket and shrugged.

"Yeah, I know. You want some help?"

"Sure."

They worked in silence for a few minutes. "Have you talked to him yet?"

"Not yet. Dean will probably call when they get to Aidan's motel room." John said.

"Is this job dangerous?" Sam asked, concentrating on the car. "I mean –"

John looked at his son. "They're all dangerous, Sam. You know that"

"Dean was being pretty secretive about it."

"He'll be fine, Sam. He knows what he's doing and Aidan is with him."

Sam nodded, his fears not allayed.

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"You want to call home?" Aidan asked as they dropped their gear on the motel room floor. He saw Dean flinch and added. "Sam is probably climbing the walls."

Dean took his cell phone from his jacket pocket and dialed his home number. He wasn't surprised when his younger brother answered.

"Hi, kid."

"Dean!" Sam exclaimed, before reigning in his emotions. "The drive okay?"

Dean smiled to himself. "Yeah, it was fine. How was school? You had a history test, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I did okay."

"I'm sure you aced it. Things okay with Dad so far?"

"So far, so good."

The brothers engaged in more conversation; Aidan tried not to listen, but it was hard since they were in the same room. He was always amazed at how the brothers could talk for hours about nothing in particular and this conversation was another example of the same thing. He was also impressed at how involved Dean was in his little brother's life. Sometimes it was like he was Sam's father instead of his brother.

Finally Dean was able to end the conversation with Sam and his father came on the line. John asked Sam to go upstairs but because he didn't trust his son not to eavesdrop, John took the cordless receiver outside.

"I was at the library most of the afternoon." John began, sure Sam was inside and out of hearing range. "I didn't find a lot, but I don't like what I did find. It pretty much confirms Aidan's information. What's your plan?"

"I go to the wrong place at the wrong time and see what happens."

John knew that's how it had to be, but he didn't like it. "Make sure you have your knife if nothing else."

"I will."

"And make sure Aidan has your back."

"I will, Dad. Don't worry."

"That's not an option. Let me talk to Aidan."

Dean held out the phone. "Your turn. Good luck."

Aidan took the phone. "John?"

"I told Dean I found some information that confirms what you already found. Be careful, Aidan. Keep your eyes open."

"Open and on your son; I got it." Aidan saw Dean roll his eyes.

They spoke for a little longer, then John gave the phone back to Sam.

"I know you have stuff to do," Sam began after a few minutes of conversation.

"And you have homework. Take it easy, kid, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Bye, Dean. Be careful."

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After burgers at the local diner, Dean and Aidan seemingly parted company. Dean headed for the town's only bar and Aidan appeared to go back to the motel. In reality, he doubled back and walked into the bar not too long after Dean. It was a large place, especially considering the size of the town, and Aidan was able to blend into the background. Dean, however, was there to stand out. He got a beer and wandered around, checking the place out, before getting himself invited to the pool game going on in a corner of the bar. He lost the first game on purpose, but won the second game and pocketed fifty dollars.

He tried for a third game, but had no takers. Instead, he started flirting with a pair of sisters who had just ordered tequila shots. He was able to get their phone numbers, but the real goal of his evening at the bar went unrealized. Just before midnight he signaled to Aidan and left the bar. They planned to meet around the corner, but when Aidan got there, Dean was nowhere in sight.

TBC