Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dean POV

"Dean?"

Dean bites his lip as he looks at the page before him. The book has been interesting and something he wants to know more about. Ever since the failed ambush. It'll hopefully prevent recurrences in the future.

As for the voice, he knows who it belongs to. He doesn't want to talk but also wants this finished quickly. So he looks up. Before him stands Noah who's scratching his head while shuffling his feet. Mhh, strange. He tilts his head.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering how your classes are going."

"They're going fine. Why do you ask?"

"Mhh, need any help with something?"

"Mhh."

Dean looks to the side and thinks about his classes. Some give him difficulties and he's not looking forward to next year when he's got to study those accused demon languages. He still needs to understand the purpose behind it. Hopefully, someone will explain it before then but it's not a problem for now. Now? There's nothing he needs help with. Well, Downworlder studies is actually the one which gives him the most problems. The book he's been reading isn't part of the course but is related. So maybe?

"Well, I've been having some trouble with Downworlder studies."

"Is that why you've been reading this book? It could give you an insight into some things. I find it often helps to read other books outside of the course to understand everything."

"Good to know but it's not the reason. I'm reading it for personal reasons."

"Alright, explain to me what your problems are and I'll help."

He nods and explains what's been causing him problems. All the while waiting for Noah to respond. As he waits, he notices the frown growing on Noah's face. He stops himself from asking questions about it. He's unwilling to create problems because he wants to see what Noah's up to. And besides, he's not exactly sure what's confusing though he's got some ideas.

"I don't understand, Dean. You've had interactions with Downworlders before when you hunted with your family. So why's this giving you these problems?"

"Who says I hunted with my family?"

"Well, a few of the adults do and you've given signs about having previous experience with hunting."

"Uhm, what do you mean?"

"While hunting, I've heard you've acted in certain ways only experienced hunters do. It's not exactly as we're being trained but it's still obvious."

"Alright, alright, I've hunted them before. It's just I've never had any true interactions with those I've hunted. And I've certainly never seen all this what I've been reading."

"What were your interactions like then?"

"Mostly ambushed and quick killing. And also attacks and death threats from them."

"Something you can't do now. But how come you never noticed their culture? You must have found something about it."

"Not really, we just look at what's being reported in the news from people getting killed or disappearing. We've never looked at them before."

"So there have always been killing before you arrived. Then it must be strange to see this kind of society among the Downworlders."

"Indeed."

"Well then let's see…"

Dean listens as Noah begins to slowly work through the chapters he's read from his course book. He asks questions about some things and receives detailed explanations. Slowly, ever so slowly, it becomes more clear to him. And once they've finished with the course book, they turn toward the book he's been reading. Again, they follow the same method for talking about it. In the end, they end up in a discussion on some aspects.

"So, Noah, thanks for the explanation. It's been enlightening."

"That's good to know."

"Yeah, it is. So tell me, why did you come?"

"To study of course."

"I doubt it. You haven't brought anything with you to study. So why did you truly come?"

Dean looks at Noah who smiles sheepishly. Noah scratches his head. Dean's eyes narrow. Noah's hiding something; he's sure of it. What it is, he doesn't know. Yet.

"Well…uhm…uhm?"

"Ah, come one, what are you hiding? Why are you truly here?"

"Can't I want to spend time with you?"

"Yeah, but you'll need a reason for that. What's your reason?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Why? Because you didn't like me until Cartblossom decided to harass me. From then on, you've been kind to me but haven't shown this kind of interest in me. So tell up."

"Things change."

"Yeah, change. But you still haven't answered my question."

"Things changed after consul Cartblossom's visit and my talk with Issy. It made some things clear to me."

"Come on, man!"

"Well, first things first. There's something I need to do."

"And that is?"

Dean groans and bangs his head on the table. He rests it there for a moment before looking up. He has resisted throwing up his hands so far. He's not sure how long he can resist it. Noah looks at him with amusement. He groans again.

"Well, thanking you of course. For saving my life despite how stupid I've been to you before then."

"Yeah, and? Everyone would have done that."

"Would? I doubt it. There would be some who would have left me. So 'should' would have been a better word to use but it still doesn't mean they would."

"Yeah, Isobel said something similar to me. She just didn't explain why you acted like that."

"Bad experiences to be honest. I had a friend years ago who abandoned me during my first scouting mission."

"How did he abandon you?"

"How? By going into a shop which had drawn his interest. I had to continue with our mission on my own and was discovered by our mark. I would have been dead hadn't my grandfather been in the area and noticed me."

"What? But that's just pure wrong. If you've got a mission you finish it without endangering anyone. Going to a shop is such a fucking stupid move."

"Yeah, it forced his family to move away to the Cairo institute and made me suspicious of strangers. They're potential threats that need to be tested. It's the only way to be sure they can be trusted because trust is earned and not given."

"Yeah, I know. Most of the time trust is earned except with my family."

"True, I've learned that through Issy and our parents as they're the only ones currently in the field. At least until Abby finished the scouting test. By the way, how did you learn that?"

"You want to know?"

"Of course. I was wrong about you and hope we can start over. Hi, I'm Noah."

"I'm Dean."

"Hi, Dean. How do you like it here?"

"It's been nice. I've learned a lot. It's quite different from what I'm used to."

"How so."

"Well, ever since mom died, we've been on our own. We've never spent anywhere for long and there's been no one to look after Sammy and me. Well, except for a few times but mostly it's been Sammy and me having to fend for ourselves."


November 1983

Lawrence, Kansas, Dean POV

He holds Sammy tightly to his chest as he runs out of the house. The heat behind him is suffocating as it blazes behind him. He wants to look back but is too afraid of what he'll see. He hasn't seen mommy. Daddy gave him Sammy and told him to run. And he'll do just that. He'll get Sammy to safety. He'll do it.

The door. He runs fast. He crosses the door. Immediately, cold air hits him. Sammy squirms in his arms. He shivers. Something cracks behind him. He turns around and immediately regrets it. His eyes widen. His house! It's burning. He clenches Sammy to his chest. Suddenly, arms grab him and pull him off the floor. Cold air moves past him as the person holding him runs away from the house. He still doesn't know who it is.

He wiggles in the arms holding him. At the same time, he clenches Sammy - who squirms in his arms - closer before looking up. Daddy! He wants to speak but no words escape his mouth. Daddy presses his head into his chest. Daddy smells like burned wood and smoke. He doesn't like it. Nevertheless, he closes his eyes.

Moments later, he opens them again as daddy puts him on the car. Light streams around him. Bright and flickering. He frowns and looks around. Multiple fire trucks stand on the driveway. His eyes widen with awe. They're fast. They'll find mommy and save her. He knows it. Dad presses him close. He turns.

"Daddy?"

Daddy doesn't respond. He bites his lips wondering what he should do. Something's wrong with Daddy but he doesn't know what. He glances at Daddy and Sammy before looking at the firemen. They're putting water on the fire with big hoses. Slowly - ever so slowly if not too slowly - the fire disappears and smoke takes its place. He believes it's black but with the dark sky, he can't be sure.

He frowns as he looks around. Where's mommy? Why did they not bring her out? Where's she? He turns to Daddy. Daddy'll know the answer. He always has an answer to his question.

"Daddy, where's mom? Daddy?"

Daddy still doesn't respond. He's just looking in front of him with a dead look in his eyes while Sammy is pressed into him. He pulls on his sleeve but doesn't get a response. As such, he looks around trying to see what caught his Daddy's eyes. He sees nothing. His eyes widen as he sees a fireman walking toward him. The others are still busy with their house.

"Sir?"

"Yeah."

Dean clenches Daddy's arm and his heart beats loudly. He doesn't like the sound of Daddy's voice. It sounds wrong, just like the fireman's.

"I'm afraid I don't have good news, sir. We found your wife's burned body in the nursery. She has died."

Daddy doesn't say anything more but just presses closely toward him. Dean doesn't fight it. He doesn't understand what he said but Daddy's response says enough. Mommy won't be coming back to them.


December 1989

Fort Douglas, Wisconsin, Dean POV

The door clicks close as dad leaves. Dean sighs. He's not sure how long it'll take dad to finish this hunt. Until then, they'll be mostly on their own. It means he's responsible for ensuring they've got food. Luckily, for now, there's some left of what he bought just yesterday. It'll serve them for a few days at least. Unless Sammy wants something special then he'll have to figure out what he can do. But after those days, he's not sure how he'll provide food for them. One thing he knows; he'll do all he's got to ensure Sammy gets food.

"Dean?"

Sammy stands in the room dressed in his pajama rubbing his eyes. He walks towards the table, sits down, and rests his head on the table. Dean sighs.

"Sammy, get dressed. I'll have breakfast ready once you get back."

"Ah, Dean! I don't want to get dressed."

"You're sick?"

"No!"

"You don't want to go to school?"

Sammy lifts his head and turns around with a furious expression on his face. He struggles to keep a smile off his face.

"Where did you get that idea from? I just want to eat in my pajamas."

"And I won't let you. So get dressed, bitch."

"Jerk."

Despite the bitch look he receives, Sammy stands up and dutifully gets dressed. With this taken care of, Dean turns his attention to the breakfast he planned to make. It takes him a few minutes to prepare everything. Just in time for Sammy to return fully dressed.


A few days later, Dean's preparing breakfast once more. He's keeping cornflakes to the side as he wants to eat it. He's prepared porridge for Sammy. Hopefully, everything will go according to his plan and he can enjoy his cornflakes. It'll be one of the few times a plan goes as desired. The door to the bathroom opens and Sammy slants into the room, walks to the table, and sits down. Dean sighs. He picks up the bowl of porridge and puts it before Sammy. Sammy turns around and looks at the kitchenette. A frown grows on his face. Dean bites back a growl.

"Dean, I want cornflakes."

"There's only enough for one portion and I want it to."

Sammy turns around and glares at him. He glares back. He's not backing down. No, not at all. He won't. Nonetheless, soon he sighs and turns around. He places the porridge back on the countertop and picks up the pack of cornflakes. He walks back to the table and slams it down all the while glaring at Sammy. Sammy smiles and gleefully prepares the cornflakes. Sighing, he walks back and picks up the bowl of porridge and a spoon. He leans back against the countertop while eating. Why did he even give in? Why? He knows why.