Chapter 1. Young fates
A/N: I'm going on the premise that John is delusional and the supernatural don't actually exist, I know cop out but I really wanted to focus on Sam and Dean's bond and well messed up childhood without adding the supernatural aspect. It also clears a path for Dean to actually have a somewhat normal life instead of always being drawn back into the supernatural world (Sam as well but he somewhat had the strength to break away from it already).
"Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred.
How did it find us?
Did it steal into our lives or did we seek it out and embrace it?
What happened to us?
That we now send our children into the world like we send young men into war, hoping for their safe return.
But knowing that some will be lost along the way.
When did we lose our way?
Consumed by the shadows, swallowed whole by the darkness.
Does this darkness have a name?
Is it your name?"
-one tree hill-
Deputy sheriff Billy is talking to Sonny, a guy with large sideburns and a plaid shirt.
They are in a living room with fourteen year old Dean sitting on a couch with his hands cuffed next to him sits his nine year old brother Sam. Deputy Billy Steven Hewlett caught him red-handed stealing up at his store.
''So what'd they take?'' Sonny asks looking the boys up and down.
Deputy Billy looks at him and says ''Get this – peanut butter and bread.''
Sonny looks from the older boy to the younger assessing the situation. The older of the two leans forward, hands cuffed together while the younger sits half ducked behind whom he presumes is his big brother.
Sonny looks back at Deputy Billy ''Okay. And how about family?''
Deputy Billy answers ''Well, their old man called.''
So they are brothers, Sonny thinks.
Both boys look up at this.
''Once he found out what happened, he said let em rot in jail.'' Dean looks down at his knees, shame coloring his face.
''Well he said he'd be willing to come get the younger one but…'' Both boys heads snap up.
''But… what Billy?'' Sonny asks as the deputy looks slightly uncomfortable.
The Deputy waves Sonny to follow him to the kitchen where the boys couldn't listen in, mind you still keeping the young 'criminals' within their view.
''We ran the boys prints and well… they're daddy seems to have a habit of jumping from one state to another whenever social services tries to get involved.'' he says before adding significantly quieter, ''You know Laura? One of the social workers, she's been compiling the boys records from every place she can get it and well, they have a long list of ER visits. Many under different names but it got picked up by this new thing called facial recognition. It's this thing that can basically find your face everywhere if it's been on camera.''
''And how did you lot get access to such a thing?'' Sonny asks dubiously.
''That's the other thing, their daddy happens to be wanted by the F.B.I.'' Billy says putting emphases on every separate letter in FBI.
''What for exactly?'' Sonny asks observing the boys.
''Uhm…'' Billy looks at the boys and back to Sonny. ''Murder, assault, breaking and entering, fraud, impersonating an officer of the law, suspected for child abuse and child neglect. The list goes on from there…''
''No other family members able to take them?'' Sonny asks sympathizing with the boys' situation, it says a lot that the boys chose to steal food instead of money hearing how their daddy makes his living.
''Well here is what we have been able to piece together pertaining the boys so far. Names are Dean and Sam Winchester, fourteen and nine years old, born in Lawrence Kansas to a Mary Campbell and John Winchester. Mother is deceased, father is a retired marine who is thought to have had a psychosis after his wife died in a housefire some 10 years ago. No known living relatives.'' Billy says sounding sorry for the kids. ''Judge is off on a fishing trip. Boys are too young to leave in County lockup and might be a flight risk. So we thought it best they stay here till other arrangements can be made.''
''I don't see why not, man.'' Sony answers as they move back to the living room.
Taking off his sunglasses Billy responds ''Appreciate it, Sonny.''
Sonny noting a black eye on Deputy Billy asks, ''Where'd you get the shiner?''
The older boy laughs. Deputy Billy turns to Dean ''You think that's funny?''
''I think you're slow.'' Dean answers with a condescending grin.
Sorry or not Deputy Billy is a prideful man not known for his calm temper so Sonny intervenes for all their sakes, ''Billy, I got this buddy. It's all right.''
Deputy Billy, trying to remain calm but clearly pissed off, leaves. Dean waves goodbye sarcastically.
''You shouldn't do that, kid.'' Sonny says looking at Dean.
''Yeah? Why? Because he's a cop?'' Dean asks.
''Because when you make him mad, he leaves with the keys.'' Sonny counters calmly.
Dean's face falls, he holds up his cuffs, and shakes his head. Sonny watches, with a tiny smile on his face. Then he leans forward to pick up a paperclip from the ashtray on the coffee table.
''Eh, don't sweat it.'' Sitting in front of Dean, Sonny takes his cuffed hands to open up the cuffs as Sam observes from behind Dean.
Dean's forearms seem agitated and bruised, as if he was bound by tight bindings for prolonged amount of time or… no he sees it clearly now, those are hand prints for sure. Ugly purple and blue hand prints mark the older boys arms.
Sonny notes the marks with concern, ''Deputy do that?''
Dean scoffs and shakes his head.
''What, your old man?'' Dean shakes his head no again, though his eyes tell a different story.
''Well, then, how'd you get it?''
Dean turning back to Sonny, somewhat defiantly answers ''Werewolf.''
Sonny looks at Dean for a long moment, realizing he's not going to get a different answer from the kid he moves on, ''Okay.'' He turns back toward the cuffs, opening them up with the paperclip, and removing them. Sonny stands up and starts walking out of the room.
Freed, Dean stands up too, shaking his hands. ''So, how do you know we won't just run away?''
''Because you're hungry.''
Taking in his surroundings with his usual look of disinterest Dean answers for both himself and Sam ''No, we're not.''
''Well, then, why'd you steal bread and peanut butter? Seems like an odd score.'' Sonny walks into the kitchen before turning back to the boys, observing them.
He sees how the older one called Dean looks around with a blank face, acting nonchalant and disinterested all the while scanning his surroundings rigorously like a soldier would and no fourteen year old should. A stark comparison to the younger boy. Sam takes his new surroundings in with curiosity and an open disposition, there is some hesitation and caution there too but one look from Dean seems to cure the kid of it.
Shrugging off the comment Dean looks at some of the picture frames on the wall filled with boys, young men and some with adults staring back at him. ''So, what is this place, anyway?''
''It's for boys like you. You work the land. Teaches you some discipline and responsibility. Keeps you out of trouble.''
Sam looks up from the bookcase he was inspecting with guilt written all over his face. 'boys like you'
''We are hunters!'' John yells loudly, ripping the pages out of book after book. ''How many times do I have to repeat this! These,'' gesturing to the now destroyed non hunt related books, ''aren't gonna do a damn thing for us, they're useless!''
''Dad-'' Dean says carefully approaching his father, trying to calm him down. Laying a calming hand on his father's arm.
Grabbing Dean roughly, John throws him to the other side of the room causing his eldest to hit his side on the coffee table with a bang. ''Stay out of this Dean! This is between me and Sam.''
Turning back to Sam, John continuous his assault. ''Boys like you are the problem! You are wasting our time, space and money on this garbage! Money that could be spent on something useful! Something to save an innocent person, gone! And for what?'' Picking one of the covers out of the ruins on the ground, he scans the summary ''So you, in your selfish little world, get to read about some moron fake kid that travels through Europe?!''
''No I didn't mean… I…''
''No?... I?... God are you retarded too? It sure would explain this shit.'' John mocks his youngest son. Turning to see his eldest son finally dragging himself off of the motel floor, he grabs his jacket and heads for the door muttering, ''pathetic, I need a drink.''
After the door slammed shut Sam looked from the now ruined books to Dean and quietly mutters ''I didn't buy them, they're from the library… Is it still selfish if I just borrowed them?''
''No Sam, that's actually really smart. Don't listen to him when he's like that, he'll come back in a couple of days in a better mood. You know he's just stressed about our last hunt going so bad.'' Dean says wrapping his arms around Sam.
''He's angry a lot lately'' Sam trails of looking at the motel door.
Sam gets pulled back into reality by Deans laugh ''That's lame.''
''Beats jail. Come on. I'll fix you something to eat.''
Entering the kitchen Dean looks around suspicious of everything. Sam on the other hand jumps right onto a chair at the big dining table.
Sonny has his back turned to the boys, grabbing bread, sandwich spreads and meats out of the kitchen cabinets. Looking from the corner of his eye he sees the little one happily awaiting the sandwiches, the older one is another story.
Dean tries not to but he subconsciously looks to the food being prepared. God was he hungry, he can't show it though, never show weakness lest you want it to be exploited by the enemy. Besides his first concern should be getting him and Sam out of here before this Sonny guys starts showing his true colors.
Seeing Sonny peak at him just as he was staring at the food he curses himself silently, what will he want in return of this food? There is always a catch or price to pay, nothing good in life is free.
The older boy seems to be the protector of the younger one that much was clear to Sonny. He could imagine what he needed protection from hearing the dads rap sheet but the real question was who protected the older kid and what happens to them now?
''Here,'' Sonny says as he puts everything on the dining table, ''this way you boys can choose what you want on your sandwiches yourselves.''
Sam looks towards Dean for the okay, only starting when his brother nods in approval.
''You can take a seat as well son.'' Sonny says as he takes a seat himself.
Dean standing next to the table, hovering near Sam, straightens his back and robotically sits on the seat next to his brother.
A quiet but clear, ''Yes sir'' rings through the kitchen as soft crunching sounds come from the younger boy.
''You should eat something as well.'' Sonny says when the older brother doesn't show any intent of eating the food spread out before him.
''Yes sir.'' This Sonny reminds him of dad, not completely just the way he holds himself and though he would never admit it, it scares him. Better the devil you know than the one you don't right?
A teenager answering with yes sirs and no sirs sounds like a dream but in this case it worries Sonny to no bounds, especially because it's paired with immediate compliance.
Dean sees Sam eying him in question, usually he doesn't listen so well to others let alone treat them with the respect their dad expects to receive from his sons.
Don't set the house on fire when you're locked inside. Dean learned that the hard way, now he knows to check the doors before starting a fight with dad. Same goes here, they don't know how long they'll be staying here at the mercy of this Sonny guy. He should reserve his energy for when he needs it.
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