It was winter again. That wasn't unusual. It did happen every year. It would be strange if it wasn't winter. The Winchesters were in a different town, city, state. Sam didn't remember where he had been this time last year. He didn't remember what state he had been in last month. Even now, he wasn't entirely sure what state he was in. He didn't know what school he was attending either. He thought that it had a 'Saint' in the name. Maybe.

Sam sat on the cold, frost covered ground outside his current school - whatever it was called. Dean was stuck in detention and his dad was out-of-town on a hunt. Sam was stuck waiting for Dean. He huffed. He was twelve years old. The school was a fifteen minute walk away. It was hardly a trek. This was ridiculous! He was allowed go out to hunt werewolves but walking home alone was unheard of. It wasn't even a dangerous route! It was through a suburbs and past a busy shopping centre. But, no. He had to wait an hour in the cold, outside of a deserted school building.

"Hiya Sammy!"

Sam jerked back into the school wall in shock. He stared open-mouthed at the white-haired frost covered teen in front of him. He had just appeared out of nowhere. Was it a spirit? How did he know his name?

"H…hi," Sam answered.

The teen frowned sensing Sam's uncertainty. His shoulders dropped, and despair covered his face.

Sam felt bad. He had no idea who - or what - the teenager was, but he had clearly hoped that Sam would know him. "I'm really sorry but who are you?" Sam asked.

"You don't remember me," the teen mumbled sadly, looking as though his entire family had died.

"Sorry, I…" Sam trailed off. He tilted his head to the side. White hair, blue hoodie. Big shepherd's crook. It triggered a distant memory. "Hang on, Jack Frost?"

Jack grinned. "You do remember!" He cheered. "So," he dropped down to sit beside him. "Whatcha doing, Sammy?"

"I'm just waiting for Dean, my brother. And, uh… I actually go by Sam now," Sam explained.

"Oh." Jack nodded. "Why are you waiting for Dean?"

"He's in detention. Again." Sam rolled his eyes. If Dean wasn't in detention then he was ditching him to go out with pretty girls. Sam knew that Dean loved him, and he knew that having his kid brother as a tagalong wasn't cool, but he felt a bit neglected.

"Sounds like he's a bit of a trouble maker," said Jack, smiling. "Just like me."

Sam returned the smile. "Yeah, I bet." He frowned, remembering. "Dean didn't think you were real."

"But I am real," Jack said, simply. As though that was that.

"Why didn't Dean see you?" Sam asked, he had wondered that when he first met Jack. Eventually, he had dismissed Jack as an imaginary friend. He still had some of the scribbles he had drawn with him and his 'best friend Jack Frost'. It had confused a few of his teachers, he recalled.

"You have to believe in me to see me," Jack explained. "It's complicated."

"Oh." Sam shivered. "Well I'm going to be waiting a while," he prodded.

"Why don't you just walk home? Isn't it warmer wherever you're living?" Jack asked, side-stepping the question. He didn't really want to get into the nearly three centuries he spent alone.

"I'm not allowed walk home alone," Sam said, following Jack's lead. He recognised when someone didn't want to talk about something.

"But you won't be alone," Jack pointed out.

Sam thought for a minute. "I guess not," he agreed. "I'll be just a minute. I have to tell Dean that I'll be home and not to worry." Sam turned and ran ten steps towards the school before he spun around again.

"Stay here," he ordered. "You disappeared the last time." And with that Sam hurried into the school.

Jack watched Sam's retreating figure. Dean hadn't wanted Sam near him when he was a toddler, he had wondered on that, but he wasn't going to mention it. While Sam was inside Jack entertained himself freezing the ground.

"Right, ready to go?" Sam asked panting for breath as he stopped beside Jack.

Jack nodded and they both started walking. Only for Sam to suddenly slip on some ice. Jack reached out and grabbed Sam's arm on instinct.

He stared in shock as his arm didn't pass through.

"Thanks for that… Jack?" Sam said, worried by the expression of disbelief on Jack's face. "Ja-ack" Sam called. "Are you alright?"

Jack grinned and looked up at Sam. "C'mon let's go!" he said, feeling lighter than a feather. Someone believed in him. Someone believed. In him!