Supernatural does not belong to me, although I wish it did. I am simply playing in Kripke's sandbox for a bit. All rights and ownership are the property of Kripke and the CW network. I am not making any money from this; it is for my own personal pleasure. No copyright infringement intended.

Synopsis: Sam Wesson is trying desperately to get home to his not so perfect life for the holidays, but when a freak snowstorm stands him in a tiny airport in Jackson Hole, Wyoming he may find a new reason to celebrate the season. Dean Winchester doesn't believe in miracles and he has never stayed in one place for more than a few months. But when he meets Sam Wesson during the most festive time of the year, he might just have found something worth believing in.

NOTE: This story focuses on un-related Sam and Dean as they find one another on a blustery Christmas night. It is a romantic Christmas story. Light on the SLASH action, but it is there. Rated T.

NOTE: If you read my other Supernatural stories (which are NOT slash) or Hawaii Five-0 stories and do not read SLASH, please stop reading now…you have been warned.

M/M relationship

Please keep in mind that I do not have a Beta, all grammatical errors are my own and I hurried through the chapter to get it posted. Sometimes that means missed words...sorry for that.

Please Review: So I know there's interest

Chapter 12

Unexpected phone call

Sam leaned against the driver's side door. The snow had slowed to a steady falling blanket of white. He was reminded of a simpler time when things weren't so confusing and his heart was still his own. A small breeze pushed snow across the rising the mounds of white in soft puffs of snowflakes. But life seemed to have a plan and whether or not he was on board; it was going to happen.

He shook himself out of his thoughts and sighed. He needed to find Dean and it was obvious that that wasn't going to happen without some help. Sam pulled out his phone. A moment later a man answered.

"Hello?" There was a hesitation to the voice that was not lost on Sam.

"Hi Jason, it's Sam. I'm so sorry to bother you on Christmas, but I was wondering if you can help me run down a location?" He waited for the answer and hoped that Jason would be willing to do this for him. It wasn't normal for lawyers to call police chiefs and ask for favors.

"Sam." Jason's voice was surprised, but pleasant. "What can I do for you?" A child's voice rang out in the background and Sam was reminded that his own son was home with someone else on Christmas. His heart clenched at that thought, but the thought of Dean out there and possibly in trouble over-shadowed it. That and the fact that Adam would be so disappointed in him if he didn't at least make sure Dean was okay this Christmas.

"Have you heard of Dean Winchester?"

There was an intake of breath on the other end of the line and then a sigh. "I have. Why?"

"Any chance you can track his car?" Sam knew it was a long shot. The Impala was old enough that it wouldn't have any sort of electronic tracking systems. But maybe they could track it another way?

"Sam, that's not, strictly speaking, legal. Which you, as a lawyer, are well aware of." The pause in the conversation had Sam thinking that that was it and this call had resulted in nada. "But I'll see what I can do." The other man finally finished.

A rush of relief flooded through Sam and blew out the breath he'd been holding. "Thank you, Jason. I really appreciate any help on this one."

"Can I ask why you're looking for him, Sam?" The man heaved a long sigh and waited for a moment before adding. "He isn't the sort of person you generally deal with. He's a thief and he's been in jail twice for assault. Frankly, the only reason he's still on the street is because his father-in-law is the mayor." There was an uncomfortable silence as Sam waited for Jason to end the call. "He's trouble, Sam."

The lawyer took a moment to collect his thoughts and then swallowed thickly. The police chief wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know. But a part of him was certain that Dean wasn't the same man he'd been when he'd earned those nights in jail. And there was no denying that Winchester had 'earned' those nights. But there was no way that the handsome, funny and generous man that had driven Sam a thousand miles just so he could be with his son on Christmas could still be that man.

"Can you find him for me or not?" Sam asked in an even voice. He was careful to hide the irritation rising up inside him. That wouldn't get the lawyer what he wanted, which was the officer's help.

Jason cleared his throat at the simple question. He'd actually expected Sam to fight him and try to defend Dean Winchester's choices. But he hadn't done that; the lawyer had held his tongue and simply asked for help. "Yeah…yeah, let me see what I can dig up. How fast do you need it?"

"Honestly? Quicker would be better." Sam put the car in drive and pulled out onto the snow-covered street.

"Give me a couple hours."

"I really appreciate the help, Jason. Thank you." Sam was sincere and apparently Jason heard that in his voice.

"No worries, Sam. I'll call you as soon as I know anything." Jason hung up and Sam shook his head before making the turn toward home. There was no point in driving around the city alone and with no idea where he was going. Plus, Ellen probably wanted to get back to her own daughter Jo and her husband Bobby.

Sam pulled into his driveway, but he didn't get out of the warm car. He leaned his head against the steering wheel and let the disappointment wash over him. He had hoped to find some inkling of where Dean had gone, but he hadn't uncovered anything and now he was more than a little worried.

He wasn't a religious person. Hell, he didn't know if he even believed in a higher power. And yet when things went south in his life, Sam found that he would talk to this higher power. "I just need a little bit of help. That's all." He pulled in a long breath and finally turned off the car and stepped out into the snow.

XXXX

Dean was cold. Wherever Gordon had hauled him, it was probably down by the water, it was chillingly obvious that there wasn't any heat in the area. His head was getting fuzzy. But there was every chance that that was because he'd had his skull smashed into the cold concrete. He laid on the floor in the most uncomfortable position in the history of bound captives. Dean's shoulders were throbbing in a searing agony that made him wish he'd been born without arms. But then that would have made him more of a freak than he already was…so, maybe not.

He was reminded of most of his childhood. He'd spent a lot of it following his father from job to job, which meant that he'd never really had a home. And Dean had had to sleep on a lot of cold floors. Sometimes he even slept in the back seat of his dad's car. But then he'd met Carmen and he'd thought that his life had changed. That maybe things were going to go better for him, but that was before he'd met her father.

It hadn't taken five minutes for the man to pull Dean's police record and blackmail him into doing a whole lot of dirty work. Some of it had been bathed in blood. Oh, Dean had never actually killed anyone, but he'd sure as hell beat the holy loving shit out of people that owed that man money.

Dean had realized that he was in too deep when one of the men he'd been sent after was the son of a man known only as 'Crowley'. He was a businessman…or so he claimed. But Dean knew that he really ran the underbelly that fed Charles's network. Which meant that Crowley was far more dangerous than Charles had ever been. And Dean had put this man's son in the hospital.

He felt the familiar pang of regret roll through him. He'd found out later that Charles was making a play for Crowley's business and he'd used Dean to throw the other man off his game. And it had, Crowley's son had really recovered from that night. He'd been in a coma since that night and now it appeared as though Dean was going to pay for that mistake with his life.

His only regret at this point was…Sam. After spending years of his life with someone that he didn't love he'd finally found someone that he was willing to lay his heart on the line for. But as fate would have it, Sam wasn't ready to give that part of himself over to the idea of love.

That hurt worse than the pain that was keeping time with every beat of his heart. The tall lanky lawyer was everything that Dean had never known he wanted. But after spending the last few days with him and then meeting his charming little boy…Dean was lost. What Sam had was everything that the drifter had ever wanted. A family. A home. Someone to love. That infuriatingly gorgeous man managed to embody all of those things and this knowledge was cracking Dean's heart a little more with every beat.

The wind whistled outside of the small window that led to freedom. The window was letting a tiny amount of light into the room where Dean had been in complete darkness only moments before. The creak of a door had him stiffening in anticipation of what was coming.

"Sorry Sammy." He whispered into the beam of light that was now streaming into the cold bare room.

XXXX

Sam stared at the fire burning merrily in the fireplace. It was a direct contradiction to everything that he was feeling. He didn't feel warm and cozy. He felt cold and detached inside. The Christmas tree lights twinkled in the corner of the living room and it was only adding to the feeling of dread that had settled like a piece of coal in his gut.

The lead crystal glass, filled with scotch, hung limply in his loose fingers as he continued to stare at the dancing red and yellow flames. Sam had sank into the leather sofa with the bottle a few hours earlier and now he couldn't remember why he hadn't downed the whole thing. Because he would do anything to dull the pain that was stealing his sanity. He'd been well aware of the depth of emotional pain. He'd been subjected to it when Jessica had died and he'd barely made it through. Only the thought of Adam had kept him on this side of sober during the first few months.

And the pain of possibly never seeing Dean Winchester again was every bit as profound. What did that mean? He'd only just met the other man and yet he felt as though his heart was breaking into a million pieces.

"Dad?" Adam's small voice pulled Sam out of his own thoughts. He glanced up to see his young son hugging a small bear that Sam didn't recognize.

"Hey buddy. What're you doing up?" He held his arms out and Adam rushed forward. Sam pulled him up onto his lap and reached for the soft throw that was draped over the back of the couch. He wrapped his son in the blanket and hugged him close.

"I had a bad dream." His small voice shook slightly and Sam's heart ached for the boy. He'd been having nightmares on and off since he'd lost his mother. Apparently tonight was going to be one of those nights.

"Oh kiddo…it was just a dream." Adam's arms tightened around the small brown bear with the goofy smile. "Where'd you get the bear?" Sam asked in an attempt to divert Adam's attention from the dream.

A bright smile spread across his pale cheeks. "Dean gave it to me."

Sam was taken aback by that. He hadn't realized that Dean had brought anything for his son and he certainly hadn't seen the other man give the toy bear to Adam. "He did?"

"Yup. He said Axel, that's the bear's name, used to be his co-pilot. But that he would leave him with me if I promised to take good care of him." Adam sounded so proud by that small amount of trust that had been placed in him that Sam couldn't stop the slow smile that pulled at his lips.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be a great caretaker."

Adam turned his bright inquisitive eyes up on his father. "Did you and Dean have a fight?"

Sam's words were temporarily stolen by the direct nature of his son's question. He really hadn't considered that the 6 year old would figure out that things hadn't exactly ended amiably between himself and Dean. "Um…no, Dean and I didn't have a fight. He just…he promised his own family that he'd see them for Christmas. That's all."

"Dad, I told you Dean said he didn't have any family."

Why does my son have to be the one with the amazing memory? Sam wondered silently. "Ya, you did say that, didn't you…" He considered the wisdom of what he was about to say before he finally broke the news to his son. "I'm actually trying to find out where Dean went. I'd like to see if he wants to spend New Years with us."

The brilliant smile that split Adam's face was so endearing and infectious that Sam couldn't help but grin back. "Really?" Adam queried enthusiastically.

He ruffled the blonde hair. "Really." The sudden ringing of his cell phone pulled his attention and he nearly bent his spine in half trying to reach it an avoid dumping Adam onto the floor. He quickly glanced at the number, it was blocked.

"Jason? You find him?"

"Uh, yeah…my name is Carmen. Chief O'Malley said you're a friend of Dean Winchesters?" The woman's voice was completely unexpected. The fact that it was Dean's wife made it doubly unexpected.

Sam spluttered. "Um…yeah. Do I know you?" His heart sped up and he would swear that it was trying to beat its way out of his chest.

"No. But if you're a friend of Dean's I'm hoping you can help him." She pulled in a labored breath. "I think my father…" Her voice thickened with emotion. "I think Dean is in trouble."

"Do you know where to find him?" Sam couldn't help the hope that infused itself into his words as he waited for her answer. Adam was staring at him in concern. The moment he'd heard Dean's name he'd slid off Sam's lap and settled on the carpet at his father's feet.

"I think so. Sam, I don't know what he's told you about us. But I'm truly worried for his safety. I've moved on. My father won't accept that and I think he's done something very stupid." She sniffed. "Please help Dean."

"Tell me where he is and I will. I promise." His heart went out to this woman. He'd thought when he'd seen her on television that she would be a cold fish. But he could hear the honest concern in her warm voice. She was a woman that was related someone that she clearly had issues with. But the fact that Dean had been hauled into those issues wasn't sitting well with her.

"I'm calling Chief O'Malley back once we're off the phone. I'm going to go on record about the business dealings with Crowley and my father. This has to stop. With my testimony and Dean's, we should be able to put them both away so they can't hurt anyone else."

"Carmen, are you sure you want to do this? I mean…he's your father." Sam didn't want to dissuade a witness, but he also didn't want her regret this down the road.

"I'm sure. I should have done it a long time ago. But I was so wrapped up in my own stuff that I just couldn't see what was best." She sighed. "I'll text you the address and I'll have the chief send over units too."

"I've got to call a sitter for my son, but then I'll head over there." He wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do that the police couldn't.

Fifteen minutes later he was in his car and driving at breakneck speed toward the warehouse where Carmen believed her father had taken Dean. His heart was definitely trying to pound through his chest at this point. Sam's over-active imagination was coming up with all sorts of horrible things that could be happening to the drifter. He'd seen far too many crime scene photos when he'd worked as an assistant DA during the first five years of his career. None of that was helping him find a sense of calm as he cranked the wheel around the corner and the rear end of the car swung out as it slipped on the ice.

The wind had picked up and while it wasn't snowing anymore it was starting to blow and drift the existing snow. All of this was combining to make the driving conditions hazardous. Normally Sam wouldn't be caught dead on these roads, but this wasn't just any reason. This was Dean.

TBC…

Author's Note: Hi all. Sorry I've been absent from here for a bit. But I am trying to actually finish these stories before posting the new stuff. I apologize and send up this new chapter as penance. Please take a moment and leave a review.

Happy New Year!