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Dawn Of The Winchester

Chapter Three: Family Matters

Twin Falls, Idaho — 22:39 PM.

To say the least, it had been a long and confusing day, and the only thing that concerned Dean at that point was getting some much craved sleep before he headed out to find his siblings. They were the only thought on his mind, and they had been since he had woken up in that hospital room. He couldn't understand why they had left him. Were they okay? Had they been bitten? Is that why they had left him behind? Had they ran before they could turn into those things and bite him, too? No. He couldn't start thinking like that. Danielle had told him to find her, why would she have done that unless she thought there would be a chance they would still be out there when he woke up? He had to believe that they were okay, because, if they weren't, what else was there? Was else did he have to fight for? Where else did he have to go? What reason did he have to carry on in a world without them?

His eyes scanned the dark street outside through a small crack in the black paint and newspaper that covered the bedroom window. There were a couple of those things walking slowly down the road without any real sense of direction, and he found himself wondering if they even knew themselves what they were, or what had happened to them. Did they remember? Did they know their names anymore? Or were they simply monsters driven by the sight of flesh? As he stared at them, he considered the idea that they didn't know where they were headed or why. They walked in the same aimless way the man he had seen earlier did, but that had very quickly changed once he had seen him. The sight of someone living had seemed to spur him on with a new sense of determination, and a purpose had taken over his movements. Maybe that was okay with a couple, but he didn't want to imagine what it was like to have a whole army of them chasing him.

It crossed his mind, maybe his siblings were out there saving people, the way that family had saved him. Maybe they were still helping people. He had to believe that.

Dean felt the presence of someone standing behind him, watching him intently, and he heard the floorboard by the door creak under their weight. He didn't turn around. He didn't want to. He wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, to listen to anyone, and he couldn't bare another talk about what was happening out there, not when he had no real idea where his brother and sister were. All he wanted to do was find his family, and he didn't know where to start looking for them. Honestly, he was afraid.

There were soft, shuffling footsteps behind him as someone approached, and he heard whoever it was sit down on the bed behind him. He still didn't turn from the window.

"You said you had a little sister?" A small voice asked him, soft, curious.

The question admittedly took him by surprise, as did the voice, and Dean turned to face the young boy that was sitting on the bed. He didn't have the heart to turn him away. No matter how he felt, he couldn't do that. He forced a soft, tired smile, but the boy didn't seem to notice. "Yeah," He nodded. "Danielle." He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet, and he took out an old photograph. It was of the three of them, smiling together, and he found his eyes lingering on it for a long moment before he handed it to him. "She's two years younger than me."

Sam took the picture from him and said nothing for a moment, he simply stared down at it. "She's pretty." he commented.

"Yeah," Dean smiled a little and he moved to sit beside him. "She is."

Sam glanced between him and the picture again. "Is he your brother?" he pressed, curious.

"Yeah." Dean nodded again. "His name is Sam, too."

Sam gave a soft smile, but there was a sadness in his eyes as he did. "I had a sister, too." he told him quietly, and Dean felt his heart sink in his chest. "Those things got her."

"I'm sorry." he said, genuine, because he couldn't imagine anything worse. Especially at such a young age. "What was her name?"

"Charlotte. I called her Charlie. She was four." Dean shook his head, it didn't seem real. He didn't understand. "You told my dad you think your sister is still out there somewhere?"

Dean nodded. "I hope so."

"I hope so, too." Sam agreed quietly. "Charlie was my best friend. Were you friends with your sister?"

Dean felt the smallest smile tug at his lips at the question. It seemed so simple, so innocent, coming from someone so young. "Best friend I ever had." he admitted.

Sam shifted slightly, as though uncomfortable, and he gave a soft sigh. "Did you ever fight?" he asked, curious. Dean looked down to him and his brow furrowed slightly, puzzled, but the look on the young boy's face proved there was something more preying on his mind. "Before it happened, before they found us, we had a fight. I told her that I wasn't her friend anymore, but I didn't mean it. Do you think she died mad at me?"

Dean saw the fear in his eyes, and he saw the hurt. "No, I don't." he replied, automatic, but the fear in his young eyes never ceased. "You know something, my sister and I used to fight all the time when we were your age, even when we got older, sometimes they were pretty big, and more than once I think we acted like we weren't friends anymore. But, even when we said mean things to each other, I never doubted once that she still loved me, and I don't think she doubted it, either." He offered a reassuring smile. "I'm sure your sister knew. Family always know that, no matter what happens."

"I miss her." he said softly. "And my mom."

Dean sighed. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. He recognized the look his eyes, because he remembered seeing it himself when he had been that age. And he knew it wasn't something any child should ever have to worry about. "You know something, I lost my mom when I was only a couple years younger than you, a monster got her, too. But I know that she's up there watching over me, just like I'm sure your mom is watching over you. And I'm sure she's proud."

Sam looked up, somewhat hopeful. "Do you think she's with Charlie?"

Dean nodded, and a soft smile crossed his face. "I'm sure of it."

Sam handed the picture back to him, as though reluctant. "How are you going to find them?"

Dean shook his head slowly, and he looked down at the picture in his hand for a moment before he returned it to his wallet. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I will."

"Sammy?" A voice came from the doorway, and they both turned. "Come on, it's time for bed."

Sam offered him a smile but did as he was told. He hopped off the bed and left the room without argument. Nick watched him go, and he turned back to face Dean. There was a small smile on his face, as though he was still wary, and he never stepped foot inside the room. "Sorry." he offered.

Dean held up a hand. "No, it's fine." He smiled as he stood from the bed. "Don't worry about it."

"Your brother and sister younger?" he asked, curious. Dean's brow furrowed, and Nick shrugged. "Couldn't help but overhear."

"Yeah," He nodded. "Sam's the youngest. Biggest, but youngest." His gaze shifted to face him, and he noted the look in his eyes, it was the same look of loss and hopelessness and defeat he had seen in the mirror for years. He suspected it would never go away. "Hey, I'm sorry about your sister. Really." he offered, genuine. "And, your mom."

"Thanks." He stepped into the room and offered a small shrug. "You know, I always promised that kid I'd keep her safe. When my mom told me she was having a girl I was so disappointed. I wanted another brother, you know? All I thought was I'd have this bratty little kid running around, driving me nuts," He smiled a little, and a soft laugh escaped him. "You don't understand it until you've got one, right? Little sisters, they look at you like you're some kind of superhero."

Dean smiled. "Yeah," He nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean." His thoughts drifted back to his own sister, and he couldn't imagine the pain of knowing he couldn't protect her from the world. He didn't want to think about it, and he knew the amount of blame he would place on his own back if something did happen to her. "What happened, it wasn't your fault. You know that, right?"

But Nick looked anything but assured. "I was supposed to be her big brother, you know?" He pulled a hand down his face. "How does something like this happen to a four year old girl? What did she ever do to anyone? What kind of world is this for Sam to grow up in?"

Dean shook his head, perplexed. "I don't know, man." he offered, apologetic. "I wish I did."

Nick nodded slowly. "Big questions for this time of night, huh? I'll let you sleep. You look like you need it."

Dean sighed as the door closed behind him, and he was left staring at it, alone. He didn't know what to think. Were his brother and sister even out there, or was he being naive in thinking that they had survived? He had to wonder how many people had managed to survive it. A part of him wanted nothing more than to walk out the door right there and hunt his siblings down, but where would he get? Where would he go? He needed time to think, he needed time to plan, where was he even supposed to start looking for them? He tried to think where they would go, but nothing came to him. Were they running, or were they fighting? If they were staying on the move, how could he even hope to catch up to them? The possibility came to mind that he might never seen them again.

Maybe this time he really was asking the impossible.

Twin Falls, Idaho — 07:32 AM

Dean heaved a sigh as he secured his duffel bag over his left shoulder, and the guns inside it clinked together as he did. He pulled a hand down his tired face, and he would have been lying if he said he had gotten more than a couple of hours sleep the previous night. The only thought on his mind had been Sam and Danielle, and how he needed to find them, before it was too late. He was ready to find them, and he wasn't prepared to stop until he did. No matter what it cost him, he wasn't going to give up.

His eyes looked up to find Mark's, and he gave a grateful smile. "Thanks, man." he said, genuine. "For everything."

Mark nodded. "Don't worry about it." he assured. "You got somewhere in mind?"

"Uh, yeah, I have an idea." he offered, but even he didn't sound convinced by his words. He was going out on a whim, he knew that, but he couldn't think of what else to do at that point. It was the only idea he'd had in hours of thinking, and he didn't have a plan B.

He noted that Mark didn't look too confident, either, but he chose not to comment. "Stay safe out there, man." he urged. "You know where we are if you need to turn back."

"Yeah," He took his outstretched hand and shook it firmly. "Thank you."

"Good luck." Nick smiled, and Dean gave him a nod.

Before he could even think to move, Sam stepped forwards and threw his arms around his middle tightly. A little taken aback, it took Dean a moment to react, but he patted his back lightly, and he crouched down to face him and smiled. "You look after your family, you hear me?"

Sam nodded. "I hope you find your brother and sister."

Twin Falls, Idaho — 08:01 AM

Dean set out to a place he wasn't even sure would still exist. The streets were quiet, much quieter than what he had expected, but there was still something eerie about it all. Just the idea of the dead walking the streets with him made him uneasy, and he had to wonder where they all were. Mark had told him not many people had made it out of the city, so where were they? Where were all the people who had been turned into those things? Where were all the people Danielle had expected to be waiting outside the hospital for him? Had someone already dealt with them? Or were they lurking somewhere in wait? He frowned slightly, something wasn't right.

It was as he rounded a corner than his questions were answered. He had found them. Or, maybe, they had found him. His hand gripped the gun he held, and he found himself questioning whether it would be smarter to simply turn and run. The sound of shooting was only going to draw more of them to him, wasn't that what Mark had said? And he wasn't prepared for full on combat with an army of the living dead. It wasn't worth the risk of getting bitten. One bite, one wrong move, one second, and the search for his brother and sister would be over. He would never find them. Cautiously, he backed away, and he turned to head quickly back the way he came. Behind him, he knew that they followed. His eyes fell to a car, left abandoned in the middle of the road. The doors were open, as though the owner had flee in a panic. There was a chance.

Dean climbed behind the wheel and turned the key, and he held his breath. A wave of relief washed through him at the sound of the engine roaring to life, and he knew he had a plan in mind. His boot slammed down on the accelerator, and he didn't even hesitate in driving right through the middle of the hoard before him. Bodies hit the car, they bounced off the front, tried to grab the back, but he didn't even acknowledge it. He simply drove ahead in a straight line and barely blinked. He drove and drove until they were nothing more than a blur in his rear view mirror.

There was a nine hour drive between him and his destination, and he could only hope that it was going to be a safe one. But a part of him already knew different. A part of him knew there would be more of them waiting in the distance, ready for him, and all he could do was hope there weren't too many to take on at once. He didn't intend to die before he had found Sam and Danielle.

Dean was determined. This thing wasn't going to beat him.

Montana State Line — 17:41 PM.

Almost ten hours had passed since Dean had left Idaho, and he could only wish that his journey had been a smooth one. It was a drive that he would have given anything to forget. It had been long, painful, and deadly silent. The silence had been almost deafening, and it had left him alone with his thoughts. The more he thought about what was going on in the world, and the more he thought about his siblings, the more he considered the idea that something really had happened to them. They were thoughts we would have done anything to shake, but, no matter how hard he tried to block them out, they just kept on coming back.

He had seen thousands of those things walking the roads and he had driven past them all. Somewhere about four hours in he had simply stopped looking. He had stopped giving them any kind of acknowledgement He had seen old people, young people, kids. He couldn't even begin to imagine what had happened, or how many of them were out there. Maybe there were more of those things out there now than there were people. That wasn't a comforting thought to have.

The car juddered, and then it juddered again, he glanced down at the dash, and his stomach dropped. "Oh, come on." he muttered, and he shook his head in annoyance, hitting at the wheel as though he could encourage it to keep going. It rolled to a steady stop and he sat back in his seat, defeated. "You know, I never had this from my baby." he chastised, and then he frowned. "And I'm talking to a car." His eyes scanned the road ahead slowly, cautious, there was no other option, he was going to have to walk. This certainly hadn't been a part of his plan.

Dean cursed under his breath as he climbed from the car, and he secured the duffel bag of weapons over his shoulder. His gun was gripped in his left hand, ready to fire at anything that should move, and there was a determined frown on his face. It wasn't much further to his destination, and he could only pray that the road would stay as quiet as it was there. With that thought in mind, he set off walking down the highway.

It was a short walk to the state line, and the sight before him was nothing he could ever have imagined. There were hundreds of them swarming around the graveyard of cars that had been abandoned there. He had to wonder if the people there were the ones who had been driving the cars, who had, at one point, been trying to escape the place in the hope they wouldn't turn into what they had become. It was horrific. They paced back and forth, not seeming to know what to do or where to go. It was unlike anything he had ever witnessed, beyond anything he had ever experienced. Even for a hunter, he knew, this was way out of their league.

Dean stood there on the road for a long moment and simply stared on at them. None of them seemed to have noticed him, and he was more than content in keeping it that way. There were too many of them to fight off at once, and he knew that it would be suicide to try. He knew should he try to run they would only follow. What was he supposed to do? Where was he supposed to go? There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run, and he couldn't form a straight thought in his head. He had to do something, but what?

Taking the chance, he walked carefully towards the trees at the side of the highway. He had to get past them. The trees would be enough to cover him. They were thick, dense, but they made it hard to see anything that should be wandering around them with him. He was on high alert, ready to fire at any sound around him. But there didn't seem to be anyone there with him, and he dared to believe that he was going to make it without being caught. There was nothing, just silence, as though even the birds had vanished. He walked and he walked, not even sure that he was still headed in the right direction, but there was no way in hell that he was turning back, not knowing what waited behind him.

Whitefish, Montana. — 18:30 PM

Dean gave a sigh as he continued up the steep him. Twigs and branches crunched beneath his boots, and the sun shone down brightly over him as it set in the sky, to the point that he could feel it burning his skin. Everything up there in the woods seemed so normal, so calm, so quiet, as though there was nothing wrong in the world, but he knew that to be different. His mind wandered back to a time when he and his siblings had been teenagers, when they had hiked through those mountains together while they waited for their father to return from one of his many hunts. Sam had been so happy, so full of life. Danielle had done nothing but complain as she dragged herself up the hill, and he remembered her asking the question why anyone would choose to do such a thing for fun. It had been a good day, one where there had been no monsters, no hunting, no pain. There had just been them. Family. And he would have given anything to have them there with him now.

Those had been simpler times, and, back then, he could never have imagined himself being in the situation he was in now.

It was as he came through the thick trees into an opening that his eyes fell to the old, wooden cabin in the distance. It was a building he hadn't seen in a long, long time, since he and his siblings had been hiding up there with Bobby plotting how to take down Dick Roman. He smiled at the thought, simpler times. After everything, he had made it, he was finally there. As he approached he noticed the truck parked outside, one that he had never seen before, and he just knew that someone was in there. A flicker of hope leaped in his chest at the thought of it being his siblings. He didn't bother to knock on the door, he simply pushed it open and stepped inside, his gun still aimed and ready to fire against anyone or anything that jumped out at him.

But the cabin was quiet. It was clear that someone was staying there. Guns were placed on the table in the center of the room, and there was a man's jacket thrown carelessly over the back of the couch. He had a feeling, he wasn't alone there.

"Well, well, well," A voice came from behind him, and he frowned. "Dean Winchester."

Dean turned, curious, because he knew he recognized that voice from somewhere, and his eyes went wide. "Garth?"