A/N
Thank you Kathy, Icy Icee, sammygirl1963, and Christine for the great reviews!
Dean threw a container of salt at Jacob from his duffel. "If you see anyone around that skips or you can see through, toss that at them. One second with your guard down, and she can toss you across the graveyard… or worse."
Sam was standing on the edge of the table, watching the hunter get ready for the night with wide eyes. He'd never been a part of the actual preparations while he was growing up. He was still too young back then.
Dean grabbed a sawed-off shotgun from the bed, opening it to check if he had the salt rounds or regular ammunition inside. Satisfied, it was closed up and stuffed in the duffel that Dean slung over his shoulder. He jabbed a finger at Jacob. "And make sure you listen to what I say out there. You're older than I was on my first hunt, but you've never been around this stuff. It can get hot." He couldn't emphasize that enough.
Jacob stared at the label on the salt container. Something so familiar that it normally barely registered to him could very well save his ass before the night was over. It certainly didn't look all that remarkable. The faded label was peeling in one corner. But Jacob held onto it carefully. "You got it," he answered with a sincere nod. Jacob had no plans to try to prove himself on this one. He wasn't usually one to rush into conflict anyway, and Dean was clearly the one in the know on this stuff.
Hopefully, in the end, he wouldn't actually need the defense. Maybe the spirit would be off somewhere else, and they wouldn't see a wink of her before burning the bones. Jacob didn't regret offering to help, but he never could have prepared himself for something like this. It'd be a learning process from start to finish.
Once Dean had packed away his weapons (including a shotgun that looked like it was shorter than was strictly legal), it seemed they were all ready to go. Jacob didn't have a weapon other than the salt, and he didn't ask for one. He wouldn't be any good with the arsenal Dean had at his disposal.
Dean went over to the table. "You… ah, good, Sam?" he asked, suddenly realizing he wasn't sure how Sam wanted to come with them. He obviously couldn't walk himself out to the car… and Dean wasn't sure if he was ready to just let Jacob carry Sam again in his hoodie. He was afraid to say that though. It would come off that he didn't trust his little brother to make his own decisions… after abandoning Sam in that motel for so many years, Dean wasn't sure he could make that argument to him.
Sam glanced back at Jacob, his round hazel eyes emotional. He didn't want to just push his new friend aside. He'd warmed up to Jacob after eight hours in the car. Telling each other stories about how they'd grown up, seeing the differences between their lives. The differences were stark even before Sam had been cursed. One life spent on the road, from motel to motel in the Impala. The other life spent in a neighborhood, with friends that lived nearby and a school to go to.
Despite feeling a new connection with Jacob, Sam still wanted to stick with Dean. Find out what his brother was like, spend time getting to know him all over again. The older Winchester was different from when Sam had seen him last… darker. More brooding. But there were brief flashes of the old Dean, and if there was anything Sam could do to bring that back out, he'd do it in a heartbeat.
Sam got an understanding nod from Jacob when he locked eyes with the big browns the size of his head up above. Grinning, he gestured at Dean to drop a hand. Dean's eyes lit up at that, his old personality shining through like a beacon when he realized Sam wanted to come with him. It was like seeing an excited puppy appear out of the dark hunter.
Dean cautiously extended a hand, expecting Sam to step on. He remembered the bruises on Sam's chest, and knew they were from grabbing the small guy too roughly. He was determined to never make that mistake. If a grab could put bruises on Sam, how much harder did the grip need to be to break an arm? Or a leg? Dean never wanted to find out.
To his surprise, Sam didn't just stand on his hand and wait to be lifted up. Before Dean realized it, Sam dashed across his wrist, using it like a sidewalk. The smaller brother jumped up, scaling his own way up to Dean's shoulder like a speedy monkey.
"Holy crap, you're fast," Dean said appreciatively, trying to turn his head to see Sam even as he straightened in place.
Sam slightly swaggered when he reached the peak of Dean's shoulder, unable to help showing off to the two humans. He might not be able to reach a doorknob or keep up when they were walking, but they'd never catch him in climbing skills.
"And don't you forget it," Sam snarked back, crossing his arms and leaning against Dean's neck with feigned confidence. He knew he was in no danger, but still there was a part of him that saw the size of his human brother and quailed slightly, his ribs twinging a reminder. None of this came across in his aspect.
Jacob grinned, remembering how surprised he'd been to see Sam climb up his own arm. He was clearly an expert at it, so his puffed up demeanor was entirely justified. Jacob could never hope to climb hand over hand so quickly, and Sam had hauled himself right up to Dean's shoulder in seconds. Jacob doubted anyone could have imitated the same feat.
He'd almost been bemused to see Sam look up at him so hopefully. Like he was worried Jacob might be offended that Sam wanted to go with Dean. Considering how far they'd come to get those brothers back together, Jacob certainly didn't plan to try and keep them separate.
Besides, if Sam would be hanging around Dean so much, his older brother would need to learn quickly how to carry himself when he had an entire person sitting on his shoulder. Jacob wouldn't need the skill as critically as he would.
"Don't let too much of that go to your head, or you'll topple," Jacob quipped, gamely playing along with Sam's banter. But, soon, Dean was leading the way to the door, and a sense of seriousness fell over the teen. He couldn't help a glance around when they left the motel room, looking for other people. There was no one around at this time of night. No new cars had entered the parking lot, so Jacob's completely shitty parking job was left alone. Not that it mattered.
They were taking the Impala. Jacob had to grin. While Dean tossed the duffel into the backseat, Jacob slid into the passenger side, glancing appreciatively over the interior of the car and running a hand over the leather seat. It was well-loved, but kept in excellent condition.
Once Dean was settled in the driver's seat, starting up the car, Sam allowed himself to relax away from his brother's collar and neck. He might never get used to being out in the open like that after so many years living in the walls.
Not that he should, really. It was fine for Dean and Jacob to be visible outside, but for Sam, even with humans as backup, it could be dangerous. All it would take was dropping his guard for one second and he could get snatched up. Jacob might have let him go and helped him find his way to Dean, but the next human might not. They had all the proof they needed of Sam's relative fragility, as much as he hated to admit it. He put a hand against his chest, willing the bruises to vanish. He wanted that reminder gone.
Though he wouldn't laugh at Jacob's injury, Sam did have to smirk that now they were both sporting injuries from their first encounters. Sam with Jacob, and Jacob with Dean. So far, Dean was on top as far as injuries were concerned.
Dean adjusted the volume on the radio before backing the Impala out of the spot. They were on the main road before he heard Sam's voice pipe up yet again, this time almost right in his ear. There was no way he'd miss Sam talking from there.
"Did dad give you the Impala?" Sam asked curiously, leaning over the edge of the shoulder to stare down at the bench seat between the two humans. A mess of maps and pamphlets was scattered there, many from the area but others Sam could see detailed Kansas or California. It was a good way to tell Dean's transient lifestyle, never staying in any one place for too long.
Dean bobbed his head. "When I turned sixteen. Called it my coming-of-age present, or some crap like that. Since I'd already drawn first blood on a hunt." Dean smirked. "I think he was starting to search for an excuse to give her to me. He had his eye on this massive truck he thought might help out with hunting more. Me, I'll never give her up."
"I wouldn't either," Jacob chimed in appreciatively. "This car is the shit." It was a stark contrast to his own car. His was reliable, but far from stylish. It was a good option for someone still in school, though, so he didn't complain. He just needed to get from A to B, and having a first car that was capable of road trips? It was lucky, all things considered. His old beat up mercury had gotten Sam and Jacob to Dean without even a hiccup.
As the small town passed them by Jacob stole a glance over at Sam. It was still kind of incredible that he'd discovered a tiny person, a curse victim. Completely at random. If Jacob had decided to stop earlier or later on his aimless trip, Sam would be going about his day in the motel, and Dean would be going on this hunt alone. Instead, Sam was sitting on Dean's shoulder, eagerly glancing around the cab interior.
He glanced down at the salt in his hands, rested on his lap. Jacob had a feeling he'd take a long time to fully grasp what he'd gotten himself into here. But at least he hadn't ended this encounter thrown out the door. It'd just leave a bad feeling for a long time, not knowing what became of the brothers after he helped Sam return to Dean. He only wished he hadn't ended up hurtingSam before figuring out the right thing to do.
"Hell yeah she is," Dean said. "I handle all her repairs myself, top to bottom."
They pulled into the graveyard all too soon. Sam, eternally curious about the world he'd missed out on for so long, almost had his head on a swivel the entire trip, watching the neon signs of the stores pass them by. It was like he'd been given a second chance, an opportunity at his life all over again. He knew in his heart that he may go back to the motel afterwards, but only to check on his family and make sure they'd be okay without him. It was time to move on, and he'd been offered a chance to return to his old life. It was a chance he couldn't refuse.
With the Impala parked away from any streetlights, Dean dug into the trunk, opening up the fake bottom to reveal his own arsenal he'd built up over the last few years. Sam watched as he took some of the salt shells out, putting them in a hidden pocket in his jacket. Anything could happen on the easiest case, after all. Two shovels were taken out as well, one shoved at Jacob without even looking. With those in hand, Dean closed up the trunk.
It was time to hunt.
A/N
Sam and Dean are figuring each other out, and Jacob hasn't gotten kicked out! What a perfect team to take on a spirit!
***The story ends 8/21! Go vote in the poll on tumblr to help decide the next story!***
Next: Coming August 18th 2016 at 9pm est.
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