Chapter two: I thought you were dead
As the Impala sped down the interstate Dean slowly eyed his brother Sam. Sam's hair had grown out and he had been wearing a tattered bandana to keep it out of his face. Dean had first teased him saying he looked like a pirate, but now Dean had grown accustomed to it.
"Dean, do you think Dad and Kate ever talked afterwards?" Sam asked. They were on their way to see their older sister Kate. They were both silent until now.
"No. Dad tried to call her, he even tried visiting her." Dean replied.
"She didn't let him in?" Sam asked. Dean rolled his eyes, he hated having to answer all of Sam's questions.
"No, she hated him for the way he treated her." He replied.
"She hated him over one fight?" Sam asked.
"No, she hated him for the way he ruined her life," Dean snapped. Sam fell silent. He remembered how much his sister hated hunting and how badly she wanted to go to Princeton.
"Well, she wanted to go to college-"
"Sam, please change the subject." Dean interrupted. Sam knew his brother was avoiding his pain.
They tuned off the interstate and into a small town. They passed through the little shops and parks and turned down a street with cute little family houses. Each house had a swing set in the yard and there were kids running up and down the sidewalk.
"That's the one," Sam said, he pointed to a brick house with white sun chairs on the front deck. Dean snorted as he pulled in the drive way.
"Who would have thought she'd end up here?" Dean said. Both brothers got out of the car and slowly made their way up the front steps. Sam pushed the golden door bell and the sounds of chimes could be heard inside the house.
The door slowly opened. A kid looking to be about eleven stood in the door frame. He was about five foot two with short chestnut hair and dark eyes.
"What?" He snapped. Dean and Sam were taken aback.
"Does a Kate Winchester live here?" Sam asked. The kid studied the brothers.
"No," he said simply. Dean felt his temper rise.
"Then who lives here?" He asked.
"A mom, a dad, a sister, and me," The kid replied coolly.
"Okay, listen up you little punk, we know for a fact that a Kate Winchester lives here, you either let us talk to her or else." Dean snapped. The kid smiled coyly.
"Or else what?" he replied. Dean took in a sharp breath.
"Don't make me take off my belt!" Dean threatened. Sam snorted at his brothers pompous remark.
"Mom, there's a guy here whose threatening to rape me!" The kid shouted. Dean widened his eyes. Before he could explain himself to the kid a woman appeared in the door frame.
She was average height, had chest length brown hair that was cut and layered, and a slim athletic figure. She studied Sam and Dean with a bored expression.
"Who the hell are you?" She asked. Sam extended a hand.
"I'm Sam Winchester and this is my brother Dean," He said. She raised an eyebrow and let a secretive smile creep on to her lips.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"We're looking for a Kate Winchester." He replied.
"You're lookin' at her," She replied. Sam widened his eyes and allowed his mouth to hang open.
"Kate! You look good." He said. She nodded.
"I wish I could say the same, but when I first saw you I thought you were a pirate." She responded. Dean snickered.
"And I thought you were dead," she snapped at Dean. He shook his head.
"Yeah, most people do." He replied. The kid looked up at his mother.
"Mom, you know these guys?" he asked, his voice disappointed.
"Sean, go baby-sit your sister." Kate said to the boy. He rolled his eyes.
"Why?" He moaned.
"I'll give you your allowance early." She said. With that Sean ran past the door and out of sight. Dean studied his sister, she was three years older than him and she still looked younger than him. She wore a tight white sweater and faded blue jeans.
"Well, are you going to stand out there all night or are you coming in?" She asked. Sam and Dean stepped into the house. The scent of vanilla filtered through the air. She led the men into a big marble kitchen.
"Have a seat at the table; can I get you a cup of coffee?" She asked.
"Um, yes please." Sam said. After the coffee was served Kate took a seat next to her brothers.
"So what brings you boys to Vermont?" She asked. Before either of them could answer a man entered the kitchen. He looked about thirty-six years old, he had dark raven hair, and bright silver eyes.
"Honey, don't make plans tonight because we are going out to celebrate!" He cheered.
"I'm guessing you won your trial debate?" Kate asked.
"Yeah," the man cheered.
"Nate, look who stopped by." Kate said. The man studied Dean and Sam.
"Can I buy a vowel?" he asked, obviously not knowing the brothers.
"Dean and Sam, my brothers," she said. The man widened his eyes.
"Dean and little Sammy! I haven't seen you two since Dean was fifteen!" the man said. Sam studied the man.
"Nathan!" He yelled, surprised. Dean turned to Kate.
"You married a hunter?" he asked. Kate nodded.
"Ex-hunter," she corrected. Dean faced Nathan.
"You stopped hunting?" he asked. The man sighed and looked down at his feet. He pondered for something to say.
"Yes, I didn't want it to affect my kids' lives." Kate answered for him. Both brothers exchanged glances.
"Yeah, but I completely agreed." Nathan said.
"You boys were about to tell me why you came?" Kate asked. Sam and Dean sat opened mouthed.
"Yeah, about that," Dean said.