"There's entails turning up near a creek in Swansea, Illinois. You in?"

Steve rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up with his cellphone pressed to his ear. He yawned, "Great way to start the day. I guess a 'good morning' just took up too much time, huh?"

Dean's cheerful voice replied, "Nah, entrails are how we hunters start the day with some fresh hunter's helper!"

Steve sat up and scratched his bare chest, "It's too early for whiskey, Dean. Are you and Sam headed to Illinois already?"

Dean laughed, "Dude, we're all revved and ready to go. We're in Clayton. That mean's you've got like thirteen minutes, seventeen if we stop for donuts, to get your ass outta those pajamas, outta bed, and ready to rock and roll."

Steve replied, "I'm not wearing any pajamas!"

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. Steve actually thought Dean's phone had lost signal before Dean said, "Well then. Didn't take you for a guy to sleep in the buff, but I'm down. I wouldn't have minded if you did that when we were hunting together; for future reference."

"I'm not naked. I'm wearing undergarments. I'm at the Vegas Inn motel across from the Denny's. I'll be ready by the time you guy's get here."

"Don't rush on my account. If you answer the door in your undergarments I will not be offended in the slightest."

Dean was flirting. Steve damn well knew the man was flirting with him. He might not really know how he could flirt back, but he knew Dean was doing it. Steve was going to shock him when he kissed Dean for real, on the lips, and although he didn't know what time would be right he was going to do it during the hunt in Illinois. Dean wouldn't know what hit him, "It's still impolite, Dean, I'll see you when you get here."

As much as Steve liked talking with Dean, he couldn't waste precious time not getting ready. He wanted to make a good impression on Sam. His hair mussed up, half naked, and in his underwear wouldn't make a good first impression. Sam meant so much to Dean. Steve just hoped Sam would like him and see how much he liked Dean. He had already ironed his shirt and pants the night before, so he just needed to jump into the shower, brush his teeth, and do something with his hair.

Steve finished tying his boots when a fist pounded on the motel door, "Police! Open up! We have you surrounded and we have donuts!"

Steve shook his head and chuckled making sure it was really Dean and Sam at the door before he unlocked the door. With a box of donuts under one arm, Dean put his hand out before Sam could take another step, "You put the saltline in the crevice between the carpet and the door; smart. That means you get two donuts, while I get the rest."

Sam furrowed his brow, "You're going to share whether you like it or not."

"I wouldn't like that. That's why I'm not gonna do it."

The back of Steve's neck heated up when he realized he was leaving his guests out on the stoop. His mother would never stand for such a thing. "Where are my manners! Please, come in. It's good to see you again, Dean." Dean winked at Steve and with the donut box still in his hands he hopped onto the bed and made himself at home. Sam stood with his hands clasped in front of him and his shoulders slumped in an attempt to make himself shorter. Steve couldn't help but think the man had a pleasant non-threatening face in contrast to his gargantuan height and his muscular build. He didn't swagger like Dean or have his incandescent energy, but Steve was getting a good feeling from Sam. He stuck out his hand, "Steve Rogers; though you probably already knew that. It's good to finally meet you. Dean always talks about you; all good things I assure you."

Sam firmly shook Steve's hand, "Yeah, Dean probably told you that I'm a girl, obsessed with salads, and an all around fun sucker. Still, It's good to meet you, Steve. I don't mean to be rude, but I didn't expect you to be so-young."

Dean huffed, "I ain't a cradle snatcher, Sammy. He's legal; not even cutting it close either."

"I'm twenty five." Steve asked, " That's not a problem is it?"

Sam was worried Steve was too young for Dean. Steve wondered if his years under the ice counted towards him being counted as a ninety year old.

Sam shook his head, "No, it's not a problem. I was just a little surprised. I don't know how much Dean told you about me, but he was pretty vague when it came to talking about you."

Dean glared at Sam, "I don't have to tell you everything. Steve's awesome, and he's doing pretty awesome at hunting so far. That's really all you need to know."

Steve said, "Weren't you saying there were entrails in Swansea?"

"Oh yeah, it slipped my mind with Sam calling me a dirty old man."

Steve had heard Dean talk about Sam's bitchfaces, and now he was sure he'd witnessed one. Sam said, "I didn't say that. Anyway, Dean's bitching aside, the fact it's just entrails turning up and not actual bodies is pretty hinky. We've been looking into any crimes in the area just incase it's a human thing, but it looks more like our kind of thing. We should head to Illinois and check out what the police are thinking, see if there are any local legends or hauntings, and then gank whatever's killing off people."

Dean tossed the donuts to Steve and stood up, "Easy, right? Not too tough for a newb after that wendigo. You ready to head out."

Steve took a chocolate donut out of the box, "Yeah, my stuff's in my backpack. I just gotta give the key back at the check-in desk. I'll just follow behind you guy's on my bike if that's okay."

Sam nodded, "Yeah, that's fine. Just don't get lost. Dean doesn't remember sometimes other people actually follow the speed limit."

Steve chuckled at Sam's joke and went to take the room key back. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but his ears picked up Sam and Dean's conversation anyway.

"Sammy, quit making me sound uncool in front of Steve."

"Dude, I'm your little brother. It's practically my job. If it's any consolation I expected worse. He seems like a nice guy even if he's nuts for wanting to hunt."

"I really like him, so could you at least make it seem like I'm awesome?"

Sam laughed, "Okay, I'll try."

Steve grinned. Dean liked him. He admitted it to his brother. Dean really liked him. Sam thought he was a nice guy. Steve was going to show Sam he was good enough to hunt.

Steve borrowed a suit from Sam and received his first fake ID. He didn't really see himself as a Chris, but Dean assured him they'd just refer to him as Agent Evans. The suit fit alright, even if the legs and sleeves were kinda long. Sam told him it was barely noticeable. Sam and Steve would go to the police station to see what the cops thought was going down and where it was, while Dean would have a chat with one of the known victims family. Sam said they'd meet up after for lunch. Dean whined about having to get information by himself, but Steve had a feeling he knew what Sam was up to. Sam wanted to speak with Steve without Dean hovering. He wanted to get to know Steve without Dean around, and see how he'd do in the field.

Steve understood that, but it didn't make him any less nervous.

Since Dean refused to let them borrow the Impala and both of them wouldn't fit on Steve's motorcycle, so they had to walk through downtown to the police station. The weather was pleasant, if not a bit breezy. Halloween decorations were already being put out. As they walked Steve commented, "People are already getting ready for Halloween and it's only early October."

Sam replied, "I can't say I really like Halloween due to mine and Dean's lifestyle, but people do get excited about it. Dean's excited about getting bags of candy discounted the day after."

Steve chuckled, "That sounds like him. I've never really celebrated Halloween either."

"You ever have to stop a powerful demon from being summoned by witches on October 31?"

"No.- I'm sorry"

Sam slapped Steve's back and grinned, "I'm just messing with you. You seem pretty okay with our life, and that's really necessary if you plan to be around us. I think you're crazy for wanting to hunt, but hell so am I. I just wanted to be sure you wouldn't think you could talk Dean out of this life because it wouldn't work. Dean's a hunter, he's accepted that, and he truly wants to help people that way. I've had my doubts, but I've also realized hunting is my life and Dean's part of that. It's been really been only Dean and I since for as long as I can remember. Dean was practically my mom and dad, and he shouldn't of had to be, but what's done is done. I just want you to know that Dean may be my older brother, and I care about him alot. You don't seem like a bad guy, Steve, but Dean's been hurt and betrayed one too many times. He may act like it doesn't bother him, but my brother's got the biggest heart of anyone I know. I just really hope you won't be one of the people to hurt him. I really don't."
Steve nodded, "I get it. The duty you have to save people so others can be safe, I get it. I wouldn't try to stop Dean from that. I'm actually catching the bug, so I'll try to help him out as much as I can and have his back. Dean's a good friend, a good hunter, a good man. I won't hurt him." Steve blushed, " I care about him too. I really think I might be in love with him if you can believe it."

Sam's eyebrows shot up, "Wow, well that's great really. I just think you might want to be cautious around Dean using the 'L' word. He'll need to be worked up to it, but he's not as bad as he was when he was younger."

"I'll be sure to remember that."

Steve opened the door for Sam once they were at the police station.

He followed in Sam's steps as Sam went right up to the chief of police and flashed his badge when Sam did, "I'm Agent Cortese of the FBI and this is my partner Agent Evans. We're looking into the recent missing person cases."

The chief was a rotund man with a bald spot on the top of his head. He frowned at Steve and Sam, "Sheriff Rodenberg, what are two FBI doing out here?"

Steve did his best 'Listen to Captain America voice' and said, "Sheriff Rodenberg, my partner and I are investigating the missing person's cases, which is why we are out here, as you put it. We'll need any information or leads you and your department might have on the case in order for us to help with the investigation."

Sheriff Rodenberg sat up straighter in his chair and stammered, "Yes, Sir. I mean- I'll have my deputy get you those files right away. I'm warning you it's not much, but anything helps right."

Sam glanced at Steve through the corners of his eyes and smirked, "That was really good for a newbie."
Steve shrugged, "Lucky, I guess."

The Sheriff had been right when he said they didn't have much. No one really knew what was happening and didn't have any leads. Dean met back up with Sam and Steve at the lake climbing under the police tape not sure what else they should do. Sam and Dean poked around the lake looking for any EMF or any large carnivorous animals in the water. Steve leaned against the Impala and watched. He felt like he'd heard of some kind of creature in a legend or story before, but he couldn't put his finger on what.

A small white horse walked over to the edge of the water, and Sam walked over to it. He asked, "Dean, had there been any reports of animals being eaten or was it just missing people?"

"No mass amounts of animals, just the missing people so that horse should be safe. Where'd it come from anyway."
Sam shrugged, "I don't know, but we should check in town to see if anyone's missing it."

Sam walked slowly and calmly closer to the horse so not to startle it. When it appeared to be calm and tame Sam gingerly put his hand on the horse's side, "That's a good girl."

That was when Steve remembered.

It had been an old story his mother had told him to keep him away from the rivers.

His grandmother in Ireland had taught it to her, and she taught it to him.

Steve yelled, "Sam, get away from that thing! It's a kelpie!"

The kelpie roughly turned it's head to Steve, and it started to change. It grew hideous and slimy. When Sam tried to pull his hand away it stuck to the monster. Sam yelled, "Dean, my hands stuck!"

The kelpie started pulling with all it's might Sam's large frame towards the water. Sam pulled back as hard as he could and tried ripping his hand from the sticky mess, but it wouldn't budge. He dug his feet into the ground as the kelpie started pulling him into the water, "Dean!"

Dean raced to Sam as the kelpie had pulled Sam waist deep into the water. Steve ran from the Impala to them and tried to think of what his mother had told him about kelpies. She probably never would've thought Steve would try to kill one. Dean cut the part of the kelpie stuck to Sam off and shoved his brother onto the store. The kelpie slammed it's body into Dean sticking itself to Dean's side. It started to swim under the water bringing Dean with it.

Steve said to Sam, "Silver. Kelpies hate silver. Shoot it with a silver bullet and I'll go get Dean."

Steve quickly shrugged off his shirt and pants to lessen the drag in the water and jumped into the lake. Bullets speed through the water past him to hit the Kelpie. Dean struggled against it as he tried to hold his breathe, but his mouth eventually opened to take a breathe taking in the murky water. Sam shot the Kelpie full of silver bullets and it started to decay from Dean and sink to the bottom of the lake. Steve wrapped his arms around Dean's waist and pulled him away from the beast. He swam as fast as he could to the surface and Dean choked and spat out the water, coughing as he tried to clear his lungs, he shivered against Steve's chest.

Sam helped Steve pull Dean out of the water and patted his brother's back as he coughed up water. Dean grumbled with a sore throat, "I am not ever swimming again."

Sam chuckled, "Like you ever did before. Remember that ghost that drowned people. If we go into the ocean we'll probably end up attacked by mermaids or something."
Steve put his jacket around Dean's shivering body and used his own shirt to attempt to dry himself and Dean off. Dean glanced at his chest and grinned, "Damn it, if I knew I had to almost drown to get your clothes off I would've done it a long time ago."

Steve blushed and Sam rolled his eyes. He shut Dean's rant about him undressing with a kiss. Dean was startled, but after the initial surprise he kissed back. Sam pretended he didn't see anything.

After they were all dried and clothed and Sam went out to get Dinner and hot coffee, Steve and Dean sat down to talk about their relationship.

Steve said, "I don't really have much experience with these kinds of things, but I wanted to ask you if you might want to go steady with me?"

Dean raised a brow and smiled, "Did you just say go steady?"

"Yeah. I did."
Dean kissed Steve's cheek, "I really want to. Hell ,I don't have much experience with these kinds of things either. Most of my relationships are usually only one night and the longest I had ended horribly and we weren't all that good for each other. I mostly leaned on her when I lost Sam and stayed around for her kid. Doesn't matter to me if you've never even been on a date. I'll go steady with you on one condition."

"What's the condition?" Steve asked.

"You come see mine and Sam's home and meet the rest of our family."

Steve smiled, "I'd love to, but I have one condition too."

"What is it?"

Steve kissed Dean softly on the mouth and spoke when he pulled back, "You go on a date with me before we leave Illinois."

Dean wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and kissed him back, "Deal."