Warnings and disclaimers: See chapter 1

Many thanks to CorieHall for the beta on this story.

Chapter 6 Introductions

The next morning Dean looked as tired as when he went to bed the night before when he slumped into the small kitchen at six am to put the coffee pot on. He was dressed in sweats and ready to run another ten miles this morning as they had been every morning since they had been there. Well John and Dean anyway. Sam got out of it for a few days while he settled into school. Dean knew their dad was planning to get Sam back into the running in the next couple of days so he was extra careful not to wake him when he got up and dressed every morning. John came out looking disheveled with his hair sticking up all over. Dean decided not to tell him because it would give him something to laugh about as they ran along.

True to recent form on their last few runs, John made a competition out of it to get Dean to really work and not coast along like he had been doing for the past year or so when he ran with John. Up until then, Dean had been pretending John ran faster just so he could get into a sedate groove and take some of the pain out of their morning runs. That had all ended when Dean and John had been chased by a Ware Bear one night. Dean had run for the extra weapons in the car so fast it made John feel like he was standing still. Dean had tried to palm it off to adrenaline afterwards but John had none of it to Dean's dismay. John had taken to running behind Dean and hitting him hard in the back when he thought he wasn't putting in one hundred percent.

When they returned, Dean made breakfast nursing a coffee then got Sam up to eat. While Sam was eating, Dean slipped in the now empty shower their dad had just vacated. Dean cleared up the breakfast dishes and made Sam's lunch before giving the place a quick tidy. John handed Dean his marked map with the days area highlighted and he drove Sam to school before starting out.

That afternoon, Sam was deep in conversation with his new friend as he approached the Impala. Instead of breaking off like they had the day before both boys walked up to the car and admired her. Sam opened the passenger door as Joe walked to the other side and spoke to Dean through the open window.
"I hope it's okay to look at your car man. She's a beauty. I'm Joe."

Joe thrust his hand through the window at Dean. Dean shook it once before letting go feeling like he wanted to wipe his hand.
"Pleased to meet you, Dean. I feel like I already know you. Sam told me what a great big brother you are."
"Did he now?"
"Yeah, Sam's great. You're a hunter to, like my dad."
"He hunting at the moment?"
"No he's injured. My aunt lives here so mom and dad stay here sometimes when someone is hurt."
"Your mom hunt?"
"Yeah but she's more of the brains of the outfit. Mainly does the research."
"What about your aunt?"
"She knows what we do but has nothing to do with it."
"Hmm. Well nice to meet you, Joe. We should be going."
"Oh yeah. No problem. See you tomorrow Sam."
"Bye." Sam waved as Dean started the car and they drove off.

Dean drove for some time before Sam said anything.
"You don't like Joe do you?"
Dean sighed. "I don't know. Something seems a little off with him. He is not backward at coming forward if you know what I mean."
"He was overly friendly at school. A little too friendly maybe. I figure he just likes having someone he can bitch to about his life but I'm being careful like you said Dean."
"Good boy Sammy."

When they got back to the motel, John was already at the table pouring over maps. Dean gave him his info then John told Dean to go for his run alone but to make it a short one as he was taking them out to dinner. Both Sam and Dean were surprised because John rarely took them all out together lately. Once Dean was back and tidy, John took them to a restaurant that had a full liquor license. Dean should have known as he saw John drink more than he ate. Dean was concerned John was drinking in the middle of a case but held his tongue so that an argument didn't break out.

John sent the boys back to the motel while he went out to do 'research'. Dean knew it was probably the same kind of research that he had been doing at the restaurant. Dean saw Sam looking glum and stopped at an ice cream place on the way home and told him to order whatever he wanted. It did the desired job of lifting Sam's mood but Sam surprised Dean by ordering him a triple chocolate cone as well as his own colorful concoction of fruit flavored frozen dessert. Dean helped Sam with his homework then did his chores around the room as well as doing laundry at the motel laundry. Sam went off to get ready for bed and Dean sat down and poured over maps of the surrounding towns at the rickety kitchen table.

TBC