1993

They didn't exactly celebrate the holiday seasons, either of their families. Kat had gotten used to it, that it wasn't something she should be expecting from a young age. For Dean it was a little different; John at least tried. Or he did for a while at the very least. Long enough for Sam to have an aching taste of normalcy, to look forward to Christmas for at least having some time to spend with his father. Kat missed the big affairs with family she didn't really know sitting down to eat a turkey dinner, and afterwards she got to sit under the tree with the adults watching her on as she ripped into the presents.

Janine never put another tree up again. The most Christmas-y it got was driving down the highway with the radio softly playing a Christmas song or two before it turned off. Sometimes it was those happy cartoons where they enjoyed the festivities. Kat wasn't even nine years old when she stopped watching. By the time she was almost fifteen years old, she was a little out of touch with the Winchesters before they bumped into each other again about a week before Christmas in South Dakota.

John was working what was supposed to be a simple salt and burn, but was really turning into something more complicated. John had pulled Dean out of class -something he was usually reluctant to do -and had him helping out. He'd put a call into Bobby, giving him some details of what was going on since there was no paper trail about what had happened to this house before. Janine was pretty used to dealing with situations like this and she was called in to help John out. It was debatable over whether or not he knew it, but her help was welcome in the end.

Until the part came where the poltergeist got one up on the two of them and Janine wound up in the hospital for the next month to recover. She didn't want to stay, but she did respect the doctors and nurses and so she charged John with looking after Kat until she was well enough. To say it was awkward was an understatement, with John passing off as her mother's boyfriend.

By the time Christmas was approaching, John drove them out to Bobby Singer's place and dropped them off before leaving. He said he'd be gone for just a few days, long enough to check on Janine and some quick research. Sam just shook his head, trying to hide his disappointment while Dean nodded along. Kat was just glad to be out of the car. She liked John well enough, she really did, but spending that much time in the confined space of the car was just a little unbearable.

Bobby was more than happy to see them all and look after them. That was the first Christmas in years that dinner actually resembled a real meal. Ham and potatoes with apple pie for dessert. It was so good. It wasn't a feast, by any means, but it was different and nice. Dean dove right into the pie, Sam chattered about school and Kat felt like a bit of an outsider. She didn't really spend that much time with Bobby, he was an acquaintance of her mother's, no doubt someone she had met through John, and there was a connection that both Sam and Dean shared with him. And Kat was sitting here while her mother was in the hospital. It wasn't that she missed her mother, she was glad to be away from the woman and grateful to be with Sam and Dean. But she felt like she was intruding on their home -and she knew damn well that they didn't get to do this very often.

She didn't finish her piece of pie, instead pretending to head off towards the bathroom before slipping out the back door and wandering out-of-sight to an old rusty blue car. It was mostly taken apart, the mangled seats arranged nearby. She crawled through the wreckage, finding the perfect spot. She wandered back, grabbing the seat and hauling it back over behind the pick-up truck. Judging by the condition of the seat, she was pretty sure it was going to be scrapped. There wasn't much salvageable from it -a handful of fabric and leather maybe and some stuffing. She settled down on the torn thing, wrapping her arms around her legs as she looked out across the wreckage yard. Kat felt alone and it was altogether unfamiliar and too familiar. School after school, wave after wave of people she knew nothing about and didn't care to know about and inside that building behind her were two people that she really did care about but never had any way of keeping in touch with.

"You forgot this."

Kat jumped, turning to look back at Dean too quickly and cracked her head against the side of the truck. She moaned in pain as he laughed, walking around to sit beside her, carrying her unfinished piece of pie.

"You klutz," he joked. "I don't know if you should eat this -you might choke on it."

"Oh ha-ha Dean, I'm glad you're enjoying my pain," she sneered, rubbing the back of her head. "Why didn't you just eat it anyways, isn't that your thing? You love pie."

"Does it really matter?"

"Uh yeah, just bit because I swear if you came out here to make me hit my head only to eat that in front of me, I am so going to take you down a peg or two."

Dean snorted, "Is that a challenge?"

"No. Now give me my pie." She didn't wait for him to do it either, snatching it from him before he could change his mind. Dean wasn't that courteous.

As she worked on finishing off her pie, mostly just so that Dean wouldn't get it, he moved to sit down beside her and she shuffled over. There was barely enough room on the seat, and it was so worn that the coldness from the ground was starting to seep through. It wasn't the most comfortable place either. She licked the last bit of whip cream from her lip, setting her plate and fork aside to take back in for Bobby later.

"So what, you think you think you got good enough to beat me in the last few years?" she asked, smirking at him.

"Oh pfft, you don't even stand a chance."

"Really?" she dared, smirking at him. "Prove it Winchester."

It wasn't unusual for them to practice either. And every time they saw each other since their parents had started training them, Kat had beat Dean's ass physically. He was a better shot, but she'd been literally kicking his ass for the last seven years. They hadn't seen each other since they were twelve. Kat realized with shock as they moved towards a more cleared space, that Dean was taller than her. They sparred off, watching each other warily before they moved in. He wasn't just taller, but leaner and he knew how to fake which way he was going better than he ever did before. He caught her off surprise, when she was watching his chest for his usual giveaway and he dragged her down to the ground.

But Kat was nothing if not a fighter, and even as Dean was moving to pin her, she was moving her body to counter it. Her first attempt was met with a surprising resistance as she realized that he had become more muscular during their time apart.

"If you wanted to feel me up, there are better ways," he laughed.

"In your dreams," she grunted, blushing as she threw him off of her.

Dean laughed, shifting easily on the balls of his feet. "Aw look at you Kitty, all dusty and defeated."

"In your dreams!" she growled, launching herself at him good-naturedly.

They tussled for a good ten minutes, and in the first five she wound up sitting on Dean but in the next five she found herself pinned under him again. This time it was different than it had ever been as she stared into his eyes -had they always been that green? She could feel his breath, and the way his body felt against hers. With a jolt she realized that he was looking at her the same way she was looking at him, and he shifted slightly, almost closer to her but that wasn't -

Slowly she shifted, leaning up towards him, as curious as she had ever been when she felt his lips meld to hers. Nervously she pulled away, staring at him in surprise and seeing it mirrored back in his gorgeous eyes. It was a moment of silence, full of energy and apprehension, and the very air seemed to be settling over them like static when that cocky grin of his made its way onto his face.

"Feeling better?"

"You-you asshole!" she growled, pushing back against him.

"You know you can't win," he taunted.

"Watch me." And then she kissed him.

It was as though a switch had gone off. The hesitancy and curiosity that had been there seconds ago was gone and replaced with something akin to urgency. Chaste kisses quickly turned to hot, open-mouthed kisses and roaming hands that were so eager to learn more of the other's body that it was impossible to deny. It didn't feel as cold outside as it was, with Dean right over her as she worked her hands under his shirt. Kat marveled as she felt him shudder under her cool touch, ghosting along his back to feel the firm muscles there. She could feel his hands gliding up her sides even as his tongue brushed against her lip.

"Ew, guys. Um Bobby wants to see you," Sam all but yelled from the other side of the truck, his hand firmly planted over his eyes.

2001

Kat was enjoying spending time by herself, tossing back a few drinks as she worked the pool table with poor and clumsy hits. The men who were playing with her all wore identical cocky grins, thinking that she was going to blow all of her money pretty quickly. A few of them kept giving her lessons and correcting her stance -it was actually hard to keep her position incorrect as she prodded the cue ball right into the eight ball, sinking it and losing the game once again. She took a break to back up to the bar and grab another beer, pouting all the way and mourning her intentional loss.

She was sitting down at the counter, sipping on her beer. It was the fourth of July and this bar wasn't quite packed, but it was busy enough. Most people were out with their families, watching the fireworks and preparing dinner. Kat liked spending her fourth of Julys in the bars, making a fortune in hustling the idiots she played with. She played up the clueless girl act, tossing in some booze to truly appear to be the worst pool player anyone had ever seen. Or close to it, at least. Sometimes people caught on to her act, because to be such a bad player required a certain degree of skill. She never dropped the cue ball off the table, for example, whereas many inexperienced player would do it. Giving money to the owner for those costly shots didn't guarantee that she'd win it back.

The bell sounded as another customer walked in. Kat took her beer over to the table, watching the guys as they worked the table. They were average, decent enough, but she had been doing this since Dean had first taught her how to play. She smiled a bit, it would be great to try and hustle him at a game. They didn't usually spend their time together in bars, let alone playing pool, when they ran into each other or met up. It was easier to keep track of him, considering they both had phones of their own. And their own vehicles. She hadn't seen Janine or John in a few years, and was actually quite glad for it. Living on her own was working out great. Even if some of the cases were a bitch, she did just fine on her own.

They dragged out their game long enough that Kat was drinking a fresh bottle of beer. She was getting close to her limit, so most of it was pretend with some exaggeration. She would need to get the hell out of here pretty soon, once she wiped the table with them. Happily she went over to them, dropping the last of her cash and challenging them to a match. And they all accepted, even going so far as to let her break while they hid their snickers. Kat flashed them a winning, charming smile, and sent the cue ball straight to the center cluster, scattering the balls and pocketing a solid. Silence suddenly fell around the table as she took her next shot, pocketing one after the other until it was only the eight ball and she missed the pocket she was aiming for. By the time it was back to her, there were only four balls left and she took down the eight ball on her second shot.

"Hey babe, I think you've had enough," husked a very familiar voice in her ear as his arms wrapped around her waist. "One lucky round is enough for you."

"Oh but hunny," she whined, leaning back against him as she pouted up at Dean Winchester.

"We have to get home now," he said firmly, looking over at the angry pool players. "She is such a horrible player, and then she gets these streaks of luck guys. What can I say?"

"Get the hell out of here," growled one of them, grabbing the money that had been placed down. "She don't play fair, she don't get no money."

"What?!" she shouted, glaring at him. "I earned that!"

"Screw you, ya little bitch," he snarled. "You played us -you don't get anything."

"She's just lucky," Dean said, his stance moving into one that was ready if anyone started swinging.

Kat performed a well-timed and not all intended stagger, bumping into Dean and having him support her as she gazed "drunkenly" up at him. He wasn't the most smooth guy around, but with a few threats and gruff demands of talking to the bar owner, he managed to get the money Kat had bet back for her. And then he paid his money off, grabbed her by her arm and hauled her out of the building without waiting for her to say anything.

"Hey," she tried to protest, frowning, her lips pursed.

"I thought you were in Texas," Dean murmured, kissing her cheek softly.

"California was just screaming that she's the place to be," Kat slurred, leaning against him comfortably.

Dean sighed softly, "You're pissed."

"No I'm not. I know my limit," she growled softly, nuzzling him. She could feel his arms wrap around her body, holding her to him.

"You're still drunk."

"What do you care Dean?" she murmured, slipping her hand under his shirt. "It's not like… like I'm different when I'm drunk."

She felt him chuckle more than she heard him. "You get all cuddly and lovey, then you say things that you won't remember. And you just-"

Kat kissed him. She wasn't concerned with what he had to say. He kissed her back indulgently, and she pressed more firmly against him, smirking when she felt him half fall against the Impala, the soft slap of his hot hands against the cool metal. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss hungrily as she tickled the fine hairs on the back of his neck. With a low groan Dean pulled away from her, his lips against her temple.

"Where are you staying at Kitty?" he murmured, rubbing her ass.

"Mmm nowhere," she slurred contently, resting against him.

"I've got a better idea…"

Kat hummed her agreement, nuzzling him affectionately. She didn't really care what he was saying. He smelled so good, like leather and gun powder -it was so familiar and so Dean. She had missed him more than she had thought she would. He helped her get into the passenger seat of the Impala and they were off down the road. Unfortunately for Dean, Kat had misjudged the amount of alcohol she had indulged in, getting a little ahead of herself in her confidence to win the pool game. By the time they pulled up to the motel, Kat was sound asleep, her fingers curled around his leather jacket and a tiny smile on her face. It wasn't the first time. Dean shook his head, getting out and carefully lifting her out from the Impala. For a minute he contemplated hitting her head on the side of the door "accidentally" and only enough to wake her up before he decided that he didn't really care. Above them, the first firework cracked through the night sky and exploded in a brilliant shimmer of white-gold.

Shadow of the Day

It was beginning to feel like more than a coincidence when Kat was driving through Michigan, having just finished off one hell of a ghost. She'd broken another of her fingers, which was making driving a real pain in the ass. Not only had she broken two of her left fingers, but there was an untold amount of bruising along her back from where she had been thrown against a table by the pesky thing. There were a lot of hauntings recently, so it felt that had taken her from Wisconsin to Georgia and now back up to Michigan before cutting back through to Missouri. But ghosts didn't wait for anyone and the sooner she could interfere in whatever the hell was going on, the more people would be leaving houses alive. She didn't want another family ending up like hers.

She was going to cut through Indiana and Kentucky in order to reach Missouri and she was halfway through with her plan when she spotted an eerily familiar car. A cursory glance at the license plate was enough to have her abruptly pulling off the highway and into the gravel driveway. What was Sam doing in Kentucky? Probably working on another case. She hadn't spent much time thinking of him or what Alyssa had said, but she had checked with Ellen and some other hunter acquaintances to see if anyone had heard from Sam recently. No one had. It was nearing the end of August now, the temperature drooping as the rain storms started to move in -and she was proven right as it started to drizzle down.

Kat got out, grabbing her bag as she hurried inside and locking her car without looking back. She was about to give her name and information when she realized that if she did that, she would have to essentially try and stake Sam out but there was another way that she could try and find him. Having spent so much time on the road, she was not the best looking woman in the world and besides that good looks weren't exactly beneficial when dealing with a female clerk. But there were delicious lies that could get her exactly what she wanted. Kat dropped her bags at the front of the counter, leaning over, she checked the hallways to see if anyone was around.

"Can I help you?" drawled the woman, glancing at her uninterestedly.

"I'm looking for my husband," Kat growled softly. "The cheating son-of-a-bitch took off without a word of explanation, and his secretary came around callin' and she 'fessed up that they'd been fucking. Now he won't stay still long enough to sign the divorce papers and I've got a baby on the way! Now I was drivin' by following his credit card trail and I saw his car parked out front… can ya help me out?"

"I'm not supposed to give out that information," she replied, obviously torn as she looked at Kat sympathetically.

"Please. I don't know what I'll do if he don't sign those papers. I'm tryin' here, and there ain't no way I'd hurt this precious thing," she rubbed her stomach. "He's a lawyer, see? I need some help bad and I swear I won't let him do nothin' to you."

The woman looked so sympathetic and understanding. "Which car was his?"

"That big black one out there," Kat said, shuffling over to point. "Stands out a bit don't it?"

"Oh yes ma'am." She looked through her records, which Kat was grateful for because otherwise the younger woman would have seen her cringe. "Ah, John Sambora?"

"That's him!" Of course Sam would use that kind of an alias. He was such a Bon Jovi fan.

The younger woman paused. "I.. I think I saw a woman go in with him," she glanced at Kat, obviously worried as she slid a key over.

It wasn't entirely fake when anger flashed across her face and she nodded, snatching the key up and storming down to the room. She only hoped that whoever she found in there was a decent human being.

The hopes she had hardly let foster suddenly flickered to death when a familiar looking dark haired woman answered the door, her hair messy and her clothes rumpled.

"Can I help you?" she asked arrogantly, adjusting her stance surprisingly familiarly.

"I'm looking for Sam," Kat deadpanned. "Seen him around?"

"He's out at the moment."

"Well I'll just wait for him, then, if you don't mind." She said it to be polite, but there was no politeness behind her firm words as she took a step towards the shorter woman. Kat was a few inches taller than her, and a fair bit more muscular than this scrawny thing.

"Actually I do," she growled, blocking Kat.

She was a lot stronger than she looked. "I'm practically his sister," Kat hissed. "He'd want to see me."

"I don't think so. He hasn't called anyone -no one's called him. And he said he's an orphan now, no family, no ties. So nice try sweetie, but next time you come looking for your boyfriend-replacement -this one's taken."

"Excuse me?!"

"What? Do I need to repeat it? Sam told me who you are. You keep following after him, trying to cling onto some memory of Dean or something but he's gone and Sam isn't going to be yours."

"How do you know who-? Ew, I so don't want Sam in that way -who the hell are you?"

"I'm his girlfriend. I thought I made that pretty clear. So get the hell out of here, because I'm pretty sure that if you cared about him beyond his dead brother you would've called before and Sam might have answered. He doesn't want any ties from his old life -so fuck off already."

"How about you fuck off?" Kat growled. "You're just a booty call if you think you can get away with this -Sam's not interested in someone like you-"

The slap across her face sent her reeling. The shock of it was one thing, but the realization that she was staring into a pair of coal black eyes was another entirely. Kat didn't have enough time to react before there was a boot in her gut and the demon hauled her into Sam's room. Too late Kat realized that perhaps this wasn't Sam's room at all, with the unusual disorganization and maps that lined the room. She tried to fight back, but she was used to being the fast and light runner with stamina that never ran out. Her best chance at a physical fight was her endurance and skill at evading capture. It was a little late for that though, as the demon proceeded to kick the shit out of her.

From what little she could keep track of, it seemed that this demon had been aware that she was the one who managed to get Sam to go back to Alyssa. Also that she had been doing what she could to keep an eye on Sam and his whereabouts. Which was making this bitch's plans a lot harder to follow through with apparently. Kat smiled dazedly, blood running down the corner of her mouth. If she had inconvenienced this demonic spawn so much, it was completely worth it. She was vaguely aware of being dragged around, hardly able to catch her breath as each intake and exhale was agonizing. Her eyes were open but vision was fading quickly and she tried to blink it away, only to have the darkness slump over her eyes. The last thing she could remember was something hard and heavy being thrown on top of her and a sadistic laugh that echoed in her ears.