A/N: We've come to the end of this journey, thank you for taking it with me and I hope I have entertained you. I have enjoyed creating this universe and characters in it. This chapter was a hard one to write because I really didn't want it to end, but they must. I would like to know if you liked the ending. Reviews are welcome, if you have a moment to leave one, please do. NC

Chapter 11

Sam opened his eyes and tried to look around him, but could only see a foggy mist surrounding him. He turned slowly in a circle trying to make out anything that would tell him where he was, but the mist hung heavy in the air. He could feel it cool against his skin as he took a tentative step forward feeling unbalanced and lightheaded. He held his arms out for balance as he slid his foot forward trying to feel any obstacles in his way.

He wanted to call out, but something told him not to for fear of what might be out there and hear him. After more than a dozen steps, Sam started to make out a shape of a person ahead of him. The mist whirled and spun around him making it hard to see who was standing there. Sam carefully took another step forward toward the figure squinting his eyes to see better. As he got closer, something familiar about the figure clicked in Sam's mind. He knew this person, but his mind wouldn't accept what he was seeing.

"Dad?" Sam whispered in shock as the mist seemed to part just enough for him to see a shadowy figure that was definitely his father. "Dad!" he said louder as he tried to step closer but found his feet were stuck and wouldn't move. He pulled harder on his legs as he kept his eyes on his father who hadn't moved or acknowledged him. "Dad, can't you hear me? It's Sam," he called as panic began to build in his voice.

John stared off in the distance and a slow smile began to spread across his face as another shadowy figure moved in the mist toward him. The closer it got, the clearer the figure became until it stopped by John. Sam could see them both plainly now and knew they were his dead parents. A soft spotlight seemed to illuminate their bodies, casting them in an ethereal light that seemed otherworldly. He blinked his eyes rapidly and shook his head slightly before looking to them again to be sure they were still there.

"Mom..." Sam gasped out as his mother stepped into her husband's arms. "Mom...Dad..." he said in disbelief as he watched them hug and look lovingly into each others eyes. "I'm here," Sam called in a weak voice trying again to move toward them, but couldn't break his feet free. He could only watch as they kissed briefly and with arms around each other turned to walk away from him, but looked back for a moment at him and smiled before they disappeared into the mist..."No! Come back!"

Sam sat up in bed gasping for air as he looked around the bedroom in the cabin for his parents. He felt the wetness on his face and realized he was crying. He worked hard on controlling his rapid breathing and pounding heart beat so he could calm down. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the dream, thinking how real it seemed.

"You awake?" Dean asked from the doorway.

"Yeah," Sam mumbled wiping his face so he wouldn't see the tears.

"Got some lunch ready if you're hungry."

"I'll be there in a minute, let me use the bathroom," he answered keeping his face diverted and down.

"Alright," Dean shrugged heading back to the kitchen. He knew something was up with his brother, but didn't press him about it.

Sam let out the sob he was holding in and got up stumbling to the bathroom. He braced his hands on either side of the sink and drew in a couple of deep breaths before looking up into his haggard reflection staring back at him. He turned on the cold water and splashed it on his face several times before stopping and letting the droplets drip into the sink. It took several minutes to get his thoughts together and think about what he had seen. It had been a dream, right? Sam wasn't sure if he believed in God or not or what happened after you died, but he did hope that whatever was out there that his parents had found each other and were at peace now. It seemed to ease his mind a little to think that was a possibility. He picked up a hand towel and dried his face before heading to find his brother.

spn

Dean was putting food on the table as Sam made his way into the dining room and took a seat. He had fixed sandwiches, soup, and sliced fruit. Sam looked at the food but didn't know if he could eat anything right now. He felt queasy and his stomach clenched for a moment as he swallowed hard trying to control it.

"Any ginger ale left?" he asked hoping it would calm his stomach.

"Yeah, in the fridge," Dean nodded noting Sam seemed slightly nervous and pale. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Sam mumbled getting up and looking in the fridge, moving things around until he found one. He had it opened and sipping on the cold liquid before sitting back down. The nausea seemed to settle as the coldness hit his stomach and he burped softly covering his mouth and mumbling excuse me. He sat back down at the table without looking at his older brother.

Dean tool a bite of his sandwich as he watched his brother wondering what was going on with him. He almost looked spooked and wondered if he had another bad dream while he had been napping. Sam picked at his food, breaking off a piece of bread and dipping it in the soup before eating it. The piece wanted to lodge in his throat and not go down so he grabbed his drink and washed it on down. Deciding maybe just the soup would be better; he spooned some into his mouth and swallowed it. Sam could feel Dean's eyes on him and kept his head down not wanting to meet those eyes for fear he would see had rattled he was. He was halfway through eating when his thoughts were interrupted by his brother's voice.

"So...After you finish eating, we need to talk," Dean commented deciding he might as well get it over with. He wanted to get past whatever unspoken problems Sam felt toward him. He figured might as well rip the bandage off in one swift jerk and get it over with and then he would know how to proceed. His heart was heavy with doubt and guilt, not sure which way Sam would go and could only hope his brother wouldn't shut him out of his life.

Sam froze for a moment, not sure what he meant by that, but had an idea. He didn't answer him as he stared into his soup not hungry anymore. He pushed his bowl away from him and looked sideways at his brother seeing no emotions on his face as he stared back.

"About what?" he asked trying to sound in control, when his mind was spinning out of control.

"For starters, us. Look, I know you hate me, but I wanted to tell you...I'm sorry," He huffed a laugh and continued. "Doesn't sound like much now that I've said it, but damnit I am and...I hope maybe one day you can forgive me..." Dean started looking down at his partly eaten sandwich knowing he wouldn't be eating any more of it. "I'm sorry I left, but I couldn't stay and keep my sanity. I tried so hard to help you back then but you kept pushing me away and fighting against me. You refused let me help no matter what I tried and Dad...God Dad was so lost in his own grief he couldn't see what was going on with us. I tried to get him to get counseling for us all, but he just kept putting it off..." he said wiping a hand down his face with the memories. "I know losing Dad was devastating Sammy. It was hard on me too, but you're all I have left now and I don't want to lose you."

Sam wasn't really listening to what Dean was saying except to catch the I'm sorry part. He was sorry for leaving him all those years ago, sorry for abandoning him, sorry for not being there when he needed him, sorry for not coming home in eight years. If he had been around maybe things would be different and their father would still be alive.

"You were not there for me!" Sam spat at him as his anger started to erupt and he got louder. "And you're sorry? You don't remember do you?"

"Remember what?" Dean asked as a frown wrinkled his forehead at Sam's outburst. He wasn't sure how to answer him as he tried to sort through his old memories and find the answer.

"You told me you'd always be there for me...That you'd keep me safe...Well you did a bang up job ass hole!" he screamed, jumping up and sending his chair crashing to the floor and headed for the front door not wanting to be in the same room with him. How could he forgive him? How could he forgive him when he couldn't forgive himself?

He still blamed himself for his mother's death and now his father's death was on him too and he might as well add running his brother off. Sam stormed out the front door and headed around the house and into the woods trying to escape the pain. He didn't pay attention to where he was going as he worked his way through the trees and brush, slapping branches out of his face and trying not to stumble. Tears blurred his eyes as he kept moving deeper into the forest. He tried to listen for Dean following him but didn't hear him.

He had been walking for over thirty minutes when he had to stop and rest. He leaned heavily against a tree trying to catch his breath before moving to a fallen tree to sit down. He leaned over panting hard and wiped his face on his shirt sleeve. He caught his brother's scent again and madly jerked the long sleeved shirt off and tossed it to the ground in disgust. Sam's eye caught a branch just below where he was sitting that had a sharp point on it and stood using his foot to break it off. He picked up the six inch limb and studied the pointed end as he heaved deep breaths. He looked at his scarred arm and at the sharp stick before drawing the end across a scar drawing blood and making him flinch. He watched the blood well up and start to trickle down his arm and made ready to do it again needing to feel more pain so it would override the raw, fresh emotions in his mind.

"Hey Kid, you're not doing something stupid are you?" a male voice asked. "'cause I wouldn't advise it."

Sam jumped and stared wild eyed at a tall stranger who was leaning against a tree six feet from him. He was so focused on what he was doing; he hadn't heard the guy walk up on him. But even if he knew, he probably wouldn't have heard him. Sam backed away and held the sharp stick out in front of him as a weapon.

"Your brother know you're out here?" he asked showing no fear of his measly weapon.

"You know my brother?" Sam asked in surprise as the stick wavered in his hand.

"We were never introduced since you were out of it most of the time I was around. I was part of the team that rescued you from Mexico. Name's Shadow. You thirsty?" he asked holding out a bottle of water to Sam.

"So you know the woman Nitro too?" Sam asked taking the water and gulping several long swallows.

"Yep and there's one more, Trace, he's at the cabin now. We're taking turns keeping an eye on Gunny and the surrounding area just in case."

"Just in case of what?"

"Don't ever know, now why are you out here?" Shadow asked stepping to Sam and pushing him down on the fallen tree with one quick shove. Sam grunted in anger, but didn't say anything to the stranger who towered over him. He pulled the stick from his grasp and tossed it aside then pulled out some ointment and gauze. He pulled Sam's arm closer and looked at it before smearing the cream on the scratch and wrapping gauze around it for protection. "Well Kid you gonna talk or not?"

"I don't know..." Sam grunted madly as he kicked at the ground with the toe of his boot. "He said he was sorry and I...I lost it...He doesn't care about me...He left me alone..."

"Stop right there dumb ass," Shadow commanded harshly before he could continue. "You don't know your brother very well do you. My team, none of us talked much about our past, but when Gunny got half a bottle of Jack in him he let a few things slip. All he talked about was you and how smart you were growing up and the regret he had at leaving you behind. If he could have took you with him I know he would have. Do you know what he did take with him on every mission we went on? Hell, he has it on him all the time for that matter."

Sam shook his head no as he listened to Shadow talk about his brother. He could hear the respect in his voice, the same that he heard in Nitro's. These people really cared a lot for his brother and he was finding out the type of person his brother really was.

"He had a beat up, dog eared photo of two boys; one looked around twelve and the other eight leaning against a black car. I'm guessing it's that Impala he's driving now. You could see the brotherly love the older one had for the younger one by the look on his face. He said it was so he would never forget what he was fighting for and who he had to go back to. He kept it in a pocket over his heart because that's where you were, in his heart. Don't think for a minute that your brother doesn't love you, 'cause he does. He told me once he was afraid to come home because he didn't think you would ever forgive him for leaving, but he had to because he couldn't face not seeing you again. Is that true? You're never gonna forgive him?"

"I...I don't know," Sam said quietly as he processed what Shadow had told him. He thought Dean had forgotten him after all this time and only rescued him because others would look down at him if he didn't.

"Well you should think long and hard about it. If you wanna kill your brother, I'll let you use my gun and put him out of his misery instead of letting him suffer without you. I think deep down you know he needs you and I kinda think you need him too. He's all you've got left now, that is beside us."

"Us?" Sam questioned looking at him sideways with a confused look.

"Yeah, me, Nitro and Trace. We're Gunny's family, so that makes us your family too and family takes care of their own. So you're gaining two brothers and a sister in the deal. Be really honest with yourself Kid, who are you really angry at?" he questioned looking at Sam for an answer.

Sam clenched is hands into fist as all the pent up emotions wanted to come out all at once. He tried to stifle a sob that escaped as tears ran down his face and he looked away. Sam stiffened when suddenly he was pulled into a tight one armed hug by Shadow and broke down letting him comfort him. After a few minutes, Shadow patted him on the back and pulled him to his feet.

"Let's go find your brother; I know he's out here looking for you," Shadow told him putting a hand on his shoulder and guiding him back toward the cabin. They hadn't been walking more than ten minutes when Dean stepped from among some trees, red faced and panting from running. "See I told you," Shadow beamed, proud he was right.

"S'my!" Dean huffed out as he caught his breath. "Are you okay?" he questioned seeing the gauze on his arm, but not stepping closer to inspect it. He looked to Shadow and nodded his thanks for his help. "Wondered when you were gonna pop up and quit sneaking around in the woods."

"Damn!...I thought we had done a good job being invisible," Shadow complained. "Guess we never could get anything by you."

"Can...Can we talk?" Sam asked quietly as he wiped his face.

"You're not going to run away again are you?"

"No. Sorry," Sam responded hanging his head in shame. He shouldn't have treated his brother like he did and he was ashamed of himself. He realized now how selfish he was being and only thinking of himself.

"I'll head back to the cabin," Shadow said leaning close to Sam and whispering, "Remember what I said." He tossed a bottle of water to Dean and gave Sam a gentle push toward his brother before leaving them facing each other in the forest. He pulled his cell out and sent a text to Trace and Nitro to meet him at Dean's cabin. Shadow had a feeling maybe they would need the extra support once they talked things out.

spn

Dean downed half the bottle before stopping as he caught his breath and looked at his brother. "You had me worried Sammy; I was afraid you'd got lost or injured."

"Is it true?" Sam asked carefully as he scuffed his toe on the forest floor.

"Is what true?" Dean questioned, not sure what Sam was asking.

"That you carried a photo of me and you with you all this time?"

Dean looked at him hard for a moment and reached into his pocket for his wallet. He opened it up and pulled out a ragged, creased picture that someone had laminated to protect it from falling apart.

"You mean this?" he asked holding it out to Sam.

Sam took the offered photo and held it in trembling fingers as he stared at it seeing two brothers, the older with his arm around the younger one's shoulders. Sam frowned and tried to remember when this was taken and closed his eyes trying to picture that day so many years ago. They were helping their Dad wash the Impala and Mom had come out and took some pictures of them.

"I remember this; we were washing the Impala..." Sam said trailing off.

"Yeah, I know," Dean replied. "Okay if we go sit down over there?" he asked nodding to some boulders nearby that were shaded by the tree branches. He could see Sam's body weave a little and didn't want him falling down.

"Okay," Sam said holding the photo with care as they walked to the boulders and sat down. He looked at the photo one last time before handing it back to Dean and watched as he replaced it in his wallet. "Why do you even care?" Sam questioned pain wrapped around each word as he continued. "I'm the reason Mom died, for you leaving...And now Dad...If it hadn't been for me..."

"Stop it right now! I don't wanna hear that kind of talk coming from you," he insisted as his voice grew louder for a moment. "You are not the reason Mom died. She died because of some asshole with a gun trying to make a name for himself. And you are not the reason I left Sammy. I was so screwed up I didn't know what to do...I had to come to terms with everything on my own. Man Sammy, if I had known what you were going through...I would have been there for you. Dad was doing what any father would do; he was looking for his son. You can't blame yourself for either of their deaths Sammy. I don't blame you, I never did, never would. You gotta believe me. I went to Bobby's looking for you and found out what happened. I just prayed we would find you in time. I've never been so scared in my life, if we'd been too..." Dean said, his voice cracking before he could finish. He swiped a hand over his eyes to wipe the tears away before they fell. He stared off into the forest and forced the lump back down his throat.

Sam was reeling from all the emotions that were flooding through his mind as he tried to process all that had happened. He wasn't sure how he felt, but he did know being here with his brother seemed right. This was where he belonged. He suddenly felt safe for the first time in a long time. He looked up at his brother seeing the grief on his face and the tears he was trying to stop from falling.

"I missed you so much..." Sam suddenly cried, stumbling to his feet to close the gape between him and his brother and throwing himself at him, wrapping his arms around Dean's body as all the pent up emotions flooded from him.

Dean took the weight of his brother and crushed him to his chest as Sam sobbed into his neck. He couldn't stop the tears now as they ran down his face and into Sam's hair. He had waited over eight years to do this and he never wanted to let go. Dean's heart swelled so much his chest hurt and his soul finally felt whole again.

He had always known something was missing ever since he had left and now he knew what it was, his little brother's love. Time seemed to stand still as they sat in the middle of the forest letting go of the baggage they had been carrying. Dean knew this was a giant step for them in the right direction to becoming brothers again and for that bond of brotherhood that they once shared to return. Rumbling sounded off in the distance and Dean knew the storm must be coming back around. He pulled both of them up from the rock as he listened intently and studied their surroundings seeing the wind picking up and the leaves being blown around deciding they needed to leave.

"C'mon bro, it's gonna rain again and you don't need to get soaked. Little Wolf would have my hide if you got sick," Dean finally told Sam as he loosened his grip enough for them to walk side by side with his arm around Sam's shoulders holding him close.

"Little Wolf? Are you and her...You know...Together?" Sam asked cautiously.

"No, nothing like that," Dean chuckled. "She doesn't play well with others sometimes and hasn't found anyone to her liking."

"Shadow said you guys were family now, is that true?"

"Yes, they're as much my family as you are, so yes they're your family too."

"And Shadow said there's one I've not met?"

"That would be Trace; he's the jokester of the group, so you gotta watch him. He means well, but sometimes he doesn't know when to stop," Dean chuckled. "Little Wolf usually puts him in his place when he starts getting out of hand."

"Do you wanna know what happened after you left and why I was in Mexico?" Sam asked quietly.

"Only if you want to tell me," Dean replied in a gentle voice. "If you need to talk about it, if it will help you in healing and coming to terms with stuff, then I'm there for you bro, just say the word. No pressure, it's your decision."

"Yeah, I think it might help, but not today okay? I just wanna enjoy having my big brother back," Sam answered knowing there would be plenty of time to talk about that. He was glad Dean wasn't insisting on knowing all those things right now.

"Whatever you need, I'm won't be going anywhere, you're stuck with me," Dean said smiling at his brother as he squeezed his shoulder lovingly.

"We might better pick the pace up," Sam said hearing drops of rain hitting the leaves in the trees overhead. He let go of Dean and they both started moving faster through the trees as they caught a glimpse of the cabin up ahead. He didn't protest when Dean jerked him off his feet and ran for the cabin to beat the rain.

spn

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months as the brothers learned how to be brothers again. There were many serious and gut wrenching talks that gave Sam the motivation to start to heal. Dean never pushed or pressed him during these times knowing Sam needed to do this on his own and let him always initiate the talks.

Sam talked a little about what happened after he left but wasn't ready to tell him everything. He learned that Sam didn't run away, he got a call from a friend of his in Lawrence who was in trouble and went to help him. Sam had gone to the cops and agreed to help them take the gang down, but someone leaked it and he was caught and that's how he ended up in Mexico. Dean made a mental note to have Trace check that out because someone was going to pay for that. It was not something he could let slide now that he knew the truth.

Dean worked hard on getting some weight back on Sam and made sure he ate healthy. The others would visit every other day until the rental time was up on their cabin and then they moved in with Dean and Sam for the last two months of the rental time he had left. The team treated Sam like the kid brother they never had and of course spoiled him. Sam was learning what it was like to have family again and to have people who cared about him. He could feel that lost special brotherly bond from his childhood growing stronger with each passing day and cherished every minute he got to spend with his brother.

Trace found out he liked computers and started teaching him how to program them and to set up algorithms to quickly search out data. Shadow taught him how to pick locks and began training him in hand to hand fighting. Nitro refused to show him explosives and instead taught him first aid and how to handle a knife and throwing stars.

Dean sat back and took it all in as the leader of their pack. After some begging, he finally started teaching Sam how to break down a gun and to show it the respect it deserved. He wouldn't teach him to shoot until he mastered the ins and outs of the hand gun and rifle. Dean was already planning ahead for their future and with Bobby's help was starting to make it happen.

spn

It was a hot day in their last month into their stay at the cabin and Sam was staring to look like himself again. He had gained some of the weight back and was training with the guys to build up strength and stamina and they were not going easy on him. They put him through vigorous training regimes and never let him give up when it got tough and he didn't think he could make it. It was a free day and Sam, Shadow, and Trace were tossing around a Frisbee in the yard while Dean sat on the deck doing some accounting. Nitro was inside starting lunch and baking a couple of pies for dessert that night.

"Hey I almost forgot," Trace popped up. "I got us something in the car," he said heading around front to the Dodge Charger they had gotten from Bobby. He returned a few minutes later with a bag and looked around for the garden hose.

"What have you got there?" Sam asked looking over his shoulder curious to see what he was so excited about.

"Found these in town last time I went on a supply run. Thought we could have a little competition," Trace grinned with mischief. He turned on the water and pulled out some water balloons. They were made where all you had to do was use the hose and it filled twenty water balloons at one time.

"Cool! I'll get a couple of buckets," Sam cried happily heading for the deck in search of some. "Dean you seen those buckets that was here earlier?"

"They're over by the grill why?"

"Nothing," Sam said innocently as he snagged the plastic buckets and headed back around the corner grinning from ear to ear.

Dean watched him disappear and knew something was up and he might better be prepared. There was no telling what those three were getting into, especially if Trace was involved. He put away his computer and waited patiently for them to come back to see what antics they going to do. He didn't have to wait long when screaming and yelling and running bodies appeared from around the house and water balloons were flying everywhere. All three guys were drenched in no time and decided Dean needed to join in on the fun and volleyed water balloons his way. He was smart enough to expect the attack and got out of the way but Nitro, who had just stepped out on the deck and toward Dean was bombarded by them soaking her from head to foot.

"Oh shit! Run for you life!" Trace yelled when he saw them hit Nitro who was frozen in place. He snagged one bucket still partly full of balloons as he ran by it.

"Run Kid! Run! Crap we're dead meat!" Shadow hissed pushing Sam in front of him knowing they were in a heap of trouble. They headed around the corner of the house hoping to hide before she exacted her revenge.

"Permission to kill some dumb asses Gunny," Nitro growled out as she wiped the water from her scowling face.

"Killing no, maiming's okay, just no broken bones," he laughed as she stomped off the porch and grabbed the other bucket still half full of balloons and headed in the other direction to ambush the three targets. "Check my pies in twenty minutes if I'm not back," she called over her shoulder and disappeared.

Dean sat back, closed his eyes and listened to the stillness waiting for the revenge to start. Finding the prey, sneaking up on the prey, waiting for the right moment and BOOM! Attack with all you've got. Yelling from the front of the cabin suddenly broke the silence and by the sound of it Nitro was getting her revenge.

He smirked when she howled her victory. He chuckled to himself just happy he wasn't involved when suddenly two overfilled balloons were thrown, one after the other, hitting him square in the chest, exploding and drenching his face and body with ice cold water. He looked up while wiping his face to see a grinning Sam doing a victory dance and looking proud of himself for his perfect aim and was fisting the sky with his accomplishment of getting his big brother until their eyes met, freezing him in mid dance and he saw the you're gonna pay for that look. Without hesitation, he took off running, yelling for Nitro since he was sure she was the only one who could protect him from his brother. Dean came out of the chair like a bullet and started to chase him around the house toward the others out for his own revenge.

The End

Epilogue

One Year Later

The time flew by and a year had passed since Dean rescued his brother from a Mexican cartel prison. With Bobby's help, since he knew the owner, he purchased fifty acres of land beside the salvage yard and built a five bedroom, three and a half bath home for the ragtag family that they had formed. It was a one story structure with steel reinforced doors and impact resistance windows. He had a secret room where their weapons were stored and had hidden nooks throughout the house that allowed quick access if they ever needed it. There were hidden cameras and motion detectors positioned around the area that Trace had programmed to alert their cells if an intruder tried to break in. It had a nice workout area, large family room, game room, library/computer room, dining room and large kitchen with a breakfast nook. He made sure the bedrooms were spacious and had walk in closets and the bathrooms were spacious. The house was furnished with comfortable furniture, modern kitchen appliances and hardwood floors throughout. There was as deck that ran across the back of the place, with part of it screened in with a grill and picnic table and part of it was open with lounge chairs scattered around it.

There was another building nearby for the business he started that the others were co-owners in, Smoke Inc. Dean had an indoor shooting range and archery space built and training grounds on ten acres of the land for law enforcement and those who wanted to learn survival skills. He was very careful to screen the civilians who wanted to take the program to be sure there were no right winged facets or possible terrorist trying to get training. The price was high which scared off a lot of the wantta be pretenders. Trace, Shadow, Nitro were the trainers and they didn't pull any punches. Dean oversaw the operations and kept the books and would work with those in law enforcement who wanted sniper training. If you made it through their courses you were prepared for about anything. As their reputation grew, more law enforcement agencies contracted with them to set up trainings for their men. Dean didn't really advertise what they had to offer. Their business came by word of mouth that spread through the law enforcement community and into neighboring states. They ran the program eight months out of the year and during the winter months they helped Bobby in the salvage yard. It was like letting kids loose in a candy store when Shadow and Trace helped with the crushing of vehicles to sell as scrap metal. They fought over who got to drive the fork lift and who crushed the cars. Dean made Sam referee the pair and if they didn't listen to him, he threatened to send Nitro out to oversee their work.

Smoke, Inc. also was a consulting agency for protection issues or on occasions helped out some law enforcement agencies with some of the more hard to solve cases when asked. They would usually only worked four or five cases a year, but it was always the most gruesome ones that drew their attention. He never accepted money for their help, but did allow them to buy meals and pay for hotel rooms. When they were away, Dean made Sam stay with Bobby to be sure he was safe. It didn't matter he was an adult, Dean wasn't taking any chances with something happening while he was gone. Which turned out to be a good thing when several thieves tried to break into the business to steal whatever they could, mainly guns and was met by pissed off scrap yard owner with a double barreled shotgun, a tough as nails little brother with a rifle and three very well trained guard dogs who were chomping to tear into them if they made any sudden moves. Needless to say they were glad when the sheriff got there and took them away.

Bobby was over every other night for dinner and Nitro made sure he had leftovers to take home with him. He couldn't be more proud of the brothers and being allowed to be part of their family. When his wife passed away at an early age and they didn't have any kids, he figured being a father wasn't in his future. But now he had five kids who called him 'Pops' and he couldn't be prouder of them. With Trace and Sam's help with creating a website to sell parts from, his business had jumped forty percent in the past six months and he was still getting orders weekly. Whenever he needed help with anything, all he had to do was call Dean and they would be over to help. He didn't know what he had done to deserve this family, but he was happy to be a part of it.

Dean talked Sam into enrolling in college and was going to be starting that fall. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but was leaning toward either something in computers or medicine or maybe both. Dean laughed and told him he could do whatever he wanted to, he had his whole life ahead of him. Sam continued to train with all of them and was starting to become a worthy opponent. You could of heard his whooping of victory in downtown Sioux Falls when he actually took Dean down for the first time. Of course Dean would never let it slip that he cheated a little and let Sam win, but he did make him work for it. The others all saw it happen but kept that little secret to themselves not wanting to spoil Sam's victory either. None of them ever left Sam out of whatever they were doing, wanting him to feel the bond of brotherhood they had. Dean told him he would always have him and the rest of the team supporting him, no matter what he decided. They were family and family looked after their own, no matter what.