Dean laid back against a slab of rock, kicking more wood into the fire they had made with the side of his foot. His feet hurt like hell from walking all day.

He was determined to get to Cas as soon as possible, so he took out the map, taking this opportunity to study it. He heard the sound of low snoring, and looked to his side, where Gabriel and Crowley were passed out, sleeping. He smirked.

The pair weren't half bad. Yeah, they annoyed the hell out of him- but though he would never admit it, he didn't mind the company that much. It was all right to have them around.

With a tired sigh, he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and he looked back to the map, the roughened pads of his fingers trailing over the crisp paper.

He studied the map for any more shortcuts- then his eyes drifted curiously over to the bottom right, the opposite of the swamp.

Duloc…

It was deserted now, of course, after the devastation of the battle and the fall of their king, Farquad… he hoped the bastard was rotting.

He felt his chest tighten, and he realized his breath was quickening. He thought of the battle… of how he waited, with his mother and his little brother Sam, just waited, for news of his dad… always hoping, always optimistic. He had to be… for Sammy.

And then they got it. The news.

John was dead, and he was never coming back… and Dean could have dealt with it, if he had had a family to help him through it long after that, but….

He closed his eyes, and the energy it took to force his thoughts elsewhere was even more tiring. He felt sleep tug at him, dragging him down into a restless, exhaustion-motivated slumber.

He opened his eyes. It was nighttime, and strangely quiet around their small cottage in the middle of the forest.

"Mom?" he asked softly, rubbing his eyes, "...Mom? Everything all right?"

Then, he heard a whispered hush, and saw his mother standing at the door with a finger to her lips. He was now fully awake, concern weaving through him from the look on her face.

"What is it?" he whispered, padding out of bed. "The army of Duloc- the one your father fought against- they're here for us."

He scratched his head. "What? What do you mean for us?" "Dean, the people of Duloc are… ruthless, and they tend to seek out conquest and bloodshed. They want to devastate the opposition."

He frowned, calculating what this all meant as best he could. "Where's Sam?" "Your brother's still in bed. I was going to wake him up after I got you." "No, I'll get him. Get some stuff together, we should leave before they get to us," the younger Dean told his mom.

He quietly crept over to Sam's room, waking up the floppy haired boy sleeping there. He was sprawled out, out like a rock.

"Sam? Sammy? Hey, wake up." Sam roused, groaning. "What is it, Dean?" "Get up, buddy. We've got to go."

Sam, in his half-awake state, looked at Dean, and his brother's expression radiated subtle urgency, saying everything. He nodded slowly, getting out of bed with his brother. "Where are we going?" "Somewhere safe." "Where's mom?" "She's coming with us, don't worry."

Just as Sam was getting some of his stuff together, they heard a crash, the sound of glass breaking, and a scream. His eyes widened, and he ran out, seeing the entire living room engulfed in quickly-moving flames.

"MOM?!" he shouted urgently, trying to find a way around the flames lapping at the wall, eating up everything they had ever had.

"Dean, go!" he heard, "Take your brother and go!" Dean looked over. "I'm not leaving you!" "Save Sammy! Go, Dean! Please!" He saw his mom in the corner of his room, shielding her face from the smoke.

Dean set his lips, and tried to jump over the fire anyway, but a beam fell right in front of him, the roof caving. "NO!" he shouted, but after a minute, he turned, grabbing Sam from his room.

"Come on, Sam, we gotta go."

Just as they were running down the hallway and out the door, Sam tripped, and fell to the ground. The army was crowding the cottage, and tossing more burning sacks in.

"Sam!" Dean called as he went back to the door, the name seeming to echo amidst the anarchy, and he went running back for his brother. He could barely see through the smoke, but he heard his brother gasping in pain from a hurt ankle, still inside. "Sam, give me your hand!" he called, "Come on now!"

He tried to grab for his brother's hand, but he couldn't see and could hardly breathe any more.

"Dean!" he heard, and Dean grimaced, grabbing blindly for his brother. Just then, the entire roof caved in, and the cottage was swallowed in flames.

Dean was thrown back, sitting still on the ground, just staring at the burning cottage in a state of utter shock. "S-Sam?" he asked softly.

"SAMMY!" he cried out.

"Hey! Hey! Wake up!"

Dean felt a hoof on his chest, insistently shaking him.

"Huh?" he started, jolting awake.

"You were having a bad dream, Dean-O," Gabriel said, frowning. "A bloody loud one, too," Crowley grumbled, rubbing his head with a paw.

Dean adjusted to his surroundings, suddenly remembering where he was and who he was with. He was in the swampland. None of it was happening again. It was all okay.

"Uh… sorry," he mumbled. "What was it about?" Gabriel prodded, yawning. "Just… stuff," Dean said, rubbing the back of his neck. The two stared at him, and he rolled his eyes after a moment.

"All right! All right, fine. My… my family… was... uh, killed, when I was young… I think I was fifteen when it happened. There was a fire, and it was all… horrible… god, I miss them so much," he said, losing his resolve and feeling tears spring to his eyes.

"Wow," Crowley muttered, and Gabriel moved closer.

"I… I've been living with some… people, since then, working, uh… some jobs, to help me get by," Dean swallowed.

He thought for a moment, staring at a crack in a treebrach as if it were out of place. "My mom was so beautiful. She was nice to everyone, y'know? And Sammy… man, he was a pain in my ass. But… all little brothers are, right? God… he was only 11."

Crowley cringed at this, and Gabriel sighed. "Listen, kiddo," the Pegasus said, "I guess it must be really hard for you-" "I'll say, I've been getting panic attacks since then." "…Well, if it's any consolation… we're here for you, koshur?"

Dean looked at them. "You? The two dorky animals I just met in the middle of friggin' Ogre Country?" he smirked, wiping his eyes and opting to laugh a little. "I'm a Pegasus," Gabe insisted, rolling his eyes, "Pegasus!" and Crowley jumped on Dean's lap in a rare display of affection.

"It is especially curious that I have taken a liking to you...Squirrel," the cat purred, giving him a befitting new nickname, "I usually hate people like you." Dean sniffed, smiling as he quoted something he had surely said to a client before. "What can I say? It's my natural charm."

They all sat in comfortable silence, watching the sun rise over the tops of the trees as they finally fell asleep again.

"Rise and shine!" Dean said, banging his boot against a log, "Get up!"

Crowley and Gabriel peeked out underneath heavy eyelids, and Dean was standing above them. "Come on, hop to it!" he said, clapping his hands loudly, "Let's get going, get on the road, everyone! We've got a Prince to save."

They would be passing through the orchards today, Dean figured, that would take long enough in itself, so they had to get a good, early start.

"Ack..." Crowley said, "We just went to bed!" "Yeah, like four hours ago," Dean reminded him. "I rest my case," the cat groaned.

But the two got up, determined to help with this quest anyway, especially after learning more about Dean the night before.

They made it up over a large hill, and came down upon rows and rows of apple and pear trees, that were glowing with a shimmery gold haze around them.

"Damn, those look good," Dean muttered, licking his lips as he felt his stomach growl.

He was pretty hungry, and wasn't too fond of the Gingie's Quickie Gingerbread Bars he had stocked up on in that Peter Pan place before, so he couldn't resist reaching for an apple as they went by.

"No way, uh uh," Gabriel said, nudging his hand away, "That's enchanted fruit! You eat one of those, and you'll be hooked for the rest of your life! Trust me- these babies are in high demand, and you don't really want to be known as a fruit junkie."

Dean frowned, but kept walking with a defeated sigh.

Just then, they saw an arrow hurtling at them. Dean gasped, and if Crowley wasn't so agile and reflexive, he would have been kabobbed to the spot.

"Stop right there!" A somewhat familiar voice said, and Dean swallowed what felt like daggers as he saw who was coming over the next hill.

Robin Hood, and his band of Merry Men.

"Uh," Dean muttered, feeling faint, "Run. Run now." "Run?" Crowley asked, pulling out his guns and giving them an anticipatory polish, "But the fun's just starting!"

"Crowley, I swear to all that is holy, I will skin you alive and turn you into a nice, furry black pelt if you don't-"

"Winchester?"

Dean's eyes slid shut, and he looked at his feet, his back to the archer. He paused for a moment, sucking in a breath. "Robin!" he said loudly, faking a smile and turning around.

"Who is this guy?" Gabriel whispered with an indignant huff to Crowley, who just shrugged.

"Why, might I ask... are you gallivanting about in the Enchanted Orchards with a gold pony and a stray cat?" Robin asked with a sickly smile, twisting an arrow around his bow. Dean could sense the spite in his words.

"Well, I nevah-!" Crowley began, but Dean kicked him inconspicuously, clearing his throat. He really wanted to tell Robin to go screw himself, that it was none of his damn business what he was doing there, but he held his sweet smile.

"Just passing through," he told him, nodding. "Oh yes? Is that why I haven't seen you at the Poison Apple for three days?" Gabriel frowned, and Crowley looked up at Dean.

"The Poison Apple?" Gabriel asked, "As in... tavern for villains?" "Yes, that's the one," Crowley murmured, "I make some of my business deals there…" They both looked at Dean for explanation.

"What?" Robin chuckled, "You haven't told your little woodland friends that you're a brothel whore?"

That really stung. There was a collective silence as Dean ground his teeth together and scuffed the toe of his boot into the dirt, attempting to shrug the name off and not feel ashamed in front of the two next to him. Geez- and after all those amazing nights he had given this douchebag?

"Was," Dean corrected him, avoiding a hostile tone, "I don't work there anymore." Robin actually sputtered at this. "Really? Well, the two who run the place are furious, claiming you just ran off without so much as a thank you for helping you survive these past few years!"

Dean cringed. He knew the stepsisters would be pissed when they found him gone. And they're not people you want to get on the bad side of. That was one of the risk of just up and leaving- he knew he was a big part of their business, and he guessed they would have a right to be mad about it.

But Robin finding out about this? This lousy guy finding out about why he worked there? That was a boundary personally crossed.

Dean suddenly felt a race of courage, built up anger coursing through him after being treated this way by a guy who thought way too highly of himself. None of this shit anymore.

"Look, Robin. I don't work at the Poison Apple anymore, so you can find something else to shove your cock into, okay? Preferably, your own ass. Oh wait, never mind- it wouldn't be able to reach."

Gabe and Crowley hooted with laughter, and if looks could kill...

Robin seethed at Dean. "I have people with me," he said gesturing to the circle around him, "I could take you back and turn you over to them!"

Now that was a thought that actually scared Dean- just the idea of going back to the brothel, returning to work, and living like that again was enough to make him nervous.

He smiled, and shook his head. "I've got back up too, asshat." Gabe grinned, quick to join in. "That's right, buddy- you try anything, I'll go all Pegasus on your ass!"

Just then, Robin's eyes widened. "You... can talk? And you are a Pegasus?!" "Yeeeah... what's it to you, dickwad?" Suddenly, Robin pointed a short, excited finger at him. "I have been hunting your kind for years! Your wings are worth millions! Get him!" He shrieked at his merry men, and Dean stood in front of them.

"Don't you dare touch him!" he roared. "What are you going to do, Dean?" Robin crowed, "Turn tricks on me?

Dean's nostrils flared. "I'm gonna slice your throat." Robin dropped his smile. "Give me the Pegasus, or I will drag you back to the Apple, kicking and screaming like the little bitch that you are!" Dean took one of Crowley's hidden swords, fired up.

"Try."

Robin accepted this challenge, lurching forward while pulling his own sword.

Now, Dean was far from experienced… he was pretty much far from far from experienced as well. He had never even held a sword in his life, if you take the literal and not suggestive meaning, so he was fumbling as he tried to hold the thing like he knew how. If there was ever a bar fight, it was usually Cyclops who dealt with it, not him. Not his area of expertise…

"Ha! You have no chance," Robin smiled devilishly, but Dean thrust forward anyway. Alright, this thing is sharp, I can probably poke him with it somewhere, Dean thought determinedly to himself. Probably not the thoughts of a master swordsman, but at least he knew how to work it… sort of.

He jabbed forward, and caught Robin Hood's arm, causing the archer to growl. "When did you learn how to fence, Winchester?!" he asked angrily. Dean grinned. "I never did- guess I'm just awesome like that."

Crowley rolled his eyes, and took out his other, spare sword, jumping forward and fighting too.

The merry men were otherwise engaged in trying to trap Gabriel, who was laughing as he galloped around, leading them in circles. One member of the oafish group was following the escapades, accompanying behind the chase while intensely playing the accordion.

"Fools!" Robin shouted, "Use your weapons!" As if some firecracker went off in their faces, the merry men all fumbled for their swords, waving them around deliriously in attempt to snag the Pegasus.

"Haha! Suckers!" Gabriel grinned, "I'm too smart for you!" "I think anyone is," Crowley muttered.

Robin slashed his sword across Dean's cheek, creating a scratch down the curve of his cheekbone. "Ow!" he muttered, furiously glaring back at his opponent. "Oh, you asked for it!"

He went forward, sticking the point of his sword into Robin's other arm, making the archer howl in pain. Just as Dean thought he was in for another bout of wrath, Robin smirked as he saw who was approaching them out of the corner of his eye. He turned suddenly, catching Gabriel by surprise, where he was running behind him.

"NO!"
Robin chuckled as he saw that he had slashed just under Gabriel's chest. At first, Dean assumed Gabe could simply heal himself back, being a magical creature and all that. But then he saw that the Pegasus looked alarmed, a look that Dean wasn't used to seeing on him, so he knew something was wrong. He ran over, dropping the sword.

To get through to Gabe in one swoop, Dean defaulted to his primal fighting stance, if he ever had one- punching.

He punched Robin out of the way, and Gabriel was looking down at his wound. It wasn't fatal… but there was a strange, light blue glow seeping out slowly as a high pitched frequency noise faintly sounded.

"What's that?!" Dean frowned. "It's… it's my grace," Gabe gulped.

"Whadyou mean? Like the stuff that makes you magical?" Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Yes, Professor Genius, that stuff. If I…" he exhaled, "If I run out, I'll just be a regular, limp old stallion- without any mojo, nothing… forever."

Dean automatically turned to glare at the writhing man on the ground beside them. "You son of a bitch!"

The archer scrambled up, backing away to arm's length. "G-give up, Winchester- the Pegasus is mine!"

Just then, they all hear a shuffling noise behind Robin. He slowly turned, and saw Crowley standing there, staring at him with his hat in his hands.

Robin couldn't help but let out a soft awwww when he saw that face, Crowley's big, soulful red eyes unblinking and adorable. Robin smiled a little, lost in the cat's cuteness, and Crowley took that opportunity to suddenly whip out a silver and black colt gun, pointing it straight at his head.

"I'll give you five minutes to start running, or I'll pull the trigger. And darling- I never miss."

Robin looked down at Crowley in surprise, then stepped back with a faint chuckle, attempting to show how unafraid he was of the cat despite his weary apprehension from the gun pointed straight at him.

"Listen, furball. I could simply kick you-"

*BANG!*

Robin yelped as his hat was blown clean off his head, and took off running the other way, his band of Merry Idiots following close behind.

Crowley blew smoke from his gun, grinning with self-satisfaction before scampering over to join Dean.

"Gabe, does it hurt?" Dean was asking, and Gabriel shook his head. "Nope. I don't feel pain- perks of being a celestial being. But if I don't heal myself soon, I'll lose all my grace."

"Well then... do it!" "I can't, Mr. Helpful, I've got to be in my natural habitat, which is faaaar from here." Dean sighed, conflicted. He knew his past would come back to bite him in the ass sooner or later.

"Listen," Gabriel said, cutting through his contemplation, "We'll probably have enough time to save this Prince of yours before I go fully limp." Dean looked down. "You sure?" "Hells yeah... I'm fine, really."

Dean nodded, a little hesitant, but the three set off again on their way.