2008...

It was particularly cold for mid-January, but they were in the Midwest. Money had been low, so, they hadn't stopped at a hotel in a few days, and Dean was standing outside of the car, brushing his teeth, spitting off the side of a cliff. Alex was asleep in the backseat, and Sam looked like death warmed over; probably getting sick, Dean mused. He could always tell when Sam was on the verge of getting sick. The glassy, red-rimmed eyes, the droop of the shoulders, the sweaty hair... and, weird as it sounded, the breath. Breath was different when he was going to get sick--- almost smelled like floor varnish. Not that he would admit this to Sam--- or anyone for that matter, but, it was true.

Sam stepped out next to him, using the hard travel toothbrush as well. They were at least convenient; disposable, toothpaste already added, no water necessary... just a little hard on the gums sometimes. He started when he heard a cellphone ringing. Not his; his was on vibrate. Not Dean's; the ringtone wasn't "Hell's Bells". Alex dove towards the glove box where the sound was coming from, sprawled between both sets of seats. Dad's...

"Hello?" she answered a bit breathlessly.

"Hi," the softly southern accented voice answered. "May I speak to John Winchester, please?" he asked politely.

"He's... not available." Alex said guardedly.

"Oh, well, who's this?"

"Who's this?" she demanded, instead of answering.

"Adam. Adam Mackelroy." he said in a tremulous tone. "I'm his son..."

Alex dropped the phone, diving backwards into the backseat as if it had burned her.

"Alex?" Sam frowned, concerned.

Dean grabbed for the phone.

"Who the hell is this?" he demanded.

"Adam Mackelroy." the boy said patiently. "And, I'm trying to reach my father, John Winchester."

"Dean, you don't know that this guy is a shifter." Sam said, watching Dean's elaborate set up.

"We don't not know it, either. And, he could also be posessed... or any number of things. But, our brother, he ain't."

Sam fidgited uncomfortably. "Maybe... maybe Dad didn't know about him?"

"Sam, the kid's lyin'."

"Well, it's just, Dad wasn't exactly a monk, Dean... Maybe one... slipped past the goalie?"

Dean shuddered. "Gross, dude; do not want to think about Dad getting laid."

Sam hid the smirk, but it faded when he saw the faraway look in Alex's eyes.

"Alex?"

"What? Nothing." she said vaguely.

"Come on, what's wrong?"

"Well, it's just... why wouldn't he tell us?" she demanded. "I know he kept his secrets, but, geez... that's..."

"There were times... that Dad was an ass." Dean admitted. "But, that doesn't mean this guy is telling the truth, and you don't need to get all worked up until we find out for sure, okay?"

Alex nodded, and then boy walked in. He didn't look like a Winchester. He was scrawny, spindly, with sunk in eyes and an overbite. Alex looked way more like a Winchester than he did, and she was sort-of-adopted, not that it mattered to her. But, everyone had always told her how much she looked like John when she was younger, even moreso than the boys. Her boys, she thought to herself, and then felt guilty for that thought.

Adam sat, taking a sip of the holy water Dean had set out for him--- and no reaction. He unfolded the silver utensils, no reaction. He even put salt on his eggs...

"So, how did you know my father?" Adam asked them, looking at the three of them on the other side of the table, looking for all the world like The Addams Family at the moment, watching his every move.

"Worked with him." Dean said.

"Oh, so you're mechanics." Adam nodded.

"Yeah, right." Dean returned easily.

"Even her? She looks a little young..."

"That's my little sister." Dean responded curtly.

"Oh..." Adam said. "It's funny, I didn't know him real long--- he didn't even know I existed until about 8 years ago. He come a few times, took me to some baseball games..." Adam shrugged. "But, my Momma always said I could call on him if I needed him, 'cause he was my dad."

Finally, Dean had definately had enough. "No, we are his kids. Me, Sam and Alex. Not you--- we never even heard of you!"

Adam looked excited. "I have brothers and a sister?!"

"No..." Dean said, loosing his patience. "I have a brother and a sister."

"You don't believe me." Adam said, his enthuasiam still not dampening.

"No, I don't!"

"I have proof."