It had been a year since John found them at the Roadhouse, and to the open relief of Dean and Sam, he didn't try to make them come back to living on the road with him. Instead they came to a tentative peace. John would visit with them occasionally, leaving new information about the things he hunted and they would send him onto new hunts along with any info they had about what it was.
It wasn't perfect, but it was a damn sight better than what they had been living with.
During that time, Dean slowly started to form a suspicion about who the pale man was that kept visiting him. Little clues started to add up to one crazy impossibility. Things like how the reapers who occasionally dropped by reacted to him asking about the man, or the symbol.
It wasn't until he was almost eighteen that he finally confronted the pale man. He might not have, had he never found that book in a used magical bookstore about European fairy tales.
The man took one look at Tales of Beedle the Bard and knew that the day Dean figured out his name had come. He idly wondered who had sold their copy at just the right time for Dean to find it.
He waited patiently for Dean to speak. Finally the silence grew too much for the almost eighteen-year-old.
You're not a reaper, are you? You're Death.
Ironic you figure it out at the exact same age that you finished the set, said Death. Harry had been about this age when he first completed the Hallows centuries after he had released them.
Why me? Why do you only appear before me?
Because of who you were. Before you summoned me specifically to ask for a second chance.
That symbol you showed me. It was the Hallows wasn't it?
Yes. Several years ago you completed the set, and then nine years later you summoned me asking if I could give you a second chance away from the destiny that had been thrust upon you. I couldn't take the title or the magic away, but I could give you something else. Anonymity.
How bad was it? How bad could my life have been before that I would give up everything just to be another face in the crowd?
The person you were before had never known love. In any form. You had been denied it by everyone around you, and it took some time for you to realize that the life you had wasn't worth the price you had paid for it. So I took pity on you and sent you someplace I knew you would have that chance.
Dean considered that. He couldn't imagine a life without his brother, Bobby, Ellen or Jo.
To give you an idea of how bad it was, imagine living alone with John Winchester after he found out you had magic, without anywhere to run to. Living every day in fear that he might snap and kill you just because of what you were.
Dean shivered. He had nightmares about that sometimes. That thought scared him more than any monster he had ever hunted.
I told you before, your next life would be filled with darkness and pain, but there would be love in it. You felt that love was worth more than anything else in your life and you were willing to pay for it. Tell me, do you think it was worth it?
I sacrificed everything for love. And considering my life now, I can honestly say... I don't regret it. I would rather have Sammy, dad, mom and even that pest Jo around than all the gold in the world.
Good. I'm glad you're happy with the situation, because in a few years or so I'm going to need your help dealing with a pair of spoiled children who had a rather massive argument over who daddy loved best.
Dean choked back a laugh at the description. Who could possibly be so troublesome that Death couldn't have his reapers handle it?
Believe me, you'll understand in a couple of years. The headache alone that the older one has given me since his father cast him out isn't worth being in his presence. And since you essentially dropped 'off the grid' so to speak he's going to be in for a rude awakening once he gets out.
I have the feeling there's a funny story behind that.
It's better you don't understand just yet. And that your memories and full potential remain sealed until it's safe for you to use them. If they realized who you are too early, it could ruin everything...and endanger your brother.
Dean's full attention was on Death now.
The older one has a vested interest in corrupting your brother, and the other one will try to force you into saying yes. He might even send his lackeys down. So long as you don't lose faith in Sam, everything should turn out fine...eventually. I think.
Dean rolled his eyes. Clearly Death wasn't going to explain further, and he knew from past experiences that he wouldn't give him information just because he asked. It was better to let things move at it's own pace. Death had already been more informative than usual, and Dean knew that the entity would never actually hurt him.
He would have done so years ago if he were going to.
Dean stared. He couldn't help it.
There in the parking lot of the Roadhouse was a familiar black car. It was the 1967 Chevy Impala that his father had driven on hunts for god knows how long. The very car that Dean loved, even if he hated the driver. He had planned to get his own once he made enough playing against the other hunters at poker, or as close as he could get.
And there was a note on the car's windshield. Dean took it off with shaky hands and open confusion on his face.
Confusion turned into real shock as he read what was on the note.
Dean,
I know I haven't been the best father in the world. I couldn't even tell that you were scared or that you weren't one of the monsters that we hunt. I doubt this can make up for all the pain I've put you and Sam through, but I hope it helps. I'm leaving the Impala to you, as well as most of the gear in the trunk.
Before you try to deny it, I know you love the car more than you ever did me. I already have a replacement.
I'm sorry.
John.
"Wow... he actually left you the car?" said Jo, when she read the note from behind Dean.
Dean had gotten his license a few years ago, but he had never actually driven anything more than a few of Bobby's spare cars on test runs.
"Think it's bobby-trapped?" asked Dean.
He might not have liked John, but he definitely inherited some measure of the man's paranoia.
"No idea," said Jo.
Dean didn't go near the car until he knew for sure it wasn't trapped with something. He wouldn't put it past John not to do something to it, and he also didn't know how to feel about receiving the car from him either. He had been on a few hunts, usually simple salt and burns with Bobby, but never anything serious.
As Bobby said, it was better he take baby-steps before he started really hunting. Especially after the one time he was impatient, he nearly got his head bitten off by a vampire nest.
Gordon hadn't gone near the Roadhouse after that. Ellen would kill him if he came anywhere near it.
Death came, amused about something.
Hello Dean.
Death. Quick question. Did John trap the Impala, or was that letter actually sincere?
I'll ask around.
A few hours later Death returned, and he looked somewhat surprised.
The letter was sincere. Though I did get something off of him you definitely won't like. I'm not sure if you wish to hear it or not.
I doubt anything John could do right now could bother me more than leaving his car behind has already.
He has a third son. Boy has no idea about what John does, but your birth father has been visiting him regularly for years now.
Dean nearly dropped his glass.
He... he has another son and didn't tell us?
Adam. I don't know whether he's been trying to make up for his failures with you and Sam, but from what I saw in his mind he prefers being around the boy more than he does you two. I think the knowledge of his wife's true nature broke something in him.
Dean sat down. Something inside of him felt like it was cracking, shattering into a thousand pieces. Finding out about Adam was the last straw for him. There was no way John could possibly make up for this.
Looking outside at the Impala, he came to a rather odd decision. He could accept the car, but there was no way in hell he was ever going to accept it as an apology for all the neglect.
It had been a month since John left the car behind at the Roadhouse for Dean, and a week since he had needed Bobby's help on a hunt.
Driving into the salvage yard, John had no idea what was waiting for him.
Bobby wasn't in, but there was something on the coffee table for John in Dean's handwriting.
He picked it up, and found two thousand dollars in cash along with a letter.
To John Winchester:
I know about Adam.
John's heart nearly stopped the second he read that first line. How in the hell did Dean know about Adam? He had never mentioned him or left anything for Dean to find about his third son.
Your chances at making up to Sam and me over. Consider the cash payment for the car and gear, because there is no way in hell I'm ever accepting anything from you again. I can't believe you thought giving me the Impala was going to make up for all the bullshit you put us through, especially after my magic started reacting.
I may hunt with you, but you'll never be my father again.
Dean.
Bobby came in halfway through John reading the letter Dean had given him, and wondered what the cash was for. He hadn't read the letter, but from the look on John's face he had a pretty good idea that something had happened.
Winchester had screwed up for the last time, apparently. He could wait until he saw Dean again to find out what John had done to set him off.
Sam was justifiably upset when Dean finally told him. Dean didn't think keeping this kind of news from him would be worth the trouble of Sam finding out the hard way himself later. If he had bad information, he tended to get it out into the open rather than sit on it.
It was something most hunters appreciated about Dean... his blunt manners.
"He had a third son?"
"One that he apparently liked better than us," said Dean bitterly.
"How'd you find out?"
"Mort told me. I asked him if he was sincere about trying to make up for the crap he put us through, but in the process Mort saw Adam and read his mind, then told me. No way am I letting that one slide," said Dean.
He had long since regarded Bobby and Ellen as their parents, but finding out about Adam only cemented that thought. John Winchester was not his father, and he never would be now. It felt good to finally realize that fact.
Sam, Ellen and Bobby knew about Mort, the 'reaper' that visited Dean regularly. So long as he didn't cause trouble, they could care less.
They figured it was some weird legacy left behind by their mother, Mary.
"So what about the car? What did you do with the Impala?" asked Jo. She had come up for moral support the second Dean had that look on his face and needed to talk to Sam.
"Left two grand in the letter stating it was for the car and to consider himself out of our lives for good. I might hunt with him, but he's never getting back into our lives," said Dean flatly.
"So that's where the money in the jar went," said Jo.
Dean kept his tip and poker money in a jar, so he could get the car he wanted later. Jo had wondered why it had vanished after Bobby left, but figured that he had finally bought one.
"Wonder how he reacted finding out that you knew," asked Sam.
"With any luck the bastard had a heart attack and died before Bobby could save him," spat Dean.
"...Think Bobby would give you the money back if he did?" asked Jo. Ever the optimist.
"Knowing dad, probably," said Dean.
To Dean and Jo's open disappointment, he informed them that aside from looking like Dean had somehow slapped him silly with a fish without even being near him, he had taken the hint and left. He did ask what Dean had said that spooked John so badly though.
Learning about Adam just pissed Bobby off more. Yet another Winchester screw-up.
"No way! You got into Stanford?!" said Dean in shock.
It had been years since they cut all ties to John Winchester, and frankly they were glad to be done with it. John never came around the Roadhouse anymore, and when he called he never spoke to Sam or Dean.
At least he could take a hint and let sleeping dogs lie.
Sam looked rather pleased with himself.
"A full ride," he said proudly.
"I'm proud of you baby brother! Any idea what you're going to focus on?" asked Dean.
"I was thinking law. Might as well put all those Latin lessons to some use," said Sam.
"And it keeps you in practice with a dead language that won't tip anyone off to your side studies," said Dean in approval.
The only ones aware that Dean and Sam were half bloods were Bobby, Ellen and Jo. And they wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible.
There was a reason why Dean and Sam had changed their last name to Harvelle. It was simply too dangerous to use their mother's maiden name when there was a demon after Sam.
"Once I'm settled I'll call you every week," said Sam.
"You better, or I'm coming after your ass to check on you," said Dean only-half joking.