Once they got on the road it only took the boys a short time to fall back into familiar patterns. There were strings of motels and nights spent in the car along with too much time hunting with little rest in between. It was as if John felt he had to make up for lost time and work all the soft out of both of his sons. Since Sam was still a kid he was left behind for the more dangerous missions but John was sure to include him whenever he could.

Dean went back to foraging food from the coffee bars everywhere he went. Motels were good for sugar, creamer, cocoa, tea bags, and the occasion doughnut. Restaurants were always good for little jellies, syrup, butter pats and extra rolls and crackers. He went back to five finger discounts to supplement the lean times when John would vanish without warning.

Sam and Dean were each other's constant when everything else was rocky. When their dad wasn't around, sometimes they'd call Bobby collect but many times the hunter was out in the field. He'd come back to find messages from his boys but by the time he called back they had moved on again, to where he had no clue. Each time that happened it was another round of quiet heartache. Bobby put out the word that if anyone saw them or had an idea where John Winchester was hanging his hat that night, they were to let him know right away.

….

September 1994

Sam was acting bull headed which Dean thought was pretty funny since his brother was such a shrimp and too adorable for words.

For John it was a real eye opener. His easygoing, quiet kid was asserting himself.

Sam stood firm and refused to budge, "We don't want to go to school here, why can't we go back to our old school?"

John grabbed Sam by the front of his much too big corduroy jacket, "So you're speaking for your brother now? Dean, what do you have to say?"

Dean scuffed his sneaker over the pavement while keeping his eyes on the entrance to Mapplethorp Middle School. The place was old and creepy and looked more like Dracula's castle than a place for kids.

"Don't ask me, I don't even want to go to school anymore."

When John failed let go of Sam's jacket Dean got right in their space, forcing John to move over and let go.

There were plenty of adults around so Dean wasn't too worried about instant retaliation. It was too important for their dad to look as normal as possible in front of those who weren't other hunters or those involved with their world. John had been in jail before and he didn't want to end up there again.

No one but no one touched Sam that way, not even their dad. Dean would take a hundred blows to prevent Sam from getting one slap.

Dean felt bad for Sam because he knew how much the little nerd liked to go to school so his brother acting this just wasn't normal. Sam had that taste of normal back at Bobby's and he was still having a tough time.

It never occurred to John or Dean that the boy was in that agonizing stage called pre-puberty where he wanted more freedom and wanted to be heard but he still looked like a cute little kid and that was how most people treated him.

Dean bent down in front of Sam and smoothed the front of his rumpled, hand-me-down jacket, "Let's meet on that bench over there after school, alright Sammy? You'll do great just like always." Dean briefly pressed his forehead against Sam's and whispered, "Maybe next year we can go back."

Sam managed a little smile and then entered the middle school without any further drama.

John spoke low enough to Dean so that no one else could hear them, "Don't you ever do that again. I don't know who or what you think you are but I'm the alpha and don't you ever forget it."

The alpha straightened up and his completely normal smile made Dean all the more nervous than if his dad had been scowling.

"This weekend I've got a little job for you, Dean."

….

When he entered the Crow's Nest that night the patrons, both human and vampire had a difficult time not staring as this young piece of ass weaving his way around the tables and leaving behind what to most men and all monsters was a gorgeous scent trail. For the handful of vampires in the noisy bar, that his scent told them his approximate age, health, sex, fertility and much more.

No one questioned why the underage omega was there. The alphas hoped he was an ownerless baby looking for someone to care for him or at least a prostitute.

The oldest vamp at the table of blood suckers told the others the boy was fangs off.

"He will be worth much more to us as a recruiter and I'll handle it because I can't trust you nimrods with someone so special."

The angel faced human turned and looked straight at them and smiled. He vanished into the bathroom and minutes later exited the Crow's Nest. The three easily tracked him to the alleyway where the boy was just standing there facing a wall.

Dean shuddered when he heard the vamp in a sing-song voice say, "I can smell you bleeding, little angel boy. I bet you taste like candy."

This was a monster's dream come true right up until the tantalizing teen turned around. He was holding a small crossbow and shot a dead man's blood covered bolt straight through a foot soldier's eye.

Before Dean could load another bolt the eldest vamp was on him.

"Dad!"

Within seconds John was on them, he jerked the elder vampires head back and with one practiced swing, the headless body fell to the side. John immediately went to the one writhing on the filthy ground and dispatched of him quickly.

Meanwhile the third and last bloodsucker grabbed Dean by the throat and lifted till the human was on tiptoes, gasping for air and clawing at the incredibly strong hand threatening to crush his windpipe.

Not wanting to injure his son, John slit its throat first with a knife so it would release its prey and then he finished the job with his machete.

John took Dean by the hand and pulled him to his feet, "Are you alright?"

Dean nodded because his throat was too sore to speak.

This was one of the worst hunts ever for Dean because it was the first time his dad used him as bait.

John cupped his son's cheek and ran a rough thumb across Dean's lips, "Tell me who your alpha is."

The omega croaked, "You are, Sir."

"Good, now you'll remember your place."

…

When Dean entered the motel room without their dad, it was a relief for Sam. Post hunt could be either great because their dad accomplished the mission or awful because something went wrong.

He went to Dean and tried to touch him but his brother shrugged him off, "Don't touch me, I friggin' stink." He went to the bathroom and locked himself in. Sam sat outside the door and listened just in case. In case of what he didn't know but it was what he usually did when Dean was in a state like this.

Dean stripped and took the soaked pad from his underwear and rolled it up in toilet paper to hide it somewhat before throwing it in the trash can. He was in the middle of a light heat and John had made him wear the same pad from yesterday so Dean would make a better lure for the hunt. Now all he wanted to do was get clean.

After almost forty minutes into his brother's shower, Sam knocked on the door and asked if he was ok.

"Order a pizza, Chinese or whatever you want. Just make sure it's not all vegetables."

Sam ordered cashew chicken, pork egg foo young, vegetable stir fry and egg rolls and all the rice that came with it. That was a lot of food but after these hunts his brother was usually ravenous and Sam also knew Dean was going through a heat cycle which made him even hungrier.

Dean found Sam sitting on the bed and the bags of mouthwatering food on the nightstand. They ate it picnic style right from the containers. Sam wondered by his brother's voice sounded so rough so Dean regaled Sam with a sanitized version of the hunt that night. Afterwards the pair settled under the covers, each with a fortune cookie.

Sam opened his first and read it out loud, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I bet it means if I work hard I'll achieve my dreams."

"Oh yeah, what are your dreams?"

Sam shrugged, "I'm only eleven, ask me next year. What does yours say?"

"Happiness is right in front of you." He messed up Sam's mop top, "That's a no brainer."

Sam examined the ugly bruises around his brother's neck then fetched some ice and held it there for as long as Dean could take it in order to reduce the swelling. He made Dean a hot cup of tea to sooth his throat. Sam wasn't sure if that was counterproductive but he was doing his best to be a good little doctor.

Sam draped his leg across his brother's hips in order to protect Dean from bad guys and vampires.

For Dean this was always a comfort during his cycle and especially after what had happened tonight. Sometimes it was nice to get a little protecting.

…

John managed to enter the motel room quiet enough not to wake up Sam but ever alert Dean sat up in bed and reached for his knife.

John whispered, "It's me, go back to bed."

Dean shuffled to the bathroom and sat to pee because he was too tired to stand. He'd gotten the hang of the whole one bladder but two pee holes thing and could choose now except when his bladder was too full. He crawled back in bed and Sam put his leg back over his brother's hips.

The alpha was unaware of the foxtail eyes filled with animosity watching him from the darkness as he ate the leftovers.

….

January 4th, 1995

Cody sucked another bruise on Dean's skin as the omega moaned a little too loudly, "Shhh, someone's gonna hear."

Dean wrapped his arms around Cody's slim waist and pulled him in tight, pelvis to pelvis, "So, the janitor is deaf as a stone. Besides, maybe I'll let him watch." Dean let out a dirty laugh that sent shivers through the other omega's body.

Dean was the one in complete control of this relationship or whatever it was. The school basement proved to be a great make out place with all its weird passageways under the old building. There was safety in being with another omega, no pressure, no pregnancy and Cody was as pure as the new fallen snow just like Dean.

TBC