South Dakota, USA. Sioux Falls, 1984
No one could have imagined that something significant would happen on this day. It was just another event in the lives of the Winchesters, one that would weave them into a complicated web of the future. John Winchester, who would give his life for his two wonderful boys, brought another little girl, a newborn, into their family, further strengthening the bonds of their family idyll. You might ask, how did it all begin?
While Dean Winchester was sitting at Bobby's house, watching over little Sammy, he had no idea where their father was. Dean was already five years old, and Sammy had just started to explore the world. No one could have predicted that on this day their family's tranquility would be threatened, and that the events would shatter their perfect world. Although a year had passed since then, John Winchester was still in shock. It was from that moment that John began to instill in Dean that he had to grow up, be strong, and take responsibility for his younger brother. Dean had never been an ordinary child, and this realization followed him throughout his life. Perhaps, deep down, he was even grateful for it.
No one on that day—neither Bobby, nor Dean, nor little Sammy—could foresee that John Winchester would arrive with another life in his hands. He didn't know the name of the baby he found during a hunt, abandoned on the street, possibly dying of hunger. It was unknown how long the newborn girl had been alone, but John was struck by the fact that no one had noticed the lost child. When he brought the tiny princess into the house, Bobby raised his eyebrows in surprise, seeing the hunter carry a baby, especially after the tragedy that had disrupted their family peace.
"John!?" Bobby approached him, throwing the kitchen towel aside.
"Bobby… is everything okay?" John spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Dad!" Dean jumped off the couch and ran to his father with joy at finally seeing him. At this age, Dean was not yet accustomed to his father's constant absence. He couldn't express it in words, but he was hurt not only by his mother's death but also by the fact that his father had become a completely different person. John had started keeping a journal, constantly leaving, becoming withdrawn, and the worst part was that there was no turning back. The loving John who thought only of his children's safety had disappeared. Now, this John saw only one goal before his eyes—revenge for Mary.
"Son, I need to talk to Bobby. Go and stay with your brother," John said coldly, holding the baby in his arms.
"Okay…" Dean frowned and went over to Sammy.
"I don't get it, John. Why do you have a baby in your arms? What happened? Where have you been, anyway?"
"I went on my first hunt. Missouri gave me a case, and I was trying to clear a vampire nest. I didn't even make it to the case. I had to stop by a contact's place and nearby, I saw a little newborn baby. I don't know how it happened or how long she was there, but I couldn't leave her to die."
"Yeah… I get it. What a nightmare, who could abandon a baby?"
"I don't know, Bobby, but that's not my concern right now. We need to figure out what to do with her."
"Well, you could give her to a family. You know you can't handle another child, right? You're already struggling with two."
"I know, Bobby, but what else can I do? I'll have to spend a lot of time finding a family or an orphanage. Since I picked her up, she's my responsibility now."
"You've got a lot on your plate, John," Bobby sighed heavily, shaking his head. "You're chasing the monster that killed your wife, and now you've got an extra burden. You can't watch over Sam and Dean. You'll leave them alone all the time, and this baby, whether on the street or with you, it's the same thing."
"Do you think I should just give it all up!? Just continue living as if nothing happened? No, that's not going to happen. I saw Mary die. It wasn't a fire, it wasn't an accident, as everyone says. It was a monster's doing! I didn't see it, but… Mary was on the ceiling, Bobby."
"I believe you. But think again, John. What's more important to you, the monster or your sons?"
John couldn't answer that question. It was strange because he loved his boys and wanted the best life for them, but right now, all his thoughts were only about Mary, about the creature that pinned her to the ceiling. The desire for revenge pulsed in his heart, circulated in his blood, driving him to fight, to keep going… nothing else mattered.
"Alright then," John said coldly, "let her stay here for now. I'll try to find a good place for her. I can't just leave her anywhere. Can you look after her while I'm searching?"
"Of course, I'll watch over her. Just don't bring another child by accident, I already have three now."
"Bobby…" John shook his head and handed her over.
"And what am I supposed to feed her with? We don't have breast milk."
"I'll try to buy something for her. There's plenty of substitutes in the store. I'll be back soon," John left the house in an instant.
One might wonder, what stopped John from finding a safe place for Mia on the first day, a loving family of a doctor and a bookkeeper, or any orphanage where many children end up and live? No, everything went completely differently than planned. As soon as he left the house, he saw a suspicious figure staring at him, as if he were an enemy. The man suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind a startled John Winchester.
"Well, hello, John," the demon said.
John began to turn slowly, then looked at the demon with indifference and anger. Missouri had told him about these creatures, as had Bobby. Over the past year, he had learned a lot and tried not to show fear, although seeing a demon for the first time was a bit... scary.
"Who are you?" John looked at him sternly.
"Me? Oh right. You're new at this. I'm a demon," he showed his coal-black eyes.
"Demon? What do you want from me?"
"Give me the child," the demon smiled, not taking his eyes off him.
"What? What child?" John didn't immediately understand what was happening. Why would a demon want this baby?
"Oh, hell, John. Are you really that dumb?" the demon paused and then continued with a smirk, "the newborn baby you found? The little girl. Give her to me."
"No way," John growled.
"Wow, showing some backbone? Not bad," the demon seemed to be studying him. In fact, he didn't plan to take the baby. No. His plan was manipulation. The demon needed the girl to grow up not in a family of drunks or perverted rich people. He needed the Winchesters. It wasn't just a coincidence.
"Why do you even want her? Some scumbags abandoned the baby on the street. What do demons have to do with it?"
"You don't need to know everything, John. In any case, you're going to leave her in some orphanage anyway. I'll take her."
"No way," John was angry. "She'll stay with me, and no demon will take her. Not you, not anyone else. Got it?!"
"Alright. We'll come for her. And I won't be alone."
The demon grinned. If only John knew that the demon didn't need to take her at all. He just needed to make sure she was in the right hands. He confirmed it. The demon disappeared. He intentionally awakened John's care for the girl. Flipped a switch in him. Now, John couldn't just abandon the girl, knowing that some kind of demonic hunt had begun for her. But the question remained. What was she?
Some time later, John discussed the matter with Bobby. He didn't go and find a place to leave her. Mr. Singer didn't like it at all. It was suspicious to him why the demon backed off so easily and didn't take the girl right then and there. But they didn't take any risks. John decided to keep the child in their family, and Bobby even agreed to help from time to time. Dean's reaction, however, was not so simple for a 5-year-old. He didn't know how to react: to be happy or upset that another burden had fallen on their family. Since they had to keep the baby with them, Dean was the first to suggest a name, and the name he proposed was Mary. He thought of his mother at that moment. As if one life ended and another was born in exchange. As if people had swapped places. No one objected to calling her Mary. Though, for John, it was like a knife to the heart.