A/N: I wrote this story for one of my readers who is a Sam girl. This story is for you, SallyAnneRene. I hope you enjoy the read and like the story line I created. Thank you for all who have decided to read my story. Your ideas and suggestions are always welcome, maybe I can even use them in a story. Please review. NC

Chapter 1

The young boy lay on one of the twin beds in the room he shared with his older brother. He was working up the courage to face their father and tell him he wanted to stay here instead of going with him to check out a possible case. It wasn't like his Dad was going to let him actually hunt with them. Growing up for him had not been your normal apple pie life. He'd lost his Mom when he was six months old and ever since it had been him, his older brother and their father on the road, moving from one town to the next. He didn't even get a chance to know his Mom and only knew what she looked like by the few pictures he found of her. Neither his Dad nor brother would tell him much about her.

They had moved around a lot when he was growing up and he thought it was for his Dad's work until five years ago when he learned the truth. He learned what was really out there in the dark and that his Dad hunted and killed the monsters and saved people's lives. That day when he read his father's journal changed his life forever. No more was he an innocent child who thought the monsters he read about or saw on television were just for entertainment. After learning the truth his world was turned upside down. He now knew the reason they moved around so much; his Dad was going where the hunts were and that was why they were left alone in motel rooms days, even weeks at a time. Many a time they barely had enough money for food, but somehow Dean always managed to feed him. He would hustle or even steal to be sure Sammy had food to eat. He now saw just how much his older brother had sacrificed for him trying to give him a normal life as long as he could.

He saw his brother in a different light now since Dean had known the true from the time he was four. He now knew why their father pushed so hard in their training, never settling for anything less than perfection from them. His brother was a natural at it but he wasn't as lucky. He was an awkward kid trying to grow into his body, but he still tried so hard to meet his father's expectations. Sometimes he could do it, but most of the time he just couldn't make his body keep up. No matter how hard he pushed himself, no matter how bad he wanted it, deep, deep down in his soul he knew this wasn't for him. He didn't want to be a hunter. He didn't want to follow in his Dad and brother's footsteps, the family business. He wanted something more in his life than moving from town to town searching for the next hunt, staying in rundown, grungy motel rooms, never really having a place that he could truly call home. He wanted to stay here to finish out the school year since there was only two months left. School was easy for him but it was hard when you moved three or four times in a school year. He hated being the 'new kid' again knowing they probably wouldn't be there long enough to make friends or settle into the school. This time he was standing up for himself and hoped for the best. Sam had decided he was old enough to start making his own decisions in his life. He wanted to have control of it and decide what his future was going to be.

spn

"Are you packed? Dad's about ready to leave," Dean asked his younger brother as he strolled into their bedroom to see Sam still in his sleep clothes.

"I'm not going," Sam replied quietly not able to meet his brother's gaze.

"Quit kidding around and get your shit together," Dean argued striding to the bed to stand over him.

"No!" Sam growled again clenching his jaw and crossing his arms over his chest and putting on his best bitch face.

"Sammy, Dad's waiting on us. Now let's go," he fussed grabbing at Sam's arm.

"Stop it! I'm going to tell him now. I don't want to go with you," Sam complained jerking from Dean's grasp and jumping up from the bed. He headed for the hall and the stairs to find their Dad and get this over with. Sam had already asked Bobby if he could stay and he had said yes. He heard voices in the kitchen and headed that way with Dean not far behind.

spn

"You ready Sammy?" John asked when his youngest hurried into the kitchen.

"I don't want to go!" Sam blurred out catching John by surprise. "I want to stay here with Uncle Bobby."

"Excuse me?" he asked in a loud demanding voice as he glared hard at his son.

"Dad, I want to finish the school year here. There's only two more months before we're out. I like the school and the teachers and...And I made some friends," Sam rambled as fast as he could afraid to look up into his father's face. "You say I'm too young to go hunting with you, please let me stay."

"You know 'bout this?" John demanded looking to Bobby for an answer.

"He did ask me and I told him it was your decision," Bobby said calmly looking over at Sam as he stood facing his father.

"Go get your things Sammy we're leaving," John told his youngest.

"Dad, why don't you let him stay?" Dean said from behind Sam. He could see how much Sam wanted this and how much it meant to him. "Sammy right you're not going to let him hunt with us anyway. What if Bobby makes sure he trains while he's here? He'd be safer here than left alone in a motel room. You know that could be more dangerous than hunting. Besides, it's only for a couple of months."

John looked to his oldest son and saw the pleading on his face for him to say yes. It seemed Dean was always the mediator between him and his youngest now that he had gotten older and questioned more and started arguing with him. It seemed every time he turned around they were butting heads over some nonsense. He looked back to his youngest who was looking up with those puppy dog eyes waiting for his answer.

"What if you get a hunt?" John asked Bobby.

"I can get someone to stay here while I'm gone. The boy's fourteen John, it's not like he can't take care of himself. Besides, wouldn't he be staying alone in some motel room while you two are hunting? Dean's right, he'd be safer here with me and you wouldn't have to worry about him. It'll be easier this way too."

"Please Dad," Sam said softly.

"Do you promise to train with Bobby while we're gone?" John asked.

"I will, I'll train every day!" Sam said excitedly not able to hold still he was so happy.

"It's not like we can't stop by to check on him between hunts," Dean commented butting Sam's shoulder lovingly.

"You sure about this Bobby?"

"Go already, he'll be fine here. I'll make sure he trains and does his school work and keeps his nose clean."

"I guess it's settled then, you ready Dean?" John asked getting up from the table.

"Yeah."

"Sammy you mind Bobby you hear?" John instructed his youngest. "I don't wanna hear you've been slacking off."

"I will. Thanks Dad," Sam said hugging him as John wrapped his strong arms around him holding him tight for a moment before letting go. "Here's for the extra food," he said laying some money beside Bobby's coffee cup before heading for the door.

"Stay out of trouble bro," Dean told Sam, ruffling his hair must to Sam's disgust. "I'm giving you a haircut when I get back."

"No you're not," Sam huffed smacking his hand away. "Dean, be careful out there okay? And take care of Dad."

"You know I will, don't worry we'll be fine," he told Sam in a more serious tone when he saw Sam's concern. "See ya squirt, I'll check in with you to be sure things are going okay."

"Alright, if you need any research done let me know," Sam replied watching Dean saunter for the door. He gave a small wave to Dean's salute and sighed in relief. He had done it; for once his father listened to him and allowed him to do what he wanted.

spn

"You ready for some breakfast?" Bobby asked now that they were alone.

"I can get me something Uncle Bobby," Sam said heading for the cabinet to get a box of cereal and the fridge for the milk.

"After ya're done, probably need to make a supply run and stock up," Bobby said picking up the money and pocketing it.

"Okay, can I go to the used bookstore while we're in town?"

"Don't see why not," he said sipping his coffee. "Ya got any homework that needs doing?"

"No, I finished it last night so I'd have the weekend free."

"I got a feeling yer Daddy don't give ya enough credit for smarts. How long ya had this planned out?" Bobby asked eyeing Sam suspiciously as he sat down with his cereal and milk.

Sam had the decency to blush a deep red knowing Bobby had seen right through him. One thing Sam could do was solve problems, no matter had complicated they were. Sam's brain seemed to function differently than most and Bobby could see that. He had actually decided to do this several weeks ago when it looked like John was getting ready to head out again. The only reason they hadn't left sooner was John was recovering from an injury he got in a hunt.

He knew his Dad didn't like staying in one place too long, always looking for the next job and that wrecked havoc with his schooling but he did his best to keep up and work ahead where he could. Sam wanted to learn. He craved that knowledge like others craved chocolate or whiskey. Where other students hated school, Sam loved it and threw himself into doing his homework and any extra work he could too. But he was careful not to let others know just how smart he was because his Dad always told him to blend in and not stand out. He knew not to draw attention to himself for fear of someone getting nosey and decide to investigate his Dad.

There had been one scare when Sam was seven and accidentally let it slip that his brother and him were alone at a motel for several days waiting for their Dad to get back. They were lucky John came back and they left that town before inquires were made. Sam never made that mistake again after getting a stern talking to from his father. John was strict with the boys and pushed them hard in their training because he expected them to learn how to protect themselves from the dangers out there in the world.

Sam's life was not an easy one, but the one light in it all was his big brother who had taken care of him since he was six months old. Dean never had a childhood but he made sure Sam did. He did without more than anyone would ever know trying to be sure Sam had his childhood and kept his innocence as long as he could. Dean still blamed himself for Sammy taking their Dad's journal and reading it. Now that Dean was eighteen, he had made their father sign papers giving guardianship of Sam to him since John would head out on hunts without them more and more, leaving them to fend for themselves. John still wouldn't let Dean go on a hunt by himself yet, even though Dean protested that he was ready. John told him he had no one to have his back since Sammy was still too young and would not take the chance of losing his oldest to a hunt gone wrong.

"I'm tired of being the new kid all the time Uncle Bobby," Sam finally mumbled as he ate his cereal. "I'm not like Dean; I don't like hunting like he does. Everything comes so easy for him. I work so hard and still I stumble or mess things up. It's like I have two left feet sometimes."

"Yeah, but who does most of the research for them kid? I've never seen anyone take to it like you have. Ya know how much yer brother hates doing research. Don't ya worry none, you're still growing and you'll get better. So don't ya go doubting yerself like that, your time will come. Why I wouldn't be surprised that you don't outgrow that brother of yours."

"I know Dean whines like a three year old when Dad mentions research," Sammy snickered finishing his breakfast and taking his bowl and spoon to the sink to rinse out. "Do you really think I'll get better?"

"I'm sure of it Sam. Once you set your mind to a task not much can stop you from achieving it. Ya gotta believe in yerself and don't be so hard on yerself."

"Thanks Uncle Bobby, I'm ready when you are," Sam said letting the praise Bobby gave him sink in.

"Okay kid, let's go," Bobby stated getting up and leading them outside to his truck. He waited for Sam to get settled and buckled in before starting it and heading for town. In a way Bobby didn't mind Sam staying with him. He enjoyed the boy's company and the adult conservations they had. He swore sometimes Sam was an adult in a teenager's body.

He saw a huge change in him after learning the truth about his family and what his Dad was really doing. John had dropped the boys off right after that and at first he was withdrawn and quiet, keeping to himself and not talking. He was pretty sure John had intentionally left them with him because he didn't want to deal with Sam's reaction to it all. It took Dean weeks to get Sam talking again and out of the funk he was in.

Once he realized he could read some of his books, Sam dove in head first devouring everything that he could. He drilled Dean on each monster wanting to know their characteristics, signs to look for and how to kill them until he hid from him to get some peace. Sam was a complicated and complex kid who wore his heart on his sleeve, not like his brother who hid his emotions just like their father.

Bobby had cautioned John about the boys and dragging them into the life he created for himself, but it fell on deaf ears. He finally gave up talking and just took them in when he could hoping to give them some sort of balance in their lives. Bobby let them be boys and play ball or go fishing or to the movies like other kids did. He wanted to give them some semblance of normal, even if it was only for a few days at a time.