1991
"Give it back!"
Sam yelled as Dean laughed holding his brother's baseball cap high enough and out of his reach. Unknown to both of them that in just a couple of years it would be Sam who towered over his older brother, and any childish games like this would be just a fond memory.
Dean stuck his tongue out at Sam as he waved it around. The baseball cap wasn't anything special, just something Sam had been wearing the last couple of days to avoid his dad from notching he needed another haircut. Most of the time their dad didn't notice stuff like that, but since they were spending the summer at Bobby's, John had kept an extra eye out or his boys so Bobby wouldn't nag him.
Just then John came walking in, exhausted and tired from another long night of research. He had a bottle in his hand and planned on going to the den and passing out on Bobby's sofa. Right away his head ached as he heard Sam's yells.
"Quit it you two!"
John snapped as he shuffled across the room. Right away both boys froze as Dean forgot about his little prank and dropped the cap on the hard wooden floor.
"Hey dad..."
John muttered a hello before sitting down hard on the sofa. Rubbing his two day stubble, he knew he would need to shower in the morning. At this exact moment all he wanted to do was finish off this bottle and pass out.
Sam bent down and picked up his cap, shooting his older brother a dirty look before Dean slowly walked up to his dad, clearing his throat, almost trying to find something to say.
"Ummm, you know that old cat that hangs out back? He got me real good today..."
Dean held up his hand which was covered in scratches. It took John a moment before lifting his bloodshot tired eyes and looking at his son's hand.
"Told you not to be messing around that junk yard. Make sure you clean it out."
Dean nodded before John slowly kicked his boots off, just then the sound of the door was heard. Bobby was home, he had mentioned checking something over a few towns over. Usually he was home before dark.
Within a few seconds Bobby came slowly into the room, standing in the doorway. His clothes were dirty and in one hand his twelve gauge shot gun. John looked up.
"Where have you been?"
Bobby sighed.
"Ran into a bit of trouble over in Juinper. Pack of werewolf's."
Sam looked up before Dean quickly walked over to him.
"Hey Sammy, how about I fix you some PBJ?"
But Sam ignored him, instead he listened as Bobby shook his head. Finally John noticed this and cleared his throat.
"Mind going into the kitchen for a second Sammy?"
Sam glanced at his father and Bobby before nodding and leaving then room. Dean stayed as Bobby spoke.
"Slaughtered a whole family, I came in too late...one of them jumped me...almost had my throat, then I heard a shot get fired. I swear I thought I was dead...that's when I opened my eyes and that beast was stone cold dead and falling to the floor, I heard crying and looked over and saw this little lady..."
Bobby stepped aside to show a young girl, she was around nine or twelve. She wore jeans and a dirty gray hoodie. Her hair was in pigtails and her eyes stared down at the floor. She had a backpack swung over one shoulder.
The first things Dean noticed as he stared was first she was wearing over sized cowboy boots. In fact they were huge on her and seemed to swallow up her long bruised and scratched legs. They looked as if they belonged to a man. Dean saw they were black leather with red and silver trim. They were slightly worn and went almost up past her knees.
The second was that her hair was black or either a very dark brown. Her skin was slightly tanned, and her eyes..well from the distance he thought they were either a pretty shade of brown of hazel. She shifted her feet back and forth, not looking at any of them. For some strange reason Dean stood thre and couldn't take his eyes off her. Bobby glanced back at the young girl.
"Lucy, this is John and his son Dean Winchester, their friends."
Lucy lifted her eyes and stared, she seemed scared and on edge. Right away John frowned before glancing at Bobby. Dean continued to stare at the girl before Bobby went on.
"She was living with this man, he was in his early twenties...Swann was his last name. He was living with a few friends, guess from when they grew up back out West. Lucy didn't say much but she said this fellow was taking care of her...got her out of some trouble a year or so back and tonight everyone was attacked."
"How many wolfs?"
"I thought a pack, but I think she shot their leader, the rest ran off. It was a fricking massacre, girl is lucky to be alive...and so am I. She saved my skin John, really thought I was buying the farm."
John walked over to Lucy before squatting down slightly and putting his hands on his legs, the same way he did whenever he needed to talk to Sam about asking too many questions. He stared at the young girl and sighed before reaching over and gently lifting her chin with his finger. Slightly shaking Lucy looked up before John tried his hardest to give a welcoming half hart filled smile. It was a tired one, but still comforting. The young girl stared at him on the verge of tears.
"How are you doing honey?"
Lucy didn't say anything, instead John smirked.
"You did real good back there, but don't you worry...your safe now and don't have anything to worry about."
Lucy stared at him before John glanced up at Bobby.
"She got any family?"
Bobby slowly shook his head.
"She was an orphan, that's where that Swann fellow found her. She doesn't remember much but I guess it happened out in New Mexico. This Swann fellow was traveling through and happened about her, she said some people had been killed."
John raised an eyebrow as Bobby nodded.
"I'll look into it, said some kids were going missing, looked like animal attacks. I bet you dollar to donuts it's linked with the werewolf attacks. This Swann fellow found her, took her away and had been living with her and his friends. I'll do a background check, I don't think he was a hunter, just somebody who was passing by and saw she needed help. I asked if there's anybody she knows but everyone who she did...was...well killed tonight."
John sighed.
"All right then, we'll figure this out in the morning. I'm sure you must be tried and hungry huh?"
Lucy just stared.
John stood up before turning and looking at Dean.
"Dean?"
"Yeah?"
It took him a second to blink out of it. He couldn't stop staring at her. John noticed this and he frowned.
"Mind making her something to eat and getting a few spare blankets from upstairs."
Dean slowly nodded before John turned back to her.
"Okay honey, you just follow my son. He'll fix you right up."
Lucy glanced up at John and for a moment Dean didn't think she was going to move. Instead after a moment she began to shuffle in those over sized cowboy boots towards Dean.
"Come on, you can meet my brat brother."
Dean smirked, Lucy just stared down as they went into the kitchen. By then Sam had gotten the jar of peanut butter and was gobbing it onto two pieces of bread. Dean glanced back over his shoulder and saw Lucy slowly following behind.
"You can put your bag down."
Lucy lifted her eyes and slowly slipped it off her shoulder, setting it down against the wall. Dean walked over to the fridge before Sam looked up, his bangs in his eyes.
"Hi."
Lucy looked up before Sam glanced at his brother confused.
"Who's this Dean?"
Dean glanced between the two.
"Um, this is Lucy...she's spending the night."
Sam smiled, always friendly to any stranger they met.
"Hi Lucy, you want something to eat?"
Lucy said nothing and Dean sighed.
"I'll get it..."
Opening the fridge he began to take stuff out along with a carton of milk. Lucy walked over to the table where Sam was and slowly sat down, keeping her eyes down. Sam offered her the jar.
"Want some?"
Dean shot his brother a look.
"Leave her alone Sam."
Sam shrugged before trying to smile at Lucy before Dean walked over with the things he gathered from the fridge and a glass. Setting everything down he began to pour the milk before glancing at her. Slowly sliding the glass over to her he waited and she just simply stared down. Finally, very softly he heard...
"Thank you."
Dean looked surprised before a small smile appeared on his lips.
Later that night...
Lucy didn't eat much, in fact she picked at her food like a bird. She sat at the table with Dean and Sam, watching them as they argued over what they were eating. Once or twice Dean caught a small amused look on her pale face as he playfully hit Sam in the arm.
Finally John and Bobby appeared. Bobby said Lucy could stay on his couch in his study, he had made it up for her. Lucy nodded and snuffled into the next room where Bobby showed her she could wash up. Dean watched as his father and Bobby spoke in soft voices over a beer across the room. Finally Dean cleaned up and helped Sam to bed before he ran into his father in the upstairs hallway.
"Night son."
Dean stopped.
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"Is Lucy going to stay here for now on?"
John shook his head.
"I don't think so. Bobby is trying to figure something out. Besides we're leaving in another week. I got a new job."
Disappointment filled Dean's eyes for only a moment. He was used to moving around now and it had become just another way of life for him. Sam wasn't fully understanding things yet, but Dean knew what life was like now ever since his mother died.
John must have caught this.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing dad."
Dean lied, but he really did like it at Bobby's. He always felt safe and loved fooling around in the junk yard out back. But he knew this was the way things were, soon they would pack up into the Impala and go on their way. Just like always...
John smiled, ruffled his son's hair before walking downstairs. Dean watched him and knew he was going to drink tonight. He could sense it. Whenever dad thought about mom too much he would drink...
Going into the spare bedroom where Sam was all ready asleep, Dean threw himself on the tiny twin bed and just stared up at the ceiling. Outside thunder sounded.
Downstairs...
"Bobby, you can't be serious..."
Bobby leaned against the counter and shrugged.
"Don't give me that look John. The girl handled her own, saved my life."
"And look at her now! She's like a church mouse! She's just a kid!"
"So aren't your sons and they handle just fine."
John glared at Bobby.
"I'm trying my best with my boys because there's no other way, this girl still has a chance..."
"For what? To be normal? I'm talking to her tomorrow and I'm going to try and get the full story. This girl has seen some terrible things but I saw how she acted, that's rare for somebody her age. Besides...after my wife I ain't got nobody John. I always wanted a daughter and maybe this is my chance."
"Jesus Bobby..."
"Listen you can try and argue with me till you turn blue, but I want to give it a chance. If it doesn't work out I'll find something, until then she stays with me."
Bobby turned and went to the basement door before opening it and slamming it behind him. Down in the basement was where Bobby went whenever he needed to do research and didn't want to be bothered. John stood there a moment longer before deeply sighing and grabbing another beer. His head hurt tonight and he just wanted to forget all of this.
Later that night...
Dean was awake.
In fact he had been awake for some time now.
It was raining down and he heard the heavy raindrops hit the window. Thunder was still sounding but so far no lighting. Sam meanwhile was passed out on his bed a few feet away. Looking around, Dean got up and decided to go downstairs. He couldn't sleep and thought maybe if he got something to eat he would feel better.
Creeping downstairs, he tried his hardest not to make any noise on the creaking stairs. Once he reached the bottom floor he saw his father on the living room sofa passed out. A few empty beer bottles near him. Sighing, Dean went down the hallway and into the kitchen.
"Dean right?"
Dean jumped, feeling his heart jump in his throat. Spinning around he saw Lucy sitting at the table. She had a glass of water and was sitting in the darkness. His eyes widening, Dean looked at her before clutching his chest.
"Sorry."
Lucy said as Dean took a deep breath and walked over.
"Whoa you scared me."
"Sorry."
Dean smirked.
"Nothing to be sorry about, just didn't think anybody was up."
Lucy began to slide off her chair.
"I'll go back to bed."
"No wait!"
Dean held up a hand before walking over and taking a seat across from her. For a moment they didn't say anything, instead Lucy looked down while Dean nervously played with his hands, finally he spoke up cutting the thick silence that surrounded them.
"Storming pretty bad out there huh?"
Lucy's eyes drifted to the window over the sink before nodding.
There was an tankard silence again before she looked across at him and in a very adult sounding voice she flat out asked...
"Your father and Bobby...their hunters aren't they?"
Dean did a double take, staring across at her. For a moment he thought she had just noticed the guns, maybe what she had been through just mixed her up. She was young and scared and had seen a lot in the last few hours. Dean didn't know how to answer at first, he was used to dodging questions from Sam, but this was different.
"Um, what do you mean?"
Lucy looked at him.
"The people who took me from the orphanage, they were hunters just like Bobby and your father. I think they were werewolf's that time to, they killed everybody and they were tracking them down. I was the only one left. They took me in and I lived with them for a little bit. They tried teaching me a few things when a few of the survivors from the pack came back and killed everyone. They were caught off guard and Bobby killed them all. I had a feeling he was a hunter but I didn't want to say anything, I heard those kind of people are rare and you shouldn't trust just anybody."
Dean blinked, he couldn't believe it. Lucy seemed to have straightened up, she had a pretty soft voice, yet she looked much older than how she appeared earlier. Lucy sighed.
"The man who first took me was named Kevin Swann, him and a few friends were hunters. He was in his twenties and saved my life and taught me as much as I could. He took care of me...but I think he liked me...not in a good way either. I think he was sick. I heard him and a few friends had just gotten out of a hospital. Their parents had been killed by some creature when they were younger and it messed them up real bad since nobody believed them. That's why they got into hunting and just happened to stumble upon me while working a case. I was grateful to Kevin...but something wasn't right."
"What do you mean?"
Lucy shrugged.
"I heard him friends some nights talking, they were always trying to tell him I would slow them down. But Kevin was very protective of me. He kept saying once I was eighteen we could be together and...he did stuff..."
Lucy's eyes went down before Dean leaned forward.
"What?"
Lucy looked back up.
"Nothing...it's in the past and their all dead. I don't know what's going to happen to me but I would like to talk to your father and Bobby. I can get along alone...I'll find people."
"Do you have any family?"
"No, but I'll be okay. I just want to ask a few questions then I won't be in the way anymore."
Dean frowned.
"A...demon killed my mother when I was little. That's why my dad is a hunter."
Lucy stared at him.
"I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago."
Lucy nodded.
"I better get to bed."
Dean stared at her.
"I'm sorry what happened to you Lucy, I'm sure my dad and Bobby will figure something out. They always do."
Lucy sighed.
"That's what I always thought about Kevin..."
Both locked eyes for a moment before Lucy pushed her glass towards Dean.
"Night Dean, it's nice to meet you."
Dean simply nodded watching her walk off before taking a sip from the glass. Sighing he sat there thinking over what Lucy had said before shaking his head and listening to the thunder.
The next morning...
Dean awoke and dressed quickly before Sam to race downstairs to find his father and Bobby all ready awake. Lucy was in the same clothes she had on the night before and was sitting at the kitchen table with the two of them as sunlight poured in through the windows. Stopping in the doorway he could tell from their expression that Lucy had just finished telling them what he heard the night before.
Bobby was in the middle of talking.
"I wouldn't mind having a little extra help around here. I might not be much as a father figure nor would I even begin to understand what a young girl like yourself needs, but you seem to have gone through a lot and have one hell of a head on your shoulders. I think with a little training you might be useful. But I can't lie to you...I can't be worrying my head off about you. This is serious stuff and not the sort of life anyone wants. But if you would like to stay your more than welcome."
Lucy stared at Bobby before nodding.
"Yes...I would."
Bobby smiled.
"Good."
Dean slowly walked in making sure they heard him. Right away the two of them turned as Dean made his way over to the table. The men exchanged a look before Dean took a seat beside Lucy. Nobody said anything before Sam raced into a room jumping on one foot to put on one of his sneakers.
John got up saying he had some calls to make and that in a little bit Bobby and him would be taking a ride into town. Sam brought over some cereal and made a mess pouring it into a bowl before smiling and offering Lucy some. She smiled back saying no thank you and just sat there. Dean couldn't explain why his stomach felt like it was fluttering, but sitting next to Lucy felt great. Bobby said he would talk with her later and tapped her a wink before walking into the other room with John.
Sam munched on his cereal before looking at Lucy.
"So you know Bobby?"
Lucy glanced over at Dean before nodding.
"Yeah I'm a distant cousin, I might be spending some time here."
"Cool! I'll show you the junk yard later, me and Dean always play tag out there."
Dean rolled his eyes as Lucy smiled, a smile which was very mature and lady like. Dean caught this and honestly wondered what she was really like. She spoke very well and clear, seemed very smart, and was tough. She also knew about hunting...
Biting his bottom lip he glanced at her and even at such a young age, knew he was in love.
2005
Sam and Dean were driving to Jericho. It was a dark mild night and Dean was listening to his usual heavy metal. Tapping his hands against the steering wheel to the beat of the song, he drove ahead the headlights showing the back roads which was unrolling ahead of them.
Sam sat there, a million thoughts and worries going through him when he glanced over and noticed Dean's wedding band.
"Dude, you still wear that?"
Dean looked over.
"What?"
"You're wedding band, dude you and Lucy separated years ago..."
Dean's brow wrinkled before he glanced down.
"First thing Sammy, separated isn't divorced."
"Was the marriage even legal? I mean when you guys ran off you used take Ids."
"It was plenty legal."
"Remember how pissed dad and Bobby were?"
Sam laughed. Dean shot him as look as he drove on.
"Second I've worn the damn thing for so long it's sorta a good luck charm, I need weird without it just like my necklace."
Sam smirked.
"I don't get you guys...I mean you guys fought like cats and dogs and tried to kill each other. You guys go off and screw anything that moves and haven't seen each other in forever...yet I bet you everything I own she still wears her wedding ring just like you."
Dean shrugged.
"What can I say Sammy, great minds think a like."
Sam smirked as they continued to drive on. Any other thoughts of Dean's ex wife was soon forgotten once they reached the town.