Title: To Die in Love's Embrace

Author: Disasteriffic Kaz

Info: The Winchesters are called to upstate New York to hunt a Banshee but find themselves the hunted instead. There will be some hurt/angst/comfort!Dean/Sam/John Pre-Series: Dean is 17, Sam is 13.

Author's note: Really this was just an excuse to have some mush with my boys cause…I never get enough. I know John was a drill Sergeant and yes he butted heads with Sam obviously but I'm also of the mind that he wasn't always a complete ass when it came to caring for his sons. :D So, enjoy or tell me how wrong I am and I'll enjoy that too. Heh.

Also, I once lived in Fairport, NY for six years in high school. It really is a beautiful little village on the Erie Canal. I spent more nights than I can count on the edge of the canal at two in the morning with a flashlight and a notebook, writing.

Do please Review once you've read. :D Every comment and vote of support helps keep me writing. Not to mention if I've pooched anything, someone can always tell me. :P

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CHAPTER 1

Fear shook his hands, made his breath hitch in his chest. He was so tired. His shoulders hurt and sagged, so sore from the dead weight as he'd dragged them.

"Dad." Sam Winchester whispered over his father. "Dad, please. Wake up." He didn't and Sam bit his lip to hold back a helpless sob. He turned to his brother, his big brother who looked so young now. "Dean?" Sam tried not to think how much blood he'd lost, how much saturated the older boys shirt.

"Sammy." The voice, her voice whispered again and he slammed his eyes closed.

"No." Sam said, a tear sliding down his cheek. They were going to die, his dad and brother. They would die if he didn't get help. Sam looked up to the hulk of the old green, iron bridge above them and wished a car would appear but it was silent in the dark. Only the gentle lapping of the water in the canal beside them and Dean's labored breathing broke the night air.

Sam settled the ball of his shirt on Dean's shoulder more securely to control the bleeding. The welt on his father's forehead mocked him. There was nothing he could do for them without help. He needed to get help.

Sam stood and walked to the edge of the salt circle he'd hastily poured to protect his family. He looked back at their still bodies.

"I have to try." Sam said and swallowed the terror. He looked back out into the darkness and stepped outside the circle. He took only three steps.

"Sammy." Her voice came again, this time at his shoulder and he whimpered as a gentle hand touched his bare back. "My Sammy."

He looked up. He knew he shouldn't. Sam knew it was wrong but he couldn't stop his eyes from betraying him. He looked up as soft arms encircled his shoulders, shivered as cold began to seep into his skin. He looked up into his mother's face and knew he was lost.

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~Three days earlier~

"Sammy." John Winchester sighed as his youngest son once again found himself pinned beneath his older brother. "You have to try harder."

Sam winced at the disappointment in his father's voice, frustrated. "Thought I was." He grumbled. He looked up and saw the apology in Dean's green eyes as he took his hand and got back to his feet.

"Again." John stood beside his sons, hands clasped behind his back. "Lower your center of gravity, Sam. You're smaller. You need to find the leverage point if you're gonna flip him."

"I know, Dad." Sam groused. He'd had a growth spurt finally but was still so much shorter than his brother. While Dean stood now at an impressive six foot two, Sam's thirteen year old body had only just broken five feet and those extra three inches seemed to make his body clumsy and unresponsive. He was tired of tripping over his own feet. Combat training was their father's answer to his youngest's sudden gracelessness.

Sam ducked the swing Dean threw at him and lunged into his brother, scoring an elbow along his ribs before Dean overbalanced him and he stumbled away.

"Nice one, Sammy." Dean rubbed his ribs and grinned. He towered over his little brother. At Seventeen he was taller than Dad which both pleased and unnerved him and quickly filling out with well-defined muscle. On their own, he would have gone easier on Sammy. He wouldn't have let him win but he'd have lightened up. Dad watching however meant no pulled punches. It meant Sam would have to best him or shake it off. Dad wanted them to be able to defend themselves and Dean understood that, even supported it but sometimes he just wanted Sam to be able to be a kid.

Dean stepped in to his brother, grabbing for his arm and smiled proudly when Sam slapped his arm away and took a kick at his knee. Dean only just danced out of the way in time and took a solid foot in the stomach instead.

"Good, Sam." John said. "Now, push the advantage."

Sam ground his teeth, irritated and aimed another kick. Dean was expecting it though. He grabbed Sam's leg behind his knee and tipped him onto his back.

"Oof." Sam grunted, slapping his arms out to save himself some of the impact.

"Sammy? You ok?" Dean bent, concerned and Sam smirked. Dean's eyes widened as Sam pinned his legs with his own and knocked him forcefully onto his back. "Crap." He grunted and groaned when Sam landed on his chest, pinning his arms. Not yet done, Dean wrapped a long leg behind his brothers' hips, gave a twist and easily flipped him, ending with the kid struggling beneath him once more.

"Better, Sam." John clapped Dean on the shoulder, waving him off. "But you need more practice and stop relying so much on those kicks. You're getting predictable."

"Am not." Sam grumbled and made his father frown.

"Sam…" John broke off when his phone rang and pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the display, gave Sam a stern face and flicked it open. "Bobby."

Dean reached down and pulled Sam to his feet as their Dad walked off, talking. They were in a small park down the road from the house they'd been living in for the last five months. Sam watched his Dad pacing as he talked to Bobby and knew they'd be moving soon.

"Probably gonna have to move on now." Dean said, echoing his thought. He punched Sam's shoulder. "At least it's still summer. No school to worry about."

"I suppose." Sam absently rubbed his shoulder from the impact with the ground.

"Hey, come'ere." Dean grabbed him and started kneading strong fingers into his little brother's shoulder, Sam squirmed and Dean cuffed his head lightly. "Stand still." As always he was torn between training Sam properly and causing him pain. Dean easily rubbed the kink out of the muscle. "Roll your arm a few times." He said as their Dad came back. Sam did as he was told, rolling his shoulder and happy the discomfort was gone.

"We've got a job." John said and smiled. The prospect of a new hunt always raised his spirits. "Fairport, New York. Bobby thinks it might be a Banshee."

"That's a new one." Dean said and grinned with excitement.

"Let's go pack and get on the road." John clapped both boys on the back and gave them a friendly shove toward home.

For once, Sam really didn't mind leaving. Their little house rarely had hot water and sat in a neighborhood long since gone to ghetto. As close as they were to Cincinnati, it may as well have been a thousand miles. Dad had forbidden him to go out alone and Sam hadn't argued. The teenagers that roamed the streets just plain made him nervous.

Dean threw his arm around Sam's shoulders and pulled him closer as they walked. The neighborhood made him nervous for his little brother. He'd be glad to see the last of it in the rearview mirror.

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It was just after midnight as the Winchesters reached Fairport, New York. John looked over at Dean snoring gently with his head resting against the window and smiled. Sam he could just see in his mirror, curled against the back seat with his head propped on the door and sound asleep. John gave a small smile as he drove into the village. It lived up to its name: Fairport. Old, well-kept houses, stone and brick buildings on welcoming streets said this was a quiet town with good neighbors. The Impala rumbled up Main Street, past what John saw was the town library, and out onto a long bridge over the Erie Canal. A crowded marina spread out to either side of the bridge with small boats moored and rocking gently in the canal. As they rumbled to the other side a horn sounded and John stopped the car as a barrier dropped in front of train tracks.

The sound woke Dean who rolled his head off the window and looked blearily around. "We here?"

"Yep." John replied and rolled his eyes, amused; as he saw his oldest immediately spot the bar on the other side of the tracks. The train roared into sight and across the tracks yards away. Sam somehow slept through it with only a muffled grunt from under his coat. The train passed and the barrier lifted.

John drove on through the other side of the village, past a Retirement home that looked more like an old hotel. A minute or so past that was a golf course and just beyond on the other side of the road, as if sticking its tongue out at the wealthy golfers, a beat up Motel. John turned in and pulled up to the Office. He left the boys in the car and nudged the old man behind the counter.

"Eh? Oh! Hello." He sat up, pushed dented glasses back up to his eyes and smiled. "Heh. Sorry. Catnap. Happens at my age. Need a room?"

"Yes, please. Two beds." John dug out his wallet and the credit card he'd applied for a few weeks earlier and handed it to the old man.

"Okay…Mr. Hegeman. How many of ya?"

"Me and my two boys." John smiled back at him and signed the receipt he held out. "Not sure how long we'll be here."

"Oh that's no problem. You missed the Canal days festival so there's not a lot of tourist action in town just now. I'm Hank by the way." The old man gave him back his card. "You need anything lemme know or my wife. She's usually puttering around here somewhere."

"I will. Thanks." John collected the room keys and went back outside. He frowned when he looked at the car and saw Dean had moved to the back seat. He climbed in and before he could say anything, Dean spoke.

"Nightmare." Dean said softly. He'd heard the whimpers start and climbed back to Sam before it got out of hand. He sat now with Sam pulled across his lap and bundled in his coat, sleeping soundly again.

John nodded and pulled the car out, looking for their room as they went along the buildings. Sam could never tell them what it was he had nightmares about but John was fairly sure he knew. Some vestige of infant memory of his mother on the ceiling, burning. Sam may not remember when he woke but his sleeping mind had no problem pulling the image out to torment him with.

While John grabbed the bags from the trunk, Dean wiggled out of the car and carried his sleeping brother inside. Sam was getting taller but he was still short enough not to be a hassle and Dean honestly didn't mind at times like this. Sam crying out in his sleep could wrench his heart where nothing else would. Sam was getting older and less inclined to huddle in his older brothers arms so Dean cherished the times when he did all the more. He wasn't sure he was ready for all grown up and too big to be hugged Sammy.

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Sam woke early and crawled out from the warmth of the covers and Dean, his personal space heater. Dad was sprawled across the other bed on his stomach, one leg hanging out like a thermometer. Sam smirked and headed for the bathroom. The room was nice, though he didn't really remember coming in the night before. Brown carpet and tan walls made it feel warm. There were pictures of what he assumed were Fairport on the walls during the day and night and he found he really liked the look of the village.

When he came out of the shower finally it was to find Dean sitting up in bed and glaring at him. "If you used all the hot water, runt, I'm gonna pound you."

Sam laughed and ducked the pillow Dean tossed at him. "There's a few drops left. Probably."

John came back into the room to find a wrestling match taking place and clapped his hands on a laugh. "Knock it off, boys. Dean. Shower." He ordered since he could already see Sam's wet hair. "We'll grab breakfast when you're done." Dean gave Sam one last thump and ducked into the bathroom.

Dean did indeed have to take a mostly cold shower. He grumped about as he brushed his teeth and shaved and opened the door to get his clothes. Sam was just reaching up to knock and smiled. "Dad's hungry. Says to get our cans out to the car now."

Dean snorted and stepped beside Sam, then he looked down and his eyes opened wide. "Dude. I think you're taller today than you were yesterday."

"Whatever." Sam said, figuring Dean was just leading in to another short joke.

"No really, Sammy." Dean ran to the desk and opened the drawer, grinning when he found a pen. He went back and shoved Sam against the bathroom door frame. "Just stand up straight." Sam rolled his eyes but did as he was told and felt Dean slide the pen along the top of his head and then wiggle it to make a mark. Dean nodded and then went to his own bag. Sam stepped away and looked at the new line on the doorjamb.

Dean dug the tape measure out of his bag. He'd started keeping one on him when Sam had started sprouting. Made the kid feel better to actually know he was getting taller and not just imagining it. He gave Sam the end and waited til he'd bent to hold it on the floor, then stretched it up and grinned even wider.

"Told you! You've got almost a whole nother inch on you since last week dude!"

"Really?" Sam eyed the measurements on the tape himself and then smiled broadly. He was just that little bit taller.

"Come on. Dad's gonna be in here looking for us any sec." Dean ran to his bag and quickly pulled out clothes, tossing them on while Sam looked happily at the mark that said he wasn't going to be short forever.

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True to the pictures on the motel room walls, Fairport was just as friendly and inviting as it looked. They were sitting in the front window of a little diner Dad had seen on the way through last night that looked out the village. Sam was drawn to the canal and happier than he could say that the library sat beside it. He'd have a great view while he researched for the hunt.

"Bobby says at least five people have died or gone missing in the last few months here." John said as he pushed his plate away and picked up his coffee. He kicked Sam's foot under the table and waited until his youngest whipped his head around, paying attention, before he continued. "There've been two eye witness accounts. Both claiming to have seen a woman in grey. One says she was beautiful and lured the guy out near the canal. The other said it was a hag, screeching in the woods and she lost her friend. Never saw her again."

"So how's Bobby know it's a Banshee?" Dean asked, holding his cup out to catch the waitress's eye for a refill.

"Because unlike us, Bobby has done some research." John raised a brow at Dean who rolled his eyes.

Sam gulped the last of his juice and bumped Dean to move. "I can get started on that right now. Library's only down the road. You can see it from here." He looked hopefully at his Dad who after a moment smiled and nodded.

"Go on then. You have your phone?" Sam nodded. "Knife?"

"Yes, Dad." Sam rolled his eyes in a perfect mimic of his older brother. "And I won't leave the library without calling first." John nodded and smirked as his youngest practically bounced out of the restaurant and watched him all the way down the street and to the library.

"He'll be fine, Dad." Dean said and smiled. "So, where are we gonna start?"

"Witnesses." John grabbed the check from the table and stood. "Come on."

"Yes sir." Dean followed him with a glance through the window and too the library.

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Sam stepped into the Fairport public library and breathed deep. He doubted Dean or his Dad would ever understand the sense of peace he got from the smell of books. It simply made him happy to be surrounded by all that information, useful and not so useful. He strode to the big, round desk in the center of the library and several minutes and puppy dog smiles later had himself a library card. The two librarians were more than happy to direct him to the local history stacks and he found the Mythology stack for himself on his way over.

He tossed his backpack on a table between the two and smiled at the view out the window at the end of the row. It looked out on a small park with picnic benches and just beyond them, with only a rope as a barrier, was the Erie Canal. Boats puttered up and down in the warm, summery day. Sam wondered how mad his Dad would get if he took his books and sat out there rather than inside. He shook his head and opted to stay inside for now.

An hour later and he had more than he needed to know on Banshees. Sam looked over his notes and shook his head. For a supernatural baddie they certainly got around; different cultures, different attributes, some evil, some not. He put the stack of books away and looked longingly outside where it was still sunny and warm and the canal was calling him. Sam shrugged. He grabbed the other stack of local history and urban legends and headed for the desk.

After checking out the books, he stepped outside and went around the corner to the little park. Sam set his books and backpack on the table next to the edge of the canal and climbed up to sit on top of the table. It was a good ten or so feet down to the water. Several canoes glided by. The Marina to his right was bustling with activity. He could hear people talking and the sound of cars passing over the nearby bridge and for a moment, he just soaked it in.

Sam pulled his notes out of his backpack and cursed when the wind grabbed the top few pages and spun them off along the grass.

"Hang on!" A woman darted up from where she'd been leaning against a tree, legs hanging over the side of the canal. She snagged his pages quickly, red hair flying and brought them over to Sam with a lopsided grin. "There you go. Gotta hang on to your papers by the water. Wind has taken more than one of my chapters." She laughed.

"Um, thanks." Sam managed and found himself smiling. He couldn't help it. Her crooked grin was infectious and her moss green eyes twinkled happily at him. She looked to be around Dean's age.

"No problem." She stuck out a hand. "I'm Kaz."

Sam shook her hand, looking up and chuckled.

"What?" She asked, one eyebrow rising.

"Oh, um…it's just." Sam stuttered. "The license plate on our car, the letters spell Kaz."

She laughed. "Well then I guess you're not likely to forget my name. So, researching Banshees?" She raised her hands when he stared, surprised. "I wasn't prying! I just saw it on the top page when I picked it up."

"Yeah, just curious I guess." Sam hedged and went back to his picnic table.

"Curious about the bridge huh?" Kaz said with a smile.

"Bridge?" Now Sam was interested.

"Yeah. Big green monster down the canal that way." Kaz pointed off to the right. "Doesn't get used a lot anymore except by teenagers jumping into the canal." She chuckled. "Locals call it the Banshee bridge."

"Why?" Sam sat on the edge of the table and looked down the canal.

"Actually, I'm not really sure." She shrugged. "I've only lived here a few years. No one's ever given me an answer that makes any sense."

"Sammy!"

Sam looked up in surprise when Dean came striding into the little park. "Hey, Sammy. You alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Sam smiled at his brother and smirked when he saw Dean take in Kaz's tall, lean body. "This is Kaz. She was just…"

"I was helping him catch his notes. The wind took them." She took Dean's outstretched hand and gave him a long slow once over and her crooked smile. "And who are you?"

Dean grinned, now much happier with the little village than he had been. "I'm Dean. Sam's big brother."

"Aren't you just." Kaz drawled and reluctantly let go his hand. "We were just talking about the Banshee bridge."

Dean's brows rose in surprise and he gave his brother a look. "You been bending her ear, little brother?" Sam shook his head. Dean clapped him on the shoulder. "Dad's looking for us."

"Ok. Let me grab my stuff." Sam started shoving books and notes into his bag while Dean turned the full wattage of his devastating smile on Kaz. She blushed prettily.

"So, Dean, you gonna be going to school here come fall?" She asked and gave him a smile.

"I don't know. Kinda hope so now." He said and took her fingers loosely in his hand, playing with them. "What do people do for fun around here anyway?"

Kaz winked. "Depends on what you have in mind." She went over to the tree she'd been leaning against and pulled a notebook and pen out of her bag. Quickly she ripped off a piece and scribbled something on it and came back. "If you get bored, give me a call." She handed it to Dean. "If my little brother answers the phone, just ignore him. He'll give you crap."

Dean laughed loud and glanced at Sam. "Yeah little brothers are like that."

"Dean." Sam groaned, embarrassed.

"Come on, Sammy." Dean took his shoulder and gave one last, heated look at Kaz. "See you round."

"I hope so." She said, smiling and watched them as they left.

"You can tell me and Dad about this Banshee bridge." Dean draped his arm over Sam's shoulders as they walked. "Not a bad town this."

"I like it." Sam nodded.

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~Ok, ok. I wandered a bit here with this first chapter. LOL I apologize. I promise the next will move much better.