A/N Okay, this is my first fan fiction so bear with me! leave comments on how you liked it (or if you didn't i guess, that's cool too :) just don't be too hard on me, first try at this) and tell me if i should continue this.

I don't own any of the characters, just borrowing them!

Notes: Sam is 12 and Dean is 16

To Kill A Mocking jay, Chapter 1

Dean awoke early in the mourning, early enough that he would be the only conscious person in the house. carefully and quietly getting out of bed as not to wake his little brother Sam, he got ready for the hunt. As he stepped off of the bed he accidentally stepped on the family's, well….. sam's cat, ruby's, tail making her squeal and hiss in annoyance, scratching dean's leg. He has so badly wanted to throw that thing in the streets for a long time now, but sam loved the stupid thing and if a cat made sam's life a little happier, dean would certainly put up with it.

"Ga! oww!" Dean hissed. "yeah, same to you…stupid cat." he said as he nursed his now stinging leg.

"D'n?" Sam groggily slurred

"Great, now you woke him up." Dean muttered under his breath. "Yeah, Sammy, sorry buddy…just…you're thing attacked me again."

"Her name is Ruby." sam retorted sleepily.

"Yeah well, tell Ruby if she keeps laying at my side of the bed then she's going to get stepped on."

"It's the only place that doesn't have a draft."

Dean sighed at that, because he hated the fact that their house continually looked like it was going to collapse, and was filled with holes that apparently made Ruby the cat feel uncomfortably cold at night. However Dean was more concerned about the fact that it made his little brother uncomfortably cold, even though sam never said anything, Dean could sometimes hear Sam's teeth chattering on particularly nasty nights. It made dean's insides twist, because he couldn't do anything accept scoot closer and pull their one and only thin, scratchy blanket tighter around themselves.

"Dean?" sam said after a moment of silence from them both.

"Yeah?"

"Do you have to go hunting today?"

"It will only be for a little while today sammy, i gotta feed us somehow."

"Ok, I understand" sam responded, trying his best to sound nonchalant, however Dean could hear the fear in his brothers voice. Normally Dean would tell Sam that he needed to be tough to make it in District 12, but today fear was normal, was expected, especially because this was the year of the quarter quell and that meant the government could throw in any sick curveball that they wanted, and Dean didn't blame Sam for being scared, heck he was a little scared too, because today was Reaping day, and another two kids were going to be walked off to their deaths, and he prayed to God that neither were going to be him or Sam.

"…But I'm scared." Dean almost didn't hear it, it was so quiet. He leaned down and touched the side of Sam's head.

"I know bud, but it's gonna be fine, you're name's only in there once."

"You should have let me make a deal with Crowley" Crowley, District 12's Head Peace Keeper, The King, he likes to call himself. Crowley makes deals with kids who are eligible for the games, he exchanges small amounts of money, food, or a favour for putting your name in the bowl 10 more times. Like making a deal with the devil, Dean has only ever done it once, when their father John hadn't come home from one of his hunts for a few days and they were both starving.

"That's never going to happen sam, not as long as i'm around. Thats why i have to go and hunt a nice turkey to celebrate another year of not getting reaped, huh?"

"Ok…."

"Good, now go back to sleep, i'll be back by the time you wake up."

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

By the time Dean got back to the house the sun had almost fully risen in the sky. He opened the door, feeling defeated, because he had only caught a single squirrel, well… at least sam would eat. Although Dean knew Sam would make Dean split the squirrel for everyone. Setting the squirrel down on the table, Dean went to wake Sam up.

He placed a hand Sam's shoulder and shook. "Hey, sleeping beauty, wake up."

"Hmm, yeah in a minute." Sam replied, not opening his eyes.

"No, now, we have to get ready for the ceremony."

"But all i have is a ratty t-shirt, i'll get in trouble."

Dean walked over to his side of the bed, bent down and pulled out a box. He reached in and pulled a a light blue dress shirt. The shirt was worn, with the collar stitched what had to be 10 or more times, and some of the bottom buttons missing, but it was relatively clean.

"Here" Dean said, tossing the shirt at Sam's chest. "You can wear my old one, won't fit me anymore and i figured you'll be needing something to try and trick people into thinking you clean up well."

"Thanks." Sam said quietly ignoring Dean's small jab, a small smile playing on his lips, he felt some pride in wearing his big brothers old shirt, like maybe someday he would be just like Dean, and do half of what Dean does for the family.

"Dean! Sam! are you two almost ready to go?! John, their father, yelled from the other bedroom.

"Yes Sir! They both said in union.

"Come on Sammy, let's get ready."