SO IT BEGINS

Chapter 6: "Hope"

Summary: So how did John become the great hunter that we all know and love today? And did he really want to have his sons involved?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Supernatural. They belong to Kripke. This is done strictly for fun, not profit. Also, if anything seems familiar, I don't own it.

A/N: First of all, I apologize for the extremely long time between updates. I've been trying to not make it so long, but with work and everything it's a little impossible. Also, thank you thank you thank for reading and reviewing. It makes me want to keep writing. So…I guess I should get on with the show. Hope you like it.

A/N2: Okay, once again Present Day in this story means November, 1984. Thus, a year after Mary was killed by the demon.

Spoilers: Um….not sure exactly. Not too many really. I may fudge on the timeline a little but I'll try and hold as close as possible. By the way, thank you Super-wiki website for the awesome timeline aspect. If you don't know about this site, go check it out. Lots of info about the show. www(dot)supernaturalwiki(dot)com

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April 18th, 1984 – Cold Spring, MN

Thunk…Snick…Thunk…Snick…

John gave a slight grimace and then headed towards the wooden bulls eye he had been throwing knives at for the past hour.

His arm throbbed slightly as he flexed his hand and knew that he should probably stop before too long. The muscles felt tight and twitchy from the constant, unfamiliar use of trying to throw the knife and he knew that his arm would be pretty sore later because of the training.

It wasn't that he hadn't ever thrown a knife before, he had learned how to throw knives when he was in the Marines; but after getting out of the service and then being married for years, he'd become a little rusty.

He pulled the knife out of the wooden target again with a slightly sucking snick and then lightly tossed the knife in his hands as he backed away again.

It had been almost a month since they had arrived at Jim's, and since then John had been immersing himself in the learning of hunting. Latin, exorcisms, wards, supernatural lore he was learning it all. And to say the least, it was a little overwhelming.

It hadn't been easy learning exactly what all was out there that went bump in the night, and the thought of adding werewolves, ghosts, and shapeshifters to the list of things that could possibly hurt his sons made him cling even tighter to his remaining family even as he learned the best way to protect them.

He threw the knife again and watched it hit with a resounding thunk just left of the bulls eye. Damn. He gave a tired sigh and walked back towards the target.

At least having some place stable for the boys to stay was helping to calm his paranoia a little. He smiled slightly at the thought of his Sammy the other day playing with his brother and Melinda. The sound of his giggle as she had tickled his tummy had done a lot to ease the sorrow he carried in his heart.

He pulled the knife from the wood again and rubbed at his sore shoulder as he walked back across the garage.

Having gotten up well before dawn because he was unable to sleep anymore, he had decided to come out here to put in some time training and to try and relieve some of his tension. Between his nightmares and the tugging questions of whether he could really do this hunting thing, he hadn't gotten much sleep lately. Besides, there was always work to do.

John had been impressed when Jim had shown him the large detached garage that he had been made, with the help of some other hunters of course, into a make-shift training room/garage. He had said that each new hunter that came to him had added something to the area and John's contribution so far was the knife-throwing area.

Looking down at the knife in his hand, he couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness wash over him. It was one of the few things that he had found amongst the ashes of the house and had wanted to keep when he had left the house and finally Lawrence behind. It was basically the only thing he had left from that time of his life except for his boys.

His boys. Two complete opposites in every way possible, John knew that neither one could ever exist without the other. Unlike Sam, Dean wasn't doing so well.

John growled in frustration at the thought and turned quickly and threw the knife in one fluid motion. The blade hit the edge of the target and zinged off into the protective netting before falling to the floor with a dusty plop. John sagged a little and gave a tired sigh.

John couldn't help but worry about his eldest son. Not once since that night had Dean said a word. Sure, he would wake up screaming with nightmares but other than that…not one word. Jim had talked about maybe sending him to get some help, but John worried about what if he had seen what had happened to his mother. What would a 'professional' think about that? No, he couldn't take the chance. It would pass in time. He hoped.

No, the one thing that worried him the most though, was Dean's almost primal need to be within eye sight of his family at all times. Especially Sammy.

They all knew that Dean was very protective of his brother, but after a while it almost became second nature to see Dean wherever Sammy was. But they hadn't really realized how strong that need was until not too long ago.

It had been just last week that without thinking, Melinda had taken Sammy to the bathroom to clean him up after supper while Dean had been out of the room; and when Dean had returned to find Sam gone he had almost had a panic attack. John didn't think he would ever forget the look on Dean's face as he had realized that Sam wasn't there.

That night, there had been no use in even attempting to separate Dean from his brother even when it had come time for bed. John had finally just stretched out on his bed with Dean nestled against his chest and Sam nestled in Dean's arms before the stark fear that had been in Dean's eyes even began to fade.

Needless to say, they always made sure Dean knew where Sam was after that.

John picked up his knife from where it fell and then stilled as he more felt than heard something shift within the shadows of the building. Tightening his grip on the small knife, he turned towards the possible noise. His hearing sharpened as his heart beat increase.

"Who's there?"

Nothing moved but he could tell someone or something was there.

"Come out. Now," his voice turned cold and he tensed not sure what to expect.

When a tousled head of blonde hair peaked out from behind a crate, John almost flinched in surprise.

"Dean?" he asked his voice immediately softening with surprise and love. He looked to the side door that stood almost ten feet away from where the boy now stood and wondered how he got there without him knowing about it. "How? Wh-what are you doing out here? Where's your brother?"

Dean looked up at him slightly and then back towards the door as if uncertain what to do and John softened his stance even more.

"Hey, kiddo, come here."

Dean hesitated for only a second before quickly heading over to his Dad who scooped him up and whisked them over to a table and chairs that had been set up in the far corner.

After sitting down and situating Dean on his lap, the little boy leaned into his Dad's chest and put his head just below his chin letting one hand get tangled in his t-shirt. John wrapped an arm around his slight form and breathed deeply letting his eyes fall closed. They just sat that way for a moment, both father and son taking comfort in the other before John opened his eyes and leaned so he could look down at Dean's turned face. "Couldn't sleep?"

Dean's grip just tightened slightly and he leaned a little closer to his Dad's warmth.

John just sighed and ran a hand through the soft blonde hair. "It's okay. I couldn't either."

Dean hesitated for a second longer before he finally leaned back and looked up at his Daddy's face with big green eyes taking in everything about his Dad before he finally relinquished his grip on his Dad's shirt and nudged him to let know he wanted down.

John set him on the floor and then watched as he looked around slowly, once in a while, running his hand over something before moving onto the next. As he watched, John could see the curiosity that flickered in his eyes as they seemed to take in everything. "You ever been out here before, Sport?" John asked still watching from his chair as Dean shook his head absently as he studied an engine part that had been left out on one of the work benches before moving on to the next thing.

Finally making his way to the wooden bulls eye, he studied the holes that had been made by the knife's blade.

John watched as his little fingers reached up to poke at the scarred wood and an idea came to him. "Hey, let me show you something," he got up watching as Dean turned towards him with quizzical eyes and John walked over to him before getting down on his knees so he was at Dean's eye level.

As he settled down on his haunches, he pulled the knife he had been throwing out in front of him and held it up for the boy to look at. "You see this? This is a Columbia River AG Russell Sting. It's a boot knife. That means that you can stick it in your shoe. Like this." John pulled his leg forward so that he could holster the knife in its sheath and then brought it out again.

Dean's eyes roamed over the sleek piece of metal following its curves and angles with his eyes before looking up at John with questioning eyes.

"You wanna hold it?"

Dean's eyes lit up at the idea and he gave an enthusiastic nod before looking back down at the blade.

"Okay, just be careful. It's really sharp."

Dean nodded again, and then reached for the handle slowly, almost tentatively. His little hand wrapped around the hilt and then lifted it away from his Dad's hands. It was heavier than it looked but seemed like it almost fit him perfectly as Dean turned it slowly every which way studying the black blade in the light.

"What do you think? Do you like it?"

Dean nodded a little more enthusiastically and John thought he could see the ghost of a smile cross his lips for the first time in a long time.

"Maybe I'll teach you how to throw it when you get a little older."

Dean looked up at him then and he could see the possibility of hope dance there before they drifted back to the knife and a little responding smile crossed his lips. He finally started to hand the blade back and John stopped him.

"Here," John said and then proceeded to pull the sheath from his boot and slid it on the blade that was still in Dean's hand. "Keep it."

Dean looked up at him and John could see a plethora of emotions cross the tiny face but the most prominent seemed to ask…Why?

"I want you to have it," John said tightening his grip slightly before looking down at the blade and then back up at Dean with a sad look. "It used to be your Mom's."

Dean's eyes got about as big as saucers and he looked down at the blade again subconsciously pulling it closer to him as his grip tightened on it also.

John gave a sad smile and swallowed back the well of emotions that tried to take him over at the mention of Mary. "Do you know I once saw her use this to kill a rat?"

Dean shook his head but didn't look up.

"She did. It was shortly after you were born and we were living in a dingy, little house that wasn't that great. We'd told the landlord we could hear skritching in the walls but he didn't believe us. But, one night, we had put you down for bed and your Mom was doing dishes when she saw this rat. A big, fat thing heading for your room."

Dean was watching him now and he could see the fascination in his eyes as he listened to John's story drinking in every detail.

"I could hear her give a little gasp and I looked up to see her pull this knife from under her jeans and throw it. At first, I wasn't sure what she had done but then I saw the rat."

Tears were brimming in Dean's eyes and John knew that there was the same in his eyes as he reached forward to cup Dean's face in his hand. "She saved you."

Tears began to fall from Dean's eyes and his lower lip quivered slightly as he gave his Dad a sad smile.

"So," John had to swallow hard against the tears. "I want you to have this. Okay?"

Dean just nodded as he swallowed hard against his own tears. His Mommy had done that? He looked down at the knife and then threw his arms around his Dad giving him a big hug.

John almost fell over not expecting the sudden hug but managed to catch himself and wrapped his arms around his boy feeling the silent sobs that wracked his small frame. "Oh, shh, it's okay. Shh. It's okay."

Dean nodded into his Dad's shoulder and just held on tighter.

When Jim finally ventured out to the garage later that morning looking for the missing boy, he found father and son discussing what a carburetor was and where it went as they both stood in front of the Impala. The eldest leaning over the engine while the other stood on tiptoe on top of an empty crate, both of them peering into the engine's depths with curious eyes.

Jim just gave a sigh of relief and smiled as he backed out of the door not wanting to disturb the precious father/son bonding moment.

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NOW-- SOMEWHERE UNKNOWN

Dean was drifting somewhere between sleep and awake. He was just at that point where he was slightly aware of his surroundings, but not quite ready to wake. Feeling the warm line of his brother sleeping next to him settled something inside him and for the moment he was content to stay where he was secure in the knowledge that he knew where his brother was.

He was beginning to slip back into sleep when he a door open and then a little while later felt the bed dip slightly. A warm hand rested on his head and he turned towards it slightly.

"Dean…time to wake up." The soft feminine voice of his mother whispered to him.

Dean shifted towards the touch relishing in the smell and touch that he remembered so well and hoped that it wouldn't disappear.

"Come on, honey, wake up."

A frown creased his calm features slightly as he fought against the waking world knowing that as soon as he woke up she would be gone. He'd had several dreams of his mother since that night and was always sad to realize that it was only a dream when he woke.

"Dean," his Mom said again and shook him gently.

Not wanting to, but never able to not do anything his Mom asked of him, he started to wake. Turning on his side towards her he slowly opened his eyes and blinked sleepy eyes to bring her into focus.

Impossibly black eyes stared back at him from a stranger's face framed by black hair and he gave a startled gasp and twisted away from her touch.

The strange woman just watched him move away and began to laugh. "Oh, what's the matter Dean? Bad dream?" she asked with a snicker as her eyes turned back to a startling blue color surrounded by white instead of black.

Dean scrambled to a sitting position knocking against Sammy in the process and glanced back at his brother before trying to push him behind his back to shield him from the stranger.

"De?" Sam asked in confusion as he tried to figure out why he had been so rudely awakened but knew that something wasn't right from how his big brother was tugging on him to move back and then he saw the strange lady.

"Good. Now that you're both awake. I think it's time we had a little chat," the woman said as she smoothed out a crease in the bedding before looking back up at them with a hard eyes.

As Dean continued to stare at her, all he could think of was how he could have thought she was his mom and suddenly he was mad.

"Oh," she said and then let a wicked little smile twist her lips as she noticed Dean's angry expression. "You're a feisty one aren't you? That'll be good to know for later."

When Dean just gave her a quizzical look she just smiled even more.

"Oh, what's the matter, Dean? Can't figure out why I took you?"

Dean could pretty much guess, but he didn't want to scare Sammy anymore than he already was.

"Well, let's just say that I've got bigger fish to catch and you two will make the perfect bait."

Sam tightened his grip on Dean's shirt a little more and gave a little whimper and buried his head in Dean's back. He didn't like this lady and wished she'd go away.

Dean just continued to stare at her but his hand gave Sam's leg a little squeeze of comfort.

Delilah took all this in and just chuckled slightly under her breath. "Oh, this is just…too good. But I think we'll have to work on making you two a little more vocal…before your Daddy comes for you."

Dean instantly tensed at the mention of his Dad and Sammy pulled his face out of Dean's shirt. "Daddy?" he asked hopefully.

"That's right, kid. I'm gonna make sure your Dad finds you. And then I'm gonna make him watch while I take from him what he took from me," she added the last in bitterness and Sam could tell that she was really angry.

"Now, there are only a few rules. And believe me when I say, if you don't follow them you will be in trouble." She made sure both boys were paying attention before continuing. "First: don't try to escape. If you do, I will find you and when I do you will regret even trying. Two: you will do as I say or there will be pain. So if I ask you to jump, you better ask how high." She then looked directly at Dean. "And don't think that the pain will be just for you." She slid her eyes over to Sam and then back to Dean and waited until her words sunk in.

Dean finally swallowed hard before and nodded that he understood. Delilah knew that Dean wouldn't do anything that could jeopardize his brother's well-being.

Sam watched his brother for a moment and then nodded slowly meet the lady's eyes for only a moment before turning back towards his brother.

"Good," she said happily and sat back with a nonchalant smile on her face. "Now that that's out of the way, I brought you some breakfast." She motioned to the tray of food sitting by the door: a box of cereal and some milk and nothing more. "Sorry, there are no spoons or bowls. Didn't want to give you any ideas."

Dean just looked at her and she could see the suspicion in his eyes.

"Oh don't worry. It's fine. I can't have my bait dying from hunger before I try to catch the big fish now can I?" She gave a wicked smile and then turned to leave the room. Just before leaving she turned back to the boys still sitting on the bed. "I'll be back in a couple hours, and you had better have eaten some of that by then."

Dean continued to watch her as she closed the door and could feel Sammy pull even closer to him as the door shut and the lock slid into place.

"De?" Sammy said with a little quaver of fear in his voice.

Dean reached around to pull him into his arms and rubbed his hand down Sam's arms as he tried to think of what to do next. He couldn't try to get away because they might hurt Sammy, but he also knew that they couldn't stay there. The lady wanted to his Daddy to come and get them and Dean knew that wouldn't be good.

Sam's tummy took that moment to give a loud growl, and both boys exchanged a surprised look. Sammy then blushed slightly before looking away in embarrassment. "Sor-wy," he said softly.

Dean just bit his lip and then started for the edge of the bed.

"De? " Sam asked curious what his brother was doing. Peering over the edge of the bed, he followed his brother's movements as he padded over towards the tray of food.

Dean carefully picked up the box tucking it under one arm before picking up the jug of milk. He smelled it before carefully climbing to his feet and turning back towards the bed. He hesitated for a moment not sure how he was going to get up on the bed and not spill the milk, but then an idea came to him and he walked around to the far side of the bed and settled down on the floor between the bed and the wall.

He motioned for Sam to join him and then watched as his brother scrambled down off the bed making sure that he wouldn't tip the milk over as Sam's little feet came down off the bed. Once Sammy was seated on the floor, Dean worked on opening the box of cereal and then the plastic bag within that struggling slightly with the tight seal.

The seal suddenly gave way tearing the bag and he clumsily tried to keep the cereal from going everywhere. A few pieces flew up in the air before landing in Sam's hair and both boys sat there for a moment in shocked silence before Sam shook his head letting the pieces fly. He then looked up at Dean with a big smile on his face and giggled.

Dean couldn't help the grin that spread across his face and he gave a soft chuckle before reaching into the box to pull out a few pieces of cereal and popping them in his mouth. He chewed carefully as he watched Sam pull a few out himself and munched happily.

At least Sammy was okay for right now. But he also knew that it would last for long. Dean frowned slightly as he thought about what the lady had said. He had been hoping their Daddy would find them, but not if it meant his Daddy might get hurt. He would just have to find some way to get away without getting caught.

"De!" Sam exclaimed happily and Dean looked up to see Sam pull the small plastic toy that was usually hidden in the bottom of the box as if it were the greatest thing and Dean just smiled as he took the toy to unwrap it for his brother.

Of course, Dean knew that their Daddy was way too smart to fall for anything the lady could come up with. So for now, he wouldn't worry…too much.

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A/N: There it is. Let me know what you think by reviewing. I'd like to know what you think either way. Next chapter will show John and the others and we should get to see how Melinda's doing too. Until then.