The First Hunt

Disclaimer: Still don't own, and I'm not making any money from this.

Summary: John allows Dean to take the lead on hunt but will the cost be to high? Dean is 16 and Sam is 12.

If anyone is waiting for updates on my other stories, I swear I'm working on them. The last chapter of He's Always There will be posted tomorrow. This story has been bugging me for awhile and I've had the first chapter on my hard drive forever. Since He's Alway's There is almost done, I thought I would post the first chapter of this story.

This story is being dedicated to a very good friend for mine, Laura's Eyes. She has a story posted on fanfiction.net called Brick and Water. This story is set in that universe. You don't have to read it to make sense of this, but I would recommend it because its a terrific story. I wanted to write a story in her universe but could never think of a plot and then when I first proposed this one to her, she was all for it. It's very close to canon, except that Dean was born with asthma.

So I want to say thank you to Laura's Eyes for all the support she has given me since I posted my first fic on Fanfiction.net.

If any of you want to check out her fic, here is the link. I will let you know that it is still a WIP and updates are slow but it's definitely worth checking out.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3645857/1/Bricks_&_Water

If anyone's still around, here's chapter one:


Chapter 1

It was dark out. Pitch black, and not a street lamp in sight. The only thing that broke up the darkness were the headlights of an old, black, '67 Chevy Impala, that rolled along steadily in the night.

John Winchester sat behind the wheel, drumming his fingers lightly as CCR's who'll stop the rain played in the background.

It was John's favourite time in which to drive. There was little traffic, and he was making good time on their way to Nyland County. It was another small town in the middle of know where. It's one claim to fame was that it was home to the Nyland County Juvenile Detention Center.

He was on his way to meet Jefferson Gage. A fellow hunter. John had worked with his brother Joshua several times and John had given Joshua something he hadn't in a long time, his trust. He even trusted Josh with his boys and that was saying a lot. So when Joshua told John that he could trust Jefferson it carried a lot of weight and John set out to meet him.

A smile broke out across John's face when he glanced into the rearview mirror and saw that Sam was stretched out, asleep, in the back seat. A quick glance to the right revealed this eldest was sound asleep as well.

His boys. To some it may not look it but they were the most important things in the world to him. If anything happened to either of them, he didn't think he could go on and he wouldn't want to.

He reached over and turned off the radio. In the quiet surrounding he could hear Sam's soft snores and Dean's steady, even breaths.

It was such a small thing, listening to your boys breath and something John didn't like to take for granted, especially with his eldest.

John shuddered as the memory of the night his oldest son was born. They had been at Mary's brother's house for the evening, celebrating the fact that Nathan's wife had found out she was pregnant. The weather hadn't been the greatest and John and turned down the request to spend the night, stubbornly insisting he could make it home. If that wasn't bad enough, he had gotten stuck behind a slow moving vechile and made an ill-fated decision to pass them. No sooner had he pulled out that other car skidded slamming into them.

It was a miracle no one was killed. John and Mary had escaped with minor cuts and brusies. The couple in the other car had a couple of broken bones. The accident had caused Mary to go into labour at 7 months. The doctors had been unable to stop the it and his son, Dean Michael Winchester entered the world at 2 pounds 2 ounces.

The first year of Dean's life was like a nightmare as the young parents had come close to losing him on more than one occasion. Complications from his birth had left him with asthma, and not a day went by when John didn't blame himself for it.

------

"We there yet," a sleepy voice called from the back.

"Not yet," John replied with a quick glance in the reviewer mirror, to check on his youngest son. Sam was sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. It made him look so young. "We have about another hour."

"What time is it?" Sam asked.

"Late. It's after midnight."

"We should have gotten a motel," Sam mumbled. He had asked their father to stop for the night, but John refused saying he wanted to get to Nyland County tonight. There was no hunt, yet, leading Sam to believe that his father didn't have money for a motel room.

"Sammy," John warned and decided to let it go. "Why don't you lay back down. I'll wake you when we get there."

"I'll stay up. Did Dean take his meds?"

"Yes," John said tensely.

"Where are we staying?" Sam asked.

"You'll like it," John said truthfully. "I'm not just staying that either. We're staying in a house. It belongs to Jefferson's brother Joshua. We get it rent free in exchange for looking after the place."

"Really?" Sam asked in surprise. He was trying not to get his hopes up. They had stayed in house once before and the place should have been condemed. As bad as that was, it was nothing compared to the last place they had stayed in.

From the outside, the motel hadn't looked to bad. The decor was tacky, but it appeared clean and it was cheap. There had been a lot of supernatural activity in the area and John had annouced they would stay until the end of the school year. Sam was excited over that. There father was even home most of the time.

The problem had been Dean's asthma. He was going through inhaler's like water and John was struggling to replace them. He had gotten frustrated one night after a bad attack had put Dean in the hospital, and punched the wall. The hole he had made revealed a large growth of mold, something that Dean was particularly sensitive too. There was no way they could stay there.

Fortunately, they were able to move into the house the hospital provided for patients that were from away as the doctor worked to stabilize Dean's asthma.

He had always carried a rescue inhaler, but he now took preventative meds as well. He had a steriod inhaler that he used 2 times a day, and an oral medication, theophylline, that he took once a day. The theophylline required constant blood tests and monitoring because there were a lot of potential side effects, but it was good for cases that were difficult to control.

All of this, made Dean miserable, of course, because he didn't think any of it was necessary, and called it all an unnecessary expense.

That was when Jefferson had contacted John about a potential hunt. John had been reluctant to leave but they couldn't stay in the house forever and Dean's medical expenses had bled him dry. When Jefferson had told him they could stay at his brother's house, John jumped at the chance. He had even been promised that there would be a doctor for Dean.

"We're here," John interupted Sam's thought's.

"We're staying here?" Sam asked in surprised.

The house wasn't overly large, but it looked new. There was yellow siding, and a front porch with a welcome sign that hung beside the door. The lawn was freshly mowed. There was even a garage where John could park the Impala.

"Yup," John said pleased that Sam liked the place. "Wake your brother would you. I'm going to get our bags."

"Dean, get up. We're here," Sam replied puching his brother in the shoulder.

"Ow, hey, Sammy, quit it," Dean replied, coming awake and reaching up to rub his shoulder.

"I told you it's Sam, jerk."

"Bitch much Sammy," Dean replied as he got out of the car, grabbed his duffle from his father and followed him into the house.

-------

The house was extremely modern, having all the amenities, Sam had only seen on TV. The kitchen had black granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher. The living room was just off the kitchen.

It was tastefully decorated, highlighting the big screen TV, that even impressed Dean. He wanted to watch it right then, but John told him he could check it out in the morning. It was late and he wanted both boys in bed.

Sam walked down the hall that lead to the bedrooms. He passed the Master bedroom, and found the guest room. He was slightly disappointed when he saw one double bed in the room. He had shared a room with Dean since he was 6 months old, and they had shared a bed many times, but he felt he was getting a bit old for that.

"It's okay, Sammy," John replied walking up behind his son. "There's a smaller computer room at the end of the hall that has a twin bed."

"We get our own rooms?" Sam asked in disbelief. He had never had that before and wasn't really sure how he felt about it. He walked to the end of the hall and found the room John was talking about. It was small, but there was a state of the art computer that Sam was as eager to try out as Dean was the TV.

"Who gets the smaller room?" Dean asked.

"Sam..."

"Hey, thats not fair," Sam protested. "Why should I just because I'm younger. I want the bigger room."

"We could share the bigger room," Dean suggested. How was he supposed to keep an eye on Sammy if he wasn't there.

"Tell you what, we'll let fate decide," John replied wanting to avoid an argument. "Settle it."

"Fine," both boys said and brought their fists up, and cupped them. "On three," Dean replied.

"Rock breaks sissors. I get the big room," Sam replied.

"Dad," Dean protested.

"Rules, sorry kiddo," John replied as Dean stalked into the smaller room and threw his duffle on the bed, mumbleing about what a pain little brothers were.

"I would have thought you would want the computer room," John said to his youngest.

"I always get stuck with the cot in the motel rooms. Just this once, I'd like to have the big bed."

"Okay, son. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

"'Night dad, 'night Dean," he called to his brother and disappered into his room.


--------

John awoke early the next morning, yawned and stretched. He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten such a good nights sleep. He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, enjoying the fact that the master bedroom had it's own private bath.

After a quick shower, John exited the room and went to Dean's room to go wake his son. He had his meeting with Jefferson later this morning, and Dean was due for his meds. He usually had a fight on his hands about getting his eldest to take them.

"Dean," he said and knocked lightly on Dean's door. He frowned when he failed to get a response. "Dean," he called again, this time pushing the door open. He was surprised to find that the bed was empty. John quickly checked the boys bathroom, empty.

The went to Sam's room to ask if he knew where Dean was. When he pushed open the door, he relaxed considerably when he found his eldest sound asleep on the floor in front of Sam's bed. He didn't know why he was surprised, ever since Dean was four he somehow found his way to his brother. John had lost count of the number of times he had found Dean in Sam's crib after the fire. Maybe he should move the other bed in here? He decided not to for now. He had a feeling that Sam wouldn't go for it.

Sam loved his brother more than anything but John couldn't help but think that sometimes he needed his privacy. They all did. Even his stubborn eldest son, not that he'd ever admit it.

He walked over to his son and gave him a small shake. "Dean, hey son."

"What?" Dean asked coming awake.

"Why are you in here son?"

"I couldn't sleep," Dean covered. It was the truth. He need to make sure that Sam was safe.

"Come on, time to get up. Tonight your sleeping in your own room. I don't want you sleeping on the floor."

"But dad..."

"Enough, Dean," John cut him off sharply. "Enjoy this while it lasts. I mean how often do you get your own room. Get up, its time for breakfast."

"I don't want my own room," Dean mumbled as he got up and stretched to work the kinks out of his back. "Sammy, breakfast," Dean said as he brought his pillow smack down on his brother head, jolting him awake.

"What the hell," he said bolting awake. He saw his brother there standing over him with an evil grin on his face. "Dean, you're a jerk."

"You're a bitch," the elder Winchester fired back and brought his pillow up again.

"Oh no, you don't," Sam answered, dodging Dean's swing, grabbing his pillow and lauching his own attack.

"You're going down Sammy."

-----

John heard the commotion and went down the hall to investigate. He found a full-fledged pillow fight in progress. He was tempted to break it up, but his boys got a chance to be boys so rarely that he let them be. He grinned as he walked back down the hall. He had been tempted to join in.

"Boy's breakfast," John called a short time later.

Sure enough 2 minutes later his eldest entered the kitchen looking for his food. Sam wasn't too far behind him.

"Dean did you take your meds?" Sam asked a short time later.

"Not yet," Dean confirmed with a scowl. He had been tempted to lie but he'd been with his brother since he awoke. They would know he was lying.

"You waiting for an engraved invitiation?" John said with a nod toward the cupboard where he kept Dean's meds. Most people would find it strange that he kept medication in the cupboard next to the plates and glasses but the simple fact was that John didn't trust Dean when it came to his asthma medication.

"I don't need it," Dean insisted. "I haven't had an attack in over a month."

"Those pills are why you haven't," John reminded his eldest. "You know your supposed to take them the same time every day."

"They don't...."

"Dean!" John interupted sharpely. "This isn't a negociation. Your pills are in the cupboard."

"Fine," Dean huffed and got up from his place at the table. He got his pills, opened the lid and shook one into his hand, put it in his mouth and dry swallowed it.

"Open," John requested. Dean had been known to stuff pills in his cheeks.

"I swallowed it," Dean protested. "I didn't plam it either," he said holding up his hands, anticipating his father's next request.

"Dean, contrary to what you might think, I'm not doing this to torture you."

"Don't forget your inhaler," Sam reminded his brother.

"Thanks, Sammy," Dean said sarcastically, and grabbed the albuterol inhaler that sat next to his pill bottle. He briefly contemplated pretending to take a hit but his father and brother where watching him like hawks.

"Dean, how about we make a deal," John replied. He couldn't go through this everyday.

"What?" Dean huffed.

"You take your meds, everyday, and on time and we'll see about getting you a second hand car by the summer. We'll head to Bobby's for awhile and fix it up."

"You mean it?" Dean asked, his bad mood instantly desolving. He had been asking his father for his own car for awhile.

Sam felt a little left out. He wasn't into engines the way his dad and brother were, and it would be nice to spend sometime with his dad.

"Yes, I mean it," John replied.

"What kind of car?"

"We'll see when the time comes," John said hedging. "Sam, I have a deal for you too."

"What?" he asked intrigued.

"If you don't give me a hard time about this hunt, we'll stop at Mount Rushmore on the way to Bobby's."

"Seriously?' Sam asked, excited. They had passed it on the way to Bobby's several times and he had always wanted to stop there.

"You're such a geek," Dean said to his brother.

"You're such a jerk," Sam fired back.

"Boys!" John cut them off.

"Sorry, sir," Dean said giving the expected response. "Can I help with the hunt? School doesn't start for another 2 weeks."

"We'll see," John said non-commitedly. Dean had been asking to get more involved, but John tried to keep him away from the more dangerous ones.

"You keep saying that," Dean pouted. "I'm old enough. Please dad."

"I said we'll see and if you have a problem with that then you won't participate at all. Now, I have to go meet Jefferson. Dean you're in charge. You know the drill. I'll be back in a couple of hours. Just don't wreck the place."

"Yes, sir," both boys chorsed in unison.

------

Walking into Joe's Diner, John looked around for Jefferson. He didn't like the fact that he knew nothing about this hunt. If it hadn't been for Dean's asthma, John would never have uprooted the boys and brought them until he knew more about what was going on. He spotted the man in a corner booth and his made his way over to him.

"Thanks for coming," Jefferson greeted John.

"No problem."

"You and the boys settle in okay."

"Yup," John said. "Thanks for letting us use the house."

"No problem. Joshua said it was good to have someone staying there. Last time it got broken into. Forturnatualy all items that should not be seen weren't."

"My boys will look after it," John promised.

"How old are they now?"

"Sam's 12 and Dean's 16," John said with pride.

"They grow up so fast, don't they?"

"You have kids?" John asked.

"No, but my sister has 2 girls. One's starting college, the other's starting high school." Jefferson reached into his wallet and pulled out of picture of his neices.

John was curious as to how Jefferson and Joshua got started in this business. He would never ask because, there was an unspoken rule among hunters that you didn't ask, because most time you didn't want to hear the answer.

"My turn," John said pulling out his wallet. "My pride and joy," John said handing Jefferson a picture of his sons. "You said you had a hunt. What's it for?" John asked as he accepted his picture back from Jefferson.

"A Mordach."

"A what?" John asked, he'd never heard of them before.

"Mordach. It's a type of spirit."

"How is it different from any other one?" John didn't know why but his instincts were starting to kick in and he had a feeling that he wouldn't like where this was going.

"It's the spirit of a teenage boy that died a violent death and their killer was never caught."

John shuddered. He hated cases that involved kids. "Why don't you just salt and burn the bones?"

"It would be nice if it were that simple," Jefferson said with a sigh. "The problem is that these kids are most often the victim of kidnapper. The body's are never found. These spirits show up to people and leave a clue as to where their body is. If you don't listen, the Mordach kills the person. There has been 3 deaths so far."

"When was the last time it appeared?" John asked.

"One week ago. It killed a 15 year old boy. The pattern seems to be every 12 weeks."

"How do we determine where they show up at?"

"They tend to show up in one area, generally where there is a large group of teenage boys. The 3 boys were killed at the Juvenile Hall where I work. About 9 months ago a 17 year old was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. If seemed like an accident at first. Then 3 months to the day, another boy, only 14, was found dead, in the exact same way and in the exact same spot. An investigation was lauched, to make sure it wasn't any of the guards. Then 3 months later, it was the same thing with the 15 year old. Reports said the kid was just walking down the stairs and all of a sudden it looked like he had been pushed, the way he fell. It made me think something else was up. Reseach turned up the mordach."

"Do you know thats what it is for sure?" John inquired.

"As sure as I can be about any hunt. There were similar events at a boys boarding school, a military academy, and a hospital. Same pattern, a teenage boy dies every 12 weeks, always the same way, falling down the stairs."

"So how do we determine which boy it shows up too. Also do you need me to work undercover as a guard or something." John was acutally hoping that was the case. He could use the extra money the pay would give him.

Jefferson swallowed nervously and he seemed to be looking everywhere but at John.

"Jeff, what the hell's going on here?" John suddenly demanded. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I don't need you to work as a guard. These things will only appear to a teenage boy. I need someone who won't be afraid to hear what it has to say."

"Then how are we going to get it. Why did you ask for my help?" John asked in a confused tone. That cold feeling in the pit of his stomach was growing bigger every second.

"It's not your help I need, John. It's Dean's."

"How?" John said deliberately being dense. If Jefferson was going to say what John thought it was the answer was no because....just hell no! "How is Dean going to contact that thing, you said it only shows up in one area. They aren't going to let Dean in with an EMF to patrol the place."

"No, but he can if he's an inmate. I need Dean to go undercover and get this son of a bitch."


TBC

A/N: You probably guessed the spirits made up. Please read and review. It makes my day and I want to know if I should continue.

Wahoo! Loving it already! Intreaging, intense, intimate and interesting! Can't wait for more.

Arr Dean sleeping in Sam's room, so cute, just can't stay away...

Now, lets see what John does...

More please!
Julie.

Yes please do continue...gee I wonder how far John will go to get rid of a supernatural creature...yup we all know the answer to that one!
Lisa

Good start, Dean becoming an inmate? I really don't think John is going to go for that idea easily, it'll probably take a lot of coaxing.

Made up spirits are great! You have so much more creative control, don't ya think?

Can't wait for more,
Trace

What a start, I'm already hooked.
I can't wait to read more

Well, you know already that I love this idea! The scene with Dean sleeping on the floor in Sam's room? Perfect! I think that's an addition, isn't it? Anyway, I love where you are going with it....

Sorry I didn't review asap -- I just saw this -- was away for the weekend and am swamped by RL....

this is fabulous! You HAVE to keep going!! (I know you want too)!!!!

I swear Dean only gets the crap assignments. LOL

Yay Finally had the time to read this. Great start Adder looking forward to more

I seem to be on a roll this weekend. I love it when chapters practically write themselves.

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Still dont own

"No, but he can if he's an inmate. I need Dean to go undercover and get this son of a bitch."

John had been expecting Jefferson's words but they still came as a shock and that was the exact way he reacted. "NO WAY!! ARE YOU CRAZY?" He growled out in a hard tone. His words caused several people people to turn and stare in their direction.

"John keep your voice down!" Jefferson cautioned. He threw a charming smile at a few of the female patrons, hoping to get their attention off John. He should never had done this in a public place.

"One word," John said. "No!!" His volume may have been lower but the tone hadn't changed. It was still cold and hard.

Jefferson could tell that John was about 30 seconds away from either decking him or getting up and walking away, or both, judging by the scowl his face held. "John, please, hear me out," Jeffeson pleaded.

"I said no. This conversation's done. Me and the boys will be out of your brothers house by morning." John said firmly. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a couple of crumpled dollar bill and threw them on the table to cover the price of his coffee. He rose to leave.

"Kids are dying, John," Jefferson warned. "Just five minutes, that's all I'm asking.

John stopped, and tensed. He turned and sat down. There was nothing that got to him more than when kids got hurt. Everytime he saw an injured child, he saw his own sons. "Five minutes," he conceded. You give me a solution that doesn't involve my son, I'll do your hunt."

It wasn't that John didn't trust Dean. His son was turning into a damn fine hunter. He would be as good, if not better than his old man some day. It was just that hunting was dangerous enough. No one wanted to be wasted, even non-corporeal bad guys, but they followed rules and patterns. Throwing salt at them would by you time. Carrying salt was easy, especially with Dean's rock salt rounds they could load into shotguns. John was amazed that they worked and didn't jam the gun. He almost wished he could patten them. People were just crazy, and John didn't want his son exposed to the prison system. He had heard way to many horror stories.

"Mordach's don't stop." Jefferson said trying to justify his request. "They want justice. If they can't get it, they're going to take revenge. Every boy in there is a target. It's already killed 3 kids. The one in the that hit the military academy killed 16 before they shut the school down because of it," Jefferson said playing on John's sympathy.

It did cause Jefferson to feel bad tom have to make this request. He wasn't heartless but the truth was he needed John. Most hunter's didn't have children, and if they did they didn't expose them to the life but John had trained his sons to be hunters. He didn't know of any other boy who was of age, most were too young, like Sam, who was only 12, or Jim's grandson Caleb who was 23.

"If it was anywhere else," John said. "Hunting is dangerous enough. I can't...I can't protect him if he's in there."

"I'll watch him, John. Dean will be assigned to my unit. I give you my word, I'll keep him safe," Jefferson promised.

"Can you guaruntee that?" John asked trying to keep the fear out of his voice. He wasn't used to that feeling fear and he didn't like it, but the conditions surrounding this hunt were more dangerous than the hunt itself.

"I work in a unit that houses kids who are in juvie for the first time for non-violent crimes and those that serve their sentences on weekends. If Dean steals something or takes a car joyriding he's get assigned there anyway."

"They can do that? Serve their sentences on weekends?" John asked in surprise. He had never heard of that before. "Can we arrange it so that Dean's home during the week?"

"I don't know what time or day the Mordach would appear," Jefferson said gaining hope that John might agree to this.

"How do we guaruntee that his thing even appears to Dean?" John pointed out. "You said that any boy could be at risk. If I agree to this how long is Dean going to be in there? You said it only appeared a week ago, and at every 12 weeks that puts Dean in there for close to three months. I don't want him in there that long," John admitted.

"Mordach's tend to stick to a kid with a personality type. So far the three kids that were killed were loners and rarely ever interacted with anyone. So we prep Dean before he goes in. Plus, by the time Dean's arrested and convicted it would probably only be close to a month or 2 that he needs to be incarcerated."

"What about afterward?" John asked in concern. "How do we get him out?" If he even remotely considered this he was leaving nothing to chance.

"Like I said, if the timing works out, Dean serves his time, and gets released. We don't even need an escape plan."

"Then Dean has a record," John said worriedly. "What if we do need an escape plan, Dean would be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. What if he got pulled over for a busted tail light or speeding. He could get sent back. I won't do that to him," John said firmly.

"I have a contact that works in the records department. I can get him to doctor Dean's record and he can carry a fake id when he's arrested. After the job's done, I can get him to alter Dean's fingerprints so this job is never traced back to him."

"I don't know," John replied. He was still very hesistant to agree to this. His kid wasn't a delinquent and John want him treated that way and he had a another concern. "What about Dean's asthma?"

"It won't be a problem," Jefferson said confidently. "We have other kids with health problems. There is a nurse and a doctor on the premises at all times and the hospital's 10 minutes away for emergencies. All his medical records will be transfered to the detention center. Dean will get whatever medication he needs. He'll see the doctor during intake. That means when he's processed in, and the doctor will give him premission to carry his inhaler."

"Dean's not the best patient," John admitted, "He doesn't always tell you or admit what he needs."

"Just tell me to what to be on the lookout for. Whatever you need to agree to this let me know and I swear I'll find someway to make it happen. I don't want to have to tell another set of parents their 14 year old son is dead."

"Let me talk to Dean," John said caving. He couldn't imagine anything worse for a parent than losing a child. "He has to agree, if he doesn't we call this whole thing off. I don't want him going into this half-heartedly."

"Fair enough. Here's my cell. Call me and we'll set it up.

"Jefferson, I swear, if[/B], and thats a big ass if, we do this, and anything, [B]anything, at all happens to Dean they will never find your body, no matter how many people you haunt. Are we clear?" John threatened.

"Crystal," Jefferson said and swallow nervously. John wasn't kidding.

-----

Insane, crazy, nuts, pyschotic, idiotic. These were the thoughts that were running through John's head as he drove back to the house. He couldn't believe he was even considering asking Dean to do this, let alone allowing him too. It all came down the what Jefferson had said about kids dying. John had had break that news to a parent once. He was pretending to be a private detective and had been hired by a couple whose daughter had gone missing. John had suspected a rawhead. He managed to track the thing to its lair and deep fry it before any other kids went missing but he's been to late to save the girl. It was something he never wanted to face again. It was the only reason he hadn't told Jefferson right where he could stick his hunt.

He had been so deep in thought that he'd driven right by the house and had had to double back. He parked the Impala in the garage and went inside.

"Boys, I'm home," he called as he walked into the house and shed his jacket and boots.

He heard identical, in unison, shouts of, "In here." One came from the living room and the other came from the room at the end of the hall.

"Dean can you come here a minute," John aimed his requsest at the living room. He didn't have go in there to know his son was watching the big screen TV.

"Coming," the voice replied in a reluctant tone. It gave John another thing to feel guilty about. Dean wouldn't be able to enjoy the house like Sam was. John didn't think he'd have much of a chance to enjoy it, either, becuase he was going to be a nervous wreck the entire time Dean was in there. If Dean does this, he reminded himself.

"Now Dean, and if your watching porn, I'm cancelling the cable," John called a few minutes later.

"You no fun," Dean said appearing in the kitchen. "For the record, all the porn channels are scrambled."

"So does that meant you checked them out?" John replied with a laugh that Dean had just busted himself.

"No," he said seriously. "I would never do that. I was just protecting Sammy. I wouldn't want him to see something that he shouldn't. The kid could be scarred for life.

"Good thing he has you to protect him," John said with mock seriousness. "He on the computer?"

"Yeah, since you left. We should just move him into my room, dad," Dean replied and John noted that he didn't suggest they switch rooms. He was beginning to have second thoughts about even bringing this job up to Dean. Would his eldest be able to handle being seperated from Sam? Dean could barely spend the night down the hall from his brother.

"We'll see," John said vaguely. No, it wasn't fair of him to make this decision without talking to Dean first. His son was hunter and he would do whatever it took to get the job done. The detention center was only about an hour away, John would just promise that he and Sam would visit everyday.

"How did your meeting with Jefferson go? I can help with the hunt right?" Dean asked eagerly.

"Yeah, kiddo. Not only can you help but we need you take the lead on this one," John replied. He felt like a complete jerk when Dean lit up like a kid in a candy store.

"You mean it?" Dean replied, his tone indicating his disbelief that his father trusted him that much. He wondered if that meant playing bait again? The last time he had done that he ended up with 15 stitches in his side. "What fugly we gonna waste? When do we start?"

"Whoa," John replied. "Hold on there tiger. There's things you need to know." John filled him in on the spirit, and the entire conversation he'd had with Jefferson and just what the hunt would entail.

"I'd have to go to Juvie?" Dean asked. Suddenly this hunt didn't sound all that exciting anymore. "I don't..I don't know," he said hesistantly.

"You don't have to decide this right now, Dean," John said gently. He had to do this right. He had to make sure that Dean understood that his father would not be disappointed in him if he turned it down. It would be a lot to ask of an adult, let alone a 16 year old kid. No matter how tough Dean acted or how responsible he acted the fact remained he was still a kid, and more importantly he was John's kid.

"But how would I get out?" Dean asked trying not to sound nervous.

John explained the timeline and the fact that they didn't have to worry about an escape plan. "What about Sammy?"

"He'll be fine. I can keep an eye on him until you finish the job. We'll be there to visit everyday. You have my word on that?"

"What if you find a hunt?" Dean asked hoping his voice didn't sound as shaky as he felt. This whole idea was not sitting well with him.

"Than someone else can handle it. Everyday, Dean," John vowed again.

"I.. I don't..."

John reached out and laid his hand on Dean's shoulder. "I told you this is your decision. If you decide you don't want this, say the word and I'll tell Jefferson no."

Dean looked deep into his fathers eyes to determine if he was telling the truth. Dean's worst fear, aside from something happening to his family, was disappointing his father. He had done that once, his father didn't look at him the same way. Was this a test? A way to make up for the Strigha incident. His father seemed sincere but Dean could never be sure. "Can I let you know tomorrow?" Dean asked. He really needed to think aobut this.

"Sure, kiddo. You need to make sure your going into this 100%. If you have any doubt, you need to say no. I promise kiddo, I will understand if you say no.

"Say no to what?' Sam asked entering the kitchen.

"Just a hunt me and Dad are discussing," Dean said vaguely. He didn't want Sam to know the specifics. He knew his brother wouldn't take kindly to what their father was proposing and Dean wanted to avoid the arguement.

It was something that had been happening more and more lately. Ever since Sam had hit his 12th birthday. Watch out for Sam was Dean's motto, and it seemed his brother's was to fight with dad. Anything could set his brother off these days, from something big like moving again to the the smallest thing like John buying Corn Pops instead of Lucky Charms. The fact that dad wanted him to deliberately get caught committing a crime and go to Juvie was sure to start world war III.

"What's up?" Sam asked. He was having mixed feeling about hunting these days. He loved the research part of it and he liked the thrill of saving lives and he was proud of his dad for being a hero, but a part of him was starting to resent it and that part was starting to take over. He wanted to stay in one spot for more than a month, and make friends. He wanted to be normal, and most importantly he wanted his brother to stop getting hurt.

Out of the three of them, Dean had been injured the most. It wasn't because Dean was careless of a sub-par hunter it was because he didn't care about his own safety. Any threat to their dad or himself and Dean didn't hesistate to throw himself in the line of fire. There had been to many close calls for all of them and Sam was getting sick of it.

"It's nothing big," Dean said deflecting. "Salt and burn. You done hogging the computer geek boy?"

"You what to use it?" Sam asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, there's something I need to check out." With that Dean walked out of the kitchen and down the hall to the computer room. He wanted to see if he could find any information on what juvenile hall was like.

"No scoping porn, Dean," Sam called to his brothers back. He got a one finger salute in return. "How long are we here for?" Sam asked turning back to his dad.

"I don't know, Sammy," John said honestly. "Depends." It did on whether Dean took this job.

"Are you leaving?" Sam didn't want to give up the computer. He loved the Internet. The stuff you could find on there was amazing.

"No, this is one job, I can do from here."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, you're stuck with your old man."

"What about school?" Sam asked.

"Jefferson said there was a good junior high. It's not to far from here. I'll take you next week and get you registered."

"What about Dean?" Sam suddenly asked, suspicious. "Don't tell me your letting him drop out." He knew that Dean had been asking his father about it, and so far John held fast to the decision that Dean was finishing high school.

"No, Sam."

"Dad, what's going on. Dean won't talk about the hunt, something he doesn't shut up about when you say he can help, and now you just mention me going to school."

"We need Dean's help with this hunt," John said hoping to placate Sam's curiousity. "He's going to be going to school." Jefferson had told him that school ran year round for inmates.

"I'm not a little kid anymore. What the hell's going on?"

"When you need to know Samuel, I'll tell you," John said firmly.

"But.." Sam started to protest.

"Enough," John cut him off. "One more word, and I'll take away computer access for the entire time we're here."

"Nobody tells me anything," Sam mumbled. He'd find out.

------

The next day began like a carbon copy of the day before, with John getting up and going to make breakfast for his boys, right down to finding Dean sleeping on the floor of Sam's room. John resisted the urge to sigh, he was going to have to put his foot down about that.

After breakfast Dean disappeared into the living room to watch TV and Sam into his brother's room to use the computer. John had been planning to go to the library. He wanted to see if he could find out any information of Mordach's that would help make this hunt easier. He hadn't made it to the front door before he was confronted by his youngest son. He didn't look happy.

Sam had figured out how to tell what other people had looked at and he had found out someone was looking up information on a type of spirit called a Mordach and juvenile hall. Since he hadn't done it and he doubted that his dad knew how to turn the computer on, it had to be his brother. When he found out that Mordach's appear only appeared in one area and the research on Juvenile hall, he began to put two and two togther. When he found a picture of Jefferson on the mantle in a guard uniform, Sam put all the pieces together.

"Tell me this hunt does not involve Dean going to juvie dad," He accused.

"It's none of your...."

"Don't tell me it's none of my business. I can't believe you. Do you know what could happen to him in there," Sam shot back, his temper growing.

"I discussed it with your brother. It's his decision."

"Sure it is," Sam scoffed. "Don't do this dad, please." Sam knew his brother better than anyone and he shared Dean's thoughts that if Dean said no, his dad would be disappointed. Dean would do this whether he liked it or not.

"That's it," John said firmly. "No more com..."

"I don't give a rat's ass about the computer. I care about my brother," Sam argued.

John's temper snapped. "Are you saying I don't. Jefferson's going to look after your brother."

"That's you're job." Sam couldn't help himself.

"Samuel, that's enough. We'll go see Dean everyday and..."

"You've already made up your mind. You're going to make him do this aren't you?"

"I. Have. Not. Made. Up. My. Mind!" John ground out slowly. He was trying to reign in his temper but he was failing miserably. "I said it was you're brothers decision and I mean it. Now you keep this up and I'm going...."

"Going to what?" Sam fired back. "Are you going to send me to Juvie?"

"Listen..."

-------

The best thing about the house was the TV. Dean loved it. Joshua got about 5 movie channels and Dean was watching Jack Nicolson as the joker in Batman when he heard and his brother and his father start in on each other. The only thing worse than listen to his brother and his dad argue was when they argued about him. Sam had somehow figured what the hunt entailed and he was letting his dad know his feelings about it. Dean rubbed his hand along his brow, feeling the headache that was developing. He should have deleted his browsing history, but he hadn't expected Sam to go seaching for it.

There hadn't been much on mordachs or juvie that he could find. He'd spent a restless night, trying not to think. He was leaning toward the no side of this decision but like his dad, he hated the thought of someone getting hurt when he could do something about it.

The other part of him wanted to say yes because he had been begging his dad to let him take a more active role in hunts, and here his father was trusting him to lead one. If he said no how long would it be before his father gave him the opportunity again and did his dad really mean it when he said Dean could refuse? His dad never gave him a choice. So this must be a test, Dean decided. His father wanted to see if he could make the hard decisions.

"Are you going to send me to juvie?" He heard his brothers angry voice drift down the hall.

"Listen, you keep up that smart mouth of yours and I'll give you my version of it," his father yelled back.

Dean couldn't take it anymore. He turned the TV off, and went to the kitchen.

"I'll do it," he said softly. One thing, he'd be away from the fighting. He just hoped Sam and his dad didn't kill each other.

"Like I'm not..." Sam started to argue back.

They apparently hadn't heard him. "I said I would do it," he said loudly to be heard about the shouting.

"What?" Sam's attention suddenly focused on Dean. He hadn't even heard him come in the room. "Dean, no."

"It's my decision, Sam," Dean said firmly to his brother.

"Are you sure son?" John asked.

"I'm sure," Dean replied looking his father directly in the eye. "But you and Sam have to stop fighting. I don't want you to kill each other while I'm gone and it won't be for that long Sammy."

"You're unbelieveable," Sam said taking one last parting shot at his dad before storming out of the room and slamming his bedroom door.

"He'll come around," Dean said trying to convince himself.

"Are you sure about this?" John asked one last time.

"Yes sir," Dean said hoping he sounded convincing because he honestly wasn't. "Like you said it's my decision and I made it. I won't let you down, dad, promise." He hoped he sounded a lot more confidant than he felt.

"I know you won't," John said in the same confidant tone. The difference was that John fully believed it.

"What happens now?"

"We need to contact Jefferson and we'll work this out to the last detail."

------

Two Weeks Later

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" John asked his son again.

"Yes," Dean replied trying not to sound exasperated. His dad repeated the question to him at every planning session.

"If your sure?" John replied hoping that Dean wasn't doing this just to please him and that he was truely okay with it it. John had his doubts and he had caught Dean using his inhaler that morning. His son's asthma had been under control. He questioned Dean about it and his son did admit his chest felt a bit tight but he was a little nervous.

John could understand that. Dean was about to go hotwire a car and get caught driving it by the police. They planned to have their lawyer, a guy named Travis, who was also a hunter, arrange a plea bargan in which Dean plead guilty to joyriding. By the time all the paper work was done he would get about 60 days and his sentence should end just in time for him to get the clue. Nothing to it, right?

"I am," Dean said with conviction. He had come this far and he wasn't about to back out. "Do you think Sammy's going to be okay with this?" Dean asked a little worriedly.

"He'll come around," John replied hoping to make Dean feel better but he didn't believe his words. Sam would barely speak to him and he had snapped at Dean a few times. John knew that Sam was just worried about Dean. Hell, he was too, but his son could do this. "Do you have your id?"

Dean pulled out his wallet. His id read Dean Westchester. He had wanted Dean Van Halen but his father put his foot down. "Got it. You promise you and Sam are going to visit me everyday?" Dean asked.

"Everyday," John promised again. "Good luck son, and if you change your mind remember you can back out anytime.

"Seems kind of strange to be wishing me good luck when I'm about to go get caught stealing a car."

"Our lives are weird, dude," John agreed. "Just remember..."

"Not anything to fancy or expensive that will get me charged with grand theft auto. Got it, although it would be fun to drive a porsche.

"Dean, be careful. I mean it son. This isn't a game," John cautioned.

"I know that, Dad and I'll becareful, promise."

-------

It had been embarrassingly easy to pick the lock and hotwire the Ford Taurus that had sat in the driveway a few houses down from them. Dean drove for a bit looking for a cop. When he spotted on, he started speeding and driving a bit eradically to catch the cops attention, but not so much that he looked drunk. He starteled when he heard the siren and saw the cop car pull up behind him indicating they wanted him to pull over. Fighting the urge to speed away, Dean pulled over and swallowed nervously.

He rolled down the window as the cop approached.

"Good morning officer," Dean said causually.

"License and registration," the officer requested.

Dean could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he reached for his wallet. There was no turning back now.

TBC

Please read and reivew. It makes my day and keeps my muse happy.

Oh wow. Little Sammy is gonna be super pissed! That was a hard call for John to make, I just don't think Sam will understand, he's very protective of his big brother.

So Dean had Daddy's blessing to go steal a car and get caught doing it. Yep their lives are weird.

Can't wait for the next chapter.

Trace

No Dean! Oh man, this does not bode well, you know it's not going to be a smooth ride, no Winchester or Westchester gets that luxury...

I was praying Dean would say no, but true to form, you make him say yes - go figure really, never wanting to diasappoint his Dad.

Poor Sammy, he will be having kittens the whole time, John had better not expect too much from the boy. He's hurting.

Now Dean, got to bring on the acting skills, do your thing boy.

Great chapter, update as soon as you can please...
Julie.

Thanks for the reviews,

Of course, things won't go smoothly. This is the Winchesters.

I googled Juvenile Hall, and both Sam and Dean won't be happy. I wonder what Dean's decision would have been had he known this:
[spoiler]Visitors must be 18. [/spoiler]

PLease don't quote this post as the spoiler tags don't won't work in quotes

There was no way that Dean would ever say No to his Dad like that...this is going to be a great story...can't wait for more!
lisa

That was great.
Dean would do anything for John.
Sam is only 12 years old but he's already stand up to his father.
I've a thought that things won't go smoothly for Dean.
I'm looking forward to more

This ic awesome and i cant wait to see what happens next!

Claire

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