Crossroads

Pilot

The Impala roared down the deserted road, its one burnt out headlight casting a lopsided glow. Kat glanced down at her disposable flip phone, debating whether or not to call John again. He'd been gone for weeks now and the silence gnawed at her. Her grip tightened on the phone, imagining the worst. John raised her like one of his own, and losing him was another hit she didn't think she could take—nor could Dean or Sam.

Highway to Hell played in the background, Dean tapping his fingers on the wheel as he nudged the speed limit. Kat tried to ignore the impulse to comment, after all they couldn't really afford getting pulled over with a trunk full of weapons.

The ride to California stretched on. It was Halloween, the streets packed with kids in costume, their laughter muffled by the Impala's windows. Kat thought back to her own childhood, hazy memories of trick or treating before her mother died. John had forbidden it after taking her in, reminding her and the boys all about the dangers lurking around on Halloween night. In hindsight, he was right, creatures loved to prowl on Halloween.

As they neared Stanford, Dean parked the Impala a block away from Sam's apartment building, casting a look over to Kat. "Ready to see Sam?"

She met his gaze, a faint grin tugging at her lips. "Let's go."

The two exited the car, and with a nod Dean motioned her over to the side of the building, boosting her onto his shoulders so she could slip through Sam's open window. Dean's steady hands wrapped around her legs as he hoisted her up, the warmth seeping through his fingers.

Once inside, Dean climbed in, his landing far from graceful, knocking over a vase with a loud crash.

Sam jumped him, instinctively swinging at the intruder, not realizing it was Dean until he'd been pinned to the ground.

"Woah easy tiger." Dean said with a smirk as he looked down at his brother.

"Dean?" Sam said in surprise, breathing heavily from the tussle, "You scared the crap out of me!"

"That's cause your out of practice." Dean responded cockily.

Sam kicked Dean in the back, flipping him around and pinning him.

"Or not." Dean said with a slight laugh at the end, "Get off me." he ordered, shrugging off his brother and getting to his feet.

Dean grinned, "Missed you too, Sammy."

Amused, Kat chimed in from the shadows, her voice soft and teasing, "Wow, Dean. Looks like you're the one out of practice."

Sam's face lit up with surprise, "Kat? What are you guys doing here?"

"Well I was looking for a beer." Dean joked.

"We had to check on you." Kat said, stepping forward, her tone playful but her eyes serious. She didn't let on how much she'd thought of him since he left.

The lights flickered on and the three turned their heads to see a skinny blonde in a baby tee and boy shorts. Kat looked at her questionably, not knowing Sam had been seeing anyone, not knowing much about his life at all actually since he left.

"Sam?" the girl called with tired eyes.

"Jess...hey..." Sam said, most likely trying to come up with some sort of explanation for the surprise visit.

"Dean, Kat, this is my girlfriend Jessica."

"Wait, your brother Dean ?" Jessica questioned excitedly.

"I love the smurfs." Dean commented on her top, obviously checking her out. "You know I gotta tell you, you are completely out of my brothers league." A line that caused Kat shoot him a look of disgust.