Book 1: Carry On My Wayward Son.

Ch 35: Damn Angels.

"So you pretended to be dead to protect me?" I spat. "You let me get thrown around abusive fosters homes and horrible shelters to protect me?"

"I know it seems crazy, but please, just let me explain." My dad said, looking around. We had left the fancy bistro and split from Orion and Crowley. I wasn't sure what they were off doing, but that was the last thing on my mind.

"Explain, now."

"It was Crowley's idea. After your mom died he got in contact with me, and I thought he was crazy at first. He told me about Azazel's plan and I knew that he'd find you if you were with me." He said. "Crowley agreed that being brought up by a hunter, you'd do some weird things that foster parents wouldn't find.. well, they wouldn't really want you."

"Thanks for sugar-coating it," I mumbled.

"Here me out. If you were getting tossed around from state to state, he'd have a hell of a time tracking you down every few months. We'd hope to have him killed by the time you were an adult, but.. since we knew we might not accomplish that, we decided the Winchester's would protect you after that," He told me. "I'm so sorry."

"So Crowley knew this whole time that you were alive," I snapped. "And he didn't tell me? Really?"

"It was for your own good."

"Whatever," I crossed my arms. "So.. you're not going to leave me again, are you?"

"No, definitely not," He chuckled, "I was actually hoping you and Orion would stay and hunt with me again."

"You're gonna say it that casually," I joked.

I rolled his eyes with a smile and got down on one knee, "Salem, will you do me the honor of hunting with me?"

"Yes," I said, asking as if I was overcome with joy. "Now stand up and give me a hug, dad." I had never been happier to be in someone's arms.

We met back up with Crowley and Orion, who had spent the day theater hopping at the Cinema 6 nearby. Crowley was going on about how he missed black and white, soundless movies, and Orion was talking about how hot some actor named Jensen Ackles was.

"So I'm gonna stay with my dad and Orion," I told Crowley, pulling him aside. "I really appreciate you getting me away from Sam, okay? Thank you so much."

"It was my pleasure," He nodded.

"No, really," I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. "No matter how many times I go back and forth with you, you're always there for me."

"That's what you do for the people you love, yeah?" He smiled.

I looked down and replied quietly, "Yeah, well.."

"Look, Salem, I know this must be hard for you. Your past feelings going against your current.." He said, lifting my chin up so I'd look at him. "I'm always going to be here, no matter who you're stuck on for the moment, okay, darling?"

"You're the best," I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him tight. "You really are."

The next morning, my dad filled me in on the case. "We already have all the info, we talked to the camp ranger, now we're just going in to find them. Okay?"

"So what is it again?" I asked as we all climbed into my dads truck. "Windero?"

"We think it's a wendigo," Orion corrected me. "They chain you up and suck you dry, and they imitate voices and stuff."

"Awesome," I nodded. "And it's in the woods I was in last night?"

"Yep," My dad said.

"Of course it was."